The group walked slowly toward the castle, their every step falling on a ground littered with dead branches and fallen leaves, producing a crunching sound that seemed exceptionally jarring in the eerie silence. The black mist lingering around them seemed alive, gently wrapping around their ankles as wisps of chill seeped through their skin, making them involuntarily shiver.
Lin Xiu walked at the very front, his eyes fixed intently on the castle gates. The Void Fang in his hand quivered slightly, as if sensing the impending danger. Alice followed closely behind him, her hand resting lightly and instinctively on Lin Xiu's shoulder—partly to draw a sliver of reassurance from his strength, and partly to stand shoulder to shoulder with him the moment danger struck. Her gaze was resolute, constantly scanning the surroundings for any movement, while the cold light reflected off the short blade in her hand seemed to wait for the exact moment to tear through the darkness.
Su Yu took the flank of the formation, her longbow drawn to its limit, an arrow glowing with Wind Magic notched and ready to fire. Her gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, sweeping back and forth through the mist without missing a single corner where an enemy might lurk. Her fingers rested lightly on the bowstring, trembling slightly with a mix of tension and excitement, ready at a moment's notice to deal a fatal blow to any enemy.
Chapter 41