The sun slowly shifted westward, and a village gradually emerged before them, its houses of various heights scattered along the roadside.
"Look, this is the village I was telling you about," said Li Zhi with a smile, pointing at the large expanse of black-tiled roofs before striding toward it. "Follow me. I have a fellow countryman here. We can stay at his place for free."
Watching his receding figure, Li Huowang gave a casual wave of his hand, and the two donkey carts rolled toward the village.
As they walked along the dirt road between the houses, Li Huowang and the others looked around at the quiet surroundings. Oddly, there wasn't a single person to be seen, neither in the fields nor in the yards.
What's going on? Where are all the villagers? Li Huowang wondered.
Just as he was thinking this, Li Zhi's head popped out from around a corner ahead. His old face was ecstatic.
