stjorthotic Chapter 7 Cliff Inn
Chapter 7 Cliff Inn
"thump"
The old wooden door was pushed open, and a thin young man wearing a straw hat walked in.
A strong wind carrying yellow sand blew in through the door frame from behind him.
Outside the gate, the flag bearing the name "Yamen Inn" fluttered in the wind.
Inside, the hall was extremely dark, and the tables and chairs were scattered about.
The noisy diners fell silent, all turning to stare at the young man. The young man, seemingly unconcerned, removed his straw hat, revealing his surroundings.
The brief silence didn't last long, and soon the noise resumed. A short, dark-skinned man with a wrinkled face approached the young man with a forced smile.
"Guest, are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"
"A bowl of vegetarian noodles."
The waiter frowned slightly, and just as he was about to speak, he met the young man's calm and unwavering eyes.
He forced a smile amidst the chaos, his tone becoming somewhat more amiable. He then quickly took the towel from his shoulder and wiped the tables and chairs.
"Okay, the vegetarian noodles will be here soon."
The waiter then called for another bowl of nun noodles from the kitchen.
The young man sitting at the table was Fang Hongxuan. After two days of fruitless pursuit, Fang Hongxuan had no choice but to temporarily abandon the chase and continue on his way.
Because the armor was too conspicuous, they had to fold it up and bury it underground, and then change into more comfortable clothes to move forward.
He stared at the battered tables and chairs, lost in thought.
柜前
A slender, graceful woman, exuding endless charm with every gesture, was staring at Fang Hongxuan's back.
"She knows some rules, but she's still a novice." The beautiful woman narrowed her almond-shaped eyes, playing with her jet-black hair in her hand.
"He looks unfamiliar, could it be..." The waiter's eyes flashed with malice, and he made a throat-slitting gesture with his hand.
"You scoundrel, are you so desperate for an official position that you're practically going crazy? If you can't even recognize an official's boots, you'll probably only ever be a street thug."
The proprietress chuckled, her captivating charm causing the surrounding diners to momentarily lose their composure.
Even though the two were talking very softly, Fang Hongxuan could hear them clearly, after all, he had been strengthened in all aspects after obtaining the Yin Pill.
He instinctively tucked his officer's boots inside his robe.
"As expected, I still lack experience. I actually made a mistake in such an inconspicuous place."
"Hmph, what's the meaning of serving us boiled pork? There are rules in this industry. Do you really think we're here for the first time?"
A rough voice echoed in the cramped inn as a burly man with a lot of fat smashed the bowl in great dissatisfaction.
The waiter, all smiles, said, "Perhaps the kitchen was too busy and they served the wrong meat. Old Mo, change it!"
Another waiter lifted the curtain of the kitchen and hurriedly crawled out with a plate of meat, placing it in front of the table. Only then did the burly man's expression soften.
The other gloomy man at the same table stared intently at the waiter's throat, the cloth covering his hidden dagger already rolled up.
"Sir, our shop is struggling, please forgive us." Half of her alluring face peeked out from behind the fan, a faint fragrance wafting between her red lips and white teeth.
"Hehe, my brother here is a mute, he can only fight but not talk."
If the shopkeeper truly wants to apologize, the two of us can find a secluded place to carefully consider his apology.
The burly man narrowed his eyes to slits, his mouth already stretched into a grin, salty saliva gushing from his lips. He kept rubbing his hands together, his face revealing his eagerness.
"Bang"
The table behind them was smashed.
Most eyes were drawn to it, and some even drew their weapons without making a sound. They were completely focused, like jackals.
Amidst the flashing swords and clashing blades, several people fell to the ground, their valuables and gold suddenly spilling out of their arms.
Several hands roughly tore open the corpse's clothes and stuffed the scattered valuables into bags. The two people near the door frame then broke down the door and rushed out.
The group left the inn in a hurry.
The people who were eating put down their bowls and chopsticks and followed closely behind.
The bustling inn suddenly became quiet, except for two people sitting quietly in a corner eating.
The burly man's hand was about to reach upwards when the shopkeeper gently patted it down.
"There are still people..."
Just as he was getting impatient, the gloomy man pulled out a steel needle and forcefully stabbed it into the thigh of the muscular man.
The burly man was immediately covered in sweat. The intense pain brought him to his senses, and he dared not make any more frivolous remarks.
Seeing this, the woman giggled and swayed her slender waist back to the counter.
"boom"
The wooden gate was kicked open, and the crowd that had been pouring out was now reduced to just a handful of people. They were covered in wounds, their hempen clothes stained with blood, and some had even lost an arm.
"Boss, give me a whole roasted lamb."
The scarred man at the head of the group took out gold ingots from his bag and threw them in front of the counter.
The waiter, completely ignoring the bloodstains on the gold ingot, put it straight into his mouth. Only after he easily bit off a mark from the ingot did he nod to the shopkeeper with a beaming smile.
Outside
Dozens of corpses lay scattered on the ground, their gruesome deaths shocking onlookers.
"Although this place is only a few miles from the border, it is so chaotic and disorderly, yet there is no record of it in the records."
"It's best not to cause any more trouble."
A short while later, two people emerged from the kitchen, one in front of the other carrying branches. A sheep-like creature was sizzling with oil.
Fang Hongxuan missed him, took out some loose silver coins to pay the bill and leave.
When passing by the corner
"Young hero, can you lead us away from this place? I am willing to reward you handsomely."
The barely audible voice reached Fang Hongxuan's ears. He frowned slightly and then locked onto the two people who seemed out of place with their surroundings.
The loose silver coins fell onto the counter, and the shopkeeper smiled sweetly.
"Sir, this superior room is unparalleled in its wonders; the experience will surely leave you wanting more. Wouldn't you like to try it?"
To everyone's surprise, Fang Hongxuan ignored him completely and walked straight out the door.
One of them immediately stood up and followed. The other hesitated for a moment, then followed as well.
Upon seeing this, the gloomy man put down his chopsticks, got up to pay the bill, and strolled leisurely around the store.
Outside the inn
Yellow sand filled the sky, desolate and bleak.
The body in the mud and sand had long since disappeared, and there wasn't even a trace of dragging.
A glossy black horse was chewing hay in the stable, but it neighed loudly when it saw Fang Hongxuan.
"Young hero, please do me this favor..."
The slender woman in the black robe jogged up to Fang Hongxuan.
"I am not a bodyguard; you have the wrong person, young lady."
"Your skills are exceptional, and you have an upright demeanor. You are definitely not the kind of person who would stand idly by and do nothing when you see injustice." Another woman revealed her pure and beautiful face beneath the brim of her hat.
"Um?"
"Miss was just being straightforward and didn't mean anything by it. I hope you won't take offense, young hero," the maid-like woman quickly tried to smooth things over.
"If it weren't absolutely necessary, we wouldn't dare trouble you, young hero."
"It was only because her family was forcing her into marriage that the young lady ran away from home, not wanting to marry that notorious playboy."
"What does this have to do with me?" Fang Hongxuan remained indifferent.
"I originally thought that this brave man, wearing official boots, must still have some hot blood in his chest, but I was wrong."
The innocent-looking woman's eyes were filled with disappointment, but she remained silent. Then she turned around, intending to return to the Cliff Gate Inn.
Seeing this, the maid could only grit her teeth and stomp her feet, and follow after them.
Fang Hongxuan stared at the official boots, remained silent for a long time, and then spoke.
"You can follow..."