Morning came quietly, and before the sun had risen, I was already awake.
The hall was still dark, and most of the villagers were asleep, their breathing slow and steady after the exhaustion of the previous day. I sat up carefully, making sure not to disturb anyone, and for a moment, I simply listened to the silence around me.
The rain had stopped.
I could feel it.
I stood up slowly and walked out of the hall, stepping into the cool air of early morning. The ground was damp beneath my feet, and the faint smell of wet earth lingered in the air, carried by the light mist that still hovered over the abandoned village.
Everything was quiet.
Almost too quiet.
But that was fine.
This was the best time to look around and understand the place properly before the others woke up.
I had just taken a few steps forward when I heard footsteps behind me.
I paused and turned.
Liu Muyan and Liu Ruyan were walking toward me.
