They had been walking for another hour when Liang Wei suddenly stopped.
Chen nearly walked into him.
"What?"
Liang Wei didn't answer immediately. His head tilted slightly as he listened, his good hand lifting as if asking them to stay quiet. Chen's expression changed at once. He released Skyy's hand and brought the rifle up. Skyy noticed the difference immediately — the warmth from a moment ago disappeared, replaced by the familiar alertness Chen always carried whenever something felt wrong. He tightened both hands around his metal pipe and moved closer behind him without being told.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
The forest was strangely quiet. No birds. No insects. Even the leaves above them barely moved. Chen's brows crunched together.
"Liang Wei."
"I heard something."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Chen's jaw tightened. Very useful.
