The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over the verdant grassland. The serene beauty of the landscape stood in stark contrast to the scene awaiting the returning hunters.

  Chen Yi, OuYang KuiFong, and OuYang MeiEr trudged wearily back to LongTu village, their steps heavy with fatigue. As they reached the outskirts, the first signs of destruction became evident. Plumes of smoke rose from charred huts, and the acrid smell of burnt wood and flesh hung in the air.

  Chen Yi, always the cautious one, halted abruptly and signaled for silence. His sharp eyes scanned the area, but it was KuiFong's booming voice that shattered the stillness.

  "Hey! What happened here?" KuiFong bellowed, oblivious to the need for stealth.

  MeiEr, her usual cheerful demeanour replaced by a look of confusion, clung to her brother's arm. "KuiFong, shhh... We don't know who might still be around."

  They cautiously advanced into the village. The once bustling central square was now eerily quiet, the only sound the crackling of dying embers. Chen Yi's heart sank as he spotted Ying Xiong's lifeless body by the village well.

  "Ying Xiong..." MeiEr's voice trembled as she knelt beside him, tears streaming down her face.

  KuiFong clenched his fists, anger mingling with grief. "Who could have done this?"

  Chen Yi, ever the pragmatist, quickly assessed the situation. "We don't have time to mourn now. We need to bury the dead and leave before whoever did this comes back."

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  Despite their sorrow, the trio set to work. Chen Yi, efficient and methodical, dug graves while KuiFong's immense strength made quick work of moving the bodies. MeiEr, though directionally challenged, managed to find a suitable spot near the forest for the makeshift cemetery.

  As the first light of dawn broke, they finished their grim task. Exhausted but determined, they prepared to leave. Chen Yi, sensing imminent danger, urged them to move quickly and quietly.

  "Alright, follow my lead and stay silent," Chen Yi instructed. "KuiFong, try not to make too much noise. MeiEr, stay close and don't wander off."

  The trio crept through the forest, their progress hindered by KuiFong's clumsiness. He stumbled over roots, crashed into low-hanging branches, and muttered curses under his breath. At one point, he tripped and fell into a bush, sending a flock of startled birds flying into the air.

  "Shhh! KuiFong, you're going to get us caught!" Chen Yi hissed, his frustration mounting.

  "Sorry, sorry!" KuiFong whispered loudly, his face a picture of sheepishness.

  MeiEr, meanwhile, had a knack for getting lost even when following directly behind her brother. Twice, Chen Yi had to backtrack to find her after she wandered off the path, her fascination with the forest's flora leading her astray.

  "MeiEr, focus! We're trying to escape, not go on a nature walk!" Chen Yi admonished, trying to keep his patience in check.

  Despite their best efforts, the group's stealthy departure was more of a comedy of errors than a covert escape. Chen Yi's exasperation grew with each mishap, his calm demeanour stretched to its limits by the antics of his companions. It felt more like herding cats than leading a stealth mission.

  As they finally emerged from the forest and began their ascent up the nearby mountain, the absurdity of their situation hit Chen Yi. Here they were, fugitives fleeing for their lives, yet their journey resembled a scene from one of those old comedies Ying Xiong used to tell them about.

  "We may not be the stealthiest group, but we'll make it through," Chen Yi muttered to himself, a small, weary smile breaking through his gruff exterior. "We have to."