The sand dunes undulated and heatwaves stacked upon each other. The radiant sun hung like a disc in the heavens, over an endless expanse where no vegetation grew and all that met the eye was rolling yellow sand. This place was the Desert beyond the Outside.
At the edge of the desert lay a small town with ethnic charm. Bright and colorful feathers adorned the felt tents, and semi-worn flags fluttered in the wind. At night, the Nomadic Tribe residing there lit a bonfire, and lamb legs slathered in butter were roasted over the fire, crackling as the fat dripped onto the flames.
Everyone joined hands and danced around the fire, singing loudly. A cheerful woman with her hair in many braids, adorned with bone and silver ornaments that jingled, performed the tribe's traditional dance barefoot, joy and simplicity evident on everyone's faces.
Dong Huiying and her companions had only arrived in the town that afternoon, and they decided to spend the night there before moving on.
