The First Bloom 42

Jianyu rolled his shoulders again as they made their way back to the guild's cavern hideout, the weight of his harvest slung over his shoulder in a makeshift sack. The scent of freshly harvested crops clung to his hands—earthy, crisp, and a little sharp from the rosemary. His muscles still ached from the fight earlier, but the promise of a good meal, something warm and satisfying, was enough to keep his spirits up.

The path back was familiar, worn down by their footsteps over time. Roots twisted across the ground, gnarled and thick, half-covered by moss. The towering trees overhead cast long shadows, their leaves whispering in the wind. It was quiet—just the soft rustling of foliage, the rhythmic crunch of their boots against dirt, and the occasional murmur of distant night creatures stirring.