The forest was alive with sound and movement. Birds called from the canopy. Small creatures rustled in the underbrush. The wind whispered through the leaves, carrying scents and secrets that only the most skilled hunters could read.
Ruì Xuě moved through the forest like a shadow, his white fur blending with the patches of mist and morning light. His ears swiveled, tracking every sound. His nose twitched, analyzing every scent. His eyes darted across the ground, reading the signs that the forest had left behind.
Han Shān watched him with quiet pride. The boy had learned well. His techniques were sound, his instincts sharp. He moved with the confidence of a hunter who knew his craft.
But there was something else in Ruì Xuě's movements. Something that Han Shān had noticed over the past weeks, something that had been growing like a seed planted in rich soil.
Distraction.
