The moon shone brightly, its light sparse among the stars, while nightfall intertwined with wisps of mist.
The ground, damp from recent rain, was a mix of mud and fallen leaves. After just a few steps, boots adhered to clumps of earth, surrounded by the mottled shadows of trees with water droplets still lingering.
In the gloomy depths of the dense forest, it felt as though something mysterious was watching.
Yet the three brothers from Mei Mountain didn't stop to pay attention as they quickened their pace, darting through the woods.
After passing through the thicket, the vista abruptly opened up.
Under the moonlight, a vast lake came into view.
The lake's surface, dark as ink, reflected the contorted silhouettes of the shoreline trees, sending shivers down the spine.
A fog hovered over the shore, enveloping the area in a strange, oppressive air.
