Chapter 67 - Seven - What happened to Sun’s bath? (2/2)
”Turn them away at the door,” Jin Li instructed. ”There is no obligation to host them.” Leon crossed his arms about his chest, thinking momentarily whether to argue with him, but in the end, he decided it wasn't worth it and just nodded. ”I want some tea, but I guess you will be unable to serve it to this Lord.”
”I c-can still m-make it,” Leon argued, thinking that if he was really careful about it, it should still be possible, even without his vision. However Jin Li refused to allow it.
”Don't be ridiculous,” he retorted. ”Just tell me how to work this infernal contraption of yours.”
”Oh okay.” Sun watched as Leon instructed Jin Li to open the small, bottom hinged door to the side of metal box and said that the wood inside needed to be lit. Jin Li glanced at the flint to one side and ignored it, instead channeling his energy into the tip of one finger and shaping it into a spark. Leon continued to instruct his roommate and Sun felt his jaw drop as he noticed that Jin Li's lips curved into a slight smile.
The boy was becoming increasingly confused about the relationship between the two. He'd been sure that they were Master and servant, Jin Li had even called the other his servant, but what Master served their servant tea? However, before he could dwell overly long on it, he was reminded of the bug guts upon his skin and clothes as a blob splattered down upon the floor. Ah! He had stood before a pretty girl looking like he had waded willingly through a pile of rotting corpses! He felt shame flooding him and groaned aloud.
”That's right, you b-b-brought your room m-mate with you,” Leon remembered, the boy had been so quiet, he had not realised that he was still there. ”Sun, how d-do you t-take your t-tea?”
”Forget the tea!” Sun cried, startling Leon. ”Jin Li brought us here to use a bath! I really need a bath!”
”You d-do?” Ignoring the fact of not being able to see the boy standing in the entrance, the stench of dead weevils was brushed away by the wind and the rest had been hidden due to Maimai's perfume. That and the odours within a forest could not always be fresh, Leon only now noticed the smell thanks to Sun mentioning it. ”You d-do, you really do! The b-bath is in the shed, b-but it n-needs f-filling with water. There m-m-may b-be some left in the b-barrel outside. There's a fire p-pit and cooking p-pot in the shed too.”
”I'll leave it to you,” Jin Li informed Sun as he heaped a generous spoonful of honey into his teacup and took a sip.
Sun could only lament having thrown his lot in with Jin Li!