LOGINLandon drew Aria a little closer, guiding her away from the edge of the road. It was a natural, thoughtful gesture. "Stand close to me. Be careful of passing cars. This place may be remote, but there could still be traffic."He positioned himself on the side closest to the road, shielding her from any potential danger. His gaze held unwavering protectiveness. The two of them stood quietly by the roadside. Aria leaned against his shoulder, gazing at the mountains and sky. She had never imagined that one day she would stand beside him on such a remote stretch of road, waiting for a ride.There was nothing luxurious about it, only the simple warmth of ordinary life. Yet somehow, it felt more comforting than all the riches in the world.After an unknown stretch of time, the faint hum of an engine drifted from the far end of the road.Aria immediately straightened and turned toward the sound. Landon looked up as well, his fingers still wrapped around hers, the warmth of his palm l
Just like that, Aria and Landon walked side by side out of the secret realm. The moment they stepped out, the morning wind brushed gently against their faces, carrying the fresh, earthy scent unique to the deep forest.A thin veil of mist lingered in the air as towering ancient trees spread their branches overhead. Sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, scattering across the forest floor like flecks of gold.From time to time, the crisp calls of birds echoed through the woods, accompanied by the gentle murmur of a nearby stream. The forest that had seemed so terrifying in the darkness now felt quiet and peaceful.Aria tilted her head and looked at him. "So the place we were in earlier can actually heal injuries?"Landon glanced at her. "That secret realm has been there for a very long time. No one ever discovered it. I found it by accident."Aria nodded. "I see. At least I can finally breathe a little easier. Now that Greenshade Guild, Suncrest Sect, and Grayburn Sect have
Aria's lashes clung damply to her cheeks. Her lips were pale and cracked, marked with deep bite marks from clenching her teeth the entire way. The faint stench of blood still lingered in her mouth. Her clothes were already soaked through with blood, and the old wound across her shoulder and back still oozed, staining Landon's fingertips red. Her arms and wrists were covered with cuts of all sizes from thorns and traps, some old and some newly formed. Even her hand that had clutched that scrap of cloth so tightly was covered in tiny cuts from jagged stones, the skin torn and bloodied.This was how she had made it to him—one wounded step at a time, surviving danger after danger, following the faintest trace he left behind until she finally found him. Landon swallowed hard, the pain in his eyes almost overflowing. In his usually calm and gentle gaze, unmistakable guilt and anguish now lingered. With movements as careful as if he were holding the most fragile treasure in the world
Weathered by a thousand years of wind and rain, its surface was scarred with deep and shallow cracks, with moss creeping through the gaps. It looked ancient and imposing, carrying a deathly stillness that seemed to cut it off from the living world.The wall rose several feet high. It stretched endlessly to either side before vanishing into the dense forest and swirling mist, like a barrier between life and death.The blood trail stopped at the base of the wall. It didn't continue forward or turn back. It simply ended there, as if it had never existed. Aria slowly crouched down. Her trembling fingertips traced the cold stone, then moved over the dirt at the base of the wall, the scattered gravel, and the dried leaves. She searched again and again for any traces of Landon—one strand of hair, a shred of fabric, or even a single drop of dried blood.However, she found nothing. The place was so clean it looked as though no one had ever come here.Every clue she had followed, every stu
An ancient and tranquil presence filled with the scent of stone and wood replaced the eerie atmosphere around her. At last, the dense forest ahead began to thin. After walking a few more steps, Aria came to a stop at a towering gate. This was already her second time here.The gate, made of massive greenish stones, rose several feet high. Three robust, ancient characters were engraved on its lintel—Grayburn Sect. Time had etched its mark across the gate, each scar telling the story of countless battles. Despite being weathered and mottled, the two solemn stone beasts still stood proudly on either side of the gate.However, the place no longer carried the grandeur it had when she first arrived. Only a heavy silence hung in the air. Aria stood before the gate, drained of strength and barely able to remain upright. She reached out and braced herself against the cold, rough stone wall beside her. The chill from the rock spread through her palm and up her arm, clearing the fog in her
It was so dark that Aria could barely make out her surroundings. All around her, the shadows of trees twisted and clawed at the darkness, resembling the man-eating demons from ancient legends.Aria was only human, and the unknown still filled her with fear. Yet here she was, alone in a deep and dangerous mountain forest, and not once did she think of turning back.She had to find Landon. She would never leave him here alone. She had to bring him home.She moved slowly, each step taking everything she had left. Weakness and fatigue engulfed her body, and her vision kept darkening. Whenever it did, she would stop and brace herself against a tree to catch her breath. Once the dizziness passed, she forced herself forward again.She had no idea how long she had been walking. The ache in her chest burned, and her breathing turned ragged and uneven. Her throat felt so dry it almost burned. When she licked her cracked lips, she tasted a faint hint of blood. She must have broken the skin
Eric hesitated. He turned on his mic and asked, "How did you know that my upper abdomen is hurting all the time?""Holy shit! The streamer really guessed the symptoms correctly!""I gotta follow her now. That was miraculous!"Aria drummed her fingers on the table from time to time and said without much
Titus observed Landon's face. "You seem like you're in a good mood."Landon paused in the middle of his actions. "Huh?"Titus picked up his teacup. "Someone hacked into your house, and you're still smiling despite that. What else could be the reason for that aside from a good mood? Brat."Landon knew t
Karen nodded eagerly, urging everyone to try the desserts. However, her gaze remained fixed on the young woman. She couldn't help but wonder just how wealthy the young woman was to lead such a lavish lifestyle.While they were affluent themselves, there existed a disparity among the wealthy. For inst
Salome craned her neck. "But you know as well as I that the medical industry is most profitable. With how many people there are in the family, we can't let our sources of income be severed.""I'm not asking that of you," Galen said slowly, "Just lay low for a while and wait for things to subside."Sal







