They entered a warm room where a furnace glowed within.
The post station master initially paid them no mind, but as soon as he saw that the newcomers carried weapons, he personally stepped forward to greet them and began tending to their needs. He asked if they wished to stay the night or merely have a meal.
Since Niu You Dao and the others had left 9th Ridge County, they had not stopped their journey. With night approaching and a snowstorm brewing ahead, they decided to stay for the night and took several rooms.
Duan Hu and the others didn't understand why Niu You Dao and Black Peony had taken two separate rooms. In their opinion, they were already sharing a bed, so why the pretense?
A short while later, our travelers met in the main hall for dinner. They ate and drank hot provisions, gradually warming up after the cold journey.
Though they were cultivators, and their flesh and blood could withstand the cold, it didn't mean they didn't desire to eat.
They dined cheerfully, conversing with one another.
While Black Peony and the others were still rogue cultivators, their demeanor was entirely different from before. They no longer felt like mere wanderers. Now, they simply followed Niu You Dao in peace.
Lei Zong Kang also occasionally chimed in and conversed with everyone, though he still felt ashamed before Niu You Dao.
Although Niu You Dao had not explicitly said he accepted Lei Zong Kang, he hadn't driven him away either.
Lei Zong Kang also learned that Niu You Dao had actually given Black Peony back the slave deed for safekeeping. To Niu You Dao, that deed was practically meaningless.
Black Peony and the others didn't understand why Lord Dao wouldn't openly accept Lei Zong Kang. It seemed he wasn't against him?
In truth, Duan Hu and Wu San Liang had already urged Black Peony to ask Lord Dao to accept Lei Zong Kang. However, Lord Dao simply gave her no reply.
This left Lei Zong Kang feeling restless. But the others could do nothing either.
Outside, the sound of hoofbeats rang out, and it wasn't long before three men and one woman entered. All of them exuded vitality. It was immediately clear that these were no ordinary folk. They were armed, causing everyone, including Niu You Dao and his group, to cast glances their way.
The two middle-aged men seemed to be accompanying a pair. It could be discerned that the young man among them was the leader.
The young man made no effort to conceal his arrogance. His chest puffed out, his head held high. And when Niu You Dao looked at his face, his eyes widened. He had skin as white as porcelain, cherry lips, and an ear piercing.
Niu You Dao exchanged confused glances with everyone. This was clearly a girl dressed as a man! It looked rather odd.
"Interesting..." Niu You Dao murmured softly.
The newcomers left their horses in the stable and then appeared in the main hall. Like Niu You Dao, they ordered hot food and drinks.
Niu You Dao tapped his chopsticks and said, "The food is a bit bland. I'd love some braised meat!"
Black Peony and the others exchanged glances. Was he trying to stir up trouble?
Then they looked at the several people who had just arrived. Now they understood Niu You Dao's scheme.
After Niu You Dao had taught them how to cook, each of them prepared food just as he did. Lei Zong Kang and Wu San Liang stood up and headed to the kitchen. Before doing so, they gave money to the station master; with money, many things could be arranged with him.
However, the station building was single-storied, so the kitchen was relatively far away.
It wasn't long before the two men returned. Lei Zong Kang held a plate of braised pork in sauce. Instantly, a delightful aroma began to spread throughout the hall.
The recently arrived guests also looked over. The girl, disguised as a man, stared, blinking her eyes. She was curious about what Niu You Dao and the others were eating.
One woman, seeing the young girl's reaction, stood up and approached Niu You Dao's table. Looking at the fragrant meat, she called out to the master, "Master, bring us what they're eating too."
Black Peony and the others looked at Niu You Dao, who was barely suppressing a laugh.
The station master hurried over and, seeing where the woman was pointing, said somewhat awkwardly, "Esteemed guest, I sincerely apologize, but we cannot prepare that."
The woman said in a displeased voice, "What do you mean? Are you afraid we won't pay?" She tossed him a gold coin. "Hurry up and bring it."
The station master smiled bitterly. "Esteemed guest, we truly cannot prepare this. These guests prepared it themselves."
Niu You Dao raised his head and said with a smile, "Sister, there's no need to trouble them. They truly cannot prepare this dish. We made it ourselves according to a secret recipe. Only a handful of people in the entire world have ever tasted this dish."
"..." The woman remained silent and looked at her own table.
Upon hearing that very few people in the world had tasted this dish, the young girl couldn't resist and walked over. She was curious what it was.
The middle-aged men followed her as well.
The young girl looked at the plate with interest and saw meat there. Yet, this meat looked somewhat unusual, and it smelled alluringly fragrant.
A clear, girlish voice rang out, "What is this? Is it tasty?"
Not only was her disguise as a man poor, but her voice clearly sounded feminine.
Niu You Dao said, "Hard to say. Everyone's tastes differ. But you can try it."
The young girl scornfully shook her head. "Ugh..." She continued, "It's got your slobber on it, ugh. I won't!" However, she looked at the woman and nodded to her.
The woman looked at Niu You Dao with a touch of awkwardness and asked, "May I try it?"
Niu You Dao waved a hand, and Black Peony and the others shifted, making room for her.
The woman retrieved her own chopsticks, then extended them towards the dish. She picked up a piece of meat and sprinkled white powder on it. After confirming the meat wasn't poisoned, she finally began to eat.
Slowly chewing, the woman's eyes sparkled.
The girl asked, "How is it? Is it tasty?"
The woman nodded. "Young master, such an exquisite dish is rarely found in this world."
At the address of "young master," Niu You Dao and the others were speechless. Could there really be such a effeminate man? Did they truly think everyone else was blind?
The "young master" brightened, turned her head to Niu You Dao, and said, "Can you make a portion for us too?"
Niu You Dao gestured with his hand. "Since we've met on the road, we can become friends. It seems fate has brought us together. If you gentlemen aren't averse, we can eat together."
The girl snorted again and said, shaking her head, "No need. It's got your slobber on it. Just make us some more."
The middle-aged men looked helpless. One of them rubbed his nose, feeling extremely awkward. However, it seemed there was nothing they could do.
The woman looked apologetically at Niu You Dao and the others, as if asking them not to take her words to heart.
Niu You Dao saw them as if they were laid bare before him. Clearly, they couldn't say anything to this girl.
Niu You Dao replied, "Young master, please forgive us, but we are not your errand boys."
The girl retorted, "Not for nothing. I'll give you money."
Niu You Dao hummed. "Money? In principle, yes. Only, it will cost you dearly. I don't think you can afford it."
Black Peony and the others exchanged glances. It seemed an opportunity had presented itself!
They had followed Niu You Dao long enough to know what kind of person he was.
The girl said, "Speak. How much money?"
Niu You Dao calmly replied, "Not much. Just one million gold!"
The girl's jaw dropped. Her eyes widened as she asked, "How much?"
Niu You Dao clearly and distinctly repeated, "One million gold!"
Sweat appeared on the brows of Black Peony and the others. They understood that these were no ordinary people, and they shouldn't be offended.
Indeed, after Niu You Dao's words, the men immediately narrowed their eyes. Even the woman cast a cold glance at everyone.
The girl cried out, "One million?! That's daylight robbery!"
Niu You Dao leaned his head towards Black Peony and said, "Banknotes!"
Black Peony didn't know what he was planning. She looked at him as if asking, "How many?"
Niu You Dao simply waved his hand. Black Peony eventually took a stack of banknotes from her pocket and pulled out 800,000. She didn't quite understand Niu You Dao's intention, worrying inwardly. Why flaunt their wealth before everyone?
Niu You Dao took the money and tossed it onto the table in front of the woman. "I don't like trouble. Less trouble is better than more trouble. Take the money and leave. There's no need to disturb us while we eat."
Several people looked at the banknotes and mentally tallied them. There were 60-70 notes of 10,000 denomination each on the table. This made them uneasy.
The atmosphere grew tense. The girl's face flushed. She walked to the table and picked up the money. Not believing Niu You Dao, she began to verify their authenticity. Then, as if feeling ashamed, she turned her head and said to her people, "One million, then it is. Count out the money and give it to him. Today, they will definitely cook for me!"
Niu You Dao's eyebrows twitched slightly, then he slowly picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and began to chew it.
The middle-aged men, realizing the money was real, also changed their demeanor.
Therefore, they and the woman stopped glaring at Niu You Dao and the others. Now, they looked at them with caution. Who knew what kind of people they were, or who stood behind them. However, those who could so casually throw around several hundred thousand gold coins at first glance were clearly no ordinary folk.
The woman approached the girl and whispered, "Young master, perhaps we shouldn't."