The First Bloom 18

They found Yan Lin standing beneath the tallest Tree of Soul in the central pavilion, her figure bathed in its pale, otherworldly glow. 

The bark shimmered like liquid moonlight, casting ethereal patterns across the ground and onto her sharp, commanding features. A group of guild members surrounded her, their whispers blending into the faint hum that seemed to emanate from the tree itself. 

Yan Lin held up a hand mid-discussion, silencing them as her piercing gaze locked onto Jianyu and Zhenfeng.

"Braver than most—or more reckless," she said, her voice cutting through the stillness as she dismissed the others with a subtle nod. They bowed slightly before retreating, leaving her alone to face the two intruders. "You don't strike me as fools, but showing up here at this hour does make me question my judgment."