Linfei crouched beside the rogue's fallen body, fighting through the ache of battle to search him quickly. The rogue's belongings were many—torn pouches, a handful of rare Qi pills, and, tucked into a hidden pocket, a battered letter covered with cryptic symbols. Linfei's eyes widened. The letter's markings spoke of a hidden treasure land buried deep in the forest—a location known only to those with the right clues.
He gathered the pills and stashed anything of value before swiftly leaving the scene, heart pounding. Already, distant snarls echoed in the undergrowth. Linfei knew the bloodied corpse would attract forest monsters. Just as cultivators hunted beasts for strength and resources, these monsters would devour a human cultivator to fuel their own growth. Shadows darted among the trees, and Linfei caught sight of fanged shapes tearing into the rogue's remains just as he slipped away.
Finding a quiet spot, Linfei pored over the mysterious letter, tracing the patterns and riddles to piece together a rough map. After a brief meditation to collect his strength, he set out into the dense woods, guided by the letter's clues. After hours of searching—dodging through tangled brush and scaling rocky slopes—he finally found it: a cave entrance, half-hidden by thick vines and moss, nestled in an ancient cliff deep within the forest's wild heart.