Gu Yangjin and Qiao Zhi with the guards went towards the shrine to take a look with two of the guards.
They began their ascent of the hillside steps just after mid-morning, the sun warm but not yet harsh. The stone steps were uneven and steep, yet Gu Yangjin and Qiao Zhi moved upward with practiced ease. As cultivators, their strides were confident; muscles engaged and released in fluid motion, breath steady. Behind them, guards and attendants followed at a measured pace, helping anyone less sure-footed.
Midway up, Gu Yangjin paused to scan the view, momentarily caught by how the fields below formed neat patterns against the earth. Qiao Zhi fell into step beside her, and as they climbed, their hands brushed lightly—a fleeting contact that sparked an unexpected flutter in Gu Yangjin's chest. She felt warmth where their fingers touched, but blamed the sudden rush of blood on the morning's exertion and the cool breeze.
