Chapter 244 Book 5 Unexpected Situation 2
The narrow pathway twisted deeper into the belly of the earth, the air thick with moisture and the faint, lingering scent of iron. Long Hai's breath was steady as he held the torch aloft, the flickering flame casting uneven shadows across the jagged stone walls. Behind him, the muffled sound of the heavy stone sealing the cave echoed once more in his mind. He had paid the three Azure Feather Sect patrol disciples ten mid-tier Chi stones to ensure their silence—and his solitude.
But as he descended, that faint presence tugged at his senses again.
He had first noticed it while dealing with the disciples. A mere flicker on the edge of his perception, like a fading ember in the wind—unnoticeable to most, but not to him. Long Hai had honed his perception in the wilds and on the battlefield, where instincts meant survival. Now, that faint ember was becoming more distinct with every step he took, no longer hiding behind layers of rock and Chi.
