Holding a lantern, guiding souls across, Lady Hou comes from the underworld.

The little girl lit the candles after Xia Ximo entered the main room.

Under the candlelight, the room was neat and tidy, and all the items were clearly visible.

She asked, "What's your name?"

The little girl had already prepared the tea and brought it to me, saying, "My name is Xiaohua."

Xia Ximo took it casually. "Is it just you and Grandpa at home?"

"Well... my parents took my younger brother to the city and never came back. My grandmother also passed away a couple of years ago."

When Xiaohua said this, her expression was calm and she showed no sadness, as if this was just an ordinary thing for her.

Xia Ximo glanced at the tea in her cup and asked again, "Did your parents go to Liangzhou City?"

"Yes, Grandpa said there are a lot of bad people in the city. It's much better in the village. Everyone here is like family, loving each other."

As Xiaohua spoke, she revealed a sweet smile, picked up the peach she hadn't finished eating, and took a few more bites.

After finishing eating, I tossed the peach pit to the little yellow dog by the door. The little yellow dog wagged its tail and went to play in the yard.

After wandering around outside for a while, Wuyou quietly entered the main room and said to Xia Ximo, "This formation is... too strange."

Moreover, the "people" here were very different from what they had expected.

"Let's take a look first."

Xia Ximo gazed at Xiao Hua's figure, then glanced at the tea in her cup, and casually placed it on the table.

On the other side, as soon as Ren Fengjue entered the kitchen, the old man urged him to leave.

"Guests aren't allowed in the kitchen. Why don't you go and rest outside?"

Ren Fengjue replied politely, "It's already a great honor that you're willing to take us in, sir. I'm just sitting around anyway, so I'll lend you my hand."

The old man glanced at him, then smiled and immediately saw through his lie, "What are you trying to do?"

"Judging from your appearance, you must come from a wealthy family. You've always lived a life of luxury, being waited on hand and foot. You've probably never even been to a place like the kitchen, have you?"

Ren Fengjue was at a loss for words.

He smiled back, his attitude remaining humble, "Then, is there anything I can do to help?"

The old man pointed to a stool nearby and said, "Why don't you sit here and chat with me to relieve your boredom?"

The kitchen was small, but it was kept very clean and tidy.

As the old man spoke, he had already started a fire.

Despite his age, he is very quick and efficient when it comes to work.

Washing rice and cooking rice, washing and chopping vegetables—it's all done with ease.

Ren Fengjue was already overwhelmed by what he was seeing, and the other party was even able to chat with him casually.

I learned from the old man that his wife had passed away a few years ago, and his son and daughter-in-law had taken their grandson to Liangzhou City to make a living years ago. They had been gone for several years and had not returned.

Now, he and his granddaughter Xiaohua depend on each other for survival. Life in the mountains is simple and he is content.

"As you saw when you came here, the people in our village are very friendly. Everyone helps each other, and that's how we make a good living."

The old man spoke with a satisfied expression, and you could tell from his tone that these were his true feelings.

He is genuinely satisfied with his current life.

But then he sighed and said, "Sometimes when I think about it, it feels like...a dream."

Ren Fengjue paused slightly, then smiled and asked, "Then you haven't been out for a long time, have you?"

The old man replied, "We can be self-sufficient here in the mountains, why go out?"

Ren Fengjue nodded in agreement, then added, "Haven't you thought about your son and daughter-in-law moving to the city?"

The old man snorted, "They didn't even think about Xiaohua, so why should we think about them?"

It seems there's still some resentment.

"Life in the mountains is really good."

Ren Fengjue looked out the window. Although it was night, Tong'an Village was still brightly lit.

It looks more like another country, just like its name.

The old man ladled out the cooked dishes and said with a smile, "If you like them, you can stay."

Ren Fengjue didn't answer, but instead asked, "Uncle, do you remember which year your son and daughter-in-law came to the city?"

This seemingly ordinary sentence caused the old man's expression to change instantly.

His hand trembled, and the bowl of food he had just served fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

Little Hua, who was playing outside, immediately came in and asked, "Grandpa, are you alright?"

The old man's expression was like a ripple on a calm lake, but it quickly returned to its usual calm.

He still smiled kindly, "It's nothing, I just accidentally broke a bowl."

He then called to his granddaughter, "Go wash your hands first, and then help Grandpa get the bowls and chopsticks in a bit."

Xiaohua smiled and agreed.

The old man then turned to look at Ren Fengjue and replied, "I've long forgotten what happened in the past."

Ren Fengjue was a smart man, so of course he knew and could understand the meaning behind his words to some extent.

He immediately stood up. "Then let's not talk about it."

Not long after the food was placed on the table, someone knocked on the door; it was the same boy from the campfire earlier.

He brought over a jar of wine and a plate of roasted meat.

"Grandpa Xiaohua, these are for your guests."

The old man immediately stepped forward to take it and thanked him.

The boy by the campfire greeted Ren Fengjue and the others inside the house before leaving.

Wuyou stared at the bowl of meat, her stomach growling incessantly.

This is a very rare thing.

As the spirit of the lamp, it lives on the spiritual energy of the lamp and has never known what hunger feels like.

Although it can smell the aroma of human food, it is never tempted by it.

But then, it suddenly felt hungry.

Because the growling sound from his stomach was so abrupt, everyone in the room, even the little yellow dog, perked up their ears.

Wuyou blushed, not knowing how to explain.

Just then, Grandpa Xiaohua placed a full bowl of rice in front of it.

"We're starving, let's eat!"

Worry-free was even more at a loss, and it cast a glance at Xia Ximo.

But the other party just glanced at it and said nothing.

Grandpa Xiaohua took it as a polite gesture and put another piece of meat into its bowl.

Faced with such hospitality, Wuyou could only pick up its chopsticks, but how could it possibly dare to eat?

"Grandpa, why aren't my older brother and sister eating?"

Little Flower looked at them strangely, her little head full of questions.

The old man simply smiled and picked up a piece of meat for her, saying, "Little Flower, you're hungry, eat first."

Xiaohua replied softly, "Grandpa taught me that it's impolite."

Hearing the little girl's words, Wuyou felt a little sorry for her and was about to pretend to take a bite.

The old man suddenly spoke up: "The three of you didn't find your way here because you got lost in the mountains, did you?"

The candlelight flickered gently, and the atmosphere was eerily calm.

Xia Ximo didn't intend to beat around the bush and replied, "I'm sorry to have disturbed you. This village is very nice, but an illusion is still just an illusion."