Kesi opened the door to room number 7 with a simple but sturdy wooden key. The room immediately met Li Yuan's expectations—simple but comfortable, with a large window facing the inn's back garden.
"Here it is," Kesi said, stepping inside. "A bed with a fresh straw mattress, a writing table if you want to write, and a small wardrobe for clothes. The bathroom is at the end of the corridor, shared with two other rooms, but it's usually not too busy."
Li Yuan walked to the window and looked out. The view that greeted him made him smile unconsciously. A small garden arranged in a harmony between wild and planned—an old, shady mango tree in the center, surrounded by a variety of plants that grew naturally but were well-maintained. There was a wooden bench under the mango tree, and a small footpath that connected the different corners of the garden.
"How old is that mango tree?" Li Yuan asked.
Kesi came closer to the window. "Liu Ming says it was here before we bought the place, so maybe around forty or fifty years. He was the one who asked us to keep it when we renovated the inn. He says old trees carry wisdom."
The wisdom of an old tree, Li Yuan nodded inwardly. Liu Ming understands something about the value of things that have endured.
"It's a perfect view," Li Yuan said sincerely. "Thank you, Madame Kesi."
"Just call me Kesi," the woman smiled. "We're not too formal here. Oh, and if you need water to drink or wash your face, there's a jug in that corner. The water is from our well in the back, fresh and clean."
After Kesi left and closed the door, Li Yuan stood alone in the room that would be his home for the next few days. For the first time in forty-three days, he was in an enclosed space designed for humans.
The sensation was... strange. Not uncomfortable, but different. After getting used to the openness of the sea and sky, the walls of this room felt... protective, but also a little confining.
Li Yuan took off his simple wooden sandals and felt the cool wooden floor under his feet. Then he walked to the window and opened it wide, letting the evening air flow freely into the room.
Better, he thought, inhaling the air that carried the scent of soil, leaves, and the remnants of the afternoon sun's warmth.
Li Yuan sat on the edge of the bed and, for the first time in a long time, truly reflected on his journey. Forty-three days at sea, five years on Narau Island before that, and thousands of years of cultivation before those times. And now he was here, in an inn run by a couple who had found a way to integrate their differences into something beautiful.
Through the open window, Li Yuan could hear the evening activity around the inn. The sound of people returning from work, children playing, dinner preparations from neighboring kitchens. Human life in all its daily complexity.
What was interesting was how these sounds mixed without clashing. The laughter of Zuwa children mixed with the formal conversation of Kuatri adults, the louder tones of the Luxen language blended with the melodic work of all three cultures.
Like an orchestra that isn't perfectly coordinated yet, Li Yuan reflected. But the music is still beautiful, even if it's sometimes discordant.
He got up and walked to the water jug Kesi had mentioned. The water was indeed fresh and clean, with a slightly different taste from the seawater that had become his close friend. Through his Understanding of Water, Li Yuan could "hear" the story of this water—it came from an underground aquifer, had passed through layers of rock and soil that filtered it naturally, and carried minerals that were good for the body.
Wise groundwater, Li Yuan thought, sipping the water slowly. Its character is different from seawater, but it is just as full of life.
As the sun began to set, Li Yuan decided to sit on the bench by the window, positioning himself so he could see the garden while still feeling the evening breeze entering the room.
From this position, he began to observe the small life happening in the garden. A thin gray cat—perhaps a stray—was patiently hunting in the bushes. Small birds landed and flew from branch to branch of the mango tree. There were even a few butterflies dancing among the wildflowers.
They all share the same space without conflict, Li Yuan observed. The cat hunts, the birds forage, the butterflies seek nectar—each has its own purpose but they don't interfere with each other.
That observation led him to a deeper reflection on what he had witnessed today in Sancheng. Humans with their three different "races" were, in essence, like the animals in this garden. They shared the same space, each with different needs and purposes, but in principle they could coexist peacefully.
The problem is that humans create stories about why they can't coexist, his reflection continued. They make unnecessary divisions, then maintain those divisions with various justifications.
Li Yuan recalled his conversation with the water about the human-made concept of "race." The physical differences that were actually just adaptations to different environments, but then were used as a basis to create hierarchies and superiority complexes.
Like the different types of birds in that mango tree, he looked out the window. Each has a different beak shape because of different food, a different feather color because of a different habitat, but they never think that those differences make one type better than another.
As Li Yuan sank into contemplation, he heard the sound of the next room's door opening and closing. Then the sound of footsteps in the corridor, followed by the sound of a conversation in the Luxen language. Two people, apparently merchants, were discussing commodity prices and trade routes.
Through his Wenjing Realm, which was limited to a five-centimeter radius, Li Yuan could not hear their intentions. But he could hear the tone of their voices—tired after a long day's work, but also satisfied with the results they had obtained.
Other guests at this inn, Li Yuan thought. Maybe I will meet them tomorrow.
Then he heard another sound from downstairs—Liu Ming and Kesi were preparing dinner. The sound of a knife chopping vegetables, water boiling, a wok being heated. The aroma of cooking began to rise—a mixture of spices and cooking techniques from two different cultures.
Li Yuan's stomach rumbled softly. He just realized that it had been a long time since he had eaten human-cooked food. While at sea, he didn't really need physical food—his consciousness body could survive on spiritual nourishment. But now, back in the human world, his body was starting to remember the pleasure of real food.
Dinner with other humans, Li Yuan thought with warm anticipation. Sitting at the same table, sharing food, talking about ordinary things. How long has it been since I did that?
The sun was almost set now, leaving the sky with beautiful orange and purple colors. The garden below his window began to get dark, but small lights began to turn on in the surrounding houses, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.
Li Yuan stood up and lit the candle provided on the writing table. The soft candlelight added warmth to the room, creating a calm and meditative atmosphere.
My first day back in the human world, Li Yuan reflected, looking at the flickering candlelight. A day full of new lessons. The honest and open Zhang Wei, Kesi and Liu Ming who have found a way to create harmony from their differences. Even the children who play without prejudice.
He remembered Zhang Wei's promise about tomorrow's festival. The Day of Unity, where the three communities would celebrate together. Li Yuan was curious about how the social dynamics he had observed today would change in the context of a celebration.
Will they truly unite, even if only for a while? Or will the divisions remain visible even in a shared celebration?
From downstairs, Li Yuan heard the sound of a small bell—a sign that dinner was ready. He stood up, straightened his gray hanfu, and made sure his hair tie was still neat.
Time to go down and meet the human world once more, he thought, walking toward the door. Time to share food, conversation, and perhaps—if I'm lucky—a little wisdom.
Before opening the door, Li Yuan stopped for a moment and looked out the window once more. The garden was dark now, but the old mango tree was still visible as a strong and tranquil silhouette under the night sky.
Thank you, he said inwardly to the space that had given him a place to reflect on this important first day. Tomorrow will be an interesting day.
With a calm heart and a mind ready for deeper social interaction, Li Yuan opened the room door and went down for his first dinner as part of the Harmony Inn community.