The night was as thick as ink, impossible to dissolve. Leitao led Liu Zishan and Chen Feiyang in a mad dash through the dim jungle. The deeper they went, the quieter it became; only their heavy breathing and rapid footsteps striking the dead, silent earth echoed, yet they failed to stir a single sound.
Suddenly, Leitao stopped abruptly at a fork in the path. He knelt down quickly, brushing aside layers of fallen leaves with his hands to examine the ground, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. The footprints and trampled leaves that had been clearly visible just moments ago had vanished without a trace, as if Uesugi Kazuya and the ninja had evaporated into thin air, leaving behind only the silent forest and their own growing confusion.
Liu Zishan and Chen Feiyang caught up. Seeing the grave expression on Leitao’s face, their hearts sank. "What now, Brother Lei?" Chen Feiyang asked anxiously. Leitao stood up, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the two paths, missing nothing that might hide a clue. Finally, he shook his head in frustration. "The trail is gone. Let’s head back the way we came, rest, and rethink our strategy." With hearts full of resentment, the three turned and raced back toward their starting point.
Chapter 343