The Legend of the Jianming Society 1

October 7, 2023, 6:13 a.m. Deep in Banbi Rock, Shennongjia Forest District. He had set out with a local guide at three in the morning, heading into the uninhabited zone to photograph the sunrise over a sea of clouds. The fog was so thick it seemed impossible to disperse, and visibility was less than five meters. While waiting for sunrise, he heard a sound.

"Crack... crack..."

It sounded like branches snapping, or maybe something chewing. Li Wei instinctively raised his phone. He had brought a professional camera, but the moment had come so suddenly that his phone was already in his hand.

The fog suddenly parted, and a shadow appeared between the fir trees twenty-five meters away.

It stood at least two meters tall, its entire body covered in dark red hair. Its back was hunched, but its upper limbs were unusually massive. It was digging at something, moving quickly and powerfully. What made Li Wei's blood run cold was its profile: it looked human, but had a prominent brow ridge, a protruding jaw, and eyes that reflected the morning light in amber.

The shadow seemed to sense something and abruptly turned its head.

Li Wei pressed the record button.