The deeper they moved into the maze, the quieter it became, not in peace, but in tension. Feng Jiao Xue didn't trust the stillness. The kind of silence that dropped like a blade just before the killing blow. Even the wind no longer rustled the leaves, and the air was heavy, as if the forest itself held its breath.
Mo Tianze was only a few steps behind her, sharp-eyed, ears twitching beneath his hood. They'd made progress through the maze, fending off enchanted vines and avoiding the snarling beasts camouflaged in roots and bark. His presence, so calm and unwavering at her back, had become a quiet anchor in the madness of this test.
Feng Jiao Xue's gaze flicked to the side. Something was off.
The moment she shifted her weight forward, the trap sprung.
