Duan Rong had already arrived at the steps beneath the ritual platform.
Nine tiers of steps. Nine steps to ascend the platform!
The steps weren't particularly high; the nine tiers reached just to Duan Rong's chest.
Standing before the steps, Duan Rong saw Jiang Hanyan, who had been playing her zither with her head lowered, lift her eyes slightly to glance at him, then lower her head again to continue playing.
Jiang Hanyan was well aware of where Duan Rong stood, as she was all too familiar with that spot.
Nine years ago, she stood exactly where Duan Rong was now, and after barely stepping onto the staircase, she fainted. Even so, that year she ventured the deepest.
Although Jiang Hanyan only gave Duan Rong a fleeting glance, she was truly curious whether this plain-looking young man would succeed in stepping onto the stone stairs, or whether he would stumble just as she did then.
