The group reached the small village shortly before nightfall.Qing Li slowed his steps as he looked toward the houses."We should ask for a place to stay before the gates are closed."Yan Luo nodded."Agreed.We've traveled long enough today."They approached several houses,but every available room had already been taken by other travelers.
After asking around,an elderly villager finally directed them toward an old courtyard at the edge of the village."It isn't much,"the old man said,"but the courtyard has been empty for years.You may stay there for the night." Hei Long gave him a respectful nod."That will be enough.Thank you for your help."The group followed the directions and soon reached the courtyard.The place was old,but it was quiet and sheltered from the wind.A weathered wooden house stood against one wall,its roof slightly damaged and its windows covered in dust.
The courtyard itself was large enough for the group to rest comfortably.Chen Yu gathered dry branches while Hei Long cleared a space near the center.After a short while,a small fire was burning.Qing Li sat down near the flames and stretched his legs."At least we won't have to sleep on the road tonight." Chen Yu handed him a bowl of water."You look more tired than you did yesterday."Qing Li took it with a faint smile. "Yesterday I still had enough energy to complain.Today I don't." Hei Long quietly laughed while Yan Luo sat against the wall.
Hei Long began preparing the food they had carried with them.The meal was simple but warm.There was rice,soup, vegetables,and some meat.The group gradually gathered around the fire as the temperature dropped outside.Qing Li ate quietly for a while before looking toward Chen Yu."How far is the next town?"Chen Yu answered,"If we leave at first light,we should reach it before noon." Yan Luo glanced at the dark road beyond the courtyard."Then we'll leave early."Hei Long nodded."Agreed.We've already lost enough time today."
Su Yuan sat slightly apart from the others.He had chosen a place against the wooden wall where he could see both the courtyard entrance and the road beyond it.He ate very little and listened more than he spoke. Qing Li noticed the untouched food in Su Yuan's bowl."The soup is still warm."Su Yuan glanced down at it and nodded."Then why aren't you eating?"Su Yuan looked at him for a moment before quietly replying,"I'm not very hungry."Qing Li nodded and returned to his own meal without pressing him.
A little later,Hei Long looked toward Su Yuan."Have you been to the next town before?"Su Yuan shook his head."No." "Then you'll probably find it busier than this village."Su Yuan glanced toward the dark road."How long are we staying there?"Chen Yu answered before Hei Long could."Only long enough to restock and find somewhere to stay."Su Yuan nodded.Yan Luo looked at him briefly."You don't like crowded places?" Su Yuan paused before answering,"I prefer places where I can leave without being noticed."
Yan Luo studied him for a moment,but didn't ask anything further."Fair enough."Su Yuan lowered his gaze to his bowl.Qing Li reached for another piece of meat and then quietly pushed the plate closer to Su Yuan."Take one."Su Yuan looked at him."You aren't saving it?"Qing Li shook his head."There's enough."Su Yuan hesitated before taking a piece."Thanks."Qing Li simply nodded and continued eating.
After a while,Xu Yang noticed that Wei Han's bowl was still untouched.Wei Han remained near the edge of the courtyard,his attention fixed on the road.Xu Yang looked at him for a moment before speaking."Wei Han,eat something."Wei Han heard him,but didn't respond.Xu Yang waited."You haven't eaten since we left."Wei Han's eyes remained on the road as though he hadn't heard a word. Xu Yang gave him a long look before quietly adding,"I'm talking to you."Still nothing.Wei Han didn't even turn around.Xu Yang sighed and picked up his own bowl.
He ate a few bites in silence,but his eyes kept drifting toward Wei Han.Wei Han hadn't moved.The wind had grown colder,and a loose strand of his hair kept falling across his face.He ignored it.Xu Yang noticed that too. After a moment,he quietly reached beside him,took another piece of wood and placed it onto the fire.The flames rose,spreading a little more warmth across the courtyard.
Wei Han's gaze shifted briefly toward the fire.Xu Yang didn't look at him.He simply continued eating.A few moments later,Xu Yang took the bowl that had been left beside him and filled it with some rice and soup.He carried it over and placed it near Wei Han without saying anything.Wei Han glanced down at the bowl,then toward Xu Yang.Xu Yang was already walking back.Wei Han remained silent.But after Xu Yang had sat down again,he heard the faint sound of porcelain against wood.He looked up.
Wei Han had finally picked up the bowl.
Su Yuan watched the exchange from where he sat,but said nothing.Qing Li lowered his eyes toward his food,clearly deciding not to involve himself.Hei Long glanced briefly at Xu Yang,then at Wei Han."He does that when he's concentrating."Xu Yang looked at him."I know.""Then why bother?"Hei Long asked.Xu Yang glanced toward Wei Han. "Because he's been sitting there since we arrived."Lin Chen looked up from his food. "You don't have to worry about everyone." Xu Yang gave a small shrug."I wasn't worried."Lin Chen looked at the bowl Xu Yang had just filled and then back at him."Of course."Xu Yang gave him a look."What?" "Nothing."Lin Chen lowered his eyes again, clearly hiding a smile."Just eat your own food."
Wei Han finally moved his eyes toward them,but only for a second before returning his attention to the road.Xu Yang noticed. Qing Li quietly pushed the vegetables toward Xu Yang."Take some."Xu Yang looked down at the bowl."You don't want them?""I've had enough."Xu Yang nodded and took some without arguing.Yan Luo reached for the soup at the same time Hei Long did.Hei Long stopped and looked at him."Go ahead."Yan Luo pushed the bowl toward him instead."You were closer."Hei Long accepted it with a small nod."You're unusually generous tonight." "Don't get used to it."Hei Long smiled and served himself.
Later,the fire burned lower and the conversation around it became quieter.Qing Li listened while Hei Long told Chen Yu about a road they had taken months ago, occasionally interrupting him whenever he exaggerated a detail."You make it sound as though you crossed half the realm."Qing Li said.Hei Long gave him a look."If you had been there,you would have understood.""I was there.""Then you should remember how dangerous it was."Qing Li lowered his eyes to hide a smile.
Yan Luo added a dry comment from time to time,which only made Hei Long shake his head and continue."Let him finish.You keep interrupting."Yan Luo said calmly.Qing Li glanced at him."You were listening too.""I was trying to determine how much of it was true."Hei Long sighed."None of you appreciate a good story."Xu Yang listened more than he spoke,and every so often his eyes moved toward the dark road beyond the courtyard.Su Yuan watched them quietly.Qing Li laughed at something Hei Long said.Chen Yu reached over and moved the kettle closer to him without being asked. Yan Luo noticed the fire weakening and added another piece of wood."The night is colder than I expected."Chen Yu said quietly. "The mountains are close."Xu Yang replied. His gaze remained on the road for another moment before returning to the fire.
Su Yuan gaze eventually moved toward Wei Han. "They really don't know who I am?"Wei Han looked at him for a moment."No."Su Yuan looked back at the others."It's better this way."He was quiet for a few seconds before adding,"They talk to each other so easily."Wei Han said nothing.Su Yuan's eyes followed Qing Li as he leaned closer to the fire while listening to Hei Long."They don't seem to worry about saying the wrong thing."Su Yuan looked at them and smiled. "It's good to have friends."
Wei Han's gaze shifted toward him.Su Yuan noticed,but continued looking at the others. "I'm a little jealous of them."There was no bitterness in his voice,only a quiet honesty. "They have something I never really had." Wei Han remained silent.Su Yuan lowered his eyes."People around me were always there because they had to be."He paused, then gave a small shrug."It's different with them.They're here because they want to be."For a moment,Wei Han said nothing.
Then he quietly asked,"And what will you do when they learn who you are?"Su Yuan's expression changed slightly.He looked toward the fire."I don't know.""You fear they will leave?"Su Yuan was silent for several breaths."I fear they will no longer look at me the same way."Wei Han studied him quietly."Then remember how they looked at you tonight."Su Yuan turned toward him."What do you mean?""Before they knew your name,they treated you as you were."His gaze returned to the fire."Perhaps that is worth more than you realize."Su Yuan watched him for a moment,but said nothing.A faint smile appeared on his face before he looked back at the others."Perhaps it is."
Su Yuan watched the others for a while longer,his expression becoming quieter as the firelight moved across their faces."I used to think having people around you meant you were never alone,"he said softly."I was wrong."Wei Han's eyes shifted toward him. Su Yuan gave a small smile."Sometimes you can be surrounded by hundreds of people and still have no one you can actually talk to."He paused,then added, "Tonight feels different."
At dawn,the group left the village.The road ahead stretched toward a mountain forest, its dark green peaks rising beyond the hills. Xu Yang walked at the front with his hands loosely behind his back,while the others followed at an easy pace.Su Yuan walked among them now rather than keeping his distance from the group.
Qing Li broke the silence as he looked back toward the village."The food last night was actually good."Hei Long glanced at him with a faint smile."You nearly ate everything." Qing Li immediately turned toward him."I shared."Hei Long raised an eyebrow."After you had already taken the largest portion." "That still counts."Yan Luo glanced at them but said nothing.
Eventually,the path passed beneath the first line of trees.Sunlight slipped through the branches in thin golden strands,falling across the uneven road.Xu Yang continued walking at the front.He occasionally glanced toward the surrounding trees,his expression relaxed.Yan Luo noticed and asked,"What are you looking for?""Nothing."Xu Yang answered without turning."Then why keep looking?""Habit."Yan Luo gave a quiet hum but did not question him further.
They continued deeper into the forest. Several minutes passed.Then Xu Yang's pace gradually slowed.His eyes moved toward the branches above him.He stopped. Yan Luo noticed immediately and looked back."What is it?"Xu Yang did not answer at once.He listened.The others stopped one after another.Qing Li looked around."What happened?"Xu Yang's expression became serious."Did you notice?"Yan Luo's eyes narrowed as he studied the trees."Notice what?"Xu Yang lifted his gaze toward the canopy."The forest."Everyone became more alert.
Chen Yu slowly tightened his grip on his staff."It's too quiet."Hei Long looked toward the branches."There should be birds here." Yan Luo added."I haven't heard a single one since we entered."Su Yuan's expression changed slightly.He looked deeper into the trees."Even the wind has stopped."Xu Yang nodded.His eyes moved slowly across the forest.The trees stood motionless around them.Their branches barely moved,and the shadows beneath them seemed unusually still. "Stay close." Xu Yang said quietly. Qing Li moved nearer to the others.His gaze remained fixed on the trees.
Yan Luo glanced toward the path ahead. "Something is wrong." Wei Han said nothing.He simply looked into the forest,his expression calm but watchful. Su Yuan noticed his gaze and quietly asked,"You sense it too?" Wei Han did not look at him. "Something is watching." Xu Yang's eyes sharpened. Everyone became more alert. Then single bird suddenly falls from the branches and it hits the road.Qing Li stares. "What happened to it?" Nobody answers.
Xu Yang lowered his gaze toward the dead bird."Don't touch it."Qing Li slowly withdrew his hand."I wasn't going to."Yan Luo looked toward the trees."We should keep moving." Xu Yang nodded.The group continued deeper into the forest.After some time,the trees ahead began to thin slightly,and the road opened into a wider stretch.Yan Luo suddenly stopped."Wait."Qing Li nearly walked into him."What is it?"Yan Luo looked ahead with a deepening frown.
The road divided before them.There should have been two paths but there were three. Hei Long stepped closer and studied them. "You have been here before?"Yan Luo shook his head."No."He reached beneath his robe and pulled out the map.He unfolded it and compared the markings with the roads before them.His expression became more serious."The third path isn't marked."
Chen Yu moved beside him and examined the map."There shouldn't be another road." Qing Li looked from the map to the three paths."Could the map be wrong?"Yan Luo shook his head."This road was recorded by the mountain patrols.The forest has not changed according to the latest records."Xu Yang's eyes remained fixed on the unfamiliar path."Then we don't take it."Yan Luo folded the map."Agreed."
They chose the original road and continued forward.The third path remained behind them,half-hidden between the trees.They walked for several minutes without speaking.The further they went,the heavier the silence seemed to become.Qing Li occasionally looked over his shoulder,but each time he saw only trees and shadows. "Xu Yang!" he said quietly."What?""Do you feel like we're walking in circles?"
Xu Yang glanced back at the road."I was thinking the same thing."Yan Luo stopped again."Wait."Everyone turned toward him. "What now?" Qing Li asked.Yan Luo looked at the ground,then at the trees around them. "Something feels wrong."Before anyone could answer,Qing Li suddenly stopped.His eyes widened."Wait."Everyone turned. "What is it?"Qing Li pointed behind them. The third road was there again.Only now...it was directly behind them.
The group stared at the unfamiliar path. None of them had seen it appear.Yan Luo slowly reached for his weapon."We should leave."Xu Yang nodded."Now."They turned back toward the direction they had come from and began moving quickly.The forest seemed different now.The trees stood closer together,and the path behind them appeared longer than it had before.Qing Li looked back once."It's still there.""Don't look," Xu Yang said."Keep your eyes ahead."
They pushed forward,trying to find the light of the forest entrance.But instead of sunlight,they saw a pale wall of mist forming across the road.The mist appeared far too quickly.It rolled between the trees and spilled across the ground until the entire path disappeared."Stop!"Chen Yu raised his staff."Something is coming."Xu Yang immediately grabbed Qing Li's arm."Stay close."
Hei Long moved closer to Yan Luo.Yan Luo kept his eyes fixed on the mist."We should not separate."Wei Han positioned himself near Xu Yang and Su Yuan,his gaze moving through the thickening fog.Su Yuan looked toward the road ahead."Can we see the exit?"Chen Yu shook his head."Not anymore."The mist continued spreading.
They could barely see one another.Xu Yang tightened his hold on Qing Li."No one moves alone.If you lose sight of someone, call out before taking another step."Yan Luo nodded."Stay within reach."The group began moving forward together.Their footsteps became slow and careful.The mist swallowed the trees around them until only vague shapes remained.Then suddenly voice came from somewhere ahead."Xu Yang!"Xu Yang turned.
Su Yuan was standing several steps away. But Wei Han was already standing beside Xu Yang.Xu Yang's expression changed."Su Yuan?"Su Yuan looked confused."I've been beside you this entire time."Everyone slowly turned toward the figure in the mist.It looked exactly like Su Yuan but it didn't move.Yan Luo immediately drew his weapon.The blade came free with a sharp metallic sound as he stepped in front of the others."Do not come closer."
The false Su Yuan remained where he was and corner of his lips slowly lifted into a smile.It was the first time anyone had seen Su Yuan smile like that,and something about it felt completely wrong.Qing Li's expression tightened.He instinctively moved closer to Xu Yang."That isn't him."The figure tilted its head slightly."Isn't it?"The voice was Su Yuan's.
Hei Long's eyes narrowed."Stay away from it."The figure looked toward him.A moment later,its voice changed."Stay away from it." This time,it was Yan Luo's voice.Yan Luo's expression hardened."What is this?"The creature smiled again."What is this?"It repeated in his own voice.Qing Li's face went pale."It's copying us."Chen Yu slowly raised his staff."Then do not answer it."The figure turned toward him."Then do not answer it."Chen Yu's fingers tightened around his staff."It is learning."
The creature's face remained unchanged, but its voice shifted again."It is learning." This time,it was Qing Li's voice.The mist around them seemed to thicken with every word.Yan Luo stepped forward,his weapon raised."Enough."The figure immediately answered in his voice."Enough."Yan Luo's eyes flashed with anger,but he did not strike. "It wants us to react."Xu Yang kept his gaze fixed on the creature."Then give it nothing." The false Su Yuan suddenly turned toward Xu Yang."Then give it nothing."Its voice became Xu Yang's own.The sound seemed to come from every direction at once.Qing Li looked around nervously."Where is the real Su Yuan?"No answer came.
The figure only stared at them.Then it began changing voices again.One after another,the familiar voices echoed through the mist.The voices came from different directions, overlapping until nobody could tell where they were coming from.Xu Yang's expression became colder."Do not separate."Yan Luo answered immediately, "Stay together."The same words returned from the mist in several different voices. "Stay together."Qing Li swallowed."Which one is real?"Chen Yu looked around."Do not trust anything you hear."
The mist suddenly went silent.Every voice stopped at once.No one moved.The trees had vanished into the white fog.Wei Han reached out and firmly caught Xu Yang's shoulder."Do not answer anything you hear." Xu Yang glanced at him but said nothing.Wei Han's eyes remained fixed on the mist ahead."Not even if it sounds like one of us." A long silence followed then Xu Yang heard his own voice directly behind him."Don't turn around."
Xu Yang's body went completely still.His eyes lowered slowly toward the ground.The mist was too thick for him to see more than a few steps ahead,yet the ground beneath their feet remained strangely clear.The group noticed it at the same time.Their shadows were visible through the white mist.Qing Li's breathing became unsteady. "Why can we see our shadows?"Chen Yu looked down carefully."There is no light strong enough for this."Yan Luo slowly raised his weapon."Don't move."
Hei Long's eyes shifted across the ground. "There are seven of us."His voice became quieter."But..."Xu Yang followed his gaze. His expression changed.The eighth shadow stood directly behind him.Xu Yang's breathing stopped.Nobody was standing there.Yet the shadow was clear.It had the shape of a person.Its head was lowered at first.Then,slowly,it began to turn toward Xu Yang.Wei Han immediately stepped in front of Xu Yang."Run."
Xu Yang looked at him."What about the others?" "Now."The shadow suddenly moved.Wei Han grabbed Xu Yang and pulled him forward."Run!"Yan Luo reacted instantly.The group broke into a sprint.The mist twisted around them as they ran.Qing Li nearly stumbled,but Hei Long caught his arm and pulled him forward."Keep moving!" Chen Yu raised his staff as he ran,green light spreading around them."Do not look back!" A sound came from behind them.It was their own footsteps,but there were too many.
The group ran harder.Xu Yang could hear something moving through the mist behind them,but he refused to turn his head."The exit!"Qing Li shouted."I can see light!"A pale glow appeared ahead.Wei Han pushed through the mist first."Keep going!"They rushed toward the light.The trees suddenly broke apart around them,and the group stumbled out of the fog.
For several moments,no one spoke.Qing Li bent slightly,trying to catch his breath. "We're...out?"Yan Luo turned around sharply.There was no forest behind them.Only an ordinary mountain slope stretched beneath the afternoon sky.The mist was gone.Chen Yu slowly stepped forward and looked around."This cannot be right."Yan Luo immediately took out the map.He unfolded it with trembling fingers and checked the markings."The forest is here."He pointed to the marked section."We entered from this side,and the road should have continued through the mountain."He looked toward the empty slope."But there is nothing there."
Hei Long stared at the hillside."Then where did we come from?"Nobody answered.Xu Yang remained silent as he looked at the place where the forest should have been.His expression was tense."Something changed."Wei Han stood beside him,his gaze fixed on the empty slope."Or something allowed us to leave."Xu Yang looked at him."You think the forest let us go?"Wei Han did not answer immediately."I think we were meant to find the exit."
Yan Luo turned toward them."Then why did it let us leave?"Chen Yu's expression darkened."Perhaps we were not the ones it wanted."Xu Yang slowly looked around them.Then Qing Li suddenly looked around. "Where is Chen Yu?"Everyone froze.Xu Yang turned sharply.Chen Yu was gone.