The sky gradually darkened.
Dim yellow lights came on in a small inn at the edge of the Star Dou Forest.
The inn was not large. The first floor held a dining hall, while the second floor contained guest rooms.
Though simple, it was clean and tidy. For people who had spent the entire day traveling, it was already a decent place to rest.
After a full day on the road, Qin Jiuxiao and the others decided to rest for the night before setting out again.
Flender walked at the front. He pushed open the door, swept his gaze over the dining hall, then turned back and called out, "We'll rest here tonight and continue deeper into the forest first thing tomorrow morning."
Everyone nodded and filed inside.
The innkeeper was an old man in his fifties. Seeing so many guests arrive at once, his face immediately broke into a broad smile as he hurried forward to greet them.
"Lord Soul Masters, are you eating or staying the night?"
"We're staying, and we're eating."
Flender made the arrangements with practiced ease. "Get us a few rooms, then prepare a table of food."
"Right away!"
The owner answered and hurried off to make the arrangements.
Everyone found their own seats.
Naturally, the dining hall split into several groups.
Qin Jiuxiao sat at one table with Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Zhu Zhuyun, Hu Liena, and Bi Ji.
Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar sat at another table.
The two teachers, Flender and Zhao Wuji, sat at a table by themselves.
Yu Xiaogang stood in the middle of the hall, his gaze moving between the three tables. Then he straightened his collar and headed toward Tang San's table, saying as he walked, "For a teacher to truly become one