Having said that, he leaned on his crutch and turned to leave. The old man was in the twilight of his years, and his retreating figure seemed all the more poignant.
When the old man left, the innkeeper humbly said to Lin Jiaojiao and Yan Sihan, "Don't listen to his nonsense, esteemed guests. Those things about gods, fairies, and the like are all made up by the villagers. That old man used to be a storyteller."
After explaining, he continued, "Are you going to visit the Taiping Taoist Temple? It's on top of the hill behind the village. However, the mountain path has been poorly maintained for years, so it might be difficult to traverse. Please, be careful."
Lin Jiaojiao nodded slightly: "Thank you."
After their meal, they set off for Smooth Village.
The villagers didn't seem unwelcoming to the visitors; instead, they were quite used to seeing unfamiliar faces.
Their guide explained, "Many people come to the Fairy Temple in our village every year to seek marriage prospects."
