The two moved forward cautiously, supporting each other as they walked. They continued until they reached a relatively open space. In front of them stood only a stone mountain wall rising straight up like a barrier. Aside from trees and forest all around, there was no other path.
“Xi’er… it looks like there’s no road?” Yun Lu whispered, because he saw Yun Xi still observing the surroundings.
Yun Xi didn’t respond. She walked around the stone wall, examining every detail carefully. Since this place was rarely visited, the stone wall was almost completely hidden by the surrounding trees. If one didn’t see it personally, they would never know a mountain blocked the way. Yun Xi inspected everything bit by bit. She remembered that she had walked straight from the boundary stele without making any turns. By logic, she shouldn’t have gone the wrong way. So why was there no road? Impossible. There must be a path or a door. Otherwise, the back mountain wouldn’t be so mysterious.
A door? Yun Xi’s heart stirred. Could this stone wall hide another world? Could there be a concealed entrance? She ran her hands across the surface, hoping to find a mechanism for a hidden door. But to her disappointment, the stone wall was smooth everywhere, without a single protrusion—let alone a hidden switch.
She must have overlooked something. Yun Xi suddenly remembered that Yun Dahai had come into the mountain days ago to look for a water source. If someone had entered before, there would definitely be traces. She carefully examined the mountain wall and the ground beneath her feet. Suddenly, she saw a faint footprint at the base of the stone wall. No one else would have come here—it must have been left by Yun Dahai. That meant the entrance to the back mountain had to be here.
Yun Xi walked to the base of the wall and crouched down for a closer look. On the smooth surface near the ground was a barely noticeable bump, about the size of an egg, but sticking out only slightly. Most people would never see it.
She examined the protruding stone carefully and noticed faint fingerprints. That had to be it. Ecstatic, she pressed it lightly. Nothing happened.
Was she wrong? Could it be somewhere else? That didn’t make sense. Unwilling to give up, she pressed again—using force this time. Suddenly, with a thunderous rumble, the smooth stone wall split open to reveal a narrow stone door, barely wide enough for one person to pass.
“Ah? What’s going on? How did a door appear? Xi’er, how did you know it was here?” Yun Lu asked in disbelief.
“I was just trying.” Yun Xi didn’t explain further. She grabbed Yun Lu’s arm, and they slipped inside quickly. The stone door closed again behind them with another heavy rumble.
“Wow… what is this place? It’s so beautiful!” Yun Lu gasped.
Yun Xi looked ahead and couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath herself. This must be a valley—surrounded by towering mountains, majestic and magnificent, their peaks piercing the clouds. Someone with fear of heights would faint looking down from above, and looking up from below made the valley seem like a giant, while one’s own body felt as tiny as a grain of sand.
The valley was vast, its end invisible to the eye. Although it was late autumn outside, it was as warm as spring here. Birds sang throughout the valley, waking the lush green trees. The wind rustled through branches, stirring up an uncontrollable sense of joy and contentment. The air was fresh with the scent of grass and wild mint, blending with the blue sky and white clouds into a naturally perfect painting that needed no embellishment.
At the far edge of the valley lay a massive lake, its water crystal clear. Occasionally, unknown fish swam gracefully across it. On the mountain wall beside the lake was a bucket-sized hole, through which water slowly flowed out of the valley. Judging by the marks around the opening, Yun Xi knew that Yun Dahai had carved it. She had originally worried that opening the lake might flood the village, but now, seeing the natural rock barrier, she knew there was absolutely no danger.
From the growth of the flowers, trees, and grass, it was clear the place had been untouched for years. Even the past generations of village chiefs likely seldom came here.
“Xi’er… is this really the back mountain? It doesn’t seem dangerous at all. Why do the elders forbid us from entering?” Yun Lu asked in confusion.