Part 7: The Guests From Afar

According to Yenisei's description, the peculiar-looking city defenders are all clad in silver armor and bear sharp weapons in their hands.
It sounds like a scene from the medieval era. Having passed every barrier smoothly all the way from Omsk, they think the garrison here is also a piece of cake.
But as it becomes clear, they are wrong to underestimate them.
Even though both sides miraculously understand each other's words, the passes here are still well-guarded.
Yenisei: ...
Gate Keeper: Please show me your Pass.
Yenisei: You have all our documents.
Gate Keeper: This is not a Pass.
Bessmert: Sir, you have the documents. Please, take a closer look at them.
Gate Keeper: I'm not a Sir.
Gate Keeper: Please show me the right Pass, which shows where you come from and where you are going.
Yenisei: I wouldn't have been here if I knew the answers.
Gate Keeper: No Pass, no entry.
The problem seems to lie in both parties failing in the art of effective communication.
This bickering back and forth over useless technical pitfalls undoubtedly wastes everyone's time.
Bessmert: sighs I think it has been clearly stated on our documents.
Bessmert: The documents were issued by the association. They worked in all the borders in the North. What makes the difference here?
Gate Keeper: It's not verified. I don't know which pass let you pass with this Pass, let alone the writing and the seal on it cannot be recognized.
Gate Keeper: If I let you in, it would be my negligence.
Yenisei: Can we talk to someone else? You don't understand what we are talking about.
Gate Keeper: I understand every word you say.
Bessmert: Very well, if you do, friend, this is what happened:
Bessmert: Our teammates were transformed into "horses" and taken away by a winged man. We think they might have been brought here, so we need to get into the city to find them.
Bessmert: This is urgent. I hope you can understand ...
Gate Keeper: I've been on duty for over six hours. There was no such thing as a "winged man."
Gate Keeper: You can't fool me with your stupid story. I've seen too many of these little tricks.
Gate Keeper: The rule is, no Pass, no entry.
The defender in silver armor looks like a wall of iron from whichever angle he's seen.
Yenisei looks up and sees the wooden eaves above the masonry, rising straight into the sky to cast a shadow over the ground. She remembers the "giant bird" and suddenly wishes she too had wings.
Yenisei: Fine. This man understands our language, but he won't buy it.
Bessmert: Yeni?
Unfortunately, she doesn't have wings, and so she must find some other way to deal with their predicament.
Yenisei: Then I'll see if we can make it in without this Pass.
Gate Keeper: Trying to break in? You're overestimating yourself.
Yenisei: Just trying, because we are not given any choices, Sir.
Bessmert: Wait, Yenisei ...!

Emptying the glass bottles one by one, Yenisei's "weapons" are quickly depleted.
Across from them, the dry iron wall—the poor guard—has become a wet iron wall.
Gate Keeper: ...
Gate Keeper: Warning! Intruders!
Gate Keeper: Close the gate!!
The guards on the wall above the city gates respond in a quick and rhythmic step.
Below, those within the city gates scuff the sand, as the gates' heavy cables are twisted in reply, held tightly in expectant hands awaiting their next command.
Bessmert: They are closing the gate!
Bessmert: This is bad! We, we have to get in, or how are we going to get them back? We can't just leave them here ...
Bessmert: Neither can I just turn away from the clues to the Dùshuò Festival and the mysterious Eastern arcane power ...
Bessmert: Sir, I beg of you!
Bessmert rushes forward, attempting to pull back the guards and city gates with all her might.
But her lack of sight impedes her, unable to detect the hidden dangers on the uneven, packed-sand road.
—A loose stone is enough to trip her, and despite the demands of the moment, it takes her time to get back up again.
Gate Keeper: Don't get any closer.
Yenisei: Madam! Are you alright?!
She anxiously helps Bessmert to her feet, with her other hand tightly gripping an empty glass bottle.
They've had countless unpredictable mishaps along the way, enough to write an adventure story few would believe, and experienced more than enough to exhaust the will of any explorer.
Perhaps simply allowing the city gates to close is a safer and more appropriate approach.
Yenisei: Maybe we should just give up, Madam ... I'm even thinking if all these things we've been through are just illusions.
Yenisei: The unusual terrains, the teammates turned into striped horses, and now this nonsense ...
Yenisei: I won't let you go in there and risk your life!
Bessmert cannot see her companion's expression, but can hear the hesitation in her voice. It proves enough to add to her struggle to get up again.
Bessmert: No, on the contrary, child.
Bessmert: The unknown people, the uncharted city ... We are very close to what we've been chasing. We were born to run after these exciting and amazing things.
Bessmert: You're also looking for an answer from Ask and Acquire, right?
Bessmert: Besides, we have no idea how Mr. Jurien and the others are doing ... There is more to consider other than our own safety.
???: Well said. Speaking of which ...
???: The city is much safer than the wild. You have my word.
Lizheng: As for me, I am the Lǐzhèng of the biggest merchants hub in this city. You can address me by my title. *Lǐzhèng: A low-ranking government official responsible for taxation and household registrations.
Yenisei: Lǐzhèng ...?
Bessmert: He sounds like a decent gentleman.
Gate Keeper: Lǐzhèng, they are the intruders!
Lizheng: Noted. The situation is under control. No need to close the gate. The ladies look like foreign merchants. Their business is within my purview.
Lizheng: Besides, it's holiday time. They could be here for the celebration. Don't be so harsh on them.
Gate Keeper: Understood.
The guard holds his hands in front of him and makes a gesture that Yenisei cannot understand before retreating to one side.
A glimmer of expectation is reignited in the hearts of Yenisei and Bessmert, as if their misfortune might have at last dissipated.
Lizheng: If I'm correct, you have lost your Pass, right?
Bessmert: We do have a Pass, but it seems it doesn't work here.
Lizheng: Well, just an understandable mistake for people from afar.
Lizheng: However, either for business or the Dùshuò Festival, it is troublesome without a proper Pass.
Bessmert: Dùshuò Festival? Is it taking place now?
Lizheng: That's what I said. I thought that is why you're here in Pèi City.
Bessmert: Uh, yes! We were told of it, but we've never been to one. We are not sure.
Bessmert: We all heard of the legend about it.
Lizheng: Hmm. So, is the festival sung as a nursery rhyme in your tribe?
Bessmert: Uh, "tribe"? We are not tribal people. We come from the North.
Lizheng: Northerners? Oh, I mistook you for the descendants of the Wūsūn from the westward.
Lizheng: It is said that they have migrated outside the Zhéluómàn Mountain. No one has ever met them until now. Your clothes also have a unique style. I should apologize for my mistake.
Lizheng: What's more, this lady by your side has red hair, green eyes, and a fair complexion. The features match the records in history books ...
Bessmert: History books? Mr. Lǐzhèng, in your history books, do you have ...
Lizheng: Like I said, you may just call me Lǐzhèng.
Lizheng: The book says, "Wūsūn, one of the tribes in the Western Regions, has the most unusual appearance. The present foreigners are their descendants with features of green eyes, red hair, and the looks of macaque monkeys."
Yenisei: M-Monkeys ...
Lizheng: Heh heh ... Maybe we can't believe every word in the book. No matter.
Lizheng: Where were we just now? Was it ...
Bessmert: Dùshuò Festival. We are here for the festival.
Lizheng: Oh, right. Exactly!
The old man in front of her seems to be full of interest, and with his hands clasped, he resumes his topic.
Lizheng: The Pèi City is famous for its grand celebration and joyful spirit during the festival. It attracts countless travelers from far away every year.
Lizheng: I could only imagine how hard it was for you to arrive here. Well done.
Lizheng: However, forgive me for being offensive. It seems you have lost sight in both eyes ...?
Bessmert: Yes. Would that be a problem?
Lizheng: Under this city's caring policy, you have the privilege of traveling without a Pass.
Lizheng: The gate guard is new here. I sincerely apologize for his offense.
He bows slightly, implying a subtle apology, and leads the two toward the city proper.
Lizheng: Come, follow me. It's not safe to stay outside of the city.
Lizheng: There have been many missing persons cases recently. We intensified the patrol, in case someone is blocked out of the city and goes missing.
Yenisei: Missing persons cases ...
Between further topics of conversation, the two follow Lǐzhèng's guidance and, at last, pass through the city gates.