Arrived?

  Mo Bei said they had arrived.

  Xu Mama said they had arrived.

  Lao Fu said they had arrived.

  But now, everyone was camping out in the woods.

  Xiao Xiang couldn′t understand their actions, but they seemed completely unconcerned by the strange look in her eyes.

  Mo Bei gently patted Xiao Xiang's shoulder, as if soothing an infant in a cradle. With the soft tune that Mo Bei hummed, Xiao Xiang slowly closed her eyes.

  Ee Duo had already fallen asleep, resting against a hard stone, his nose occasionally emitting a low snore. Lao Fu reached out and gently nudged Er Duo, but Er Duo didn′t move, continuing to sleep soundly, his snoring steady. Lao Fu nodded in satisfaction.

  "Are they all asleep?" Xu Mama took out the small copper mirror again and tidied up her slightly disheveled hair.

  "They′re all asleep," Lao Fu replied, gncing at Xu Mama. He really couldn't understand how she could see anything in the mirror in such dark surroundings.

  Mo Bei slowly draped a coat over Xiao Xiang and said, "It's so cold. Do you think they'll freeze sleeping here?"

  Xu Mama immediately gave Mo Bei a gnce and said in a fake, sweet voice, "Hmph, I see now, with a wife, you've forgotten what you're supposed to be doing!"

  Mo Bei sighed lightly. Xiao Xiang's arrival had brought him some comfort but also added to his worries. He suddenly realized he had become a bit too emotional.

  "It's getting te. We should go," Lao Fu said.

  Xu Mama put away her mirror, Mo Bei absentmindedly touched his rge, fan-like ear, and Lao Fu slowly stood up. They all looked in the same direction, toward a road from their memories—an old, forgotten path.

  The water was murky, so dark that its original color was unrecognizable, but still, a few grayish fish swam freely within it.

  Lao Fu took out a tattered bck cloth from his body and wrapped it around his nose and mouth.

  Mo Bei removed his outer garment, covering his head, leaving only his monkey-like eyes visible.

  Xu Mama reluctantly tied a white scarf around her face.

  Lao Fu was the first to jump in, spshing a few droplets that shimmered in the moonlight, still reflecting their original color.

  Mo Bei held his breath, diving in right after.

  Only Xu Mama remained, reluctantly pacing a few steps back and forth before finally letting out a heavy sigh and following suit, diving into the water.

  The moon cast a mournful glow, illuminating the dark water's surface, and a faint ripple spread across the stillness. Er Duo withdrew his hand, the cold water against his skin. He wiped himself casually, slowly rising to his feet. He removed his clothes and wrapped them around his face, his eyes now crescent-shaped like a moon, as a smile curled on his lips.

  Another spsh of water echoed as Er Duo jumped in.

  Xiao Xiang blinked her alluring almond-shaped eyes and gently pced her hand on the nearby tree trunk for support.

  "Did they all go down?" The voice came from behind her.

  Xiao Xiang turned to face the speaker and replied, "They've all gone down." Her voice grew softer, and her gaze turned somewhat mencholic as she looked ahead.

  The temple before them appeared to be quite worn and dipidated.