Southern Perils

The Whispering Plains felt endless, their rolling hills and rustling grasses a monotony broken only by the occasional rock or stray bush. The talisman Zuo Ming had given them hung from Xu Tian's neck, glowing faintly as it did its work.

"I still don't trust him," Yue Lin said, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon.

"We don't have to trust him," Xu Tian replied. "We just have to survive long enough to prove him wrong."

"That's a bold plan," Wei Ling quipped, flipping his coin. "Heads, we make it out alive. Tails, we're dinner for whatever lives in these plains."

Xu Tian sighed. "Can you stop flipping that thing for five minutes? It's stressing me out."

As they neared the southern edge of the plains, the whispers grew louder, as if the grass itself were trying to warn them. A dense fog began to roll in, reducing visibility to mere feet.

"This is definitely worse than the ridge," Xu Tian muttered.

"Keep moving," Shen Feng said, his voice steady. "The fog won't last forever."

"Unless it's magical fog," Wei Ling said.

"Don't say things like that!" Xu Tian snapped.

Yue Lin paused, holding up a hand. "Quiet. Do you hear that?"

The group fell silent, the only sounds their breathing and the faint whispers of the grass. Then, faintly, they heard it: a low growl, followed by the sound of something large moving through the fog.

Xu Tian's grip tightened on his sword. "Please tell me that's just the wind."

"It's not the wind," Yue Lin said grimly.

Out of the fog emerged a massive creature, its form partially obscured but its glowing red eyes unmistakable. It resembled a wolf, but its body was covered in scales that shimmered with an eerie light.

"What is that?" Xu Tian whispered.

"A nightmare," Yue Lin said, drawing her weapon.

The beast snarled, its breath visible in the cold air. It prowled closer, its movements deliberate, as if savoring the moment.

"Any bright ideas?" Xu Tian asked, his voice rising in pitch.

"Run," Shen Feng said simply.

The group bolted, the beast letting out a deafening roar as it gave chase.

The fog and the tall grass worked both for and against them, obscuring their movements but also making it harder to see where they were going. Xu Tian stumbled several times, each time feeling the beast's hot breath uncomfortably close.

"Keep moving!" Yue Lin shouted.

"I'm trying!" Xu Tian yelled back.

Wei Ling suddenly veered to the right, shouting, "This way!"

"Why are we listening to him?" Xu Tian demanded.

"Do you have a better idea?" Yue Lin retorted.

The group followed Wei Ling, who led them to a small rocky outcrop. They scrambled up, the beast skidding to a stop at the base, its claws raking against the stone.

For a moment, the group thought they were safe. Then the beast reared back, its mouth opening wide as it prepared to unleash a blast of fire.

"We're dead," Xu Tian said flatly.

Before the beast could attack, a piercing whistle cut through the air. The beast froze, its head snapping to the side. From the fog emerged a figure draped in dark robes, their face hidden by a hood.

The figure raised a hand, and the beast lowered its head, whimpering like a scolded puppy.

"What just happened?" Xu Tian whispered.

The figure looked up at them, their voice calm and cold. "You're trespassing."

Yue Lin stepped forward. "Who are you?"

The figure ignored her question. "Leave the southern path. Now. This is your only warning."

"Wait!" Xu Tian called. "We don't even know where we are!"

The figure turned, the beast following obediently. "Then you shouldn't be here."

And with that, they disappeared into the fog, leaving the group stunned and breathless.

Once the beast and the figure were gone, the group climbed down from the outcrop.

"Well, that was terrifying," Xu Tian said.

"We need to move," Shen Feng said. "They might come back."

"Move where?" Xu Tian asked. "We don't even know where we're going!"

"We go east," Yue Lin said. "Zuo Ming's instructions were clear."

Xu Tian groaned but followed. "I hate this place."

As they resumed their journey, the whispers in the grass seemed to grow quieter, almost as if the plains themselves were holding their breath.

Far behind them, the hooded figure watched from the shadows. A second figure appeared beside them, this one clad in simple yet elegant robes.

"They're heading east," the second figure said.

"Good," the hooded figure replied. "Let them. The pearl will guide them where they need to go."

"And if they stray?"

The hooded figure's voice was as cold as the fog. "Then they will die."