Manbao suddenly opened her eyes, and after a moment, she realized it was Keke calling her in her mind.

She didn’t get up immediately. Instead, she moved her limbs to awaken her body from slumber, then lifted the covers and rose.

Her eyes had adapted to the darkness, and she could vaguely see the furnishings in the room. She got out of bed, felt her way to the window, and slightly opened a crack to look outside.

Below, about twenty horses were lined up at the entrance. In the dim light, she saw the group from this afternoon leaving the inn with their bundles, mounting their horses one by one.

The innkeeper, whom she’d only met twice, escorted them to the door, smiling broadly as he clasped his hands in farewell.

The person at the front took the reins and suddenly sensed something, lifting his gaze like a bolt of lightning. Manbao instinctively leaned back. Keke noted her accelerated heartbeat and said, "Host, he isn’t looking at you."

After a pause, feeling the description wasn’t quite right, Keke added, "Based on the angle of light refraction, his gaze merely skimmed past here. He’s looking at the window next door."

Hearing this, Manbao leaned forward again to watch. She saw he was still looking up, and under the firelight, he smiled slightly, cupping his hands toward the upper floor. If it weren’t for Keke’s explanation, she might have thought he was saluting her.

Manbao’s heart stirred, and she asked, "Is Bai Shan awake too?"

After Keke’s affirmative response, she added, "He’s even opened the window."

Bai Shan hadn’t been sleeping well. Although the noise below was faint, it still woke him up.

Initially, he too slightly opened his window to peer down, but was discovered by the man, who looked up directly.

Bai Shan didn’t shy away, and through the door gap, they made eye contact for a while. Confirming that the other could indeed sense his gaze, he confidently opened the window and met his stare.

Bai Shan paused, then smiled back, clasping his hands in return. As the man led his subordinates away from the inn and into the distance, Bai Shan’s smile faded. He pondered briefly, peeked down, and upon seeing the innkeeper, nodded to him before finally shutting the window to sleep.

Bai Erlang remained deeply asleep in bed, and even Yin Huo wasn’t disturbed, cuddling his blanket on a wooden couch asleep.

He sat by the bed, pondered a bit, calmed himself, then lifted the blanket to lie down.

Manbao also sealed her window tightly and returned to bed.

Not having slept enough, she felt her eyes couldn’t stay open, and the alertness from the scare vanished without a trace.

Manbao yawned and asked, "Keke, how long until daybreak?"

"About fifty minutes."

Manbao was so surprised she forgot her drowsiness, "So soon?"

Keke replied, "It will be dawn at 4:45."

Manbao suddenly felt her sleep unsatisfying; daybreak seemed so early, it felt like she hadn’t slept at all.

After a brief silence, she pulled the quilt up to her chest and fell back asleep hugging it.

Drowsy eyelids, Manbao slept again. When she woke up, it was Liru pushing her gently, waking her up excitedly, "Auntie, get up quickly to see the sunrise."

Manbao climbed out of bed vigorously and asked, "Are they all up?"

"They got up early. Mr. Zhuang even went out with Wei Xingren to see the sunrise. I woke up because of the noise below."

Mr. Zhuang was quite interested. He initially wanted to call his students, but thinking they’ve been traveling lately and not resting easy, he decided not to disturb their good sleep and instead went out with the two willing travelers.

By the time Manbao had washed up and dressed, descending the stairs, Yin Huo and the others were already seated below. Seeing her come down, Yin Huo glanced at her, then at Bai Shan, who was nodding off, and suspiciously asked, "Did you two secretly meet last night?"

At the inn’s door, Bai Erlang and Liu Huan, appreciating the morning’s glow, immediately turned their heads at the sound, full of interest.

Bai Shan raised his eyelids to glance at them and replied, "Yes, a secret rendezvous in dreams, and we even brought you along too. Does that count?"

Yin Huo chuckled, poured a glass of warm water for Manbao, "I slept well last night. Everyone seems lively this morning except you two. You look tired, and there’s a hint of dark circles under your eyes."

Bai Shan took one look at Manbao and asked, "Did you wake up in the early hours too?"

Manbao nodded.

Bai Shan then told Yin Huo, "Another group of guests left the inn in the early morning."

Yin Huo was surprised.

Manbao moved to the door and joined Zhou Liru to watch the morning glow. The desert sky was very blue, even in the morning, with few clouds. The only clouds were at the distant horizon, and as the sun rose, they turned orange. As if pushed by the wind, the clouds at the horizon slowly changed shape, each one uniquely beautiful.

Bai Shan and Yin Huo, who had come over at some point, sat dumbstruck on the doorstep watching, until finally, when Manbao and the others grew tired of standing, they sat down too.

When Assistant General Nie finished checking the luggage and horses, he saw six people seated on the doorstep, gazing into the distance, faces in their hands.

Assistant General Nie: ...

The innkeeper, coming out cheerfully behind him, also paused, then, remembering something, stepped past him eagerly, saying, "Oh dear, guests, why are you sitting here? What if you catch a chill? Today, we have freshly made hot milk tea at the inn. Would you like a bowl?"

Recalling the price of the milk tea they’d had yesterday when the bill came, they all shook their heads in unison. No, having tried that pricey and not-so-good drink once was enough, they wouldn’t have a second time.

The innkeeper looked a bit disappointed but directed them, "There’s seating over at the big tent, with a decent view. Why don’t you gentlemen and ladies sit there for a better view?"

But the six were unwilling to move, "I still think this spot’s good."

"I find this spot comfortable too."

"The view’s nice here."

"Too lazy to move."

"Hungry, don’t want to move."

"They’re not moving, so I won’t either."

Innkeeper: ..." The kitchen is already preparing breakfast, it won’t take long, just wait a bit longer, you can enjoy the view if you wish."

After all, most of their guests came at noon or in the afternoon. Currently, the guests at the inn are just this group.

The innkeeper helplessly bypassed them to go inside.

Manbao and the others continued to contently watch the scene, while Mr. Zhuang and the others, protected by the guards, climbed a sand dune to watch the sunrise and slowly strolled back after enjoying it, couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the six of them sitting on the doorstep, and asked, "Was the sunrise beautiful?"

All six nodded, "Beautiful."

"Good, let’s wake up early again tomorrow and watch it together once more."

Manbao and the others: ... wonder if it’s too late to regret now.

Everyone gathered in the lobby for breakfast, and after finishing, they packed some buns and pancakes before setting off.

They had just left the inn a few hundred meters when Assistant General Nie rode up to Bai Shan and Zhou Man ahead, and told Bai Shan, "I asked this morning, and the innkeeper said he didn’t know who those people were, but they’re going in the opposite direction from us, taking the path we came from."

Bai Shan sighed in relief, nodded to indicate he understood.