Daolin moved through the dense forest with slow, careful steps, every sound magnified in the heavy mist. Pale tendrils of fog wrapped around the towering trunks, drifting like restless spirits and making visibility almost nonexistent. The forest was quiet—too quiet. Only the occasional drip of moisture hitting a leaf broke the oppressive stillness.
He had been searching for hours… no, for days.
A rare herb.
One that could save Meiying.
He tightened his grip around her legs where she hung weakly on his back, wrapped in his cloak for warmth. Her breathing was shallow but stable—thanks only to the temporary medicine he had used. But she needed more. Much more.
He had managed to stabilize her injuries, but that was all. Bandages and salves weren't enough; the toxin from the beast that attacked her was still slowly spreading through her body. The herb he sought—Verdant Heart Lotus—was the only cure.
