No Fighting Allowed in the Inn-Chapter 91

Lu Jianwei was momentarily taken aback before shifting her attention back to the welcoming procession.

Before long, the music and dancing ceased.

A tall, robust middle-aged man stepped forward from the crowd. He wore a headband and a short gray-brown jacket, his muscular arms exposed as he greeted them in fluent Central Plains dialect.

"I am Amuhun, the village chief of Tager. Welcome, honored guests. Food and drinks have been prepared for you. Please, come this way."

The village had arranged accommodations for Lu Jianwei and Wen Zhuzhi—a stilted house at the village center. A dining table had been set up in the open area in front of the house, where the village women served steaming dishes and soup.

Amuhun enthusiastically urged them to eat, personally ladling two large bowls of a dark, murky broth.

"This is Suoqi Soup, specially brewed for esteemed guests to cleanse the dust of travel. It symbolizes peace and happiness."

Lu Jianwei’s keen sense of smell detected expensive medicinal herbs in the soup—undoubtedly beneficial for health, but the aroma was far from pleasant.

Yet, refusing would be impolite, especially with Amuhun and the villagers watching expectantly.

Amuan added with a smile, "Manager Lu, this soup is good for the body. Drink it while it's hot."

Suppressing a grimace, Lu Jianwei took the bowl, held her breath, and downed it in one go. Under the cover of her sleeve, she discreetly retrieved a mint-flavored candy from her system backpack and popped it into her mouth.

The moment the broth touched her tongue, the taste was indescribable.

The cool burst of mint instantly overpowered the Suoqi Soup’s flavor, reviving her.

The children in the crowd gaped in awe.

Few could drink the entire bowl without flinching—this esteemed guest was truly remarkable.

The villagers murmured among themselves: As expected of honored guests, their composure is extraordinary.

Lu Jianwei set down her bowl, and Wen Zhuzhi did the same beside her.

She stole a glance at him—his expression was calm, showing no sign of discomfort. A wave of admiration rose within her.

Without the mint candy, she might have retched.

"Hahaha! The two of you are truly exceptional," Amuhun laughed heartily. "After drinking Suoqi Soup, you are sure to enjoy blessings, longevity, and good health."

He then brought out a jar of wine. "This is our village’s homemade brew. Please, Manager Lu and Young Master Wen, do us the honor of tasting it."

He poured them each a large bowl.

The wine had a faint reddish hue and a sweet, fruity aroma—likely brewed from mountain berries.

Lu Jianwei took a sip, her eyes lighting up.

It was quite pleasant.

Under the villagers’ warm hospitality, Lu Jianwei ate and drank to her heart’s content.

As the evening approached, Amuhun said, "Manager Lu, Young Master Wen, tomorrow we will travel to Mu'acuo for the Gu God Festival. The journey takes a full day on foot, so we must depart early."

"Mu'acuo?"

"In the Central Plains tongue, it means 'Sacred Land.' It is where the Gu God manifests, and we hold the festival there every year."

Lu Jianwei nodded in understanding.

"I must make preparations for the festival. You two have had a long day—rest well. Farewell for now."

With that, the village chief left, and the villagers dispersed.

Only the two esteemed guests remained outside the stilted house.

Dusk settled over the land, the last rays of sunlight casting a golden glow over the verdant mountains. The peaks sketched undulating lines against the sky, while birds returned to their nests and wisps of pale smoke curled from nearby chimneys.

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Lu Jianwei finally understood Wen Zhuzhi’s earlier words.

She, too, was beginning to like this place.

The sound of wheels rolling over the ground broke the silence as Wen Zhuzhi moved beside her, joining her in gazing at the distant scenery.

Recalling the earlier incident, Lu Jianwei asked, "How did you endure the taste of that soup?"

"The soup… what about it?"

"You didn’t find it disgusting?"

"Was it that bad?"

"What did the wine taste like to you?"

"..."

"You’ve lost your sense of taste?" Lu Jianwei studied his face closely. "But you praised Guan He’s cooking before."

Wen Zhuzhi lowered his eyes. "In Fengzhou, I still had a little left."

"So after the second toxin transfer, your taste disappeared completely?"

"Yes."

"What about your sense of smell?"

"There’s still a trace."

Lu Jianwei frowned. "Do you realize that once all five senses are gone, you’ll be completely incapacitated?"

For martial artists, keen senses were crucial.

The dangers of the martial world were unpredictable—without sharp senses, detecting threats would be nearly impossible.

Wen Zhuzhi lifted his gaze, his amber eyes reflecting the distant mountains and the setting sun, serene and gentle.

"Are you worried about me?"

Lu Jianwei raised a brow. "Is that a problem?"

"...No problem."

Wen Zhuzhi instinctively averted his eyes before cautiously glancing back moments later, only to find Lu Jianwei still watching him. His hands, resting on his lap, unconsciously clasped together.

"Young Master Wen, it’s time to retire for the night." Lu Jianwei leaned in with a smile. "Need my help?"

Wen Zhuzhi shook his head. "Amusha has prepared everything."

For his convenience, the villagers had installed bamboo ramps leading up to the stilted house.

The second floor had two rooms—one on the left, one on the right, separated by a single wall.

As the last rays of sunlight vanished beyond the horizon, their doors closed simultaneously.

Lu Jianwei lay on the bamboo bed, tracing the patterns on the wooden beams with her eyes, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"Xiao Ke, I suddenly think he’s quite… endearing."

Xiao Ke replied, "Romance novels often say that when you find someone endearing, you’re probably falling for them."

"Maybe just a little," Lu Jianwei mused. "Perhaps a little more wouldn’t hurt."

"Back in Dada City, you already praised him."

"True, but reason held me back then." Lu Jianwei admitted freely. "My goal was to return home—why complicate things?"

Xiao Ke fell silent.

"What’s wrong?" Lu Jianwei asked. "Do you also think I shouldn’t tease him?"

"No, I just finally understand what you meant by 'no future' that day."

"..."

Xiao Ke asked seriously, "Do you like him?"

"I'm not sure if it's love. Maybe it's just a fleeting moment where I thought he looked handsome, or another moment where he seemed to suit my taste. Who knows, this feeling might fade in a few days."

"The system doesn’t restrict the host from falling in love."

"But the act of time-traveling itself is a restriction."

Xiao Ke dropped a bombshell: "Not necessarily."

"What do you mean?" Lu Jianwei raised an eyebrow.

"Time-travel items aren’t limited to one purchase," Xiao Ke said. "You’ve known this for a while."

Lu Jianwei: "..."

So that’s what "unlimited purchase" meant?!

She had always assumed that time-travel items were simply too expensive to warrant purchase limits.

"Are you saying others can use time-travel items besides me?"

Xiao Ke: "Not exactly. The system is bound to you. Any item in it requires your authorization before someone else can use it."

"You mentioned before that I could return to the exact moment before I time-traveled. But if a native of this world travels to the modern era, there’s no temporal anchor for them."

"If you authorize someone else to use a time-travel item, the system can help set an anchor point."

"What about age?"

"You’d be their anchor. Their age can be adjusted to when you first met, but a corresponding service fee is required."

Lu Jianwei narrowed her eyes: "How much is the fee?"

"One percent of the item’s price."

"A million? Forget it." She flopped back, instantly losing interest. "On top of the item’s cost of tens of thousands of taels, where am I supposed to get that kind of money?"

Xiao Ke: "You don’t have it, but he does."

"The real issue is, the other person might not even want to time-travel." Lu Jianwei sobered up. "Emotional debts are the hardest to repay. I should just stop now."

"He doesn’t have more than two years left to live anyway," Xiao Ke pointed out bluntly. "And you might not even save up enough to go home in two years."

Lu Jianwei: "...Maybe I can cure his poison."

"Focus on curing Tiao’s poison first."

"Once I gather all the ingredients, the poison can be neutralized."

She still had so much to do—not just earning money for the time-travel item, but also working toward the salary and bonuses she’d receive after returning, or else this entire journey would’ve been for nothing.

The criteria for completing her mission was to establish a new set of rules through her own efforts, changing the corrupt atmosphere of the martial world.

After all that, would there even be time for romance?

No!

So she needed to stop entertaining these thoughts.

Lu Jianwei closed her eyes, circulating her inner energy to forcibly clear her mind of unnecessary distractions.

Remembering the destitution when she first arrived, the constant uncertainty of survival—her mind grew clearer…

Or so she told herself.

Human desires were endless.

When poor, she sought material comforts. When safety was uncertain, she pursued formidable martial prowess. Now that both were secured, it was only natural for her thoughts to wander elsewhere.

Lu Jianwei was no exception.

With a sigh, she lit a lamp and pulled out a book on gu sorcery from her bag, forcing herself to study the grotesque insects depicted within.

The night was deep, the world utterly silent.

The hideous gu worms finally suppressed the thoughts in her heart.

Thud!

A muffled sound came from the neighboring room.

Lu Jianwei immediately put the book away and stepped outside, stopping at the door next to hers.

"Do you need help?"

"It’s nothing." Wen Zhuzhi replied swiftly. "Did I disturb you? My apologies."

Lu Jianwei frowned. An eighth-level Martial King wouldn’t just bump into things in his own room.

Unless he…

She pushed the door open—it wasn’t latched.

The room was unlit, save for a few strands of moonlight filtering through the window, illuminating a small patch by the bed.

Wen Zhuzhi sat on a bamboo couch, a thin quilt draped loosely over his waist. Hearing her enter, he turned his head and smiled. "The couch is unsteady. I accidentally knocked it while getting up earlier. It won’t happen again."

He seemed normal, but Lu Jianwei’s sharp eyes caught it—his gaze wasn’t focused.

The poison had begun affecting his vision.

During the day, he could still see, but at night, he was practically blind.

Lu Jianwei approached. "Now that I think about it, it’s been a while since I last checked your pulse."

Wen Zhuzhi’s eyes followed her movements—not by sight, but by sound.

"Just my taste, smell, and vision are slightly impaired. The rest is fine," he said.

Lu Jianwei: "At least you’re honest. Give me your wrist."

Wen Zhuzhi had no choice but to comply.

Her warm fingertips pressed against his cool wrist. In the silence of the night, his pulse seemed unnaturally loud, each beat thudding heavily in the dim air.

Moonlight cast a frost-like glow over the edge of the bed, where the hem of her robe brushed against the bamboo couch.

Lu Jianwei sat on the edge of the bed, releasing his wrist after a moment.

"No immediate danger to your life, but if this continues, your five senses will gradually fade. You won’t be dead, but you might as well be."

"Mn." Wen Zhuzhi’s gaze lingered on the side of her face. "Thank you, Shopkeeper Lu."

"You knew this would happen?"

"I had an idea."

Lu Jianwei frowned. "Then why did you come to Yunnan? Someone in your condition should be resting in a peaceful, scenic place."

"If I did that, it’d only be regretful." Wen Zhuzhi’s eyes were calm. "Rather than waiting for complete numbness, I’d prefer to see Yunnan’s beauty while I still can."

Lu Jianwei fell silent for a few breaths before asking, "How did you get poisoned in the first place?"

She wasn’t usually this nosy, nor did she pry into others’ pasts.

But perhaps the moonlight was too bewitching tonight.

Wen Zhuzhi answered plainly: "A power struggle."

"How old were you?"

"Three."

Three years old. To have survived this long was nothing short of a miracle.

Lu Jianwei had intended to ask for details, but for some reason, she changed her mind.

She had once pitied her own misfortunes—born into privilege, only for her family to fall into ruin at ten, her parents gone.

But after time-traveling, she had witnessed far worse.

Lin Wangyue’s choices after being wronged had shaken her profoundly.

It gave her some clarity, and she no longer resisted the system’s mission. If anything, she looked forward to it now.

"Pei Zhi, have you worn a mask for so long that you can’t take it off anymore?" Lu Jianwei met his eyes, her voice gentle. "Even without the mask, you still seem to be wearing one."

That had been her first impression of him—elusive, impossible to truly see.

Wen Zhuzhi looked puzzled. "Shopkeeper Lu, I don’t understand."

"It’s fine if you don’t. I was just thinking aloud." Lu Jianwei felt she’d said too much and quickly stood. "I’ll head back. Rest early."

A hand caught her sleeve.

"I’m not wearing a mask."

Lu Jianwei turned. In the moonlight, his eyes seemed to hold a trace of grievance.

"I didn’t say you were. Just that it seems like it."

"How so?"

"It’s just a feeling," Lu Jianwei tried to explain. "For example, I know Guan He wants to become a master, Yan Feicang wants to perfect his blade techniques, Yue loves woodworking and esoteric arts, and Tiao is passionate about pharmacology. But with you, I can’t tell what you like or what you want."

Wen ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍Zhuzhi tilted his head up, lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out.

"It’s late." Lu Jianwei tugged her sleeve free.

"I wanted to give you money, but you refused," he mustered his courage. "What I want to do… is this."

Lu Jianwei froze in place.

"I know you need money to return to your sect, and I also know that once you go back, you won’t appear again."

"Then why are you still giving me money?"

"You’re unhappy here." Wen Zhuzhi spoke slowly, each word deliberate. "Going back will make you happy, and I want you to be happy."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you just planning to send me back?"

Wen Zhuzhi’s other hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched slowly.

"Before my senses fade, I’ll send you back."

The wind howled against the window lattice, and outside, the rustling of insects and snakes could be heard, though they couldn’t approach due to the medicinal water already scattered around.

From the village came the startled cries of a baby, with parents murmuring soothing words.

Somewhere, a dog barked a few times before settling back into its nest to sleep.

Lu Jianwei lowered her gaze to the pale moonlight pooling by the bedside, an indescribable ache suddenly swelling in her chest.

Lowering her head, she thought of home.

At this moment, she truly understood the poet’s sentiment.

She looked up, her expression solemn.

"I do want to go back, but I want to rely on my own abilities."

Wen Zhuzhi smiled. "I understand."

"Would you come back with me?"

Wen Zhuzhi was taken aback. "What... do you mean?"

"My sect is a completely unfamiliar place for you. It would take a great deal of effort to adapt. There, you won’t know anyone, and more importantly, outsiders who wish to enter need an exorbitant amount of money."

Wen Zhuzhi instinctively asked, "How much?"

"Ten million taels of silver, plus an additional one million as an entry fee."

"I don’t have that much." His lashes lowered.

Lu Jianwei raised a brow. "You’d really be willing to spend so much wealth on an unknown place?"

"There’s nothing here worth staying for," Wen Zhuzhi said. "A'Nai can take care of himself."

Besides, before his senses disappeared, he wouldn’t be able to earn that much money anyway. Whether willing or not, the opportunity simply didn’t exist.

At this moment, there was no need to consider anything else—just follow his heart.

Lu Jianwei extended her hand with a smile. "Then it’s settled. A pleasure working with you."

Her slender, pale hand appeared before him. Though unsure of the gesture, Wen Zhuzhi instinctively reached out and lightly clasped it.

Moonlight slanted across them, illuminating her hand beneath the silvery glow while his remained half-hidden in shadow, half-bathed in the cold radiance.

The next morning, before dawn had fully broken, the village was already bustling.

Amusha and Amuan arrived at the small building to inform Lu Jianwei and Wen Zhuzhi that it was time to depart.

"Shopkeeper Lu, Young Master Wen, our village is quite far from Mu'acuo, so we must set off early. Our apologies for the inconvenience."

Lu Jianwei smiled. "It’s no trouble."

"Have breakfast first." Amuan retrieved green rice cakes from a bamboo basket, likely mixed with wild vegetables.

Amusha grinned. "Only around the Gu God Festival do we get to enjoy cotton vegetable cakes."

Lu Jianwei took a bite—sweet, soft, and slightly refreshing from the wild greens. Not bad at all.

After breakfast, the villagers began their journey.

Lu Jianwei and Wen Zhuzhi were placed in the center of the procession, flanked by Amusha and Amuan.

Ahead and behind them were villagers attending the Gu God Festival—men bold and strong, women agile and spirited, among them three warriors of the fourth and fifth ranks.

From what she’d read in local records, the festival was mostly attended by young clansmen. The total population of Tager Village wasn’t large, and the number of youths even smaller. Having three warriors was already impressive.

At the head of the group was Village Chief Amuhun, a fifth-rank warrior, leading thirty-five young people toward their sacred land.

Tager Village was just one of many settlements of the Buwa clan, which had dozens of other villages of varying sizes. Once they all gathered at Mu'acuo, they would form a formidable force.

But they didn’t even need to reach Mu'acuo before encountering others along the way.

The procession grew larger, and young people from other villages couldn’t hide their curiosity about Tager Village’s guests.

Among them was Amuli, a clerk from Kadian Herbal Shop.

He’d known Amuan had invited Lu Jianwei, but he hadn’t expected the man in the wheelchair.

He couldn’t fathom how the wheelchair managed the rugged mountain paths.

Lu Jianwei transmitted her voice with inner energy: "The Miao clan also participates in the Gu God Festival. Once we reach Mu'acuo, perhaps we can attempt a trade with them."

"The Miao clan lives deepest in the mountains, possessing many rare medicinal resources. They rarely trade with outsiders." Wen Zhuzhi paused, then added, "But everyone has their weaknesses."

"Exactly. They—"

"Shopkeeper Lu, Young Master Wen, we meet again." A soft voice interrupted their exchange as a figure in indigo robes slipped into Tager Village’s ranks.

Lu Jianwei nodded. "Young Master Lin, what a coincidence."

"Since we parted at the inn, Shopkeeper Lu remains as radiant as ever, and Young Master Wen unchanged." Lin Wang sidled up to them, even nudging Amusha and Amuan aside. "Aren’t you curious why I’m here?"

Lu Jianwei obliged him. "Why are you here?"

"Thanks to a friend in the medicinal trade, I saved a Buwa clansman and was honored with an invitation to the Gu God Festival."

"I see. Then the Gu God must be watching over you."

"Does Shopkeeper Lu also believe in the Gu God?"

Lu Jianwei countered with a smile, "Do you, Young Master Lin?"

"Of course. The Gu God is omnipotent." Lin Wang’s crimson lips curled. "You still haven’t answered my question."

Trying to trap her? No chance.

Lu Jianwei replied leisurely, "That night, the Gu King suffered a setback. After a few days, how has it recovered?"

Lin Wang: "..."

Wen Zhuzhi then inclined his head politely. "Hall Master Aleshu, what an honor."

Aleshu: "..."

The surrounding clansmen: "..."

The sudden unmasking left everyone momentarily stunned.

Hall Master Aleshu’s reputation was fearsome, but few had actually seen his face or knew his appearance.

The clansmen hadn’t recognized him earlier.

But now that his identity was exposed, what were they supposed to do?

Rumors said the hall master of the Sacred Medicine Hall was a lawless madman. Should they kneel in respect?

Amusha and Amuan exchanged glances, about to report to the village chief, when an oppressive aura pinned them in place.

"Not a word from anyone."

Aleshu’s cold gaze swept over the crowd, satisfied when they all lowered their heads in submission.

"Shopkeeper Lu, Young Master Wen, I underestimated you."

Lu Jianwei smiled gently. "No matter. We should thank Young Master Lin for his generosity."

Aleshu’s face twitched, but he restrained himself.

He fell silent but didn’t leave, lingering awkwardly beside them.

An eerie quiet settled over the group.

Until they encountered the Yi clan’s procession.

After being forced to ransom their people, the Yi clan had been seething with resentment, their fury only growing over the days.

They hadn’t forgotten the humiliation inflicted by the Eight Directions Inn for a single moment.

Tensions already existed between the two clans, and now the Buwa clan was treating their enemies as honored guests. How could the Yi clan swallow such an insult?

Compared to the Buwa, the Yi were more centralized. Though their numbers were similar, their burly frames made them appear far more imposing.

They blocked the mountain path, crowding together like a wall of flesh.

"By the Gu God’s will, the Buwa clan dares to bring outsiders to the Gu God Festival? Aren’t you afraid of divine punishment?"

"Exactly, why bring outsiders to the Gu God Festival?"

"What schemes do you have?!"

"You're blaspheming the Gu God!"

The Buwa tribesmen: "..."

The accusation was far too heavy.