In the back of the cabin, inside a little bamboo stall, Li Meirong gave herself a quick wash under cold water and belatedly discarded the torn, bloodied robe, hastily exchanging it with another identical looking, yet clean article of clothing. She made quick work of adjusting her unkempt appearance and tied her long black hair into a tousled updo.
The careless way in which she arranged her appearance might have lacked the touch of proper, feminine elegance, but instead, exuded its own individual charm, like that of an adventurous maiden, free of social confines and decorum. Unwilling to tarry any longer, she swiftly left the premises, mounting a crane and flying to the adjacent island.
As soon as she landed on the adjoining island, she led the crane to the nearby stable house and had the mount rest among the flock perched in the barn. She reclined against one of the several haystacks placed about, taking a moment to summon Chou from inside the dimension.
