"Where did you come from? How did you end up encountering a pack of wolves here?" the lead knight suddenly asked, breaking the silence of the night.
Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu exchanged a glance and decided to conceal their identities and origins for the time being. "We came here to gather herbs, but we didn't expect to encounter a pack of wolves," Xu Yuehuai replied.
The knights nodded, seemingly without doubting their words.
"We're near the border now, and wild animals often roam here. You'd better be careful," the leading knight warned.
Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu nodded silently, but a question arose in their hearts. They couldn't help but wonder, why was this place so close to the border?
Where were they before?
However, these questions remained unanswered, as the knights quickened their pace, seemingly eager to get on their way.
The group traversed the dense forest and finally arrived at a city gate. A huge lantern hung on the gate, bearing the two large characters "Border Town".
Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu looked up and saw that although the city was not prosperous, its walls were tall and sturdy, giving people a sense of security.
They followed the knights into the city, where the streets were dimly lit under the night sky, resembling a winding silver river stretching out beneath their feet.
The group arrived at a quaint inn. A lantern hung on the wooden door, swaying gently in the wind and emitting a faint light.
The knights were clearly acquainted with the innkeeper; they exchanged a few brief words and then returned to their rooms to rest.
Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu were arranged in a secluded room. Although the room was simple, it was clean enough to keep them sheltered from the wind and rain.
The two entered the room. Xu Yuehuai looked at Bai Yu, her eyes filled with confusion: "What should we do next?"
Bai Yu sat on the edge of the bed, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said, "Since this is a border town, there must be routes leading to other places. We can rest here for a while and then inquire about ways to leave."
Xu Yuehuai nodded in agreement. The two sat facing each other, the moonlight streaming into the room and illuminating their tired yet determined faces.
In the days that followed, they recuperated and rested at the inn, while also secretly inquiring about the border town and how to leave. The innkeepers were warm and hospitable, and they quickly became acquainted with the innkeepers and the surrounding residents.
One evening, Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu sat in the courtyard of the inn, watching the sunset. An old man sat beside them, smoking a pipe, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
The old man suddenly spoke up and asked, "Young men, you're from out of town, aren't you? Judging from your appearance, you must have endured a lot of hardships."
Xu Yuehuai smiled slightly and replied, "Old man, you have a good eye. We are indeed from out of town, and we were forced to wander here due to some circumstances. I wonder if you could give us some guidance on how to leave this border town?"
The old man took a deep drag on his pipe, slowly exhaling as the smoke swirled in the afterglow of the setting sun. He squinted, gazing into the distance, seemingly lost in thought.
"Leaving the border town is not easy," the old man sighed. "This place is located on the border between two countries, and wars and conflicts often occur here. The only way to leave is to cross the border and go to the Kingdom of Dongsang."
“The border is heavily guarded, and it won’t be easy to pass through smoothly,” the old man continued. “Moreover, you know nothing about the situation in Dongsang Kingdom, and it would be dangerous to go there rashly.”
Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu exchanged a glance, both seeing the worry in each other's eyes. They knew that leaving the border town would not be easy, but they also did not want to stay here any longer.
"Grandpa, what should we do?" Xu Yuehuai asked.
The old man was silent for a moment, then said, "In my opinion, you can rest here for a while and make plans after you recover. At the same time, you can learn more about the situation in the border town, which may help you find a better way to leave."
Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu nodded in agreement, expressing their gratitude for the old man's advice. They knew that although the old man didn't speak much, every word he uttered came from the bottom of his heart.
In the days that followed, they began to gain a deeper understanding of life in the border town. They helped manage the inn's affairs with the innkeepers and worked and interacted with the surrounding residents. Xu Yuehuai even learned the local dialect, which made communication with the residents much smoother.
During their time in the border town, they gradually learned about the local customs and way of life. Although living conditions were harsh, the people were warm, hospitable, kind, and simple. Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu also gradually integrated into the local life and built deep friendships with the residents.
One evening, Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu were invited to a local bonfire party. At the party, people sang and danced, and laughter filled the air.
Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu were also infected by the joyful atmosphere. They danced and sang with the residents and spent an unforgettable night.
After the party, a young woman walked up to Xu Yuehuai and shyly handed her an exquisite purse: "This is a purse that I embroidered myself. Please keep it as a souvenir."
Xu Yuehuai was dressed as a man at this time. She took the purse, looked into the girl's clear eyes, smiled and thanked her, and carefully put the purse away.
Bai Yu also received a gift from the local residents—a sharp dagger. This was a common self-defense tool for men in the border town, symbolizing friendship and trust. Bai Yu touched the dagger with emotion, deeply understanding the preciousness of this sentiment.
During their time in the border town, Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu not only recovered their health but also gained precious friendships and memories. They gradually realized that no matter where they were, as long as they had kindness and courage, they could overcome any difficulty.
However, the decision to leave the border town lingered in their minds. They knew they couldn't stay there forever; they had to find an opportunity to leave. So, they began to inquire more actively about the border and the Kingdom of Dongsang.
One day, they learned an important piece of information from a merchant who frequently traveled between the two countries: although the border defenses were strict, there was a rotation of guards every so often. At those times, the guards would be relatively weak, making it the best time to leave the border town.
Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu were overjoyed upon hearing this, and they decided to seize this opportunity to leave the border town. So, they secretly began to prepare their luggage and provisions, getting ready for their impending departure.
Finally, on a dark and windy night, they had their chance to change shifts. Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu quietly left the inn and embarked on the path leading to the border.
The night was as dark as ink, the stars sparse, and only the occasional chirping of insects and the distant barking of dogs broke the silence. They moved cautiously, hugging the trees along the roadside, afraid of disturbing the patrolling guards.
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