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The disguise was indeed effective, especially when blending in with the crowd eager to enter the city. Once inside, Nia tugged at Mengdie's hand and showed a mischievous smile. Mengdie was impressed with the girl's excellent disguise skills.
As the market in the city began to close, the lights of various inns and taverns slowly lit up. The aroma in the air made Mengdie's stomach protest once again. Clutching her growling belly, she felt hungry enough to eat a whole cow. "Ah, that cow looks tasty, even alive! Damn it, who said a woman's body doesn't get hungry easily? And these two lumps of fat on my chest, can't they act like a camel's hump and provide some energy? So frustrating!"
Nia, leading a ravenous Mengdie, weaved through the city's narrow streets. The buildings gradually appeared more dilapidated and irregularly structured, resembling a slum. The gap between buildings widened, and the passersby's clothes were no longer elegant but rather for keeping warm.
After turning another corner, Nia relievedly removed her disguise, greeted people near a well, and started washing her face. People seemed to know Nia well and greeted her back warmly. Mengdie, realizing there was no need for further disguise, also cleaned off her cover, removed her muddy hat, pulled out her long hair, scooped up water from the bucket to wash her face...
In an instant, those chatting with Nia were stunned, and the passersby stopped in their tracks. The bustling street turned as silent as a forest at night. Everyone's gaze was captivated by the astonishing beauty of the girl with her hair fluttering in the breeze. Mengdie, flustered, covered her hair with her hands, but this gesture alone was enough to capture the hearts of many men...
"An angel..."
"The Snow Fairy of the Maralari Mountains!"
"A fairy goddess!"
Mengdie didn't understand what the people were saying; she was busy cursing her cumbersome long hair. After managing her hair, she scooped up more water to drink, straightening up and wiping the water from her lips.
The infuriated Mengdie glared at them. To the onlookers, however, the gentle girl seemed to be blushing in shyness.
"Hey, Nia. When can we eat?" Mengdie tapped Nia's shoulder. Nia nodded and led Mengdie to a corner. The onlookers, surprised and envious, followed them. Mengdie disliked the attention, but Nia seemed to enjoy it.
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After a few more minutes, Nia stopped in front of a small stone house. By then, hundreds of people had gathered. Nia cheerfully let go of Mengdie's hand, gesturing for her to wait and went to knock on the door.
"Is that girl related to Nia?"
"A friend? Or a relative??"
"Nia left her! What should we do? Should we go talk to her now?"
Mengdie was annoyed by the chatter. Without needing to understand, she could guess what they were saying. She turned around, picked up a stick, and shouted at the crowd, "Are you blind? I'm a complete man!!! Still looking? Dare to stare at me like that again, and I'll break your legs!!!"
Meanwhile, inside the house, Nia peeked in, relieved to find it empty. Just then, a woman's voice startled her from behind, pinching her ear painfully.
"Naughty girl, where have you been? Not coming home for ten nights! I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"
"Ow! Aya sister! Sorry! I was wrong! Sister, sister! It hurts... let go!"
A young woman, around 18 or 19 years old, wearing common clothes and an apron, emerged. She resembled Nia, but while Nia was lively, this woman looked more mature.
Aya, upset, pulled Nia's ear again, causing her to cry. Aya's sternness softened as she saw her sister's tears, patting her head gently.
"Where have you been? I've been so worried! I took leave from Dr. Lar to find you. Today's explosion in the city caused so much panic... I thought I'd never see you again!"
Nia hugged her sister, crying, promising never to run away again. Aya kissed her sister's hair, tears of reunion in her eyes.
"All right, stop crying. Let's eat. Have you been eating well? You've lost weight. The knights caught two members of the Black Flame Snake today; it's not safe..."
Nia nodded, leading Aya to the table. Suddenly, a commotion outside interrupted them. A pleasant female voice was shouting something, mixed with men's screams.
"What's all that noise outside?" Aya wondered, opening the door. Nia remembered something and followed her sister outside.
Outside, the crowd had formed a semicircle. A girl with beautiful black hair was holding a wooden stick against a man's throat, pinning him to the wall. Her other foot was firmly on another man's head, her hand ready to break his wrist. The girl, clearly very angry, was shouting in an incomprehensible language.
"Is she... the girl who saved your life?"
"Ha... haha..." Nia scratched her head awkwardly, "She doesn't seem to like being stared at by men... I don't know if she's too shy or just hates men..."
Not wanting to attract more attention, Aya and Nia approached Mengdie to calm her down. Mengdie, though not understanding, released the men after seeing Nia's plea.
"Alright, nothing to see here. It's getting dark, and loitering in front of a lady's house isn't polite." Aya dismissed the crowd. As a nurse, she had some influence, and the crowd dispersed, leaving reluctantly.
Relieved, Mengdie put down the stick and sighed angrily. She noticed Aya's ability to disperse the crowd and figured she was no ordinary person. She straightened her clothes, thanked Aya with a bow, and introduced herself as "Mengdie."
"Aya, what did she say?" Aya asked Nia, who shrugged in confusion.
After introductions, Mengdie wanted to ask many questions about this world, but language barriers hindered her. Standing there, she wasn't sure how to proceed.
The sisters also stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do next. Fortunately, a sound replaced words, moving things forward—
"Gurgle gurgle..."
Mengdie blushed as her stomach grumbled again...
Aya and Nia exchanged knowing smiles. Aya gestured towards the house with a gentle smile.
"Then... I'll intrude..." Mengdie smiled awkwardly, holding her nearly floor-length hair, and entered the house, welcomed by the sisters.
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