Ah Jun examined it carefully, and just as he was about to alert Xiao Xi, the child had already walked away without a word. Then, both of them were taken into the car—— It turned out to be a misunderstanding. In fact, it was the clan leader of this small town who had sent someone specifically to meet them at his office.
The chieftain of the town and the chieftain of the White Tiger County were old friends. Before Ah Jun and Xiao Xi arrived, they had already communicated with each other about this matter and asked the old friends to take care of the two children. It seems that Ah Jun was overthinking.
The patriarchs office facade featured a distinctive design resembling a squinting cat, its drowsy expression radiating endearing charm... Under the grandfathers warm hospitality, the two children learned about the towns history and departure procedures. Afterward, Ah Jun and Xiao Xi began their leisurely exploration of the place with newfound confidence.
Moreover, the old man told them that the annual New Years celebration in the town would be held in a few days, and he wanted to invite them to join. The next day, they were arranged to use the towns mysterious prop to escape through the hole in the protective dome back to the mainland——After discussing it, Ah Jun and Xiao Xi both thought that since they had come and the opportunity was rare, they happily agreed.
Experiencing this special and friendly town, everything looks very new—— but Ah Jun gradually found that there are many places here, in different degrees, similar to their hometown, such as wearing very retro clothes. Although it is Hanfu, it is the old style.
As usual, Ah Jun and Xiao Xi strolled along the island, their mouths agape in amazement at this hidden wonder. The map showed no trace of it, and the wristband displayed nothing, yet it had miraculously survived countless dangers. The island teemed with rare flora—plants seldom seen on land. Ah Jun, who knew some of them from his books, began enthusiastically explaining the flora to the children. The wristband mimicked a school summer camp scenario, though it often froze up due to insufficient data. The brothers chatted animatedly, their excitement eclipsing even their hunger and recent struggles... True to their childhood selves, their insatiable curiosity burned bright.
Suddenly, Xiao Xis nose twitched as if hed caught a whiff of something delicious. His whole body perked up with excitement. After carefully analyzing the ingredients and their origins, he dragged his hungry friend Ah Jun to start searching for food——. Of course, Ah Jun sniffed around too, but there was nothing particularly tasty?
It seems that Xiao Xis nose is much more sensitive than his tongue, after all, the two brothers are evenly matched in taste.
The two walked briskly, and soon a uniquely designed town gate came into view—— The walls here were low and simple, almost like decorative elements. The gate stood open without any guards, welcoming all visitors with complete nonchalance. At the entrance stood a large pillar engraved with the towns name and mascots: "Cats Peach Blossom Land" and "Cat People."
Before venturing into unfamiliar territory, Ah Jun took a moment to pace outside, tactfully advising the two to thoroughly investigate first for safety... But Xiao Xi couldnt care less. Grabbing her still-strategicized companion by the arm, she followed the scent and charged in. Then, a breathtaking panorama unfolded before the children—how magnificent!
The architecture of this small town showcases remarkable technical sophistication and well-planned layouts. What makes it unique, however, is its distinctive exterior design that contrasts sharply with neighboring towns, instead resembling the peculiar style of Yishou Town. The buildings feature cat-like silhouettes and characteristics reminiscent of Ah Juns kittens. The most compelling evidence of these architectural marvels lies in their surroundings: alongside human residents, one can observe cats of all sizes and postures—both ordinary and upright—scattered throughout the town.
—————————————————————— Is this the Beast Town?
No, its completely different... Ah Jun thought carefully and found that there was another type of resident here. There were not many of them. They had the appearance of cats, but they looked just like ordinary people except for one thing!
While being pulled along by Xiao Xi, Ah Jun observed —— them. With cat ears on his head and a cat tail behind him, no one knew how many secrets there were here!
Additionally, the residents here possessed a subtle yet noticeable characteristic that Ah Jun had observed. When he first arrived in the town, it was already dark. Though streetlights illuminated the roads, the light was dim. Ah Juns keen eye had always detected something peculiar about their eyes—though indescribable, they bore a distinctive quality. Though similar in appearance to ordinary people, these eyes radiated a golden moonlight-like glow, like luminous pearls in the night.
From this, Ah Jun deduced that this place should be the habitat of a strange cat family, and that the small group of special creatures besides humans might be the monster mentioned in the book, the highest level of enemy, with nearly human appearance but with varying degrees of atavism.
Of course, there are many pet cats living here too, probably raised by local residents. But when Ah Jun raised his wristband hoping to get more input, he got no response—— Could it be that the water immersion caused a problem? Are we really safe staying here?
Doubts spread in the childrens hearts, but it seemed that there was no other choice. Moreover, from the eyes of the residents, Ah Jun did not detect anything unusual, only a little doubt, but more affection.
Of course, they still needed to be cautious. After all, he had to take care of his own safety and that of his younger brother Xiao Xi—— But Xiao Xi couldnt handle it anymore. The temptation of delicious food made him lose himself, and he kept rushing forward. Eventually, they smelled the aroma and arrived at a small stall.
—— Hmm, really good!
The owner of the small stall was so hospitable that he didnt seem to care about the two strangers —— Xiao Xi took out the money and hesitated for a moment, wondering whether she should buy it or not, because they were in the territory of a different race from human beings, and could her own money circulate here?
But the owner, at ease with himself, took the money from Xiao Xi and called the hungry children to sit down. Then the owners wife served them hot food.
Under the kind look of the boss, Xiao Xi began to eat voraciously, as if at home. Ah Jun was a little wary and waited for a while, but did not move his chopsticks, because he could not eat these food either.
He took another careful look at the stall and its owner couple. The stall appeared to be properly licensed, and the owner looked like a genuine businessperson. As usual, Ah Jun asked several more questions about the food. Though slightly puzzled, the owner patiently answered his inquiries.
So, after finishing all the checks, Ah Jun finally felt at ease to eat —— This was a bowl of sweet and rich black sesame paste, delicate and smooth, so fragrant, so sweet, so heartwarming... Seeing Xiao Xi, she had already finished two bowls, and soon, she ordered another bowl.
While enjoying the delicious food, Ah Jun began to look at the town again. He observed the terrain, looked around, paid attention to the noise, and asked the owner about the situation from time to time. Of course, the wristband was still good, but it had become a decoration.
The boss and his wife watched the two outsiders with no suspicion, responding warmly to Ah Juns questions as a young adult, showing great friendliness—— In this small town, there are few outsiders, and Ah Jun and his companion are considered rare visitors. Here, as long as youre not a bad person, youll be treated kindly.
At this moment, the heart that was hanging in the air was finally slowly put down—— Ah Jun ate eight-tenths full, and Xiao Xi was already eating so full that her belly was bulging.
After asking for travel tips, they decided to spend the night at the Yuelai Inn in the center of town and think about how to get back tomorrow. After all the twists and turns, the two children were physically and mentally exhausted.
After arriving at the guest room, Ah Jun still carefully checked everything before he began to wash up and prepare for rest —— while Xiao Xi had already fallen asleep.
The next morning, Ah Jun woke Xiao Xi from her deep sleep and decided to scout out a way out. As they approached the inn lobby, his sharp senses detected something amiss: a group dressed like soldiers was interrogating staff at the front desk. A gut feeling told him there was trouble – time to run!
So, he took Xiao Xi, who was still dazed, and changed direction to slip out from behind the inn. After buying breakfast, they sneaked out into the town and spent the morning circling around it looking for a way out, but found nothing but beautiful scenery.
When lunchtime arrived, Xiao Xi finally snapped out of his drowsiness. The groggy young man suddenly sprang to life, dragging Ah Jun back to the very restaurant where hed dined last night to resume his feast. Yet Ah Jun now felt uneasy. After much hesitation, he mustered the courage to whisper to the restaurant owners about finding a way out.
The couple had lived in the town all their lives, knew it well but had never been out, so they didnt know how to tell. In this town, no one but the mayor, their chief, would know the secret.
Then, the boss kindly told them where the chiefs office was—— At this time, Ah Jun suddenly remembered that group of people he met at the front desk of the inn, and felt it was a little dangerous to go there rashly.
—— Now what should I do, go or not?
The brothers walked back to the inn, their minds racing with conflicting thoughts. Xiao Xi insisted they should wait and see, while Ah Jun remained uneasy. Though the place seemed safe enough—— he believed it better to take a break and plan carefully. But as soon as they reached the inn entrance, they spotted the same group of people waiting anxiously outside...