The forest became silent.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Tu Lan’s face was pale.
The other tribe members looked equally frightened.
“The beast asked for Mother?”
Bai Qingluo frowned.
Tu Lan nodded quickly.
“It wasn’t normal.”
The rabbit woman shivered.
As if merely remembering the encounter was enough to scare her.
“He appeared during the night.”
The patrol team had been returning to the tribe when they noticed someone standing on a cliff.
Watching them.
At first they thought it was an ordinary wandering beast.
Then he jumped down.
One leap.
From an impossibly high cliff.
And landed without injury.
The tribe members listening all became uneasy.
“What kind of beast?” Bai Chen asked calmly.
Tu Lan swallowed.
“We don’t know.”
Nobody knew.
The stranger wore a dark cloak.
His face remained hidden.
Even his scent was strange.
Like several scents mixed together.
As if something was wrong with him.
Then Tu Lan repeated the words the stranger had spoken.
> “Where is Bai Xueyin?”
The rabbit woman trembled.
“He asked again and again.”
> “Where is Bai Xueyin?”
> “Has she returned?”
> “Is she awake?”
The questions made everyone’s expressions change.
Awake.
Not alive.
Not safe.
Not found.
Awake.
As if the stranger already knew about the seal.
Hidden among the trees nearby—
Xue Linyuan’s eyes became cold.
Lin Huan’s expression darkened.
None of them liked this.
Not one bit.
“What happened next?” Xueyin asked.
Tu Lan hesitated.
Then answered quietly.
“Our patrol captain told him we didn’t know anyone named Bai Xueyin.”
The stranger became silent.
Very silent.
For several moments he simply stood there.
Then—
He laughed.
The rabbit woman visibly shuddered.
“It wasn’t a normal laugh.”
The memory clearly disturbed her.
“It sounded…”
She searched for the words.
“…sad.”
The forest became quiet.
Not angry.
Not cruel.
Sad.
Then the stranger had looked toward the mountains.
Toward this direction.
And whispered:
> “You’re finally waking up.”
Xueyin’s heart suddenly skipped.
For some reason—
Those words felt familiar.
Very familiar.
Like hearing a voice through a dream.
But before she could grasp the feeling—
The memory vanished.
Then Tu Lan continued.
“After that, he left.”
Everyone relaxed slightly.
Only for the rabbit woman to immediately add:
“He killed a mountain fang bear before leaving.”
The cubs blinked.
“…A what?” Bai Shuyi asked.
Tu Lan pointed toward a distant mountain.
“A fully grown mountain fang bear.”
One of the strongest beasts in the region.
The rabbit woman swallowed.
“He killed it with one hand.”
The entire atmosphere changed.
Even Bai Yan’s expression became serious.
Because mountain fang bears were powerful.
Extremely powerful.
The fact that someone could casually kill one…
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Xueyin suddenly felt a headache coming.
Another mysterious person.
Another connection to the original Bai Xueyin.
Another secret.
Her life was becoming exhausting.
Then unexpectedly—
Bai Xingyuan hissed softly.
Everyone looked toward the little snake cub.
His golden eyes were fixed on the forest.
“What is it?” Xueyin asked.
The cub’s expression looked confused.
Then nervous.
Finally—
He whispered:
“…That scent.”
The adults instantly became alert.
“What scent?”
Bai Xingyuan slowly pointed toward the trees.
And what he said next made everyone’s blood run cold.
> “It’s here.”
The forest fell silent.
Because none of them had sensed anyone approaching.
Not even the powerful males hiding nearby.
Yet the little snake cub was staring directly into the shadows.
As if someone…
Was already watching them.