The four of them-March 7th, Stelle, Guinaifen, and Jiang Yu-followed Fyxestroll Garden's flagstone path, passed a pavilion for resting, and headed up the mountain trail.
The mountain rose to a sharp peak. The trail carved into it was not particularly steep, but it was rough and uneven, hardly easy going. Jagged rocks stood everywhere, and strange shadows of crooked branches stretched across the way like sinister silhouettes.
Perhaps because of what Jiang Yu had said while they crossed the stone bridge, everyone's fear had actually subsided considerably. Presumably, they were now treating all those imagined ghosts and monsters as the heroic souls of the Cloud Knights.
Occasional gusts of cold wind scraped against their skin, then wound into gaps in the mountain, letting out hollow, mournful howls that sounded like sorrowful weeping and made them shudder.
Little Gui looked around, felt that the atmosphere here was incredibly strong, and could not resist starting a recording.
"Mm, it's scary here. Perfect chance to record some footage, hehe.
"Whoa, hiss... would this photo pass review if I used it as the cover?"
The four turned up the mountain path to the left. Grass poking out of cracks in the rocks snagged at their legs, and bare black silhouettes like ghostly claws were visible along the cliff. Some fallen stone tablets beside the path were covered in dust; even up close, it was difficult to make out their inscriptions. Only the soul lamps glowing with a quiet, cold light in corners beside the path dimly illuminated the way.
They went a little farther in. The deeper they ventured, the more unnerving the bleak, lonely atmosphere became. The chill did not strike from outside but crept outward from within, raising goosebumps all over them.
Little Gui could not help slowing down and whispered, "Shh,