Fortunately, the fugitives weren't complete idiots. They found a stream to wash up in, making themselves look at least somewhat like tourists.
Night was only just falling.
The town was small and, like many settlements in this country, filthy and rundown. Most of its residents made their living from farming.
Most had finished their farm work for the day, but instead of going home, they sat in small groups along the streets, setting up little tables and pouring glasses of the cheapest local beer. They drank without even bothering with snacks.
The group's arrival certainly drew plenty of attention.
But thanks to their earlier efforts to disguise themselves, and Jiang Yan's specific instructions to stand tall and act as naturally as possible, most people only glanced at them a few times before looking away.
After all, although the place was remote, it stood beside a national highway. Combined with the surrounding wilderness, that meant the occasional thrill-seeking tourist still came through.
Jiang Yan didn't linger, either. To avoid unnecessary complications, she didn't even dare borrow a phone. She simply hurried the group into a shop.
"...Hire a vehicle?"
The shopkeeper—a dark-skinned, skinny middle-aged man—looked over the group, then smiled.
At first, he'd assumed they were a tour group and wondered where their bus had gone. But once he heard Jiang Yan's request, he immediately stopped wondering and began making calculations of his own.
Jiang Yan sighed, suppressing her impatience, and spoke in fluent local language. "Yes. Our vehicle broke down. We were going to wait there for a tow truck, but someone in our group fell ill, so we urgently need to hire a vehicle to take them to a hospital in the city... I looked at your sign just now. You do rent out vehicles here, right?"
The shopkeeper