No Fighting Allowed in the Inn

Uncle Zhang's heart was pounding. He vaguely understood what Lu Jianwei meant, but he wasn’t sure how she intended to lay things out plainly.

"Manager Lu, what do you mean?"

Lu Jianwei glanced down at him, her expression neutral.

"You haven’t told the truth. The massacre at the manor was either the work of enemies or motivated by treasure."

"..."

"You’ve spent most of your life at the manor, yet you don’t know who the killer is—not even a guess. That makes it unlikely to be personal enemies, which leaves only the latter."

Uncle Zhang’s gaze shifted to one of admiration, followed by a bitter smile.

"An old man and a young boy aren’t worth such a fuss. If they’ve already found what they wanted, they wouldn’t need to chase you two so relentlessly. So, you must be carrying a big problem with you."

Zhu Yue was stunned and quickly said, "Manager Sister, you’ve misunderstood. I’ve never heard my father mention any treasure, and neither has Uncle Zhang."

Lu Jianwei didn’t respond, nor did she look at him. The warm smile she had worn earlier was gone.

He felt an inexplicable shiver.

From Jiangzhou to Fengzhou, he had endured countless hardships and faced overwhelming malice along the way—until they arrived at the Eight Directions Inn.

Though the inn charged a high price, Manager Lu was both beautiful and kind-hearted. Not only had she taken them in, but she had also generously taught them martial skills. He wished he could work at the inn for the rest of his life.

He was deeply grateful.

But now, the gentle and elegant woman before him had suddenly shed her kind exterior, revealing a cold and stern demeanor that left him bewildered.

"Uncle Zhang…" he called softly, as if seeking warmth from the old man.

Uncle Zhang understood his confusion and sighed. "Manager Lu, the young master truly doesn’t know the reason. Even I only know part of it, not the whole story."

"Then tell me what you do know."

"I only vaguely heard the leader mention something about a mechanism diagram. I don’t know the specifics. The manor lord never spoke of it."

Lu Jianwei looked up. "Are they chasing you because they haven’t found it, or to eliminate any loose ends?"

"I don’t know," Uncle Zhang shook his head.

"Why not seek protection from the Mystic Mirror Bureau directly?"

Uncle Zhang replied, "In matters of the martial world, seeking help from the Mystic Mirror Bureau is considered beneath us."

"..."

Lu Jianwei couldn’t understand. If the Mystic Mirror Bureau specialized in handling such cases, why would it be beneath them?

"Manager Lu, you may not know this," Uncle Zhang explained, seeing her confusion. "The martial world and the imperial court have always kept their distance. No matter the issue, martial artists prefer to resolve things themselves. When the Mystic Mirror Bureau was first established, everyone thought it was just to catch flower thieves. But later, the court used it to meddle in martial affairs, causing widespread discontent."

"Thus, there’s an unwritten rule in the martial world: if you seek the bureau’s protection, you can no longer walk the martial path. The Martial Alliance will remove White Crane Manor from its ranks, and even if the culprit is found, the martial world won’t lift a finger to help."

Lu Jianwei frowned. "Isn’t it better to have the bureau arrest the culprit?"

"The manor lord was a sixth-level martial master, yet he was easily killed. The culprit’s skill must be formidable. The bureau likely doesn’t have the capability."

"Didn’t they say that the bureau’s commander was incredibly skilled even at thirteen?"

"He hasn’t personally intervened in years. Rumor has it he suffered a qi deviation and is nearing death. The rest of the bureau can’t stand against the forces of the martial world."

Lu Jianwei fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Are you seeking the inn’s protection?"

"If Manager Lu doesn’t mind, this old man’s life is now the inn’s!"

Lu Jianwei teased, "I still don’t know the young master’s real name."

Zhu Yue’s face flushed slightly, and he said softly, "I’m no longer the young master. My real name is Yue Shu, taken from the words for Mount Tai and special. Zhu is my mother’s surname."

"Uncle Zhang has already pledged his life to the inn. What about you, Young Master Yue?" Lu Jianwei asked with a smile.

Yue Shu didn’t hesitate. "I’ll follow you! I’ll serve you for the rest of my life!"

He knew his limits.

With his current strength, he couldn’t even protect himself, let alone rebuild the manor or avenge the innocent lives lost.

Lu Jianwei reminded him, "If you choose to stay at the inn, there will no longer be a Young Master Yue—only Yue, the innkeeper. You’ll no longer enjoy delicacies or fine clothes. Instead, you’ll be serving guests."

"I’m willing!" Yue Shu knelt without hesitation. "Manager Lu, please take me and Uncle Zhang. I’ll obey, serve the guests well, train diligently, and if you need any tools, I’ll craft them for you."

Lu Jianwei said, "Once you’ve made this vow, there’s no turning back. If you betray me…"

"If I betray you, may I become a cripple!" Uncle Zhang swore.

Yue Shu declared solemnly, "If I betray Manager Sister, may I not only become a cripple but also never work with wood again!"

Lu Jianwei couldn’t help but laugh.

"Do you really love woodworking that much?"

"Yes!" Yue Shu’s eyes shone with anticipation. "Manager Sister, can I still do it in my spare time?"

Such a hobby, which could benefit the inn, was something Lu Jianwei naturally wouldn’t refuse.

"There’s one more thing. Why did you two head to Moonview City only to return?"

"The young master’s uncle was the garrison commander of Moonview City. We planned to seek refuge with him, but he was recently transferred to the border, and we’ve had no news since."

Lu Jianwei didn’t press further and changed the subject. "What did you come to me for earlier?"

She was referring to before Yan Feicang and the others arrived.

Uncle Zhang said sheepishly, "Young Master Xue asked me about palm techniques. I saw the palm technique you taught him, and it was so profound that I shamelessly came to ask if you could…"

After what had just happened, the courage he’d mustered earlier had faded, and he couldn’t bring himself to finish.

Lu Jianwei understood.

She had already considered this—partly to entice Uncle Zhang to serve the inn with more advanced martial skills, and partly to raise the inn’s combat level.

Currently, Uncle Zhang was the inn’s strongest fighter. If he could master a more sophisticated palm technique, the inn would no longer be at a disadvantage against martial artists below the fifth level.

During the encounter with the Golden Blade Trading Company’s caravan, Lu Jianwei hadn’t let Uncle Zhang fight the swordsman because she wasn’t sure he could win easily, given the advantage of blades in close combat.

But she couldn’t give it away for free or offer it outright.

Uncle Zhang’s initiative aligned perfectly with her intentions.

Lu Jianwei didn’t make it difficult for him. She simply asked, "Do you think Xue Guanhe has the talent for palm techniques?"

"Would you like the truth?" Uncle Zhang asked cautiously.

"Of course."

"I believe Young Master Xue is not suited for palm techniques."

"Very well," Lu Jianwei said without hesitation. "Since you admire the Ripple Palm, I’ll give it to you. I hope you’ll serve the inn with all your heart in the future."

Uncle Zhang was overjoyed, his eyes shining like stars in the night. "Thank you, Manager, for your guidance. I will dedicate myself to the inn!"

Yue Shu was also happy for him and quickly added, "Manager Sister, I’ll train hard and serve the inn for the rest of my life!"

"I don't like violence, but there are always people who disturb my peace," Lu Jianwei said with a cryptic tone.

Uncle Zhang immediately understood her implication.

"Madam, if we could hire a skilled martial artist as a staff member, it might help prevent troublemakers from causing disturbances."

"Madam, isn't there a senior expert guarding the inn?" Yue Shu couldn't help but interject.

"There are only three of us here. What senior expert are you talking about?" Lu Jianwei raised an eyebrow. "Where did you hear that?"

Yue Shu's mind was in disarray. "But..."

"Madam, Yan Feicang is the top swordsman in the martial world, and his skills are unquestionable," Uncle Zhang cut him off. "He lost to you today, and given his temperament, he won't give up easily."

Lu Jianwei smiled without saying a word.

As expected of someone who had once been a steward, Uncle Zhang was indeed perceptive.

"Yan Feicang has two main interests: sparring and swordsmanship," Uncle Zhang continued, projecting his own thoughts. "If you could give him pointers on his sword techniques or present him with even more refined methods, perhaps we could recruit him."

Lu Jianwei lazily propped her chin on her hand.

"Not difficult."

Uncle Zhang was filled with respect.

"Rest assured, I will handle this matter properly."

He believed no martial artist could resist such a temptation, especially Yan Feicang. Just subtly hint at the benefits of staying at the inn, and he would surely offer his services willingly.

The two left the room.

As they descended the stairs, Yue Shu whispered, "Did I say something wrong earlier?"

"Senior experts prefer to keep a low profile and dislike being discussed. Moreover, masters of that caliber are often pursuing higher realms and spend much of their time in seclusion for cultivation," Uncle Zhang explained earnestly.

Yue Shu nodded in understanding. "That makes sense."

When they reached the second floor, they ran into Xue Guanhe carrying a tray of tea to deliver to the siblings.

"Uncle Zhang, Zhu Yue," Xue Guanhe greeted them with a smile. "I didn't know what I should focus on learning before, but today I finally figured it out!"

"What is it?" Yue Shu asked curiously.

"Earlier, when I saw Grandmaster Yan wield his sword, it felt like a fire ignited in my heart," Xue Guanhe said, his eyes shining. "I want to learn swordsmanship!"

Yue Shu nodded seriously. "I think swordsmanship suits you well."

"Really?" Xue Guanhe asked excitedly. "How can you tell?"

"Your knife skills when cooking are truly impressive. It shows you have a natural talent for handling blades."

Xue Guanhe: "..."

He chuckled awkwardly. "I should go deliver the tea now."

Inside the room, the siblings were discussing sending a letter but fell silent upon hearing footsteps.

When Xue Guanhe brought in the tea, Tao Yang asked, "Could we borrow your inn's donkey cart?"

Xue Guanhe was taken aback. "What for?"

"We need to go to Moonview City, and the donkey cart would be faster."

"You two don't seem short on money. Why didn't you buy horses for travel?"

The guests today were all quite peculiar. They didn't seem to lack money, yet none of them arrived on horseback.

Wei Liu sighed. "Our horse died along the way. This area is remote and unfamiliar, and we couldn't find a horse market, so we had to walk here."

"There's no precedent for lending out the donkey cart. I'll have to ask the madam. Please wait a moment," Xue Guanhe replied politely.

The two naturally understood.

Wei Liu then asked, "Young man, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, madam."

"Are the clothes and jewelry your Madam Lu wears bought in Moonview City?" She looked envious. "They're so unique. I've never seen anything like them elsewhere. How much do they cost?"

Xue Guanhe: "..."

What did he know about clothes and jewelry?

"I'm not sure about that."

Wei Liu said, "Then could you ask Madam Lu for me?"

Xue Guanhe nodded and left, first heading to the third floor to knock on Lu Jianwei's door. When there was no response, he returned to the first-floor hall.

Lu Jianwei was sitting behind the counter, holding an account book.

The inn's revenue was still too slow. In a short time, the inn couldn't upgrade its attack or defense tools. They needed to find a way to make more money.

"Madam," Xue Guanhe approached the counter, "Tao Yang and Wei Liu just asked if they could borrow the inn's donkey cart."

Lu Jianwei's hearing was extraordinary now, and with the system monitoring the inn, she had overheard the entire conversation on the second floor.

"The donkey cart can be rented for ten taels of silver per use, with a one-tael deposit."

She had already checked with the system. Renting out the inn's tools also counted as revenue.

Xue Guanhe: "...Understood. Wei Liu also asked if your clothes and jewelry were bought in Moonview City and how much they cost."

"These were custom-made by the seamstresses and jewelers in my household. They're generally not for sale," Lu Jianwei replied casually, without a trace of deceit.

Xue Guanhe was startled. His master's family background was so impressive that they could afford dedicated seamstresses and jewelers.

Were the apology and apprenticeship gifts he had given too meager in comparison?

He grew even more respectful.

"I understand. I'll go inform Wei Liu now."

After he left, the system asked in surprise, "Weren't you just browsing the shop for clothes and jewelry to sell to her at a high price?"

Lu Jianwei raised an eyebrow. "Little Guest, what are you thinking? Only a fool would pass up an opportunity to make money."

"Then why..."

"Desperation doesn't make for good business. Ever heard of scarcity marketing?"

Upstairs, Wei Liu promptly asked, "Custom-made? I can pay! Could you arrange for me to have some made too?!"

Lu Jianwei smiled leisurely.

"See? It's coming together."

"...You're just an innkeeper, not a reseller."

"Think bigger. Modern hotels have hidden expenses like bottled water, instant noodles, and personal care items. Our ancient martial world inn should cater to local tastes. We don't just provide lodging and meals; we also meet other consumer needs. That's how we achieve sustainable development."

Little Guest: "..."

Nonsense! All nonsense!