C10 An Unfamiliar World

As Zhao Sitong continued to run, her pace gradually slowed until she was forced to walk. Her feet ached terribly. The roads in Barbarian Country, though paved with large, flat stones, were also strewn with sand. Without shoes, her prolonged running had left her feet raw and blistered. She scanned her surroundings: beyond the straight path underfoot, there were only trees and mountains, with the occasional "iron box" speeding past on the road.

Limping along, Sitong was unsure of her destination. Fortunately, she was free from the company of the "Barbarians," but in this place, she knew no one except for Mr. Chen. She pondered her next move.

As evening fell, "lights" began to illuminate the roadside. These lights were peculiar; they resembled candles without flames or perhaps giant luminous pearls, yet they were affixed along the road. Sitong couldn't make sense of it and had no desire to try. It was enough that the path ahead was visible.

After an indeterminate time, Sitong spotted houses ahead. These were not as ornate as the ones she'd seen earlier but were significantly taller, with layers upon layers reaching upward. Their windows glowed with a brightness that cast a welcoming warmth into the night.

A surge of relief filled Sitong at the sight. Perhaps these "Barbarians," not recognizing her, might mistake her for one of their own and allow her to lodge with them for the night.

Upon closer inspection, however, she discovered that the doors of these houses were unlike any in her homeland. Some houses were aglow with lights and filled with various items for sale, while others had their entrances barred by long wooden poles and were guarded by several "male barbarians" in uniform, making entry impossible.

With no particular direction, Sitong meandered along the roadside. The "iron boxes" zipped by too quickly for her to discern which might belong to Mr. Chen. Yet, she could take her time to examine the "iron boxes" parked along the curb.

Zhao Sitong scanned every black car parked along the roadside, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mr. Chen. Sadly, her search ended in disappointment. She wondered which "metal box" belonged to Mr. Chen.

Her feet were blistered, some broken and oozing blood, making each step excruciating. As Zhao Sitong gazed upon this entirely foreign world and reflected on Mr. Chen's indifference, she felt so helpless that tears began to stream down her face.

The streetlights on either side of the road shone brighter, casting a beautiful glow under the night sky, but Zhao Sitong had no desire to admire the view. She was at a loss for where to spend the night.

Unable to walk any further, Zhao Sitong settled down on the edge of a roadside flowerbed. She watched the passersby who cast curious glances her way. Initially, she was on guard, fearing that the 'barbarians' might seize her, but they merely looked and pointed before moving on. Eventually, Zhao Sitong stopped paying attention to their stares.

Surveying her surroundings, Zhao Sitong noticed a building ahead with a transparent glass door that would open whenever someone approached. People would enter and then reemerge shortly after. She looked up at the sign with words she couldn't decipher.

Driven by curiosity, she approached the door, and as it opened, Zhao Sitong stepped inside with a sense of triumph.

The building was modest in size, just right for spending the night. But she was puzzled by the purpose of two glowing machines that resembled cabinets. Zhao Sitong examined the "cabinets" closely. On the upper part was a square object displaying an odd image, and to the right was a small slit emitting a green light. Below the square, there were numerous "small buttons" with different symbols.

Curiosity piqued, Zhao Sitong cautiously pressed one of the "small buttons." The image on the square object abruptly changed, startling her. She quickly withdrew her hand and watched wide-eyed as a small card flickered on the screen, sliding in and out of the slit, its light blinking persistently.