Xiao Yichen, dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his deep eyes revealing a cold and resolute air. He stood in a corner of the bustling streets of the capital, a gentle breeze ruffling the hair on his forehead, yet unable to shake his determined expression. Beside him stood Lin Wan'er, dressed in a pale pink robe, a white ribbon cinched at her waist, accentuating her graceful figure. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, yet possessed a fortitude that contradicted her delicate appearance—a quality bestowed upon her by years of experience in the martial world.

Murong Xuan's name hangs like a dark cloud over the capital. His evil deeds are countless: stealing national treasures, assassinating high-ranking officials, and disrupting the order of the martial arts world. Every single one of these acts has earned him the deepest hatred from both the martial arts world and the imperial court. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, as renowned righteous individuals, have long regarded capturing Murong Xuan as their mission.

Xiao Yichen gripped his sword tightly, the patterns on the hilt digging into his palm, a constant reminder of the daunting nature of his mission. He recalled the first time he heard of Murong Xuan's atrocities, in a small village. The village had been peaceful and harmonious, its inhabitants living a self-sufficient life. However, Murong Xuan, in his search for a treasure supposedly hidden within, had massacred the entire village. When Xiao Yichen arrived, he was met with a scene of bloodshed and the villagers' despair. That sight deeply wounded him, fueling his vow to make Murong Xuan pay.

Lin Wan'er's feud with Murong Xuan began during an escort mission. She was tasked with protecting an important figure when Murong Xuan intercepted them en route. In the ensuing battle, despite her best efforts, Murong Xuan escaped, and the person she was escorting was severely injured. It was a humiliating experience in her martial arts career, and it fueled her relentless pursuit of Murong Xuan.

The two had spent months on this pursuit, tracing their trail from the bustling capital to the surrounding towns and villages. They left no stone unturned, meticulously investigating every suspicious person and every possible hiding place. They questioned the innkeeper, who recalled a mysterious figure always appearing at night, behaving furtively. Although his face was obscured, his build and clothing bore a resemblance to Murong Xuan. Based on the innkeeper's description, they found an abandoned cave in the nearby mountains. Inside, they found some embers of a still-burning campfire and some faint footprints. Xiao Yichen crouched down, carefully examining the footprints. His sharp eyes deduced from their size, depth, and shape that they were very likely left by Murong Xuan.

They followed the footprints to a river. The river was swift, indicating that Murong Xuan had crossed it. Lin Wan'er frowned, looking at the river with worry, as crossing would cause them to lose their trail. But Xiao Yichen didn't hesitate. He found a thick tree branch on the bank and used it as a makeshift pole to cross. Seeing this, Lin Wan'er followed him. The river water was icy cold, soaking their clothes, and each step required tremendous effort. After finally crossing, they noticed some new tracks on the bank, seemingly left by Murong Xuan when he slipped and fell.

On their continued pursuit, they encountered a wandering healer. The healer told them that he had recently seen a man in a hurry, seemingly injured, heading towards a valley to the north. This news invigorated them, and they immediately rushed towards the valley. A mysterious aura permeated the valley, shrouded in mist, and the path was rugged. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er proceeded cautiously, constantly on guard against any potential dangers. They knew that Murong Xuan had likely set a trap in this valley, waiting for them to fall into it.

After walking for a while in the valley, they discovered signs of a struggle. There was blood on the ground and some broken weapons; judging from their style, they belonged to petty thugs. Xiao Yichen deduced that Murong Xuan had encountered some unruly thugs here, and it seemed his injuries were quite serious, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten entangled with these small fry. They quickened their pace, hoping to find Murong Xuan before his injuries worsened and he was unable to escape.

Suddenly, Lin Wan'er heard a faint sound, like someone groaning softly. They followed the sound and found a hidden cave. The cave was surrounded by overgrown weeds, making it difficult to detect any activity without careful listening. Xiao Yichen signaled to Lin Wan'er to be careful, and the two slowly approached the cave. As they neared the entrance, Xiao Yichen drew his sword and rushed into the cave, only to find it empty, with only some simple bandages for treating wounds. It seemed Murong Xuan had sensed their arrival and escaped again.

Xiao Yichen clenched his fists, feeling a pang of frustration. But he knew this wasn't the time to be discouraged. Murong Xuan was injured, and his movements would inevitably be affected; they still had a chance. Lin Wan'er looked at Xiao Yichen, her eyes filled with determination. She said, "We will definitely find him. He can't escape." Xiao Yichen nodded, and the two resumed their pursuit.

They emerged from the valley and came to a vast plain. There were some caravans and travelers on the plain, and they began inquiring about Murong Xuan. A caravan leader told them he had seen a suspicious man riding a horse galloping eastward. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er thanked the caravan leader and gave chase. Their horses kicked up clouds of dust as they galloped, and the wind whistled past their ears, as if cheering on their righteous act.

As they chased each other, the sky gradually darkened, and night fell. But they didn't stop, continuing their journey by moonlight. Suddenly, a small town appeared ahead, brightly lit. They decided to stop briefly to replenish their supplies and see if they could find any new clues about Murong Xuan. Upon entering the town, they found it bustling with activity, with laughter and chatter emanating from the taverns. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er entered a tavern, where the patrons cast curious glances at the two strangers.

They sat down in a corner of the tavern and ordered some food and drinks. Xiao Yichen ate while observing the people in the tavern. Just then, a drunkard staggered over. He looked at Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er and said with a smile, "You're looking for someone, aren't you? I know where the person you're looking for is." Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er exchanged a glance, their hearts leaping with joy. They quickly asked the drunkard what he knew. The drunkard chuckled and said, "Give me some wine first, and I'll tell you." Lin Wan'er was a little impatient, but Xiao Yichen still gave the drunkard a jug of wine. The drunkard took the wine, gulped down several mouthfuls, and then said, "I saw someone who looks a lot like your description, heading towards the dilapidated temple outside town."

Upon receiving the news, they immediately left the tavern and rushed towards the dilapidated temple outside town. The temple was in disrepair, with several large holes in its roof and some of the surrounding walls collapsed. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er quietly approached the temple, hearing faint breathing sounds coming from inside. Could Murong Xuan really be here? Xiao Yichen held his breath and slowly entered the temple. In a corner, he saw a figure huddled there, seemingly seriously injured. Xiao Yichen raised his sword, preparing to approach, but just then, the figure suddenly turned around; it was an injured beggar.

Xiao Yichen was somewhat disappointed, but he still helped the beggar treat his wounds. The beggar looked at them gratefully and told them that a suspicious person had indeed come here before, but left shortly afterward, heading towards the western forest. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er set off again, heading towards the western forest. This forest was dense and secluded, with tall trees, and moonlight could only filter through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows.

They proceeded cautiously through the forest, the occasional cries of wild animals echoing through the trees. Suddenly, Lin Wan'er felt her footing give way, as if she had stepped on a trap. Xiao Yichen reacted quickly, pulling her back. Just where they had been standing, several arrows were fired. It seemed Murong Xuan had also set traps in the forest; they had to be even more careful. They continued deeper into the forest, discovering strange symbols carved into the trees. These symbols seemed to be both a guide and a warning.

Xiao Yichen carefully studied the symbols, trying to find clues. Lin Wan'er, on the other hand, kept watch, sensing an eerie atmosphere permeating the forest. After some thought, Xiao Yichen discovered that the symbols pointed to a place deep within the forest, where there seemed to be an ancient building. They headed in that direction, avoiding several traps along the way. When they arrived at the ancient building, they found the door tightly shut, and a mysterious power permeated the surroundings.

Xiao Yichen pushed the door, but it wouldn't budge. Lin Wan'er searched the surroundings for a mechanism to open it, finally finding a hidden button on the side of the building. She pressed the button, and the door slowly opened, releasing an old, musty smell. They entered the building, which was dark and gloomy, with only a few faint candlelight flickering inside. They didn't know if this was Murong Xuan's hiding place or another dangerous trap, but they had no way out and could only continue forward, for justice, for those who had been hurt by Murong Xuan.

Inside the building, they walked along a long corridor. Ancient portraits hung on the walls, the figures in the paintings blurry yet exuding a mysterious majesty. Suddenly, the figures in the portraits seemed to move, and Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er felt a chill run down their spines. They quickened their pace, only to find the corridor seemed endless. Just as they were starting to panic, a light appeared ahead. They ran towards it, hoping to find some clues about Murong Xuan and end this long and arduous pursuit.

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er stepped into the light, only to find themselves in a seemingly abandoned yet mysterious courtyard. The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, but within the chaos there was a strange order, as if it had been deliberately arranged to confuse intruders.

They cautiously looked around, every corner potentially lurking danger. Murong Xuan was like a ghost, always vanishing without a trace just as they were about to catch him, leaving only vague clues, like this courtyard before them, seemingly ordinary yet filled with an eerie atmosphere.

Xiao Yichen crouched down, carefully examining the weeds on the ground. He noticed that some of the weeds had been trampled, but the marks were messy, as if deliberately placed to mislead them. Lin Wan'er, on the other hand, stared at an ancient well in the courtyard, a faint mist emanating from its mouth. She felt that this well was somewhat unusual.

"This Murong Xuan is extremely cunning. These clues seem useful, but in reality, they are leading us in the wrong direction," Xiao Yichen said, frowning, a hint of annoyance in his eyes.

“We can’t let him lead us by the nose. There must be something crucial in this courtyard that we’ve overlooked,” Lin Wan’er replied, walking towards the ancient well to investigate.

As Lin Wan'er approached the ancient well, she suddenly heard a faint rustling of wind from behind. She whirled around, her sword already drawn, only to find it was just a leaf blown by the wind. However, at that very moment, something happened to Xiao Yichen. What had seemed like an ordinary wall suddenly opened a hidden door, and a powerful suction force emanated from it. Before Xiao Yichen could react, he was sucked inside.

"Yichen!" Lin Wan'er shouted, rushing towards the hidden door. But when she arrived, the hidden door was already closed, leaving only a flawless wall. Lin Wan'er was extremely anxious. She began searching around the wall for the mechanism to open the hidden door. Her hands groped along the wall, not missing any gaps, but after searching for a long time, she found nothing.

Sucked into the hidden door, Xiao Yichen found himself in a narrow passage filled with a pungent odor. He knew this was another of Murong Xuan's tricks, but now he had to find an exit to reunite with Lin Wan'er. He walked cautiously along the passage, sharp spikes occasionally popping out from the walls, which Xiao Yichen dodged with his agility.

At the end of the passage, a fork appeared. The left passage emitted the sound of flowing water, while the right passage offered a faint glimmer of light. Xiao Yichen pondered for a moment and decided to walk towards the right passage with light. When he entered the right passage, he found it filled with all sorts of strange mechanisms, some resembling giant gears, others complex combinations of ropes and pulleys.

As he was observing the mechanisms, he suddenly heard a familiar laugh—it was Murong Xuan's voice. "Xiao Yichen, do you think you can catch me? You're too naive. This is your burial ground." Murong Xuan's voice echoed through the passage, making it impossible to discern its direction.

Xiao Yichen gripped his sword tightly and shouted back, "Murong Xuan, you have committed countless evils. Today is your death day. No matter how many schemes and tricks you have, I will not let you go."

Having said that, he continued forward, trying to find Murong Xuan's trail. But with each step, he had to carefully navigate the surrounding traps. Suddenly, a giant gear began to spin, crushing towards him. Xiao Yichen quickly dodged to the side, hiding behind a stone pillar. The gear struck the pillar, producing a deafening roar that shook the entire passage.

On the other side, Lin Wan'er was still trying to find a way to open the hidden door. She suddenly realized that perhaps the mechanism wasn't on the wall, but somewhere else in the courtyard. So, she re-examined the entire courtyard. She noticed several large trees in the courtyard, their arrangement seemingly following a certain pattern. She walked to the middle of the trees and discovered some strange patterns on the ground, partially obscured by weeds, almost invisible without close inspection.

Lin Wan'er began to move according to the pattern's guidance. When she reached a specific location, she suddenly heard the sound of a mechanism activating. She turned around and saw that the previously closed secret door had reopened. Without hesitation, Lin Wan'er rushed in and followed Xiao Yichen's footsteps along the passage.

Xiao Yichen had already traversed the heavily fortified passages and arrived at a large hall. The hall was filled with treasure chests, each inlaid with various gems, gleaming with an alluring light. But Xiao Yichen knew this was yet another trap set by Murong Xuan. He wasn't drawn to the treasure chests; instead, he continued searching for the exit.

Just then, projections appeared on the walls of the hall, showing images of people who had been framed by Murong Xuan. The people in the images were filled with pain and despair, and their experiences kept flashing before Xiao Yichen's eyes, making the anger in his heart burn even more fiercely.

"Murong Xuan, you will pay the price for what you have done!" Xiao Yichen roared.

Suddenly, the treasure chest began to emit strange light, within which seemed to be some dark shadows moving. Xiao Yichen realized the situation was dire and prepared to leave the hall. However, the exit of the hall was suddenly blocked by a barrier of light. The dark shadows surged out of the treasure chest and pounced on Xiao Yichen. Xiao Yichen brandished his sword and engaged the shadows in combat. These shadows were extremely troublesome; they were like smoke, impossible to hit with a single strike, yet they relentlessly attacked Xiao Yichen.

Hearing the commotion coming from the hall in the corridor, Lin Wan'er quickened her pace. When she arrived at the hall, she saw Xiao Yichen being attacked by shadowy figures, and the situation was extremely critical. Without hesitation, Lin Wan'er joined the battle, standing back-to-back with Xiao Yichen to fight against the shadowy figures together.

"These shadowy figures seem to be formed from some kind of resentment. We must find their source to destroy them," Lin Wan'er said loudly.

Xiao Yichen nodded, observing the hall's surroundings while fending off the shadowy figures' attacks. He noticed a massive crystal ball on the ceiling, from which a dark aura seemed to flow. He guessed that this crystal ball might be the source of the shadowy figures.

"Wan'er, cover me, I'm going to destroy that crystal ball," Xiao Yichen said.

Lin Wan'er responded and unleashed her ultimate technique, unleashing streaks of sword energy that temporarily suppressed the dark figure. Xiao Yichen seized the opportunity, using his lightness skill to fly towards the top of the hall. As he approached the crystal ball, he sensed a powerful, evil force. He raised his sword and slashed at the crystal ball.

The crystal ball, attacked, emitted a powerful beam of light that enveloped the entire hall. The shadowy figures began to dissipate in the light, allowing Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er to escape the hall. They continued their search for Murong Xuan, only to find themselves back in the courtyard.

The courtyard had changed. The weeds were gone, replaced by strange symbols carved into the ground. These symbols emanated a mysterious power, seemingly guiding them somewhere. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er followed the symbols, unsure if this was yet another trap set by Murong Xuan, but they had no other choice.

As they continued their journey, they encountered a maze. The maze's walls were towering and insurmountable, with only a winding path leading deeper into it. They entered the maze cautiously, taking each step with utmost care, as flames or poisonous mist would occasionally erupt from the walls.

Xiao Yichen led the way, guiding Lin Wan'er through the maze with his keen intuition and sense of danger. They encountered several dead ends, but each time they managed to find the right path by observing subtle clues on the walls.

"This Murong Xuan has really gone to great lengths, setting up so many obstacles to stop us," Lin Wan'er said wearily.

“The more he acts like this, the more it shows he’s afraid we’ll catch up with him. We can’t give up; we must bring him to justice,” Xiao Yichen replied firmly.

After wandering through the maze for a long time, they finally saw a glimmer of hope. An exit appeared ahead, leading to a stone door with intricate patterns carved into it. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er approached the door and began to study the patterns. They discovered that the patterns seemed to be a jigsaw puzzle; only by assembling the patterns into specific shapes could the stone door open.

They began trying to solve the puzzle, and after many failures, they finally found the right method. The stone door slowly opened, and a breath of fresh air rushed in. They emerged from the maze only to find themselves in a valley. The valley was shrouded in thick fog, with visibility extremely low.

"Murong Xuan is definitely in this valley. We need to be careful," Xiao Yichen said.

They moved slowly through the thick fog, relying on their hearing and intuition to perceive their surroundings. Suddenly, Lin Wan'er heard the sound of horses' hooves, which gradually faded into the distance. They chased after the sound, only to find that the hooves had disappeared, leaving behind only some blurry footprints.

The footprints were faintly visible in the thick fog, and quite chaotic, suggesting that many horses had passed by. Xiao Yichen crouched down and carefully examined the footprints. He noticed that some of the footprints were similar in shape and size to those left by Murong Xuan, but there were also some differences, suggesting that Murong Xuan had deliberately disguised them.

"This is another of his tricks. He wants us to mistakenly believe that he has many helpers, thereby distracting us," Xiao Yichen analyzed.

Lin Wan'er nodded, and they continued following the footprints. Tracking footprints in the thick fog was extremely difficult, and they frequently lost their way. But they did not give up. With their strong will and unwavering commitment to justice, they painstakingly pursued Murong Xuan's trail through the fog, not letting go of any opportunity to catch him.

As they ventured deeper, the thick fog in the valley gradually dissipated. They found themselves at the shore of a lake, with several boats moored along the bank. One of the boats showed signs of its mooring ropes being untied and then retied, leading Xiao Yichen to conclude that Murong Xuan had likely left by boat.

They hurriedly boarded a boat and rowed towards the center of the lake. The water was crystal clear, but they had no interest in appreciating its beauty; their only thought was to capture Murong Xuan. In the center of the lake, they discovered some floating objects, including a piece of cloth bearing Murong Xuan's distinctive mark.

“He should be nearby. Let’s keep looking,” Xiao Yichen said.

They searched the lake for a long time but found no trace of Murong Xuan. Just as they were about to give up, they suddenly heard a melodious flute tune. The music seemed to be coming from the bottom of the lake, eerie and mysterious. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er exchanged a glance. They knew that Murong Xuan was up to his old tricks again, but they wouldn't be deterred by these strange phenomena. They were determined to investigate and see what secrets were hidden behind the flute music, and whether they could find any trace of Murong Xuan.

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er rowed their boat towards the direction from which the melodious flute music came, but the sound was like a mirage on the water, elusive and unpredictable. As they approached, the flute music abruptly stopped, and the surrounding lake rippled slightly, but nothing else changed. They lingered on the lake for a long time, unable to find any trace of Murong Xuan, and had no choice but to go ashore to continue their search.

As they walked along the lakeshore, the scenery ahead gradually blurred as mist began to spread. At first, it was just a thin layer, but as they ventured deeper, the mist grew thicker and thicker, as if it were alive, engulfing everything around them. They knew that this was the renowned yet mysterious Misty Forest.

The trees in the Misty Forest are exceptionally tall, with thick trunks and bark marked by the passage of time, resembling ancient runes. Their branches intertwine, blocking out the sun, with only a few faint rays of light struggling to penetrate the dense foliage and fall upon the ground covered with fallen leaves and withered branches. The pile of fallen leaves is thick, rustling with each step, a stark contrast to the silence of the forest, like a warning from the woods.

Lin Wan'er frowned slightly, tightening her grip on her sword. She said softly, "This Misty Forest has an eerie aura; we must be careful." Xiao Yichen nodded, his eyes sharp as he warily scanned their surroundings, not missing a single corner that might conceal danger. They cautiously moved forward through the mist, their vision severely limited, able to see only a few steps ahead.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew by, and the mist surged, as if countless invisible hands were pulling at them. Xiao Yichen felt something brush against his cheek, and he swung his sword sharply, but only managed to cut a falling leaf. Lin Wan'er also noticed the abnormality; she leaned against Xiao Yichen, and the two formed a defensive posture.

"There seems to be something wrong with the fog here; it's like it's interfering with our senses," Xiao Yichen said in a low voice.

“Yes, we can’t get separated, otherwise we’ll easily get lost,” Lin Wan’er replied.

They continued on, the path beneath their feet becoming increasingly rugged. Sometimes, what appeared to be flat ground was actually a trap, a loose rock or a hidden pit. Once, Lin Wan'er almost fell into a deep pit concealed by withered branches, but fortunately, Xiao Yichen pulled her out of the way in time.

After walking through the misty forest for some time, they discovered some strange footprints. These footprints didn't resemble human footprints; they were oddly shaped, with three toes, and the imprints were deep, as if bearing a tremendous weight. Xiao Yichen crouched down, carefully examining the footprints, his brow furrowed.

"What kind of monster left these footprints? It seems there are other unknown dangers in this forest besides Murong Xuan," Xiao Yichen said.

Looking at the footprints, Lin Wan'er felt a sense of unease: "Whatever it is, we must be careful. Perhaps this is a trick by Murong Xuan to lure us here, hoping to use these monsters to deal with us."

They followed the footprints, hoping to find some clues. However, the footprints disappeared at the edge of a swamp. The swamp emitted a pungent smell, and there were some seemingly solid clumps of grass on the surface, but Xiao Yichen knew this was a common camouflage in swamps. He picked up a stone and threw it into the swamp; the stone was instantly swallowed up, with only a few bubbles rising to the surface.

"Looks like we'll have to take a detour," Xiao Yichen said.

They searched for other paths along the edge of the swamp, encountering some strange plants along the way. These plants had enormous leaves covered in sharp thorns and occasionally sprayed out a foul-smelling liquid. Lin Wan'er was accidentally splashed with some of the liquid; she felt a stinging pain in her arm and quickly checked it, finding her skin beginning to redden.

“This liquid is poisonous; we need to avoid these plants,” Lin Wan’er said.

They carefully skirted the dangerous vegetation and continued onward. Suddenly, a low roar echoed from ahead, a sound that seemed to emanate from the depths of hell, sending chills down their spines. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er immediately stopped, gripped their weapons, and prepared to face the unknown enemy.

As the roar grew closer, a colossal figure emerged from the mist. It was a monster resembling a bear, but far larger, covered in hard scales, its eyes gleaming with a blood-red light. Upon seeing Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, it roared again and charged towards them.

Xiao Yichen charged forward first, his movements as swift as lightning, his sword thrusting towards the monster. The blade struck the monster's scales, but only produced a few sparks, utterly failing to harm it. The monster swung its massive claws, aiming to slam them down at Xiao Yichen. Xiao Yichen quickly dodged backward, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.

Seeing this, Lin Wan'er used her lightness skill to fly to the side of the monster, her sword darting towards its eye like a serpent. The monster sensed the danger and suddenly turned its head; Lin Wan'er's sword struck its cheek, causing it considerable pain though not a fatal blow. Enraged, it turned and pounced on Lin Wan'er.

Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Yichen attacked the monster from behind again. This time, he channeled his inner strength into his sword and thrust it with all his might into the monster's back. The sword finally pierced the monster's scales and penetrated deep into its body. The monster let out a miserable scream and struggled even more frantically. Taking advantage of the situation, Lin Wan'er slashed its leg, causing the monster to lose its balance and collapse to the ground with a thud.

The two dared not be careless and continued their attack on the monster until it became completely still. Panting heavily, they looked at the monster before them and secretly rejoiced.

"This is just a small test in the forest; we still need to continue searching for Murong Xuan," Xiao Yichen said.

They continued their journey through the misty forest, the fog still thick. As they walked, they came to a clearing ahead. In the clearing were some ancient stone tablets, covered with strange symbols and patterns. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er approached the tablets, attempting to decipher their inscriptions.

These symbols and patterns seem to tell an ancient story, about the secrets of this forest. Lin Wan'er discovered a familiar mark on one of the stone tablets, a mark related to Murong Xuan.

“It seems Murong Xuan has been here before. These stone tablets might hold some clues,” Lin Wan’er said.

They carefully studied the stone tablet and discovered that the symbols seemed to be pointing in a direction. Following the tablet's guidance, they ventured deeper into the forest. Along the way, they encountered new dangers, such as vines that would suddenly sprout from the ground, attempting to entangle them; and flowers that released alluring fragrances, causing hallucinations.

Once, Xiao Yichen was bewitched by the fragrance of flowers and saw some non-existent scenes, almost putting himself in danger. Lin Wan'er covered his mouth and nose in time and led him away from the flowers.

As they ventured deeper, the fog seemed to grow even more eerie. Sometimes, they felt like they were going in circles, heading in one direction only to find themselves back where they started. Xiao Yichen realized this was likely some kind of illusion within the forest.

“We can’t let this illusion trap us; we have to find a way to break through it,” Xiao Yichen said.

They began trying different methods, such as leaving special marks and following a specific number of steps. After many attempts, they finally found a way to break the puzzle. Continuing on, they came to a stream. The water was crystal clear, but it exuded a cold aura.

Xiao Yichen crouched down and touched the stream water with his hand, feeling a chill creep from his fingertips straight to his bones. He frowned and said, "This stream is strange; we can't wade in rashly."

Lin Wan'er searched for a way to cross the stream and found some fallen trees spanning the water. They decided to cross along these trees, and although the process was somewhat dangerous, they finally reached the other side safely.

After crossing the stream, they found the mist had thinned slightly. A cave appeared ahead, surrounded by fresh footprints, the shape of which resembled Murong Xuan's. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with joy, and they headed towards the cave.

The cave was dark and damp, with some glowing moss on the walls barely illuminating a small part of the space. They cautiously entered the cave, which was filled with a pungent odor. Deep inside, they heard a faint breathing sound.

"Could it be Murong Xuan?" Lin Wan'er asked softly.

Xiao Yichen made a shushing gesture, and they slowly approached the source of the sound. As they rounded a corner, they saw a figure huddled in the corner. Xiao Yichen raised his sword, preparing to step forward, but just then, the figure moved; it turned out to be a wounded hunter.

The hunter saw them, and his eyes widened in terror. He stammered, "You...you mustn't come any closer! There are demons here!"

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er quickly comforted the hunter and asked him what had happened. The hunter told them that while hunting in the forest, he encountered a mysterious person who led him here. Then, some terrifying monsters appeared, and he barely managed to escape, but he was seriously injured.

"Was that mysterious person dressed in black and had a jade pendant at his waist?" Xiao Yichen asked, describing exactly Murong Xuan's features.

The hunter nodded and said, "Yes, that's him. He seems to be looking for something and has made a mess of the place."

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er gleaned a new clue from the hunter's words: they knew Murong Xuan was nearby and seemed to be searching for some treasure in the forest. They decided to rest briefly in the cave, treat the hunter's wounds, and then continue their search for Murong Xuan.

During their rest, Lin Wan'er noticed some strange scratches on the cave walls, which resembled some kind of map. She called Xiao Yichen over, and the two studied the scratches together. After some analysis, they concluded that it might be a map leading to an important place deep in the forest, and that Murong Xuan had likely headed towards that place.

Following the map's directions, they left the cave and once again ventured into the mist. This time, their goal was clearer: to head towards that mysterious place deep within the forest. They knew that their final showdown with Murong Xuan might be there, and the countless unknowns hidden in this misty forest would be revealed one by one during this pursuit.