Han Yu's jaw tightened. "We've messed up," he said quietly, his voice a low whisper swallowed by the mist. "We've really, really messed up."

He exhaled slowly, the breath misting in the damp air.

His body was tense, senses alert for any movement. But there was nothing. Just the endless trees, the fog, and the faint hum of something unseen in the distance... something that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

Han Yu closed his eyes briefly, forcing his chaotic thoughts into order. He would not survive by standing still. He needed to regroup, to find Wu Shuan and the others.

Yet deep down, a dreadful thought clawed at his mind.

What if none of them were still alive?

He pushed the thought away. "No. I'll find them," he said aloud, more to convince himself than anything.

He glanced once more at the endless mist-filled forest, his expression grim. Whatever this place was, it was far from safe. The teleportation array had not just been a trap, it had been a deliberate separation mechanism. Whoever created it wanted them isolated.

That realization sent a chill down his spine.

He tightened his grip on the Hybrid Halberd strapped to his back, scanning the eerie expanse before him.

"Fuck," Han Yu muttered finally, his tone a mix of frustration and grim determination.

The word echoed faintly, swallowed by the heavy mist.

He took his first cautious step into the forest, knowing that whatever awaited him beyond the fog would not be kind.

The forest was darker now.

Each step Han Yu took pressed wet leaves and soft earth beneath his boots, the faint squelch of mud echoing unnaturally loud in the silence that enveloped him.

The mist had thickened further, curling around tree trunks like sluggish smoke. His robe clung slightly to his skin from the moisture, and every few steps he had to brush aside hanging vines that seemed to reach out toward him.

His eyes darted around constantly, senses spread to their fullest extent.

Yet despite his vigilance, he sensed nothing. No beasts, no birds, not even the faint hum of insects that should have filled such a dense forest. The silence was absolute, and that, more than anything, unsettled him.

He stopped for a moment, drawing a deep breath to steady himself. That was when he felt something shift inside his robe pocket.

A tiny squeak sounded, muffled but frantic.

Han Yu blinked, startled for a heartbeat before realization dawned. "Chitterfang?"

He quickly reached into his robe and pulled out the small beast. The little rat's fur was bristled, its whiskers twitching furiously as it squeaked and struggled lightly in his hands.

Han Yu let out a sigh of relief. "You little rascal, I almost forgot you were with me."

Chitterfang's black eyes darted around nervously, its small body trembling. Han Yu could feel its heartbeat racing beneath its fur. The little beast was clearly terrified, though not hurt.

He crouched and gently rubbed its head with a finger, his tone softening. "Calm down. It's fine. We're both still alive, aren't we?"

The rat let out a few more squeaks, sounding almost as though it was scolding him for forgetting about it. Han Yu smiled faintly despite the tension. The familiar presence of Chitterfang calmed him in a strange way.

"Alright, alright. I get it," he said quietly. "That teleportation was rough, huh? I didn't expect we'd end up in some place like this either."

Since Han Yu had been separated from his companions, he didn't know if the same would happen with Chitterfang too.

'Though were they simply left behind, or were they teleported into another location?' Han Yu wondered.

Chitterfang's tail twitched, and it sniffed the damp air. It gave another low squeak, this one softer, as if uncertain.

Han Yu continued stroking it gently, feeling the creature relax little by little in his palm. "We'll find our way back. I promise. Just stay quiet for now, alright?"

After a few moments, the small rat stopped trembling and climbed up his arm, settling comfortably back inside his robe. Han Yu could feel it nuzzling close to the warmth of his chest, clearly unwilling to remain outside in this eerie place.

He sighed, standing up straight again. The little beast's instincts were sharp, often sharper than a human's. If even Chitterfang felt so uneasy here, then this forest was more dangerous than it appeared.

Han Yu adjusted his grip on his halberd and resumed walking. The damp ground made his steps slow, and the fog obscured everything beyond a dozen meters. The faint smell of decaying wood hung in the air, thick and almost suffocating.

He moved cautiously, keeping his senses stretched to their limit, yet the silence continued to press on him. It was unnatural. Even in the most dangerous of forests, there was always some sound; distant beast calls, rustling leaves, or the buzz of insects.

But here, nothing moved.

It was as though life itself had been drained from the place.

Han Yu frowned, glancing at a nearby tree trunk. It was huge, at least three men could not encircle it with their arms. But its bark was cracked and pale, devoid of the faint life force most trees in Qi-rich regions had. When he focused, he realized even the moss growing on it emitted no trace of vitality.

He muttered under his breath, "Even the plants feel wrong."

Chitterfang squeaked quietly inside his robe, as if agreeing.

Han Yu continued forward, weaving between the colossal trees. The deeper he went, the thicker the mist grew, until he could barely make out his own feet. The oppressive stillness began to make his skin crawl, but he forced himself to stay calm.

"This won't do..." He needed to get a higher vantage point.

If he could see above the canopy, perhaps he could at least get an idea of where he was or spot some landmark.

He stopped near a tree that was particularly tall, its branches spreading out like veins against the dim light. The bark was rough and slick with moss, but it looked climbable.