Dawn was nearly breaking, yet the four beast men continued searching the forest without pause.
A thin mist lingered between towering ancient trees, while the ground remained damp with night dew. Not a single corner escaped their inspection.
Luo Shixin flew low across the sky, his energy wings slicing through the cold air. His sharp gaze scanned every movement below; even the smallest shadow beneath the forest canopy did not escape his vigilance.
Elsewhere, Lu Xiao's body had transformed into a thin veil of black mist. He slipped through tangled roots, cracks in stone, and dense undergrowth. His spiritual energy spread outward like an invisible net, probing every trace of life.
Lin Yuan followed the winding river downstream. Cold water reached his knees as he walked against the current. Several times he dove beneath the surface, searching the riverbed—afraid the body they sought might have been swept away without a trace.
Meanwhile, Xiang Shuai chose the most dangerous path.
He entered one hidden cave after another without hesitation, without rest. Dust and damp scents clung to his clothes, yet his eyes remained sharp.
He did not care about danger.
He searched for only one person.
Xue Yunxue.
—
Xiang Shuai suddenly stopped.
His brows furrowed.
He sensed something.
There was beast-man energy… mixed with the rotten stench unique to mutant humans. The energy resonance was chaotic, as if a fierce battle had taken place.
The source came from a narrow fissure along a cliffside.
The opening was small—barely one meter wide. It would have been almost impossible to notice without careful observation.
Dark stains of dried blood marked the rocks at the entrance.
Xiang Shuai's gaze instantly sharpened.
His heartbeat quickened.
He stepped closer and called out, his voice low yet clear,
"Is anyone in there?"
Silence.
No response came.
Only the echo of his own voice bounced back from within the cave.
His expression darkened. Without hesitation, he lowered his body and entered the narrow opening. Stone walls scraped against his shoulders as he advanced slowly, every step filled with vigilance.
About twenty meters from the entrance, the tight passage suddenly widened.
Before him opened a spacious cavern—large enough for two people to walk side by side.
Xiang Shuai leaned his head inside.
And instantly—
dozens of wary gazes locked onto him.
A group of beast-man soldiers stood in combat formation, their faces tense, weapons raised and ready to strike.
But the tension collapsed within a single second.
Because they recognized him.
Relief swept through the cavern like a warm breeze.
Xiang Shuai barely noticed anyone else.
His eyes immediately found Yun Wu standing among the group—upright despite visible exhaustion.
And then…
behind the man's back, a pair of familiar almond-shaped eyes peeked out cautiously.
Xue Yunxue.
For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
The tension that had gripped Xiang Shuai's chest since last night shattered instantly. An overwhelming wave of relief flooded his body, nearly robbing his legs of strength.
She's alive…
His breath trembled without his noticing.
Without thinking further—without caring about the soldiers' stares or Yun Wu's presence—
Xiang Shuai rushed straight toward Xue Yunxue.
He stopped directly in front of her, breathing slightly uneven from running.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt? Let me check you."
His voice overflowed with undisguised concern. His hands immediately grasped her shoulders, gently turning her around to check for hidden injuries. Her clothes were stained with dried blood, causing his heart to tighten again.
His eyes carefully examined every part of her.
Thank goodness…
There were no open wounds.
Only dirty clothes, slightly disheveled hair, and the lingering scent of blood clinging to her body.
"Yes, I'm fine," Xue Yunxue replied, slightly confused by his exaggerated reaction. "Why are you here?"
Xiang Shuai let out a long breath. The heavy burden pressing on his chest since last night finally collapsed. The tension he had carried throughout the search slowly faded, replaced by relief so intense his legs nearly weakened.
"Of course I came to find you," he said softly, traces of lingering anxiety still in his voice.
His gaze then shifted toward Yun Wu.
"And how did you meet him? Didn't you disappear last night with your expedition group?"
All eyes turned toward Yun Wu.
The soldiers' expressions changed, becoming filled with sorrow.
The man looked far paler than usual. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and exhaustion was clearly written across his face. He stood straight, yet it was obvious his body had not fully recovered.
Yun Wu fell silent for a moment before finally answering.
"Yes… our group walked straight into a mutant trap. Every one of them was a mutant above level fifty," he said quietly.
The atmosphere inside the cave instantly turned silent.
"We were ambushed from all directions. Our formation collapsed before we could even stabilize it. And in the middle of the battle, Xue Yunxue arrived to help us."
Xiang Shuai's eyes filled with shock. This small girl possessed courage as vast as the ocean.
Yun Wu continued his story, slowly clenching his fist, his jaw tightening.
"After fighting for an entire day… only about fifty soldiers survived… out of more than two thousand."
The words fell heavily into the air.
Several soldiers lowered their heads, their faces filled with grief and restrained anger. Memories of last night's battle were still painfully vivid—screams, blood, and comrades falling one after another.
Xiang Shuai's gaze darkened.
He knew how powerful Yun Wu's army was. If even they had been reduced to only a handful of survivors…
then the mutant threat was far more dangerous than they had imagined.
Xiang Shuai slowly raised his hand. A sphere of energy ignited in his palm, pulsing like a tiny heart before shooting out through the cave entrance, leaving behind a faint trail of light in the air. The signal would guide Lu Xiao and the others to their location.
Dim light once again filled the cave. The brief silence felt heavy, weighed down by fragile hope.
A young soldier stepped forward. Shen Wu—his face still pale from exhaustion but his eyes burning with hope—looked at Xiang Shuai.
"Are you the team sent to rescue us?" he asked cautiously.
Xiang Shuai frowned slightly. He disliked lying, so he told the truth.
"To be honest," he said flatly, "we didn't come for you. We came to find Xue Yunxue."
Several soldiers exchanged glances. The hope that had briefly ignited in their eyes slowly faded. No one blamed Xiang Shuai—but disappointment could not be hidden.
They had sent a distress signal before entering the signal-dead zone. No reply came. No reinforcements arrived.
Last night, they had watched their comrades fall one by one. Screams, blood, and mutant shadows still lingered vividly in their memories. Despair had once gripped their hearts, convincing them they would never see the sun again.
If not for Xue Yunxue…
Several soldiers' gazes unconsciously shifted toward her.
The girl stood calmly beside Yun Wu, her clothes still stained with blood, her hair slightly disheveled, yet her gentle aura felt strangely comforting. Her rare plant element had saved their lives—she had brought numerous precious healing medicines to treat injuries and restore energy. She had even risked herself to hold back a level-eighty mutant that nearly wiped out the entire army.
Not to mention the supplies of medicine and food she carried.
Their logistics team had been slaughtered midway through the journey. Without Yunxue, they might have starved to death before even reaching the battlefield.
"But…" Xue Yunxue's soft voice broke the silence.
She stepped forward slightly, her eyes shining with hope. "Can't we bring them back to camp with us?"
Her tone was sincere—too sincere to reject immediately.
Xiang Shuai's brow twitched faintly.
He glanced toward the cave entrance, already imagining the journey back: mutant territory not yet fully secured, sudden ambushes, narrow paths, and now… fifty exhausted soldiers nearly drained of energy.
He, Lu Xiao, Lin Yuan, and Luo Shixin had been fighting nonstop since entering this region.
Adding fifty more people meant slowing down.
It meant increasing risk.
But…
His gaze swept across the soldiers—their dirt-covered faces, open wounds, and eyes holding lingering fear along with their final hope.
Leaving them here would be no different from sentencing them to a slow death.
Xiang Shuai let out a long breath.
He had not yet answered, but everyone inside the cave knew—
this decision was no longer about strategy.
It was about conscience.
His gaze fell upon Xue Yunxue's face. The harsh lines on his expression gradually softened, as if the difficult decision suddenly became simple.
"Of course," he finally said, his voice calm yet firm. "We'll bring them all with us. I didn't come alone—Lu Xiao and the others are here."
Several soldiers immediately released sighs of relief. The tension hanging in the air slowly melted away, replaced by renewed hope.
Thirty minutes later, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the cave.
Luo Shixin appeared first. His cloak was slightly torn, his breathing steady, though it was clear he had moved quickly. The moment he saw Xue Yunxue, his gaze sharpened.
Without saying much, he approached and examined her from head to toe—her injuries, energy aura, even her spiritual pulse.
"Fortunately, you're safe," he said coldly and flatly, yet the concern behind his words was unmistakable. He truly radiated the aura of a grand general.
The soldiers' eyes shone with hope. With a great general now on their side, they would surely survive!
A flash of surprise crossed Luo Shixin's eyes when he realized Yunxue was with the missing soldiers, but he suppressed the questions rising to his lips.
Not now.
The real interrogation… would take place after they returned. Especially for Yun Wu.
Before the atmosphere could fully settle—
a thin black mist suddenly shot into the cave.
Fast. Silent. Deadly.
The mist spiraled through the air before stopping directly in front of Xue Yunxue, then condensed into a tall, familiar figure.
Lu Xiao.
Without giving anyone time to react, he immediately pulled Xue Yunxue into his arms.
The embrace was tight—too tight—as if he were confirming that something nearly lost was now truly real within his grasp.
"You scared me half to death," he whispered softly.
Xue Yunxue froze.
Her body stiffened in his embrace. This vampire… was always too gentle with her, too attentive, leaving her unsure how to react.
On the other side—
Xiang Shuai instantly felt irritation rise to his head.
Meanwhile, Yun Wu, leaning not far away, watched the scene with darkened eyes. His jaw unconsciously tightened. Something uncomfortable pulsed in his chest—sharp, hot, and impossible to explain.
Only Luo Shixin watched calmly, his emotions perfectly controlled.
Lin Yuan arrived a few seconds later. He raised an eyebrow at the scene before letting out a faint scoff.
"This girl is truly immune to the God of Death," he said dryly. "I suppose we don't need to worry about her anymore. Even Death itself can't kill her."
His tone sounded casual, but the teasing undertone was unmistakable.
Xue Yunxue finally came back to her senses and quickly pulled herself free from Lu Xiao's embrace. Her hands gently pushed against his chest as her face flushed red all the way to her ears.
Being hugged by a man… in front of dozens of watching eyes…
She wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole at that moment.
Her heart pounded wildly, embarrassment flooding her so strongly that she could barely look at anyone.
By noon, the atmosphere inside the cave had become far more lively.
A campfire burned warmly at the center of the stone chamber, while the aroma of roasted meat filled the air. Several soldiers who were still strong enough had hunted wild animals in the surrounding forest, while Xue Yunxue skillfully cleaned and grilled the meat using the simple seasonings she carried.
Though the meal was modest, for those who had just escaped death, it felt like the finest banquet imaginable.
The young soldiers sat in a circle, their once-pale faces gradually regaining color. Soft laughter began to echo, breaking the lingering tension that had weighed on everyone's hearts.
On the other side of the fire, Luo Shixin stood calmly with the composure of a leader.
As a grand general and master strategist, his thoughts had already moved on to the next step.
"I have a plan to return to the camp," he said firmly.
He raised his hand, and a dim light flickered from the spatial ring on his finger. A moment later, a heavy armored vehicle appeared outside the cave with a low rumble. The vehicle was massive and sturdy, clearly designed for long journeys through dangerous territory.
"This vehicle can carry a maximum of fifty adult beastmen," he continued.
But their current number… was fifty-six people.
That meant six individuals would have to travel by land.
A brief silence fell over the group.
Most of the surviving soldiers from Yun Wu's army were still very young—around seventeen to thirty years old. Their bodies were covered in wounds, and their energy was nearly depleted.
Without the slightest hesitation, Xue Yunxue made a decision.
"All soldiers will board the vehicle," she said firmly. "No exceptions."
Some tried to protest, but Yunxue's serious gaze left no room for argument.
Yun Wu, though his face remained pale from his injuries, stood up and said, "I'll take the land route with you."
Xiang Shuai immediately frowned.
Lu Xiao stepped forward as well.
"You should be the one riding in the vehicle," Xiang Shuai said.
"Your body hasn't fully recovered yet," Lu Xiao added quietly but firmly.
But Xue Yunxue was just as stubborn as the snake youth.
"I'm fine."
A small argument nearly broke out until Luo Shixin finally let out a soft sigh and offered a suggestion.
"In that case," he said calmly, "come with me by air. It's safer and faster."
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
That proposal… was difficult to refuse.
After eating, everyone's energy had partially recovered. Preparations for departure were carried out quickly and efficiently.
Xue Yunxue stood in front of the armored vehicle, making sure each soldier had boarded safely. She counted carefully, unwilling to leave anyone behind.
Only after confirming everyone was secure did she turn around.
Before her, Luo Shixin had already transformed into his true form—
a gigantic golden eagle.
His wings spread wide across the open space, golden feathers shimmering under the daylight. A powerful and majestic aura radiated from him, causing several soldiers to unconsciously hold their breath.
Xue Yunxue slowly climbed onto his back.
It was broad and sturdy, his feathers unbelievably soft—warm and smooth beneath her palms.
Without realizing it, her fingers gently stroked the golden feathers.
A small movement… almost imperceptible.
But to Luo Shixin, that touch felt like a soft ripple reaching the deepest part of his heart. A faint tremor passed through his chest—something he had never experienced in his cold and disciplined world.
"Be careful. Don't fall," Lu Xiao reminded from below, his gaze never leaving Yunxue.
Xue Yunxue gave a small nod.
The next second—
the golden eagle beat his wings.
A powerful gust of wind swirled outward, dust scattering as the massive figure shot upward into the sky.
After they disappeared into the air, the atmosphere on the ground grew quiet for a moment.
Yun Wu stared at the sky a few seconds longer than necessary.
Then a faint light shimmered around his body.
In an instant, he transformed into a massive black wolf. His dark fur gleamed like a moonless night, his golden eyes sharp and cold.
Beside him, Xiang Shuai also transformed into a gigantic serpent, his long body coiling before darting swiftly into the forest.
Lin Yuan and Lu Xiao exchanged a brief glance.
Their bodies slowly dissolved into mist—one icy blue, the other pitch black—floating low as they followed behind.
The four figures moved together, cutting through the dark forest at incredible speed.
The journey home… had finally begun.