Ling Xuan did not look back after stepping into the cave. Her steps were unhurried as she explored the cave.
The faint echoes of their voices faded behind her, little by little, until there was nothing left but the quiet drip of water and the soft sound of her own footsteps pressing into the wet ground.
For the first time since they fell into the cave, the tension that had been lingering around her eased in a way that made her chest feel lighter without her even realizing it.
A faint curve touched her lips as her gaze remained fixed ahead, her grip on the sword loosening just slightly, not because she had lowered her guard, but because the two people she disliked the most were no longer beside her.
Now everything felt quieter, and far easier to manage without unnecessary noise or distraction.
'Finally.'
She thought as she continued walking, her eyes scanning the passage ahead while her mind remained sharp and focused, taking in every detail.
