Passing through the corridor, the light became brighter.
Liang Qu glanced around, finding the surroundings quite pleasant.
The environment was serene, with potted plants along the path.
It was a courtyard-style place, with a small bluestone-brick area in the middle.
There were small rooms lined up in the east, west, south, and north, some with open doors revealing dormitory-style bunks inside.
Xiang Changsong and Hu Qi didn't have them stay in those rooms.
Instead, they led the three of them through the passage in the southeast side to another courtyard.
This courtyard was even better, each direction had a large house.
Xiang Changsong took out a key to open a door.
Inside, there was no moldy smell, it was very clean, and the quilts were neatly folded, clearly having been tidied by someone.
The room didn’t have bunk beds nor was it a large common room.
It was laid out like a hotel from the past, with four beds separated by simple screens.
"So this is the ancient version of a hotel?" thought Liang Qu.
Li Libo looked around curiously, as it was his first time seeing such a place, "This doesn't seem like the ten taels accommodation, does it?"
Hu Qi explained, "The front area is the ten-tael accommodation, where a small courtyard can house almost thirty people. This courtyard requires an extra charge, with housing alone costing eight taels a month."
"Eight taels!"
The three rustic lads from Righteous Prosperity City exclaimed in shock.
Just accommodation cost more than their tuition!
Hu Qi turned to Xiang Changsong, "Senior Brother Xiang, I'll go move some things, you acquaint these three junior brothers with the place."
"Alright."
After Hu Qi left, Xiang Changsong said, "This room isn't occupied, you can discuss among yourselves who will take which bed. Someone cleans it daily, so it's tidy."
"I want the innermost bed!" Liang Qu pointed to the one against the wall, preferring the security of a wall-side bed.
Chen Jiechang pointed next to Liang Qu, "Then I'll take this one."
Li Libo scratched his head, "I snore when I sleep, so maybe I'll take the first bed, keeping a bit of distance from you guys."
"The basics like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and long cloths aren't included, so you'll need to bring your own. For laundry, there are maids to handle it daily, just hand your clothes to them."
Li Libo said nonchalantly, "That's not necessary, Senior Brother. It's just one night, and we're all rough men. Missing one wash won't matter."
Xiang Changsong smiled, "Don’t you guys plan to stay here longer?"
"No way! Eight taels a month would kill me!"
Liang Qu and Chen Jiechang nodded in agreement.
"Junior Brothers Li and Chen I understand, but Junior Brother Liang, why are you also nodding along?" Xiang Changsong laughed heartily.
"You don't need to worry. Over the next two months, not only Junior Brother Liang but Junior Brothers Li and Chen can stay here without any charge."
"Free of charge?!" Li Libo and Chen Jiechang echoed in disbelief.
"Of course. Didn't you hear? Master Yang just expelled Lu Tingcai and the others."
"And what's that got to do with us?"
"It has everything to do with you. They've been expelled, but the money they paid won't be returned. Master Yang, being honorable, wouldn't think of keeping it.
For ordinary mistakes, the money would go to buying rice and vegetables for charity soup. But for serious wrongdoings like today, the funds are used to compensate those who were bullied. It's been a rule for a long time.
Most of them were in the ten-tael range, but Xue Dingyi paid fifty taels. Since Junior Brother Liang is a direct disciple and doesn't need it, the remainder is spread among you. After deducting their expenses for a month, you each get about thirty-six taels."
"Thirty-six taels! Where we're from, that much money could significantly raise our living standards!"
But then an idea struck them.
Without any divine encounters, they both realized they might not break through in three months.
Xiang Changsong and Liang Qu let them mull over their decision.
After a long mental struggle, Li Libo and Chen Jiechang decided to stay.
"Thirty-six taels is unexpected wealth. We both want to give it a shot. If we succeed, we'll earn even more. If not, we won't regret it, having never really received it in the first place."
"Good! Martial artists should have the spirit to press forward!"
From the doorway, Hu Qi's voice rang out.
He was carrying three large wooden barrels stacked together, each nearly four feet tall!
Behind him were several others carrying basins full of hot water, steam billowing in the cold wind.
Once Hu Qi placed the barrels down, they saw inside there were three sets of clothes and three small buckets filled with medicinal liquid, all steaming.
The helpers began mixing the medicinal solution with hot water and poured it into the large bath barrels Hu Qi had brought.
The three of them watched curiously, "Is this a medicinal bath?"
Hu Qi nodded, "Yes, but this isn’t for boosting vitality. It’s to heal injuries, promoting blood circulation and dispersing clots. Hit this twice, and today’s wounds should heal in two or three days. There are also spare clothes, which might not fit perfectly, but they'll do. Consider this my personal compensation since you got into this because of me. If I had been there, they wouldn’t have dared to act so recklessly."
"No need to say that, Senior Brother Hu. We’re grateful for your help," Liang Qu and the other two felt deeply moved.
But Li Libo noticed something unusual, "Senior Brother Xiang, you said Xue Dingyi had the fifty-tael arrangement?"
"Right, his family is wealthy merchants, they can afford it. Why?"
"Lu Tingcai and the others went for the ten-tael, so their families probably aren’t that rich. I get why they would extort us, but why would Xue Dingyi do it too? For someone who can pay fifty taels, what's two taels to him?"
Everyone was stumped for a moment.
"Maybe... some people are just born bad?"
After deliberating for a while, that was the only conclusion they could draw.
"Alright, it’s getting late. The cold weather can be uncomfortable with the water. I’ll have more hot water brought over. After your medicinal baths, rest early. Just dry off, no need to rinse thoroughly."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Hu, Senior Brother Xiang!"
After the two seniors left, the room fell silent quickly.
The three looked at each other.
Then the room filled with wild laughter, nearly shaking the roof tiles loose.
They laughed until they gasped for breath, laughed until their wounds hurt, and then stopped all at once, stripping off and jumping into the wooden barrels.
With the sound of splashing water.
The heat made the wounds sting more intensely at first, but soon the comfort of the warm bath pushed the pain away.
The three relaxed in the water, heads resting on the edge of the barrels, a peaceful feeling spreading from their tailbones to their throats, almost vibrating into sound.
"Whew~~~"
(End of Chapter)