Chapter 42: Ancient City Scenery

The lobby on the first floor of the inn was a bit livelier than when they had checked in.

An elderly man wearing a colorful embroidered skullcap sat on a low stool in the corner drinking tea, while the young boss behind the counter had his head down, fiddling with an abacus.

Hearing the sound of footsteps on the stairs, he looked up to see Rong Du and Ji Xu walking down.

He immediately pushed the abacus to one side, an enthusiastic smile spreading across his face.

“Boss, could you tell us which direction the Food Bazaar is in?” Rong Du walked over to the front of the counter, bending slightly to meet the person behind the desk at eye level.

Hearing his question, the boss’s eyes lit up, and he launched into a rapid-fire introduction: “You’ve come at just the right time! The bazaar is bustling today, and Friday nights are always the peak.”

As he spoke, he dug out a folded piece of thick paper from underneath the counter.

Unfolding it revealed an exquisitely printed hand-drawn map.

On an orange-yellow background, dark red lines marked the main streets, alleys, and attractions of the ancient city.

The corners of the map featured simple sketches of local special snacks—naan, baked buns, pomegranate juice, and the like—with their names written beside them in rounded handwriting.

The boss’s finger tapped a few locations on the map, “You are staying right here. Go right out the door and keep straight. After two intersections, turn left, and walk along the alley with the most lanterns to see the bazaar entrance.”

He then pointed to other spots on the map, “These are the most worthwhile places to visit in the ancient city. The Beacon Tower Observation Deck is best for watching the sunset, and then there’s the old city wall over here—it’s especially pleasant to take a walk there in the morning when there are few people around.”

Once he finished speaking, he pushed the map across the counter, the paper making a soft rustling sound against the tabletop.

“This is a gift for you. The routes are marked on it, along with recommendations for food and drink.”

Rong Du accepted the map with both hands, took a look at the routes and markings, folded it up, and placed it inside his jacket’s inner pocket. “Thank you.”

Turning his head, he took Ji Xu’s hand.

Ji Xu’s hand was wrapped in his palm, and the two turned together to exit the inn’s door.

The cloth curtain at the entrance was lifted and fell back down, bringing a burst of dry evening wind mixed with the fragrance of roadside flowers.

After stepping out of the alley where the inn was located, the streets gradually broadened, and the buildings on both sides slowly shifted from residential homes into shops and small stalls.

People wearing ethnic clothing walked to and fro along the street.

The men mostly wore dark robes paired with white round caps, alongside men in colorful long tunics with embroidered skullcaps, the fabric embroidered with intricate patterns and geometric designs in colors far brighter than what they usually saw day-to-day.

There were plenty of tourists as well—holding up phones and cameras, looking down at navigation apps, or standing before a specialized stall hesitating over whether to buy—blending in among the local residents and giving the entire street a lively, integrated, and unique atmosphere.

The entrance to the bazaar lacked any prominent landmark, but Ji Xu knew they had arrived the moment he smelled that rich aroma wafting over in layered waves.

Too many scents mingled in the air—the charred fragrance of red willow branch skewers carrying residual charcoal smoke, the rich wheat and meat filling overflowing as steamer lids were lifted over freshly baked thin-skinned baozi, and the broth of pot-simmered meat bubbling in clay jars to steam spices into every wisp of air.

There was also the sweet fruitiness drifting from the candied fruit stalls, layered together with the fresh, slightly astringent sweet-and-sour scent from the pomegranate juice stand next door, wrapping around everyone stepping into the alley entrance layer by layer.

Ji Xu paused at the bazaar entrance, taking a deep breath of those aromas, feeling as though several windows had opened in his nasal passages all at once.

Rong Du held his hand as they walked slowly along the cobblestone path.

Stalls lined up side by side in neat rows, with colorful cloth awnings and string lights illuminating the entire alleyway brightly.

Ji Xu stopped before a baked bun stall, where the vendor was using a pair of long-handled iron tongs to extract golden-brown buns one by one from a semi-circular baking pit.

The outer crust was baked into a slight bulge, its bottom bearing the charred color of charcoal fire.

Rong Du walked over and bought four, packing them into a paper bag to hand to Ji Xu.

The warmth of the hot buns transmitted through the paper bag to his fingertips, and Ji Xu picked one up to take a cautious bite.

The instant the thin crust broke open, the hot lamb filling dripping with juice scalded the tip of his tongue.

He let out a sharp breath, yet couldn’t help but continue chewing.

The richness of the meat filling combined with the charred aroma of the crust; puffing out his cheeks, he nodded repeatedly and held the paper bag toward Rong Du, signaling for him to eat as well.

Walking along the way, the two bought far too many things.

The red willow meat skewers were grilled to a slight char at the edges, with grains of salt and cumin forming a thin crust of spices over the surface of the meat; Ji Xu held a skewer in each hand, eating as he walked.

The handmade yogurt sold at the neighboring stall was as thick as cheese, topped with a drizzle of amber honey, which he scooped up bite after bite with a small wooden spoon.

When passing a stall selling preserved fruits, he couldn’t move his feet anymore.

Various dried apricots, raisins, and dried figs were piled like small mountains in wooden trays.

The vendor used a small copper shovel to scoop up a small handful for him to sample, sweet and rich without being cloying.

After tasting, Ji Xu pointed at the dried apricots and a dark-colored candied fruit, saying, “Give me half a catty of each.”

While Rong Du was paying at the side, Ji Xu had already shifted his gaze to the opposite stall selling colorful handmade carpets, but after looking twice, he didn’t buy anything, merely touching the tassels at the edge before walking away.

Rong Du followed behind him, the paper bags in his hands increasing from one to two, and from two to three, each bulging with snacks and dried fruits that Ji Xu couldn’t move his feet away from upon seeing.

When passing a stall selling handmade copperware, Ji Xu was attracted by a palm-sized copper teapot.

Intricate patterns were carved into the pot’s body, and the spout curved into a delicate arc, feeling heavy and substantial in hand.

He picked it up, flipped it over to examine it several times, hesitated for a moment, and then put it back.

Rong Du noticed this gesture, walked over, picked up the small copper teapot to look at it again, checked the price tag, and paid for it without saying a word, wrapping it in a soft cloth and placing it inside his backpack.

Ji Xu turned back and saw his action; his lips moved as if to say something, but in the end, he merely curved the corners of his eyes, turning around to continue walking forward along the cobblestone path.

When both of their hands were full, Rong Du stopped and stood by the roadside to request an errand delivery service on his phone.

A young man wearing a dark vest quickly arrived on an electric scooter, and Rong Du handed him the bags one by one—the dried fruits and candied fruits Ji Xu bought, a jar of handmade rose jam, two bags of freshly baked walnut naan, and the wrapped copper teapot, a whole collection of miscellaneous items.

After reporting the address and room number of the inn, the young man nodded, carefully tying the items to the backseat of the electric scooter, and disappeared into the crowd at the alley entrance with a light motor hum.

Both of their hands were finally free.

Ji Xu shook his fingers, which had red marks left by the bags, his palms feeling empty, and then naturally reached out to pull Rong Du’s hand.

Rong Du’s fingers intertwined into his, palm against palm, and the two turned from the relatively crowded main avenue of the bazaar into a quieter alley.

Dusk was thicker than when they had first stepped out.

The sky transitioned from blue-purple to the junction of deep orange and deep blue, while the outline of the distant city wall cast a dark silhouette against the skyline.

Rong Du turned his head to look at Ji Xu.

Ji Xu’s profile was illuminated by the lingering sky light, his eyelashes glowing with a fine, scattered brightness in that orange-red light.

“Ah Xu, how about we go watch the sunset?” His voice was exceptionally clear in the gradually quieting alley.

Ji Xu tilted his head to look at him and nodded.

He remembered that the map given by the innkeeper marked the Beacon Tower Observation Deck, the highest spot in the ancient city and the best location for watching the sunset.

“Sure.” He tightened his grip on Rong Du’s hand, and the two changed direction, walking toward the city wall along the path indicated by the signposts.

Walking from the bazaar to the Beacon Tower Observation Deck took about fifteen minutes.

The steps were built of rough stone, spiraling upward tier by tier.

As Ji Xu followed behind Rong Du going up, he could hear his own slightly heavier breathing.

Reaching the top platform, the field of view suddenly opened up broad and wide, and the evening wind surged in from all directions, blowing the stray hair on his forehead backward.

Behind them was the ancient city and bazaar they had just walked through.

Lights were lit layer upon layer in the dusk, orange-yellow light seeping out from every alley, gathering into a warm and bustling sea of light, while the sounds of voices and music were filtered by distance into a vague, tide-like background noise.

In front of them was an entirely different picture.

An endless expanse of Gobi wilderness stretched out in the final trace of sky light, its color gradually transitioning from ochre nearby to gray-blue in the distance, with continuous distant mountains stacking into undulating outlines against the skyline.

The sky gradually transitioned from deep blue overhead toward the horizon into layers of gradient orange-red, rose gold, and light purple, as if someone had poured an entire palette of paint into the sky, allowing those colors to flow and blend freely.

The sky, which had been clear and bright during the day, was rendered by the setting sun with a rich and gentle hierarchy of colors that Ji Xu had never seen before.

He stood at the edge of the platform, resting his hand against the rough stone railing.

His gaze swept from the distant mountains to the Gobi and to the junction of the sky, remaining silent for a long time.

The evening wind blew his hair up and down again.

Standing there, he felt his own breathing lighten, as if afraid of disturbing something.

“Rong Du,” when he finally spoke, his voice carried a tightness he wasn’t even aware of, “it’s so beautiful here.”

He turned his head to look at Rong Du, his eyes reflecting that expanse of colors spreading across the sky, bright and sparkling, several degrees brighter than the evening glow at the horizon.

Standing beside him, Rong Du was also stunned for a moment by that vast scenery that left one speechless.

He pulled out his phone.

Seeing his action, Ji Xu immediately leaned over, pulling Rong Du’s arm to make him hold it higher.

Leaning against the stone railing facing the expanse of the Gobi and setting sun, Rong Du held up his phone and took several photos.

Later, Rong Du simply extended his arm long to switch to the front camera.

Both of them appeared on the screen simultaneously, with the skyline completely dyed by the setting sun and the distant outline of the Gobi as the backdrop.

Rong Du’s arm rested on Ji Xu’s shoulder, while Ji Xu’s head tilted slightly toward his direction, revealing a row of white teeth as he smiled.

In the dusk, they left behind many joint photos.

When Rong Du flipped through those photos holding the phone, he suddenly felt as though he could smell a very faint trace of honey scent.

Ji Xu clearly put on an inhibitor patch when going out.

He had personally watched Ji Xu stand in front of the mirror and press that light teal adhesive patch onto his gland.

However, at this moment, when the evening wind blew from Ji Xu’s direction, Rong Du always felt a hint of faint sweetness in the air.

Perhaps the scent of honey-preserved fruit from the bazaar had clung to his clothes, or perhaps it was his illusion.

A beta’s sense of smell was naturally not very sharp, so he couldn’t completely distinguish whether this was real pheromone or something else.

Yet he preferred to believe that it was the remnant of the honey scent, a little something Ji Xu left in the air surrounding him, like an invisible, shallow mark.

It was not until the setting sun completely sank below the horizon, and the sky slowly settled from gradient colors into deep blue and dark purple, with the outlines of distant mountains merging entirely into the dusk, that the two slowly walked down from the observation deck.

The steps were illuminated with dim yellow outlines by low lamps on both sides in the night.

Ji Xu walked one step ahead with Rong Du behind, their shadows stretched very long by the lights, overlapping on the rough stone steps.

When they returned to the inn, the lights in the lobby had already been adjusted to a softer brightness.

There was no one behind the counter, likely gone to rest.

When Ji Xu stepped up the wooden stairs to the second floor, his footsteps were a bit slower than when stepping out, but his face still carried that serene sense of fulfillment filled by the scenery after watching the sunset.

He pushed open the door and stepped into the room.

The items bought back and placed at the window had been arranged neatly by the delivery rider.

He walked over, picked up the small copper teapot, and held it in his hand to feel the cool metallic touch.

Then he turned around to look at Rong Du entering the door.

In the warm yellow light of the small desk lamp in the room, he smiled at Rong Du, saying nothing.

However, that smile held an entire evening’s wind, colors, and fragrance of flowers.

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