The forest was otherworldly, a misty maze where every tree looked the same and every sound was amplified by the oppressive silence. Thick fog muffled the moonlight, turning the landscape into a monochrome palette of grays and blacks. For He Xiang's group, the map and compass were their only anchors in this sea of uncertainty.
He Xiang led from the front, moving with an infectious calm. He didn't rely solely on his instruments; his trained senses read the terrain in ways that the cadets couldn't. He felt the dip in the soil through the soles of his boots, smelled the damp moss that indicated a nearby stream, and listened for the sound of branches snapping that might signal the presence of an animal—or something else.
"Keep a distance of five paces," he whispered behind him, his voice lost in the mist. "Report any unusual sounds or sightings. Lin Feng, you're behind me. Keep the ranks tight."
Lin Fengqing, who went by the pseudonym "Lin Feng," nodded in the darkness, feeling a little safer in his instructor's presence. Ever since the incident at the barrier wall, there had been a tacit understanding between them. He Xiang had never revealed her secret, but her subtle protection felt like an invisible shield. Tonight, in this terrifying forest, Lin Fengqing vowed not to disappoint that trust. He watched He Xiang's back, trying to imitate her steady, vigilant steps.
They had been walking for nearly two hours, navigating through dense undergrowth and crossing shallow streams. Fatigue was beginning to set in, but He Xiang's calm leadership kept panic at bay. He stopped periodically to check the map under the dim light of a cloth-covered lantern, making sure they were on the right path to Widow's Ridge.
As they neared the foot of the hill, the terrain became steeper. The once faint trail disappeared, replaced by a steep slope of wet soil and slippery moss-covered rocks.
"Alright, everyone, listen up," He Xiang said, his voice calm even as his breathing became slightly labored from the climb. "This is the hardest part. We will use ropes to help us descend the other side of the ridge. The procedure is one person at a time. The one on top will secure the rope. The one on the bottom will guide. There is no rush. Safety is the top priority."
He and a few stronger male cadets worked together to tie a thick climbing rope to a large, sturdy tree at the top of the ridge. He Xiang tested the knot three times, pulling with all his body weight. The rope felt strong and reliable.
One by one, the cadets began to descend the near-vertical slope. It was a slow and tense process. The mist made the rocks below seem farther away than they really were, and the only things to rely on were their grip on the rough rope and He Xiang's voice from above giving instructions.
Lin Fengqing was one of the last to descend. His hands were burned from the friction of the rope, but he made it to the bottom safely, greeted by his fellow comrades. Now, only He Xiang remained at the top.
"Everyone down and safe?" He Xiang shouted, his voice slightly muffled by the mist.
"All clear, Lieutenant!" one of the cadets replied from below.
"Good. I'm coming down now."
He Xiang secured his gear, hooked the rope around his body in the correct manner, and began descending the slope with his back facing down. His movements were agile and efficient, showing years of experience. He relied on his body weight to apply tension to the rope, his feet searching for footholds on the slippery rock surface.
He was halfway down the slope when something went terribly wrong.
It wasn't a violent jolt. It was a much more terrifying sensation: the rope suddenly felt looser, more flexible. A strange vibration ran through him, like a guitar string snapping one by one. For a split second, his brain tried to process the inconceivable information. This rope has been tested. This rope is strong.
Then, with a soft but terrifying ripping sound, the rope gave way.
He Xiang's entire world turned upside down. The sudden sensation of weightlessness, his futile grip on the broken thread, and the wind howling in his ears as he fell. He didn't scream. His warrior instincts took over.
Instead of falling straight down onto the sharp rocks, he pushed himself away from the cliff face, turning his fall into a chaotic roll.
He hit the steep slope, his body rolling through thorny bushes and loose rocks. A sharp pain exploded in his left shoulder as it hit something hard. He kept rolling, his world blurred by dirt, leaves, and darkness, before his outstretched hand finally managed to grab a large tree root jutting out of the ground.
His grip held. His body jerked to a halt, his breath leaving his lungs in a single, agonizing gasp.
He hung there, in the darkness, holding on to only a single tree root. For a few seconds, the only sounds were his heart pounding in his ears and the pain that began to spread from his shoulder, his arm, and the dozens of scratches all over his body. He looked up. Above, the broken rope dangled like a dead snake in the mist.
Below, panic broke out. The cadets, who had watched in horror as their instructor's figure disappeared from the rope, began to scream.
"Lieutenant He! Lieutenant!" Lin Fengqing's voice was the loudest, filled with genuine fear.
He Xiang took a deep breath, ignoring the searing pain. "I'm… fine!" he shouted back, his voice hoarse. "Stay where you are! Don't move!"
He knew he had to stay calm. Panic among the cadets in this dangerous terrain could lead to more accidents. With great effort, he pulled himself up, found a foothold, and sank into a small hollow beneath the tree roots. He was safe, for now.
One of the cadets, who had been designated as the deputy leader, finally remembered protocol. He took an emergency whistle from his pocket and blew it three times. Three short, shrill blasts tore through the silence of the forest, a distress signal that would reach all the other groups and the command post.
The training had stopped. A hunt had begun.
It took nearly twenty minutes, which felt like a lifetime, before the first lanterns broke through the mist from below. The sound of panicked footsteps and shouts calling his name grew closer.
The first two figures to burst onto the scene were Hu Yanzhen and Lee Junshan. They had been running non-stop since hearing the emergency whistle, leaving their group under the watchful eye of the sergeant.
Hu Yanzhen's face was pale in the light of his lantern. When he saw He Xiang sitting in the recess of the cliff, his uniform torn and his face smeared with dirt, his expression changed from fear to burning rage.
"Xiang Xiang! Are you hurt?" he shouted, starting to climb towards her without any regard for his own safety.
"Stop, Yanzhen! You're going to fall!" He Xiang ordered. "I'm fine. My shoulder is sprained, I think. A few scratches. Nothing fatal."
While Hu Yanzhen was overcome with emotion, Lee Junshan remained coldly focused. His eyes were not on He Xiang, but on the dangling remains of the rope above. He directed the light of his lantern towards it. "Don't touch anything!" he ordered the cadets. "I want to see the broken end of the rope."
With the help of several cadets, Lee Junshan managed to pull the broken end of the rope apart. He didn't touch it with his bare hands, but with a handkerchief. Under the light of the lantern, the truth became clear and horrifying.
The rope had not snapped from wear or brittleness. Its end showed neatly cut fibers on one side, while the other side was torn from tension. It was as if someone had sliced it with something extremely sharp, weakened it fatally, and then let He Xiang's weight do the rest.
This was no accident. This was attempted murder.
Hu Yanzhen's face darkened like a storm cloud. He turned to Sergeant Ma, who had just arrived with his group, including Jin Wuyou and Wu Renjie. "WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING THE EQUIPMENT BEFORE THIS EXERCISE?!" he roared, his voice so loud that several cadets flinched back.
Sergeant Ma stammered, his face pale. "I… I checked it, Captain. All the ropes are in good condition."
"YOU SAID THEY WERE IN GOOD CONDITION?!" Hu Yanzhen pointed at the severed rope in Lee Junshan's hand. "LOOK AT THIS! THIS IS CLEARLY SABOTATED!"
Lee Junshan calmly examined the end of the rope more closely. He narrowed his eyes, seeing something gleaming faintly among the cut fibers. Carefully, he used the tip of his knife to pick it up. It was a very fine metal shard, almost invisible to the naked eye.
The discovery silenced everyone, even Hu Yanzhen. The rustling of leaves and gasping breath were the only sounds in the misty forest.
A horrifying realization descended upon them: this was no ordinary sabotage. This was the work of a professional.
Lee Junhan carefully wrapped the metal fragments in his handkerchief and tucked them into his pocket. He looked at Hu Yanzhen, their gazes meeting in grim understanding. Then, they both turned to He Xiang, who was being helped down by several cadets.
In the dark and misty forest, under the terrified gazes of the cadets, the walls of the Eternal Flame Academy had completely cracked. The enemies among them were no longer just whispering or committing petty sabotage. They had attempted to kill. And as they carried the wounded He Xiang back to the academy, a heavy silence fell over them, a silence filled with one terrible question: who would be next?
***to be continued
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