Black Mountain Village was a fairly large village. Tiled houses built of mud bricks stood scattered neatly across the plain, surrounded by patches of farmland. The little black dots in the distance were villagers returning from their work in the fields.
It seemed to be mealtime. As they entered the village, they could smell the rich scent of burning firewood, while children's shouts carried over from ahead.
Upon hearing those voices, Bai Xiao Xiao's steps visibly halted for a moment. She then prepared to turn away and avoid them.
Unfortunately, children were full of energy and always sensitive to the slightest disturbance. A long-braided boy playing shuttlecock turned around and spotted Bai Xiao Xiao's group in the distance. He immediately shouted, "Xiao Xiao!"
"Where did you go, Xiao Xiao? Want to play? Want to play?"
The boy's shout instantly drew the attention of the other two children. The three of them bounced over together.
"I told you not to come looking for your big sister." Bai Xiao Xiao looked helpless. "Don't blame your big sister if your parents scold you. Don't blame your big sister, big sister, big sister."
"Alright, we know to call you big sister now!"
"Mother said we might never see you again. It scared us! You always sighed and said you wanted to see what was beyond the mountains."
The boy's words caused Gao Hao Guang's gaze to darken briefly, as though he had thought of something.
"Hahaha, your mother was right." Chu Ke laughed brightly and stepped forward to gently pat the boy's head. "You really won't be seeing Miss Xiao Xiao again."
"Huh? Is Miss Xiao Xiao really going beyond the mountains?"
Bai Xiao Xiao was stunned as well, then nodded.
Indeed. If the villagers found out that she had returned alive... the thing