That boundless expanse of dense shrubbery was like a naturally forged green labyrinth. Its depths remained dark all year round, its interwoven branches forming an impenetrable net that stretched beyond sight.
Dense crowns overlapped in layers, sealing off the sky. The cold moonlight could only trickle through gaps in the leaves in scattered glimmers. With the hazy mist that lingered among the trees year-round, the surroundings seemed all the more mysterious and deep. One careless step could leave someone hopelessly lost; even companions could become separated in an instant.
Ying Ming Hao clutched Ye Hua's small hand tightly, a thin sheen of sweat gathering on his palm. He dared not let go for even a moment.
The instant they had entered the shrubbery, thick mist and tangled branches had abruptly obscured them. In the blink of an eye, each had vanished from the other's sight.
Fortunately, they had not been far apart. After shouting to each other, they had finally reunited without harm. But the sudden separation had not only left them shaken-it had also allowed Scarface and his relentlessly pursuing gang to pinpoint their general direction from their calls.
Luckily, the tangled terrain and shadowy depths of the shrubbery instead became an excellent natural barrier for them. Within moments, they had used the dense vegetation as cover and successfully shaken off the first wave of pursuers.
Now Ye Hua led a white horse slowly ahead, while Ying Ming Hao followed half a step behind. He gathered faint Spiritual Power at his fingertips, carefully erasing their footprints, broken branches, and lingering auras along the way, not daring to relax for an instant.
He knew better than anyone that every extra trace they left would bring the enemy one step closer. Time was pressing; there was no room for carelessness.