Fated | Fangs Of Fortune [ZhuYi]

Chapter 18 : The Whispering Woods

Faint claw marks and broken twigs led the group into the dark forest behind the village. A dense mist coiled through the trees, its pale tendrils snaking between the trunks, making it nearly impossible to see more than a few steps ahead. The chill of the air seeped into their bones and every faint rustle or distant cry seemed amplified, keeping the team on edge.

YiChen's grip on his sword tightened as he glanced around, his sharp gaze piercing through the shifting fog. "Stay close" he instructed, his voice low and commanding. "We don't know what tricks this forest holds."

The group nodded silently, moving in a loose formation. Wen Xiao clung to Pei Si Jing's robe, her fingers curling into the fabric with surprising tenacity. The former commander raised a brow, glancing back at Wen Xiao. "Are you planning to cling to me all the way out of the woods, Goddess?"

Wen Xiao offered an innocent smile. "Perhaps. You look strong. Ms. Pei"

Pei Si Jing's lips twitched but she didn't shake her off. Zhu Yan, limping at the back of the group, grumbled audibly.

"This mist is thicker than Zhuo Daren's stubbornness" he muttered, earning a sharp glare from YiChen.

"And you're slower than a wounded snail" YiChen shot back, not even turning around.

Zhu Yan let out a theatrical sigh, exaggerating his limp. "I'm a great demon, not a workhorse. This leg-" he gestured dramatically to his bandaged thigh "-requires care. A bit of assistance wouldn't hurt."

"The cure should have kicked in by now" Bai Jiu said.

"It still hasn't, kid. Probably because I'm a demon, not a human" Zhu Yan replied dismissively.

YiChen rolled his eyes, already bristling with irritation. "Ying Lei, support him. I need my hands free in case of an ambush."

Ying Lei, who was walking protectively near Bai Jiu, raised his cooking knife with a frown. "No can do. Bai Jiu needs me to shield him."

Bai Jiu immediately denied, clutching at YiChen's braids. "No! I want Zhuo-gege to protect me"

"Ye—" YiChen began, but Ying Lei cut him off.

"Mr. Zhuo is busy. You come here" He dragged Bai Jiu towards him.

"Then who's supposed to—"

"Oh, don't mind me" Zhu Yan chimed in, his voice oozing sarcasm. "I'll just crawl through the forest like the pathetic great demon I apparently am." He sniffed dramatically, throwing a wounded look at the group.

YiChen's temple throbbed. "Enough" he snapped, turning back toward Zhu Yan. "You're worse than a whining child. Fine, I'll support you."

Zhu Yan's pitch-black eyes gleamed with mischief as YiChen stalked toward him. "So kind of you, Zhuo Daren."

"Don't push your luck" YiChen warned, wrapping an arm firmly around Zhu Yan's waist and hoisting him upright.

Zhu Yan, despite his injury, leaned into the support with a smug grin. "See? This isn't so bad. It's almost... cozy."

YiChen stiffened, gritting his teeth. "Say one more word and I'll drop you in the mud."

Behind them, Wen Xiao whispered to Pei Si Jing, "They're like an old married couple, aren't they?"

Pei Si Jing snorted quietly. "More like a predator and its prey."

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

The mist deepened as the trail twisted, shadows darting through the fog. Ghostly figures flickered in and out of sight, tugging at their emotions. An eerie melody echoed through the air, as if the forest itself were alive, weaving illusions to unsettle them.