Bai Li could feel the tree noticing them.
The golden leaves turned slightly.
One branch rotated toward her.
Another toward Yan Cijin.
Neither woman moved.
The tree remained still.
Then the fruit gave off a soft ringing sound.
Yan Cijin whispered, "Did you hear that?"
"Yes."
"What was it?"
Bai Li shook her head.
"No idea."
A second ring followed.
The invisible line around the roots brightened.
Bai Li could see it now.
The barrier was not a wall.
It was a field of compressed energy, woven around the roots and trunk like a net.
And that net was opening.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Bai Li took another step.
No resistance.
She stopped.
Yan Cijin came beside her.
Both were now close enough that the golden light covered their entire bodies.
The smell was overwhelming.
Bai Li's heart beat harder.
Yan Cijin's breathing became shallow.
They both knew how easy it would be to simply walk forward and take the fruit.
That was exactly why they did not.
