Elsewhere.
After they stopped dancing, Bai Tan and Moon Shadow found themselves in a cave.
A cave like the one they had passed through on their way in.
Everything before Moon Shadow's eyes was pitch-black. A closer look would have revealed a faint layer of dark mist covering her eyes.
She felt along the wall and slowly stood up. "Is anyone there? Why is it so dark?"
Suddenly, a warm hand settled on Moon Shadow's back.
"I'm here. Come on, keep walking."
Bai Tan's voice rang out.
Moon Shadow asked whether he could see anything, and Bai Tan said he could.
He said, "Do you remember the last part of that Greek myth?"
Moon Shadow nodded and answered, "The King of the Underworld set a condition: before Orpheus led Eurydice out of the Underworld, he must never look back. Otherwise, Eurydice would fall into hell, and her soul would be destroyed."
Bai Tan smiled, like a proud teacher praising his best student.
"You remember it so clearly. Well done."
"So don't look back."
That was what he said.
Moon Shadow laughed. "What, are you my wife?"
"I could be."
In the darkness where she could see nothing, Moon Shadow's heartstrings were stirred once again.
Her cheeks reddened, and she thought, Luckily, Bai Tan can't see.
The cave seemed long. Moon Shadow walked for ages, and the warmth of the hand on her back grew fainter and fainter.
Suddenly, Bai Tan said from behind her, "You can slow down a little."
"What's wrong? Is there something there?"
Moon Shadow asked, remembering the snow-white, sticky fungal threads in the earlier cave.
Bai Tan said nothing, and their steps slowed considerably.
"By the way..." Moon Shadow wanted to ask him whether his confession in the King of the Underworld's hall had been sincere,