Three minutes later, the barriers were removed, the fences opened, and the gate swung wide.
The dilapidated truck, amidst many bewildered gazes, drove into Xinquan, making its way down the main road. For a moment, whether it was the driver, the bearded man, or the entourage, their expressions were unable to hide their astonishment and surprise.
There was a feeling of having taken the wrong path, an illusion of having entered the city.
The still bustling night market was just ordinary, at most a large gathering.
But everything else...
The asphalt road had been laid during the first phase of expansion, and even in the alleyways, the compacted ground was covered with gravel.
The streetlights were simple and rough, and lines were even drawn on the ground.
The street showed no signs of the cluttered or dirty feeling typical of settlements—while it couldn't be said to be spotless, it lacked any indiscriminate waste or refuse.
