The path grew narrower as they climbed further up the mountain. What had been wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side dwindled into a single-file trail, forcing Zhao Yan and Zhao Gao to walk one behind the other, separated by a distance of several meters.
The midday sun was at its most blistering. Without a straw hat, Zhao Yan felt as if his head were catching fire; when he touched his scalp, it was scorching hot. The weeds along the side of the road looked wilted and distorted—whether from the sun’s relentless heat or from being trampled, they appeared completely spiritless, swaying listlessly whenever a gust of wind swept by.
As the two walked, the soil under their feet crunched with every step. Deep in the mountains, the foliage grew thicker, and patches of sunlight hitting the ground became increasingly scarce. Zhao Yan exhaled in relief, finally feeling a bit cooler.
Chapter 29