The night hung over the earth like a heavy, massive black velvet curtain, shrouding the ancient and mysterious land in a suffocating embrace. Surrounding them were ranges of mountains, standing like silent, slumbering primordial beasts, lurking in the dark. Their silhouettes loomed in the night, appearing like loyal guardians watching over unknown secrets. Moonlight managed to squeeze through the thick clouds, casting lonely, cold rays that barely illuminated the clearing at the foot of the mountain.
In the clearing, a group of people sat huddled around a campfire. The flames flickered in the night breeze, casting dancing reflections on their diverse expressions. At times the fire surged, bathing their faces in a ruddy glow, only to sink again, allowing the encroaching shadows to spill inward.
Liu Tong was dressed in exceptionally ornate attire, the hem of her clothes fluttering with the slight breeze. She spoke in low tones to the person beside her; her delicate features were captivating in the firelight, her eyes shimmering with intelligence, though that light was veiled by the fatigue of their long journey.
Chapter 87