The backdoor

You figure the backdoor must lead somewhere important. You open it, only to find a long, winding tunnel. It seems a bit strange for a Chinese restaurant, but you don't think about it too deeply, you need to find the painted lady.

You walk along the tunnel, deeper and deeper. The dimly lit candles keep you from tripping, but the tunnel is so twisty you have no idea where you'll end up.

Finally, you come to a door. Opening it, you find a large, tiled room, with all sorts of tapestries and artifacts lining the walls. "No painted lady here," you think. Then you look down at the floor. The entire tiled floor is a giant picture! It seems to be of a beautiful chinese woman. She's dressed in a flowing blue robe with chinese symbols written on it, and she's pictured standing, holding a vase high above her head.

"Wow, this must be the painted lady." you say.

All of a sudden, the painting turns its head toward you and says, "Yes, I am the Painted Lady of Xian. But I have no knowledge to give you, foreign traveler, so you must turn back and find your fate."

She has the most beautiful voice you've ever heard, it's as though a mountain stream flowing though a the wilderness. It's indescribable. It's so beautiful, you feel compelled to do what she says. But the key must be somewhere, doesn't it?

Frustrated, you kick the floor near you. Suprizingly, the tile comes right off the floor and to the far side of the room. The tile was the painting of the Lady's glove, but underneath is a smooth floor with a painting of her hand! She's made up of multiple layers.

"Stop, mortal! You do not have the honor to touch the Painted Lady! Leave at once!" She says.

What do you do now?

Written by No-Name

Brushing up a bit

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