Sam sat cross-legged on the floor of his small, candle-lit room, the ancient tome spread open before him. His fingers traced the faded, handwritten text, his brow furrowed in concentration. The Linkage Gu, now comfortably nestled in his pocket like a lazy cat, occasionally chirped in its sleep, its presence oddly reassuring. But Sam couldn't afford to relax; not when the next step of his journey was looming so ominously.