The assassins had been after the scroll, under orders from 'Master Jin', a name he had gleaned from the dead assassin's note. This shadowy faction, the one Mei Lin spoke of, was far more organised than he had anticipated. But as he pressed on, his spiritual awareness stretched, he realised Mei Lin's aura was nowhere to be found. Had she moved? Or had she too, been caught in some unseen snare? A flicker of concern, rare for him, stirred in his chest. He pushed it down. Focus. Lian Zhou is the priority.
The landscape shifted subtly. The ethereal forest thinned, giving way to rougher terrain, scarred with jagged rock formations and ancient ravines. The mist here was heavier, clinging to the sheer cliffs that rose on either side, forming a natural, winding canyon. A profound stillness settled
