Noon in Red Port Autonomous Region

"It's still quite a distance from the city center, Merka," Turing held the reins and looked at Merka, who was heading towards a secluded inn.

"Right here will do," Merka tilted her head slightly.

"The city center is where the residents of Red Port set up their stalls to sell. If you want to find trinkets and new things, it's indeed better to go there."

"But here is where Red Port concentrates its inventory, organizing and storing foreign goods."

"This is San Shan Street. Experienced collectors and speculators like to come here to have a look. I actually wanted to bring you here."

"And... my horse is tired, it's time for a rest. By the way, West West's horse seems to be completely fine," Merka teased with envy in her words.

"I actually wanted to go to the city center with Merka..." Turing muttered to himself.

Following Merka, Turing approached the hotel and immediately saw things he didn't often see.

The hotel had a gothic sign, gothic-style signboard, gothic atmosphere doors and walls. The color scheme of the hotel was slightly darker than the intoxicating color of wine and lighter than the deep ripe fruit jam color. The deep red wooden boards seemed to have been stained by red wine, emitting a sweet fragrance.

However, the eaves of the second floor were different from the usual, with a mix of intricate flying eaves often seen in Eastern architecture. Without causing any dissonance, this small hotel added a sense of ambiguity in unexpected places.

Merka tied the reins to a wooden post nearby for people to tie horses and gently pushed the door of the hotel. With a 'ding', Merka's push caused the bells on the door frame to sway.

"West West, come here," Merka beckoned to Turing, who was still somewhat confused on horseback.

"But... there is neither a stable nor a trough for water and feed. Where should I put the horse?" Turing felt a little embarrassed, not dismounting. Perhaps he still wanted to go to the city center with Merka?

"And... I've never taken care of Joseph before. Normally, it's the servants who tie the horse, walk the horse, and feed the horse..."

"What are you talking about?" Merka laughed, the kind of laughter that was amused.

"There's a stable in the back. Let's go in and say hello first, and leave the horses here." Merka let go of the door and took Turing's hand.

"Stay close to me. If you're not familiar with this place, it's easy to get lost."

Turing suddenly fell silent, lowered his head, and silently followed Merka.

"So reassuring..."

"Boss, I'm leaving two horses here. As usual, give me the badges," Merka said.

A petite woman behind the counter, wearing a thin robe and a hood, sat back on a recliner, smoking a cigarette.

"Ah, it's Merka," the owner got up slightly, pushed up his hat brim to take a glance at Merka, and then leaned back in his chair.

"My assistant went home to attend her sister's wedding. It's up to you to lead the horses to the stable. I won't charge you for the fee."

"The badge is on my left hand side, inside the first cabinet from top to bottom, just take any one," he said.

Merka smiled and nodded, showing no dissatisfaction. She opened the corresponding cabinet and took out a silver badge.

"So lazy, is it common for common people to be like this?"

"Clearly, Merka is not like this at all."

The silver badge in Merka's hand was a lifelike small wing carved by a craftsman. It exuded an elegant charm and fresh luster, bold yet made with delicate craftsmanship.

"There is a kind of bird that can never be locked up because every feather on its wings is stained with the brilliance of freedom."

"Adhering to this noble idea, the merchants of San Shan Street in Red Port created this badge to mark those who yearn for external culture and technology."

"In other words," Merka playfully stuck out her tongue."People from out of town who don't wear badges when shopping will be overcharged," Merka said with a serious tone, pinning the badge on the lapel of his coat. He patted it with a hint of pride.

Turing curiously inspected the badge on Merka's chest, looking left and right.

"It doesn't seem to be made of any precious metal," Turing thought.

"It's really strange how ordinary people put so much effort into strange things instead of focusing on important matters," Turing pondered.

"It's a common practice for everyone to keep their badges at the Three Mountains Street and retrieve them when they come. This is to prevent resale and share them," Merka explained.

"Come with me, Turing," Merka reached out his hand to Turing.

"I'll show you around here. I'll teach you everything, from feeding the horses to buying things, step by step," Merka smiled with his eyes half closed, shining brightly, cool and refreshing.

From noon to afternoon, we visited every corner of Three Mountains Street.

We added feed to the horses in the stables, water to the troughs. We ordered several stewed dishes for ourselves at this small inn and enjoyed a delicious meal.

We discussed and analyzed various unknown goods and commodities on the streets and alleys. Turing stopped in front of a complex and strange machine, guessing its possible function.

Although the stable was not as clean as Turing imagined, and the food did not have the unique flavor of rural novels, the owner was not always friendly and accommodating. Even the utensils and chairs were not very comfortable for Turing.

But all of it together was just right, so blissful - a happiness that touched the heart.

"Sisi, what do you think?" Theonce majestic sun, as time passed, became somewhat enchanting as it descended. The noisy and chaotic alley became even quieter under the blazing sunset.

Merka's question was seductive and profound in their narrow world of two.

"Ah, what did you say just now?" Turing was distracted, his mind touched by the subtle scene before him.

"I said," Merka's mouth curved slightly, a beautiful smile forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Do you want to see a new store that I really like? It's run by a witch who gave it to me as a gift. " Merka raised his right hand and pointed to a nearby shop.

"Sisi sometimes makes people feel a little slow and foolish," Merka said.

"No, where am I being foolish?" Turing twirled his long hair around his temples with his fingertips, his head gently swaying, his single ponytail at the back of his head jumping nonchalantly.

"Then let's take a look. I also want to see what the witch looks like," Turing said.

"Okay." Merka took Turing's hand and finally arrived at the end of the alley.

"But she's a bit strange... she insisted on opening the store in such a place, saying that she wanted to be innovative and unique." In this secluded spot at the end of Three Mountains Street, Merka led Turing and lifted the curtain of the small shop in front of them.

Although its location was peculiar, the shop itself was nothing special. It neither had an ancient charm nor a profound meaning. This brand new store gave off a feeling of "cheap goods" everywhere.

"The owner of this store is known as the Tide Witch. She once had the extravagant title of 'Extinguisher of Wildfires with a Flick, Stirrer of Tides with a Grasp.' It's unimaginable that there are magic users who can manipulate water like her."

"But she has done many unconventional things."

"Just a few years before Sisi was born, she was quite famous, you know," Merka looked at Turing, propping up the curtain with his arm, gently pushing Turing inside, and introducing various details about a certain witch.

"What are you talking about? Merka. I told you I changed my name, didn't I?" A lazy woman emerged from the counter depths of the store, stretching her body like a cat, and said.

"Now I'm the Future Witch, right."