Encountered a black-hearted store in 2007

  After walking for dozens of meters, they finally saw a poplar tree, stubbornly rooted in the barren and poor land. The refreshing green color instantly burst into everyone's line of sight. The vibrant colors of life swaying among the dense branches and leaves brought the entire landscape to life.

  Every vein of the leaf is full of vitality, and every stripe is filled with vicissitudes.

  "Born for a thousand years without dying, died for a thousand years without falling, fallen for a thousand years without rotting, three thousand years of Populus euphratica, one hundred million years of history!"

  A humble inn, the wine flag fluttering in the wind. Through the wooden window, a faint light flickered inside. The old and rotten big door was tightly locked, as if weakly resisting the dark gloom.

  The four words "Nai He Guest House" appeared prominently on the signboard outside the door. Each stroke was imbued with a strong sense of decay.

  "Knock knock knock——"

  Lan Junsheng walked up and knocked on the door of the inn, but no one responded for a long time. He then called out in a loud voice. It was strange that although it wasn't very late, all the shops in Danyang Town were closed.

  "Landlord! Take a room!"

  His slightly childish voice echoed clearly on the desolate and dead silent street.

  Hearing someone calling, the shopkeeper opened a small gap in the door and saw three big men wandering around on the street at almost nightfall. He was immediately frightened and opened the large door to let them in.

  "Come on in, gentlemen! Hurry up! It's getting dark! How dare you be out on the streets at this hour!"

  Ruan Qincheng, Lan Junsheng and Huo Shenyue looked at each other in confusion, not understanding why they couldn't be on the streets after dark. However, they still entered the inn, having traveled for a whole day, it was time to find a place to rest their feet. Within tens of miles around, except here, there probably wasn't any other place to take a break.

  "Bang!"

  As soon as the three men entered the inn, the young shopkeeper hastily locked the thick and ancient wooden door. His flustered appearance left them bewildered for a moment.

  "Three of you are staying in the inn, it's quite empty here, so feel free to choose your rooms! The little one will prepare meals for the three of you!"

  The shopkeeper took down the towel from his shoulder and wiped the dusty table and chairs, saying with a deep affection:

  As soon as the three of them walked out of the Naihe Inn, they saw the shopkeeper running towards them with tears streaming down his face.

  "Three noble sirs, please take me away from here! As long as you are willing to take me with you, I am willing to be your servant!"

  "What's your name?"

  Ruan Qinchun's eyes swept over the shop assistant, who looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, with a hint of innocence in his eyebrows. It was a pity that someone so young had fallen into this dark place, wasting such a good youth.

  "My surname is Sakura, and my name is Nagakumo! As long as you take me with you, from now on you will be the master of Nagakumo! I'll devote myself to you completely, never betraying you!"

  Sakura Longkong knelt heavily in front of Ruan Qincheng, her pitch-black eyes filled with determination.

  "Alright! I'll take you away! A man has gold under his knees. Since you're following me, from now on, you don't have to kneel to anyone! Dignity is given by yourself, apart from that, no one can trample it!"

  Ruan Qincheng saw the determination in Sakura's eyes, smiled slightly, and helped him up, his tone full of convincing dignity.

  Sakura's gaze met hers as she lifted her head, and the stunning smile that greeted him was like the sunrise breaking through, illuminating a life he had thought was hopeless. In that moment, he was convinced that the decision he made was the most correct one since birth!

  This person in front of me can give him a sky to soar!

  "Thank you, master!"

  "Alright, let's go!"

  Ruan Qinchun's eyes gazed at the rising sun in the sky, took a step forward, and walked towards the outside of Danyang Town.

  The closer he got to the stone monument with the three words "Danyang Town" engraved on it, the paler Sakura's face became. At this moment, Ruan Qincheng stretched out his hand and held his trembling hand, smiled slightly, full of encouragement, and took a step forward.

  In an instant, the sky and earth changed, and the sunlight suddenly became several degrees brighter.

  Scorching sandstorm, swept by the wind, blew away the cold and gloomy air on me.

  Sakura felt a scorching heat on his body, and his eyes suddenly became dry and red. A feeling of rebirth rose from the bottom of his heart.

  "I didn't think I'd actually make it out! I've really left Danyang Town!"

  "What's wrong with you, still standing there? Can't bear to leave?"

  Ruan Qinchun waved his hand at the cherry blossoms in the sky, and seeing his unreserved joy, a faint smile floated on his lips.

  "I'm leaving right now! I'm going right now!"

  Sakura charged towards them with a boyish grin spreading across his face.

  A group of people walked towards the burial sand dunes, their silhouettes gradually disappearing into the wind and sand. Except for Huo Shen Yue and Sakura Chōkū, no one noticed that Danyang Town, which had originally stood in the wind and sand, had already disappeared without a trace. Only an ancient poplar tree remained standing upright in the yellow sand.

  It is said that in the Burial Sand Dunes there is a ghost town, which appears at dusk when the moon rises and opens the Ghost Gate.

  Once you enter it, you can never walk out of it.

  The name of that ghost town is: Danyang Town!

  Digression

  Thank you to dear be2012 for the 5 flowers! [Almost every day I can see ya ya sending a drop of flower, so I'll give a warm hug!] Thank you to dear tym117 for the drop of flower! Thank you to dear kucaihua for the 2 drops of flower! [The flower is also a familiar face, little shoe!] o(n_n)o