The grass and trees on the hillside were lush, three sticks of incense were inserted into the ground, and as the slender wisp of smoke just began to rise, it was scattered by a gentle breeze.
The sun slanted its rays.
Jiang He shaded her eyes with her hand, tilting her head slightly to gaze at the sky, scenes from a thousand years ago flashed before her, followed by everything in a modern steel city.
A sense of disorientation from the time vortex rose from her being, and Xu Qing, standing by her side, thought her silhouette seemed ephemeral at one moment, as if very distant, yet also very near.
Could a person not belonging to this time and space really stay here for long?
Xu Qing, almost by instinct, extended his hand, grasping her arm resting on her knee, Jiang He turned to glance at him, and smiled.
That smile made Xu Qing breathe a sigh of relief, as the strange sensation just before had vanished.
The two squatted on the ground, watching the incense slowly burn.
