Chapter 1131: Denizens

Hao Xuan followed the disciples of Mount Cae through the dark forest until they came upon a small valley hidden within the shadows in plain sight.

It was surrounded by hundreds of years old trees arching on all sides and from above nothing would seem out of place but upon descending under the thick canopy the wide-open space would be visible.

They were welcomed by a few scared mortals who stood guard at the entrance with weapons they had no use for.

As Hao Xuan walked deeper into the valley and saw the tired and emaciated dirt-ridden faces of hundreds of natives huddling around small campfires for warmth he understood why Zou Huan was so adamant about coming here first.

Many of these people would not survive the next few hours if they weren't given aid immediately. The journey so far had sapped them of their vital energy rendering them little more than husks of their former selves.

It would be a gross overstatement to say that they were hanging on by a thread.