Part 11: Night Talk

A breathtaking number of animals lie within the Zhící—a fact that only hinders their efforts to find their companions.
After weighing their options, they decide to follow Jiǔ Niángzǐ and settle in at the tavern first. The weary travelers are more than eager to relieve their fatigue after journeying non-stop for so long.
And they've more than earned it, because strange things have indeed happened to them, non-stop for several days.
Yenisei: Madam ...
Yenisei: What do you think about Jiǔ Niángzǐ's words? Could that be "Ask and Acquire"?
Bessmert: Jumping over a broken bridge is like "jumping over a canyon or climbing over a mountain." It's a condition that cannot be met, like those merchants said.
Yenisei: An inevitable price?
Both of them fall silent, lost in thought.
However, Bessmert's doubts do not seem to have fallen on deaf ears, as Jiǔ Niángzǐ responds while walking out from the tavern.
Jiu Niangzi: Are you talking about the broken bridge outside the city?
Jiu Niangzi: I'm so sorry. The chairs in the lobby have not been cleaned yet. Please take a seat here, just for now.
Bessmert: Oh, don't worry about it. Thank you for letting us stay here.
Bessmert: As for the broken bridge we talked about ... can you tell me more about it?
Jiu Niangzi: Hmm, when I first got here, the bridge was already broken.
Jiu Niangzi: Beneath that is a deeeep canyon. Across that canyon stands the Yuān Temple. You can't see it from the other side of the bridge. It's surrounded by fog. So, I'm not sure if there really is a temple there or not.
Yenisei: The Yuān Temple ...
Jiu Niangzi: They said you can talk to Zhíxú in the Yuān Temple. Be faithful and ask It. It will answer you.
Jiu Niangzi: What did they call this? "The Divination," I think? They also said that the fog was strange. You can't stay there for long, or you'll pass out or get overexcited ... Well, I haven't seen such things so far.
Bessmert: ...!
Jiu Niangzi: But even so, people of that time still rushed there and prayed. Doesn't it mean that The Divination is for real? After the bridge was broken, no one's wish was ever granted.
Bessmert: Seems odd. There was already a bridge in the first place. Why wouldn't people rebuild it in all these years?
Jiu Niangzi: I can answer this one! The river dried out. People couldn't swim across, and the cliffs between the mountains were too dangerous to jump over.
Jiu Niangzi: But, if one can be the new Xiángruì, the problem will be solved.
Jiu Niangzi: The Xiángruìs are awesome! They protect the city, help the people ... There's nothing they can't do ...
As she speaks, she sinks into her own personal contemplation.
Yenisei: Never mind. We'll check the striped horses in the Zhící again tomorrow.
Jiu Niangzi: Alright, I'll go with you! It's time to rest now. I got the rooms cleaned for you upstairs.
Jiu Niangzi: And here, take the liquor with you. They can help you sleep tight!
Jiu Niangzi: You got to have some.
Yenisei: Sorry, Ms. Jiǔ Niángzǐ. I don't drink, neither does Madam Bessmert.
Jiu Niangzi: Why did you call me "Ms." twice?
Jiu Niangzi: Um, if you want some water, wait a second, please. The water jars are on the other side of the yard. I'll get it for you.
Yenisei: Oh, I can do it myself. You don't have to ...
Jiu Niangzi: It's fine. There is no light near the jar. You need to cross a stream. I'm afraid you might get lost ...
Yenisei: Thank you.
Once the girl's voice and figure are obscured by the night, Yenisei turns to look at Bessmert.
She seems puzzled, or perhaps, just tired.
Yenisei: There were so many different striped horses in the Zhící. I couldn't recognize them at all.
Yenisei: We are going to get up early tomorrow. Please have some water and go to bed.
Bessmert: I'm not thirsty, thank you. But I do feel like some rest.
Yenisei: Okay. I'll take you to the room.
The girl returns from fetching water, only to find Yenisei alone in the hallway.
Looking around and not seeing Bessmert, she walks over and naturally sits where Bessmert sat earlier.
Jiu Niangzi: I didn't see you from there. I thought you went to sleep.
Yenisei: Oh, sorry. Madam Bessmert is tired, so ...
Yenisei: Thank you for helping us.
Jiu Niangzi: Don't bother. Here's the water.
As she takes up the ceramic cup, Yenisei is slightly surprised.
In her mind, a material like this is one of two extremes—crudeness and finesse, one of handmade rough bowls used by the populace, and the latter of delicate treasures owned only by the rich nobles ...
Yet this cup is a combination of the two extremes—it's used by an ordinary tavern owner, but it is marked by a refined, tasteful aesthetic.
Yenisei: ...
She rubs the side of the cup with her fingers, gently brushing across the painted patterns, as if feeling a fine porcelain vase.
Yenisei: The cup ...
Jiu Niangzi: What's wrong?
Yenisei: It looks expensive.
Jiu Niangzi: It's a gift I received. I don't know how much it costs, but it's delicate, isn't it?
Yenisei: Yes, it is delicate.
Yenisei feels compelled to rub the surface of the ceramic cup again, as though she cannot bear to part from it, and loses herself in thought.
Jiu Niangzi: The pattern is a Lùshǔ, also a kind of Xiángruì.
Jiu Niangzi: See? It's majestic. The tail is like the sunset clouds. I really like it. I hope you do too.
Yenisei: Majestic indeed. And it looks a bit like those striped horses in the Zhící. Both of them are similar to horses.
Jiu Niangzi: Hmm ... but people still think they are horses. Don't they?
Yenisei: Sure, they do. I think this species is native to Pèi City. It's an interesting discovery and will help enrich our travel notes.
Jiǔ Niángzǐ lowers her head to look at the cup in her own hand. Yenisei can smell a fermented aroma emanating from within, like kvass, but without the sweet aroma of wheat.
Jiu Niangzi: She is in bed now. I can only drink it for her.
Yenisei: Your drink smells good. Is this the liquor that helps one sleep tight?
Jiu Niangzi: Not exactly. It's just unfiltered liquor.
Yenisei: Sounds like you have a lot of different kinds of liquor here.
Jiu Niangzi: Sure, we do. There are a lot of different liquors. The unfiltered ones, the clear ones, the ones made of herbs, the fine ones ... and on and on. Bedtime liquor is made of herbs with Spine Date Seeds.
Yenisei: I thought liquor was just liquor. At least there aren't so many types in my hometown.
Jiu Niangzi: Well, to be honest, I too have no idea why they are still "liquor," though they have different names.
Jiu Niangzi: If the color is the standard to classify them, then what am I when I'm wearing different colored clothes? Am I not Jiǔ Niángzǐ anymore?
Yenisei: Haha.
Shocked, Yenisei cannot help but break into a laugh.
Seeing the other girl smile, Jiǔ Niángzǐ's eyes begin to sparkle. She nods and decides to go one step further and express her thoughts.
Jiu Niangzi: That is to say, if your teammates are turned into horses or other animals in different colors, are they not your teammates anymore?
Yenisei: They are, of course ...
Yenisei stops talking. This childish conversation might have caused her to erupt with laughter, but the weight of the situation is still acute, and her worries swell deep within her.
The chirping of birds in the cold night gently blankets the sound of her anxious breathing.
Yenisei: I'm worried, actually.
Yenisei: Well, maybe not just worried. I don't know.
Jiu Niangzi: Looks like you really miss your teammates.
Yenisei: "Miss" them?
Yenisei: I ... I won't use this word to describe my feeling.
Yenisei: All I'm thinking is, they were turned into animals because I gave them the wrong direction.
Yenisei: What if ... What if they can't turn back to who they really are ...
The frankness of her own inquiry unmasks the long unease Yenisei had been harboring since entering this strange city.
After speaking, she holds her breath and controls the impulse to turn back and look toward Bessmert. For a moment she is no longer even sure of where she is.
Jiu Niangzi: But I don't think that will happen! Things won't get any worse.
Yenisei: Hmm?
Jiu Niangzi: There must be a way. I promise!
Jiu Niangzi: Like the clouds turn colorful, pool water gets sweet like liquor ... There are many signs of auspiciousness. They just need time.
Jiu Niangzi: Think about it, what if the story about the Yuān Temple is real? Maybe, maybe there will be another way for you to recognize your teammates.
Jiu Niangzi: Even if the feather man is not a Xiángruì, there are other Xiángruìs in the city.
Jiu Niangzi: All in all ...
Jiǔ Niángzǐ racks her brain to find another way to persuade Yenisei, but is stopped by the other girl before she can begin.
Despite the cultural differences between the two of them, Yenisei feels a surge of warmth from her brief trembling words.
Yenisei: Thank you, Ms. ... No, Jiǔ Niángzǐ.
Yenisei: I see what you mean. I really do.
Yenisei takes a deep breath and exhales both calm emotions and words together, so that like a light white smoke they soon drift away.
Yenisei: Thank you.
Jiu Niangzi: It's nothing! I will definitely help you!
Jiu Niangzi: Oh, here are some other Spine Date seeds. Drink the water, and I'll go make you a cup of tea with the seeds. It also helps you sleep ...
Jiǔ Niángzǐ shoots up to immediately rummage around in the bag beside her as she urges Yenisei to drain what is left in her cup.
Yenisei drinks down all of the cold, sweet water and hands the still-compelling cup back to her ...
She then watches Jiǔ Niángzǐ step onto the porch and run back into the hall at a trot.
Yenisei: exhales
She takes a long breath and turns to look at the arid night sky.
It seems even in a strange city like this, she can enjoy the same bright moonlight as the steppes.