After the events of the Runic Forest, Zhang Lie had become more careful about not telegraphing his plans. Furthermore, after having manipulated the major clans of the Blacksteel settlement at the Moonlit Pond, many hunters had gained a renewed interest in what lay within. Given his fame, if he were to appear at the Moonlit Pond in public, there would surely be scrutiny and speculation about what he was doing there.

As he walked into the forest, still under stealth, Zhang Lie activated his galewolf soulshard, then turned around and headed toward the Moonlit Pond. When he heard the sound of a waterfall and confirmed that he was heading in the right direction, he moved even more quickly. Past a patch of forest, he returned to the now-familiar falls of the Moonlit Pond.

Because of the waterfall, ripples constantly disrupted the surface of the pond, and the whoosh of the downpour could be...