164 A March Across a Tedious Plains 3 (1/2)
A few days after the interesting incident of the mysterious scene she had witnessed during sunset and the anomaly of the midnight sky, An Fei encountered an existence startling and shocking to the eye.
It was the silhouette of another human.
From the distant figure, the person appeared to be in the midst of carrying out a specialized task regarding the crops of the land.
Every moment or so, the young girl witnessed the figure lift an object over its head, swing it around thrice, before plunging it deeply into the ground.
The actions of the figure were interesting to watch and seemed harmless, but the young girl did not dare approach carelessly.
”Don't expose your true appearance to anyone…”
An Fei murmured as she sat amongst the grass, cuddling with the little raven and the small fox.
Her eyes narrowed as she glanced across the tips of the strands in the direction of the mysterious silhouette, her mind abuzz with numerous thoughts.
Wei Xuan had repeatedly reminded her to retain as much mystery regarding her appearance and identity as possible.
Her countenance, her skin, none was to be displayed casually to others.
Thus, she had worn a veil throughout the journey until she separated from the empress's convoy, but…
In an environment as this, a veil would become much more prominent and flagrant than anything else.
Under no circumstances was An Fei willing to entertain the possibility of a well-developed city at the brink of the plains.
Otherwise, the plains would not stretch for such an extensive region of land.
”The linen coat is passable – I can disguise that as a gift from a friend,” the young girl murmured as her fingers tickled the underbelly of the little raven.
”However, I need to do something regarding my complexion and skin tone; my appearance would indeed cause trouble at first glance, veil or not.”
An Fei directed a worried glance towards the direction of the humanoid silhouette, before revealing a sigh of relief. The figure had not moved much from its previous location, thus relieving her of one of her current worries.
…not that she was that conspicuous from a distance.
When An Fei stood, the grass within the current region brushed at the base of her waist. Thus, when she sat down… the stalks of grass easily matched her height…
Such was the misfortune of a short person, ah.
”Xiao Hei, I need to go somewhere for a bit,” An Fei tousled the feathery head of the little raven.
Caw?
”Watch the small fox for me, got it?”
Caw!
The little raven brusquely nodded its head and spread its wings at the young girl's question, earning a pleased smile from the latter.
As An Fei released the small fox and set it onto the ground, the pitiful creature instantly cowered from the sinister gaze emanating from the crimson beads.
”Ahem… don't bully it, alright?”
An Fei glared at the little raven, paying the two of them no more attention as she rubbed the base of her chin.
The young girl thought for a brief moment, before releasing a quick exhale of breath.
”[Reveal the eternal river].”
The air around the young girl reverberated with an unusual hymn of a mixture of emotions, distorting the atmosphere with a visible strain of black cracks.
As An Fei's figure vanished from the world, the little raven directed a vicious gaze towards the small fox, the crimson eyes replaced with a pair of violent suns brimming with sinister malevolence.
–
The moment An Fei returned to the Sanctum, the first act she partook was to take in a deep breath of satisfaction.
As always, the realm of sky-blue crystal regulated the atmospheric temperature and humidity to the perfect levels.
Compared to being basked in a constant warmth from sunup to sundown, An Fei was much more appreciative and affectionate of the slightly cool environment of the Sanctum.
Leaping from the crystalline throne, the young girl patted her chest with an inquisitive expression as she nibbled on her bottom lip from time to time.
An Fei glanced at the first and second gates towards the left, her gaze flitting in all directions in hesitation.
”Disguise… to best disguise a person, it would be to completely change their appearance.”