Muzi sped through the woods.
She was much slower than Xue Ge. This was partly because Xue Ge was not only stronger than Muzi but also better at speed, and partly because Muzi had almost no experience traveling through forests.
To move faster, she left the route she had taken earlier and leaped through the treetops, calculating the shortest path back to the village.
The Forest of Death was several times more dangerous at night than during the day. She clearly had not realized how it differed from an ordinary forest.
Just as Muzi stepped onto a branch, something suddenly happened.
"Whoosh!" "Ah!"
A huge snake coiled around a tree trunk, camouflaged as bark, suddenly lunged at Muzi with its jaws open.
Muzi screamed. The snake was astonishingly fast, faster even than many ninja. All Muzi saw was a blur before her eyes. Unable to dodge in time, she could only instinctively raise both hands in front of herself.
But someone caught the huge snake before it could bite her.
"..." Muzi carefully gripped the branch and stared at the man before her in alarm and uncertainty.
Long black hair, deathly pale skin, narrow eyes...
"To think someone would dare run around the Forest of Death in the middle of the night... Did this little one frighten you?" The man grinned. "I apologize on its behalf."
"...It's fine." Muzi looked at the man holding the huge snake with his bare hand. Normally, her curiosity would have prompted her to ask questions, but she had no time for that now.
She moved around him. "Excuse me, I have something to do-"
"Smack." Suddenly, the man clamped a hand onto Muzi's shoulder.
Muzi felt a terrifying force pressing down on her shoulder, leaving her unable to move and sending intense pain through