"By the way, why are you here so late?" Dudian asked curiously.
Hearing this question, Jenny was a bit excited and said, "Do you remember what I told you last time? I'm studying the law. In a few days, the Tribunal will recruit apprentice clerics. I've been cramming these days. I just came out from the home of an old cleric who has a good relationship with my family. I didn't expect it to rain halfway, and the carriage broke down. Fortunately, I met you."
"So, we're quite destined." Dudian smiled.
"Destined?" Jenny was puzzled.
Dudian then remembered that the concept of "destiny" came from Buddhist ideas. Since there was no Buddhism in this world, he quickly explained, "The meaning of 'destiny'... Well, it means that two people, as if arranged by the Bright God, meet by chance. That's what we call being destined."
"Two people arranged by the Bright God?" When Jenny heard Dudian's explanation, her face immediately turned red. She secretly glanced at Dudian. Seeing that he didn't notice her strange reaction, the heat on her cheeks subsided a bit. She asked curiously, "Then what about you? Why are you here?"
Dudian said, "I'm on my way home."
Jenny suddenly understood. Then she seemed to think of something, and her face showed some excitement and anticipation. She said, "Have you been outside the Wall? How is it? Is it nice outside? Is it really like what my father said? Is it very dangerous?"
Looking at the glistening light in her eyes, Dudian suddenly thought of that night and the girl's words full of longing. He secretly sighed in his heart, but a smile appeared on his face. He said, "It's just as you imagine. There are vast grasslands, towering mountains, and a blue sea outside."
"Really?" Jenny said in surprise.
Dudian nodded and said, "Yes. Although it's a bit dangerous, if you can see that beautiful scenery and the vast world, what's a little danger?"
"I think so too." Jenny was touched and said yearningly, "I really hope that one day, I can also see the scenery outside the Wall."
"You will!" Dudian said firmly.
Jenny sighed and her face turned sad. She said, "Unfortunately, I can't go out."
Dudian said slowly, "Even if you don't go out, you can still see it."
"Really?" Jenny looked at him in surprise, with some expectation.
Dudian said, "If the huge Wall disappears, naturally you can see it."
Jenny was taken aback and shook her head. She said, "The huge Wall protects us. If the Wall disappears, our lives will be very dangerous."
Dudian's mouth twitched, but he didn't say anything.
"Tell me about what's outside the Wall." Jenny said to Dudian.
When Dudian saw her gazing at him, his face felt a bit hot. He coughed softly and said, "Well, uh, sure."
"Why are you stuttering?"
"Ahem, maybe it's because I'm cold."
"Are scavengers afraid of the cold?"
"Everyone is afraid of the cold."
"All right, I won't interrupt you. Go on." Jenny propped her chin with one hand, tilted her head, and looked at Dudian expectantly.
Dudian felt his whole body was a bit stiff, and his muscles tensed up uncontrollably. He coughed dryly and said, "Okay, I'll tell you what I've seen. Let's start with the mountains. The mountains outside are very high, with lush trees. There are many lovely small animals in them, like rabbits, foxes, and little squirrels..."
"Aren't there any monsters?" Jenny interrupted.
Dudian nodded and said, "The monsters are in other places."
"Where?"
"Um, in a very chaotic place. Anyway, it's far from the mountain I saw."
"Okay, go on. I want to hear it."
"There are waterfalls on the mountains... and there are peaceful and friendly primitive people living there..."
In the rainy night, the heavy rain poured down. The carriage drove slowly and with difficulty. The young knight riding a horse beside the carriage had his whole body armor washed by the rain many times. The clothes inside the armor were slightly wet. He rode the horse forward. Hearing the young lady's laughter coming from the carriage from time to time, his sword-shaped eyebrows under the armor furrowed slightly, but he didn't say anything. He silently followed closely.
"There are many fish and shrimps in the sea, and there are also mussels that can produce pearls in their bodies... Well, pearls are a kind of snow-white beads. They are as beautiful as diamonds, very round, and very smooth..." Dudian talked about the mountains and then the sea. Accompanied by the howling wind and heavy rain outside the carriage, his young voice seemed especially tranquil.
Jenny held her chin in her palm and listened attentively. When she heard about the pearls, her face showed some surprise and longing. She said, "I really want to see the pearls you mentioned."
Dudian smiled slightly and didn't say anything. Due to the biological changes caused by the virus and nuclear radiation, there were no pearls inside the Wall. And the pearls left outside the Wall from the old era had long passed their shelf life and decayed beyond recognition. Therefore, people inside the Wall didn't know the existence of pearls.
At this time, the speed of the carriage gradually slowed down. With the horse neighing twice, the carriage stopped completely.
"Miss, we're here." The coachman said cleverly.
Jenny came back to her senses. She didn't expect to be home so soon. She glanced at Dudian, and a flush flashed across her face. She said, "Thank you for giving me a ride home."
"It's just on the way." Dudian said.
Jenny's face turned even redder. At this time, the knight outside the carriage had dismounted and, maintaining the demeanor of a knight, gently knocked on the carriage door and said, "Miss, we're home."
Hearing the urging, Jenny responded with an "Mmm". She opened the carriage door. Seeing that the young knight had already held up an umbrella and was waiting outside, she lifted her skirt, got out of the carriage, and said to Dudian again, "Thank you for the story you told me."
"Story?" When Dudian saw that he was seen through, he blushed a bit and said, "I'm glad you like it."
"I like it very much." Jenny's face was flushed. After hesitating for a moment, she summoned up her courage and said, "And thank you for the poem you wrote for me last time. I've been treasuring it all the time." After saying that, her face became extremely hot. She didn't dare to look at Dudian anymore and turned around and ran away quickly.
The young knight quickly held up the umbrella and chased after her to shield her from the rain.
Dudian was stunned for a moment. The poem from last time? He immediately thought of the poem that his sister had read. He thought to himself that it seemed that things like poetry and drama were indeed the favorites of the nobles.
He didn't think too much about it. After Jenny entered the ancient castle manor, he told the coachman, "Let's go."
At this moment, the heavy rain had stopped. The accumulated water gurgled down the street and flowed into the sewer. The drainage system in the commercial area was often repaired, which was a completely different scene from the slums where it would flood as soon as it rained.
The rain stopped, and the carriage turned around and drove at full speed.
Dudian sat in the carriage. There was still a faint fragrance of the other person's body floating in the air. He could tell that she didn't wear perfume. It was a natural and delicate body fragrance. He couldn't help but recall the previous scenes. A smile appeared on his face involuntarily, and he felt a warm feeling in his heart.
Suddenly, he thought of Jenny's words, and an idea flashed in his mind. "The Tribunal is going to recruit apprentice clerics in a few days? I wonder if my knowledge of the law can help me pass the assessment."