Liang Feng woke before the orange hues of dawn touched the horizon. His chest rose and fell quickly, remnants of the tension from the night before still clinging to him. Dreams filled with shadowy Spirit Hunters and the cold stares of vengeful spirits had made his sleep far from peaceful.
Beside him, Bai Xue still lay curled up, her small body wrapped in a coat of silver-white fur, resting calmly atop the silk cloth gifted by Granny Li. But Liang Feng knew this peace would not last.
"Granny Li said we can't stay here much longer." he whispered, bending down to pick up his backpack from the corner of the hut. He gently patted Bai Xue's head. "Come on, we have to leave before the spirit hunters realize this place is protected."
Outside the hut, the protective circle they had ritualized the night before still pulsed with a soft blue glow. Its gentle hum told him the magic was still active, but it would fade by dusk. Liang Feng wasn't willing to take that risk.
He glanced once more at the tiny hut. Granny Li still slept in the corner, her frail body leaning against a pile of old cushions. Liang Feng gripped his silver flute, then stepped outside. Bai Xue followed, her movements light but alert.
The morning air at the edge of the Silver Forest was biting cold. A thin mist hung in the air, shrouding the towering pine trees and casting eerie moving shadows. Liang Feng followed a narrow path, twisted with old roots. Bai Xue padded by his side, ears twitching, nose sniffing the air, alert for any sign of danger.
"North!" Bai Xue spoke into Liang Feng's mind. "Where two pine trees cross like a gate."
Liang Feng nodded, eyes scanning the forest trail until he saw it, two great pine trees growing at an angle, forming a perfect natural arch. He bent down, picked up a halfmoon leaf from the ground, and gently scattered it in the air. Its unique scent floated into the mist, revealing a hidden spiritual path.
The sound of cracking twigs, rustling leaves, and soft footsteps merged into a melody of their escape. Now and then, small spirits with silver-blue eyes darted behind the bushes, watching Bai Xue. They recognized the sacred fox and respectfully cleared the way.
Their steps paused as Liang Feng came upon a shallow clearing. At its end stood a stone monument, as tall as a grown man. The carvings on it were divided into two halves: a soaring dragon on the left, and a fox leaping among clouds on the right.
Between them, a low stone bar sealed a waist-high entrance.
Bai Xue stopped, her gaze serious. "This… is the secret passage of the Hermits. It can only be opened by a true guardian spirit."
Liang Feng stepped closer, running his fingers along the stone. He drew his thin sword and began clearing the moss from three key points: the dragon's eye, the fox's tail, and a crescent moon symbol at the center. Carefully, he pressed each symbol in sequence.
A soft tremor passed through the ground. The stone bar trembled, slowly sliding aside, revealing a narrow passage descending into the earth.
"The tunnel's tight, but we have to go through." Liang Feng said. He tucked his flute into his belt and pulled out a small torch—crafted specially by Granny Li, filled with blue smoke herbs from rare roots.
"I'll lead the way." said Bai Xue. The tip of her tail brushed the torch, igniting a calm blue flame that lit the tunnel with a protective aura. Its smoke gave off a soothing scent that repelled malevolent spirits.
They descended into the secret tunnel. The damp stone walls twisted and turned, lined with ancient carvings, humans bowing before dragons, spirits sheltering monks, and the blessing of the Tianlong Mark. Liang Feng touched one of the engravings. A faint pulse of energy remained beneath the stone, like a memory of reverence from long ago.
"They say the old hermits used this path to escape the Storms of Darkness." he murmured.
But the calm was soon broken by a foul stench that filled the air. Liang Feng halted, eyes narrowing. At the tunnel's end, a black shadow flickered by in a blur. His heartbeat quickened. He raised the torch higher.
"Be careful." he whispered.
Bai Xue lowered her body. Her fur glowed silver bright, casting light through the darkness. They quickened their pace until they reached a small chamber with a floor made of rounded stones.
At the center stood a simple altar piles of bronze coins, scrolls of incantations, and burned-out incense. The walls were marked with three circles: a dragon, a fox, and a dancing human figure.
"This is the hermits' offering place." Bai Xue explained. "They left goodwill here to prevent evil spirits from following."
Liang Feng knelt, picking up one of the coins. Its surface was worn, but the crescent moon emblem still lingered faintly. "The Earth Soul Prophecy." he whispered. "Granny Li once said… this coin marks the path to the next gate."
Suddenly, the ground shook. Dust fell from the ceiling. Liang Feng stood sharply, hand ready on his sword. "What was that? Heavy footsteps…?"
Bai Xue sighed. She placed her forehead against the altar. In that instant, silver light burst gently from her body, racing across the room's walls. Stone pillars in the corners lit up one by one, revealing a hidden opening on the left wall.
"There! Quickly!" she cried.
Without hesitation, they rushed through the newly opened tunnel. Behind them, a deep hum and heavy vibrations followed. Roots in the walls trembled. Liang Feng was certain the entity behind them was far too large to enter the narrow passage and he was right, the noise stopped as a stone door sealed itself behind them.
They emerged into a wider chamber. The walls sparkled, reflecting soft light from embedded silver crystals. Fresh air and the scent of natural balsam filled the space.
"This is… the heart of the Silver Forest." Bai Xue said, her eyes glowing.
Liang Feng approached the largest stone in the center. He placed the bronze coin into a crescent-shaped indentation at its base. As the coin touched the groove, the stone vibrated gently, revealing a new passage. From within, a silver light spilled forth, showing a path that led deeper into the forest.
"This passage will take us to the forest's core." said Liang Feng. "There… I believe we'll find the Spirit Source that can strengthen you, Bai Xue. And also… the power to seal the Main Gate."
Bai Xue looked at Liang Feng. A light of hope and resolve shone in her silver eyes. "I'm ready." she answered.
With steady steps, they entered the new passage, leaving the surface world behind. In the depths of the Silver Forest, their fate and the fate of the world would be decided through light, courage, and the will to face the coming darkness.