TWIN JADE PHOENIXES

" Here, eat this." Bai Yue gave Bai Fengxi some berries she had collected.

" It's surprising that nothing has crossed here. But this place is dangerous." Bai Yue continued as Bai Fengxi ate the berries, nodding in understanding.

Bai Fengxi chewed slowly, the sweet-tart berries bursting on her tongue. "Mmm… these are good," she murmured.

Bai Yue glanced toward the cave entrance, her eyes scanning the dense forest beyond. "I chose this place because it's hidden by spirit fog. Some low-level beasts can't sense us here. But it won't last forever."

"Spirit fog?" Bai Fengxi asked, intrigued.

Bai Yue nodded. "It's like a natural barrier. Conceals qi, dulls scent, messes with spiritual sense. But it's thin. A strong beast or cultivator could still find us if they come close."

Bai Fengxi swallowed her last berry, suddenly more alert. "So we're safe… but not really."

"Exactly." Bai Yue looked back at her. "Once you can walk, we'll move. Deeper. Somewhere stronger… safer."

" What's this place?" Bai Fengxi asked curiously.

Bai Yue looked toward the mouth of the cave, eyes distant. "This place… is called Xuě Lín Mí Jìng," she said softly.

"Xuě Lín Mí Jìng?" Bai Fengxi echoed.

Bai Yue nodded. "It means Snow Forest Maze Realm. Though it's not always snowy, the name comes from the way the forest confuses travelers—cold, deceptive, and deadly. It swallows people whole. Those who enter rarely return."

"So… we can die at any moment without even knowing how or what killed us?" Bai Fengxi asked, brows raised.

"Yes," Bai Yue answered flatly. "But we still have a chance."

Bai Fengxi popped the last berry into her mouth. "Yue'er… how do you know all this? Cultivation, herbs, this realm?"

Bai Yue paused, her fingers absentmindedly brushing her sleeve. "When I was seven, I was beaten badly—left alone. I remember crying, unable to move. Then… a book appeared in front of me. Out of nowhere. It showed me which herbs to chew to numb the pain. I followed it. It worked."

Bai Fengxi blinked. "A book just… appeared?"

Bai Yue nodded. "Since then, anytime I need knowledge—whether about herbs, qi flow, even this forest—a book appears. Always when I'm alone, always detailed. That's how I've survived."

Bai Fengxi looked both amazed and suspicious. "That's… great? Maybe?"

Bai Yue smirked slightly. "It hasn't harmed me. And I've come to rely on it."

Then her expression darkened slightly. "But there's something else… you should know."

"What is it?" Bai Fengxi asked, leaning in.

"We heal fast. Unnaturally fast. It started around the age of ten. Bruises vanish overnight. Cuts close in minutes. Even bones don't stay broken for long."

Bai Fengxi's eyes widened, and instinctively she glanced down at her own unmarked arms. "That's… not normal."

Bai Yue met her gaze. "I know. But we're really sisters—then this… this may run deeper than we thought."

Bai Fengxi slowly got up, the white robe clinging to her body. " My clothes...what remains of it?"

Bai Yue was quick to get the rest of Bai Fengxi's clothes that survived. The lab coat was gone, judging by the white stripes of clothes on the ground. The pants and shirt remained, but had tears which Bai Yue mended with twigs...The clothes looked wearable.

Seeing the way the clothes had been mended, Bai Fengxi smiled appreciately. " Thanks."

Bai Yue beamed. " No problem. Come on, wear it."

Bai Fengxi nodded. Bai Yue turned around to give her privacy.

The rustling of clothes was the sound in the cave.

After some minutes, Bai Fengxi extended the white robe to Bai Yue. " Thank you."

Bai Yue nodded and collected the outer robe , and wore it.

Bai Yue adjusted the robe over her shoulders and tied the sash in place, her movements graceful yet brisk. She turned to face Bai Fengxi, giving her a once-over. "Fits well," she said with a nod. "Not exactly runway material, but it'll do."

Bai Fengxi chuckled, the sound light but still tinged with weariness. "Considering I was half-dead two days ago, I'll take wearable over fashionable."

They shared a brief, knowing smile—

Then Bai Yue's eyes grew serious. "We can't stay here. The forest's rhythm is changing. Something's approaching."

Bai Fengxi's brows furrowed. "Like what?"

"I don't know yet," Bai Yue replied, eyes narrowing toward the cave entrance. "But when the mist shifts like this, predators move."

Bai Fengxi stood fully, now steadier on her feet. "Then let's go."

Bai Yue nodded once and reached for her pouch of herbs and makeshift tools. "There's a path north—half covered, easy to miss. It should lead us closer to the springs."

They walked towards the exit together. They held each other's hands, giving silent strength.

As they stepped out of the cave, cold air rushed towards them, but was stopped by an invisible barrier, Bai Yue constructed at the nick of time.

" What's that?"

" A barrier made of Qi."

"Ohh... Can I .. learn it?"

Bai Yue smiled. " Here. " She extended a white book which appeared on her hand.

Bai Fengxi held the book whose cover was smooth.

" You can understand it."

Bai Fengxi stared at the book in her hands, her fingers brushing over the delicate, glowing characters etched onto the white cover. They shimmered faintly, like breathing light.

"*Qi Veil: The Art of Basic Protection*," she read aloud slowly. "How do I understand this? It's not in any language I've seen before…"

Bai Yue looked at her calmly. "Because it's meant for you. The knowledge chooses its bearer."

Bai Fengxi lifted her gaze. "Just like the herb book that comes to you?"

Bai Yue nodded. "Exactly. Some things in this world don't follow logic… but they follow resonance."

Bai Fengxi opened the book. As her eyes scanned the first page, strange diagrams and flowing text aligned in her mind, translating themselves instantly. It was like a voice whispering directly into her consciousness.

She blinked in surprise. "It's… merging into me?"

Bai Yue smiled. "That's how knowledge is passed here. Not just through reading—but through imprint."

The wind whistled outside the barrier, but within its protection, there was silence—except for the steady thrum of power rising in Bai Fengxi's chest.

"Let's walk," Bai Yue said gently. "You'll learn faster when your body is in motion."

---

As they walked a few paces from the cave, an ominous forest loomed ahead—dense, dark, and ancient.

The trees stood impossibly tall, their trunks twisted like writhing serpents. Their canopies blotted out the sunlight, casting eerie green shadows on the mossy forest floor.

Vines as thick as arms dangled from the branches, some slithering as if alive. The air was thick with a strange mist, tinged with the scent of decay and wild herbs.

Faint glowing orbs floated between the trees, vanishing when looked at directly. In the distance, the occasional screech of beasts echoed.

Both Bai Fengxi and Bai Yue grew tense.

Their hands didn't let go of each other. Their footsteps were light, cautious. Bai Yue's other hand stayed near the hidden dagger in her robe, while Bai Fengxi's senses were on high alert, every shadow studied, every rustle scrutinized.

"Yue'er…" Bai Fengxi whispered, eyes scanning the dark foliage.

"This forest is called , Mo Ying Sen Lin." Bai Yue replied in a low voice. "The Forest of Demon Shadows."

Bai Fengxi's eyes narrowed. "Sounds…friendly."

"It's not," Bai Yue replied with a wry smile. "It has seven levels. Each one deadlier than the last. Right now, we're at the first level—Zhu Mu Pian Qu 'Spiderwood Sector'. It's about fifty meters long, but crawling with Mu Zhu Shou —tree spider beasts."

"Spiders…" Bai Fengxi muttered. "Great."

"Their boss is a massive , Yin Zhu Wang — Shadow Spider King. It guards the border to the second level. If we make too much noise or step into its territory…"

"We become prey," Bai Fengxi finished.

The sisters exchanged a glance. Determination reflected in both pairs of sapphire eyes. With slow, silent steps, they entered the forest's mouth—side by side, back straight, breath steady.