Ten Mile Town, Drunken Immortal Inn!

Just as the City Gate Guard was puzzled, the curtain of the carriage was lifted from within.

A tall, handsome man sat upright inside, clad in neat black brocade robes, his sharply defined features striking.

His deep, shadowy eyes inspired an inexplicable sense of awe.

Lu Xuan's appearance gave the City Gate Guard a jolt.

So this was the young master of Lu Family Pharmacy?

As expected of Lu Family Pharmacy's young master—his bearing was far beyond that of an ordinary man, even bringing immense pressure upon him.

Even a City Gate Guard like him, who had seen countless people, was deeply shaken by the extraordinary air about Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan's appearance completely dispelled the City Gate Guard's suspicions.

There was no doubt that Lu Xuan was the young master of Lu Family Pharmacy.

Otherwise, how could an ordinary household produce such an imposing young man?

Thus, the City Gate Guard did not dwell on it for long. He gave the carriage a brief, cursory inspection and found nothing hidden inside.

He then picked up the token in his hand, glanced at it perfunctorily, and returned it to Li San with both hands.

At this moment, the City Gate Guard spoke with some puzzlement.

"Why is Lu Family Pharmacy leaving the city with so few men? The Official Road outside the County Town has not been very peaceful lately."

"You'd best not travel too far from the County Town."

"Some refugees from other places have turned bandits on certain Official Roads, specifically robbing travelers passing through."

"The authorities have sent men to suppress those bandits before, but they escaped every time. Whenever they see government soldiers, they hide in the deep mountains and ancient forests."

Li San took back the token the City Gate Guard handed him and tucked it into his breast.

Upon hearing the City Gate Guard's well-meaning warning, Li San smiled gratefully. He clasped his hands and bowed in thanks.

"Li thanks you for the warning, sir. My Young Master is merely taking a trip not far outside the city. We should not encounter those bandits."

"Mm, that's good. All right, you may pass."

"You're too polite, Brother Li. If you have the chance, convey my regards to the Lu Family Old Master."

The City Gate Guard returned Li San's salute in the same manner.

He had only given Lu Family Pharmacy's people a special warning because the Lu Family Old Master had once treated him.

Li San said, "Certainly, certainly."

After saying those final words, Li San waved to the Big Man beside him, signaling him to drive the carriage straight out through the city gates.

Only after the carriage had left the County Town did Li San cautiously speak toward the carriage interior.

"Young Master, they say bandits have been causing trouble on the Official Road recently. Should we..."

"No matter."

A calm voice came from within the carriage, cutting off Li San's words.

The journey from the County Town to Willow Ditch Village took roughly two days, and that was with Lu Xuan and the others traveling light.

Before long, the afterglow of the setting sun adorned the horizon, spilling over the yellow earthen road beneath the carriage.

Looking into the distance, buildings carrying the breath of human habitation gradually came into view.

"Young Master, the place ahead is where we'll rest for the night. It's called Ten Mile Town, a necessary passage for most villages and towns traveling to the County Town. Travelers coming and going all stop here to rest."

"We've arrived, Young Master."

Lu Xuan had rested with his eyes closed all along the way. Only after Li San reminded him did he open his eyes, lift the curtain with one hand, and step down from the carriage in a few strides.

Before him stood a fairly large inn, with several scattered tables of guests seated inside.

"Drunken Immortal Inn."

Lu Xuan then sensed his surroundings expressionlessly. There were unexpectedly quite a few martial artists cultivating the martial path here.

There was no shortage of people at the Skin Refinement Realm like Li San.

Then again, anyone traveling back and forth along the Official Road without some strength probably would not even know how they died.

Li San led the way ahead while Lu Xuan followed behind him with his hands clasped behind his back, saying nothing.

The moment Lu Xuan stepped through the inn's doors, his brows furrowed slightly, for he felt gazes from all Eight Directions.

There was no other reason. Lu Xuan possessed a tall, upright physique, coupled with a young and handsome face.

He carried the unmistakable air of a scion from a great family. It was impossible not to draw attention.

Lu Xuan suddenly looked toward a corner of the inn. Three people sat around the table there.

More than a dozen people resembling guards stood nearby.

Of the three seated at the table, two were middle-aged men with somewhat haggard, weathered faces, while the third was a slender Young Woman.

However, the Woman's face was covered by a thick white veil, concealing her appearance.

After noticing Lu Xuan's gaze, the Woman immediately looked away and no longer stared at him.

Two Bone Refining Realm martial artists. Most of those around them were in the Skin Refinement Realm, with another five or six martial artists who had reached great accomplishment in Flesh Refining.

Lu Xuan gave that side a deep look, lost in thought, for he had already sensed the exact strength of those people.

So many martial artists were accompanying her, including two Bone Refining Realm martial artists. This Woman's identity was clearly not to be underestimated.

"Innkeeper, get me one of your finest rooms, and another room near the stables."

Li San stepped forward and called out. A man immediately appeared before him.

The man was short and somewhat plump, dressed in silk brocade, with a fawning smile on his face.

The Innkeeper was exceptionally enthusiastic, his gaze occasionally drifting toward Lu Xuan.

With his many years of experience, he could tell at a glance that Lu Xuan was no ordinary person.

"Yes, yes, honored guests, please come in."

The finest room was naturally for Lu Xuan alone. As for the ordinary room near the stables, Li San and the Honest Big Man who drove the carriage would share it.

Although the inn's stables could accommodate carriages and had people assigned to watch over them,

those who arrived by carriage would generally still send someone to guard it themselves, lest people with ill intentions tamper with it.

Thus, Li San and the Honest Big Man would take turns guarding the carriage. That was also why they had chosen a room near the stables.

Lu Xuan had no intention of remaining in the inn's main hall. He did not wish to be watched by everyone around him like a monkey, so he followed the waiter straight up to the second floor in long strides.

After Lu Xuan left, the small stir he had caused faded away, and order returned to normal.

Yet some people still silently watched the direction in which Lu Xuan had departed.

For instance, the table in the inn's corner, where the Woman Lu Xuan had looked toward was seated.

"Uncle Chen, Uncle Huang, did you notice that young man just now?"

The Woman spoke in an extremely quiet voice, one only the two middle-aged men seated opposite her could hear.

"Yes, Miss, I noticed him."

"That youth truly possesses extraordinary bearing. He does not seem to be an ordinary person."

"Indeed. His aura is exceptionally remarkable, hardly any different from the outstanding young talents we saw in the prefectural city."

"I never expected that, on our way back to Azure Cloud County, we would encounter a scion of such a great family."