The carriage arrived at the small town on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest at dusk.
Just like when they had come last year, the town was small. A single main street ran north to south, lined with all kinds of shops: Soul Tool stores, herbal shops, equipment stores, taverns, and inns.
But this time, Ma Hongjun noticed a change. There were far more people on the streets than last year. Groups of Soul Masters came and went; some had just emerged from the forest, dusty and travel-worn, while others were preparing to enter, full of spirit.
"Peak season." Zhao Wuji saw his confusion. "This is when soul beasts are most active each year, and it's the best time to hunt Soul Rings. In another month, the weather will turn cold, and the soul beasts won't like coming out."
Flender had to try three inns before finding enough vacant rooms.
There were many people and business was good, so the owners were nowhere near as welcoming as last time. Stay if you wanted; if not, plenty of others would.
Flender did not argue. He paid, took the keys, and assigned the rooms.
They ate dinner in the inn's main hall.
Zhao Wuji ordered a huge tableful of dishes: braised pork, steamed fish, stewed chicken, stir-fried vegetables, and large bowls of soup. The table was packed full.
Dai Mubai glanced at Zhao Wuji. Zhao Wuji chuckled and said he was building up strength for tomorrow's hunt, so he would have the energy to fight soul beasts.
Flender did not expose him.
Whenever Zhao Wuji went out, he liked ordering dishes. It had nothing to do with money; he was simply greedy for good food.
Halfway through the meal, Flender put down his chopsticks.
"Tomorrow, we enter the forest in