Guided by what she had sensed during Still Concentration, Yu Xinmei crossed the vast territory of Great Yong. Several days later, she passed over the mountains along its southern border, then traveled another long stretch before gradually slowing down.
Yu Xinmei had little sense of national boundaries. She only knew that she had flown a very long way and finally reached a place she had sensed. Still, she knew she must have left Great Yong, perhaps even far behind, though she was not certain exactly where she was.
Generally speaking, under Great Yong's influence, the surrounding countries shared similar cultures. In some, even their administrative systems and ritual codes had common roots, especially in this region to the south.
Yu Xinmei landed on a small rise. The surrounding terrain amounted to little more than hills and looked rather desolate. The ground where she landed was dotted with small mounds and stone markers, most of them crooked or irregular.
A mass burial ground!
Though she had not spent long living in the mortal world, Yu Xinmei immediately understood what this place was.
She walked forward with a slight frown, finally following her intuition to a small grave mound. It had no headstone, but Yu Xinmei knew that a child lay buried inside, a child who might have been only two or three years old.
The Long-Haired Ghost-or rather, the Long-Haired Ghost had been reborn and died young here.
Yu Xinmei stood there for a while. Only when she heard voices did she rise into the air and leave again. This time, she searched for nearly half a day before finally landing beside a small river.
The river ran beside a village. Night had fallen, and few people came to the spot where Yu Xinmei stood. She stared blankly at the water