"Lead the way," Han Yu replied.
The villagers parted instantly, bowing deeply as the elder guided him down a narrow path toward the back of the village.
The guest house was simple but surprisingly tidy. It sat behind a few larger homes and near a small cluster of fruit trees. Its courtyard gate was open, revealing a clean path that had been swept only moments earlier in a hurry.
The courtyard itself was larger than Han Yu expected. There was a small pond that reflected the evening sky, a few patches of flowers blooming around its edge, and a line of pebbles leading up to a wooden building.
Inside the courtyard stood the main house. It had a living room and two bedrooms. Behind it were two smaller structures, one serving as a kitchen and the other clearly meant as a toilet. The roofs were slightly worn, but everything looked functional and hospitable.
The elder bowed again.
