Wash Off the Glamour

The moonlight was like silver.

Outside the camel carriage, it was dead silent without the slightest movement.

The sound of wooden boards scraping against the sand silently seeped into everyone's bones.

They had long grown used to it, used to the men's cursing and urging whenever the carriage stopped.

But now, there was nothing.

Only darkness.

Dead silence.

And the sound of everyone's nervous breathing.

Were there sand bandits blocking the road and negotiating, meaning they were about to trade one hell for another? Or had they encountered a terrifying sandstorm, and the men had abandoned them and fled? Or...

A thousand different thoughts raced through everyone's minds.

Xiao Qingli acutely felt the silent fear radiating from the others. She subconsciously curled up her body and tightly gripped the hem of Qing Yuan's clothes.

Sister Yuan... I'm scared...

Don't be scared.

Qing Yuan gently patted her small hand, her gaze falling on the curtain used to cover the front of the wooden boards.

That curtain was their only barrier from the outside world.

Going on like this was not a solution.

Qing Yuan suddenly stood up and walked toward the outside. The surrounding half-snake girls all stared at her back, watching her walk step by step toward the curtain, lift it, and step out.

Outside the curtain was a stretch of silvery-white sand.

They couldn't see anything after that.

Because the curtain was dropped back down.

Everyone pursed their lips tightly and stared fixedly at the curtain. Xiao Qingli squatted on the ground, her large eyes full of apprehension.

It was only a moment.

The curtain was lifted again.

Outside was still the same silvery-white sand. Qing Yuan walked back in and let the curtain fall.

Nothing happened.

She said.

Almost at the exact same moment.

Rustle, rustle...

The sound of the wooden boards being dragged by the desert camels rang out once more, pulling a long trail across the sand.

Even though everyone remained silent.

That invisible sense of oppression quietly dissipated.

Sister Yuan... Xiao Qingli hurriedly went forward and timidly held Qing Yuan's hand. What is outside?

When you went out, did the Director bully you?

Qing Yuan paused for a moment, then smiled.

Outside, there is the moon and sand, but also nothing at all. And the Director didn't bully me.

Oh...

Xiao Qingli nodded, then pulled her to sit down in a corner. Resting her chin on her hands, she muttered in a low voice, Sister Yuan, when do you think the big brother will come to save us?

If the big brother could come a little earlier...

She closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and prayed, Xiao Qingli is willing to trade three months of not eating noodles for it. No, a whole year of not eating noodles.

Qing Yuan was stunned for a second, then smiled and rubbed her little head. He will. He will be here very soon.

Hehe... when Qingli becomes powerful in the future and awakens that whatever physique, I can protect Sister Yuan from being bullied, and I can also protect more people like us. Xiao Qingli waved her little fists, her eyes sparkling.

Looking at her cute appearance, Qing Yuan's eyes held an inexplicable look.

It was unknown what she was thinking about.

...

When the curtain of the camel carriage was lifted again, what greeted their eyes was a massive bathhouse.

It was resplendent and magnificent.

There was a fountain at the entrance, and the people coming and going were dressed in luxurious clothes. It was clearly an extravagant place.

Xiao Qingli was completely stunned.

In all her life, she had never been to a place like this.

Qing Yuan, however, appeared very calm.

Get down and go inside.

A familiar voice came from outside the curtain.

The crowd orderly stepped out of the camel carriage one after another, and Xiao Qingli curiously observed her surroundings.

Two familiar people were standing beside the camel carriage.

The pot-bellied middle-aged man, the Director, and his accompanying bodyguard, Da Li.

Everything seemed fine.

But Xiao Qingli couldn't shake the feeling that the Director had changed.

She just couldn't put her finger on it.

It seemed... he was a little bit dead.

Hurry up and follow me. The Director's voice carried a hint of impatience as he strode toward the inner hall.

The other half-snake girls lowered their heads and followed behind him.

Oh? Brother Pei!

As soon as they walked in, a young greeter enthusiastically walked up. Seeing the half-snake girls behind the middle-aged man, he was obviously a bit surprised. Brother Pei, what is this?

I took a massive order from the Snake-man Tribe.

The Director smiled and patted his shoulder. I was afraid they would say we abused their kin, so I brought them here to wash up and ensure nothing goes wrong.

Arrange a private room for them to wash.

So their filth doesn't get on the other guests and affect your business.

Oh! Understood, understood.

The greeter immediately bowed and nodded. Brother Pei, follow me. I guarantee everything will be arranged perfectly for you!

He led the group across the lobby to a hidden corridor. At the end of the corridor was a carved wooden door.

This is the place. Brother Pei, are you satisfied with it?

Pushing the door open revealed a spacious bathroom filled with rising steam and a pool of crystal-clear water.

Not bad.

The Director nodded and turned to look at the half-snake girls behind him.

All of you, go in.

Then I won't disturb Brother Pei's elegant mood. Seeing the half-snake girls who entered starting to take off their clothes, the greeter hurriedly retreated. Clearly, in his eyes, an unprecedented battle was about to take place here.

The half-snake girls here were obviously prepared for it too.

Some of them even started to lean closer.

However, the Director merely took a step back, dropped the words Wash yourselves clean, and closed the large door. He left the crowd looking at each other in dismay, unable to figure out what was going on.

But Xiao Qingli obviously didn't have so many thoughts. Looking at the massive bath with rolling steam rising from the surface and crystal-clear spring water, she couldn't help but let out a gasp of amazement.

What a big bath!

She turned her head and looked at Qing Yuan, who had her back to the crowd and was already wrapped in a bath towel. She asked in confusion, Sister Qing Yuan, why are you wrapping yourself in a towel?

Dummy!

Qing Yuan flicked her little forehead. When bathing in a place like this, of course you have to wear a towel. You need to wear one too.

I'm not going to wear one!

Xiao Qingli shook her little head, then swiftly stripped herself completely naked. She threw herself into Qing Yuan's arms and acted spoiled, Sister Qing Yuan, will you help me scrub my back? I heard from my mom that you're supposed to scrub your back in a bathhouse.

This...

Qing Yuan's body visibly stiffened.

You are already a grown-up. How can you let someone else help you with this kind of thing?

No, no, I want Sister Qing Yuan to help me! Xiao Qingli whined playfully, rubbing her little head back and forth against her chest.

This... alright...

Qing Yuan felt helpless. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded.

Come on, I'm ready! Xiao Qingli went to the side of the pool and comfortably narrowed her eyes.

Infected by their mood, the others also loosened up a bit and began splashing and playing in the pool. For a time, cheerful laughter filled the bathroom.

How wonderful.

Watching the crowd laughing in the spring water, Ye Shu smiled from the bottom of his heart, and a trail of happy drool finally leaked from the corner of his mouth.