Gu Qing Shan writes first
The fire in the militia room is small and mostly smoke. The soldier beside it has a bandaged arm, battered old leather armor and a plain saber across his knees, and he looks at you the way a general looks at a map.
“Proud Steed Squad, Gu Qing Shan.” He nods to you, polite, almost formal. “You were on the east wall last night. You kept your crossbow up the whole time. Good.”
He tosses a twig into the fire.
“I’ll be direct. The formation’s spirit stones last three more days, maybe four. The thing I killed in the pit wasn’t the only Skin-shedding Blood Demon out there, and the supply road isn’t coming back.” A shrug, unbothered, as if discussing the weather. “Staying here is a quest with exactly one ending.”
His eyes flick to something in the empty air beside you, read it, and come back.
“I know a way out. It’s dangerous, and I need someone who doesn’t panic.” He holds out a hand. “So. Do you want to live?”
