Volume 2 Chapter 15
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Chapter 15

Zi Li gobbled down his dinner till his plate is cleaned out. He then licked the sauce of the side dish in the corner of his lips as if he still haven’t had enough and sighed in contentment. Although the food was only common, but after nibbling on husk and rotten rations for few days, Zi Li thought that it was already the most delicious food in the world.

A fat attendant ran back and forth to fill up the wooden bathtub while Zi Li was watching from the side and picking the scraps in his teeth leisurely: “Attendant, no need for hot water, just a lukewarm water is enough for today’s hot weather!”

“Got it, sir. The water has already been prepared well. Do you have any other request?” The waiter wiped the sweat in his forehead and asked with a hunched back.

“None for the time being, you may go now!” Zi Li waved his hand in reply.

The attendant stared dumbly, following which he’s poking at Zi Li with a somewhat coy look and said: “Sir, I-I assisted you with ten barrels of water!”

Zi Li looked at him with a weirded expression and replied: “Of course I know, and what’s the matter?”

“That, are you not also gonna give me a tip?” The waiter was anxious. A while ago, he saw his younger co-attendant at the entrance being given a generous tip by Zi Li for pulling his horse in. Now that its his turn, there’s none for him?

When Zi Li heard him, he raised his eyebrow. He plopped his feet on a wooden stool and raised his chin: “You lad think that I’m a money tree? That I could easily give away money? Call your innkeeper and I will ask him if it’s the inn’s mandatory rule to give tips to attendants for their services.”

The fat attendant found himself humiliated, his face paled then turn red. He then he walks away with tail between his legs.

“Hmph! You can’t cheat me out of my money!” Zi Li slammed the door and he scoffed from his nose.

After tearing off the fake beard, he swiftly takes off the filthy and stenchy clothes and impatiently steps into the bathtub. He traveled relentlessly for three days, the muscles in his entire body was terribly sore! He relaxes his hands and feet soaked in the comfortable temperature of the water and slowly enjoyed the satisfaction of the exhaustion in his body being slowly dissolved.

Most of the dye smeared on his skin had already been sweated off, but his face was completely dusted with dirt so it was not that noticeable. Now that it’s wetted, the sticky paste was melting down, gradually exposing the fair and delicate skin beneath. He extended his slim and smooth legs on the opposite edge of the wooden tub. He was humming a song while scooping up water to rub his face and long hair clean.

While he was cheerfully washing, he was suddenly disturbed by the sound of his door being knocked on.

“Who?!” Zi Li was awfully annoyed as he asked loudly.

“Me.” It was the one that didn’t get rewarded from his labor, the fat attendant that was diligently solicitous.

“Don’t tell me you’re still demanding a tip?” Zi Li thought suspiciously, then he immediately yelled towards the door: “What are you doing?! Didn’t this uncle told you earlier that I will be taking a bath?!”

“Open the door first, there’s a guest who want’s to check in.” The fat attendant continued to knock on rudely on the door.

“The fuck? I am not the innkeeper, why the hell are you badgering on my door if someone wants to check in?” Zi Li roared in anger. If this person wants to pick a fight, fine, I will give him a piece of my mind.

“Good sir, I am also a humble traveller staying for the night. It’s just that, the silver coins I was carrying got stolen by a pickpocket. Right now, I only have few copper coins left, not enough to pay for a single room. I wonder if you, good sir, is willing to share room costs with me?” A pleasing to the ear, literate, and well-mannered voice asked politely all of a sudden.

This person really sounds like a gentleman! For getting pickpocket outside, he’s someone who seems to deserves to be pitied. I’ll be staying for just one night anyway, tomorrow I’m going back to the road so I guess it doesn’t matter! With that in mind, Zi Li stood up, wiped his body dry, and wore his inner robe, his damp hair was still dripping water. Zi Li was always annoyed with this rather hindrance of a long hair. He must not let other people see him in his current appearance, but he didn’t have much time to apply the dye. Zi Li quickly took out the human mask from its wrapping and carefully applied it on his face, after that, he puts on the fake beard. His appearance was already so far from the old farmer look he had earlier, but it’s still worked so well in concealing his true appearance. He first checked his appearance in the mirror to see if there is any mistake and then he went to the doorway and opened the door.

That fat attendant had been impatiently waiting since earlier. He was about to knock again but the door already opened. He stared suspiciously at Zi Li when he came out.

“What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen a handsome guy before?!” Zi Li answered with a scowl.

Zi Li then immediately looked at the young man next to him. Sword like eyebrows, star like eyes, straight tall nose, and thin lips. A golden headpiece imbued with jade pinned on his jet black hair. His body clad with cream-colored long inner robe with water like colored cotton outer robe. His belt wrapped in his waist was inlaid with jade. This person’s entire being is cultured and refine, but his temperament exudes modesty. No matter what angle, he looked like a young noble from an aristocratic family.

Zi Li can’t refrain from being puzzled. This guy had a lot of valuable things in his body that can easily cover his stay for a night, does this young master have some kind of habit of sharing a room with another person? Although he doesn’t seem to be bad, but you can’t judge a person by their appearance! Zi Li can’t help but raise his guard up.

“Truly sorry for the disturbance!” The man cupped his hands in greeting and said in a gentle tone.

When receiving polite treatment like this from others, Zi Li could never refuse. However, he still reminded himself that [1]it’s better to be safe than sorry——

TN: The literal translation is, ‘stress the importance of being cautious while sailing.’ I used the equivalent english interpretation of the proverb since it makes more sense.

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