By the time they reached the forest, the light had already begun to fade, and the path ahead was dim, with shadows stretching across the ground and the air turning cooler.
They did not stop.
Their pace remained steady.
Han Jun adjusted the water in his hand and exhaled.
"We stayed longer than planned," he said.
Li Shan kept his eyes forward.
"At least we did not come back empty-handed," he replied.
Yan Mo said nothing.
He walked ahead until the hill came into view.
They stopped.
Han Jun blinked.
"…Wait."
Li Shan looked up.
The path was no longer the same.
The steep, uneven slope had been cleared and leveled in parts, with stones set in place to make the climb easier.
"…They fixed it," Han Jun said.
Li Shan nodded.
"They did not waste time."
Yan Mo looked at it briefly.
Then he stepped forward.
"Let's go."
They began to climb.
This time, their steps were steadier, and the path was easier to follow.
