The night was as black as ink, and the cold wind was as sharp as a knife.
At some point, the waning moon in the sky had vanished without a trace. Aside from a small Buddhist lamp they had carried over and hung on a tree branch, everything around them had drowned in the curtain of darkness. They could not see their hands before their faces.
In a secluded hot spring among the stone walls and trees of a lonely mountain wilderness.
Two young women soaked in the hot spring, while another crouched beside a rock on the bank.
Looking up, everything around them was hazy and indistinct, taking on the shapes of ghosts.
A Night Raven Bird flew overhead, letting out a mournful, heartrending cry that made one's hair stand on end.
Tao Hong swept her gaze around, then studied her lady's expression. Angrily, she said, "Liu Lü, what nonsense are you talking about? It must have been some muddleheaded fool who came here to burn incense and worship Buddha, soaked in the hot spring, changed into fresh clothes, and left. They must have abandoned these old rags because they didn't want them. What's there to make such a fuss about?"
"Big Sister Little Hong, that's exactly what I said." Liu Lü looked aggrieved.
Tao Hong froze, thinking that this was indeed the case. Liu Lü had never said anything strange about someone being nearby. It was simply what they had subconsciously assumed.
"Miss." Tao Hong looked toward Cui Xiaoxin and said softly, "How about we head back first? Tomorrow, we'll bring more guards and have them seal off the area. Then you can come bathe again?"
Cui Xiaoxin wore a solemn expression and remained silent in thought.
Li Mu Yang's heart had nearly leaped into his throat.
He