Four Lakes Commandery, Great River County, Five Li Town.
A breeze carrying moisture from the river swept in, wisps of it brushing against the dilapidated houses of the town.
The sun is setting in the west, and dusk is approaching.
Fishermen row their boats back to town, laden with the day's catch.
The bamboo pole dips into the water, the boat cuts through the waves, and the fish in the cabin are still splashing, their scales shimmering silver in the setting sun.
As the saying goes, "Those who live near the mountains live off the mountains, and those who live near the water live off the water." The common people of Five Li Town rely on the Old Dragon River to make a living.
Lu Guan pulled on the reins, and his Akhal-Teke horse slowly came to a stop.
The horses' hooves clattered on the stone-paved road at the town's entrance.
He glanced around and saw fishermen with their trousers rolled up, their fish traps overflowing with fish beside them, chatting and laughing as they tallied their catch.
There were also a few teenagers, shirtless, chasing each other in the shallow water, their laughter ringing out.
A peaceful and tranquil scene of fishing village life.
But Lu Guan clearly sensed Yao Qi.
He dismounted, took the reins, and, dressed in a blue robe, slowly stepped into the town.
The town is small; the streets are only wide enough for one horse-drawn carriage to pass through, and low adobe houses line both sides.
As Lu Guan walked slowly down the street, fishermen on both sides cast wary glances at him, some even with hostility.
Lu Guan remained expressionless.
It's a small town, and everyone knows the neighborhood. It's only natural to be wary of a stranger suddenly barging in, especially one dressed like a street thug.
But... while being wary is one thing, what's with the hostility?
A Demon-Slaying Envoys at the Gang Condensation Realm was trapped here, and he couldn't help but pay attention to this strange place.
The residents of this small town have a problem.
Reaching the end of the town, Lu Guan arrived at the only inn in Five Li Town.
[ Fisherfolk Inn ]
The plaque was dilapidated, with most of the paint peeling off and covered in cobwebs, swaying gently in the evening breeze.
"Accommodation," Lu Guan called out into the room.
Soon, a portly waiter came running out.
How many guests are there?
"One person."
Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in the waiter's eyes.
"There's another horse. Take it to the stable. This horse is precious; give it the best hay."
After saying this, Lu Guan handed the reins to the waiter and stepped into the inn.
My gaze swept across the counter and saw the fat, big-eared innkeeper behind it, his head bowed as he worked on an abacus.
Only after hearing footsteps did he lift his eyelids and give Lu Guan a smile.
After booking the best room, Lu Guan went upstairs and closed the door tightly.
Just as he closed the door, the waiter returned from the stables and exchanged a glance with the manager.
Both of them simultaneously revealed eerie smiles.
The obese shopkeeper swallowed hard, looking extremely hungry, with a trickle of saliva oozing from the corner of his mouth.
"Fragrance... blood food..."
"Martial arts... delicious..."
The sound was squeezed out from deep in his throat, muffled and unclear, as if his mouth was stuffed with something.
The moment the door closed, Lu Guan's expression instantly darkened.
Two demonic creatures!
He felt it was absurd.
A demon has brazenly opened an inn in town; isn't anyone going to do anything about it?
Where is that Demon-Slaying Envoys?
'... etc.'
Lu Guan suddenly came to his senses. Perhaps it was because the other party had intervened in this matter that he was in trouble and had no choice but to ask for help on the channel.
'These two demons at the True Qi Realm alone are no match for a Demon-Slaying Envoys; the powerful demon behind them is the real culprit.'
Thinking about this, he calmed down.
Anyway, these two demons are right under his nose, they can't escape for the time being.
Rather than killing them now, we should use these two demons to find out what happened and what's so strange about Five Li Town.
"Knock knock."
A short while later, there was a knock on the door.
The waiter, carrying several side dishes, glanced at Lu Guan discreetly while forcing a smile, and said, "Sir, this is your dinner tonight."
Lu Guan remained calm and accepted the tray.
Thank you for your help.
"Of course, of course. Please enjoy your meal, sir. These are all local specialties from Five Li Town, and they are all the freshest catches."
On the plate was a braised fish, a dish of drunken shrimp, a bowl of fish ball soup, and several side dishes.
It looks and smells delicious, and it's very tempting.
Seeing that Lu Guan had accepted the food with the added ingredients, the waiter's eyes revealed a hint of triumph.
Slurp... Once this person is full, it's time for me to eat.
After closing the door, Lu Guan placed the plate on the table without touching it.
'The food must have been spiked; what a despicable tactic.'
Taking advantage of his free time, he lay down on the bed and pretended to doze off.
After traveling all day, and with my body already aching, I definitely needed a good rest.
The long sword at his waist rested at his side, within easy reach.
As night fell completely, whispers could be heard outside the door:
"Have you finished eating? There's no sound from inside the room."
"This is ' Soul-Draining Powder,' even a demon like us would be unconscious for three days after ingesting it, let alone a human martial artist."
"If it weren't for his restrained Qi and Blood, suggesting he might be at the True Qi Realm, I would have closed the door and made my move long ago. There would have been no need for all this trouble."
"The shopkeeper is brilliant!"
"Hmph! After all, our predecessors were unlucky enough to run into the plague-ridden Demon-Slaying Envoys, which is why you and I were able to come out of the river and have fun in this town."
"Better safe than sorry. To avoid us both capsizing unexpectedly, it's best to be cautious."
Hehehe--
The sound faded, and with a creak, the door was pushed open.
In the dim light, the waiter and the shopkeeper, using the faint moonlight, saw Lu Guan lying on the bed and assumed it was the effects of the medicine, so they swallowed hard.
"Slurp..."
Their eyes glowed with an eerie green light in the darkness.
Warriors are no ordinary people; they are the true elixir of life!
With abundant Qi and Blood, and strong muscles and bones, one bite is equivalent to the flesh and blood of dozens of ordinary people.
"It's settled then. Give me your thigh, and I'll give you my head at most," the shopkeeper said.
Upon hearing this, the waiter immediately became dissatisfied.
He put his hands on his hips, stuck out his belly, and raised his voice a few decibels. "Just because I called you 'shopkeeper,' you think you're the real shopkeeper and I'm some kind of waiter?"
"We're both demon generals, why should I give you all the best legs? I want them too!"
"Ha! You want to go for the thighs too? I'll probably add the calves too."
"You should know that even demon generals are ranked, and you are no match for me."
The waiter was speechless for a moment, and the fat on his face twitched.
He was indeed no match for the shopkeeper. Although both of them were demon generals, the shopkeeper had been cultivating for longer than him. If they really fought, he would not have the upper hand.
Then, with a quick glint in his eye, he came up with another excuse. "But you can't keep all the credit to yourself! I contributed a lot too; I was the one Soul-Draining Powder!"
"You drugged me? The drug was mine!"
"The medicine was yours, but I was the one who administered it!"
Just as the two demons were locked in a fierce battle, a burst of laughter suddenly rang out.
"How about I divide it up for you?"