Under the bright blue sky illuminating the vast grassland with a cool breeze, there a flock of sheep eating grass; a few tens meters from there was a boy laying under a tree.
"Shatian... Mo Shatian."
Someone called out to the boy lying under the tree, who appeared to be named Mo Shatian. He was a black-haired boy with a pair of emerald eyes, wearing black clothes. He has sharp featured and fair skin, giving the impression of being a handsome boy, but when compared to the boys of his age, he was only slighty handsome, not too handsome but not too ordinary either.
"Hey are you listening to me, Shatian!"
The sound of footsteps could be heard along with accompanying shouts.
Mo Shatian opened his eyes when he heard someone calling his name. When he looked towards the source of the voice, he saw a young girl wearing light blue clothes walking towards him.
"Did you fall asleep? Shouldn't you be working to watch over the sheep, Shatian?"
The girl seemed suprised to find Mo Shatian sleeping when he had to look after the sheep.
Mo Shatian rose from where he had been lying down, and the two of them stood side by side when he stood up. "I didn't fall asleep. I was just resting after herding sheep."
Mo Shatian finally had a good look at the person who calling him. The girl's has delicate and beautiful face, waist-length brown hair with a bang covering her forehead, and a pair of coloured hazel eyes that stared at him. If the entire village were asked who the most beautiful girl was, then the answer would be the girl in front of him right now. There was no doubting about that; overall, the girl was a pretty when compare to other girls her age.
"Hehe, I was just joking. You can relax to your heart's content." Xiao Lin said, her tone and voice light and carefree.
"It's unusual to see you come here, is there something you need, Xiao Lin?"
"I came to see what you were doing," Xiao Lin said excitedly, looking around merrily. "This sure is nice spot you got here. Speaking of which, there was someone has come to the village from outside."
There was something that piqued Mo Shatian's curiosity based on what Xiao Lin said.
"Are you sure he came from outside?" said Mo Shatian, a suprise expression dawning over his face.
"Yes. He came from outside, and Dad said he was an important guest. Right now, they are talking at home."
This is the first time someone has come to this village since I was born. I wonder what kind of person comes to a remote village like this.
Mo Shatian was very suprised by someone coming to a village like Xiao Village.
Xiao Village is located around the foot of Misty Mountain. The peak of the mountain always produces mist—no matter the weather or season, no one in the village knows the reason, as it has been forbidden to go near it since the village was founded. That's why the mountain is called Misty Mountain.
"Then... What are you trying to do by telling me all of this, Xiao Lin?" Mo Shatian knew there was no way she would come to meet him just tell him like that.
"Aren't you curious what they are talking about?"
"No. Currently, I'm at work, and also, can't you check that with your father?"
"He won't tell me!" Xiao Lin said in a sullen tone.
"If so, that means something very important that can't even be discussed with his beloved daughter."
"I guess so... so, when are you doing to finish herding the sheep?" Xiao Lin asked with an irritated expression when she heard the word "beloved" from Mo Shatian.
"Alright. Let's go back because it's already afternoon."
Mo Shatian went towards the flock of sheep to herded, before returned to the village.
"Okay!" Xiao Lin followed behind.
...
Xiao Village has a population of about a hundred people; the main occupations of the people of Xiao Village are farming, gardening, mining, and hunting. Xiao Village was founded by Xiao Ming—the ancestors of Xiao Ling, who is currently the chief of Xiao Village.
Arriving at the village, Mo Shatian immediately brought the sheep back to the farm. After finishing, he went straight to the village chief's house with Xiao Lin to collect the payment for his today's work.
The only payment method in this village was by using a strange lustrous stone that was mined in a cave around the village area. When the first Mo Shatian receiving it, he thought about 'Why would this village use a strange stone like this as a medium of exchange instead of using precious metals such a gold, silver or the like that are used outside the village as Uncle Ling told.'
Xiao Ling, as the chief of Xiao Village, sometimes goes outside the village once or twice a year to fulfill needs that are not available in the village. He always brings about a dozen people with him—but he never once took the children with him.
When Mo Shatian and Xiao Lin headed to the village chief's house, they saw the village chief from a distance wearing black clothes, long hair tied in the back with the same color as his black eyes and a handsome face that had not lost it's freshnees in his late thirties.
Really, I'm curious about the secret of his youth... Well, even thought I know that the average population of this village looks young.
Mo Shatian finally noticed someone standing beside Xiao Ling.
He looked like an old man with long white hair, his long beard left untied and swaying in the wind. His body that couldn't fight against age had few wrinkles on his face—but his clear and sharp eyes didnt't look like someone who was already seem in his sixties or so, wearing a long dark gray robe gave him an aura that was hard to ignore.
Mo Shatian arrived at the wooden but very sturdy-looking village chief's house together with Xiao Lin. "Uncle Ling, I've finished herding sheep for today."
"Good job. Looks like you came back earlier than usual. Is it because of Xiao Lin?" Asked Xiao Ling while looking at his daughter.
Mo Shatian who heard that just smiled and laughed a little—because what Xiao Ling said was true, and he didn't know what to answer that—perhaps he had no reason to explain it.
He knew Xiao Lin very well, she would not let him go until he agreed.
After seeing Mo Shatian expression, Xiao Ling couldn't help but sigh. "It's fine. As I always say, you don't have to force too hard upon yourself."
He continued, looking at the person standing beside him. "Today we have an important guest from outside of the village. He will be staying here with us from now on, I hope you can help him if there is anything he needs."
"From now on I'll be living here, so I might trouble you all if there's anything I can't do. Please, just call me Elder." The elder said in a gentle voice while smiling at Mo Shatian and Xiao Lin.
Amazed by Elder's aura and politeness as he introduced himself—perhaps without both of them realizing it—Mo Shatian and Xiao Lin answered loudly and nervously while bowing their heads, "Y-Yes!"
Both of them didn't know how to behave as this was the first time anyone had come to the village. Especially since he was the village chief's important guest and he gave off an impression that was hard to resist.
Xiao Ling handed Mo Shatian five sparkling stones and said, "This is your payment for today. Elder dan I will go see the other villagers."
"Thank you Uncle Ling, I'll excuse myself, then." Mo Shatian accepted the stone and said his goodbye to Xiao Ling, Xiao Lin and Elder before leaving.