Shen Chu's movements paused slightly, and his gaze turned toward the temple gate.
By the timeline of his previous life, it was already half past two in the morning.
At this hour,
someone outside the temple was calling out, asking to come in?
Shen Chu did not answer. Nor did he lower the rabbit leg in his hand, but his other hand had already settled casually on the hilt of his saber.
The silence lasted quite a while.
Seeing that no one responded, the person outside tentatively asked again, "Excuse me... is anyone there?"
Shen Chu still made no sound. The entire temple was silent, save for the occasional crackle of bursting firewood from the blaze.
After another moment, the person outside seemed to have made up his mind.
The temple's wooden door was gently pushed open with a stick. With a creak, the gap in the door slowly widened.
An old man of around fifty stood at the entrance, using the firelight to take in the scene inside the temple.
There was only one young man, seated beside the fire, holding a rabbit leg roasted golden and dripping with fat. A long saber lay beside him.
The old man's gaze lingered on Shen Chu for a moment before sweeping over the other corners of the ruined temple.
Only after confirming there was no one else did his tense body relax slightly.
The old man immediately piled a genial smile onto his face. He cupped his hands toward Shen Chu and said politely, "Young man, this old fellow is traveling with his family. We missed our lodging for the night and would like to borrow the temple for a night's rest, warm ourselves by the fire, and rest our feet. If we disturb you in any way, I hope you