A long while later.
Qin Xiao discovered a village at the foot of the mountain.
It was small, seemingly home to only a hundred or so households.
"Let's take a look. Perhaps someone here knows something about Yiran."
After a moment's thought, Qin Xiao strode toward the village.
A gaunt old man stood at the village entrance, a tobacco pipe clenched between his teeth as he puffed out clouds of smoke.
When he saw Qin Xiao approach, he exhaled a mouthful of smoke and asked hoarsely, "Young man, you're not from our village, are you?"
Qin Xiao nodded. "Hello, I'm looking for a young woman named Meng Yiran."
"Who are you looking for?"
"Meng Yiran."
"What Yi? What Ran?"
"Meng Yiran."
"Meng what Ran?"
Qin Xiao: *...*
Is this old fellow hard of hearing?
Shouldn't you be giving Xia Luo a hard time instead?
"Are you looking for Meng Yiran?"
Suddenly, a gentle voice reached Qin Xiao's ears.
Instinctively, he looked up.
A woman with a coarse cloth veil covering her face had appeared nearby.
Qin Xiao couldn't make out her face.
But those eyes left a deep impression on him.
They were pure, without a trace of impurity, as innocent as an infant's gaze.
"Hey, I asked you a question."
When Qin Xiao didn't answer, the woman's willow-leaf brows knitted slightly.
"Yes."
"Have you seen Meng Yiran?"
Qin Xiao nodded.
Rather than answer his question directly, the woman asked, "Then what's your name?"
"Qin Xiao," he replied.
"Then you're the one. Follow me."
With that, the woman led the way into the village.
Qin Xiao's eyes flickered, and he followed her.
Still, he didn't forget to tell the old man at the entrance, "Take it easy, sir."
"Will do."
The old man waved, slowly straightened up in his