The wind carried a silence that did not belong in the aftermath of a battle. The shattered forest clearing, still echoing with the force of Er Ming's departure, felt hollow now—like something vital had been torn away.
Xiao Wu was gone.
And Tang San stood in the center of that emptiness, fists clenched and shaking. His lips were tight, his eyes bloodshot. Blue Silver Grass spiraled out from his body, trembling in sync with his heart. The moment Er Ming vanished into the mist, clutching Xiao Wu in colossal arms, Tang San had not spoken a single word. He had simply stared at the spot where she disappeared—like a statue carved from rage and disbelief.
A soft cough startled him. Oscar stepped forward hesitantly, holding out a glowing sausage. "Tang San"
Tang San turned, eyes blazing. He snatched the sausage from Oscar's hand without a word.
Spirit power flared, and translucent wings burst from Tang San's shoulders—the gift of Oscar's Swift Flight Mushroom Sausage while carrying ten more of them. In the next instant, he rocketed into the sky like an arrow loosed from a divine bow, tearing across the dawn-tinged canopy toward the misty trail left by the Titan Giant Ape.
"TANG SAN!" Zhao Wuji bellowed, but the boy was already gone.
Ma Hongjun stumbled forward. "Damn it! He'll kill himself!"
Dai Mubai ground his teeth. "Not even a breath… he didn't even wait."
Amid their mounting alarm, Li Wei remained still, Diendriver resting in his palm, the Diend armor's bluish glow still clinging to him. He watched the direction Tang San vanished.
His heart pounded with unspoken understanding: He's going after her, no matter the cost… I knew he would.
Li Wei manifest the card. The card that he need right now. A single card shimmered against the dawn mist. No words. No hesitation. He slid the card into the Diendriver's side slot.
[AttackRide: Invisible.]
A ripple of pure light, and his form vanished completely. Not a flicker of wind betrayed him—only the faint hum of his spirit power remained to betray his absence as the sound of the activation of the card alert the closest person.
Ning Rongrong blinked. "Li Wei…?"
She whirled, but saw nothing.
"Zhu Qing?" she called.
Zhu Zhuqing's expression darkened as she swept her gaze across the clearing. "He's gone. Gone without a word."
"What?" Ma Hongjun spun in bewilderment. "He just—did he really—?"
Dai Mubai muttered under his breath, "Not a word."
Zhao Wuji's brow furrowed. "Reckless… all of them."
"Teacher Zhao," Oscar ventured, voice uncertain, "should I make more flying sausages?"
Zhao Wuji's eyes hardened. "You should have done that already. Tang San's chasing a beast that could smash him like a gnat. If Li Wei followed him… We can't stand here."
Oscar's spirits flared as he summoned new sausages—mushrooms popping into existence with soft pfft, glowing pale-white in their hands.
Zhao Wuji faced the team. "We follow at once—but from a distance. Do not engage. Our priority is retrieval. If we lose all three of them…" His words trailed off, the unspoken horror left to hang in the mist.
---
Far above the forest, wind tore at Tang San's face. His wings beat furiously, spirit energy trailing like stardust. The ground below blurred into ribbons of green and shadow. His eyes were locked onto subtle signs in the canopy—bent trees, trampled ferns, enormous footprints.
He pushed harder. Xiao Wu… hold on.
He didn't know what he would do when he caught up—didn't care. Only one thought burned clear: I won't let you disappear... not another again.
---
Hidden in plain sight, Li Wei followed. Invisible. Silent.
His breath was measured. Maintaining invisibility drained spirit power, and though his Diend form granted enhanced endurance, he would need to be cautious.
No words, he thought. None. Tang San needs to act without me in sight. He replayed the moment Xiao Wu vanished—her eyes, half-trusting, half-afraid. Er Ming's gentle grasp. The forest reclaiming them both.
Xiao Wu… your past catches you at last. His fingers brushed the Diendriver. He must not see the truth yet. If Tang San learns too soon, he'll…
A flicker of doubt crossed his mind—anger, perhaps, at Tang San's own choices. He stop to hunts a spirit beast for his spirit ring, not continue forward. When Xiao Wu was at risk… But he shook it away. Not now. I'll protect you—no matter what.
---
Back in the clearing, Oscar distributed the new sausages. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
Dai Mubai took one with a curt nod. Zhu Zhuqing, precise and composed, followed. Ning Rongrong hesitated—her gaze drifting to the empty sky path.
Li Wei… you didn't even look back.
Her fingers trembled around the glowing flying mushroom.
Zhao Wuji's commanding voice cut through her reverie. "Focus! Don't let emotion cloud your judgment."
He was already halfway into his martial spirit transformation, seven rings lighting his form. "Eat your sausages! Ascend!"
They rose—an odd cluster of glowing figures, each soaring into the mist-choked air, hearts steeled for pursuit.
Ma Hongjun groaned as he rose. "Just great—chasing after a monkey-ape thing."
"Not just any ape," Dai Mubai muttered grimly. "One of the forest's overlords."
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, but her violet eyes burned with determination.
Li Wei… why did you leave without a word? What are you hiding?