"What's wrong with that?"
Seeing Ni Hongye's expression grow grave, Delia could not help asking.
"More than a hundred households. I doubt the fields below could grow enough food to feed them. If there were a road to another village, that might explain it. Some people might not farm; they might raise silkworms or work as carpenters. But there isn't even a footpath around the village. That means it must be cut off most of the time. Something's definitely wrong," Ye Wenlu said with a frown.
Nameless smiled. "Exactly. And for a village of just over a hundred households, don't you think the houses are a little too well built? A little too new?"
"What if the village was only just built? That would explain everything. The crops aren't enough because they still have food stored up. The houses look new because they are new. And there's no road to another village because they haven't had time to make one." A possibility suddenly occurred to Mark, and he spoke excitedly.
"Then why don't you go have a look?" Ye Wenlu said with a half smile as Nameless and the others turned toward Mark.
"Uh... didn't we just agree you'd go, Old Ye? Heh, I'd better not. One look at me and they'll know I'm not from around here. Blond hair, blue eyes—what if the villagers take me for a monster?" Mark immediately backed down.
Nameless sighed. "Enough. Safety first. We're not going into the village. Let's head for the next mountain."
"Right, safety first. This is the last stage—we play it safe!" Mark nodded at once.
The group pressed on. Nameless and Ni Hongye cleared the way ahead, Mark and Delia guarded either side of the escort cart, and Ye Wenlu drove it.
Having a road and having no road