Charnel Forest!
Without the decay invading the body, Charnel Forest had shed that grim, terrifying outer shell that made one's flesh recoil. Its scenery could now be described as fresh and pleasant.
A gentle breeze brushed across their faces, and spiritual energy brimmed in the air.
Birds skimmed over the forest. Sunlight spilled through the gaps in the branches, mottled and shifting, like shattered gold scattered across the ground, carrying a hint of tranquil, far-reaching serenity.
The scene had switched from bleak suffering to fresh pastoral charm, and Xiang Yuan was still a little unaccustomed to it. Following Bull Devil King along a stone path through the woods, he spotted a stone pavilion halfway up the mountain.
The stone pavilion stood quietly amid the forest, half-concealed by lush green branches and leaves. Like a silent watcher weathered by wind and rain, it remained upright and steadfast.
There were no upturned eaves on its corners, nor any lavish decorations. Several rough stone pillars supported its simple four-sided structure. Only a few strings of wind chimes hung there, swaying gently in the breeze with soft tinkling sounds. Rather than disturbing the soothing quiet, they lent this stillness a touch of liveliness.
The tables and chairs inside were all polished from bluestone, their lines clean and unadorned. Set amid the mountains and woods, the entire pavilion resembled a recluse sipping tea and listening to the wind, quietly watching the clouds unfurl and gather.
Xiang Yuan raised a brow. Judging by this place's decorative style alone, the Corpse-Abandoning Protector, having shed his decay, was apparently like him—a refined gentleman detached from worldly fame and profit, one who had cast aside impetuous clamor and conversed with heaven and earth through a tranquil heart, listening to the mountain winds whisper.
Before long, a flicker of confusion