After looking around, the siblings came back to the main room hand in hand.
They did not dare ask about Su Jin’s strange seat at the front. They sat uneasily on the sofa and waited for him to speak.
Su Jin removed his earpiece and turned. "Finished already?"
"Yes... Brother Wu, I don’t understand much of what I saw. This place is strange. If you’re willing, could you explain it? I’m afraid we might break something."
Su Jin checked his watch and joined them.
They had a long journey ahead together. He should explain the basics.
Yunlian mattered too. Later he would need to confirm her ability.
If she truly made plants grow faster, he had to bring her into the group and help Shen Yufeng build a team capable of surviving.
"I’ll answer your questions. But first, based on what you know of the pursuers, will they all go back to the city?"
"Yes, they will. The Xuanjia Army and Jiantian Guards are trained fighters," Du Wenyan said.
"They won’t think we escaped them. They’ll assume we’re hiding nearby. And to pursue us far from the city, they need orders in writing. They’ll come back before deciding what to do next."
"The ones who went farthest may return soon. We can wait and see."
"Good. We’ll leave after they return. Now, ask what you like."
Du Wenyan rose and pointed behind him. "Why is there a well inside your house? I was thirsty and accidentally drank it dry."
Su Jin’s nostrils flared. Smiling to himself, he headed for the bathroom.
He opened the door and pointed at the toilet. "This well?"
Du Wenyan and Yunlian stood in the doorway. "Yes. I’ve never seen anything like it," he said.
"Made of porcelain too. A piece this large must be difficult to fire. What a lavish thing to use for a well!"
"Did the water taste good?" Su Jin asked, holding back a laugh.
"Sweet and clear! Excellent water!" Du Wenyan said, nodding.
Su Jin pointed at it. "It’s a toilet. A chamber pot. You use it when you need to relieve yourself. It isn’t a well."
"What?"
The siblings stared at each other, their faces turning pale, then green.
"But why put a chamber pot inside the house? Why is the privy in here?" Du Wenyan asked, struggling to believe it.
"You said this place was unusual. Everything here is." Su Jin shrugged and pointed to the flush button.
"After you’re done, press here. Water washes everything away."
Yunlian’s little face wrinkled like an old woman’s.
Du Wenyan stared into the bowl, imagining what might have been in it.
At last, he bent over it and vomited.
"Yes! That’s it. You learn quickly!" Su Jin laughed, patting him on the back.
When Du Wenyan finished, he looked at Su Jin with tears in his eyes.
Su Jin pressed the button.
With a gurgle, the water carried the vomit away, and the smell vanished.
"See? That’s how it works. Don’t be too disgusted, though. No one has used it before. It’s clean enough to eat from."
"Really? No one has used it?"
"Really. If I’m lying, I’m a dog."
Du Wenyan sighed in relief. "You frightened me, Brother Wu. If it wasn’t clean, I couldn’t bear it."
"You ate prison slop. What’s so hard to bear about this?" Su Jin laughed.
"Please don’t bring that up. I did it for Yunlian. I thought I might go hungry for a long time."
"You’ve had it rough. What else do you want to ask?"
Du Wenyan recovered and pointed at the bathroom mirror.
"How can it reflect things so clearly? And..."
"It’s a specially made mirror. More useful to know that there’s a cupboard behind it. Here are toothbrushes and cups..."
Su Jin explained the items one by one. Yunlian clung to her brother’s sleeve, barely containing her excitement.
When water came from the tap, Du Wenyan exclaimed again. "It comes out just like that? Incredible!"
"It comes from a tank. Once it’s empty, we’ll need to refill it. Don’t waste it."
"Of course!"
"Now I’ll show you the rest."
In the bedroom, Su Jin pointed to the wall controls. "This controls the air conditioner. It changes the temperature. And this..."
The siblings began exclaiming again.
After a brief tour, they returned to the main room.
"There’s a refrigerator too. The name tells you what it does." Su Jin opened it and took out a bottle.
Du Wenyan saw no ice inside, yet cold air flowed out.
Curious as he was, he did not ask again.
Everything in this vehicle seemed beyond his understanding.
They sat down. Su Jin took three plastic cups and poured cola for them.
Fizz...
The drink foamed in the cups.
The siblings sat with their hands between their knees, struggling to keep their composure.
They looked at the cola, then at Su Jin, then at each other.
"Brother Wu, is that bone-dissolving water? I thought it was only a legend."
"It’s a drink." Su Jin emptied his cup. "Try a little, but don’t drink too much at once."
Yunlian licked her lips and reached for her cup, but Du Wenyan stopped her.
He picked up his own and took a cautious sip.
The sweetness reassured him.
"It’s a little like medicine, but sweet."
"Do you feel anything else? Think carefully," Su Jin said.
"No. Just a strange taste."
"Don’t like it? Tell me honestly."
"I’m not used to it, Brother Wu. It pricks my mouth," Du Wenyan said awkwardly.
Yunlian had already taken a large drink.
She closed her eyes with pleasure.
"It’s good. Thank you, Brother Wu!"