Hengdiao Inn didn't look very big, but once inside, it seemed to open into a whole other world. Beyond the entrance, past a folding screen, there were no martial artists drinking and feasting, nor was there a bustling main hall. Instead, two large doors stood in the center.
They looked much the same, but Chen Ye could tell something was off as soon as he reached out to touch them.
The one on the left was wooden and opened with a gentle push. The one on the right was bronze, held shut by what seemed to be some kind of mechanism. It would probably take a thousand catties of force to push open.
"Interesting. So they start sorting people into ranks the moment they walk in?"
Chen Ye thought the owner was quite the character. Those who had the strength could enter through the bronze door; those who didn't had to use the wooden one. Presumably, the welcome waiting behind each door was different, too.
Chen Ye could certainly push open the bronze door, but he was here to find someone. Who knew whether Room Four of the Heaven tier was on the left or the right?
Footsteps suddenly sounded behind him. Chen Ye instinctively shifted aside so he wouldn't have his back to whoever was coming.
A young girl's voice rang out behind him. "Little Daoist, are you trying to get through the bronze door but can't push it open? Want me to help? The fee's only ten taels."
Chen Ye turned around and saw a short girl dressed in black. Her head barely reached his shoulder. She wore a black outfit for night work and a cloth mask over her face, as if she were afraid no one would realize she was a thief.
Their eyes met. The masked girl's eyes widened in surprise. "Well, look at that—the Dragon King's temple's been flooded! You're already here, young master."
Chen Ye's gaze sharpened. "You must have mistaken me for someone else, miss. We've never met."
The girl insisted, "No, no, I haven't. Room Four of the Heaven tier, right? It's true we've never met, young master, but I've admired you from afar for ages. I used to think the rumors were exaggerated, but seeing you today, I know the real thing is even better than its reputation."
Chen Ye asked calmly, "Are you staying in Room Four of the Heaven tier, too?"
The girl waved her hand. "Not exactly. I only got here today, too. I heard you were gathering heroes from all over to save the children who'd been abducted. I may not be much, but I wanted to come and join in. Oh, I nearly forgot to introduce myself."
The girl cleared her throat and formally introduced herself. "This lady's surname is Lan and her given name is Shi. Lan, as in 'blue comes from indigo'; Shi, as in 'the stone from another mountain.' My friends in the martial world have kindly given me the title Little Clever Hands."
As she spoke, the girl held out a pair of hands as delicate as young scallions, her fingers long and nimble. Then, right in front of Chen Ye, she produced two wire picks and worked on the bronze door. A moment later, she had opened the thousand-catties door.
Lan Shi looked rather pleased with herself. "See? Not bad, huh?"
Then she started to walk through the bronze door with Chen Ye.
Watching the overly familiar girl, Chen Ye couldn't help feeling there was something strange about her. She'd let slip far too much. Room Four of the Heaven tier didn't seem to be anyone's private quarters. It was at least a gathering of people, all recruited together.
And their goal was to rescue those boys and girls?
Chen Ye had heard that some martial artists were unhappy about what had happened in Cui County. But would heroes rescuing children really beat the teahouse owner and workers half to death over a few arguments?
There was too much to think about. Chen Ye couldn't make sense of it all at once.
Still, since the girl was so talkative, he might as well pry some more information out of her.
Looking at the open bronze door, Chen Ye asked, "Miss, aren't you worried that I'll follow you inside and break the inn's rules?"
This was clearly a test Hengdao Inn used to screen its guests. Chen Ye could have pushed the door open himself, but if he followed Lan Shi in now, he'd be taking advantage of her.
Lan Shi replied, "Getting by in the martial world isn't all about fighting and killing. Connections matter, too. If you've got a friend willing to bring you through the door, isn't that a skill in its own right? Besides, young master, haven't you already been through a bronze door?"
So that counted, did it? This martial world sure cared about the finer points of human relations.
Chen Ye followed the girl through the bronze door. Lan Shi was like a cheerful little bird, hopping along as she walked.
Chen Ye decided to ask, "Miss Lan, since this is our first time meeting, how did you recognize me?"
Lan Shi grinned. "How could I possibly mistake you? Your face could topple a kingdom. There's no one else like you in the world! Honestly, before I met you, I thought all that praise was exaggerated. 'One glimpse of the young master, and you'll pine for him for life'—how could anything be that over the top?
"I've seen plenty of famous courtesans, too. Every one of them was hailed as a peerless beauty, supposedly so gorgeous that even the emperor would marry her and make her empress. But when you actually met them, they were just putting on airs and had a few talents. We're all human, after all. No matter how beautiful someone is, it's hard to make everyone lose their minds.
"But you're different, young master. One look at you, and I nearly fell for you. Hee-hee, lucky for me I'm still young and haven't started thinking about men yet."
Chen Ye had wanted to find out who the girl thought he was, but she'd rambled on about everything under the sun without getting anywhere near the point.
She really was talkative. From the moment they set off, she never stopped chattering.
"Young master, you've been enjoying such a glorious reputation lately. I hear all sorts of outlaws have come to join you, hoping to discuss grand plans. There's Bone-Splitting Mad Owl, Black Mountain Viper Fiend, and Nine-Fingered Skinning Ghost... They're all famous figures."
Was that right?
Chen Ye was confused. Those names didn't sound like good people, yet they'd all come to save children?
What kind of grand plan were they discussing—rebellion?
Chen Ye was speechless, but before he could ask for an explanation, the girl had already moved on to another topic.
One moment she was complaining that even a cup of tea at Hengdao Inn cost a fortune; the next she was marveling at how many wealthy bullies there were in Cui County. She also kept bragging about her superb lightness skill, claiming she could hit several households in one night and robbed the rich to aid the poor every day.
From the sound of it, she was rather proud of her ability to scale walls and vault rooftops.
Chen Ye couldn't get a word in. He could only maintain a polite smile and listen carefully.
They continued on and soon reached a bustling main hall. At last, it looked a bit more like an inn. More than a dozen tables were packed with martial artists of all shapes and sizes.
Some were drinking, some gambling. Shouts and laughter filled the air.
Chen Ye scanned the room, trying to find that "young master." According to Lan Shi, the mastermind behind all this should be a handsome, dashing man.
But among the martial artists present, there wasn't a single one who could be called handsome. The best-looking could only be described as having regular features. The female warriors, on the other hand, were all quite pretty—at least above average. He hadn't spotted an ugly one among them.
Could the young master not be here?
Before Chen Ye could ask, the sound of a cup hitting the floor came from nearby.
It wasn't a signal to summon knife-wielding bravos. A graceful female warrior had seen Chen Ye's face and accidentally dropped her cup.
When Chen Ye looked over, the woman was still staring blankly. Lan Shi took the initiative to greet her. "Sister Fu Ying, what are you doing here?"
Lan Shi's voice brought the woman back to her senses. She grabbed Lan Shi by the arm and asked excitedly, "Little Shitou! Who's this young hero?"
Lan Shi looked rather pleased with herself and announced loudly, "Sister Fu Ying, just look at that peerless handsome face. Do I even need to introduce him? This is Jiang Shiyue, the number-one handsome man in the martial world!"
Chen Ye gave a bitter smile and shook his head. Someone actually believed that title? Didn't they feel embarrassed?
Still, at least he'd finally figured out who the mastermind behind Room Four of the Heaven tier was.
Lan Shi's shout drew plenty of eyes. Most of the people who saw Chen Ye's face froze on the spot.
The effect of the spiritual cleansing was absurdly powerful. At first sight, it could truly leave ordinary people stunned.
But some of the drunken patrons could barely make out Chen Ye's features. They only heard Lan Shi call him "the number-one handsome man in the martial world," and one of them immediately yelled, "What shameless, lecherous scoundrel dares to take my young master's name?"
Chen Ye looked toward the voice. The rude speaker was a scar-faced drunk. A scar ran from his left ear to his chin, making him look hideously fearsome.
Lan Shi exclaimed, "H-he's Bone-Splitting Mad Owl, isn't he? I heard he loves to snap people's leg bones. Young master, wasn't he one of the heroes who came to join you?"
"So he's the one who snaps people's leg bones? Looks like I've found the right man." Chen Ye planted the Ten Thousand Soul Banner in the ground and asked Bone-Splitting Mad Owl, "Did you break the leg of the worker at Baiye Teahouse?"
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