Though Bichulin could understand Arthur's curiosity, he couldn't help but think that this British diplomat had a bit of a screw loose.
Regardless of the issue with those Chinese characters earlier, even if he told Arthur where the missionary group was located now, would this guy even know where that place was?
However, out of politeness, Bichulin still answered honestly: "We all live within Anding Gate, between Yonghe Palace and Dongzhimen at the Eastern Orthodox Church. It's relatively quiet there, and the Russian caravans usually enter and exit through Dongzhimen, so living there makes it convenient to connect with them."
At this point, Bichulin took a slight breath, as if trying to dispel the coldness on his lips.
He rubbed his frostbitten red hands, nostalgic tones in his voice as the lively scenes of the past came to mind: "The caravans outside Anding Gate were constant all year round, and those furs, spices, and teas seemed to have grown feet as they flowed in and out..."
