"Let's dry our clothes first."
Mu Qi spoke hoarsely, his voice still trembling.
With some effort, he undid the buttons at his collar and took off his sweat-soaked clothes.
Zhang Zhao followed suit. They draped their clothes beside the campfire, and fine white steam immediately rose from the fabric. The smell of dust and sweat spread through the cave.
The flames licked at the firewood, scorching the edges of their clothes until they curled slightly.
Mu Qi tossed a piece of pine into the fire. The resin gave off a rich fragrance as it heated, somewhat overpowering the smell of sweat in the air.
"Don't go outside yet."
He stared at the flickering flames, his voice grave.
"That beast might still be nearby. If we end up fighting again, we'd have no chance of surviving if we got caught in the crossfire."
Zhang Zhao nodded, his fingers unconsciously rubbing at the bits of gravel on the ground.
The terrifying Spiritual Energy fluctuations from earlier were still vivid in his mind, making him tremble involuntarily.
After some time, their clothes beside the campfire gradually puffed up.
Mu Qi reached out and pinched a sleeve, confirming that it had dried through. He was about to speak when a burning log suddenly cracked, sending sparks half a foot into the air and startling them both.
"Get dressed."
Zhang Zhao reacted first. He picked up his warm clothes and pulled them on. The fabric brushing against his skin eased his tense nerves a little.
"This is strange."
Zhang Zhao paused while fastening a button, his brow furrowed as he muttered, "We're so close to the safe zone. How did we run into a Third-Order beast?"
The firelight reflected in his eyes, where unease flickered.
Mu Qi had been stirring the firewood. At that, he