Using her ability, Yu Qiu parted the dense thickets of thorny needlegrass, making a narrow path. Once she passed through, she restored it, sealing the way behind her.
Even with powers to protect herself, she couldn’t help but feel tense as she prepared to step deeper into the mountains.
In her previous life, she had always gone on missions with her friends and family; fear never had the chance to settle in. But now she was alone, facing unknown dangers. Her palms sweated as she wiped them against her clothes. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward with resolve into a mountain that loomed higher and broader than the one behind her home.
The vegetation here was even more overgrown. Grass that should have only reached her calves now grew high enough to swallow her small frame. The terrain was harsher than the back mountain, but cooler too—dense foliage blocked most of the sunlight, leaving the air damp and shadowed.
After clearing a path, she dug out a small shelter with her powers and transplanted a few red fruit plants inside. She sealed the entrance and continued exploring.
The deep mountains were eerily quiet. Beyond the chirps of insects and occasional birds, there were no other sounds.
Standing still, gazing at the endless green ridges, Yu Qiu suddenly felt insignificant. A wave of loneliness and inexplicable fear surged through her chest.
Shaking her head, she laughed at herself bitterly. “So I’ve been protected too well all along. Only now do I realize how cowardly I am.”
She pressed forward. Other than some herbs, there was little of note—unsurprising, as she was still near the outer zone. She dug another shelter, rested briefly, and set a few traps around it, marking the spots on nearby tree trunks to avoid stepping into her own snares later.
Only upon entering the inner zone did she sense a change.
The vegetation here was so dense that no sunlight reached the ground. A faint mist clung to the undergrowth, making the whole forest seem heavy and oppressive.
After eating some red fruit to replenish her powers, she pushed on.
The deeper she went, the colder it grew. She hugged her arms, rubbing them absentmindedly for warmth.
From the mountaintop down to the mid-slope, she still hadn’t seen a single large beast. The few small creatures she did spot darted away faster than she could react—by the time she blinked, they were gone, leaving only quivering branches as proof.
Leaning against a tree to rest, her now-rounder face twisted in confusion.
Everyone said the mountains were dangerous, filled with mutated beasts. Yet she had been in and out of them for days, and barely even saw the small ones. Could the danger be nothing more than the treacherous terrain?
No—she knew that wasn’t right.
The memory of that first day still burned in her mind: the beast’s gaping maw, its jagged teeth, the foul stench of its breath as it lunged for her. That was no illusion.
And now, here in the inner range, not a single predator appeared.
It would be best if none did…
Just then, the sound of rushing water reached her ears.
Following it, the dim light grew brighter until she broke through the undergrowth. A waterfall cascaded down from above, roaring into a clear pool below. No wonder the sound had been so loud.
By the water’s edge, a few mutated deer and squirrels drank cautiously. Colorful wildflowers dotted the banks, and palm-sized butterflies with shimmering wings fluttered above them.
The setting sun lit the falling water in dazzling sparks of gold. Startled by her presence, the beasts bolted in an instant, vanishing into the forest without a glance back.
Cool mist carried the fragrance of blossoms across her face. The chill of water vapor brushed her fingertips, while the crisp freshness of the valley air filled her lungs.
The beauty softened her heart, easing her nerves.
Overjoyed, she rushed to the pool and dove in. The clear, cold water enveloped her like home. She swam a few laps beneath the surface, resurfacing to catch her breath—only to spot what looked like a wooden hut hidden in the trees beyond.
The angle and foliage must have hidden it earlier.
Clambering ashore, dripping wet, she hurried toward it.
Up close, it was clear: a small, abandoned hut.
Her eyes lowered thoughtfully. Her late father-in-law had been a hunter—could this have been one of his rest stops?
The roof sagged, riddled with holes. The floorboards groaned under her steps. Inside, cobwebs and dust filled the space, but a few machetes still leaned against the corner. The musty scent of rotting wood lingered heavily in the air.
Sighing, she picked up the blades but touched nothing else. There was little worth salvaging.
Too close to the water to be safe, and too decayed to be livable—if she wanted shelter, she’d have to rebuild from scratch. Still, the fact that her father-in-law had chosen this place suggested it was relatively safe.
As she pondered, she stepped out of the hut, intending to retrieve her basket.
But her gaze froze. Her eyes widened in shock.
A massive beast prowled near her basket, sniffing at it repeatedly.
Carefully, she tried to retreat back into the hut.
But after only two steps, a floorboard creaked. The sound carried.
The beast lifted its head, eyes locking onto hers.
The instant their gazes met, Yu Qiu’s breath caught. A chill shot down her spine, her heart thundering uncontrollably.
She had seen zombies countless times in her past life. She had even glimpsed mutated beasts from afar—sickened by the sight, fleeing with repellents in hand. But never like this. Never face-to-face, mere yards apart.
The beast looked like a wolf—yet larger, its muscles rippling under gray fur, fangs glinting sharp as blades. Its belly fur shone white against the darker coat, and its amber eyes glared with icy dominance.
Wolves were pack hunters. This one was alone… but who could say if others lurked nearby?
Yet the great wolf didn’t attack. It only sniffed the air toward her, then lowered its head. From her basket, it picked out a few red fruits, clamped them in its jaws, and turned to leave.
Before vanishing into the forest, it cast one last, piercing look back at her.
Her whole body shivered.
What was this? Had she been marked?
There was no way she could stay here now. And she couldn’t return the way she’d come—the wolf had gone that way.
Snatching up her basket, she fled along the creek in the opposite direction.
She ran for miles before finally collapsing onto a boulder by the water, gasping for breath, her clothes once more soaked with sweat.
But in her mind’s eye, she recalled the fleeting glimpse of a tallow tree she had passed.
At least she had survived. And at least she had made a discovery.