The Crimson Heaven Spirit Garden.
An unnamed mountain peak.
"Could the old Daoist have built this wooden cabin himself?"
Looking at the little cabin before him, built from thick logs stacked together, then at the words "Encounter Whatever Studio" carved on its door plaque, Xu Taiping murmured to himself.
The Xiaohei Hound at his feet sniffed hard through the wooden door, then looked up at Xu Taiping and wagged his tail.
"Master, there is no scent of living beings inside, nor any scent of evil beings or ghost creatures."
Along the way, Xu Taiping had already discovered that the Xiaohei Hound's nose was sometimes even more sensitive than his divine soul perception.
Xu Taiping nodded.
He looked the moss-covered wooden door up and down before his gaze finally settled on the bolt, and murmured:
"The bolt was fastened from outside, which means the owner left this little cabin of their own accord."
As he spoke, he reached out and drew back the bolt.
"Creak..."
Then, accompanied by the grating sound of hinges turning, Xu Taiping slowly pushed open the wooden door, which was likewise made of thick logs fitted together.
A breath of air mingled with the smell of moss and earth washed over him.
Xu Taiping raised a hand and fanned it away while sweeping his gaze through the cabin.
The furnishings inside were very simple.
A bed, a table, and a stool.
Like the cabin and its door, the table and stool inside were crude but sturdy.
"Hm?"
But when Xu Taiping entered the cabin and stepped onto its floor, the warmth beneath his feet startled them.
He looked down.
The floor of the cabin was actually laid with a single, whole piece of mutton fat warm jade.
The Xiaohei Hound remarked:
"Although I don't know exactly what