With these two flamingos guarding the area, common beasts of magic were certainly too terrified to approach. Mo Han felt at ease knowing no other creatures would dare intrude on their vicinity.

After a half-day's rest, Bai Ling had nearly restored her magical strength. Her remarkable mastery was evident in how quickly she recovered. Most mages required an entire day to replenish after depleting all their magic, yet Bai Ling achieved the same feat within a third of that time through meditation alone.

Bai Ling slowly opened her eyes just as she noticed Mo Han nearby, watching her with obvious concern. A warm feeling spread through her chest before she offered him a soft smile.

"You're awake now," he remarked, visibly relieved. "I thought you'd need at least several more hours to recover, but look how quickly you bounced back!"

"By the way," he added with a grin as Bai Ling stood up and faced him, "I've been meaning to congratulate you."

"On me?" Mo Han looked confused. "Are you referring to taming those flamingos? I already got your congratulations for that."

"No," she shook her head gently, "that was just one thing. There's another matter worth celebrating even more."

Noticing his continued confusion, Bai Ling sighed exasperatedly and said, "You're impossible! Didn't you just advance to the second stage of saint mage? Isn't this achievement actually more significant than taming mythical creatures?"

Mo Han suddenly laughed aloud in realization, "Ah yes! I completely forgot about that. Such an intense situation distracted me from my breakthrough. But it's not anything special anyway - even though I've now reached the intermediate level, you're still far ahead."

Bai Ling rolled her eyes and said, "You truly never know when to be content. It took only half a year for you to progress from first to second stage saint mage whereas it required me two entire years. You should consider yourself fortunate these flamingos happened by to subtly assist your advancement. Don't act so superior just because you're standing here speaking!"

Bai Ling's lengthy speech surprised Mo Han, who usually preferred his words sparse as a rule. Instead of responding immediately, he simply stared at her with an absentminded expression.

Seeing this, Bai Ling glanced down at herself and found nothing amiss before snapping, "What are you star-struck for? Are you even listening to me?"

"Oh right," Mo Han chuckled nervously, suddenly aware of her impending irritation. "Now that you mention it... how should we proceed in this endless tangle of trees? Every single one looks identical! At this rate, I fear we'll circle these woods for months without finding the Cuan Ruins. By then, whatever treasure we're seeking would be long gone!"

Though puzzled by his phrase about cold noodles turning soggy, Bai Ling understood his meaning well enough and smiled knowingly, "You really are dense sometimes yet surprisingly clever at others. With those two flamingos as your bodyguards, you've gained an advantage few possess. They are both high-ranking ancient beasts in this death forest - second only to divine creatures."

After paishing a brief pause she continued, "They must be intimately familiar with these woods. Why not ask them directly?"

Mo Han's eyes brightened instantly before he summoned the flamingos. Grinning at the larger one, he teased, "Big Red and Little Red, do you know where the Cuan Ruins are located in this death forest?"

Bai Ling nearly groaned at his naming choice for the mythical beasts. The creatures immediately protested with loud squawks as they circled Mo Han's head in obvious discomfort.

"Ha! Now I'm your master!" he declared triumphantly, "My orders take precedence over complaints from now on - you're officially Big Red and Little Red!"

Meanwhile Bai Ling was already regretting the conversation as she forced herself to ignore his antics. Spending time with this man left her normally tranquil composure completely shattered.

'No problem,' she told herself, 'these aren't my magical companions anyway.'

Their interrogation ended abruptly when Mo Han admitted defeat after realizing neither flamingo knew about the ruins. The creatures drooped their heads in silent resignation though their eyes still burned with defiance.

Bai Ling suggested instead asking if they'd ever encountered unusual or dangerous areas within the forest. Ancient relics often possessed peculiar characteristics worth investigating, which could narrow their search significantly.

Mo Han's excitement returned as he realized this was an excellent approach. Recalling accounts from a high priest in the Light Church about how the previous Pope had discovered the Cuan Ruins personally, he recalled it was shrouded perpetually by strange mist - precisely what they should be seeking first.

In his enthusiasm Mo Han suddenly lifted Bai Ling into an embrace before she could react. Though her magical prowess exceeded his, her reflexes couldn't match his speed. Taken completely off-guard, Bai Ling let out a surprised gasp as heat flooded her cheeks.

While he usually maintained control around others like Shui Ling'er or Dai Li, with Bai Ling this was impossible. Her contradictory demeanor - sometimes icy cold yet other times warm - made resisting her effects on him particularly difficult. The subtle warmth radiating through his clothes only intensified his feelings.

Bai Ling's voice carried barely restrained tension as she ordered, "Are you done yet? Put me down."

Though trying to sound composed, Mo Han caught the faint anxiety in her tone and quickly complied. As he released her, a final lingering touch against her back made Bai Ling stiffen before she shot him an icy glare.

"Now that we've found our direction," Bai Ling said after regaining composure, "what are you still standing there for? Summon your... companions to lead the way."

Though initially intending to call them by their ridiculous names, Bai Ling couldn't bring herself to say it aloud and instead used her own title for the creatures.

In short order they arrived at a location perpetually shrouded in mist - one of only two such places according to the flamingos. Bai Ling noted this proximity seemed suspiciously convenient given their recent arrival in the forest, suggesting it might not be the actual ruins but still worth investigation immediately due to time constraints from external threats.

With the blazing creatures clearing a path ahead, they entered the fog-enshrouded region where daylight itself seemed swallowed by endless white mist. The death forest had been cleaved in two here, with only the mysterious veil separating them.

"This must be the famous White Mist Forest," Mo Han remarked as they cautiously stepped forward under the glow of his light spells.