Book 5 Chapter 11 – Trees

　　After encountering a string of supernatural events, the team became more cautious, slowing down considerably in their trek.

　　As all technological gadgets have malfunctioned, the scouting team was effectively lost. Despite having no signal, Eyegla.s.ses still marked a nearby tree with a tracker every few miles. The trackers only served as markings at the time, but if telecommunications were to be restored, they would allow him to track their precise position.

　　You Fang stepped up and took charge when the team was lost. For a man that had not been particularly useful, he managed to consistently determine where North was with a bronze bowl and a single wooden chopstick. Chen Quan nodded with approval when he saw the set-up for the first time and stated that it was an ancient and reliable compa.s.s of sorts, lending credibility to the directions that You Fang was suggesting. Similarly, Li Yiming had also checked with his exceptional memory and senses. 'His directions are right… At least for now…'

　　'These traditional methods… It seemed that unimaginable power and methods have been buried in history, privy only to those who hail from ancient schools or sects. The skills that these people possess, Qing Feng, Chen Quan, and now You Fang. I would never have imagined before. Can we truly say that technology and knowledge have evolved or did we simply lose the knowledge that is tied to ancient cultures?' Li Yiming thought.

　　After two occurrences of seeing something that could not be found, the rest of the party believed that Li Yiming must have seen an illusion or was simply paranoid. However, both Eyegla.s.ses and Liu Meng knew better from their trust in Li Yiming and their experiences with the supernatural.

　　Eyegla.s.ses believed that Li Yiming's earlier premonition came true: things were no longer as they seemed. He became much more serious, bringing up the rear and constantly surveying his surroundings.

　　Li Yiming and Liu Meng were at the front, only behind the one leading the charge, Lin Lu. 'She truly is a special operations soldier, always being the first one in…'

　　'Are you sure what you saw wasn't a mirage?' Bai Ze's voice echoed in Li Yiming’s consciousness. The difference between a mirage and an illusion was subtle. The former was a natural phenomenon and the latter, a spell of some sort. Li Yiming understood the nuance.

　　'I'm sure. I definitely saw actual people.' Li Yiming said as he recalled the three figures.

　　'If you're sure that it wasn't a mirage and even I didn't see it… There are only some things in the world that only you can see…' Bai Ze trusted Li Yiming as much as she trusted herself.

　　"I think I know what it was." Li Yiming nodded. 'It's people like me… Bugs in the system…'

　　Suddenly, Li Yiming paused and scanned his surroundings with piercing eyes.

　　'Again?' Bai Ze sensed the surroundings but to no avail.

　　Upon hearing the pause in the footsteps, Lin Lu, who had been walking ahead, did not even bother turning around but crouched down on one knee and raised her gun, sweeping the area in front of her. The rest of the team all entered combat position as her two subordinates rolled into cover. Eyegla.s.ses disappeared seemingly into thin air and Chen Quan pulled Mr. You down into some nearby bushes for cover.

　　"Li Yiming?" After another round of checking and finding nothing out of the ordinary, Lin Lu was beginning to get fed up with Li Yiming. 'I can respect your self-confidence and choice of choosing not to take the antidote.. But to be as paranoid and jumpy as you are now, you're affecting the entire team.'