It was nightfall.
In that era, there was no electrical lighting, and only undeveloped wilderness abounded, so there was little light in the world after dark. The aristocratic area and zone near the church were the only places well lit. Once out of the city, people would have to depend on moonlight and starlight for direction.
Hao Ren and Lily left the city with ease after dark. They did it so effortlessly that the patrolling soldiers did not even notice. They hustled along the avenue outside the city for a moment and saw an open space by the roadside. A dead eucalyptus tree was there with light from a nearly full moon shining on its dried branches. A crow was perched on top of the tree, looking at the two people with its black eyes.
Hao Ren and the crow looked at each other for a while before Hao Ren said, "Are you here to lead us?"
The crow was frightened, cawing and fluttering from one branch to another.
