Trapped Here

As some of the deductionists who had already found the guide's location began gathering near the residential compound where the guide was staying, at the far end of Nanshui Town's northern district—

The mottled courtyard walls were a deep gray, and intricate gold patterns adorned the heavy door knockers. A weighty, ancient air seeped from the entrance, pressing down on anyone who approached until it was hard to breathe.

The gold-trimmed plaque above the gate had cost a fortune. The dignified characters "Fang Mansion" had faded, but their bold strokes still seemed carved deep into the wood.

The frost and snow melted away as soon as they reached the courtyard walls. The surroundings were blanketed in white, but the branches extending from inside Fang Mansion were bare, like a cluster of sharp spikes.

Standing outside Fang Mansion, Meng Dao could see those branches as soon as he looked up. Just seeing them reminded him of what had happened beyond town. The memory made his whole body ache faintly, almost trembling.

He tightened his grip on his twin blades and harshly wiped the fresh blood from his cheek with the back of his hand. A shadow passed through his eyes.

But the dark thoughts that flashed through his mind this time were no longer aimed at Yu Xing. They were directed at the flower-seeker who had lured him into attacking, and at the bizarre loop that had trapped them here, leaving them unable to find their way out—

"Yan Li, have you found the formation's weak point yet?"

Not far behind Meng Dao, Medusa sat with her legs together on a thick fallen tree trunk. She admired the deep red polish freshly applied to her nails while casting an impatient sideways glance at Yan Li, who was crouched on the ground,