Meanwhile.
Jiang Xiaobai followed the quiet path deeper into the woods.
Under the night sky, shadows of trees crisscrossed on either side. Now and then, a mountain breeze swept through the woods, stirring a rustle of leaves.
Before long, Jiang Xiaobai followed the path to a small courtyard.
The courtyard was modest, its surroundings covered in climbing vines. It looked as though no one had tended it in ages.
Yet a dim, yellow candle burned in the room directly opposite the courtyard gate.
Jiang Xiaobai hesitated outside, then finally stepped forward and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock!
The knocking carried far through the silent mountain woods, but there was not the slightest response from inside.
"Huh?"
Looking puzzled, Jiang Xiaobai knocked a few more times. "Is anyone there?"
"I mean no harm. I'm new here and got lost, so I just came to ask for directions!"
Even after he finished speaking, the room remained silent.
Jiang Xiaobai frowned and turned to leave.
But the instant he turned around, the door behind him suddenly opened on its own.
Whoosh!
A tremendous suction swept out of the room.
Before Jiang Xiaobai could even look back, his feet left the ground, and he flew helplessly into the room.
Bang!
The door slammed shut again, while Jiang Xiaobai rolled twice across the floor before finally managing to stop.
"What the hell!"
Bracing himself against the floor, Jiang Xiaobai raised his head. He was about to let loose a few curses, but the words caught in his throat.
By the candlelight on the table, he could see a wooden bed at the very back of the room.
An old man sat cross-legged on it.
The old man's white hair hung loose. His frame was withered and thin, his cheeks deeply sunken, the skin seemingly