“Never let the view of the outside disappear between the leaves.” said their guide, standing a the edge of the Endless wilderness. “You’ve heard the saying about how deep you should enter. Well, don’t even risk it. Never go more than a few steps in no matter what you see.”

“Why not just be careful how many meters away from the edge? Yen Chen literally said there was saying how far you could go,” said Felix. She scowled at him and he raised his hands. “Hey, hey, I’m just curious. I want to be safe too.”

“The Endless Wilderness is unforgiving. Look, just listen to what I say, okay?” said their guide.

Felix craned his head to get a better view as she almost disappeared amongst the leaves. She was kneeling, her head slowing moving as if searching for something.

Perhaps I was a bit of an ass when I called her out. I mean, I don’t know what kind of shit she been through. On the other hand, she was a little bitchy. Or am I being soft only because she is easy on the eyes? Pfft, I don’t even know her name.

Felix glanced back at his companions. Edward was messing with a stick while Yang Mei and Cixi were caught in some kind of debate. Daiyu was looking right back at him.

Plus there are other emotional quagmires to navigate before I do something stupid. I wonder what kind of crazy sex acts cultivators can do. Oh no, don’t let it show on your face, Felix. Don’t let it show on your face!

“I need to check some other spots.” said their guide.

“Of course. We have the rest of the day,” said Felix. He saw Daiyu cock her head in his direction and all but dragged the woman. “But that is no reason to be slow. Come on, let’s hurry up.”

“Right…” she said, slipping from his grasp. “There a few places my dad showed me. Spots where weaker beasts would stay near the edge to avoid predators.”

“Oh, and what would the result of that tell you?” said Felix.

“I will know when I see it. It could tell me a lot of things.” said their guide.

“Way to be vague and mysterious,” said Felix. “Why do people love doing that?”

“Just… Let me investigate those spots, okay?”

“Alright,” said Felix. He gave Daiyu a glance and she returned a shrug. “I mean, Yen Shen said you know what you are doing. So, you probably know what you’re doing.”

“I do.”

They combed the wilderness’s edge, going kilometers in both directions from the Serpent Path. At various spots their guide would stop them with a raised hand, disappearing into the woods for a few minutes. Her face continued to fall after each inspection. The sun began to set as they returned to the entrance of the Serpent path.

“I wish we had brought the Four-Season bears,” said Felix, slowing his pace to walk beside Edward.

“What?” said Edward, dropping the stone he had been tearing apart. “Why’d you want that? I barely trust those things after seeing what they did in Pale Hill city. Even if they are super useful.”

“Since I want to head back to the Sect as soon as our guide is finished. I think the girls will agree with me. Well, obviously Yang Mei. She wanted to leave a while ago but even Cixi should be satisfied. I mean, this is as much information as I think we can reasonably be expected to obtain. Even if our young guide discovers some secret, it is something for the elders to deal with.”

“Why do you call her young?” said Edward.

“Because she is a young woman?”

“I am pretty sure she is older than all of us. I mean, you're what, sixteen? Yang Mei is seventeen and I would bet Cixi is about the same.” said Edward. He squeezed his fist, crushing the last piece of the rock. “No idea what age Daiyu is, that is not something I am going to guess in public or private. Still, our guide must be at least twenty”

“Huh… I suppose you are right. That is neither here nor there, we are going right back to town, grabbing the bears, and traveling through the night to get back to the sect.

“Makes sense,” said Edward nodding, stroking his chin. “I think that is the smart choice.”

“You know, it really is weird when you act knowing with that face.”

“Hey, I can’t help it. It is not my fault you’re ageist. You really need to learn to not judge a book by its cover Felix.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” said Felix, rolling his eyes. “Still, it will be nice to be back. I’ve… acquired a pretty important manual for myself that seems to be just what I needed. We also need to work on a new manual for you.”

“And don’t you forget it,” said Edward. “Speaking of which, we are back at the snake trail or whatever. Go ask our guide why she has been muttering to herself and let’s get out of here. I want to eat.”

Felix left Edward to join their guide who had stopped to stand at the path’s entrance. She stared down its depth, her eye seeing something Felix couldn’t. He waited for her to respond but she remained oblivious to his presence.

“You know, I really didn’t mean to grope you.”

“What?” said the woman, her head snapping to face him. “Oh, yea. I might have been at fault.”

“Really? You are going to forgive me that easy.”

She scowled and went back to look over the road.

Well… I suppose that will have to do. Can’t make everyone happy.

“So, what did you find?” said Felix.

“You guys were right, there is no sign of spirit beasts…”

“…And?” prompted Felix.

“and it has been known to foreshadow beast tides.”

“So the information we got in Pale Hill city was correct… Well, that’s good enough for me. Let’s get back to the city.” said Yang Mei. “Come on Felix, let’s get our bears. I want to go home. This trip has been a disappointment.”

“Felix? Daiyu?” said Cixi. “You coming?”

“Hold on a moment,” said Felix, staring at the guide’s worried looking face. “What haven’t you said? I mean, this may mean a beast tide but surely Beast Watch is prepared for such a thing.”

“I’m not sure what’s wrong.” said their guide. “My father told me stories from my grandfather about the last tide. There were signs to look for are here but he never mentioned the silence.”

“The silence?” said Felix.

“The Endless Wilderness is normally a cacophony of sound. The qi ensures the forest is lush with life.”

“I can hear some insects?” said Felix. “I mean, what else do you want?”

“Insects! Just insects, and barely any of them.” said their guide, pacing back and forth. “I remember days where the sound was deafening. Only after a truly mighty roar would there be a moment of peace. It’s not just that. At the location I made us stop, you can normally see the signs of multiple normal animals’ passage. There were none except those that were more than a month old. Whatever is going on, it’s not normal. I-I need to go see the city lord. I don’t know how I’ll get an audience, but he needs to know something is wrong.”

“Daiyu…” said Felix, watching the woman’s continual loss of composure. “What do you think?”

“Maybe we stepped into something bigger than we thought.” Wrote Daiyu. “We need someone older and wiser. Well, more powerful atleast.”

“Right,” said Felix. “Yang Mei, hand our gracious guide something extra for her help. We need to get on our mounts and head back. Daiyu is there any way to contact the sect more quickly.”

“Not from here.” Wrote Daiyu. “In Pale Hill City, I might be able to find the way.”

“Are you sure it’s that urgent?” said Yang Mei, eyeing our guide. “She accused you earlier today. So she could be exaggerating to mess with us, and what has she told us really? Missing tracks? That is barely any more information than we had in Pale Hill City.”

“Yang Mei, all she said seems to me to mean the movement in the woods isn’t normal. Not just a beast tide. That connected with what we witness about empire involvement in Pale Hill is more than enough for me.” said Felix.

“And what did you learn about the empire in Pale Hill City?” said a deep female voice.

Felix turned toward the source of the voice and felt his heart dropped. A group of ten figures was staring at them, two figures standing at its front. One was an Old man with bushy white facial hair nearly masking his entire face. The other was a woman who was framed by bright golden hair held back in a ponytail. A prong spear held casually at one side with silent electricity crackling between its two tips. They were all adorned in Yang family colors.

I’m not lucky enough that those are people hunting this woman, am I? Wishful thinking. No, and she looks too calm for that. Well, I suppose being killed by a beautiful woman is, which doesn’t make it sound any better. God, what is with my luck lately?

Felix’s group drew their weapons, but the bearded man just snorted. He raised a single hand crackling with lightning. Felix let go of the hilt of his sword and brought his hands together, performing a small bow of greeting.

“To be in the presence of such a beautiful fairy, I’m honored,” said Felix. “If we have offended you in some way, please tell us and we will try to rectify the situation.”

The lightning in the old man’s hand died down to a low crackle and he turned to look at the blonde woman. She nodded and he raised his hand back up.

“So quick to violence, is there any harm in taking a moment to exchange a few words?” said Felix. His nose twitched as a snowflake landed on it. “A word can gain you much. Would the young miss of the Yang Family not be interested in gaining something today?”

Felix tried to ignore the flinches from his compatriots or the confused look from Edward. The Old man’s face hardened at the mention of the Yang Family name, but he was waved down. The blond woman planted her spear butt in the ground before her, leaning on it as she inspected him.

“It seems you do know who we are, and I heard your recent conclusions. So, what can you possibly offer with your words?” said the Yang heiress.

Alright, let’s use that ‘voice’. It is always good in these situations, right? Easy does it. There.

“This noble hero is known as Felix. Would you grace me with your name, beautiful fairy?”

“So only words of a glided tongue? I am disappointed. Still, manners have their place. My name is Yang Biyu, the head of the new Yang Family.” said Yang Biyu. “I have to admit that I have had sycophants compliment me before but never someone I am about to kill. It feels strange.”

“Of course your plan has merit but let me present you with a more beneficial plan, beautiful fairy. First, may I know why you wish to kill us?”

“Do not play games, boy?” said Yang Biyu. “Your group obviously had something to do with the issue in Pale Hill city and now you're interested in the Woods. It is just good my men reported your presence here. I do not need to explain to you my plans for you to know you have annoyed me.”

“But that is where you have misstep Fairy Biyu, for there is still a way to salvage this situation,” said Felix slowly. “Wouldn’t you want the sects of the central region to turn their attention elsewhere?”

“Yes…” said Yang Biyu.

“Then let me mislead them. You let us go back and report that there is no issue. In return, you let us go. Everyone is happy.”

“Felix!” said Yang Mei.

Oh my god Yang Mei, I am trying to save us. These memories and I can’t carry the whole fucking world!

“That’s it?” said Yang Biyu. “I thought you wanted to offer something of value. I don’t like uncontrollable elements. Uncle-”

“Wait, wait, who said that was the end of the benefits? I mean, that was only the start. The sect is already planning to investigate so I thought you needed us.” said Felix. “You are working with the Empire, yes? Then your value dropped after the fiasco in Pale Hill city?”

“Correct! Which you seemed to have been responsible for.” snapped Yang Biyu, her spear tip flashing. “Your point?”

“That was of course beyond anyone’s control but surely you have dropped in your new partner’s eyes, yes? Then you just need to offer something new to make up for this issue. What better way than coming back with spies in the Thousand Season Sect itself?”

Felix felt the sweat on his begin to freeze as the sky darken. Yet he didn’t move as Biyu’s eyes own bored into him.

“You may have a point,” said Yang Biyu. “Your compatriots don’t seem to share your views though.” She stood tall, her spear snapping up, its tip pointed at Yang Mei. “Their deaths though will make you more sympathetic in your elder’s eyes.”

“Whoa, hold on,” said Felix, shifting slightly to block the spear’s path. “Won’t that have the opposite effect? I mean, I would be way more suspicious with a single survivor story. Think about it, it is way easier to get one person to betray than a group.”

“Ahh, but you have just pointed out the flaw in your own reasoning,” said Yang Biyu. “A group of you betraying is unbelievable because it is. Therefore, I don’t believe it. On the other hand, you’ve shown that you care about at least one of your companions. So let us go back to the plan where you act as a double agent. With their lives as collateral, I am sure you will be much more compliant. If the sect doesn’t believe you, what do I have to lose?”

“I- wait,” said Felix. “could we discuss it a bit more? I am sure we could come to a mutually beneficial deal.”

“So your gilded tongue finally stumbled? Perfect, it was getting annoying. Uncle, subdue them. We need to enact the plan as soon as possible and I don’t trust this weather.”

“Finally!” said the bearded man, rolling his shoulders and cracking his back. “Can I have the short one? I’ve always wanted to know what is behind those masks.”

“No,” said Yang Biyu.

Her uncle rolled his eyes and stepped forward, turning into a blur of light. Felix blinked and found the man flying in the opposite direction, letting out a howl of pain. A women’s back was to them, her icy armor tinted orange in the last rays of the sun.

The Yang Family members seemed frozen even as Biyu’s uncle cursed. Biyu only narrowed her eyes, then they literally flashed with light.

Fuck me! Oh, and the memory’s ‘voice is not supplying support. Unreliable coward.

“Is Elder Zhenzhen going to appear too?” asked Felix.

“She would have shown herself,” said Xue, not even turning back to face him. “I had thought she was following us as well.”

“Damn,” said Felix. “Good luck.”

He spun and saw that the others had already begun their flight into the woods. Their feet crunch on the freshly fallen snow as sounds of thunder and breaking ice sounded from behind.