Dantai

"For peace of mind."

Tong An turned back. The smile on his face was no longer so flamboyant, but it had become all the more sincere.

"The sects and noble families outside open inns to make money, and Spirit Hall opens branch halls to expand its influence. I opened this inn without so many complicated thoughts. I simply felt that when someone came from afar, whether to challenge the Tower or flee disaster, they should at least have somewhere to rest and a hot meal to eat. That is my peace of mind."

He nodded to the two of them, then turned and went downstairs.

His footsteps rang softly against the wooden staircase. Halfway down, they suddenly stopped. Tong An poked his head out from around the corner of the stairs and added something.

"Oh, right. Everyone here knows about what you did in the Soul Master Tournament. A Soul Ancestor killing a Soul Saint, two against seven to seize the championship—that would be enough to boast about for a lifetime outside. But here, we are courteous to you not because you are champions, but because you are different from those people. That is why you are truly welcome guests in Canghai City."

With a smile, he vanished around the bend in the stairs.

Zhou Qiubai stood at his doorway, one hand on the frame as he looked toward the stairs in silence for a long while.

"He's right." Yang Guyun's voice came from another doorway. "The people here are not warm toward guests because of how powerful they are."

"It's because the guests are worth it," Zhou Qiubai finished for him.

At the same time, in the Study of an ancient residence on Upper Cliff, a middle-aged man set down his teacup.

Outside the window stood Canghai Tower, its