novelraw Chapter 110 From Tavern to Inn
Chapter 110 From Tavern to Inn
The moment I stepped out of the courtyard, I couldn’t stop grumbling. “Great. Your almighty senior just kicked us out like trash. There’s a whole crowd outside waiting to chop our heads off!”
Lian didn’t blink. “A senior has his own reasoning.”
I tugged on Hua’s sleeve, lowering my voice. “Hey, what’s this Senior An’s deal? Why does even Lian look like he’s scared of him?”
Hua didn’t bother lifting his eyelids. “Ask him yourself.”
I was about to ask “ask who,” when a quiet cough sounded behind me.
Lian happened to stop right beside me, face as serious as ever. “If you want to ask, just ask me.”
I immediately passed on a smile. “Heh, then I’ll humbly await your enlightenment?”
Lian said mildly, “Don’t be fooled by how young Senior An looks. He comes from the elder lineage of the Blood-Lotus Sect. His seniority is extremely high. My parents knew his grandparents. He’s been in seclusion for years, doesn’t handle sect affairs anymore, but I still owe him a formal salute.”
I snorted. “A salute is fine, but he can’t even give you a bit of cover? Now he tossed us straight out again—may as well shove us back into the wolves’ den.”
Lian lifted a hand and smoothed his sleeve, the corner of his mouth tilting up ever so slightly. “If it truly is a wolves’ den, good. We’ll meet the wolf king sooner.”
I muttered internally, “Hope you’re still smiling when they’re chasing us again.”
Hua let out a dry laugh. “If you’re that scared, go kneel and beg the senior to take you in. See if he even looks at you.”
“You—!” I glared, but in the end swallowed it. Fine. No winning against these two.
The streets were unnervingly silent.
People were there, but not a single voice. It was like the whole city was holding its breath. Only the sound of our soles tapping the bluestone echoed around us.
I couldn’t help whispering, “Weird… where did our pursuers go? Can’t be that they chased us one lap and suddenly decided to become law-abiding citizens, right…”
Lian didn’t answer. He simply lifted his hand and pointed ahead.
I looked up—and we were already standing before the biggest tavern in Heling City, the crooked sign reading “Deep Alley Tavern.”
“So this is the supplier for the Moon Festival?” My stomach tightened. “Don’t tell me there really was something off with the wine…”
Hua folded his arms. “We’ll see.”
I shrank my neck and forced myself to follow the two of them in.
—
Inside were three or four workers wiping tables at a leisurely pace—probably the post-Moon Festival lull.
The moment we walked in, they all stared at us at once, eyes a bit wary.
I whispered, “How do we even ask? We can’t say we’re investigating a case, right?”
Lian ignored me. He simply cupped his hands in a polite gesture of inquiry.
The worker blinked, then returned the gesture, relaxing a little.
I felt relieved, tiptoed up to the counter, raised a hand to show “five,” then pointed toward the back—trying to ask if they’d delivered wine to the Moon Festival gathering five days ago.
The worker stared at me for a long moment… then turned around and brought out five giant wine jars. Real, full-sized jars. Lined up in front of me like troops.
I almost lost my balance. “No! No no!” I waved frantically, but he was already prying the seals open, scooping bowls of wine, and setting them in front of me with a very determined “please” gesture.
I glanced at Lian and Hua, feeling cold sweat down my back. So… we’re supposed to test the wine?
I picked up a bowl, took a hesitant sip. Sweet. Fragrant. Tasted normal.
I pointed at the bowl, then at Lian, gesturing that maybe he should try too.
Lian didn’t move. Hua actually looked like he wanted to.
Just then the worker’s eyes went wide—he lunged over, snatched the bowl out of my hands, and made frantic “mmph-aaah!” noises, red-faced like he was choking.
I almost flipped the table. “We can’t drink it? It’s poison?!”
But the worker shook his head violently, pointing at the counter… then at the money pouch on my belt, practically furious.
It took me a second to understand. Then I slapped my own forehead.
He meant I hadn’t paid.
Mortifying.
I hurried to drop some silver on the counter. Instantly, his expression switched; he resealed the wine, pushed a ledger toward us, and pointed rapidly—dates, quantities—then at himself, meaning: “We’re the only supplier.”
I shot Lian a big thumbs-up. Hey, that’s some straightforward intel!
I leaned closer. The ledger was filled with annual Moon Festival deliveries, listed clearly by date and batch.
Lian bent down to examine it, his brows shifting slightly. “Every year, it’s supplied by the same tavern.”
I scratched my cheek. “Still doesn’t look like anything’s off…”
Hua snorted. “The wine’s fine. The people aren’t.”
“Do you have to say it like that?” My neck shrank. The whole place had that faintly ominous vibe.
Maybe they noticed us whispering. The worker started panicking, shooing us out with rapid gestures.
I stomped my foot. “Hey hey hey—don’t push us! Okay okay, we’re leaving—wait, I’m taking this jar!”
I grabbed one jar and nearly broke my spine.
Lian and Hua picked up two jars each with stone-faced calm, like they were carrying vegetable baskets.
We hauled our loot back to the ruined shrine. Juan disappeared; only the thin little boy and the girl were there.
I set a jar in the corner, then pulled out the buns I’d bought that morning, handing them over. “For you two. Where’s your brother Juan?”
The girl hid behind the boy, only her big frightened eyes peeking out.
The boy took the buns and chomped half of one before answering, muffled, “Brother Juan said he was going to Spring-Come Inn to ask for food this morning. We waited forever, but he never came back.”
“Spring-Come Inn?” I frowned. “Why does that name sound… weird?”
I muttered, cursing myself. “Should’ve woken him up and dragged him along…”
Lian crouched down, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. “Do you know where that inn is?”
The boy wiped his mouth and pointed at the street corner. “Brother Juan said it’s right at the turn. The biggest inn in Heling City. They serve food and wine. He said they’ll definitely have leftovers.”
Lian stood, his gaze sliding over to me and Hua. “Let’s go.”
I glanced at the five jars of wine. “Should… should we bring one? Maybe ask around?”
Hua gave me a deadpan look. “Why not bring the entire temple while you’re at it?”
“…Never mind.” I set the jar down quietly.
The streets were still eerily quiet as we walked, jars clunking at our sides like we were delivering offerings. At the corner, the “Spring-Come Inn” finally came into view—grand façade, carved eaves, red pillars, two huge lanterns hanging unlit.
Looked lively from the outside.
I exhaled in relief. “Finally, some proper humans, right?”
But the moment we stepped in, I swallowed that breath right back down.
—
The hall was packed. Maybe a dozen tables, mostly occupied. But silent.
Not a sound. Not a conversation. Not even casual chatter.
The servers glided between tables swiftly but without speaking, footsteps quiet like they were trained for funerals.
A chill crept up my spine. “Is this an inn or a mourning hall…?”
Hua shot me a look. “Say one more word and they’ll actually lay you out as an offering.”
I slapped my hands over my mouth.
A server approached, placed three pairs of chopsticks, nodded at us, then pointed at the wine-and-dishes board on the wall.
I froze, then understood. I quickly gestured—no, we’re not here to eat. We’re looking for someone.