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Captain Edmund walked to Mark's side, his sharp eyes swept over the remaining black marks on the ground, his brows furrowed. "These marks seem familiar to me." He squatted down, picked up a little black powder with his leather-gloved thumb and index finger, and sniffed it carefully. "It's the residue of dark energy, and the concentration is very high." Captain Edmund stood up and looked at Mark with a serious face.

Mark frowned and briefly explained the process of Lily's disappearance and the meaning of the black marks. He spoke quickly, in a low tone, with a hint of anxiety that was difficult to conceal. While speaking, he subconsciously stroked the scales of Bingying, seeking a little comfort. Bingying seemed to feel Mark's emotions, gently rubbed his hand, and made a low whimper, with worry in his golden eyes. The air around seemed to be frozen, with only the rustling sound of the night wind blowing through the leaves and the occasional cry of a few night owls in the distance, adding a bit of weird atmosphere.

Captain Edmund listened carefully and nodded from time to time to show his understanding. Sometimes he looked down at the black powder on the ground, and sometimes he looked up at Mark, his deep eyes flashing with a thoughtful light. His thick eyebrows twisted together to form a deep "Chuan" character, and his rough face was full of seriousness and earnestness. He reached out and touched the beard on his chin, and the rough beard made his hand itch slightly. After confirming the situation, Captain Edmund pulled an arrow from the quiver, put it on the bowstring, and pointed the arrow deep into the bushes. The bowstring was taut, making a slight "buzzing" sound, like a beast ready to go.

He motioned for Mark to follow, and the two sneaked into the bushes one after the other. Captain Edmund walked in front. He was tall and steady, pushing aside the dense branches and leaves, like a cheetah running through the jungle, without making any sound. Mark followed closely behind. He was flexible and agile, like a ghost in the dark night, silently passing through the bushes. Bingying turned into a soul and floated in the air, blending perfectly with the surrounding environment, like transparent air, difficult to detect.

Deep in the bushes, the light was dim, the branches and leaves were intertwined, blocking the sky, and only a few rays of moonlight fell through the gaps, casting mottled light and shadows on the ground. The two pushed aside the dense branches and leaves and moved forward slowly. The sound of the dead branches breaking under their feet was particularly clear in the silent jungle. The air was filled with the smell of damp soil and the fragrance of plants, mixed with a faint smell of blood, which made people feel a little uneasy.

Suddenly, Captain Edmund raised his fist to signal to stop. He hunched over, hiding behind a dense bush, motionless, like a sculpture. He pointed to the symbol engraved on a tree trunk in front of him and whispered to Mark to be careful. The symbol was strange and complex, like some ancient text, and like some mysterious totem, emitting a faint black light, which looked particularly weird in the dim light. The rough surface of the tree trunk was covered with moss and vines, and the symbol was hidden in it. It was difficult to find it without careful observation. The surrounding trees were also engraved with the same symbol, as if marking something.

Mark held his breath, clenched the dagger in his hand, and watched the surroundings vigilantly. He slowed down his breathing and tried not to make any sound. His senses were highly concentrated, capturing all the movements around him. Sweat slowly flowed down his forehead, but he didn't bother to wipe it off. His eyes scanned the surrounding trees and bushes sharply, trying to find anything unusual. Bingying also lowered his flight altitude and flew close to the ground. His golden eyes scanned the surrounding environment vigilantly, and from time to time he made a low whimper, as if reminding Mark to be careful. The air around him seemed to solidify, filled with a tense and depressing atmosphere.

Captain Edmund bent his bow and shot an arrow, his movements were smooth and smooth, and he finished it in one go. The arrow was like a silver light, cutting through the silent night sky and hitting the trap hidden in the bushes ahead. With a light "click" sound, the mechanism was triggered, and several sharp wooden spikes shot out from the ground, piercing the sky with a sound of breaking through the air. The surface of the wooden spikes was coated with black liquid, emitting a pungent fishy smell, and it was obvious that it was highly poisonous. If Captain Edmund had not reminded him, Mark would probably have been tricked. The bushes around the trap were shaken by the impact of the wooden spikes, and the leaves fell one after another, as if it had rained lightly.

"Be careful, there are traps everywhere here." Captain Edmund said in a low voice, looking around vigilantly.

"Yeah." Mark nodded and clenched the dagger in his hand.

"The arrangement of these traps is very similar to Toby's style." Captain Edmund frowned, squatted down, dipped some black liquid with his fingers, and sniffed it at the tip of his nose, "But why did Toby set the current price?" He stood up and his eyes became more solemn.

Mark took a deep breath, his Adam's apple rolled up and down, and told what he had discovered: "Captain, I also found that Toby was secretly talking to a mysterious person before?" Mark described the appearance of the mysterious man again.

"What?" Captain Edmund was shocked. Wasn't the person Mark described the one who had fought with the Great Elder before?

"Mark, we must go back and report this matter to the High Priest first."