Without waiting for a reply, the figure turned and glided toward a nearby cliffside. There was a narrow path along the ash-laden slope—one not visible from the city.
Daoist Chu glanced at Meng Bai.
"Stay alert," he murmured. "This might still be a trap."
Meng Bai nodded. "With Xiao Yin and Xiao Yang here, I doubt it'll be a good one."
As they followed the shadowy tracker, neither of them knew just how deep the trail would go—or the truths waiting to be unearthed in the forgotten ashes of the Verdant Ash Basin.
The cloaked figure's voice echoed with eerie resonance as they beckoned the group forward.
Their silhouette began to glide toward the cliffside path—quiet, graceful, and enigmatic. Daoist Chu and Meng Bai exchanged glances, cautious but curious. Meng Bai gave a small nod, while Ashy chirped softly from his shoulder, her feathers ruffling in subtle unease.
The trio descended carefully behind the mysterious tracker, the air growing heavier with every step.
