Morning came slowly, and Jiang Tao had barely let himself relax throughout the night. Between the Yin-heavy atmosphere and the persistent wariness hanging over the camp, tension had become his closest companion.

As the first pale rays of sunlight filtered through the ancient white trees, the glade seemed even more surreal, its ghostly aura even more pronounced. He was grateful for being a cultivator—it allowed him to function on minimal rest.

You’d probably drift off into samsara if you slept in this place. He mused.

He stood up, stretching his limbs in an effort to ease the stiffness in his body. His eyes flickered toward the senior Twilight Flame Sect disciples. They were chatting away still undisturbed by the surroundings. Tao was envious, he would kill not feel like there was someone constantly staring at him. Every rustle of leaves and creak of the trees felt like a breath on his neck.

Li Hua was still in a meditative position, a mantra spilling forth from her lips as she cultivated. Tao marveled at her focus, how she could drown out the world around her and sink so deeply into cultivation. He had failed to sink into meditation regardless of how he cycled his qi.

Jiang Tao's thoughts were interrupted by Elder Ji's commanding voice. "Rise and prepare. We continue our search for the Orchid.”

“As Elder says!” replied the Twilight sect disciples. His fellow disciples from the Imperial sect rose from their positions, none of them all too pleased about going back into the grove.

“It's so damned cold,” Yu Hongyi complained.

The group reluctantly moved into formation, and soon they were making their way deeper into the Whispering Glade.

Elder Ji led the way, his eyes sharp and focused, while the other disciples followed, their footsteps muffled by the thick, mossy ground. Tao couldn’t help but glance at the base of the trees they passed.

Maybe there's more?

As they pressed deeper into the glade, the atmosphere grew increasingly eerie. It wasn’t just the cold—there was something else, something darker lurking beneath the surface. Whispers floated in and out of earshot, carried by the wind.

“Spread out,” the Elder ordered.

The group fanned out. Can we not split up again? He wanted to say but knew not to, that would be an admission of weakness.

It's not that bad. Toughen up.

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden cry from Ma De, who had stumbled upon something hidden among the roots.

"Elder Ji!" Ma De called out, his voice tinged with excitement. "I think I found something!"

The group quickly converged on Ma De’s location. The excitement in the air was palpable as they saw what he had discovered—a cluster of pale orchids, their petals shimmering with an ethereal light.

The same cluster he had found yesterday. Elder Ji’s eyes narrowed as he examined the orchids. "Excellent Ma De, two extra pills for you this month” elder Ji praised

“Elder is too kind,” Ma De said looking very pleased with himself.

Elder Ji's sharp eyes scanned the cluster of orchids with suspicion. “This cluster is smaller than usual,” he repeated, more to himself than to anyone else. He knelt beside the flowers, inspecting them with meticulous care.

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Jiang Tao felt a twinge of anxiety. The very orchids he had found the previous day were now being scrutinized. He tried to keep his expression neutral, but his heart was racing. His thoughts raced as well, wondering if his actions would be discovered.

Ma De, clearly thrilled by the praise, puffed up with pride. “Do you think we missed any more?” he asked, glancing around eagerly.

“No. It appears this decade's bloom is just smaller” the elder said before carefully harvesting the orchids.

Tao almost let out a sigh of relief. As Elder Ji finished harvesting the orchids, he stood up and turned to address the group. “We have what we came for. Rest for a moment then we leave,”

Finally, This place was getting to me, he thought, relieved at the thought of leaving.

Just as Elder Ji finished collecting the orchids, a sudden gust of wind swept through the glade, carrying with it a chorus of whispers—low, mournful voices that seemed to come from all directions at once. The temperature plummeted even further, and the shadows seemed to deepen, twisting and writhing as if alive.

The disciples froze, their eyes wide with fear.

“Form up!” Elder Ji barked, his voice cutting through the rising panic. “Defensive positions, now!”

Jiang Tao’s heart raced as he drew his sword, joining the others in forming a protective circle around Elder Ji. The air crackled with tension, and the whispers grew louder.

From the shadows, figures began to emerge—wispy, ethereal forms, their features indistinct but unmistakably hostile. They moved with unnatural grace, their movements barely disturbing the air as they closed in on the group.

Ghosts, Tao realized, his grip tightening on his sword.

Elder Ji’s expression was grim. “Hold your ground! Do not engage unless absolutely necessary!”

But it was too late. Yu Hongyi, ever brash and impulsive, let out a furious shout and lunged at one of the ghostly figures, his sword flashing through the air. His blade passed through the spirit without resistance, but the creature retaliated, its ethereal hand reaching out and brushing against his arm.

Yu Hongyi cried out in pain, stumbling back as frost spread across his skin where the ghost had touched him.

“Fool!” Elder Ji snarled, his eyes flashing with anger. “I said don’t engage!”

But the damage was done. The wraiths had tasted blood in the water and approached even faster but Wang Fang, Ma De, and Shu Yijian were faster.

A wall of flames appeared around them halting the approach of the wraiths as the twilight flame disciples hastily erected an array. As the ghost wraiths recoiled from the sudden surge of flames, their ghostly forms flickered and writhed in the heat.

Inside the barrier Yu Hongyi, nursing his frostbitten arm, looked pale and shaken. He avoided making eye contact with the others, clearly embarrassed by his impulsive action.

“Ghosts, so annoying to deal with,” Wang Fang muttered “I hoped we wouldn't encounter any.”

“It's not too bad sister fang,” Ma De said with a small grin.

Tao wasn't sure if the situation could qualify as not too bad. Elder Ji seemed annoyed at the disruption.

“Find a solution,” he instructed, making it clear he was not interfering once again.

Does everything have to be a teaching moment? Jiang Tao thought annoyed, it seemed it was up to the imperial disciples.

Yixing’s saber appeared in his hands, the feel of a weapon in hand calmed Tao just a bit. He wondered what the best way to get rid of the creatures was. None of them had Yang heavy techniques.

Yixing and Yuhan would have a field day but all he had was wind, lightning was barred to him at this stage.

“Think, think,” Tao muttered under his breath, his eyes darting around for anything that might offer a solution.

The sound of a talisman whizzing through the air snapped Jiang Tao back to reality. Ning Yiren, her face set in a confident expression, had thrown a talisman toward the ethereal figures.

The talisman exploded into a brilliant explosion that decimated the wraiths. The remaining wraiths hissed as they retreated.

Elder Ji’s expression softened slightly as he surveyed the area, his eyes lingering on Ning Yiren with a look of admiration. “Well done, Ning Yiren,”

He turned to face the rest of them, “A cultivator must be ready to face all kinds of foes at all times, Ning Yiren shows why it's necessary to have a wide range of talismans and tools,”

The disciples exchanged relieved glances. I can't believe it was that easy. I expected more.

As they made their way out of the Whispering Glade, the oppressive atmosphere began to lift, though the sense of foreboding didn’t completely dissipate. The cold, damp air gradually gave way to the warmer, more familiar surroundings of the forest beyond.

The sun was setting by the time they reached the edge of the glade. Jiang Tao let out a quiet sigh of relief as they emerged from the perpetual gloom and into the softer light of dusk. The air felt almost warm in contrast to the icy grip of the glade, and he could see the subtle shift in the group’s mood from tension to a more relaxed state.

“A successful expedition!” Ma De cheered as they left the glade. “Juniors should come for the next one too.”

They all made varying ambiguous noises. No way in hell.

Jiang Tao took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air as they walked away from the glade’s eerie confines.

The group moved in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Yu Hongyi, still nursing his frostbitten arm, walked with a sullen expression.

Li Hua, walking beside Jiang Tao, seemed to be in deep thought. She turned to him and whispered something that tripped his stride, “I know.”