Having encountered the people from the Li Family and confirmed Xiang's identity, both Hu Ma and these martial artists felt considerably relieved.
At the invitation of the Li Family members, they remounted and proceeded slowly inward. However, the farther they ventured, the more apprehensive they became. They found themselves entering a desolate mountain; the evening sun still clung to the mountainside, but all around them, shadows had already fallen, creating a somber and eerie atmosphere. Along the roadside, they occasionally spotted withered white banners and the traces of burnt candle wax. Towering ancient trees flanked the road, standing like giants watching the travelers below. The number of desolate graves on both sides of the road also increased, scattered sporadically.
