“I won’t stoop to his level!” Niu Erbiao muttered in a gruff voice, still fuming as he plopped back down.
Scholar Zhao let out a mocking sneer but didn’t press further.
“Brother Zhang, do you think the prophecy calculated by the State Preceptor will come true?” The others at the table ignored the two and resumed their discussion. After all, a gathering shouldn’t be ruined just because of a petty argument.
“The Grand State Preceptor possesses profound magic, mastering both astronomy and geography. To put it mystically, he knows the past five hundred years and the next five hundred. I’d say the prophecy is eighty percent true!” The man surnamed Zhang spoke with a mix of awe and reverence when mentioning the State Preceptor.
“Indeed, all these years, our Chenqi has enjoyed peace and prosperity—partly due to our wise king, but also thanks to the Grand State Preceptor’s unfathomable powers. Whenever disasters strike, isn’t it always the State Preceptor who performs rituals to bless us?” Someone immediately chimed in.
These words of praise reached Yun Qingxue’s ears, eliciting a faint smile from her.
To her, such flattery either meant the Grand State Preceptor and the human emperor truly had the people’s hearts—or it was pure sycophancy. She leaned toward the latter.
After all, this era had no concept of free speech; imperial authority reigned supreme. Speaking ill of the rulers required a readiness to be arrested and executed at any moment. Unless one had a death wish, no commoner would dare court such misfortune.
“If a real monster appears, it’s us ordinary folks who’ll suffer!” a man grumbled gloomily.
“What’s there to fear?” another retorted dismissively. “The State Preceptor divined the monster’s arrival before it was even born. Haven’t you noticed the surge of cultivators in Chenqi lately? They’re all experts summoned by the king and the State Preceptor from various immortal sects, here to subdue the demon. The creature might be vanquished the moment it emerges!”
“Right, right! Let’s not dwell on such matters. ‘Eat, drink, and be merry’ is the way to go!”
“Ha ha ha…”
The other table ceased their discussion and returned to clinking cups. Yun Qingxue, having eaten her fill, was about to rise when a man and two women entered the inn.
Normally, the comings and goings of an inn were unremarkable, but these three instantly unsettled Yun Qingxue, stirring an instinctive sense of danger within her.
She stood and headed upstairs, intending to retreat to her room and avoid the unsettling trio. But halfway up the stairs, she felt an eerie prickling on her back—like walking alone at night, suddenly pinned by the unseen gaze of a ghost. The sensation was unnervingly oppressive.
Yet Yun Qingxue didn’t turn around. Despite the discomfort, she maintained her composure, ascending the steps as if oblivious.
Only upon reaching the top and rounding the corner did she casually glance back from the corner of her eye.
Her gaze met the unabashed scrutiny of the three newcomers.
Eight eyes locked. Yun Qingxue turned her head fully, feigning innocent confusion as she openly regarded them.
The three quickly averted their eyes, their expressions haughty. Frowning slightly, Yun Qingxue walked to her room with a puzzled air.
Once the door closed, she exhaled deeply in relief.
“Hssss—”
But before she could catch her breath, Ah Dai—who had been coiled quietly around her wrist—suddenly shot forward like an arrow.
Following its trajectory, Yun Qingxue was startled to find a stranger already seated at her table, sipping tea with ease.
Ah Dai lunged, but the man merely extended a hand, catching the little serpent with almost playful nonchalance.
Ah Dai writhed, flicking its tongue aggressively, but its captor ignored the display.
Yun Qingxue remained by the door, her cool eyes meeting the man’s dark ones.
After a moment, it was he who looked away first, lowering his gaze.
She sensed no malice, but his effortless capture of Ah Dai spoke volumes about his skill.
“Um… did I enter the wrong room?” she ventured.
“No,” the man replied bluntly.
“Then… did you enter the wrong room?”
“Nope.” His answers were terse, devoid of elaboration.
“Then why are you in my room?”
“Taking refuge.” He stated it as though her room were a public sanctuary.
Yun Qingxue studied him. The man sat impassively, still holding Ah Dai.
“Sir, could you release my friend first?” she asked.
The uninvited “refugee” shook Ah Dai’s captive form at her. “This?”
“Yes,” Yun Qingxue nodded quickly.
“Oh.” He released his grip, and Ah Dai thudded onto the table.
*Thump!* The little serpent’s body met the wood unceremoniously.
“Hssssss—!” Ah Dai reared up, hissing furiously, poised to strike.
As a noble spirit serpent, Ah Dai felt his dignity had been insulted.
Yet despite the man’s rough treatment, Ah Dai also detected a strangely appealing aura about him.
“Ah Dai, return!” Yun Qingxue called.
The little serpent shot the man one last defiant hiss before darting back to coil around her wrist, though its beady eyes remained fixed on the intruder.
“Sir,” Yun Qingxue said, still by the door.
“Huā Yǐn.” The man glanced at her briefly before looking down again.
“Huh?” (⊙_⊙)
Yun Qingxue frowned, struggling with his cryptic brevity.
“My name.” He mercifully expanded his reply by two words.
“Oh… heh.” She forced a dry laugh, then cut to the chase. “So… when are you leaving?”
“Why leave?” Huā Yǐn lifted his gaze, dark eyes locking onto hers, an inscrutable aura radiating from him.
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