Li Yuan stepped out of the shadows of the trees onto the footpath that connected the settlement to the port. His gray hanfu swayed gently with each step, creating a graceful yet unobtrusive silhouette. He chose to walk at a relaxed pace, giving himself the opportunity to observe his new surroundings while allowing the local residents to get used to his presence.
The first house he passed was a Zuwa-style building—a flowing wooden structure with a thick thatched roof, many openings for air circulation, and a yard filled with tropical plants. On the front porch, a middle-aged woman with glowing dark skin was weaving a cloth with intricate geometric patterns. A small child played in her yard, laughing joyfully while chasing chickens that roamed freely.
As Li Yuan passed the house, the weaving woman raised her head. Their eyes met for a moment, and Li Yuan saw a familiar expression—initial interest that quickly turned into caution. Through the small radius of his Wenjing Realm, he caught a complex intention: curiosity, wariness, assessment.
She is assessing whether I am a threat or not, Li Yuan thought, giving a polite, respectful nod. The woman returned the nod just as politely, but her eyes remained vigilant.
What was interesting was the reaction of the small child in the yard. The boy stopped playing and stared at Li Yuan with round eyes full of pure curiosity. There was no caution or prejudice there—just a child's natural curiosity toward a new face.
Li Yuan smiled gently at the boy, and the little boy smiled back without hesitation. For a moment, through his Wenjing Realm, Li Yuan caught a very simple intention from the child: stranger looks nice, maybe he has stories.
Children are not yet contaminated by the divisions created by adults, Li Yuan reflected as he continued his journey. They see with clear eyes.
After walking about fifty meters, Li Yuan arrived at a wider intersection. Here, the activity became more crowded. There were carts pulled by oxen carrying harvests, people walking with baskets full of fish, and most interestingly—interactions between people with different physical features.
Li Yuan stopped for a moment at the side of the road, posing as if he were adjusting his hair tie while observing the social dynamics around him.
The first thing he noticed was a tall merchant with light skin and blonde hair—clearly from the Luxen race—negotiating with a dark-skinned fisherman from the Zuwa race. Their conversation was in a mix of two languages, with many hand gestures to overcome the communication barrier.
Through his Wenjing Realm, Li Yuan heard the intentions behind the conversation. The Luxen merchant: profit-minded, slightly condescending, impatient. The Zuwa fisherman: defensive, proud, trying to get a fair price.
There was tension there, but not deep racial hatred—more like normal friction in business negotiations exacerbated by cultural and communication differences.
They are still doing business together, Li Yuan observed. Practicality overcomes prejudice.
Then he saw something more heartwarming. A group of children from all three races were playing together at the side of the road—a game involving throwing small stones into a circle. They laughed, shouted in various languages, and showed no signs of division based on physical appearance.
Children once again, Li Yuan smiled inwardly. They play together without caring about the differences that make their parents tense.
Li Yuan decided to continue his journey toward the port. As he walked, some people began to notice him. Their reactions were varied and interesting to observe.
The Kuatri people—who had the most similar physical features to him—tended to give a courteous, respectful nod, as if they considered him "one of their own." Through his Wenjing Realm, Li Yuan caught intentions like: one of us, respectable appearance, probably educated.
The Luxen people looked at him with a more assessing expression, as if trying to understand his social status based on his clothes and the way he walked. Their intention: foreign but dignified, possibly important, worth being polite to.
The Zuwa people gave the most varied reactions. Some looked at him with mild caution, some nodded kindly, and some seemed not to care at all. Their intentions ranged from: another outsider, seems peaceful, not a threat.
What surprised Li Yuan was how strong the passive effect still radiated from him despite being tightly wrapped. Everyone who passed him at close range—about two meters—seemed to slow down slightly, their breathing became calmer, and the tension in their faces lessened.
Like a gentle breeze that brings peace, Li Yuan remembered the description that had once been given to him. This effect was so subtle that people didn't consciously notice it, but their bodies and souls responded positively.
As he approached the busier port area, Li Yuan began to hear more complex conversations. There were discussions about commodity prices, complaints about the weather, and even gossip about politics in the big cities.
What was interesting was how the topic of "race" came up in those conversations. Li Yuan heard comments like:
"Those Luxen are always after big profits..."
"The Zuwa are strong, but sometimes too stubborn..."
"This Kuatri is too stingy in negotiations..."
But on the other hand, he also heard:
"That Chen (Luxen) is arrogant, but his goods are good quality..."
"Kofi's family (Zuwa) is like my own family..."
"Wang (Kuatri) is honest, can be trusted..."
They have stereotypes about other races, but also exceptions based on personal experience, Li Yuan analyzed. Prejudice exists, but it is not absolute.
When Li Yuan reached the end of the road that led directly to the main port, he stopped for a moment to look at the extraordinary sight in front of him.
The port was indeed like a miniature world—ships with different designs, people with diverse appearances working side by side, voices in various languages mixing into a symphony of multicultural life.
But Li Yuan also saw subtle patterns of separation. Certain areas were dominated by one race, although not exclusively. There were food stalls that clearly served mostly Kuatri customers, there were shops that were more attractive to Luxen, and there were also rest areas that the Zuwa preferred.
A gentle segregation, Li Yuan thought. Not because of rigid rules, but because of cultural comfort and habit.
As he stood at the edge of the crowd, observing and learning, Li Yuan heard a voice behind him.
"Excuse me, brother."
Li Yuan turned and saw a middle-aged man with typical Kuatri features—sharp eyes, a sturdy posture, simple but neat clothes. The man looked at him with a friendly but curious expression.
"Have you just arrived?" the man asked in a language Li Yuan recognized as a common Kuatri dialect. "I'm Zhang Wei, one of the coordinators here at the port."
Through his Wenjing Realm, Li Yuan heard the intentions behind the question: genuine curiosity, mild concern, official responsibility. There was no negative prejudice or excessive suspicion—just a normal curiosity toward a newcomer with an interesting appearance.
This is the moment, Li Yuan thought. My first conversation with a human after forty-three days at sea.
Li Yuan gave a sincere smile and nodded politely. "Greetings, brother Zhang Wei. Yes, I have just arrived. My name is Li Yuan."
He deliberately did not mention where he came from or how he arrived. He would let the conversation flow naturally, like water finding its own path.
Zhang Wei nodded and smiled back. "Welcome to Sancheng Port, Li Yuan. This is a unique city—three cultures in one place. Did you come to trade, or perhaps to look for work?"
Sancheng, Li Yuan noted the name of the port in his memory. "San" means three, "cheng" means city. A fitting name for a place where three races gather.
"I am... a wanderer," Li Yuan answered honestly. "I am interested in learning about new places, meeting new people, understanding different ways of life."
Zhang Wei looked at him with a slightly surprised expression, then smiled wider. Through his Wenjing Realm, Li Yuan heard a change in intention: interesting, unusual, respectful approach.
"A wanderer seeking understanding," Zhang Wei said with an appreciative tone. "It's rare to meet someone like that. Most newcomers here come for profit or out of necessity. But you... there is something different about you."
He is perceptive, Li Yuan thought. Even without supernatural ability, he can sense that I am not like most people.
"Every place has its own wisdom," Li Yuan replied. "I believe that by listening and observing, we can learn valuable things."
Zhang Wei nodded enthusiastically. "That's a good philosophy. And you've come at the right time—tomorrow is the Day of Unity, an annual festival where the three communities here celebrate together. You will see Sancheng at its best."
A festival of unity, Li Yuan was intrigued. It's interesting to see how three races with subtle tensions can celebrate together.
"That sounds interesting," Li Yuan said. "Could you recommend a place for me to stay the night? I don't need anything luxurious—just clean and quiet."
Zhang Wei looked around, then pointed toward a two-story building not too far away. "The Harmony Inn over there is quite good. The owners are a mixed couple—a Kuatri husband, a Zuwa wife. They welcome guests from all backgrounds."
A mixed couple, Li Yuan noted with interest. Perhaps they can provide a different perspective on the racial dynamics here.
"Thank you for the recommendation," Li Yuan said with a nod. "May I ask—what is life like in Sancheng? I mean, with three different communities living in close proximity?"
Zhang Wei was silent for a moment, his expression becoming more serious. Through his Wenjing Realm, Li Yuan heard a complex intention: pride, concern, hope, realism.
"It's complicated," Zhang Wei finally answered. "But also beautiful. There is friction, of course. Prejudice, even understanding, competition. But there is also cooperation, friendship, and even love that crosses the boundaries created by humans. Like life anywhere—a mixture of the good and the bad."
Li Yuan nodded in full understanding. "And tomorrow's festival—does that help bridge the differences?"
"For a while, yes," Zhang Wei smiled with a hint of irony. "For the three days of the festival, we are all citizens of Sancheng. After that... well, we go back to being Kuatri, Luxen, and Zuwa with all the complexities that come with it."
Honest and realistic, Li Yuan appreciated Zhang Wei's straightforwardness. He isn't trying to sugarcoat reality or pretend there are no problems.
"Thank you for your honesty," Li Yuan said. "I appreciate an unvarnished perspective."
Zhang Wei looked at him with a positively surprised expression. "You are indeed no ordinary wanderer, Li Yuan. Most people want to hear a pleasant answer, not the complicated reality."
He's right, Li Yuan thought. But complicated reality is far more interesting than a simple illusion.
"Reality is always richer than fantasy," Li Yuan replied with a smile. "Well, I will head to the Harmony Inn. Perhaps we can talk again sometime."
"Certainly," Zhang Wei said with a nod. "And if you need a guide to explore Sancheng, I or my colleagues here would be happy to help."
Li Yuan nodded with gratitude, then began to walk toward the Harmony Inn that Zhang Wei had pointed out. As he walked, he reflected on his first conversation with a human in a long time.
Promising, he thought. Zhang Wei is an honest and open person. If he is an example of the people here, then maybe Sancheng is the right place to begin interacting with human civilization again.