Chapter 13: The Inn’s Rules
“Bind Chen Tiansheng for me!”
Zhang Ping’s voice rang out loudly, heard by everyone dining in the inn.
Chen Tiansheng was serving dishes to guests and naturally heard Zhang Ping’s words. He felt no surprise; after all, with the Zhang family’s influence, it was easy for them to track someone in Qingzhou Prefecture. Given the Zhangs’ nature, it was only expected that they’d come looking for him upon learning he was here.
Lost in thought, Chen saw Zhang Ping and his men enter the inn.
Since Zhang Chengnan had been incapacitated, the Zhang family took the matter very seriously. They had already prepared a portrait of Chen Tiansheng, so when Zhang Ping and his men came in, they immediately recognized him. Several retainers stepped forward to seize him.
“Coming to our Mortal Path Association’s inn to capture someone—do you have official authorization from the authorities? Or any credentials from our Association?”
At that moment, a woman slammed her knife down on the table, her voice cold and furious.
Seeing the woman, Zhang Ping narrowed his eyes and responded coldly, “Feng Siniang, I know you. I’ve heard you like to play the righteous hero and show off in the martial world. But today, this is a matter handled by the Zhang family, relatives of the Immortals. It’s none of your business. If you know what’s good for you, shut your mouth. Even though you’re a woman, I won’t go easy on you!”
With that, he gestured to his men to seize Chen Tiansheng.
Clang—
Feng Siniang drew her long blade and held it horizontally across the corridor. The retainers retreated repeatedly, unwilling to advance. She sneered and turned to the martial visitors in the inn, loudly proclaiming, “Friends of the martial world, someone claiming to be kin to the Immortals is here without any credentials, trying to seize one of us from the Mortal Path Association. What do you all think of this?”
Her words sparked a chorus of voices from the martial guests.
“The martial world has its own rules. You can’t just ignore them unless you’re from the Immortal sect. If you’re not, not even being related to an Immortal Emperor lets you break those rules.”
“The whole city knows about the Zhang family’s affair. That Zhang Chengnan was shameless and got punished by righteous heroes, ending up a eunuch. This Chen Tiansheng kid did nothing wrong—in fact, he’s the victim. You come here to seize him without explanation? Ridiculous!”
“Feng Siniang, you defend this kid so fiercely—is it because you find him handsome and you’re smitten? Ha!”
The martial guests chatted animatedly.
Though some teased Feng Siniang and Chen Tiansheng, nearly everyone agreed with her stance.
Feng Siniang took the teasing in stride and cheerfully said, “He’s handsome and fits my taste, plus the service is spot on. If you guys had such skills, I’d defend you too. But today, whoever it is, I’m not standing with that damned Zhang family.”
Her words drew hearty cheers.
Zhang Ping grew angry. As kin of the Immortals, he despised these martial guests. His voice turned cold: “Are you all planning to oppose the Zhang family? Whoever dares stand against us, step forward so I can remember your faces.”
Clearly, he believed the Zhang family’s status would intimidate the martial crowd.
Yet the martial guests were unmoved and instead resolved to protect Chen Tiansheng.
Zhang Ping, drunk on his Immortal kinship’s arrogance, could not tolerate this defiance. Thinking these people were all talk, he ordered, “Ignore them! Seize Chen Tiansheng!”
He signaled the retainers, who drew their blades.
---
Seeing this, the martial guests also gripped their weapons, a fierce battle poised to erupt.
Zhang Ping was surprised by their reaction but, with no turning back, shouted sharply, “Anyone who dares obstruct me will be killed without mercy!”
The retainers tightened their grip on their large blades and prepared to forcibly seize Chen Tiansheng.
“Since when has our Mortal Path Association’s inn become a battleground? Does anyone here not know our rules?”
Just then, a man’s calm voice came from outside.
“Chief Gao!”
The cashier behind the counter blurted out in surprise, then hurried to greet the newcomer.
It was Gao Runshan, the steward of the Mortal Path Association’s Qingzhou branch.
Gao Runshan appeared in his early forties, burly with fierce eyes and a grizzled beard. He wore a wolf-skin uniform, the red characters “Mortal Path” embroidered on his right shoulder—a distinct badge for the branch steward.
To Gao Runshan’s right stood a youth of about fifteen, elegant and dressed in a green robe, his sharp eyes surveying the inn.
At the cashier’s voice, everyone recognized Gao Runshan. The martial guests respectfully greeted, “Chief Gao.”
Gao Runshan nodded and fixed his gaze on Zhang Ping, asking in a low tone, “Do you know the rules of our Five Lakes and Four Seas Inn?”
Zhang Ping recognized Gao Runshan but, confident in his Immortal kinship, replied coldly, “I am kin to the Immortals, not one of you martial folk. Why should I care about your petty rules?”
Gao Runshan narrowed his eyes and surveyed the room. “This inn is called Five Lakes and Four Seas, meant to welcome martial guests from all corners, so they feel at home. Therefore, the inn has two clear rules: first, no fighting inside the inn; second, no non-martial folk are welcome.” His icy gaze shot at Zhang Ping. “You are not martial folk, yet you want to fight here and break our rules. Do you understand your crime?”
His reprimand thundered like a bell, piercing ears and stirring fear.
Bell-like.
An advanced martial technique from the hanging-door category!
Zhang Ping was no cultivator. His pride as Immortal kin made him look down on cultivators of the market sect, and he had only learned some superficial fighting skills. Experiencing this martial technique firsthand terrified him. He was stunned, speechless, legs trembling uncontrollably.
Seeing Zhang Ping’s plight, Gao Runshan sneered and swept his gaze over the armed retainers. “Put down your blades and leave!”
Terrified, the retainers dropped their weapons and fled the inn.
Zhang Ping reached the doorway, furious, and with a trembling voice spat, “Just wait, you’ll pay for this!”
Gao Runshan glared, and Zhang Ping’s heart sank in fear as he fled.
After Zhang Ping and his men left, Gao Runshan turned gently toward the youth beside him, about to speak, but noticed the young man’s gaze and immediately stopped, maintaining his usual calm demeanor.
Chen Tiansheng caught this subtle exchange.
---
Chen Tiansheng, holding a cleaning cloth, hurried to Gao Runshan’s side and respectfully thanked, “Thank you, Chief Gao. Thank you, Siniang. Thank you to all the martial elders present.”
His gratitude was sincere.
He felt the true bond of the martial world.
Without these people, he would have surely been taken by Zhang Ping.
Of course, he knew the martial guests would protect him; otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared return here.
He would never forget this kindness.
Gao Runshan sized him up briefly, noting only that the boy was handsome, nothing more. Like any other servant, he said, “No need to thank us. We’re just following the rules.”
Feng Siniang added, “Chief Gao is right. Chen Tiansheng, you did nothing wrong. As long as you’re here, no one can harm you.”
Chen Tiansheng thanked them again.
“Oh, Chief Gao, I wasn’t aware of your arrival and apologize for the poor reception. Please come upstairs to the private room,” the innkeeper Li Dongshan said apologetically, pushing Chen Tiansheng forward and scolding, “What are you waiting for? Hurry and serve Chief Gao upstairs!”
Chen Tiansheng was unoffended and respectfully said, “Chief Gao, the innkeeper anticipated your visit and had the rooms specially cleaned. Please rest upstairs.”
Gao Runshan nodded in approval, then coldly eyed Li Dongshan and asked, “Such a commotion happened in the inn, and you only come out now? Are you giving up being innkeeper?”
Li Dongshan tensed, awkwardly explaining, “Sorry, Chief Gao. I ate too much spicy food yesterday and was in the privy just now. My apologies.”
Gao Runshan snorted coldly and said no more.
Li Dongshan breathed a quiet sigh of relief, thinking he had gotten away with it.
He wasn’t unaware of what had happened; in fact, no one knew sooner than him because he first informed the Zhang family that Chen Tiansheng had returned to the inn. He had hoped to curry favor with the Zhangs but didn’t expect Chief Gao to show up unannounced.
Chen Tiansheng glanced at Li Dongshan from the corner of his eye, then followed them upstairs.
---
In the private room,
Gao Runshan and the youth in green sat facing each other, with Li Dongshan standing by, flattering them, while Chen Tiansheng served.
As Gao Runshan settled, he casually glanced at the youth, then asked Chen Tiansheng, “I heard that a few days ago, Fang Chenghu took you out of the city. Do you know where Fang Chenghu is now?”