My name is Yan Luo, and I'm an editor at a well-known online novel website, managing a special section called "Tales of the Strange." Every word in this book is a piece of history. Each supernatural story included in this section is a collection I gathered from across the country, from rural villages to bustling markets. These old tales, hidden in the crevices of everyday life, each carry an lingering obsession, telling tales of untold joys and sorrows. This day, I received a message from my informant, Lao Gui. He had gotten lost in the deep mountains of the former Dayong County in Xiangxi Prefecture, and after wandering aimlessly, he stumbled upon an ancient mountain village nestled in dense forest, called Xiajia'ao.
