Xie Jue squinted his eyes while Fang Chuning raised a finger to his lips, signaling silence. Under the trees, Dugu Jing and the Beiman cursed as they walked past.
Everyone's heart was in their throat. Fang Chuning gripped the sword hilt tightly, ready to strike at any moment.
Suddenly, a chilling glint sliced through the air, accompanied by a cold, ominous voice that echoed through the forest, "Second Young Master, the hunting hour has arrived. Time to show yourself!"
As the voice faded, the glint streaked skyward—three arrows, sharp and fierce, sped through the dense branches and leaves. Fang Chuning grabbed a tree branch with one hand, his longsword flashing as he cut down the arrows.
"So, you've been hiding here after all. Kill them!" The voice rang out again as the Jinyi Guard and Forbidden Army unsheathed their blades. Dugu Jing drew a curved blade and charged toward Fang Chuning.
