The group followed Ling's words and took a short break. They drank water, ate a little food, and checked their packs and weapons. Everyone stayed close, watching the tree line and the hills ahead.
Han Yi sat on the grass, breathing slowly.
"…This break helps. I still feel tired, but not as bad as before."
Mu Chen nodded while tightening the strap on his pack.
"…Good. We'll need that strength. The hills ahead could be harder than the forest."
Yue stood up and looked toward the slope.
"…At least we can see clearly here. No shadows hiding things right next to us."
Lei Feng checked the ground and the wind.
"…Weather seems stable for now. If we move steadily, we can reach higher ground before dark."
Ling looked at each of them.
"We don't stay long. Just enough to recover. When we move, we move together. Keep your spacing. Watch the land and each other."
After a few minutes, Ling gave a small hand signal.
"…Alright. Time to move."
Han Yi stood up with a small groan.
