"Get things together. It's time to go," Li Zhōujūn said helplessly.
After that, Li Zhōujūn and Kong Cai'er cleaned up the rubbish they had left behind before setting off.
Along the way, Kong Cai'er followed behind Li Zhōujūn, chattering away with question after question.
"How old are you?"
"Forever eighteen."
"Uh... What do you usually like doing?"
"Wandering around, fishing, and eating chicken."
"What a bland daily routine..."
"Right? It's bland, but I think it's pretty nice."
"Fine. Hey, the scenery here is pretty good."
"It really is."
And so, as Li Zhōujūn and Kong Cai'er chatted, they walked until dusk was nearly upon them.
"It's almost dark. There's only a village ahead, and a forest behind us. Let's find somewhere to stay," Kong Cai'er said to Li Zhōujūn after looking toward the village ahead.
Inwardly, she was being tsundere. See how considerate I am toward you, mortal? I know you can't walk at night, so I'm even thinking of you. If it were just me, whether it was a night road or a mountain path, none of it would be worth mentioning!
"Okay." Li Zhōujūn nodded.
The two of them soon arrived in front of a house built of earthen walls and thatched grass.
Beside it stood another, nearly identical house, joined to the first.
Kong Cai'er went up first and knocked on the dilapidated wooden door.
The door opened soon after.
A sixteen-year-old girl stood behind it.
Although the girl wore coarse hemp clothes, they could not conceal her natural beauty or her delicate, limpid face.
When the girl saw Kong Cai'er, she seemed to notice her clothes, and an inferiority complex immediately surfaced in her eyes. In a timid voice, she asked, "Th-this young lady, is there something you need?"
Seeing that the person who had opened