By the time they reached a nearby village, both Ling Qingyu and the man breathed a sigh of relief. The presence of humans soothed their hearts. The frightening cries of nature seemed to fade, replaced by the softer sounds of rustling branches and grasses swaying to the wind's rhythm.
The layers of trees thinned as signs of human activity increased. As expected of humankind, nature couldn't withstand their playful intrusions. All natural elements had either dissipated or been destroyed by human interference. The village's houses were built on wooden pillars above the ground. Ling Qingyu recalled reading about this type of construction; it allowed the houses to be moved short distances. A group could easily lift and transport them.
