"Eyes forward," He Xing whispered harshly from beside him. The bulky disciple had noticed Han Yu's sidelong glances. "This isn't a stroll in the courtyard. Stay sharp."
Han Yu simply nodded, not bothering to argue. He kept walking, though his mind refused to let go of the thought. If the scouting mission split, that might be his chance.
The group pressed deeper into the forest.
The air grew heavier, damp with a faintly metallic tang. Now and then, a low growl reverberated from unseen shadows, making the weaker disciples tense and grip their weapons. But Elder Yue gave no signal to stop. She pressed on with the calm confidence of someone who had walked through countless dangers before.
"Form tighter lines," she commanded after another hour passed. "The beasts here are solitary hunters. They may stalk us. Pay attention to your senses... qi fluctuations, distorted sounds, unusual silence. They all mean danger."
