Traveling at night isn't advisable?

"Why? I can use night vision magic. Besides, our bodies see perfectly in the dark—visibility isn't an issue. Light doesn't affect us." I questioned. Honestly, night travel is ideal.

"It's not that." He gazed at the sky. The setting sun sank toward the horizon, painting dusk in brilliant crimson. Clouds blazed as if scorching the purple-tinged sky. "This forest is near the Royal Capital, but its vastness can't be ignored. The climate breeds beasts—and monsters. Days are calm, but night is wildlife's paradise. And when monsters stir."

"So what?" Monsters were just alchemy materials or food. Novel protagonists fought them for cash. We were the Dark Lord and Hero—dispelling a few should be a piece of cake.

Lott shook his head. "This has happened before. Night travel means monster encounters. If you don't kill them instantly, the fight exposes your position. We haven't met the Sword Knights yet—but escaping them? Hard to say who'd be faster."

"Tsk." I clicked my tongue. "By the way... are there ghosts?"

"Probably... rumors say wandering spirits haunt here..." He made a silly ghost face.

"Eep~ spirits~ they're just ghosts, right? QAQ" I shrank back. I'd feared death since childhood—and anything tied to it. Horror movies? Never. Once, I watched half a film and avoided curtains for six months, terrified of reflections. Mirrors connect to the netherworld, showing unclean things.

"Let's find shelter. They won't move at night." Lott finished the fish soup and cleared the dishes. I cast quick spells to erase our traces from the ground.

"Camping in woods is safer. Cross the river." Lott eyed the distant forest.

"No no no." I wagged my finger, packing up. "Upstream. Stay on this riverbank."

"Why?"

"You don't get it." I planted my hands on my hips, chin up. "People see camp signs and assume you crossed or drifted downstream. Going upstream leaves no scent trail. Better chance to lose them."

"You think too much." He stuck out his tongue.

"Of course. I'm brilliant." I rummaged my treasury for gems and magic materials to set up arrays.

---

"Your Holiness, the Coin Knight Order reports the Hero and Dark Lord fled north into the Great Forest. The Four Knight Orders are searching." The messenger knight strode in unannounced, knelt, and bowed.

A massive folding screen stood before him. Sound traveled out but not in. A figure emerged—Archbishop Fangzheng. "The Pope is unavailable."

The Pope was elusive; his recent stay was a miracle. Archbishop Fangzheng usually handled affairs, receiving the Pope's handwritten notes.

"Archbishop!"

Archbishop Fangzheng held five notes. Only one was black with gold embossing—the Pope's command. "Send the Sacred Knights to reinforce. This black note goes to the Sacred Knight—his eyes only. The other four to the knight orders. They know their duty."

The knight took them, glanced at the covers. "Understood. Delivering now."

"Hold. Tell the men: continue square preparations. No slacking. The ceremony is delayed—but not long."

---

The tree canopy here was thick. Banyans blocked the Sword Knights' flying mounts perfectly. I found a dry clearing and carefully placed camping arrays. The last gem activated the fluctuation-shielding array, hiding all energy ripples from the light-and-shadow and vortex arrays. This magic-hiding trick only worked for fixed setups—unstable, short-lived, but fine for now.

Trigger-type arrays were common and discreet. But mine did more: the area vanished from sight, scent, and heat. I'd added a cognition-interference array too—creatures would ignore or avoid this spot. Perfect for repelling bugs, beasts, even monsters.

This simple setup mimicked a grand barrier, isolating our tiny patch from the world.

Night fell completely. Only scattered fire-gem shards glowed faintly in camp, lighting the area without spilling out. The vortex wind wall trapped warmth, fending off the chill.

"Well, forgot the tent. Sleeping under stars tonight—make do." I flopped onto the soft fox pelt with a happy sigh. My dream come true: I'd brought the big fur blanket. Again.

"You forget so much," he muttered, sitting at the pelt's edge. He lay down far away.

I was dozing off when a flash of ethereal blue vanished in the distance. What?! Every hair on my body stood up.

It drifted from behind a tree—a translucent, rippling figure. Vaguely a woman in a robe, face hidden. Whoa, what the hell!!!

"That... what ghostly thing..." I whispered, pointing. Sound couldn't escape here—but what if ghosts sensed thoughts?

He turned. "Oh, a spirit. Ghosts. The palace has some—but this is evil. This forest is deadly. Many die here. Most spirits are malicious." He sounded casual.

"Eep... real ghosts QAQ!!" I curled into a ball.

"Didn't I say so?" He patted my head. That made me flinch harder.

"I thought you joked..." The figure swiveled toward us, revealing a pitch-black face. I clamped a hand over my mouth, stifling a scream.

"Relax. These ghosts aren't dangerous. Low-level spirits can't pierce your arrays. Ghosts are spiritual energy—even dead, they're affected."

"But... so many..." Not one. Countless blue figures stained the forest. Each had a pitch-black face. Utterly creepy.