3 p.m.
The group of just over twenty people spotted a village ahead, smoke curling from its chimneys in the distance.
The Icefield was an endless expanse of black frozen soil.
Yet around the village ahead, there were patches of grass and trees. Behind it, a vast sunken pit was clearly visible.
"Is that the abandoned iron mine?"
Master Liao sounded somewhat astonished. "With such a huge area, it already counts as a canyon, doesn't it?"
"That's right."
"An iron mine lies down there."
Master Jin looked at the distant village, lit himself a cigarette, took a deep drag, and blew out a ring of smoke. "We're in luck. The people inside should be resting."
"We'll slip past quietly."
"Try not to make any noise."
"Resting?" Master Liao looked surprised as he watched the smoke rising from the village chimneys. "Doesn't it look like they're cooking?"
"Yes."
"They're cooking."
"When they cook, they stay indoors and don't come out."
"We generally call that resting."
Master Jin patiently explained, "What we need to do is leave quickly while they're occupied."
"I see."
"Thank you, Master Jin, for clearing that up."
Master Liao said politely.
He turned back to look at the distant village. It seemed every household was cooking. Even from so far away, he could faintly smell the aroma of food.
Damn it.
Being able to smell food from this far away—
That was already abnormal.
And the village itself looked completely out of place with the scene of every household having a meal.
Dim.
Oppressive.
Dilapidated.
The wooden huts were moldy and rotten, with many parts already collapsed. They did not look inhabited at all.
"That's just how haunted villages are."
"You'll get used to it."
Master Jin reassured him.
Yet just as the group was preparing to leave