Lingering unease settled over Shi Min as Rockie recounted the details of Solaris and his father. The weight of his words seeped into the very air of the study, thick and suffocating. It was as if the temperature had dropped, leaving an icy layer of tension between them.
“The old monk is not ordinary,” Rockie began, his voice low, laced with the cautious edge of someone who knew they were dealing with something sinister. “He sensed our presence immediately the first time we arrived. As for Solaris—he has only his elderly father with him at home. His father always leaves at night and returns at dawn.”
Shi Min’s gaze remained locked on Rockie, absorbing every word with precision. He remained silent, his eyes slightly narrowed, his fingers tapping idly against the thick wooden desk.
Rockie took a breath before continuing, his voice growing heavier. “But this morning, his father returned—injured. And shortly after, we learned that Solaris was wounded too.”