No Fighting Allowed in the Inn

The moon hung bright and the stars sparse, stretching over an endless wilderness.

An inn rose abruptly from the ground, standing solitary and imposing in the vast expanse like an island adrift at sea. Beneath its eaves swayed two lanterns, drifting with the wind like the glowing pupils of a great beast in the dark, watching the uninvited guests with silent vigilance.

The newcomers understood perfectly.

Everyone coveted the treasure map, yet none dared storm the inn in broad daylight. The cover of night concealed the truth.

Clad in dark attire and veiled in black scarves, they gathered outside the inn’s walls.

All was silent—so quiet that the only sound was the pounding of their own hearts.

There was an unspoken understanding among them: no one wanted to be the first to act, nor the first to breach the inn’s defenses.

Yet waiting indefinitely was no solution.

On the third floor, Lu Jianwei had not lit a single lamp.

Seated by the window, her senses stretched to their limits, she could discern the strength of these intruders even without the aid of her system.

They were mere scouts—low-level minions, the strongest among them barely reaching the fourth rank, while most lingered at the third, with a handful of second-ranks padding their numbers.

They lurked outside, motionless for what felt like an eternity.

On the second floor, Tao Yang had long abandoned propriety, sharing a room with Wei Liu, his fists clenched and palms slick with sweat.

"Shimei, there are… so many of them out there."

If they all rushed in at once, even with Yan Feicang’s help, they wouldn’t be able to stop them all. Some would inevitably slip through the chaos and seize Yue Shu and the others.

Though these martial artists weren’t particularly skilled, they had their tricks—poisons, hidden weapons, and other underhanded methods that made them unpredictable.

Wei Liu’s heart also wavered with unease, but the thought of Lu Jianwei’s calm demeanor sparked a flicker of anticipation.

She wanted to see just how Lu-jie would fend off these jackals.

"Why hasn’t Shifu come himself?" Tao Yang muttered in frustration. "With his ties to Yue Zhuangzhu, we wouldn’t be in such a desperate position."

If Leisurely Cloud Manor had no intention of protecting them, they wouldn’t have secretly tracked them down.

But if they were willing, why not step forward openly?

Wei Liu sighed. "If Yue Shu and the others truly wanted to go to Leisurely Cloud Manor, they wouldn’t have traveled all this way. Shixiong, have you not heard the rumors?"

"You mean the treasure map?" Tao Yang scoffed. "If such a thing really existed, why would it surface only now?"

Wei Liu shook her head. "Too many would rather believe it’s real. Look—they’ve surrounded the inn completely."

"You’re right. With so many vying for it, Shifu’s appearance would only complicate things." Tao Yang finally understood.

Wei Liu sighed again. "Did it never occur to you that Shifu sent us to find them quietly precisely for this reason?"

"Impossible!" Tao Yang snapped.

Wei Liu didn’t press further.

In the easternmost room, the Azure-clothed Envoy sat motionless at the table, while the Tall and Stout Grey-clothed Envoy and the Short Grey-clothed Envoy each pressed against a window, peering through the slits at the scene outside.

"Envoy, they’re not moving," the tall one murmured. "If they storm the inn, what should we do?"

Against such numbers, they stood no chance.

The Azure-clothed Envoy lowered his gaze in thought. "What about those two?"

"They’re on the first floor. No lights, no movement," the short one replied.

"Strange." The Azure-clothed Envoy frowned. "The intelligence said that old servant Zhang is a peak fourth-rank. He should’ve heard the noise outside by now."

In all his years of handling cases, he’d never encountered an inn as eerie as this.

In the first-floor servants’ quarters, Uncle Zhang gripped Yue Shu’s hand tightly.

"Uncle Zhang, the innkeeper told us not to worry. She’ll handle it—you don’t need to be afraid," Yue Shu whispered.

Uncle Zhang exhaled. "I’m not afraid."

He just wondered if that expert was even here tonight—and if she could truly stop so many.

Outside the inn, the invaders held their breath, waiting.

After what felt like an eternity, one finally lost patience. Relying on his superior lightness skill, he vaulted over the wall in an instant.

His movement was a signal—though none wanted to be the first, none wanted to be left behind.

Dozens of figures surged toward the main building at once.

On the system’s map, a swarm of green dots converged on the inn. Lu Jianwei’s lips curled slightly.

"Xiao Ke, ready?"

Xiao Ke "cracked its knuckles" in excitement. "Ready!"

Lu Jianwei smirked. "Activate the attack item."

She gave no warning, no intimidating display of force—just unleashed the item without hesitation.

A fifth-rank attack item was more than enough to handle a crowd of third and fourth-rank martial artists.

The cost? A trivial amount of silver.

And that silver could easily be recouped from the intruders themselves.

Among those rushing forward, some had stayed behind, watching cautiously from the sidelines.

Every eye was fixed on the scene unfolding in midair.

Inside and outside the inn, whether invader or guest, hearts pounded in anticipation.

A single lantern flickered to life.

In that instant, time itself seemed to freeze. The airborne invaders crashed into an invisible wall—

Then, an unseen hand struck their chests, so effortlessly it might have been a mere brush of the moonlight.

**"Bang—!"**

**"Pfft—!"**

Simultaneously, they were flung back beyond the inn’s walls, blood spraying from their mouths, their organs searing with pain.

Not a single cry escaped them. Even the injured dared not groan, biting back their agony in terrified silence.

Only the lantern in the center of the third floor burned brighter.

"By the heavens—"

The two Grey-clothed Envoys, peering through the window, gaped in shock.

Even without looking, the Azure-clothed Envoy could sense the dozens of auras expelled from the inn in an instant—all grievously wounded.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

What kind of godly power was this?!

These intruders might have been low-ranked, but there were dozens of them—not just a handful!

Who had struck them down?!

The question echoed in every mind present—shock, disbelief, and a creeping horror settling into stunned silence.

Even Yan Feicang, who had been deep in meditation, jolted to his feet, a shiver racing down his spine. Goosebumps erupted across his skin like tidal waves.

An expert. A peerless master.

A senior whose inner power was as vast and boundless as the sea—one he had never encountered before!

His long blade hummed faintly, its edge trembling with awakened intent.

"So strong… impossibly strong," Tao Yang muttered, shutting the window with numb hands. His mind had short-circuited, leaving him capable only of repeating those words.

Wei Liu’s expression mirrored his awe.

Among the invaders, reverence, terror, and dread churned like a storm. None dared take another step—some even froze mid-scratch, hands hovering in the air.

No one moved to help the wounded.

From her perch, Lu Jianwei rested her chin on her hand, feigning puzzlement. "Why has everyone stopped?"

Xiao Ke mused, "Perhaps they’re still preparing. Should we wait a little longer?"

"Then we’ll wait." She paused. "How much did we fine them earlier?"

Anyone who entered the inn without using the front door was considered an intruder—and intruders were subject to fines.

When the attack item had been activated, Xiao Ke had already deducted every last coin from their pockets.

"Total… thirty-five coppers," Xiao Ke admitted awkwardly.

Lu Jianwei: ???

"Maybe those coppers were just meant to be used as hidden weapons."

In other words, if no one had used projectiles, she wouldn’t have earned a single penny.

"A loss. A terrible loss!" Lu Jianwei clutched her chest, her heart aching. "All that silver wasted—and only thirty-five coppers to show for it?! Are they all this broke?!"

The system consoled her, "They *were* here to ambush you. It makes sense they wouldn’t carry much money."

“I never suffer losses, no matter what.” Lu Jianwei’s expression was cold and stern as she observed the green dots on the map. “They’ve only sent out less than a third of their people. The remaining two-thirds will surely produce a few who aren’t afraid of death.”

Besides, those who trespassed into the inn hadn’t died—they’d merely suffered minor injuries.

Wealth stirs greed, and for the sake of a treasure map, some would even throw their lives away.

A layer of clouds drifted with the wind, veiling the moon like a sheer gauze, dimming its glow and deepening the silence of the night.

Aside from the lights on the third floor of the inn and the lanterns by the entrance, there was no other illumination.

Finally, a voice sounded from beyond the courtyard wall.

“Do we still attack?”

That single quiet remark shattered the invaders’ hesitation. They couldn’t retreat without a fight—there was no way to explain such cowardice to their superiors.

Yet the scene they had just witnessed was too overwhelming, like an insurmountable chasm that left them frozen in fear.

“Just what kind of monster is that?” someone muttered. “To effortlessly repel dozens of people—even a sixth-rank martial artist couldn’t do that, could they?”

“Not just sixth-rank—even seventh-rank wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Damn. Then why even try?”

“No matter how powerful, there’s always a limit. If he can repel dozens, what about a hundred?”

“Should we join forces?”

The night was pitch-black, and none could recognize one another. If they all attacked at once, sheer numbers might overwhelm him. There were bound to be a few who slipped through.

At that point, it would come down to luck.

If strength wasn’t enough, they’d rely on fortune. Once they seized their target, they could settle things among themselves.

After some deliberation, the leaders among the invaders settled on a plan.

Their remaining hundred and sixty men would storm the inn from all sides simultaneously. As long as they weren’t all repelled, there was still a chance.

Rumors said the old servant surnamed Zhang was merely at the peak of fourth-rank, while that kid surnamed Yue was just a martial apprentice—hardly worth fearing.

A group of fourth- and third-rank fighters together should have no trouble overpowering one old man and a boy.

Whoever managed to snatch the prize would be up to fate.

“I heard Yan Feicang is also at the inn. He’s a sixth-rank martial artist.”

“Why worry? Yan Feicang is a martial fanatic who never bothers with others’ affairs. Haven’t you noticed he hasn’t shown himself even after all this time?”

“He doesn’t meddle? I thought he was fond of helping the weak?”

“The matter of White Crane Manor is beyond even his ability to influence alone.”

“Fair point.”

The signal to attack was given, and like dumplings tossed into a pot, the hundred and sixty men vaulted over the courtyard walls.

The injured lay on the ground, watching helplessly. They wanted to stop their companions but couldn’t bring themselves to dampen their spirits.

Only those who had personally experienced that unfathomable, ocean-like power would truly understand the terror hidden within this inn.

Lu Jianwei’s eyes curved in amusement.

“Xiao Ke, go easy this time. Don’t send them flying.”

Xiao Ke scoffed. “Who do you take me for?”

The attack mechanism activated. Every invader suspended mid-air by their lightness skill suddenly felt an immense, crushing force pressing down on them, as if they’d been plunged into a terrifying quagmire, unable to move an inch.

Countless invisible hands struck their chests. Pain exploded within them, blood gushed from their mouths, and like kites with severed strings, they plummeted to the ground with dull thuds.

What was even more horrifying was that they weren’t flung beyond the walls—they remained inside the courtyard.

This was different from before!

Lu Jianwei had amplified the attack this time. The invaders’ injuries were far worse than those outside the walls, leaving them incapable of rising anytime soon.

She spent twenty taels to purchase a potent muscle-relaxing powder from the system shop. A mere trace of it would render any martial artist below fourth-rank completely limp and helpless.

The clouds dispersed, and the bright moonlight bathed the wilderness once more.

No one spoke. No one cried out in pain. The only sound was the distant caw of a crow from a treetop.

Both inside and outside the walls, all fighting spirit had been extinguished.

Those outside could only watch as the hundred and sixty men, under the might of an invisible force, fell like broken-winged birds, crashing simultaneously within the courtyard walls.

Separated by the thick wall, they couldn’t see their companions.

With over a hundred men now trapped inside the inn, what were they to do?

A few quick-witted and bold souls struggled to their feet despite their injuries and fled desperately toward Moonview City.

“Weiwei, some escaped,” the system notified.

Lu Jianwei raised an eyebrow. “Good. Let them run.”

With so many hostages in her grasp, each one was worth a tidy sum in ransom. She wasn’t afraid of them reporting back—she was counting on it.

The lights in the main building of the inn suddenly blazed to life.

Uncle Zhang, Yue Shu, Xue Guanhe, and Yan Feicang emerged from the servants’ quarters, lighting the lanterns in the hall.

Xue Guanhe, being of lower rank and with no one to explain the situation, had sensed something unusual tonight but had no idea what had actually happened.

He lit the last candle, blew out the tinder, and turned to ask, “Did we have guests arrive?”

The other three: “...”

Sometimes, ignorance truly was bliss.

Uncle Zhang stepped forward and opened the main doors. Moonlight spilled in like water, casting a frost-like glow over the ground. In the spacious courtyard, rows of black-clad figures lay sprawled, blood trickling from their lips, arranged in neat concentric circles.

The sight was so spectacular it was unlike anything they’d ever witnessed.

Xue Guanhe peeked over Uncle Zhang’s shoulder, his eyes widening in shock.

Even a fool could tell these black-clad figures were villains who had attempted a night raid on the inn.

Yet he had heard nothing in his room.

To defeat so many people without a sound—it was beyond belief!

Yan Feicang followed closely behind, sweeping his gaze over the fallen invaders. His heart surged with emotion he could no longer suppress, and he raised his head, declaring loudly, “To witness such a divine feat tonight—I am humbled beyond words!”

He could no longer bring himself to speak of sparring.

He wasn’t worthy.

Yue Shu dashed out after them, joining Xue Guanhe in awed exclamations, his eyes shining as he stared at the black-clad men.

The invaders lay there like circus monkeys, forced to endure being gawked at and mocked.

These were men who were once respected as heroes!

Lights also flickered on the second floor.

The five guests there remained silent, pushing open their windows to gaze down at the neatly arranged intruders below. A long, quiet sigh escaped them.

“Envoy, this is… too terrifying,” the Short Grey-clothed Envoy stammered, wide-eyed. “I wonder if even our Commander could…”

“Hold your tongue!” the Azure-clothed Envoy snapped. “Do not speak recklessly of the Commander.”

“Understood.”

“Junior Sister, just what faction does this inn belong to?” Tao Yang murmured, still stunned and puzzled. “I’ve never heard of such an overwhelming display of power.”

Wei Liu, however, was unfazed. “What does it matter? This is no bad thing for us.”

The stronger the inn, the better it could protect Yue Shu and Uncle Zhang.

In the front courtyard, Uncle Zhang turned toward the main building and bowed deeply, his voice hoarse as he asked, “What are your orders, Innkeeper?”

A bundle dropped from the third floor, followed by a woman’s gentle, unhurried voice.

“This is a muscle-relaxing powder. Dilute it in water and force them to drink it.”

Uncle Zhang caught the bundle, which contained over a dozen bottles of the powdered drug.

He bowed again. “As you command.”

“I’ll fetch some water!” Xue Guanhe exclaimed excitedly, darting toward the kitchen.

Yue Shu hurried after him to help.

“Innkeeper, there are still men outside the walls. How should we deal with them?” Uncle Zhang asked.

Lu Jianwei replied, “Handle them the same way.”

A few of those outside had fled, but the rest either couldn’t or didn’t want to. Having witnessed the supreme power of the master here, their will to fight had long since crumbled.

Besides, returning now to report failure would only invite punishment.

All two hundred men were force-fed the muscle-relaxing drug, then carelessly dumped by the walls like discarded trash, stripped of all dignity.

These people were merely scouts, while the true power players remained hidden in the shadows, awaiting news.

None of them could have anticipated that within mere moments, their entire force of over two hundred would be utterly defeated.

“What?! All of them captured?”

“A peerless master? Hah, what a pathetic excuse for incompetence.”

“Two hundred people all injured? Are you joking with me?”

“Impossible. Even a seventh-rank Martial King couldn’t achieve that.”

“Just what kind of place is the Eight Directions Inn?”

Upon receiving the reports, the various factions were stunned, yet the facts left them no room for disbelief.

Though the dispatched warriors were only third or fourth-rank, they were still the solid backbone of their sects. To avoid tarnishing their reputations, they had deliberately disguised themselves, masks concealing their faces as they infiltrated under cover of night.

If all of them were captured and their disguises revealed—what would become of their sects’ dignity?!

Yet with so many disciples trapped, they couldn’t simply abandon them. But to rescue them would be an open admission of guilt, a self-inflicted blow to their honor.

They would undoubtedly become the laughingstock of the entire martial world.

This was… too difficult. Truly too difficult.

“What are the other factions doing?”

“No movement yet.”

“Let’s wait and see how they act first.”

“Understood.”

Similar discussions unfolded among the various sects, all choosing to hold their positions, unwilling to be the first to stick their necks out.

Inside the inn, Lu Jianwei finished settling matters and snuggled under the covers to sleep.

Aside from her, everyone involved—whether intruders or bystanders—spent the night sleepless.

The next morning, after freshening up, Lu Jianwei descended the stairs to find Xue Guanhe and the others gathered at the landing, their eyes bright with anticipation.

“Why are you all standing here? Is breakfast ready? The hall cleaned? The water vats filled? The firewood chopped?”

Xue Guanhe was the first to reply: “All done!”

Yue Shu, brimming with energy, added: “Everything’s been swept and tidied!”

Uncle Zhang chuckled. “Rest assured, Manager, all the chores are complete.”

Yan Feicang, arms crossed over his sheathed blade, said simply: “A few sticks of firewood are nothing.”

“Good. You’re all diligent and dependable staff.” Lu Jianwei praised them lightly. “Now, let’s eat. After breakfast, we open for business.”

Xue Guanhe blinked. “Open for business?”

In this situation… were they really going to welcome guests?

Lu Jianwei raised a brow. “Problem?”

“N-No! No problem at all!”

Breakfast was served, and Wei Liu and Tao Yang conveniently descended the stairs to join them.

“Sister Lu, last night was truly thrilling,” Wei Liu said with genuine admiration. “How do you plan to deal with them?”

Lu Jianwei smiled lazily. “That depends on their choices.”

“Manager Lu, would you be willing to enlighten us?” Tao Yang’s eyes shone with curiosity—though, upon closer inspection, there was also a newfound trace of reverence.

Lu Jianwei replied bluntly: “After breakfast, you’re free to check if any of your sect’s disciples are among them. If you find one, I’ll explain.”

Tao Yang: “……”

Should he go… or not?

Though he didn’t want to believe the Leisurely Cloud Manor would stoop to such underhanded tactics, he couldn’t shake his unease. After all, the incapacitated martial artists in the courtyard couldn’t all be mere wandering rogues.

If there really were members of the Leisurely Cloud Manor among them… what should he do?

Wei Liu, however, was decisive. “I’ll go check.”

Upstairs, the three Mystic Mirror Envoys sat around a table, washing down dry, coarse grain cakes with cold tea from the pot.

The Short Grey-clothed Envoy sniffed the air longingly. “Envoy, their breakfast smells amazing. That pair from the Leisurely Cloud Manor eats with them every day. Shouldn’t we order something too?”

It was pricey, yes—but it smelled heavenly!

The Tall and Stout Grey-clothed Envoy grumbled, “This inn is anything but ordinary. Do you really dare to order and make demands?”

“An inn exists to do business, doesn’t it? What kind of establishment turns customers away?” the Short Grey-clothed Envoy retorted. “We haven’t offended them, so why be afraid?”

“Those martial artists have always looked down on us. Who knows if the inn’s manager shares their prejudice.”

Ignoring him, the shorter envoy turned to their superior. “Envoy, given the situation, those sects will surely send envoys soon, making everything more complicated. Shouldn’t we eat well and stay rested to deal with whatever comes?”

After a moment’s thought, the Azure-clothed Envoy nodded. “Order the meal.”

“Envoy!” the taller envoy protested.

The Azure-clothed Envoy raised a hand to silence him. “There’s a sign by the entrance forbidding fights within the inn. It seems the owner dislikes conflict and won’t blame us without cause. This is also a chance to test the inn’s stance toward us.”

“Your insight is impeccable, Envoy.”

After a pause, the Azure-clothed Envoy added solemnly: “Wait until they’ve finished breakfast before placing your order.”

The two subordinates: “……Understood.”

Once breakfast was done, Xue Guanhe was clearing the dishes when the Mystic Mirror Envoys requested a meal. He froze.

Weren’t they content with their dry rations? Why the sudden change?

Putting on a professional smile, he headed behind the counter.

“Honored guests, a bowl of vegetable noodles costs twenty coins. Adding an egg brings it to twenty-five. Would you like the egg?”

The Grey-clothed Envoy gritted his teeth. “…Add it.”

The bureau’s mission funds were running low, but the way the waiter emphasized the egg—how could he refuse?

“Excellent! Three bowls, that’ll be seventy-five coins total.”

The envoy handed over a small silver fragment and received twenty-five coins in change.

“Your noodles will be brought up shortly.”

“Many thanks.”

As Xue Guanhe busied himself in the kitchen, Uncle Zhang and Yue Shu trailed behind Wei Liu and Tao Yang, pulling off the black masks of the captured intruders one by one to search for members of the Leisurely Cloud Manor.

The scene was… nothing short of mortifying.

The Leisurely Cloud Manor had ties with many sects, and the siblings had crossed paths with disciples from most major factions.

With each mask removed, the captives and the siblings locked eyes—the former burning with humiliation, the latter murmuring hasty apologies.

Tao Yang suddenly tugged Wei Liu’s sleeve and whispered, “This isn’t the way, shimei. We’re offending everyone.”

How were they supposed to navigate the martial world after this?

Wei Liu sighed. “Should we just shout, ‘Members of the Leisurely Cloud Manor, step forward?’”

Tao Yang smiled bitterly. “There’s no better option. Maybe the manor didn’t send anyone at all.”

Before they could debate further, Uncle Zhang suggested, “Why not pretend to ‘rescue’ them? Let them voluntarily identify themselves.”

Could they be any more embarrassed than they already were?

Besides, they were still masked. If they merely grunted, who could recognize them?

Wei Liu and Tao Yang agreed.

Stepping forward, Tao Yang announced, “We’ve come to rescue our comrades. If any disciples of the Leisurely Cloud Manor are present, please make yourselves known. Once verified, we’ll take you with us.”

A few of the black-clad figures exchanged glances.

They desperately wanted to leave, and they recognized Tao Yang and Wei Liu—but was this “rescue” truly authorized by their superiors?

No one spoke up.

Tao Yang exhaled in relief. “See? No one’s here.”

Uncle Zhang suddenly interjected, “You’ve committed this cowardly act, and this establishment will not let you off lightly. You’ve already experienced last night’s consequences firsthand. Even if those who sent you come to retrieve you, they’ll be powerless against the inn’s methods. So don’t delude yourselves.”

His words struck a chord.

The master from the previous night loomed over them like an insurmountable peak. Even if their superiors came in person, they’d stand no chance.

The only difference was when they’d lose face—not whether they would.

“Mmph! Mmph!”

A few began to grunt urgently.

Wei Liu stepped forward and yanked off their masks—revealing familiar faces from their sect. Her eyes turned frosty.

Tao Yang could no longer defend his sect after witnessing this.

Had it not been for their master’s orders, they wouldn’t have appeared here in the first place. If their intention was truly just to offer shelter, why resort to such sneaky, underhanded tactics?

Uncle Zhang and Yue Shu, seeing this, completely lost their trust in Leisurely Cloud Manor.

Thankfully, they hadn’t sought help from the manor earlier out of fear of implicating them.

"I’m going to find Sister Lu Jianwei," Wei Liu declared before turning and entering the main building.

Lu Jianwei sat behind the counter, flipping through the account books.

Truthfully, there wasn’t much to see in the inn’s ledgers—since opening, they’d had only a handful of guests.

The revenue alone couldn’t possibly sustain the inn. From the looks of it, fines were still the quicker way to make money.

Unfortunately, the people who had shown up last night didn’t bring a single coin with them!

Well, delayed fines weren’t entirely out of the question.

"Sister Lu, my senior brother and I found our fellow disciples. I’m sorry," Wei Liu murmured, her lashes lowered to conceal the cold glint in her eyes.

She was ashamed—ashamed of the manor’s greed and hypocrisy, ashamed of her own identity.

Lu Jianwei smiled gently. "It wasn’t your doing. Why apologize?"

"I…"

Tao Yang followed closely behind and stepped in. "Innkeeper Lu, what would it take for you to release them?"

She had mentioned earlier that terms could be negotiated.

Leisurely Cloud Manor had already lost face—they couldn’t afford to lose any more here.

Lu Jianwei closed the ledger.

She had changed into new robes today—maple-red as the base, layered with a white outer coat, harmonizing with the autumn scenery, elegant and dignified.

She tilted her chin slightly, the coral beads dangling from her golden hairpin swaying lightly, adding a touch of liveliness and charm.

"If you want to redeem them, one thousand taels per person."

If fines couldn’t bankrupt them, then she’d fine them to death.

Tao Yang: "…"

Wei Liu thought for a moment. "A thousand taels isn’t a small sum. We don’t have that much on hand right now. Sister Lu, if they can’t pay, how will you deal with them?"

Leisurely Cloud Manor wasn’t poor, but a thousand taels for one person was simply too much. She doubted the manor would be willing to pay.

Lu Jianwei replied, "If they can’t pay, they’ll stay and labor for the inn for the rest of their lives."

She was short on manpower anyway.

A thousand taels was indeed excessive, but it didn’t quite cross the bottom line of these sects. Few would be willing or able to pay such a sum, but even so, she stood to make a hefty profit.

As for those without money—well, they could always farm the land.

Tao Yang couldn’t produce the funds, so he sent word back, hoping the manor would respond promptly.

The other black-clad intruders also waited for their sects to rescue them.

Yet, a full day passed, and nothing happened.

No new guests arrived at the inn, and no sect came for the captives.

Lu Jianwei and the inn’s staff feasted heartily, the aroma wafting outside.

The prisoners hadn’t eaten all day, tormented by the scent of food while their injuries throbbed painfully. It was pure agony.

To add insult to injury, a young attendant deliberately circled the courtyard with a bowl of steaming braised pork, savoring it right in front of them while taunting them mercilessly.

"Look at you all—disciples of prestigious, righteous sects, yet you stoop to actions that shame the entire martial world. How pitiful! How laughable!

"You call yourselves heroes and young masters of the martial arts? From what I see now, you’re nothing but a bunch of wretched cowards. Tsk tsk tsk, if the martial world relies on people like you, it’s doomed.

"You’re all here for the treasure map, aren’t you? When White Crane Manor was massacred, none of you lifted a finger. But the moment treasure was involved, you swarmed in like vultures. And you still dare call yourselves righteous sects? Hypocrites, the lot of you!"

Finally, one of them couldn’t take it anymore and begged, "Young master, could you please undo this weakness-inducing powder? I was just here to spectate—it was an accident! Could you put in a good word for me?"

Xue Guanhe eyed him and said, "You’d better wait for your sect to come save you."

"Ah, what sect do I even have?" the man wailed. "I’m just a wandering martial artist—no one’s coming for me!"

Xue Guanhe stroked his chin. "Is that so? Then you really are pitiful. Without a sect backing you, you’re probably… tsk tsk."

"Young master! Young master! I truly regret it! Can’t I get another chance? I may not have a sect, but I still have myself!"

"The inn’s rule is this: all who trespass must be punished. Given that you lot are too weak to have caused irreversible damage, and out of the innkeeper’s mercy, you are allowed to redeem yourselves."

"Redeem ourselves? Could you elaborate?"

"One thousand taels per person, and you may leave the inn, free once more. If you don’t have the money, you must sign a contract to serve the inn until you can pay your way out."

Everyone: ???

This was called "mercy"?

"I—I…" The wanderer hesitantly asked, "What kind of work does the inn require? I won’t do anything like murder or arson."

Xue Guanhe scoffed. "Isn’t that exactly what you were doing last night?"

The wanderer: "…"

He shut his eyes in silent regret for his impulsive decisions.

If only he’d known the inn housed such terrifying experts—he never would’ve gotten involved!

Another wanderer asked, "Young master, may I ask what tasks the inn would assign us?"

Xue Guanhe: "Just manual labor. Though your morals are lacking, you’re still capable enough."

No one wanted to lie paralyzed in the courtyard, humiliated. Some of the wanderers, unbound by sect ties, began considering the offer.

One asked, "Young master, I don’t have money on me. Could you let me leave first to fetch the payment and return to redeem myself?"

Xue Guanhe’s eyes gleamed. "Of course."

"I’ll go get the money!"

"Let me out too!"

"Me! Me!"

Nearly everyone shouted, seeing this as an escape route.

Once they left the inn, the world would be their oyster—how could the inn possibly track them down?

Xue Guanhe smirked slyly. "No rush. One at a time."

For those who claimed they’d return with payment, he fed them an antidote for the weakness powder—dissolved in water.

This included both wanderers and sect disciples.

After taking the medicine, their bodies finally regained strength. They stood eagerly, ready to channel their inner energy and flee—only to find their martial power completely gone!

What was going on?!

Xue Guanhe finally explained, "The water contained an energy-suppressing drug. A unique formula of Eight Directions Inn—no antidote exists outside."

Everyone: Impossible!

A martial artist skilled in pharmacology desperately tried antidotes on himself, but his inner energy remained sealed.

"Stop struggling. Had you kept your word, I might’ve respected you. But alas…"

Xue Guanhe was thoroughly disillusioned.

He had once believed the martial world was full of chivalry, only to find it overrun with greedy hypocrites.

He used to dream of roaming the jianghu, but now his heart had cooled.

Better to stay quietly at the inn, learning martial arts from his master and cooking for her.

"Find the Divine Physician Valley—they’ll surely have an antidote!" someone insisted stubbornly.

"Their medicines are just as expensive."

"Those Divine Physician Valley folks are too arrogant to help you so easily."

"Fine, I’ll just go get the money."

The group scattered—some to retrieve funds, others to seek antidotes, and the rest to report to their sects.

The courtyard emptied in moments.

"Innkeeper, what if they break their word after leaving?" Xue Guanhe had little faith in their integrity.

Lu Jianwei: "Didn’t you drug them?"

This medicine was something she had "splurged a fortune" to purchase from the system’s store—a drug capable of suppressing a martial artist’s internal energy. There was no antidote in the martial world; only the store carried it.

Unless some genius physician concocted an antidote, those fleeing intruders would have no choice but to crawl back and beg for the cure.

By then, it wouldn’t be as simple as a thousand taels of silver.

The fines collected by the inn could only go into its public ledger. So far, she had only been losing money, not earning a single coin.

At the very least, she needed to recoup the cost of the medicine.

Of course, there were also pragmatic freelancers who arrived early the next morning, offering a thousand taels to redeem themselves, then spending another five taels for an antidote—Lu Jianwei gave them the wholesale price.

Others, who prided themselves on having connections, sought out familiar physicians in hopes of curing the drug’s effects, only to be told there was no antidote.

Now they were truly doomed.

The back-and-forth wasted precious time. By the time they obediently returned to the inn, clutching their thousand-tael banknotes, the price of the antidote had already skyrocketed to a hundred taels per pill.

As for disciples of major sects with powerful backing, they returned to their factions, where their elders offered exorbitant sums to beg the physicians of Divine Physician Valley for treatment. Upon learning there was no cure, they were utterly horrified.

Peerless martial prowess, bizarre poison—just what kind of force was this Eight Directions Inn?

They couldn’t afford to lose face, yet they couldn’t abandon their disciples either.

Caught in this dilemma, the factions hesitated, and five days slipped away in the blink of an eye.

The mid-tier sects were the first to crack. Unlike the major sects, they weren’t as obsessed with saving face, and unlike the minor sects, they still had the funds to spare. So they decided to pay their way out of the disaster—redeeming their disciples, buying the antidotes, then fleeing back to their strongholds in disgrace, vowing never to meddle in this affair again.

The minor sects, too afraid to offend Eight Directions Inn yet unable to scrape together the funds, had no choice but to sign contracts in bitter resignation, leaving their pitiable disciples behind to perform hard labor for the inn.

"Leisurely Cloud Manor, Black Wind Fort, and Thousand Miles Tower—still holding out, aren’t they?"

There were no secrets in the martial world. Lu Jianwei didn’t recognize the identities of those who had dared to storm the inn, but others did.

Clad in black robes and veiled in masks, they might have been hard to identify under the cover of night. But come daylight, most of them could be recognized by their brows, their voices, their mannerisms.

Some, eager to curry favor with the inn, willingly provided intelligence.

Ten days had passed since the night of the invasion. Only nineteen individuals had paid the full thousand taels for redemption, netting the inn nineteen thousand taels, while Lu Jianwei pocketed over a thousand taels from selling the antidotes.

Over a hundred chose to stay at the inn.

Lu Jianwei didn’t go easy on them. She marked out a plot of land and put them to work—tilling soil and fertilizing the fields.

As for the three factions that still hadn’t responded?

Leisurely Cloud Manor was barely worth mentioning—just eight people. Black Wind Fort and Thousand Miles Tower, however, had been the main forces behind the ambush, sending over a hundred fighters.

Truly, the arrogance of a major sect—strength in numbers.

These two factions were neither renowned for righteousness nor notorious for villainy, maintaining a neutral stance in the martial world. They had assumed this operation would be as easy as picking fruit from a tree. Who knew they’d stumble into such a pitfall, humiliating themselves on a grand scale?

Xue Guanhe, however, felt a flicker of relief upon learning this.

Though these two were prominent martial factions, they weren’t part of the orthodox, noble sects. The truly prestigious clans hadn’t participated in the night raid.

His faith in the martial world was rekindled.

Since they refused to respond, Lu Jianwei acted as if they didn’t exist.

She spent her days training, sipping tea, teaching her disciples, studying medicine, and occasionally supervising the martial artists-turned-farmers. Life couldn’t be more leisurely.

The inn’s ledger now boasted over nineteen thousand taels. Upgrading a system tool from level five to six cost ten thousand taels. If she wanted to upgrade both the offensive and defensive tools simultaneously, it would cost twenty thousand.

The offensive tool had been used to injure over two hundred people, draining its energy reserves significantly. Restoring it would require additional funds.

In other words, she could only afford to upgrade one tool for now.

Offense or defense—that was the question.

The offensive tool was undeniably effective, but Lu Jianwei "disliked" unnecessary violence. She much preferred resolving conflicts through civilized negotiation.

The defensive tool, on the other hand, had seen little use so far. Aside from the incident with the poisoned well, which had reduced its defense value by a few hundred points, it had remained untouched.

Perhaps it was time to test its capabilities?

"System, how does the defensive tool actually work?"

The system diligently explained: "The defensive tool passively negates damage—no activation required. Within the boundaries of the inn, any resource belonging to the establishment is immune to unlawful harm, provided the threat doesn’t exceed its level."

"Then why didn’t it stop the poisoning?"

"To be precise, immunity applies to living entities. Even if you or the inn’s staff drank from the well, you wouldn’t be affected—assuming the toxin’s level doesn’t surpass the tool’s. Guests, however, aren’t covered by passive protection."

"In that case, why did the poisoning still deduct defense points?" Lu Jianwei pressed.

"To alert you."

Ah. If the defense value hadn’t dropped, neither she nor the system would have noticed in time.

"So if someone inside the inn attacks me, it’ll be nullified, correct?"

"Exactly."

Nullification meant that as long as she upgraded the defensive tool to level six, any attack from a martial artist of that level or below would be rendered harmless—provided she had enough funds to replenish the deducted defense points.

Xue Guanhe and the others would enjoy the same protection.

"System, upgrade the defensive tool," Lu Jianwei decided.

She ran an inn, after all. She couldn’t just bar people from entering—she needed to give them the chance to come in and negotiate.

And so, three more peaceful days drifted by.

The afternoon sun was warm and comforting, lulling the mind into drowsiness. Internal energy cycled smoothly through her meridians, the progress bar inching forward at a leisurely pace.

"Lu-jie." Wei Liu approached, dressed in a fitted martial outfit, her hair tied high—a picture of spirited elegance.

Lu Jianwei cracked an eye open. "Hm?"

"Lu-jie," Wei Liu crouched beside the rocking chair, resting her chin on the armrest, her voice soft. "The martial world has never been about justice. The strong never admit fault—they only enforce their will through power."

Lu Jianwei raised a brow. "Are you warning me that someone’s coming for revenge? Or rather, to reclaim their pride?"

"My master is a sixth-rank martial artist, skilled with the sword. Black Wind Fort specializes in heavy weapons—their disciples are all brute force and no finesse. Thousand Miles Tower is more enigmatic, dealing in information and wealth."

"Why tell me this?"

Wei Liu met her gaze steadily, then smiled.

"I’ve been staying here for so long, and you’ve always looked out for me. You even helped me out of an awkward situation before. In all my years, no one’s ever cared enough to remind me of such things."

Lu Jianwei fell silent.

Back then, she’d only said it offhandedly, without much thought.

This girl must have grown up starved for kindness. What kind of life had she led?

Before she could respond, the system suddenly buzzed with excitement: "Lu-jie! Someone’s coming!"

Lu Jianwei: "How many? What level?"

System: "Three. One fifth-rank, one fourth-rank, and the last… huh?"

"What?"

"Something’s off."

Wei Liu sensed it too. She straightened, her eyes sharpening as they fixed on the courtyard gate.

"Someone’s here."