"Boom-crack!"
A pale-white bolt of lightning tore across the sky. Then, like a child's face that changed at the drop of a hat, the weather above shifted without warning. Moments ago, the sky had been clear for ten thousand miles, yet in the blink of an eye, dark clouds gathered on the horizon. Drip, drip—light rain began to fall. Before long, it became a torrential downpour, as though immortals and gods in the heavens were pouring water straight onto the earth. In no time, the entire street was soaked through.
"Shopkeeper, open up. Time for business."
At the foot of Treasure Pearl Mountain, within Xiongyuan City, a mysterious figure wearing a black conical hat and a loose black robe slowly entered an ordinary inn called Welcome Inn through the heavy rain. His face could not be seen. He spoke to the drowsy waiter behind the counter.
"Oh! A customer! Please, have a seat, sir. Are you dining today, or staying the night?"
Though the waiter was curious about the mysterious man in the black conical hat, he still greeted him with blazing enthusiasm.
Ever since the barbarians had entered the city a few days ago, the inn's business had grown increasingly bleak. Forget ordinary customers—even the wandering heroes who once came and went from on high had vanished without a trace. These past few days, the inn had been spending more than it earned, and even the proprietor could not be bothered to show his face.
Now that a piece of business had finally come along, the customer might have been somewhat strange, but the waiter had guarded this inn for many years. He had welcomed and seen off all sorts of people. What bizarre customer had he not encountered? A mere conical hat was nothing—a small matter.
Besides, in his experience, the more secretive and concealed a customer was, the more generously he tended to spend.
Sure enough...
"Bang!"
A heavy object struck the counter. The mysterious black-robed man slapped a hand down, and a ten-tael silver ingot abruptly appeared before the waiter's eyes.
"A room. Arrange a superior room for me."
Beneath the black robe, Gu Han spoke in a low voice.
Naturally, he was not lacking in money. Treasure Pearl Temple itself was prosperous, and it issued him several taels of silver each month as an allowance.
Moreover, after killing Mad Wolf Butcher Wang Lang and more than a dozen barbarian soldiers two days ago, Gu Han had obtained over a hundred taels in Gold Notes and more than a thousand taels in silver notes in one stroke.
In an era where a single tael of silver was enough for a family of four to live comfortably for an entire month, over a hundred taels of gold plus more than a thousand taels of silver was unquestionably a towering fortune for ordinary people.
"Right away! Sir, please follow me. Heaven Word First Room has been prepared for you!"
At the sight of the gleaming silver, the waiter's eyes went wide. Beaming from ear to ear, he hurriedly led the way.
"Creak!"
With a soft sound, the wooden door opened, and the enthusiastic waiter led Gu Han inside.
The room resembled the guest rooms from costume dramas in Gu Han's first life. It was not large, and its furnishings were simple. Aside from a grand bed with carved rails and painted beams, a table, several chairs, an incense table bearing a small Buddha statue, and a large bathing tub, there was nothing else.
This was how inns in small cities were. Even the so-called Heaven Word First Room was furnished no better than this.
Fortunately, Gu Han was not someone raised in silken comfort. He was quite casual about where he stayed. He could live in imperial palaces and courtyards, or in ruined temples and broken beds. He had never been one for so many particularities.
"You have come from afar, sir, and you must have gotten soaked just now. Shall I fetch some hot water for you to bathe?"
Looking at Gu Han's dripping black robe, the waiter asked with a fawning smile.
"No need. Go get me a straw raincoat. I'll need it when I head out later."
Gu Han shook his head.
It was only because he had yet to attain Inner Qi that he needed something like a straw raincoat to shield himself from wind and rain.
Otherwise, with a mere stir of the Inner Qi within him to cover his body, it would be like wearing a layer of airtight, blade- and spear-proof high-tech bulletproof rain gear. No matter how the wind howled or rain battered him in the Outside World, he would remain unmoved as a mountain.
"Yes, sir. I'll fetch one at once."
Hearing Gu Han's instructions, the waiter did not dare delay and quickly replied.
"Mm. Once you have it, there's no need to come inside. Just leave the raincoat at the door. When I go out, I'll take it myself."
Gu Han gave a quiet grunt.
"Yes, sir! I'll bring one over and leave it outside your door. If you need to go out later, simply take it yourself. I won't disturb you."
The waiter nodded repeatedly with great care, then immediately withdrew from the room with respectful haste.
He knew that while these martial folk spent lavishly, they were always mysterious and had many rules.
He had dealt with quite a few over the years, so he naturally knew what he should ask and what he should not. If his curiosity had been too strong, his head would likely have fallen to the ground long ago. How could he have survived until today?
"Mm. Go on."
As soon as the waiter finished speaking, Gu Han waved a hand to dismiss him. Then he turned around, stood with his hands behind his back, and watched the sheets of torrential rain beyond the window.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Gu Han heard the waiter leave the straw raincoat outside the door and slowly walk away. Only then did he make another move.
"Click!"
A mechanical sound of gears turning rang out. Gu Han opened the incomparably ornate golden box in his hand, his eyes burning as he looked at the three pills inside. Each was the size of a longan, flawless as white jade, and emitted wave after wave of delicate fragrance.
These were one of Treasure Pearl Temple's greatest treasures: the legendary medicinal pills famed throughout the realm as Divine Pills and Sacred Pills, said to revive the dead and regrow flesh upon white bones—the Greater Returning Pills.
Over the past few days, Gu Han had continuously gathered information throughout the city. At last, he had learned the true identity of the Barbarian Chieftain who had killed Jingyuan.
The man was named Salachi. He was the leader of the Flame Tribe, the fifth-ranked tribe among the barbarians. He possessed Minor Accomplishment of Internal Qi, and his blazing Inner Qi, supremely yang and supremely fierce, had swept across all directions and fought throughout the land with few rivals. Even among those at Minor Accomplishment of Internal Qi, he was a top-tier figure.
Therefore, even with Gu Han's current strength, it was nearly impossible for him to swiftly kill Salachi before drawing the attention of Barbarian King A Yanda. Strengthening himself was a necessity.
"Alas! The Greater Returning Pill was originally meant for healing wounds. Increasing one's cultivation was merely a secondary effect. Yet now, to raise my strength, I can only waste some of it."
Gu Han's eyes flashed with a trace of heartache as he looked at the three jade-like pills before him.
These three pills were no ordinary items. They represented three lives, three chances to turn defeat into victory! Yet now, just to kill trash like Salachi, he had no choice but to use one. It truly was a waste.
"Forget it!"
After hesitating for several breaths, Gu Han still decided to swallow one. Though his body was powerful at present, there was still an obvious gap between him and Barbarian King A Yanda. If he wished to kill Salachi today and still return safely, he had no choice but to make some sacrifices.
"Gulp!"
In the silent room, a swallowing sound rang out. Gu Han closed his eyes, picked up a white jade-colored pill, and swallowed it in one mouthful. He was not a man who dithered and hesitated. Once he had made up his mind, he acted without delay.
"Boom!"
The snow-white pill entered his stomach and was swiftly digested by Gu Han's powerful digestive organs, which were strong enough to smelt mountains and rocks.
Before the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Gu Han felt a powerful medicinal force erupt from within his body.
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