The Mysterious Village in the Mountains

Amidst this idyllic scene, a young woman and a young man walked side by side. At first glance, they seemed like a couple. Their steps matched, their presence complementary.

But a closer look told a different story.

"Xiao Xi, how many times do I have to tell you not to venture outside the village borders?" The young woman's voice carried a mix of frustration and worry as she fixed her gaze on her younger brother. She looked to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, her black hair strikingly vivid against the soft pallor of her near-perfect complexion. Her warm brown eyes locked onto him, stern yet filled with concern. She had been scolding him all morning, but the boy, ever the troublemaker, only pouted in response, his expression filled with practiced innocence.