51 A warm bath (1/2)

Xue'er silently entered the inn, upon seeing owner Chao, she greeted him.

”You've returned in one piece.” He said.

Xue'er's eyebrows perked up, ”Was I suppose to return in many pieces?” She asked, her voice was sincere.

[How is one suppose to return in many pieces?]

”Nevermind, you wouldn't understand.” Owner Chao helplessly shook his head. He looked at Xue'er's clothes, which were covered in a layer of light dust.

He didn't ask, but simply said: ”You can have a bath in the back.”

Xue'er nodder her head as she rushed toward the back of the inn, with her eyes lowered. It was really embarrassing for her to return to the inn as if she had gone out to roll in mud, for the first time, she felt her cheeks burning up, the pale skin that was deathly white suddenly had the complexion of rosy color, making it seem strangely unnatural.

She could hear that the entire inn still had no addition of visitors and sighed in relief.

She ran upstairs to the room and grabbed the clothes that she had up there before she went toward the back of the inn.

Stepping into the backyard of the inn, was like chancing upon a barren wasteland. The yard behind was small, with very high and uneven stone walls that made it impossible for sunlight to get to the ground, which caused the once green grass to become dry and yellowed hay. Yet there was a small well where thereupon, one would be able to draw water.

This yard wasn't a place where many people came, so it was full of junk and objects that were rarely used were just lying around waiting to collect up dust.

There was a small shack that was in view, made by thinned out timber, left out in the elements, to be worn down by the elements.

The door was shut in a manner that left a thin crack that one can peer through. Upon closer inspection, Xue'er discovered that the door and its frame were poorly matched, so the best it could do was be closed partially.

[Oh well, it's not as if there will be someone coming here in the middle of the night.]

Xue'er silently told herself the most logical idea possible. Even though she knew that this alleyway was more than meets the eyes.

Besides, could she really pass off a bath that someone so graciously offered her because she did not wash up before returning.

Perhaps she could, but it was not the most polite thing to do.

Xue'er carefully pushed open the door, afraid the door might come off its hinges unexpectedly, but to one's surprise, that had not happened.