The inn already looked like it was closing for the night; the tables were wiped spotlessly clean, and the chairs were placed upside down on the tables.
Qiuci Street was bustling with activity, yet only the largest storefront on this street was deserted and desolate.
Looking at the heroic and valiant girl dressed entirely in fiery red before him, the waiter recalled that the other party had understood all the underworld jargon he had just spoken, and his face burned with a stinging sensation.
Seeing the waiter dazed, Zhang Xia reached out and waved her hand in front of him. "What are you thinking about?"
The waiter hurriedly turned his head to look at the shopkeeper with a guilty expression.
The shopkeeper pushed aside the abacus and account ledger on the counter, walked out from behind the counter with a majestic stride, and cupped his hands in greeting. "Truly, a great flood has washed away the Dragon King's Temple. Please forgive my young waiter for his shallow experience, showing off his meager skills before experts and making a fool of himself. According to the rules of the jianghu, engaging in deceptive play before experts but failing requires stabbing oneself with a knife to resolve the feud..."
The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man dressed in black, short martial attire. He didn't look like a shopkeeper, but rather more like an escort leader who traveled far and wide.
His complexion was ruddy, his temples were bulging, and he spoke with a voice like a booming bell. He was clearly a martial arts practitioner.
A strange couplet, introductory underworld jargon, and a martial artist shopkeeper—this Longmen Inn was unusually mysterious.
The room was warm. Chen Ji took off the black cloak from his shoulders, draped it over his arm, and said flatly, "There's no need to stab yourself with a knife. Since the shopkeeper is open and forthright, we also have no intention of being unforgiving."
The young waiter breathed a sigh of relief.
The shopkeeper thought for a moment. "I'll make the decision. How about waiving your room fees?"
At this time, Chen Ji shook his head. "We plan to stay for a long time. I'm afraid the shopkeeper will feel the pinch if we stay too long. Waiving the room fees is unnecessary. Just prepare three rooms for us..."
Zhang Zheng hurriedly interrupted, "One room. Just prepare one Earth-grade room for us, but we need a few more quilts and mattresses. We will pay extra."
The waiter asked in confusion, "Our inn still has many empty rooms."
The shopkeeper pressed down on the waiter's shoulder and said with a smile, "The guests are paramount. However many rooms the guests want, we will prepare that many rooms. Do not speak nonsense. But since everyone is so magnanimous, my Longmen Inn cannot fail to appreciate the favor. I will arrange an elite Heaven-grade room for everyone but charge the price of an elite Earth-grade room, is that acceptable?"
Zhang Zheng lowered his voice to the buzz of a mosquito and asked, "We already said to drop it, why can't he let it go?"
Zhang Xia responded, "These are the rules of the jianghu. We must accept his offer of benefit so that this matter can be considered settled. In the future, we cannot mention this matter again after walking out the door, so as to avoid ruining the face of the Longmen Inn."
"So that's how it is..."
Zhang Xia cupped her fists like a man and laughed cheerfully, "If we decline any further, we wouldn't be giving the shopkeeper face. We accept your kindness and will stay in the Heaven-grade room."
The shopkeeper cupped his hands politely. "Thank you all for being accommodating. Xiao Liu, lead the guests to the elite Heaven-grade room."
"Alright," Xiao Liu agreed. He bowed slightly and said to Chen Ji and the others, "Guests, right this way."
He stepped on the inn's wooden floorboards, making creaking sounds.
Just as they were about to go up the wooden stairs, Chen Ji suddenly perked his ears. He seemed to hear a rustling sound coming from beneath the floorboards. This sound... was like a sharp iron tool rubbing back and forth on a whetstone.
Chen Ji's footsteps paused, and the sound of sharpening a knife underground also stopped.
Xiao Liu stood halfway up the stairs and turned around. "Guest, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, let's go," Chen Ji smiled and lifted his foot to follow.
...
...
After Chen Ji and the others went up to the second floor, a figure flipped down from the shadows on the ceiling beams and landed lightly beside the shopkeeper.
It was a limping waiter holding a kitchen knife in his hand. "Shopkeeper, are they cold spots (officials)? Or eagle claws (secret spies)?"
The shopkeeper narrowed his eyes and looked toward the end of the stairs. "Unlikely. Government officials wouldn't be so easy to talk to."
"The Eunuch Faction, then?"
The shopkeeper put his hands behind his back and thought for a moment. "If it were the Eunuch Faction, they would have come directly to flip this inn upside down; they wouldn't dress up as guests. You've also seen the Eunuch Faction in Guyuan city; they are the most unruly of all."
"Then which path are they from?"
The shopkeeper thought for a long time but couldn't figure it out. "Recently, there have been a lot of monsters and freaks in Guyuan. Who knows where they came from."
The waiter probed, "Jing Dynasty spies?"
The shopkeeper shifted his gaze. "They don't look like it either. But tomorrow, go out and ask around. These people look like they just arrived in Guyuan. Perhaps an acquaintance saw them when they entered the city. But you must be careful not to fall into the hands of these powerful outsiders."
The waiter was puzzled. "Those people don't look particularly thorny either."
The shopkeeper said calmly, "What is a powerful outsider? A powerful outsider is someone who clearly sees through the abnormalities here but still dares to walk right in."
The burly man asked in a low voice, "What are they here to do?"
The shopkeeper returned behind the counter and said unhurriedly, "Guests who come to my Longmen Inn definitely heard the rumors in town and have something they are seeking. There's no rush. Even if I don't look for them, they will come looking for me sooner or later. We will know when the time comes."
Right at this moment, the heavy cotton door curtain was lifted by someone, and the cold air from outside rushed in, blowing the candlelight in the inn until it flickered unsteadily.
The waiter turned around. "Guest, staying at the inn or... Third Master! A rare guest! Didn't you go to the capital city?"
The newcomer was a middle-aged man with a long blade hanging from his waist. He was blind in his left eye, leaving only the white of the eye in the socket, and his fierce aura was striking.
He patted the dust off his body, took out a copper coin from his sleeve, and threw it through the air at the shopkeeper with fierce momentum.
The shopkeeper leaned back slightly and caught the copper coin between two fingers right in front of the tip of his nose. He held the copper coin up to scrutinize it and saw the two characters "Lantern Fire" cast on the copper coin.
The shopkeeper asked with piercing eyes, "Third Master, the Chief Director has returned to Guyuan?"
Third Master said calmly, "You are becoming more and more unruly. Are the Chief Director's affairs something a person like you can inquire about?"
The shopkeeper's face darkened. "I only call you Third Master out of courtesy. If you weren't on duty by the Chief Director's side, what kind of thing would you be? Back when you were under the General, you were only a defeated opponent. I was just asking if the Chief Director had returned to Guyuan. Why are you glaring at me?"
Third Master sneered, "Put away those little schemes of yours. The Chief Director is not someone you can scheme against. If you break the rules again, I will definitely kill you."
The shopkeeper scoffed and rolled his sleeves up to his forearms. "Just you?"
Third Master rested his left hand on the hilt of his blade. "Want to try?"
Amidst the tense atmosphere, the waiter hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Two Masters, there are still quite a few guests in the inn. We shouldn't disturb them, or else we'll both be punished by the Chief Director. Shopkeeper, Third Master brought a Lantern Fire Copper Coin; there must be serious business."
The shopkeeper was silent for several seconds. He rolled his sleeves back down and said lazily, "Speak. What business brought you to my Longmen Inn?"
Third Master asked coldly, "Several people just entered your inn. Arrange for me to stay in the room next door. Remember, don't ask what shouldn't be asked, and don't speak what shouldn't be spoken."
The shopkeeper suspiciously glanced upstairs and turned to ask, "Wait, who are these people that they actually require you to keep an eye on them? Is this your business, or the Chief Director's business?"
Third Master did not answer.
The shopkeeper asked again, "Want to kill them, or do they have something the Chief Director wants? If they have what the Chief Director wants, I'll kill them in the middle of the night, take it, and send it to the Chief Director."
Third Master said impatiently, "Are you done yet? The Chief Director is not in Guyuan; I came back alone."
"Then why didn't you just say so?!" The shopkeeper suddenly lost interest, waved his hand, and never spared him another glance. "Xiao Wu, lead Third Master to the elite Heaven-grade Room B. Also, wake up the guest in Earth-grade Room C in a while. It's time to send him on his way."
Listening to the address "Third Master" becoming "Third," Third Master raised his eyebrows, but ultimately said nothing.
...
...
In elite Heaven-grade Room A, Xiaoman squatted on the floor making the beds, while Zhang Zheng sat on a nearby chair, bored to death as he used iron tongs to poke the newly burning charcoal in the brazier.
Xiaoman glared fiercely at him. "What are you doing? Make your own bed!"
Zhang Zheng said lazily, "Can't you help me make it?"
Xiaoman shot him a dirty look. "I'm the Young Master's maid, not your maid."
Zhang Zheng widened his eyes. "Why do you always find me displeasing? Your words are always full of barbs."
Xiaoman flattened the mattress with both hands and spoke unhurriedly, "A person who seeks out flowers and willows expects kind words from others? Just don't lead my Young Master astray."
Zhang Zheng hurriedly explained, "When have I ever visited brothels? I said that I disdain those top courtesans! Even though the brothers around me are fond of it, I keep myself clean and honest."
Xiaoman ridiculed, "Right, right, right. In a whole pot of rice, you're the only grain of raw rice."
Zhang Zheng opened his mouth but couldn't say a word for a long time.
Zhang Xia, who was near the window, turned her head. "Do you two have clashing horoscopes? Why are you always arguing... Shh!"
Just as they were speaking, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door.
Chen Ji originally stood by the window frame holding Wu Yun, silently looking out the window through the gap. At this moment, he suddenly turned around, his gaze following the sound as if he could see the silhouette in the corridor through the door and walls.
In the next moment, a creaking sound came from next door as someone pushed the door and entered the room. After that, there was no more movement.
Zhang Xia dipped her finger in the teacup and wrote on the table with water: 'Is it a guest of the Longmen Inn?'
Chen Ji frowned and shook his head. He also dipped his finger in water: 'We just moved into Room A, and someone immediately moved into Room B? Better be careful; the walls have ears.'
Zhang Xia nodded, turned around, and went to brief Zhang Zheng and Xiaoman softly.
Chen Ji turned back and cast his gaze out the window again.
The Heaven-grade rooms were on the third floor of the Longmen Inn, which was already the highest point in Guyuan city. He looked as far as his eyes could see, and could even spot the jumping flames on the distant city walls, with Border Army armored soldiers coming and going like tiny black ants.
Inside the city walls, low earthen houses of varying heights were scattered densely. On the tightly packed rooftops, the silhouettes of powerful figures could occasionally be seen jumping back and forth.
Bringing his gaze closer, the backyard of the Longmen Inn was spacious, complete with a stable, woodshed, kitchen, and cowshed. The sound of singing and drinking games from the neighboring brothel drifted over.
Xiaoman finished making the beds, walked up to Chen Ji, lowered her voice, and said, "Young Master, how about resting early?"
Chen Ji shook his head, took the teacup, dipped his finger in water, and wrote on the window frame: 'You all sleep first. I'll take the first half of the night watch, and Xiaoman, you'll take the second half.'
Xiaoman's heart leaped in shock: Ah? Me?
She suddenly felt a bit guilty. Strange, with a big, burly man like Zhang Zheng here, why would the Young Master ask her to keep watch? Did the Young Master notice something? Has the Young Master discovered my identity as a practitioner? What else has the Young Master discovered?
Many chaotic thoughts flashed through Xiaoman's little head. She had originally wanted to test her own Young Master, but her footing was thrown into disarray by a single sentence from him.
Late at night.
Zhang Xia slept on a floor pallet in the inner room. Zhang Zheng slept with his head tilted on a floor pallet in the outer room. The room's square table had been moved aside to make room for sleeping. Ultimately, no one slept on the bed; everyone slept on the floor.
Xiaoman moved a small stool and sat beside the charcoal brazier, devoid of any sleepiness. Chen Ji stared out the window, and her round eyes stared at Chen Ji's back, unsure of what she was thinking.
At this time, even the singing from the neighboring brothel had stopped. However, Chen Ji's gaze fixed, and his spirits lifted.
In the darkness of the night, he only saw a waiter sneakily walk out of the octagonal building, leading a fat man with a fleshy head and large ears dressed in silk as they went all the way toward the stable.
After entering the stable, the thatched shed blocked his line of sight, and Chen Ji could no longer see any trace of the two.
A moment later, the waiter walked out of the stable and cautiously sized up his surroundings. After confirming that everything was peaceful and safe for a long time, he tightened his collar in the cold wind, breathed into his hands, rubbed them together, and returned to the octagonal building.
That fat man with a fleshy head and large ears had disappeared into the stable forever.