Following the vaguely familiar trail from his memories, Lanling led Haruki deep into the cherry blossom forest. Knowing the abyssal entity was after Feng, they felt a slight ease, but tension still hung in the air.
The longer they walked, the more it became clear that something was being hidden in this area. The trees seemed to be intertwined, their roots nearly touching one another, adding to the sense of secrecy surrounding the place.
In the midst of the dense forest, they stumbled upon a meadow. Beautifully crafted wooden tables were laid out, adorned with embroidered tablecloths and matching elegant chairs. Masked individuals mingled in the open space, awaiting the outdoor stage to light up and signal the start of the auction. A plaque with the number 304 hung above the archway of the stage.
Lanling and Haruki halted when they saw colorful figures in the distance, quickly ducking behind the trees.