"I need to go up the mountain?"
Zheng Qing clenched his fists and repeated the thought in his mind.
The night air was cool. Deep within the mountains, the echoes remained silent for a long time before gradually humming back to life:
"...hmmm... the mountain, the mountain is the place where the divine spirits rest... hmmm... the mist enshrouding the summit is always sorrowful; that mist is the lingering thoughts of the gods echoing in this world... hmmm..."
The young public-funded student abruptly opened his eyes, a hint of excitement flashing within them. He looked toward his companions, nodded affirmatively, then quickly closed his eyes again, letting that thought reverberate through his mind:
"I need to go up the mountain!"
