In his previous life, Lu Wu-bing had read many stories.
He knew that in worlds where order was less than ideal, ordinary roadside inns were generally hotspots for trouble.
The moment one entered, even if nothing was wrong, trouble would sprout from nowhere.
But then again.
It was precisely in such little inns that passing travelers stopped to rest, and inevitably started chatting about heaven and earth.
They would talk about fresh happenings from recent days.
Which would help them understand the current situation.
Although Senior Sister Xiaolan had not said it aloud and had merely complained of thirst...
Lu Wu-bing knew that she was actually worried about the battle at Tiger Ridge Pass. How were Aunt Guanghan and the others from Bright Moon Palace? Had anything happened to her own father?
Experts from the Northern Zhou Demonic Sect had headed south. No one could guarantee that there would be no top-tier masters among them.
What if...
And had the Celestial Star Sect received the news? Had they sent more people to provide support?
Had her mother, who guarded the mountain gate, also come down the mountain?
The two of them had traveled deep within Hengshan for seven or eight days.
It could be said that they had been completely cut off from all news.
Lu Wu-bing was all right. When hungry, he hunted game to eat; when thirsty, he drank mountain spring water; when tired, he lay down fully clothed and slept beneath the wind...
He had even found time to cultivate [Dripping Water Force] until he had opened his second meridian.
His [White Rainbow Pierces the Sun] had been practiced to one hundred and eighty-three thousand sword thrusts.
He needed only another seventeen thousand thrusts to glimpse the splendor of the perfected realm of that thrusting move.
[Inch Step] had likewise been circulated twenty-seven thousand times.
Though it was still in the Proficient Realm, it had nevertheless taken a great step forward in a small way.
It was only that qinggong and internal arts differed from a single sword-thrusting move. Each circulation took longer, so cultivation progressed somewhat more slowly.
So long as no danger loomed over him, he quietly cultivated and improved himself, worrying about nothing.
Ouyang Lan was different. Perhaps girls were more prone to tender feelings and sorrow. Over the last two days, she could neither eat with appetite nor sleep with ease.
The moment she emerged from Hengshan and saw people, she was excited beyond measure.
"If you want to go in, then go. We're not far from home now. The important thing is to eat quickly and hurry on our way."
Lu Wu-bing had always been considerate.
He did not try to dissuade Senior Sister Xiaolan.
"Mm."
Ouyang Lan nodded heavily. When she reached the entrance, she saw that the inn was bustling with customers and doing remarkably good business. There was not a single empty seat.
Her expression turned troubled. Just as she was about to turn and leave, someone called out.
"Two young heroes, meeting by chance is better than meeting by appointment. I happen to have vacant seats here. Why not squeeze in together?"
The speaker was a blue-robed scholar of around thirty, all smiles, with handsome brows and fine features. He had a gentle, pleasing air.
Yet seated beside him was a woman. She did not appear particularly old, but her face was covered in pockmarks. Her gaze was icy, and she sat there without moving.
The atmosphere between the man and woman seemed somewhat off.
The wine jug and dishes on the table had long ceased steaming, yet neither of them had touched their chopsticks.
"Then we'll impose upon you."
Lu Wu-bing's gaze swept over the pockmarked woman before he accepted with a smile.
Because he had unexpectedly seen Mao Mao, who had been sickly all along the journey, actively follow the scent and run over.
For some reason, the little fellow seemed deeply interested in the pockmarked woman as well. It leaped onto her and meowed repeatedly.
That was strange.
Lu Wu-bing quietly exchanged a glance with Ouyang Lan and saw that Senior Sister Xiaolan's face was also full of surprise.
He immediately pulled out a stool and sat down.
"Innkeeper, bring us a few more hot dishes."
The blue-robed scholar rolled up his sleeves, took out two cups from the side, and warmly poured wine. "You two possess extraordinary bearing, like orchids and jade trees. One can tell at a glance that you are young heroes from a renowned sect. To share a table and drink with you both is truly a stroke of fortune."
The man had a good appearance and an excellent attitude.
Though his invitation had been rather abrupt, it was not unpleasant.
Even Lu Wu-bing had to admit that the other man cut an exceptional figure.
He possessed a powerful, infectious affinity.
"I'll pass on the wine. When traveling abroad, my master instructed me not to touch the stuff."
Lu Wu-bing declined, but his gaze fell on the bowls of food.
There was meat and fish, as well as soup and wild vegetables.
Now that he sat closer, the aroma assailed his nose and stirred the cravings in his stomach.
Hearing this, Ouyang Lan was slightly taken aback and said nothing.
It was the pockmarked woman who suddenly spoke.
"Oh ho, this pretty boy is quite cautious. What's the use of putting on such an act?
When traveling abroad, the more you put up a guarded front, the more people can tell you lack experience in the martial world. Other than that pretty face, you're simply good for nothing."
"Hm?"
Lu Wu-bing and Ouyang Lan abruptly turned their heads, looking curiously at the pockmarked girl beside them.
The reason he called her a girl was that although the pockmarked woman's face made one reluctant to look twice, her voice was exceptionally pleasant.
Like pearls falling onto a jade plate, crisp and melodious.
But no matter how lovely the voice, paired with that face, it was hardly enjoyable.
Especially when she was cursing people.
"What are you looking at? And you. That lovestruck look on your face—have you been bewitched senseless by this pretty boy?
One day, you'll regret it. Pah... Looking at you two makes me uncomfortable. You're making me furious!"
"Brother, please do not take offense. My wife suffered a tragic event at home and was deeply traumatized. Something went wrong with her mind.
For certain reasons, she particularly cannot stand the sight of young men and women."
The blue-robed scholar pointed to his own head, his face full of apology.
After saying this, he immediately softened his expression. Carefully scooping out a small bowl of soup, he said gently, "Don't be angry, my wife. It would be terrible if you harmed your health with anger. Have some soup instead.
The innkeeper said this lamb-bone soup was simmered for three hours. Nothing could be more nourishing."
Although his movements were gentle, the spoon was precise and unyielding.
A spoonful of meat soup went down, plugging the pockmarked girl's mouth.
Of course, only temporarily.
Having just swallowed a mouthful of minced-meat soup, the pockmarked girl turned her head and began cursing again.
This time, however, she was targeting the blue-robed scholar.
"Don't put on an act like you're some good man. Didn't you just sell your backside to learn a saber technique from the Eastern Barbarians?
Then, relying on that slick pretty face, you seduced disciples of Spirit Butterfly Valley and secretly learned their qinggong movement arts..."
"Stop cursing, stop cursing. I know, I'm that sort of person. If you truly dislike this inn's dishes, then later your husband will go kill two chickens and personally cook for you."
"Alas, my wife's illness is getting worse and worse. She imagines all sorts of absurd stories. I have truly made a spectacle of myself before you two."
The blue-robed scholar's face darkened, yet he remarkably did not get angry. His emotions remained exceedingly stable.
He continued to warmly entertain Lu Wu-bing and Ouyang Lan, even thoughtfully ladling each of them a bowl of soup.
He played the role of a hospitable host to the fullest.
"I think she isn't sick. You're the one who's sick, and not mildly so."
Lu Wu-bing said with a cheerful smile.
He looked at the two bowls of lamb soup before him and shook his head.
The instant those words came out, every muscle in Ouyang Lan's body tensed, and her hand pressed against her sword hilt.
No matter how bizarre those words sounded, if her junior brother had said them, then they were true. He must have had his reasons.
Though she did not think in the slightest that the pockmarked girl was not sick.
She was plainly sick to the marrow.
Especially when the other woman had called her "lovestruck"—it had nearly driven Ouyang Lan into a rage. Had her eyes gotten drunk on soup?
The diners all around them suddenly fell silent.
They looked toward the table by the entrance.
Clearly, the commotion at this table had struck these passersby as unusual.
Especially since such a bizarre dispute was happening between a handsome man and beautiful woman, it drew even more attention.
Naturally, the pockmarked girl's curses had also drawn plenty of notice.
They were fresh enough, vicious enough.
Who knew whether it was intentional or not...
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