The boat finally reached the shore.

  Yan Hua hesitated, unsure if she should step off the boat. She gnced at Gu Feng, silently seeking his opinion.

  But Gu Feng didn't even gnce at her. His gaze remained fixed on the dark, mysterious forest ahead.

  "Hey, why did you stop the boat here? Are we supposed to get off?" Wu Mi asked impatiently, hands on his hips, shouting at Gu Feng.

  Gu Feng didn't shift his gaze; his eyes were still locked on the mysterious forest ahead.

  "She's here," a voice suddenly spoke, smooth and alluring, carrying with it a charm that made it hard to forget. Even her smile was unforgettable. Wu Mi stood there, entranced, almost drooling.

  She was indeed a beautiful woman, so stunning that words seemed insufficient to describe her. If someone said she was a celestial being descended from the heavens, everyone would agree, because she truly seemed like a Xian Zi. Yet, the odd thing was, she wore a long bck dress, which gave her an eerie, unsettling aura.

  "Xian Zi comes to welcome the great one's arrival," the woman said, bending slightly in a curtsy. The bck ntern in her hand swayed gently, and Wu Mi's heart followed its rhythm. What a lovely name, truly deserving of it. Wu Mi quickly stepped forward, reaching out to help Xian Zi up—he couldn't bear to let such a beauty remain crouched.

  "Haha, Xian Zi, I knew you'd be the first to welcome me!" The "boss" suddenly appeared at the bow of the boat. The younger sister stood quietly beside him, her eyes filled with helplessness—afraid and unfamiliar.

  Where had he come from? And where did the child come from? Yan Hua and Wu Mi both knew the cabin had been empty, yet here they were, standing there in front of them.

  Xian Zi quickly approached, a beautiful smile spreading across her face as she gently looked at the "boss" and asked, "Boss, what have you gained this time?" As she spoke, her eyes turned toward the little girl standing beside him.

  "Is she cute?" the "boss" asked.

  "She's adorable, truly a lovely little girl," Xian Zi said, lowering her head to gaze gently at the girl. "What's your name?"

  Perhaps the girl was captivated by Xian Zi's beauty, as a pure smile appeared on her face after her initial nervousness. "I'm Tian Ling, and my sister is Tian Yu. She's so kind, the best person in the world to me." The child's answer seemed to be more than Xian Zi had expected. Pleased, Xian Zi nodded in approval.

  The "boss" tugged at Tian Ling's hand and said, "It's time to go."

  Tian Ling hesitated for a moment, but couldn't resist the boss's strength and was swiftly pulled off the boat.

  The bck ntern swayed back and forth, and with the two figures disappearing into the darkness, Yan Hua and Wu Mi were left standing there, dumbfounded.

  They were utterly confused. Why did the "boss," Tian Ling, and Xian Zi all treat them like they were invisible? It was as if they didn't even notice their presence. What was going on? And where were they?

  "Gu Feng, stop with the mysterious acts. Where exactly have you brought us?" Wu Mi could no longer hold his frustration and shouted out, his voice tinged with panic.

  "Get off the boat," Gu Feng said decisively this time, no longer remaining silent.

  "What?" Yan Hua was taken aback. What was Gu Feng doing? "What exactly are you up to?"

  Gu Feng pulled a bck ntern from somewhere and handed it to Wu Mi. "You can continue your journey now," he said, then, without hesitation, pushed the two of them off the boat and began rowing toward the center of the river.

  "Hey, where are we supposed to go?" Wu Mi shouted at Gu Feng, feeling a sense of being tricked.

  "Go down the path you're meant to take," Gu Feng replied calmly, giving no further expnation.

  Wu Mi and Yan Hua were still confused, but they no longer had the luxury of time to dwell on it. In the end, they chose to head in the direction where the "boss" had disappeared. Perhaps that was their destination.

  But what y ahead for them? What awaited them on this uncertain path?

  On a peach tree, there hung a single pink peach, and nothing else. The branches and trunk were bare, not a single leaf in sight, just that one branch holding the lone peach. A thick rope hung from the tree, and at the end of it, a dead body dangled. The body appeared to have withered away long ago, the dark, shriveled flesh almost crumbling at the touch. Tattered strips of cloth confirmed that the body had once been clothed, though the color of the clothes was no longer discernible. What remained were only the bones of the hands, which gripped a wooden pnk tightly. The pnk was bck, stained with grime, but the bloodstained writing on it was still legible—an ominous sign, an unmistakable direction marker.

  "How did we end up in a pce like this!" Yan Hua screamed in shock, her body swaying uncontrolbly.

  "This... how did we end up in a bandit's den?" Wu Mi also looked armed. A bandit's den—this was a dangerous pce, and he still wanted to keep his life.

  "We finally found it," a voice sounded from behind Hua. She instinctively turned around, startled to find someone had appeared behind her without her noticing.

  Wu Mi blinked in confusion, staring at the woman in front of him. She looked pitiful, with a delicate frame that seemed fragile, almost like she could be blown away by the wind.

  Yet, her gaze was as unyielding as a rock, filled with determination.

  The woman, however, didn't seem to notice Yan Hua and Wu Mi. She walked past them and approached the wooden sign. Her face showed an odd expression as she reached out and gently touched the sign. Her fingers even brushed against the lifeless body hanging there, but she showed no fear. In fact, there seemed to be a hint of lingering affection.

  Yan Hua and Wu Mi felt the hairs on the back of their necks stand up, both shivers crawling down their spines.

  Wu Mi's voice grew louder, but no matter how many times he called, the woman remained oblivious to him. It was as if she couldn't hear him at all, or perhaps, chose not to respond. His frustration built, his throat becoming raw, but it was all in vain.

  Hua, sensing the growing tension, stepped forward and pced a hand on Wu Mi's arm, signaling him to stop. “Wu Mi, don’t shout anymore,” she said, her voice calm but firm.

  “If Gu Feng brought us here, there must be a reason. Let's observe and be patient. We′ll find out the truth, but it′s not urgent right now.”

  The woman, hearing their voices but remaining unfazed, gave a faint smile—barely noticeable—and then turned. Without a word, she walked toward the winding dirt road leading to the thieves' den.