The deeper they ventured, the quieter it became. Only the rustling of the wind through the leaves could be heard, as if nature itself were whispering. Occasionally, the distant call of an animal drifted in, but the distance blurred the sounds, making them seem unreal—almost as if they were merely auditory hallucinations.
The longer Zhao Yan walked, the more exhaustion set in. He even entertained the thought of sitting down right where he was to catch his breath. The urge to rest spun in his mind, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward. He feared that if he stopped once, he would habitually stop again. They still hadn't picked the persimmons, and factoring in the time for the return trip, it would likely be dusk by the time they got back. They had already started late today; if they delayed any further, it would be dangerous to descend the mountain, as the woods were far more terrifying at night than during the day.
As Zhao Yan trudged along, head down, Zhao Gao called out to him. "Sanlang, let's take a break. We’ve been walking long enough; you’ll wear yourself out if you keep going."
Chapter 30