“Why are you following us?”
As they walked out of the inn, Xiao Man suddenly turned her head and glared at Kuang Dao, who had followed them out.
Kuang Dao was startled by the reprimand and took a step back. He was over two meters tall, burly, with a thick beard that partially hid a ferocious scar. He looked like a fierce villain, yet this villain was startled by Xiao Man and retreated. The scene was like a brown bear terrified by a little white rabbit, comical no matter how you looked at it.
Xiao Man chuckled, unable to resist asking, "Why are you so timid?"
Kuang Dao's expression shifted repeatedly, as if he were making a difficult decision. Nan Shi Ying felt that if this continued, it would lead to another big problem. She then mounted her horse. Seeing her get on the horse, Kuang Dao knelt down with a "thump."
"Young master, I want to follow you."
He knelt down decisively, his knees hitting the cement floor, making it tremble.
Nan Shi Ying rested her arms on her horse's neck, looking down at Kuang Dao from above. Her eyes were deep and sharp, as if they could see through skin and peer directly into the soul.
Kuang Dao's body tensed, his breathing quickened. His naturally hanging hands began to sweat.
"Why?"
Nan Shi Ying's cool voice, like frost melting at sunrise, fell upon Kuang Dao's ears, sending a shiver down his spine.
Kuang Dao remembered her almost deranged actions from yesterday. He dared not lie and spoke the truth, "I have an enemy. If I rely on myself alone, I might never be able to get revenge in this lifetime."
"And so?"
"So I want to sell myself for a chance at revenge!"
Nan Shi Ying tutted. She glanced at Xiao Man, who turned and mounted her horse.
"You are not worth the price."
With that, Nan Shi Ying squeezed her horse's flanks. The steed let out a neigh and galloped away. The dust kicked up by its hooves made Kuang Dao instinctively turn his head. The dirt that entered his nostrils flowed down into his throat, filling his mouth with a bitter taste.
A red porcelain bottle, tracing a perfect parabola through the air, appeared in Kuang Dao's peripheral vision.
Kuang Dao's reaction was faster than his thoughts. He reached out and caught the bottle. Nan Shi Ying's voice drifted from afar, reaching his ears, "One pill a month is enough to elevate you to the ranks of first-rate martial artists."
Kuang Dao instantly clenched the porcelain bottle in his hand. He sprang to his feet, glanced around warily, and then, without a moment's delay, channeled his internal energy and leaped away, quickly disappearing at the end of the road.
The innkeeper stood by the window on the second floor, sighing with regret.
The elixir that could help Kuang Dao, a third-rate martial artist, reach the realm of a first-rate master must be priceless. It was a pity, though Kuang Dao's martial arts were mediocre and he didn't seem very intelligent, his luck was extraordinary and his vigilance too high. To let him consume that elixir was a waste of heavenly treasure. If only it could have remained to become the highlight of the inn's auction next month!
What a shame, what a shame!
The innkeeper shook his head repeatedly, feeling as pained as if his own treasure had been stolen. The waiter walked up behind him and produced gold from his怀.
"This gold has been melted."
The innkeeper took the gold nugget from the waiter's hand and weighed it. "Pure gold!"
He clicked his tongue and gasped, "The origins of that brother and sister must be considerable!"
"From the court?"
The innkeeper pondered, tucking the gold into his pocket. The waiter grunted, earning a glare from the innkeeper. He caught sight of a carriage appearing at the end of the road. Judging by its style, it didn't belong to anyone from the martial world. The carriage drove towards the inn and stopped in front. The waiter walked forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with the innkeeper to look down.
"Well, a tender one this time?" the waiter chuckled sinisterly, spotting the man and woman getting off the carriage.
The innkeeper turned and reprimanded, "What are you still looking at? Didn't we get some good quality white meat yesterday? Tell the kitchen to hurry up and prepare it. If the guests order specialties, we can serve them promptly."
"Got it, got it, do I need you to tell me?"
The waiter retorted, not caring about the innkeeper's expression. He flicked his rag over his shoulder and happily ran downstairs to welcome the guests, "Welcome, esteemed guests. What would you like to order? Would you like to try our specialty dish?"
"What specialty dish?"
"Pork, roast pork!"
"It's from yesterday's fresh batch!"
In the inn's kitchen, Mu Dan's body lay on the chopping block. Beside her, someone was sharpening a knife.
...
There was still half a month until the Lunar New Year. Da Li launched its attack first. Wen Zhong led the vanguard camp in a surprise raid on the east gate of Huai City, completely opening the prelude to this border war.
"Enemy attack, enemy attack—"
A sentry soldier blew his horn, the sound tearing through the night sky. Along with the horn, the war drums of the Da Li army began to beat.
"Archers!"
Qin Qian Cheng, clad in armor, ascended the city gate. The archers drew their longbows. The arrowheads were bound with gauze soaked in strong liquor. Soldiers threw wine jars at the feet of the Da Li soldiers, then ignited the gauze. The archers released their fingers, and the flames cut through the darkness, igniting the liquor at the Da Li soldiers' feet. The flames surged into the sky, and screams pierced the clouds.
"Prepare again!"
After a volley of arrows, Qin Qian Cheng commanded again, "Loose!"
...
With half a month left until the Lunar New Year, Da Li launched its attack first. Wen Zhong led the vanguard camp in a surprise raid on the east gate of Huai City, completely opening the prelude to this border war.