The atmosphere in the room was sharply divided, with undercurrents of tension. Even a single exchanged glance seemed capable of sparking a storm of blades and shadows.
Chu'he finally waited for Ninth to finish eating before hurriedly pulling him up to pay the innkeeper for their meal and lodging.
Yu Sanniang was busy tallying accounts on her abacus when she smiled and said, "Someone has already settled the bill for you two."
Chu'he’s first reaction was to turn around.
The scar-faced man raised his wine cup in a gesture of goodwill—it was him who had paid.
Yu Sanniang asked curiously, "Do you two have connections with the Spirit Patrol?"
Chu'he blinked. "Spirit Patrol?"
"You didn’t know?" Yu Sanniang explained, "The Spirit Patrol operates under the command of the Lord of Canghai Continent, answering directly to Lord Wenren. That scar-faced man is Zhou Xian, captain of the Spirit Patrol’s First Unit. Since he paid for you, I assumed you were acquainted."
Chu'he replied, "We’ve only crossed paths once."
Most likely, Zhou Xian was worried that Ninth’s killing intent hadn’t fully subsided, so he took the opportunity to extend a friendly gesture.
Ninth cast a glance in their direction.
Zhou Xian and his men tensed, but when Ninth quickly averted his gaze, they relaxed. Spending a little money to foster goodwill was far better than making enemies of the Miaojiang folk.
Yu Sanniang’s eyes lingered between Chu'he and Ninth for a moment before she chuckled. "You seem like a young lady from a wealthy family, unacquainted with the ways of the martial world. I doubt you recognize any of the people here."
Chu'he smiled sweetly. "Then I’d appreciate your guidance."
Yu Sanniang first pointed to the two swordsmen near the door. "Those are disciples of the Murong Manor from the Eastern Continent—Murong Meixin and Murong Meifei, under the Murong family’s master."
Murong Meixin was handsome, while Murong Meifei carried herself with heroic grace. However, the former seemed to have an obsession with cleanliness—his chopsticks and bowl had been soaking in hot water for at least half an hour, untouched.
Since he hadn’t started eating, Murong Meifei couldn’t either.
Finally, Murong Meifei reached for her utensils.
"Wait, junior sister—the filth might still linger."
Murong Meifei smacked him on the head. "I’m not waiting anymore! The food’s gone cold, and I’m starving!"
Murong Meixin’s head hit the table, and it took him a while to recover.
Yu Sanniang then gestured toward the three swordsmen. "Those are the three brothers from the Feng Family Fort beyond the frontier—Left-hand Knife, Right-hand Knife, and Heart Knife. Together, they’re as impenetrable as the fort’s walls."
The hot-tempered one earlier had been Left-hand Knife. To calm him, his brothers were now plying him with wine.
Left-hand Knife and Right-hand Knife were twins, identical down to the direction of their sideburns.
Heart Knife, however, was a dashing young man with refined manners. Noticing the beautiful innkeeper’s gaze, he raised an eyebrow and smiled charmingly.
Yu Sanniang, who clearly had an eye for beauty, beamed. "Young Master Knife, I’ll give you a twenty percent discount on the wine!"
Heart Knife cupped his hands in thanks. "Your generosity is appreciated."
Someone else called out, "Hey, why don’t we get a discount?"
Yu Sanniang retorted without hesitation, "Are you as handsome as Young Master Knife?"
The man fell silent.
Heart Knife’s striking looks earned him the respectful title "Young Master Knife." He produced a folding fan from somewhere, and though dressed in a form-fitting black martial outfit, his graceful fanning didn’t seem out of place—his looks carried the elegance.
The three brothers practiced the same martial techniques, and their bloodline allowed them to communicate with just a glance.
Right-hand Knife murmured, "Third Brother, that Miaojiang man is no ordinary opponent. He might disrupt our plans."
Left-hand Knife added, "Miaojiang fighters aren’t known for their righteousness. They rarely appear in the Central Plains, and now one shows up at this exact moment—could it be related to the affairs of Canghai Continent?"
Right-hand Knife closed his eyes briefly. "That girl with him seems close. Third Brother, why don’t you approach her and gather some information?"
Heart Knife glanced at his brothers. "How?"
Left-hand Knife grinned. "The usual way—use that face of yours!"
Heart Knife sighed inwardly. "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, I may be a flirt, but I’m not dishonorable. If I charm that girl and she falls for me, only for me to leave her heartbroken, that would be unforgivable."
The two bearded men exchanged complicated expressions.
Yu Sanniang continued her introductions, this time pointing to a boy sitting alone at a table. "That’s no ordinary child. He’s from the Red Pavilion—Su Lingxi, the sole heir of the Pavilion Master. Rumor has it he possesses a unique ability: at times, he can glimpse the future."
Chu'he was astonished. "See the future?"
Yu Sanniang nodded. "Many covet his power, but no one dares touch him—his bodyguard is a top-tier expert. Strange, though—this young master never leaves the Red Pavilion. Why has he emerged now?"
Su Lingxi was indeed extravagant, adorned head to toe in gold. The gleaming longevity lock hanging from his neck alone was enough to stir envy.
He regarded everyone present with equal disdain, his gaze so contemptuous it invited hostility. Yet when his eyes landed on Ninth, they flickered strangely, and upon seeing Chu'he, his expression grew even more peculiar.
When Ninth met his gaze with a faint, knowing smile, Su Lingxi shuddered and quickly looked away.
He gulped down tea to steady himself, his mind clearly racing with calculations.
Yu Sanniang offered a kind warning. "Miss, unless it’s for something urgent, it’s best to avoid Canghai Continent for now."
Chu'he nodded with a smile. "Understood. Thank you."
Ninth, bored, covered a yawn.
Noticing the faint dampness at the corners of his eyes, Chu'he asked, "Tired?"
Ninth nodded, his gaze hazy. "Tired."
Chu'he called out to Zhou Xian’s group, "Thank you."
Then she dragged Ninth upstairs to their rooms.
"You take this room. I’ll be next door. And remember—no sneaking into my room through the window tonight!"
Chu'he spoke sternly, her expression unyielding, making it clear she wouldn’t soften.
Strangely, Ninth didn’t protest. He merely replied with a flat, "Got it."
So compliant?
Chu'he eyed him suspiciously, chalking it up to exhaustion. She didn’t dwell on it, entering her own room and locking both door and windows securely.
Leaving Ninth standing alone, he blinked slowly and looked up.
