Han Yu descended the slope at a steady pace, his eyes falling on the small wooden palisade that served as the village's wall.
To call it a wall was generous. It was little more than sharpened logs tied together, barely reaching his shoulder in height. A beast with enough weight or determination could crash through it with one charge. And a more nimble beast would easily jump over it.
There were no glowing runes. No formation anchors. Not even the faint spiritual hum of a low level protective array.
This was the first truly undefended place he had seen.
In the three towns he passed earlier, the moment he approached the entrance he sensed the subtle presence of formation lines under the soil. Weaker than the defensive arrays used by sects or clans, but clearly there.
Likely Beast Repelling Arrays, which were common across most territories. Cheap to set up. Easy to maintain. Just strong enough to deter the common low level beasts.
This village, however, had nothing.
