After Kong Hou returned to her room, she didn’t fall asleep. She opened the window and glanced at the Qiu City guards surrounding the inn below, then leaned against the window with one hand supporting her chin while the other reached out to catch falling snowflakes.
A horse carriage slowly approached from the eastern end of the street and stopped in front of this inn.
A man dressed in brocade robes and wearing a pure white fox fur hooded cloak descended from the carriage. He looked up and their eyes met.
Huan Zong removed the hood from his head and smiled brilliantly at Kong Hou. In that instant, blooming red plum blossoms and the early winter sun couldn’t compare to the beauty of this smile. Kong Hou couldn’t help but return his smile and waved at him.
“Young Master, someone has died in this inn. We cannot stay here.”
The black-robed middle-aged man walked back to Huan Zong’s side. “Young Master, let’s find another inn.”
Huan Zong looked up at the young woman upstairs. “Miss, aren’t you going to change inns?”
The black-robed man looked upstairs and only then saw a young woman leaning against the window, smiling at his young master. He looked at the young woman, then at Huan Zong, his expression somewhat subtle. On this cold snowy night, when did his young master develop the habit of conversing with people from upstairs to downstairs?
“The news of the death at the inn has probably already spread. Tonight, other inns probably won’t dare accept guests either.” Kong Hou climbed out from the window and flew down to land before Huan Zong. “The room next to mine is still vacant. If Young Master Huan Zong doesn’t mind the inn’s inauspiciousness, you can stay for one night temporarily and leave tomorrow morning.”
Having someone with at least Core Formation stage cultivation or higher as a coachman, this beautiful man called Huan Zong definitely didn’t come from an ordinary family background. Such a person shouldn’t be afraid of a single corpse in an inn.
“Life and death are natural cycles. To me, there is no such thing as inauspiciousness.” Huan Zong smiled. “Thank you for informing me, miss. I’ll be imposing on you tonight.”
The guards stationed at the inn’s entrance thought Huan Zong’s mind might have problems—knowing someone had died in the inn yet still wanting to stay there. Although cultivators didn’t fuss over trivial matters, this was too careless. Qiu City had so many inns. Even if they were unwilling to receive guests at night, as long as you spent a bit more money, there was nothing that couldn’t be done. This handsome young master wore luxurious clothing and didn’t look like someone without money. Why subject himself to such inconvenience?
“Young Master Huan Zong, your guard’s cultivation should be quite high, right?” Kong Hou smiled apologetically at Huan Zong. “Later, could I trouble you both to help me with a small favor?”
Rule number two for traveling: when you need to ask someone for help, ask. Your face must be thick and your heart broad.
“Hmm?” Huan Zong glanced at the black-robed man behind him. “His name is Lin Hu. Miss, whatever you need, please speak freely.”
“Mister Lin Hu.” Kong Hou bowed to the black-robed man. “Everyone at the inn is currently on edge. If a dispute arises later, please help quell it, sir. My cultivation is shallow. When trouble breaks out, I’m afraid I won’t be able to control the situation.”
The black-robed man looked at Huan Zong.
Huan Zong said, “It’s just a small matter. When you need help, miss, just call out.”
Kong Hou breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Huan Zong again. Right now, the people at the inn could still give Yunhua Sect and Zhaohan Sect some face and endure staying at the inn. But come tomorrow morning, what the situation would become was really hard to say.
The people inside the inn were still curious about where this handsome young master had suddenly appeared from. Then, seeing Kong Hou speaking with him as if they were acquainted, they felt too embarrassed to question his identity further and let them enter.
Especially after they discovered the young master’s guard had unfathomably deep cultivation, they had even fewer objections. No matter when, the strong always made people learn to be quiet and silent.
Du Jing was curious about Huan Zong’s identity but didn’t want to run before Kong Hou and play the grandson. He sneakily sidled up to the entrance and asked the guards stationed there what Kong Hou had said to the two strange men earlier.
The guard shook his head in confusion. “Young City Lord, when they were talking just now, this subordinate only heard buzzing sounds and couldn’t make out anything clearly.”
Hearing this, Du Jing instantly understood—someone had used a spell to muddle other people’s hearing. However, was the person using the spell that martial grand-aunt or those two men of unknown identity?
The inn’s staff quickly cleaned the room with nimble hands and feet. Not daring to linger, they fled downstairs like a puff of smoke without looking back even once. Guests who dared to move in knowing someone had died in the inn—they couldn’t afford to offend.
Kong Hou watched the staff’s hurried retreating figure, then turned to look at Lin Hu behind Huan Zong. Was this guard really that frightening?
“Young Master Huan Zong, please rest well. I won’t disturb you.” Kong Hou thought for a moment and added a reminder. “Based on my experience, they’ll start arguing early tomorrow morning. When that time comes, you won’t be able to sleep even if you want to.”
Huan Zong was startled. “I didn’t expect you to understand these matters so well, miss.”
“Actually, it’s not that I understand.” Kong Hou pulled out a Miaobi Ke storybook, somewhat embarrassed. “It was written in Miaobi Ke’s storybook. The part where the protagonist stayed at an inn—he was woken up by the sounds of other people fighting.”
Having said this, Kong Hou saw Huan Zong’s expression was dazed and assumed he hadn’t read this volume yet, so she stuffed the book into his hands. “You haven’t read this one yet, so I’ll lend it to you.” Rarely encountering another reader who also liked Miaobi Ke, Kong Hou was very generous.
This joyful feeling when someone or something you like is finally appreciated by others—ordinary people wouldn’t understand it.
“Thank… thank you.” Huan Zong held the book, briefly stunned before breaking into a brilliant smile.
Seeing him become so happy after receiving one of Miaobi Ke’s books, Kong Hou’s favorable impression of Huan Zong increased. Her original good impression stemmed from his appearance; now the added good impression came from his appreciation of Miaobi Ke.
“You’re welcome. I have many Miaobi Ke books in my collection. In the future, if there’s an opportunity, I can lend them to you as well.” Kong Hou heard him cough several times. “You should rest early.”
She took a few steps, and when she reached her own doorway, she said somewhat embarrassedly, “Um… after you finish reading it, you must return it to me. I only have one set of this book, no extras.” Having said this, her face reddened a bit. A book wasn’t worth much money—insisting someone return it looked stingy no matter how you viewed it. But she only had one copy, and she really couldn’t bear to part with it.
“Please rest assured, miss. I will definitely protect this book well and won’t let it be damaged.” Fortunately, Huan Zong wasn’t a petty man. Not only was he not angry, he smiled even more gently and carefully tucked the book into his sleeve.
Kong Hou breathed a sigh of relief, smiled at Huan Zong with narrowed eyes, and returned to her room.
Huan Zong returned to his room, walked to the table and sat down, then opened the book in his hands. The book showed signs of multiple readings, with fraying at the spine, yet the pages were very well protected. Below some pages, there were annotations by the book’s owner. However, the owner had annotated very carefully, writing in small characters, as if reluctant to let even a drop of ink stain the main text.
“It seems she really likes it very much.” Huan Zong coughed lightly a few times, covering his mouth with the back of his hand, a smile appearing on his pale face.
“Young Master.” Lin Hu took out a jade box and presented it before Huan Zong. “You should take your medicine.”
Huan Zong accepted the jade box, took the medicinal pill and swallowed it, then gently closed his eyes. Lin Hu put away the jade box, glanced at the storybook on the table, and silently retreated to a corner of the room where he began meditating cross-legged.
At first light, Kong Hou was awakened by the sounds of bowls and cups being smashed downstairs. She got up and washed, opening her door just as Huan Zong emerged from his room. She hurriedly waved at him. When Huan Zong drew near, she lowered her voice excitedly. “Look, look, look—there’s a commotion downstairs just as predicted. Isn’t Miaobi Ke amazing?”
Huan Zong looked down at the young woman beside him. Her expression carried three parts excitement and two parts pride, as if Miaobi Ke had done something remarkable that brought her shared glory.
“Yes, very amazing.” Huan Zong heard himself say this.
The atmosphere downstairs was indeed not good. One Core Formation cultivator and two Foundation Establishment cultivators sat at the same table. Their expressions were grim as they stared at the Zhaohan Sect maidservants sitting in the corner, angry yet not daring to speak.
They were all people with matters to attend to. In the latter half of the night, they had proven their innocence and wanted to leave the inn, but the Zhaohan Sect people wouldn’t allow it. Clearly, even Qiu City’s lord felt that people cleared of suspicion could leave, yet the Zhaohan Sect people were so difficult to reason with. According to the rules, wherever a murder case occurred, it should be handled by the local city lord or cultivation sect. This was Qiu City’s territory—what right did Zhaohan Sect have to overstep their authority?
They were simply relying on their sect’s great power and didn’t regard these rogue cultivators and minor sect disciples at all. This was Yunhua Sect’s sphere of influence, yet even Yunhua Sect disciples hadn’t put on such airs.
Those with worse tempers couldn’t help cursing a few times and smashing some bowls and dishes for good measure. But all their dissatisfaction was swallowed back into their stomachs when Lingbo emerged.
Lingbo’s gaze swept over everyone. With a cold expression, she walked to a seat beside them and sat down. The staff quickly scurried over to set out tea, fruit, pastries, and breakfast, then scurried away, their movements so swift they seemed like a gust of wind.
A maidservant used a jade cup to change Lingbo’s tea. Lingbo lifted the teacup and took a light sip. “I heard someone wants to leave?”
“Lingbo Xianzi, this humble one still has important matters to handle. Please be magnanimous, Immortal, and allow me to leave first.” The Core Formation cultivator stood and clasped his fists. “I am a disciple of Longhu Sect. I have no grudge with your esteemed sect—how could I possibly harm your sect’s maidservant?”
“Longhu Sect is an orthodox sect and naturally wouldn’t do such things. But if I let you leave today and don’t let others leave, wouldn’t that be unfair?” Lingbo pulled at the corner of her mouth. “I ask this fellow Daoist to endure for two more days. Please don’t make things difficult for this little woman. Lingbo apologizes in advance to everyone for the offense.”
The Core Formation cultivator’s expression changed several times, but ultimately he didn’t dare cause a scene.
“Too much bullying!” A relatively young cultivator slapped the table and stood up. “You Zhaohan Sect people shouldn’t bully others too much! If you can’t find the killer in one day, we can’t leave for one day. Does this mean if you can’t find the killer in a month, we must stay here for a month? Even if you’re a great sect disciple, you can’t humiliate people like this!”
Lingbo glanced at him coldly and suddenly struck like lightning. Before anyone could see how she moved, the cultivator who had just slapped the table was sent flying into the wall and fell to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Everyone immediately fell silent as cicadas in winter.
“What’s going on?” A red-robed young woman came downstairs. Her tone was light, as if she hadn’t noticed the strange atmosphere below. Smiling, she walked among the crowd and, seeing the cultivator collapsed on the ground, blinked her large eyes. “Oh my, why is he coughing up blood?”
She walked to the cultivator’s side, stuffed a medicinal pill into his mouth, helped him sit up, and checked his meridians. After confirming his life wasn’t in danger, she stood and smiled at Lingbo. “Lingbo Xianzi, you’re up so early?”
“My maidservant was killed without reason. How can I sleep?” Seeing Kong Hou help up the cultivator who had opposed her, Lingbo forced a smile at the corner of her mouth. “Did Kong Hou Xianzi sleep well last night?”
“Thank you for your concern, Immortal. I slept quite well.” Kong Hou smiled with complete innocence, as if she truly didn’t know Lingbo was already unhappy. She walked to an empty table and sat down, then turned and smiled toward upstairs.
Lingbo looked toward the stairway and saw an incomparably handsome white-robed man standing there. His expression was indifferent, as if everything in the world had nothing to do with him. All the noise and quarreling around him couldn’t affect him in the slightest.
“This side doesn’t catch the wind. Sit here.” Kong Hou beckoned to this man.
So Lingbo watched as this cold-expressioned man’s face revealed a smile, like pristine white snow finally touched by the warmth of human life, suddenly coming alive. She withdrew her gaze and frowned. When did this man appear? Last night, there had been no such person present.
After Huan Zong and Lin Hu sat down, the staff once again used the fastest speed to set out bowls, chopsticks, and breakfast, then disappeared at the fastest speed.
This inn charged relatively high fees, so breakfast was prepared both abundantly and exquisitely. Although Kong Hou had achieved Foundation Establishment, she still maintained the habit of eating. Seeing breakfast on the table, she picked up her chopsticks without thinking and began eating.
Seeing Kong Hou pick up her chopsticks, Huan Zong also picked up a crystal dumpling, placed it in his bowl, and tasted it. The flavor wasn’t particularly good but wasn’t bad either. However, perhaps because the young woman sitting across from him was eating with such relish, he also developed an appetite and ate two in a row before putting down his chopsticks.
Lin Hu poured a cup of clear water and handed it to him. After drinking two sips, Huan Zong set it down and quietly watched Kong Hou eat. In fact, in the entire hall, the only table where anyone could settle down to eat was theirs.
“Kong Hou Xianzi, this friend of yours looks rather unfamiliar.” After Kong Hou finished eating, Lingbo finally spoke. “When my maidservant was murdered last night, I wonder where this young master was?”
Just after finishing this sentence, Lingbo discovered the man beside Kong Hou had looked in her direction.
Those eyes were cold and clear, without the slightest emotion, just like the snow outside—seemingly clean and pure white, yet without a trace of warmth.
Clearly a man who appeared frail and sickly, yet an inexplicable chill rose from the bottom of Lingbo’s heart, and her entire heart trembled along with it.