The air grew colder and thicker as Yang Xiang descended further. Faint murmurs seemed to emanate from the walls themselves, stirring memories long buried. He paused before a mural depicting a battle between men and shadowy creatures — half beast, half spirit.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness — a woman cloaked in worn robes, her eyes sharp and wary. "You shouldn't be here," she warned. "The earth's heart is not for the living."
Yang Xiang stared, unsure if she was friend or foe. Her presence raised more questions: Who was she? What secrets did she guard? And why did she appear now, after centuries of silence?