A waning moon hung over dusk.
The vast forest between Heavenly Seal Lake and Xuanjing City had been dyed a deep yellow-red.
Fallen leaves lay thick upon the ground like a carpet, crunching crisply beneath one's feet.
On either side of the highway, yellow-red woods mingled with thin, dark mist. Beneath the sinking evening sun, they seemed mysterious and unknown.
Amid the rolling yellow-red hills, before the entrance to a stone cave—
Several people lay half-hidden at different ambush points around the cave, waiting for prey that might walk into their net at any moment.
"When is this stakeout ever going to end?"
At one ambush point, two brawny men stuffed dried meat pies into their mouths, washing them down with wine from their waterskins.
They wore yellow-red patterned outer robes resembling the leaves around them. Special short blades and poisoned darts were strapped to their waists and thighs.
Most importantly, a small cage sat on the ground beside them, containing a yellow animal that resembled a little fox.
The little creature lay quietly inside, seemingly asleep.
"The higher-ups said we were to take shifts and wait. That guy stole such a huge shipment from us and killed so many people. If we don't catch him, who'll dare work with us in the future? We need to give our partners an explanation," the other man answered gravely.
"But we've been squatting here for months without a peep. Are we really supposed to keep squatting until it snows?"
"Who knows? We do whatever the higher-ups say."
"Do you know who's leading the team?"
"Yeah. Those two experts who just joined us. Even they're waiting around like us, so what do you have to complain about?"
"That's true."
"Wait, someone's coming!" One of them suddenly stirred and glanced at the cage beside