Chương 20: Crossing Paths Again

Felicity, Leah, and Xia arrived at an inn from which music, rowdy singing, and booming laughter spilled out.

"It sounds completely packed…maybe we should look for another one", Leah remarked, eyeing the brightly lit entrance.

"We're in the Southern Lands. There aren't many inns around here", Xia replied calmly.

"Let's go in". They tied their horses outside and stepped through the doorway. The interior was a lively mess: tables crowded with men and women drinking, laughing, and playing cards; some danced in the middle of the hall, while others sang off-key along with the music. A visibly drunk young man staggered toward them, a foolish grin plastered across his face.

"Ladies…you're absolutely beautiful", he slurred.

"My friends and I could buy you a drink, if you'd like". Xia glanced at Felicity and Leah before turning back to the young man, smiling with apparent ease.

"Why not?" she said.

"We're very hungry". The young man's face lit up, and he motioned for them to follow him to a table. Felicity, however, remained still.

"You're not coming?" Leah asked.

"No". She shook her head.

"I'm renting a room and going to sleep. I'm tired". The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. She headed toward the counter and spotted Ethan Light sitting there, eating in silence, his plate barely touched. Felicity stopped.

"Well, well, look who's here", she said coldly.

"The pathetic man". Ethan looked up sharply. His eyes widened.

"You…you're the swordswoman who defeated me. The one who spared my life". He swallowed.

"Why did you do it?"

"Our objective was your sword, not your life", she replied without hesitation.

"Besides, you didn't deserve the honor of dying by my hand". Ethan lowered his gaze for a moment.

"What did you need my legendary sword for?"

"That's none of your business". At that moment, the innkeeper approached.

"I'd like a room for the night", Felicity said. The man shook his head.

"I'm sorry, miss. They're all occupied".

"I just need somewhere to sleep. Don't you have a storage room, a cellar…anything?"

"No, sorry". Ethan hesitated, then spoke.

"You can sleep in my room, if you want". Felicity slowly turned toward him.

"And what would you want in return?"

"Nothing. It's just a way of repaying you. You spared my life, after all". She stared into his eyes for a moment, then gave the faintest hint of a smile.

"Are you this submissive with everyone, or only with me?"

"What?"

"Nothing". She held out her hand.

"Give me the key". Ethan handed it over. Felicity took it and went upstairs. Room number seven. She opened the door, stepped inside and, exhausted, collapsed onto the bed without even taking off her sandals. Meanwhile, at the table, Xia and Leah were eating and drinking with three young men.

"Honestly, I've never seen a woman this tall", one of them said, staring at Xia.

"You look like a goddess". Another, even drunker than the first, glanced at her chest.

"And you've got a figure that's…absolutely breathtaking". Xia tilted her head, resting it on one hand, amused.

"You three are such rascals, aren't they, Leah?" Leah raised her mug and took a long drink.

"Yeah…very much so", she mumbled. Upstairs, Ethan entered the room quietly. He saw Felicity lying on the bed, complaining softly in her sleep. He watched her for a few seconds before lying down on the carpet. He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.