Cultivation by Trial and Error
Chapter 50 - 50 50 Return to the County Town

50: Chapter 50 Return to the County Town 50: Chapter 50 Return to the County Town Leaving the cabin, no further accidents occurred.

The group safely emerged into the woods outside.

“The mahjong tiles have been burned, there shouldn’t be any more abnormalities inside the cabin.”

“Zhang Yong, Zhang Zhi, you two were as exhausted as dogs just now, so why, don’t you rest a bit more inside the cabin?”

Looking at his companions striding vigorously, Chen Hai chuckled and teased.

“You can stay if you want, I’d rather die of exhaustion than go back to that cabin to rest.”

Zhang Zh’s head shook like a rattle-drum.

“How are you speaking to Brother Hai?

If it weren’t for him tonight, none of us could have escaped.”

“Right now, we would probably still be cowering in a corner of the cabin, shivering!”

“Just thinking about that gaunt old hag’s disgusting face, my legs are still trembling.”

Zhang Yong quickly chimed in, of course, he didn’t forget to compliment Chen Hai in the process.

“Exactly, we owe it all to Chen Hai.

If he hadn’t kept his cool when we first discovered an extra person drawing tiles during mahjong, we all might have just collapsed in fright.”

“Chen Hai, you always seemed like a quiet one back at school, I had no idea you were so brave!”

“Lan really has good judgment, knowing Chen Hai is reliable and dependable.”

“Unlike some people, who at the first sign of trouble, abandon their teammates and run for their lives.”

…

The several female classmates, who were trembling with fear inside the cabin, appeared to have recovered a lot after the successful escape.

Chattering non-stop, they thanked Chen Hai while also sarcastically mocking certain others.

The few boys who had come to Shuang State to play and stay overnight, had originally wanted to grow closer to their prospective partners.

But now, it seemed, the outcome was quite the opposite.

Li Ying and Zhang Zhi, Yang Hua and Zhang Yong, had already developed some irreconcilable differences.

Of course, Chen Hai was not included in this.

His leech-like soul couldn’t latch onto the Spirit of Obsession to devour her power.

He might have seemed to gain no advantage from the incident, but from the time they walked out of the cabin to now, his hand had been firmly interlocked with Lin Lan’s.

Lin Lan, who had always been a bit shy, seemed to have accepted this reality.

She now boldly held hands with Chen Hai, no longer afraid of what others might say.

Leaving that cabin and fooling around in this godforsaken place, everyone didn’t wish to linger any longer in Shuang State.

At this time, there definitely wouldn’t be a ferry available, so the group decided to simply take a detour.

Perhaps they felt they’d only find a sense of security upon truly entering the county town.

Eager to return, the group began walking faster and even started jogging.

After taking a huge detour, they finally arrived back in the county town around two in the morning.

“Guys, I plan to find an inn to rough it out for the night, how about you?” Hu Zhiyong asked, glancing at the people around him.

Of course, the person he mainly looked at was Sun Fang.

On the way back to the county, aside from Chen Hai and Lin Lan, he and Sun Fang had also been walking hand-in-hand.

As the class president, good-looking, with deep pockets, and fairly generous, Hu Zhiyong had always been quite attractive to the girls.

That was the only way he could be the only one among the boys to have lost his virginity.

“I know my way around the county, I can find a place to stay myself.

I won’t go to the inn!”

“I’m not going to an inn either.

My cousin is interning at the People’s Hospital.

I’ve visited her before, so I can crash at her dorm for the night.”

“My family has three houses here in the county; if anyone doesn’t have a place to stay, you can come with me!”

…

The last person to speak, Li Ying, delivered a huge blow to the crowd, epitomizing what a wealthy and beautiful girl is.

Sun Fang didn’t speak a word, she just took advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention to exchange a meaningful glance with Hu Zhiyong and nodded slightly.

“Chen Hai, Lin Lan, what about you two?” Hu Zhiyong understood in a flash, but after a slight hesitation, he still focused his attention on Chen Hai’s side and kindly inquired.

As the class monitor, he was often quite responsible.

“I came to the county last night, so I definitely have a place to stay.”

“Lin Lan will follow me; I’ll make sure her accommodation is sorted out!”

“Since everyone has their own plans, let’s just disperse for now!”

Chen Hai nodded with a smile and greeted everyone.

Just then, a pedicab slowly passed by, and he waved his hand, calling out.

After stopping the pedicab, Chen Hai took Lin Lan with him and they both hopped into the back seat.

There were many of these pedicabs around, usually operated by two partners working twenty-four hours a day.

Can’t help it, times are tough now.

In a small county town like Liuyuan County, a lot of workers are laid off, and job opportunities are scarce.

Any trade that could make money would have a bunch of people scrambling to do it.

After they got into the pedicab, the rest of the crew began to scatter as well.

“Master, please take us to Garden Hotel!”

“Alrighty, hold tight.”

…

The cyclist pedaled hard, and the pedicab slowly picked up speed, heading forward.

Ten minutes later, Chen Hai and Lin Lan arrived at the entrance of Garden Hotel.

“Chen Hai, I have relatives in the county; I actually do have a place to stay!”

“The Garden Hotel is so expensive, over a hundred for one night.

How about I go to my relative’s and you find some guesthouse to make do for the night?”

They were already there, but Lin Lan hesitated.

Chen Hai urged her to go in, yet she stood firm, unmoving.

“Lan, I stayed here last night, and the room has been kept open.”

“This place does have expensive room rates, but I don’t need to pay for it; the boss up there is footing the bill.”

“Yesterday, I did a big favor for that boss, and this room is the temporary accommodation he arranged for me in the county.”

“It’s inconvenient for you to disturb your relatives at this hour.

The standard room I have comes with two beds.”

“Take a hot shower after we get back to the room to wash off the bad luck.

After that, you sleep on your bed, and I’ll sleep on mine.

I really don’t know what you’re worried about!”

…

It took a good deal of persuasion and explanations before Chen Hai finally managed to convince Lin Lan.

After pulling her by the hand, they finally stepped into the hotel room a few minutes later.

“Why don’t you take a hot shower?

Lan, do you want to go first, or should I?”

“You go first, Chen Hai!”

“Alright then, off I go!”

Shedding his shirt, Chen Hai, a true man, headed straight into the bathroom, bare-chested.

Given that he was unapologetically masculine, his shower was surprisingly quick.

In less than a few minutes, Chen Hai, with a bath towel wrapped around his waist and his changed clothes in hand, came out from the bathroom.

“Lan, it’s your turn.

Have a shower and then get some early sleep,” he said, placing his clothes on the luggage cabinet beside the room and calling out to Lin Lan.

Having spent half the night in Shuang State and getting a good scare, a hot shower was indeed a way to relax and feel refreshed.

Lin Lan glanced at Chen Hai, who was sitting on the chair by the coffee table, having pulled out a book from somewhere and was now engrossed in it without looking elsewhere.

“Okay,” she nodded in agreement and hurriedly stood up to slip into the bathroom.

Their hands had already intertwined, but now, as a single man and woman shared a room, Lin Lan’s heart still wouldn’t stop pounding.

Chen Hai, who seemed to be earnestly reading, tossed his book aside, stood up, and quietly made his way toward the bathroom.