An Interesting Rental

Innkeeper Hu's heart trembled. He wondered if Ye Fu might be a gullible fool, willing to offer such a generous reward for a simple errand. He suppressed his excitement. Afraid that Ye Fu might be someone important, Innkeeper Hu had learned caution from decades in the jianghu. He smiled and said, "Of course, no problem. I'll be sure to find you a good place to stay, honored guest."

Ye Fu smiled. "I hope you're an honest man, Innkeeper Hu." He pressed his fingers against the counter, then turned and went upstairs to his room.

Innkeeper Hu still wondered why Ye Fu had said that. When he turned to pick up the silver leaf lying on the counter, he saw that the spot Ye Fu had pressed was now a dent covered in cracks.

In an instant, sweat poured down Innkeeper Hu like rain. He was glad he had resisted the urge to fleece Ye Fu just now. To leave a dent in the solid-wood counter without so much as changing his expression, could this guest be an Immortal? Innkeeper Hu also recalled Ye Fu bringing up the subject of "Immortals" earlier. Convinced, he was even more terrified.

Having resolved to take the matter seriously and avoid courting trouble, Innkeeper Hu called out to the waiter and immediately headed out.

Meanwhile, upstairs on the second floor, Ye Fu lay in a wicker chair, basking in the early morning sun. He nodded in satisfaction and took a sip of the tea the waiter had brought him. Whatever else might be said, the tea at this inn was quite good. He liked tea, so he thought that once he had settled down, he would make some first.

"A life like this is truly leisurely," Ye Fu said, comforting himself.

It was his second day without his phone and computer, and he still missed them a little.

In about the time it took to have a nap, Innkeeper Hu returned with news. He knocked on the door very carefully.

"Come in."

With a creak, the wooden door with its small lattice panes swung open. Ye Fu glanced over and saw Innkeeper Hu standing respectfully in the doorway.

"Honored guest, I've picked out a place that meets your requirements."

Ye Fu smiled. "Thank you so very much, Innkeeper Hu. You're a good man."

Innkeeper Hu forced a smile. I'm just afraid you'll press a dent into my forehead.

"Let's not waste any time. Innkeeper Hu, take me to see it." Ye Fu got up and came over to Innkeeper Hu, who bowed slightly, becoming even more cautious.

The two of them headed out right away.

Ye Fu was interested in how people lived in this otherworldly town, and as he walked down the street, he looked around. From what he could see, it wasn't all that different from the historical dramas he had watched before, though the people here were perhaps more vivid and lively. Ye Fu could understand that. After all, historical dramas were acting and couldn't compare to real life in ancient times.

"Out of the way! Out of the way!"

Ye Fu was eagerly taking in all the new sights around him when he suddenly heard the sound of a horse charging from behind, along with a man's shouts.

Chapter 7: An Interesting Rental

Dust billowed everywhere as the crowd scattered.

A young man in a short black robe rode a powerful black horse at a mad gallop down the street, which was packed with pedestrians. Everyone hurried out of the way, their faces still showing lingering fear.

Ye Fu had stepped aside early and watched the young man in black race away in a cloud of dust, throwing the whole street into disarray.

He frowned. "Isn't that a bit much? This is a busy marketplace."

The innkeeper hurriedly said, "Honored guest, please keep your voice down. Don't say that in front of so many people."

"What's wrong?" Ye Fu asked in confusion. "Could that man be some wealthy family's spoiled young master?"

The innkeeper shook his head helplessly. "Honored guest, let's talk as we walk."

"Black Stone Town isn't very big, and people have always lived here in harmony. Some time ago, a new city lord, Xu Shengjie, took office. That young man on horseback just now was the city lord's son, Xu Hao..."

Ye Fu smiled and asked, "What, does he bully men and force himself on women?"

The innkeeper hurriedly said, "Honored guest, please don't provoke Xu Hao. It's not a question of him bullying men and forcing himself on women." He lowered his voice. "The main thing is, I've heard Xu Hao is an immortal cultivator."

"An immortal cultivator? There are some even in a remote place like this?" Ye Fu asked.

The innkeeper gave a wry smile. "I'm just an ordinary commoner. How would I know anything about immortal cultivators? I've only heard about it."

"All right, I won't worry about it. It doesn't have much to do with me anyway." Ye Fu waved his hand. He didn't want to learn more about it either.

After passing through the busy marketplace, the two entered a narrow path that wound toward a secluded spot. It twisted and turned through an alley until a wooden gate appeared before them. They pushed it open and went in, then saw a pear tree in full bloom, its brilliant colors shimmering in the warm sunlight. Standing at the entrance to the path, Ye Fu gazed at the pear tree, then looked around and asked, "Innkeeper, what time of year is it?"

"It's the end of February. Tomorrow will be the first of March."

"Do pear blossoms bloom at this time of year?"

"Apparently not. I don't know what's going on with this pear tree either, but this is the good place I found for you." The innkeeper raised a hand and gestured around.

Ye Fu took a look.

Before him was a square, clean courtyard. It wasn't large, but it wasn't at all small, either. The brilliant pear tree stood in the lower left corner, with a stone table and two stone stools facing each other beneath it, giving the place a fresh, pleasant look. The atmosphere was very nice.

Ye Fu was satisfied at first sight. It really was quiet here, too. The winding path through the alley outside kept many passersby away and naturally shut out their clamor.

At the far end of the courtyard stood the main house. Just as Ye Fu looked up at it, he heard a creak.

The door of the main house opened.

A person of ordinary appearance, dressed in a servant's clothes, walked out. He spotted Ye Fu and the innkeeper at the courtyard gate immediately. The first thing Ye Fu noticed was his eyes, which had a lively look to them.

He walked over with light steps and bowed first, then asked humbly and politely, "Is this the buyer?"

The innkeeper replied, "Yes. May I ask where your master is?"

"Master left Black Stone City earlier, but before he departed, he made arrangements to rent out this residence. Master instructed me that the residence is only for rent, not for sale. The price can be low, but there is one condition."