Zhongnan Mountain, with no towering peaks, only endless mountain ranges.
Below the mountains, there were villages. Every household had its doors tightly closed, their gaps sealed with weeds or mud.
Xu Xuan approached and knocked on the door of one of the homes.
Creak...
The wooden door opened, revealing a little face flushed with red.
"Who are you?" The child's shiny black eyes looked at Xu Xuan.
"Kid, where are your parents?" Xu Xuan asked.
"Dad! Mom!" The child turned and shouted. Footsteps followed, and a couple came out.
"Who are you? What brings you here?" The husband asked, warily scanning around Xu Xuan and relaxing quite a bit when he saw no one else.
"A southerner, I've come to Zhongnan Mountain to live in seclusion and seek immortality." Xu Xuan had already reverted to his original appearance before arriving, dressed like a scholar, which put people at ease.
"Come in for some hot water," the man said, as if he saw nothing unusual.
