Chapter 1937

The surrounding houses were all unevenly built from earth, some tall and some short. There weren't many people on the streets. Most passersby wore straw hats or veils to shield themselves from the swirling sand. Her sudden appearance didn't attract any attention. This unexpected lack of reaction left her momentarily at a loss. Taking a closer look, she noticed many beggars lying by the roadside. Their clothes were tattered beyond recognition—the original colors completely faded. These people looked weak and lifeless, their gazes hollow and empty. Feeling uneasy, she walked forward, trying to find something—or someone—familiar. But of all the times she had traveled, this was the most unfamiliar place yet. She wasn't sure where she had ended up. Had an even longer time passed this time? The pedestrians moved hurriedly. Steadying herself, she stopped one of them. "Excuse me, where is this place?" The person she stopped was a middle-aged woman. She wore coarse linen clothes, thou