"Just like Song Lili said, Rock Peak, a necessary path down from Luoshu Mountain, became the first big challenge for these people.
The scorching sun blazed directly overhead, with not a single leaf for shade; the rocks underfoot were like iron plates for barbecue, emitting curls of steam.
However, upon passing Rock Peak, they came upon a mountain brook with dense woods, where the air cooled instantly as they descended.
Lin Xinglan sprawled ungracefully on the smooth boulders by the stream, as Song Lili dropped her backpack and collapsed alongside her.
Their clothes were soaked with sweat, mouths dry, tongues parched, skin burnt and painful to touch, and their feet were not even worth mentioning for discomfort.
Fortunately, they had managed to scramble over Rock Peak before noon.
It wasn't that they couldn't travel after midday, but in such extreme heat, they would expend energy too quickly, turning the rest of their journey into a difficult problem.
