Zhao Su got out of bed, stretched, and left the room with Qian Renxue.
The old man was chopping firewood in the courtyard.
He stacked the split logs neatly in a corner by the wall.
Only then did Zhao Su get a proper look at the courtyard. It was small, but swept spotlessly clean.
What caught Zhao Su's attention most was a wall standing on the eastern side of the courtyard.
It was a plain wall, yet it looked rather out of place standing there.
It did not fit the courtyard's overall layout at all.
"You're awake. Young people certainly sleep soundly. Not like me-I'm old and can't sleep anymore!"
"Sir, what should we call you?"
Zhao Su stepped forward to help the old man stack the split logs in the corner, asking the question casually as he worked.
"Just call me Old Gu. I've forgotten my own name!"
Old Gu thought for a moment, seemingly trying to recall his name, but in the end, that was all he said to Zhao Su.
"Old Gu, do you live here alone?"
"Yes. My wife died young, and the children are all gone. Now there's only me, a lonely old man."
Hearing this, Zhao Su asked no further questions and simply helped Old Gu chop wood in silence.
After another ten minutes or so, once all the firewood had been split,
Old Gu finally spoke again, asking Zhao Su, "How did you two end up here, deep in these desolate mountains?"
"We lost our way and wandered in by accident!"
"Whether you lost your way or came here deliberately, take my advice and leave as soon as you can!"
With that, Old Gu turned and went into his room, carrying the axe.
He did not come out again, even after night fell.