192.2 – Luo Hong and the Merak Temple
After turning around a corner, the three people came to a remote street in the inner city.
The two sides of the street are lined with wooden lamp posts with lanterns hanging from them. They all belong to inns. In other words, this place is an agglomeration of inns.
This was obviously specially planned, since it makes things easy to supervise.
The inns neatly arranged on both sides of the street are not large, but the decorations adorning them give them unique characteristics. Among them, there are decorations in the Western Regions and the Easter Sea’s styles. There is even something akin to a yurt [1].
Xue Qilin and them made a quick round and discovered that most of the inns are full. After all, the number of inns in the inner city is fairly small. Furthermore, in order to check the scenery of the inner city, or due to a demand in terms of public security, some foreign merchants and soldiers of fortune prefer to stay in the inner city.
In the end, they took a unique route and came to a rather expensive-looking, garden-villstyled inn.
This inn called “Flowing Water Garden Villa” doesn’t look big and has a small number of rooms. However, each room is a small, independent courtyard house that comes with an artificial lake and a garden, giving people the feeling of “small but complete”. It is rather similar to the Snow-facing Abode in style and layout. The most important thing is that this inn has a stable that can take care of their two horses.
“It feels really expensive! Little Seven, are you really willing to part with so much money?”
While scrutinizing the inn, Xue Qilin sighed and voiced her thoughts.
“It can’t be helped. There appear to be only a few inns with a stable.” Qi Qiqi looked at the inn’s gate, “… it seems like there are no waiters here…”
Qi Qiqi withdrew her gaze and instructed Xue Qilin and Shui Yun’er, “I’ll go ask if there are any vacancies. Qilin, don’t wander off by yourself!”
With that, she walked into the inn alone.
When the red figure disappeared behind the inn’s gate, Xue Qilin turned to look at Shui Yun’er, whose hands are occupied.
“Little Yun, do you need help with a horse?” She pointed to the two horses behind Shui Yun’er.
“Young Ancestor, you’re so considerate.”
Shui Yun’er broke into a beaming smile, chuckled, and handed one of the reins to Xue Qilin. Xue Qilin laughed embarrassedly.
“That’s right.”
When her eyes fell on Shui Yun’er’s luggage inadvertently, Xue Qilin suddenly thought of a question.
In fact, she wanted to ask this since earlier. Shui Yun’er’s luggage looks much lighter than her and Qi Qiqi’s. It doesn’t seem like she has packed much.
Aren’t girls generally fully equipped when traveling? With this question in her belly, Xue Qilin asked, “It seems like you didn’t bring many things… you didn’t bring any fancy clothing?”
Like a kid who pulled off a prank, Shui Yun’er closed an eye mischievously.
“I didn’t.”
“Eh?” Xue Qilin blinked and looked Shui Yun’er up and down, “Are you going to Little Qing’s clan in this clothing?”
“I’m not going.”
“What, you’re not going?”
“Yes, I’m not going.” Shui Yun’er tilted her head and asked, “Is there something wrong?”
“Uh, it’s nothing…”
Whether Shui Yun’er will go or not was inconsequential to begin with. It is entirely up to her. Therefore, even if she doesn’t accompany her to the Gong Clan, Xue Qilin can’t say anything. But, because Shui Yun’er doesn’t have to wear fancy clothing, she feels a little upset.
After Xue Qilin and Shui Yun’er have chatted for a while, Qi Qiqi came back, followed by a young maid and two young grooms.
“There is only one vacant room left. It can’t be helped, we’ll have to make do.
Qi Qiqi told Xue Qilin and Shui Yun’er thusly, troubled. Shui Yun’er, who has always been compliant, has no complaints. As for Xue Qilin, she frowned and asked, “What about beds? How many are there? Isn’t it impossible for us to squeeze into just one bed?”
“Esteemed guest, please rest assured, our bed is big enough.”
The maid answered Xue Qilin’s question very politely.
“Uh, isn’t it problematic…”
If there is only one bed, wouldn’t that mean that we’ll have to sleep together? Xue Qilin felt a little embarrassed.
At this time, Qi Qiqi asked Xue Qilin and Shui Yun’er to hand over the horses to the grooms.
“We may have to stay here for a few days. Please take good care of the horses and use the finest fodder.”
While urging the grooms to treat the horses well, Qi Qiqi didn’t forget to give them a tip, which can make them work harder.
The grooms patted their chests, said “leave it to us”, and led the horses away.
Then, Qi Qiqi turned to the maid, took out some silver fragments from her embroidered pouch, and handed them to the other party.
“Please prepare hot water and bathing utensils for us as soon as possible. We need to take a bath.”
After the maid answered with “yes”, she led the three to a courtyard house in a corner of the inn.
“Esteemed guests, this is it.”
After the maid took them into the room and spoke a few words about the services provided by the inn, she handed Qi Qiqi the key and left.
“Looks pretty good… just one bed.”
After looking around inside the room, Xue Qilin whispered a complaint.
The decoration, layout, and furnishing are impeccable, the daily necessities are all available, and there is even a vanity mirror. But the room is a bit smaller than Xue Qilin’s room in the Snow-facing Abode, which seems a bit constraining for three people. However, as the maid said, the bed is large, more than enough for three people to sleep on.
It seems that the proprietor here has some deviant taste… Xue Qilin had this distasteful speculation.
“Don’t stand there smirking!”
Qi Qiqi knocked Xue Qilin on the head.
“Really, put the luggage away! Or do you want to continue carrying it? Remember to take out the clothes we will use later. We have to wash up quickly, and then get ready to leave. The curfew is nearing.”
[1] – yurt, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yurt