Old Hand of the Jianghu, "Sssliu" Strange Sound

Li Qing could not help but look toward the rear.

A cloud of dust rose from behind, with two banners hoisted at the very front.

"All-Under-Heaven Escort Agency! We traverse the world!"

Seeing this, a wave of joy washed over Li Qing.

Those are escorts. Perhaps I can follow them later, maybe even hitch a ride or buy some dry rations.

Li Qing moved his weary legs and soon arrived at the post station.

At a glance, there were quite a few people inside, at least five or six.

They were divided into two tables; one table held three burly men who looked exceptionally strong and powerful.

The other table was occupied by a young man and woman, their sheathed swords resting on the table—they were clearly martial artists who walked the path of the jianghu.

The man was handsome and dashing, the woman pretty and charming; both appeared to be in their twenties, seemingly a senior brother and junior sister.

Besides these five, there was a young waiter and a middle-aged innkeeper.

Li Qing's mind raced, They don't look like they're together; there shouldn't be any danger.

Just as he was about to walk in, the waiter barked, "Hey, what are you doing? Beggars aren't allowed inside."

"Get lost!" The waiter's face darkened as he stepped forward to drive him away.

Li Qing was slightly stunned, only then remembering his tattered appearance. He didn't look like a man of means, so it was only natural for others to chase him off.

He raised a hand and said, "Hold on, look at what this is."

With that, he fished a piece of broken silver from his hand—at least a mace of silver, worth a hundred copper coins.

The moment the waiter saw it, his expression shifted instantly from impatience to fawning respect. "Oh, my apologies, honored guest! This one has a foul mouth and failed to recognize a true master."

"Please, come inside!"

Li Qing tossed the silver to him casually. "Bring me some good dishes, fill my water flask, and if you have any old clothes here, I'll buy a set."

"Is a mace of silver enough?"

"More than enough, there's even change!"

"Keep the change as a tip. Go and get it done for me."

The waiter nodded repeatedly and led him to a seat in the corner.

Soon, he brought over a pot of coarse tea and said with a beaming smile, "Honored guest, please enjoy!"

Li Qing nodded and waved his hand dismissively. "That's all."

He poured a cup of tea; the yellow liquid was clear and cool. Although it lacked the fragrance of fine tea, it was enough to quench his thirst.

However, Li Qing did not drink it. As a transmigrator, he had read too many stories.

Many black-hearted inns specialized in robbing passing travelers.

He carefully observed the people at the other two tables while waiting for the escort agency from outside.

Boom, boom, boom.

The sound of wheels grinding against the ground echoed as a caravan of carriages arrived outside.

Li Qing looked closely; there were at least ten people in this group, all of them sturdy, strong-bodied young men.

The leader was a middle-aged man of about forty, at least seven feet tall, his body covered in visibly powerful muscles. He held a Five-Tiger Door-Breaking Saber in his hand, sported a goatee on his chin, and his eyes glinted with shrewdness.

The middle-aged man walked in with two of his subordinates, his voice booming.

"Waiter, fifty steamed buns, two catties of spiced meat, and a basin of cold tea."

Upon hearing this, the waiter hurried over. "Please, honored guests, take a seat."

The head escort and his two subordinates sat down. The gazes of the young couple and the three burly men all turned toward the escorts.

The post station suddenly grew quiet. The waiter brought over the tea and placed it on the escorts' table.

The head escort poured the tea but did not drink it; instead, he pulled out a silver needle and inserted it into the liquid.

He then circled the needle around the inside of the cup.

After doing so, he turned his gaze toward one of the Escort Guards nearby.

The man reached into his sleeve and produced a palm-sized mouse cage with a small mouse inside.

He placed the tea in front of the little mouse, which scurried over and extended its tongue to lap up the tea.

Watching this from the side, Li Qing's eyes widened. Damn, is this biological poison testing? Are these people too advanced?

As expected of those who travel the world. This level of caution—impressive.

Li Qing couldn't help but admire them. I'll have to be this careful from now on.

After a short while, the waiter emerged carrying a food box and quickly arrived at Li Qing's table, serving him three dishes.

A plate of stir-fried greens, a plate of spiced meat, a bowl of vegetable soup, and a bowl of white rice—it seemed to be the best food this post station had to offer.

There was also a water flask filled with clear water.

Looking at the dishes before him, Li Qing felt disappointed, yet he had no choice but to accept it.

After all, in such a godforsaken backwater, having food like this was already good enough.

However, Li Qing did not pick up his chopsticks; he simply waited quietly.

At the two tables opposite him, the waiter was currently serving their dishes as well.

The young man and woman seemed to have used silver needles to test for poison, and the three robust men had done the same.

Everyone possessed a wealth of experience; by comparison, Li Qing seemed rather odd.

Just then, the waiter quietly walked over, bringing a set of gray clothes.

"This guest, I have a set of old clothes here. Would you like to see if they fit?"

Li Qing took the clothes. They were washed very clean; although quite worn, they were not tattered and would suffice to cover his body.

He nodded with a smile, "Not bad, thank you."

Hearing Li Qing's thanks, a smile appeared on the waiter's face.

"You're welcome."

Slurp...

A low, sucking sound of saliva echoed, and Li Qing felt a jolt in his heart.

He whipped his head around to look at the waiter. The waiter's face wore a smile, his eyes full of obsequiousness, but Li Qing felt there was something wrong with that smile.

"Guest, is there anything else you need?"

Li Qing shook his head, "Nothing."

The waiter hurriedly put on a fawning smile and walked toward the back hall, while Li Qing's heart grew increasingly uneasy.

He had clearly heard the sound of saliva being sucked back just now, like something had drooled and then slurped it back in.

It was a sound very much like someone unable to restrain themselves when faced with a delicacy.

It made his skin crawl, and he couldn't help but glance around.

His gaze fell upon the innkeeper, who was fiddling with an abacus behind the counter, holding a brush and seemingly writing something.

From start to finish, the innkeeper hadn't seemed to lift his head once.

Observing closely, Li Qing suddenly felt his hair stand on end; he saw something seemingly wriggling on the innkeeper's neck.

Looking closer, it appeared to be a plump, white maggot.

It rolled off and landed on the tabletop behind the counter.

A chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp, and Li Qing stood up with a start.

"Damn it, have I run into a ghost? How unlucky can I be?"

"Why do I keep running into this kind of Anomaly?"

Li Qing's expression shifted uncertainly, Could it really be like what they say in those novels?

That once you grasp mysterious power, you constantly attract the mysterious? That's just too exaggerated.

Thinking of this, he suddenly slammed his hand on the table.

"Oh no, I dropped something."

He grabbed his water flask and the clothes, then headed straight for the door, his face full of agitation as if he had truly lost something.