No Fighting Allowed in the Inn

After lunch, the Eight Directions Inn regained its tranquility.

The sunlight, no longer blazing, gently spilled into the courtyard.

When there were no new guests, Lu Jianwei's favorite thing to do was to set up a rocking chair, arrange a tea table, and, amidst the faint aroma of tea, close her eyes slightly and gaze at the sky.

"Xiao Ke, don't you think the inn is missing something?"

"What?"

"Both inside and outside the courtyard, it's all bare and not very pleasing to the eye."

Xiao Ke: "As long as it's livable."

Lu Jianwei had always pursued a high quality of life. Now that she had money, leisure, and free labor, it would be a waste not to make use of it.

She called for Uncle Zhang.

"I want to plant some flowers and plants inside and outside the inn. I'll leave this task to you."

Uncle Zhang replied, "Manager, I'm not skilled in tending to flowers and plants. I'm afraid I won't do a good job. We'll need to find a gardener who specializes in this."

The area within ten miles was sparse with vegetation, so it likely wasn't suitable for planting flowers and plants. The manager might be disappointed.

"If flowers and plants are difficult to grow, we can plant some vegetables instead. The lush green will lift the spirits just by looking at them."

Uncle Zhang respectfully agreed.

"I'll go to Linyue Village tomorrow and ask around. If there's anyone skilled in growing vegetables or flowers, I'll bring them here."

"Good."

Lu Jianwei closed her eyes to rest, her nameless cultivation technique continuously circulating within her body. Her entire being felt enveloped in a warm current, and the lingering effects of staying up late due to exhausting work had completely disappeared.

During this period of relentless practice, her cultivation had made significant progress, but she was still far from reaching the fourth level.

One hundred thousand was no small amount.

"Xiao Ke, are there really no miraculous elixirs that can drastically increase my internal energy level?"

"No," Xiao Ke replied coldly.

Lu Jianwei recalled scenes from novels and TV dramas.

"If there are no elixirs, what about skills like the 'Absorbing Stars Technique'? Dealing with those wicked martial artists by just fining them isn't enough. They need to lose their internal energy and become powerless to truly solve the problem."

If she could absorb sixty or even a hundred years' worth of cultivation, she might instantly become a top-tier expert.

Xiao Ke: "...Dreaming is faster."

"Wait," Lu Jianwei said sharply, noticing something. "You hesitated. You didn't immediately reject me. Does that mean such a martial skill really exists?"

Xiao Ke decided not to hide it anymore.

"The specific effects of the technique are for the host to explore on her own."

So it was possible!

Lu Jianwei smiled, and the sky above seemed even bluer.

"This method is not orthodox. The host should proceed with caution," Xiao Ke dutifully reminded. "A single misstep could lead to backlash."

Lu Jianwei nodded. "Don't worry."

She wasn't some demon who would absorb anyone she met. Moreover, the more powerful the technique, the greater its limitations. She was still a beginner and knew little about the nameless technique, let alone something like the "Absorbing Stars Technique." She would naturally be cautious.

Xiao Ke: "Aside from practicing step by step, there's another way to quickly improve your strength."

"What is it?"

"Sudden enlightenment."

Lu Jianwei sighed.

"That kind of thing is not something you can seek. It comes by chance. Let it be."

She opened her personal panel.

Level: 3 (1054/100000) (Can't even dodge a needle from Cao Haozi)

Skills: Flowing Years (2/7), Scattered Stars Sword Technique (2/7), Frostfall Blade Technique (1/7), Spring and Autumn Medical Classic (rudimentary), Traces of the Wild Goose (4/9)

The first three martial techniques each had seven forms. The Spring and Autumn Medical Classic covered too broad a range, and Lu Jianwei was still learning basic pharmacological knowledge. The book was too advanced for her to fully understand, so having a rudimentary grasp was already quite good.

There was so much to learn that she wished she could split one day into two.

"Manager!" Xue Guanhe, having finished cleaning the kitchen, ran over excitedly. "I've decided! I want to learn the blade technique!"

He had wanted to say this during the meal but held back until now.

Lu Jianwei looked at him. "Are you sure?"

"Yes!" Xue Guanhe's eyes sparkled. "Today, when I saw Master Yan's blade technique, I felt my blood boil. Just now, while cooking, I tried a few moves with the kitchen knife, and it felt incredibly profound—completely different from when I was learning palm techniques!"

He had found the martial path he wanted to pursue.

Lu Jianwei lowered her gaze and asked Xiao Ke, "Can he learn the Frostfall Blade Technique?"

"He can, but the cultivation technique he practices won't fully unleash the power of the blade technique."

"Is there a blade technique that perfectly suits him?"

Xiao Ke chuckled. "Weren't you reluctant to spend on the skill detection fee before?"

Lu Jianwei's cheeks flushed. At that time, she had no money, and her stingy nature had taken over. Besides, she hadn't even exchanged for the Frostfall Blade Technique herself, so she hadn't considered letting Xue Guanhe learn it.

Xue Guanhe had a righteous character, excellent culinary skills, and, more importantly, came from a well-off family. Given these advantages, she didn't want to lead him astray.

Though they weren't formally master and disciple, once Xue Guanhe ventured into the martial world, he would surely mention the training he received at the Eight Directions Inn. She couldn't let him disgrace the inn.

If he was going to learn, he should learn the best.

"Go ahead and deduct it," she said generously.

The system happily deducted 4000 copper coins and then said, "Recommended martial technique: blade technique. 'Long Rainbow Blade Technique' compatibility: 86%. With his talent, he can master up to the seventh form. To learn the eighth form, he'll need a stroke of luck or sudden enlightenment. The ninth form is practically impossible."

Lu Jianwei wasn't disappointed. In the martial world, few could master a technique to its highest level. The further one progressed, the harder it became.

She asked, "What if he practices the Frostfall Blade Technique?"

Xiao Ke: "Compatibility: 73%. If self-taught, he might reach the fourth form. With guidance from a master, the fifth form is possible."

"Between the seventh form of Long Rainbow and the fifth form of Frostfall, which is better?"

"Judging the quality of a blade technique involves several aspects," the system, having swallowed 4000 copper coins, was very cooperative. "You need to consider attack power, defense power, the number of flaws, and effectiveness in one-on-one and group combat."

Lu Jianwei listened attentively. "Explain in detail."

"The Frostfall Blade Technique is among the most top-tier blade techniques. It has almost no flaws, and only a grandmaster-level martial artist could spot them."

Lu Jianwei was pleased.

"From this perspective, it truly deserves to be called top-tier."

"The attack power of the fifth form of Frostfall is similar to the seventh form of Long Rainbow, but Frostfall has higher defensive capabilities. Frostfall is suited for group combat, while Long Rainbow excels in one-on-one fights."

Lu Jianwei had already made up her mind.

"Manager?" Xue Guanhe, seeing her remain silent for a while, grew anxious.

Lu Jianwei raised her gaze, her long lashes fluttering, her amber eyes gentle and serene.

"There are two paths. You choose."

She explained the pros and cons of both Long Rainbow and Frostfall in detail, leaving the decision to him.

Xue Guanhe didn't think for long, his expression resolute.

"I want to learn the Frostfall Blade Technique."

Lu Jianwei didn't ask why, simply saying, "From now on, I'll teach you blade techniques at the beginning of Chen hour and light-foot techniques at the beginning of Wei hour, each for half an hour. The rest of the time is yours to manage."

Chen hour was after breakfast, and Wei hour was after lunch.

This conveniently avoided the cook's working hours.

Xue Guanhe naturally had no objections and agreed eagerly.

Perhaps before long, he too could wield a long blade like Master Yan and roam the martial world with ease.

Xiao Ke couldn't resist trying to milk more coins.

"Do you want to detect which light-foot technique suits him?"

Lu Jianwei raised an eyebrow. "Can't he learn the one I'm learning?"

“Regardless of the passage of time or the level of status, he might not understand.”

“I didn’t say to disregard the passage of time. A fleeting moment without a trace isn’t so bad.”

Xiao Ke: …

It almost forgot.

The sun cast long shadows as it dipped westward, the empty stable stretching its silhouette across the courtyard.

The martial siblings had yet to return, Cao Haozi had sneaked out, and now only Lv Hudie remained in the Eight Directions Inn.

Since noon, he had been silent and motionless.

With the system constantly monitoring him, Lu Jianwei wasn’t worried about him causing trouble.

She practiced her internal martial arts for a while and was about to return to her room to meditate on her combat techniques when the system suddenly alerted her: “There’s a bug by the well in the backyard.”

“A bug is just a bug.”

Lu Jianwei replied instinctively, then suddenly realized something was amiss. She quickly opened the inn’s control panel.

The defensive artifact’s energy level had plummeted by five hundred points.

Fortunately, the inn’s accounts had a surplus, allowing her to replenish the energy in time.

Any unlawful intrusion or attack on the inn would cause its defensive energy to drop.

The inn’s defensive artifact was currently at level four, capable of neutralizing attacks up to level four but powerless against anything stronger.

The stronger the attacker, the more the defensive energy would drop, and vice versa.

Five hundred points was no small amount.

The bug was poisonous—and highly toxic at that!