Eastern Region, Yan Country, Taihang County. Uneven rows of wooden houses spread across the foot of the mountain.
Outside nearly every house hung smoked cured meat, ripe grain, and red peppers.
Yet the passing mortals were dressed very simply.
One after another, they hurried anxiously toward the mountain peak.
To them, the mountain was very high, but they had no choice but to climb it today, because today was the day to offer sacrifices at the Immortal Hall.
Ye Zi was one of them. She was just over ten years old. Though her features were delicate, years of sun exposure had left her skin the color of dried wheat.
She did not know what use there was in offering sacrifices at the Immortal Hall. She had never seen an immortal, nor had her father or mother.
But she had seen wolves that could fly and hawks that could breathe fire, so she believed immortals existed.
She had heard the old village chief say that the immortals were angry and required them to burn incense, brew tea, and offer sacrifices and worship day after day, year after year.
Once the immortals had vented their anger, they would return, and then they too would have hope of becoming immortals.
Though the Immortal Hall was not located very high up, it still left many mortals gasping for breath. The elderly in particular were almost all carried there on the backs of the village's young and strong.
The moment they saw the hall, tears streamed down their faces.
Unfortunately, even when they rushed anxiously into the great hall, no immortals dressed in Daoist robes appeared within, as the legends claimed.
"Begin the sacrifices! Pay your respects!" Even so, the old village chief still gave the order.
Everyone took out offerings of cattle and sheep,