Chapter 82: Moonlight on the Flying Eaves

Shang Yiming pointed toward a narrow path that wound its way to another peak.

A faded, tattered banner blocked the entrance, proclaiming, “Danger of landslides—No climbing allowed. Enter at your own risk.”

The staff at the scenic area had already warned them not to go that way. With the banner and all, Liang Jinshang’s voice was icy as she spoke, “Shang Yiming, do you take me for a fool?”

Of course, Shang Yiming never actually thought she would believe him; he was only toying with her. Just as he was about to say something perfunctory to send Liang Jinshang away, his phone chimed with a notification.

He glanced down, then continued along the thread of his earlier story, “I’m just telling you the truth. If you don’t believe me, so be it. If you think I didn’t try to dissuade her, you’re wrong—she insisted on going up. There was nothing I could do…”

He paused, adding, “She kept saying that temple is especially efficacious for those suffering from chronic illness or injury. She said she had to go.”

Liang Jinshang’s expression shifted instantly. “...She really said that?”

Shang Yiming shrugged, “Believe it or not.”

Liang Jinshang turned to leave but forced herself to stay calm. She looked back to confirm, “She didn’t ask you to accompany her?”

Shang Yiming answered carelessly, “She didn’t want me to go with her.”

If he hadn’t replied that way, Liang Jinshang might have hesitated. But if Nan Yi was going to pray for someone with long-term injuries and refused to take her “current boyfriend” with her… Liang Jinshang could only think she was doing it for Liang Xizhou.

How could she possibly remain indifferent?

She had no time to scrutinize Shang Yiming’s guilty expression. She lifted the banner, ducked beneath it, and took the small path up the mountain.

Only after Liang Jinshang’s figure disappeared did someone lift the tent flap behind Shang Yiming.

He turned and saw Nan Yi, unable to hide his astonishment. “I said what you told me, and she really went up the mountain?! Is she out of her mind?”

Nan Yi gazed in the direction Liang Jinshang had gone, silent.

Shang Yiming grew uneasy. It was late, and Liang Jinshang was heading alone into such a dangerous place. He couldn’t help but stand, “Forget it, I’ll go call her back. If something really happens, I’ll be in trouble too.”

The only reason he followed Nan Yi’s instructions in her message was because he thought, like himself, that she wanted to mess with the persistent Liang Jinshang.

Who would have guessed that someone usually so sharp could be so reckless now?

Nan Yi grabbed his arm gently, her voice soft, “Don’t go. I’m worried it’s dangerous.”

---

Shang Yiming looked at the frail girl before him.

She’d been introduced by his family. He had never been interested in blind dates—he had no trouble finding girlfriends with his looks.

But after seeing the photo sent by the matchmaker, he changed his mind at once.

He’d just stumbled with Liang Jinshang, and now, encountering the quiet, obedient Nan Yi, he felt as though his luck had finally changed.

But now...

“You know it’s dangerous, so why did you have me trick her up there?” Shang Yiming frowned deeply. “What are you really thinking?”

Nan Yi stared at the “No climbing” banner for a long time before speaking in a desolate tone, “I was just wondering… if someone fell from there, would it really take their life?”

As her voice faded, a sudden thunderbolt split the sky.

Shang Yiming recoiled a step, looking at Nan Yi’s delicate, pitiful face, for the first time feeling cold sweat drenched him.

What had become of women nowadays?

One after another, they looked fragile on the outside; unless you cut them open, you’d never know what their hearts were made of.

“No, don’t joke like that, Nan Yi!” Shang Yiming was genuinely panicked. “Life and death aside, if something really happens to Liang Jinshang, I won’t escape blame. If you have issues with her, don’t use me as your tool. I’ll bring her back!”

But by then, the thunder overhead was growing louder, and raindrops began to fall, sparse but cold.

Shang Yiming recalled the staff’s warnings: once the rain intensified, a landslide on the sealed mountain path was highly likely, and rescue by manpower would be nearly impossible.

They had said this to prevent people from venturing up there. Now, thinking back, Shang Yiming felt a sense of doom—almost as if fate itself was against him!

Why had he spoken so carelessly?

Nan Yi had already taken his phone, deleting the message she sent earlier, and instead spoke gently, “No one but me knows you encouraged her to go up. For my own sake, I won’t tell anyone. We know nothing; Liang Jinshang went up on her own. Besides… she’s tough. Maybe she’ll wander around, fail to find me, and come down by herself.”

“Nan Yi…” Shang Yiming’s voice trembled.

“Hmm?” Nan Yi smiled. Usually, her brows wore a hint of melancholy, and she rarely smiled so openly.

But it chilled Shang Yiming to the core, leaving him speechless.

“Attention, all visitors! Attention! Tonight’s weather has changed abruptly. Heavy rain is approaching, camping is no longer safe!”

“Please follow staff instructions and descend the mountain in an orderly manner!”

The loudspeaker blared, and Shang Yiming and Nan Yi exchanged a glance, falling silent together.

---

Liang Jinshang’s pace was not fast. She heard the announcement echoing through the rain.

This path was nothing like the stone steps she’d climbed during the day, showing no trace of human effort. Jagged and strewn with loose stones, the mountain trail was shrouded in darkness. The worst was the rain, cold and heavy, blurring her already limited vision.

But turning back now was impossible.

The greater the danger ahead, the less she could bear to leave Nan Yi alone in such a perilous place.

The mistake she made eight years ago had left her with a lifetime of regret, an unredeemable debt.

Night had fallen completely. Liang Jinshang was now crawling, groping her way forward, but she could see the temple’s eaves silhouetted in the moonlight, signaling she was close.

“Ugh!” Her forehead struck a protruding rock, sending her sliding several steps downhill. For a moment, she thought she might tumble right off the mountain.

When her lower back crashed hard against a tree trunk and finally stopped her descent, she felt a thrill of survival.

She wiped her forehead—her hand came away sticky and wet. Not just her forehead; her limbs and neck throbbed with a fiery pain.

Thankfully, she’d worn long sleeves and pants for the climb, or her injuries would have been even more dreadful.

Liang Jinshang was tough, but it still took her a while to gather herself and stand.

“Nan Yi! Nan Yi!” Leaning on a branch, she called out, her heart hollow with fear. “Nan Yi, where are you?! I came to find you! Come out!”

The night rain scattered and drowned her voice; the wind carried it away, leaving her chilled to the bone.