The four halls were all in the city center. Xu Yi's gaze passed through the western street entrance, where he saw a shop with a plaque reading Hongye Hall. It was bustling with customers, its lights bright.
Then he looked at Guanglong Hall's gloomy, chilly building, which looked like a haunted house. The contrast was as stark as day and night.
Xu Yi entered the hall, where a dispirited attendant in blue received him. The man opened with, "If you want to buy something, go to Hongye Hall across the street. We're not open for business here."
Xu Yi was almost amused by the sheer audacity. With underlings like this, how could Guanglong Hall not fall?
He couldn't be bothered to throw his weight around with some nobody. He immediately displayed his token. "I'm the new Hall Master of Guanglong Hall. Tell whoever's in charge here to come see me."
The attendant in blue dropped to his knees with a thud and begged for mercy over and over, looking ready to unleash a flood of tears.
Xu Yi left the hall and went to sit in a private room on the left.
Before long, a pale-faced middle-aged man came hurrying in and knelt before him. He introduced himself as Bai Qing, a manager here. Vice Hall Master Kuang was away, so he was temporarily keeping things running. He asked Xu Yi what orders he had, assuring him that he could take care of anything on his behalf.
Xu Yi waved a hand. "I don't have any orders. Find me a quiet courtyard, and make sure there's plenty of good food and drink. I've been on the road a long time and I'm tired. I need a good few days of rest."
Bai Qing paused, then cautiously agreed and immediately went