Dawn broke with a fish-belly white sky.
Yuan Yunzhong and Song Jiyun finally arrived at the foot of Shijingshan.
The refugee shacks, like protruding grass mounds, stood silently in the morning mist.
The council hall's doors were tightly closed, with dim yellow light seeping out from beneath them.
The atmosphere was serene yet quiet.
Commander Wang felt goosebumps rise as he muttered to himself, "Something doesn't feel right here!"
As he spoke, his eyes widened, and he grabbed Yuan Yunzhong, who was about to walk through the shacks towards the council hall, and said nervously, "I know what's wrong. Why aren't the patrolling colonels here? Could this be a trap?"
Yuan Yunzhong had already sensed that something was amiss. However, he was prepared to face danger head-on, knowing full well it might be lurking; the stakes had become too high to turn back now. Even if it was a trap, he had to take the risk and see it through.
