The settlement was quiet.
Not silent like the mountain.
But restrained.
People moved.
Worked.
Spoke in low voices.
Yet their attention drifted toward him again and again.
Xu Tian stood still for a moment, letting them observe.
Then he moved.
Slowly.
Not hiding.
Not rushing.
A few people stepped aside as he passed.
Others looked away.
No one approached.
"…They're cautious," he thought.
That was expected.
A stranger coming down from the mountain was never a good sign.
Xu Tian stopped near a small structure.
Wooden.
Simple.
Smoke rose faintly from the top.
A place to rest.
Or gather.
He didn't enter immediately.
Instead, he watched.
A man stepped out.
Middle-aged.
Worn clothes.
Tired eyes.
But sharp.
He noticed Xu Tian right away.
Their gazes met.
The man hesitated for a moment.
Then walked closer.
Not too close.
Just enough.
"You came from the mountain," he said.
Not a question.
Xu Tian nodded.
"Yes."
The man's eyes moved briefly to the children.
Then back.
"…You're lucky."
Xu Tian didn't respond.
Luck had nothing to do with it.
"Not many come down from there alive," the man continued.
Xu Tian met his gaze.
"I didn't plan to stay there."
The man studied him for a moment.
Then gave a small nod.
"…Fair enough."
Silence followed.
But it wasn't empty.
The man glanced around briefly.
Then spoke again.
"You should leave soon," he said quietly.
Xu Tian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Why?"
The man didn't answer immediately.
His expression shifted.
Careful.
Measured.
"People come through here," he said. "Stronger ones."
Xu Tian understood.
"…Cultivators."
The man didn't confirm it.
But he didn't deny it either.
"They don't like surprises," he added.
Xu Tian looked around the settlement again.
The people.
The quiet.
The tension.
"…And you?"
The man let out a small breath.
"We stay out of their way."
Xu Tian nodded slightly.
That made sense.
He looked down at the children.
Then back up.
"…I'll leave soon."
The man relaxed just a little.
"Good," he said.
Then paused.
"If you need supplies, take them quickly."
Xu Tian didn't thank him.
But he understood.
He turned slightly, scanning the settlement again.
But this time-
His attention wasn't on the normal people.
It was on something else.
A faint presence.
Watching from a distance.
Hidden.
But not well enough.
Xu Tian's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Too late," he thought.
Because whoever was coming-
Had already arrived.