Following Isa's footsteps, Chen Fan and Gao Yuan trudged through the edge of the Wailing Forest, their feet sinking deep and shallow with every step.
His gaze swept back and forth across the forest before him, trying to glean deeper information from its surface.
It was easy to tell from the spacing and varieties of the trees that this so-called Wailing Forest had been artificially planted.
The fallen leaves beneath their feet were thick. Clearly, no one usually came through this place.
The surroundings were utterly quiet. Aside from their footsteps crunching over the leaves, there was only a faint, intermittent hum.
Along the way, Chen Fan had not even found traces of any birds or beasts. That was not a good sign.
Chen Fan frowned slightly and broke the silence around them. "Do the guards responsible for defending the Wailing Wall patrol regularly?"
"They do not."
Walking at the front, Isa identified their direction as she explained, "Under normal circumstances, the church guards only remain near the Wailing Wall."
"But if someone ventures deep into the Wailing Forest, it will trigger the corresponding alarm."
"Only then will the guards briefly leave the Wailing Wall."
"Trigger an alarm?"
Chen Fan's eyes shifted slightly.
Could there also be a statue of the Goddess within the Wailing Forest?
With that thought in mind, Chen Fan looked deeper into the woods.
But obscured by the dense low shrubs, he found nothing.
Chen Fan withdrew his gaze. "What happens to those who are discovered?"
"..."
Isa fell silent for a moment before replying quietly, "There is no need for any questioning or trial. The guards have the authority to execute intruders on the spot."
As she spoke, she stopped and extended a slender mechanical hand from beneath her black robe, pointing toward the front