Indy Mountain Pass (4)

After everyone finished breakfast, dawn had already broken. A faint light poured down from the top of the canyon, spilling into Indy Mountain Pass and draping the originally dim stone walls in a pale silver glow.

More and more warriors filed into the dining hall, and the noise gradually spread behind them.

Red rose and straightened his collar, then turned to Ang and his group. His tone was mild but authoritative. "Come on. I'll show you around Indy Mountain Pass."

Everyone nodded and followed him out.

Just as their figures vanished around the bend in the mountain pass, the stubbled warrior in the corner continued watching Ang's back. An unreadable smile appeared on his lips, and a sharp glint flashed through his eyes.

After leaving the dining hall, Red led them slowly along a narrow path running down the middle. It had been built into the cliffside and was somewhat uneven, though railings had been installed along both sides.

A cold wind mixed with mist swept over them. The valley was utterly silent, as if heaven and earth themselves were listening.

"The entire canyon is nearly ten kilometers long." As they walked, Red pointed toward the gently rolling mountains to the north.

"You're currently near the southern end. The cliffs here are steep, making them suitable for defensive structures. The farther north you go, the gentler the terrain becomes, all the way to the end."

Ang looked toward the distant north, where the shadows of mountains stretched faintly into the distance.

He turned and asked, "Yesterday, I saw a fortress on each side of the southern entrance. Is it the same at the northern exit?"

Red nodded, but his expression suddenly darkened. "There are two, but... they fell long ago."

"Were there casualties?" Dana stopped walking and asked gravely.

"There