All around them, people gathered to marvel at the novelty, peppering them with questions about the outside world. An occasional answer from Yi Shuyuan and the others was enough to spark a flurry of discussion.
Judging by the scene around them, these people seemed to have lived cut off from the world in Mist Village for a very, very long time. Even the oldest among them had never gone outside.
The village seemed larger and deeper than it had looked from outside. Quite a few people joined the old farmer in leading the way, while most of the curious onlookers continued following them.
"Old sir, have you always lived here without ever going outside? How long has it been?"
At Yi Shuyuan's question, the old farmer looked back at him.
"Can't remember anymore. My grandfather's grandfather's generation already lived here. Some people wanted to leave, but they always lost their way in the surrounding mountains. The lucky ones came back. The unlucky ones never returned."
A young man beside them disagreed and spoke up.
"Uncle Li, how do you know they didn't make it out?"
"Then why didn't they come back to let us know?"
"Because they had no conscience! If I got out, I'd definitely come back and tell everyone!"
"Exactly!" "I reckon they died in the mountains."
Yi Shuyuan looked at Zheng Ying and Xu Zichang. The latter frowned slightly, while the former gave a slight shake of her head.
These two had left the Cave Painting Realm no more than a dozen or so years ago, and the realm had remained sealed all along. There was no possible way mortals could have entered.
Yet now there were not only people here, but quite a few of them, and they had even established a settlement like this.
"Sir,