Mud-walled thatched house

I thought for a while. If I tried to escape now, I had no idea how dangerous it might be out there. Staying with Triet Hi, at least for the time being, seemed safer. Besides, using him to gather more information about this strange world wasn't a bad idea.

I turned back to glance at Triet Hi, who was still fast asleep, and reached out to gently tug his nose: "Triet Hi... wake up... it's morning already."

The boy flinched and slowly woke up. Seeing me still in the same position as last night, he frowned and muttered in irritation: "You've been sitting on me all night… I couldn't even sleep properly until this morning."

I laughed awkwardly and quickly shifted off him, then asked: "So, where are we going now?"

Triet Hi didn't answer. Instead, he opened the wardrobe slightly, peeked outside for a moment, and then, with surprising agility, scooped me up in his arms and leapt straight out the window. We darted down the main road.

By this time, the sun had risen higher in the sky. Weak rays of sunlight shone down upon the land, slowly dissipating the morning mist. The sky stretched wide and blue above us. Fluffy white clouds drifted lazily, while birds soared gracefully across the vast canvas of dawn.

The sunlight warmed my skin, turning my cheeks pink. Embarrassed, I buried my face into Triet Hi's chest and let him carry me. He ran for what felt like a full quarter of an hour before finally coming to a stop.

In front of us stood a small thatched cottage, with colorful flowers blooming on both sides. A stone well sat in the front yard. The cottage seemed to nestle deep within a quiet village, hidden away from the bustling town. It would take a full hour on foot to reach the district center from here. Inside the house, there was only a simple straw bed—no kitchen, no firewood, nothing else.

I looked around and asked suspiciously: "What is this place?"

Triet Hi gently placed me on the straw bed and explained: "This is my house. I work in the town during the day, and I come back here at night to sleep."

Ah, so that's why there was no kitchen or cooking space. Just then, my stomach let out a loud grumble. I hadn't eaten since the evening before, and now the hunger was hitting me full force. Triet Hi glanced at me, then said: "I'll be gone for a bit. Don't leave the house while I'm away."

Without another word, he dashed off and disappeared into the distance.

I sat alone in the straw hut for a while before I couldn't resist stepping outside to take in the surroundings. The village was sparsely populated, with no more than a dozen homes, each separated by nearly three hundred meters.

Unlike the old woman's village, this one was much poorer. Most houses were made of mud and thatch, with clouds of dust blowing across the paths. The tall trees were few and far between, but there were many low shrubs about two or three meters high, making visibility beyond them difficult.

I didn't dare wander too far, my scent might spread again and attract unwanted attention from other creatures. So I turned back and waited quietly inside the house, hugging my knees to my chest. An overwhelming sense of loneliness and emptiness welled up in me.

By nightfall, Triet Hi finally returned, a large bundle slung over his shoulder. When he opened it, I saw some dried food and a few bottles filled with strange liquids. He picked up one bottle and handed it to me.

"It smells bitter and looks black. After bathing, apply it to your skin, it'll cover your scent and the appearance of your skin. But be careful, if it touches water, it'll wash off completely."

I clutched the bottle tightly, delighted. With this, I wouldn't draw attention from other mutants anymore. After we ate, Triet Hi carried me back onto the bed. As I leaned against him, I decided to gently pry for information.

"Do you know any place where books about this strange world are kept?"

In the darkness, Triet Hi gently brushed my hair and asked softly: "What do you mean by that?"

I stammered and tried my best to explain. After a while, Triet Hi seemed to understand and began to tell me: "This world has existed for a long time. Animals that cultivate for over a thousand years can evolve into human form. Becoming a 'human' is the highest stage. I heard from my elder brother that humans are said to be incredibly beautiful, but also extremely weak—living only eighty to ninety years. But… that's just a legend. No one knows if it's actually true."

So… by coming here, I had somehow reached the highest rank? Back in my own world, animals existed only to entertain humans or be abused by them. But hearing Triet Hi speak like that, it felt oddly pleasant. At least here, I was considered something "different," something superior compared to the mutants roaming this world.

I carefully asked again: "Did you read that in a book, or someone told you?"

Triet Hi paused to think before replying: "I read it in a book. In the Imperial Capital, there are many books, you can go there to find more information."

The Imperial Capital, the heart of this strange realm. I had heard about it from the old woman, and now from Triet Hi. If I really wanted to find a way home, that's where I'd have to go.

"How can I get to the Imperial Capital?" I asked.

Triet Hi gave me a confused look, as if to confirm something: "You want to go there?"

I grabbed his hand and spoke sweetly: "Yes, I want to go see it."

Seeing such a beautiful woman acting coy in front of him, Triet Hi's voice cracked slightly. But he still shook his head firmly: "No. You're too beautiful. If you go there, the nobles and royals will chase you down and try to possess you."

He kept warning me that the capital was dangerous. But he didn't understand my thoughts at all. If I stayed hidden in this remote village forever, how would I ever find a way back home?

Besides, I didn't want to live in this strange world for the rest of my life. I had to return to my own world. And if I was going to be taken, used, or destroyed, well, it was my body. I would decide my own fate, whether to live or die. Going there would at least give me a chance to understand what kind of twisted world I had landed in.

I mumbled softly, pretending to agree with him for now.

"I won't go to the Imperial Capital anymore," I whispered. "Don't worry."