At the same time, in a mountain forest dozens of miles away.
A stout man with a round face and a long knife on his back was bending down, picking fruits from a vine.
The fruits were only the size of a thumbnail, entirely yellow, and emitted a faint fragrance.
The stout man's actions were very gentle, as though treating his lover. He carefully picked each yellow fruit and slowly placed them in the box in his left hand.
Beside him were three more people, two men and one woman.
One of the man and woman held swords and knives, standing back to back and vigilantly examining their surroundings.
The three seemed to be in their early thirties.
The other person appeared to be older due to his graying temples, but upon closer inspection, his face too seemed to be in his thirties or forties.
Unlike the other two, this man's gaze was directed far away.
