After knocking for a while, just when Jiang Yimian thought she might be mistaken, the door opened from the inside, revealing an elderly woman in her sixties or seventies.
The other person glanced at the group of people in front of him and said in a hoarse voice, "You can't go this way. If you want to cross this mountain, you'll have to take a detour."
As she spoke, she was about to close the door.
Jiang Yimian stopped her, smiling and saying, "Grandma, could we please have some water? We've been traveling for several hours and we've run out of water."
The old woman glanced at Jiang Yimian and was momentarily stunned to see that the little girl in front of her was fair-skinned and had a smile like a flower.
She glanced at the men behind her. The one in the lead was handsome, with striking eyebrows and bright eyes, and a tall, upright figure. He didn't look like an ordinary person.
The others, though they looked somewhat serious, didn't seem like vicious people.
She nodded and called into the house, "Old man, someone's here."
After saying that, he went into a dilapidated thatched shed that looked like a kitchen.
Jiang Yimian and the others didn't rush in; they just waited outside.
She also took the opportunity to look around. There were a few mud-brick houses that were barely intact not far away. Because they were covered by waist-high weeds, she hadn't noticed them at first. There must be people living in them.
A short while later, an old man with gray hair came out of the house. He was hunched over, and a two- or three-year-old child followed behind him.
The child had dark yellow skin, and his thin face made his eyes look extremely large. He was looking at everyone with curiosity.
The old man glanced at the group of people in front of him and asked in confusion, "Why did you all come here? Where are you going?"
This place is extremely remote. Apart from the occasional horse-drawn carriage that makes its way to the village at the foot of the mountain, almost no one comes here.
Let alone coming to their deserted village.
This was the first time he had ever seen so many strangers.
Jiang Yimian smiled and tentatively asked, "I got lost and accidentally ended up here. Does Grandpa know how to get up the mountain?"
Upon hearing this, the old man frowned and said coldly, "You can't go up the mountain. I advise you to leave immediately, otherwise, no one can save you if you lose your life."
After saying that, she pulled the child behind her and went straight into the house.
Jiang Yimian and Lu Cijian exchanged a glance.
“He definitely knows the situation in the mountains.” Lu Cijian’s tone was indifferent, but it carried a certainty.
I thought the people in this deserted village wouldn't know what was happening on the mountain, but now it seems that's not the case.
The old woman came out of the kitchen, carrying several bowls of water. Seeing everyone still standing outside, she smiled and called out, "What are you all standing there for? Come inside and have some water! It's rare for a few people to come to our poor village."
Jiang Yimian responded and followed the other person into the house.
The old man glared at them before saying irritably, "Drink the water and leave quickly. That mountain is not a place for you."
"Don't talk nonsense after you get out, or you'll risk your life."
Jiang Yimian immediately became interested and sat down at the table next to her, asking curiously, "Why won't the old man let us go up the mountain? What's up there?"
Lu Cijian sat down beside him, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.
The old man remained silent, staring intently at the two handsome and distinguished young men before him. He hesitated, then asked, "Who are you? You're not just passing by, are you?"
This place is so remote that you would never have passed by it if you hadn't come here on your own initiative.
Especially with the rumors of wild beasts in the mountains eating people, a little inquiry in the city would make it impossible for them to come back.
Unless they're suicidal or mentally challenged to their death.
He looked at these people and they didn't seem to be mentally challenged, but they were definitely there to die, which puzzled him.
Lu Cijian nodded and said calmly, "We're definitely not just passing by. Do you know what's going on on that mountain?"
Jiang Yimian added, "Don't worry, grandpa, we're not bad people. We just want to go in and rescue people. I heard they've captured quite a few people inside."
My father might be inside.
The little girl seemed a bit down, but her words carried a hint of expectation, as if she hoped to learn something about the mountains from him.
He felt a pang of sympathy and unconsciously thought of his son.
I don't know if they're alive or dead now.
The old woman standing nearby instantly teared up, her hoarse voice trembling with sobs, "Girl, that place is a cannibalistic den of demons, never go there."
If your father knew you risked your life to save him, he certainly wouldn't agree.
Having already witnessed so many people die, she couldn't just stand by and watch these few people go to their deaths as well.
In the past, they were powerless and incompetent, but now that these people have found them, she cannot let them take risks.
The child, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, immediately started crying when he saw his grandmother crying. "Grandma, Grandma, don't cry. Can you play in the mud with Xiaobao? Don't cry."
The child cried pitifully, and the old woman quickly responded, picked up the baby, and went out of the house.
The old man, who hadn't spoken until now, sighed, lowered his head, and said helplessly, "Ask whatever you want. This old man doesn't know much either."
There are people watching over the mountain from all sides, so you can't get up there on your own. Besides, there's a village at the foot of the mountain, and anyone who gets close will be driven away.
If you try to force your way in, you will only face certain death.
There's no way you can get in. No matter how skilled you are, you can't get in.
Wang San, who was standing to the side, nodded, saying that what they saw was similar.
He lowered his voice and whispered, "This place is very strange. It must have been given strict instructions. There are quite a few powerful people here. It will definitely take us a lot of effort to get in."
Jiang Yimian thought for a moment before asking, "How many people are left in this village?"
When she arrived, she didn't see any other people, but she could sense some faint presences, so there must be quite a few people there.
The old man casually said, "There are four more families, about a dozen people, mostly elderly people and children. They won't live for more than a few days."
Let me give you a piece of advice: those people on the mountain are not to be trifled with. Even if you manage to get up there, you'll be shot dead, and there's absolutely no chance of you coming back alive.
Don't think you can go anywhere just because you have a few martial arts experts with you. There are plenty of them on that mountain.
Jiang Yimian raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Did the old man go up there?"
The old man gave a bitter laugh, "If I had gone up there, I would have been dead long ago. How could I still be alive now?"
The thought of the horrific events of those years made him tremble uncontrollably.
Jiang Yimian was about to ask again, but Lu Cijian pressed down on her wrist and said calmly, "Since you've never been up there, how do you know how powerful the people on the mountain are?"
Or perhaps you went up there for some reason, witnessed those people committing murder, and were so frightened that you fled in terror.
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