They continued their way through the dense, shadowed forest.
A sense of unease settled over them as they headed deeper and deeper into the forest, it was still eerily silent to silent. There were no spirit beasts, no signs of anything larger than the occasional rustling of small, unseen creatures—something was still off. The forest, usually alive with the sounds of nature, felt lifeless, as though it were holding its breath.
The tension could be gripped with one's bare hands. Zhao Wuji's entire body oozed off, killing intent as they decided to stop. Growling, he looked backward.
"I pray we have gotten away far enough." He rumbled and then gazed at Oscar, softening slightly at his und and that of the other youths. "I am sorry, Oscar. If I had known Spirit Hall was hunting, it would have been better to delay our start for a while."
"It's fine," Oscar said with a grin. "I understand."
"Good. We should head deeper into the forest tomorrow and start searching in earnest. Today, night watch will be Me, Ma Hongjun, and Dai Mubai. We rotate shifts every night. The next night will be Tang San, Oscar, and Zhu Zhuquing. So you three make sure to catch a lot of sleep."
"Yes." They all said uniformly and then started putting up Camp. It was eerily silent during the night when Ning Feng started distributing the sandwiches she had brought along for dinner. The forest was so quiet it was eery. Tang Yin wasn't used to it.
Whenever she had been in a forest, it had been full of sound, life vibrating inside it. Next to her, Jiang settled. "Yin, " he said, and she looked at him. His expression was grim. "I will be vanishing tonight. Do not worry for me. Tell Zhao Wujis that he does not need to search for me."
"Alright." She nodded. "Do the others know?"
"I think your bother may suspect it. Xiao Wu and Ning Feng probably caught on as well. The others...well, they don't really know me, " he said. I'll tell them separately today."
"Alright." She grinned his hand. "Jiang."
He gazed at her, his eyes sunken. She still remembered his livid rage when he had been holding the spirit beast's body. "Please promise me not to try to take revenge, " she said. Zhao Wuji has a point; right now is no good. Calm yourself, and make sure you can beat them. I don't want to lose you."
"Don't worry, I am strong." He rumbled. "Stronger than Zhao Wujis when it comes down to it."
"So are they." Tang Yin told him. "So are they. Jiang. Revenge is best served cold, ice cold. Don't overdo it, and don't let your rage control you."
"I won't, " he hissed. "But only since it's you asking." Then he leaned his head against her. Stay safe, Yin."
"I will." She stroked his hair aside. "Don't worry. Nothing in this world can stop me from doing what I have to."
"That is quite arrogant. But I believe you." He looked into the sky. "When the next time comes, you need a spirit ring. No need to hunt... I'll get you the best."
"I don't want to kill spirit beasts...I will come," she said, and Jiang nodded. Then he closed his eyes for a second, the tension seeping out of his body as he relaxed for a brief moment. Then he got on his feet and left with a smile and a wave.
Tang Yin stared after Jiang, knowing it would be the last time she would see him in a long time. He had stayed away from his duties longer than usual, after all.
Taking a deep breath, she smiled and walked to her tent. She got inside and changed into a PJ before falling face-first into the bed and sighing.
A bit late, Ning Feng came and lay beside her. Both of them were silent before Yin said anything.
"I-I know." Ning Feng said. "I-I will m-miss him."
"Me too." They both remained silent.
"D-don't worry, he i-is strong."
"I know that too. I still worry."
"I-I see." They fell silent again when they listened and saw Tang San and Xiao Wu come inside the tent. Tang Yin looked at them as they spread their bedding on the ground.
"Can't sleep?" She asked.
"Oscar is snoring again." Tang San rumbled, and Xiao Wu sighed. "Rong Rong is meditating and keeping the light on."
"Oh, I see." Tang Yin said and curled up. "Good night then."