Chapter 882: Get the Innkeeper Out Here Now!

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Is that the place you mentioned?" Sa Juyeong, the eldest son of the Northern Ocean Sect Leader, asked as he gazed at the building in the distance.

"Yes, Young Lord," Lee Gaek replied. He was Sa Juyeong's right-hand man and a skilled swordsman. Due to he extensive experience in the murim, Sa Juyeong brought him along everywhere.

"So you're telling me they built an inn in our territory and haven't paid their respects even once in several months?"

The Northern Ocean Sect was the largest sect in the region, straddling the line between orthodox and unorthodox. No law stated that one had to pay respects just for starting a business, but until now, most new business innkeepers had offered their greetings in one way or another.

The quick-witted ones did so voluntarily. For most, however, the Northern Ocean Sect would send someone to give them a hint. It was a simple message: now that you are within our sphere of influence, you must pay your respects. You must show your sincerity with a certain amount each year. Only then can you receive our help in times of need.

"That damn brat couldn't even handle one simple job."

This task usually fell to Sa Juyeong, but he had been away on business with Lee Gaek for the past few months, so he had entrusted it to his younger brother, who had failed.

To solve the problem, he set out the day after he returned home. This was a golden opportunity to show his father his capabilities and prove that he, the eldest son, was the one who should inherit the Northern Ocean Sect.

Just as Sa Juyeong was about to step forward, Lee Gaek said, "From what I've heard, that inn is no ordinary inn."

"What do you mean?"

"I heard that to enter the inn, you must leave your sword at the entrance."

Sa Juyeong was startled. It was the first time in his life he had ever heard such a thing. "What are you talking about? We have to leave our swords at an inn's entrance? What kind of fool would entrust their weapon to a mere waiter at the entrance of an inn?"

"I've only heard stories myself." Lee Gaek shook his head. He, too, had been away with Sa Juyeong and had no way of knowing about this inn. Moreover, that was not the only rumor he had heard. "Furthermore, they say there's a rule that you absolutely cannot fight inside that inn."

"It must be a false rumor. Who in their right mind would create such an inn?" Sa Juyeong let out a hollow laugh. As if leaving your sword at the entrance was not enough, one couldn't even fight?

"Business must be slow, so they're probably trying to attract attention with some peculiar gimmick. I also heard the food and room prices are incredibly expensive."

The two men walked toward the front of the inn. Up close, the inn had a tremendous presence. It truly looked like the largest inn in the Central Plains. A massive sign hung over the entrance, with calligraphy that possessed the spirit of a dragon ascending to the heavens.

The Hero Inn (英雄客棧).

"The Hero Inn? I don't know who named it, but they're truly arrogant."

"I wonder who wrote that."

"To come up with a name like this! Whoever the innkeeper is, they're a clever one. They know how to draw attention in various ways."

"If they were so clever, they would have come to greet us first."

Sa Juyeong snorted. It was fortunate that his brother could not handle the job, but the sight of this inn was infuriating.

Do they think they can act so bold just because they're a large establishment? They're just mere innkeepers! Alright, now it's time for them to taste the strength of a real hero.

The two men stepped into the inn.

"Welcome." A man at the entrance greeted them politely.

He was not the kind of waiter one would see at a typical inn. He was dressed smartly, like the general manager of a large sect.

As they entered through the door he held open, the air smelled not of alcohol, but of flowers.

The interior was magnificent and beautiful. It was not just large, but also incredibly luxurious. The ceiling beams were carved with gilded dragons, and ornate lanterns hung everywhere. Famous paintings and poems adorned the walls, and the floor was etched with beautiful patterns.

The tables were made of expensive wood, and the chairs looked exceptionally comfortable. The space between tables was wide, and the staircase leading to the second floor was surprisingly built in a sweeping curve.

"Is this really an inn?" Sa Juyeong blinked in shock. He had visited many renowned inns, but he had never seen a place so splendid and grand.

The waiters working inside were also different. They were all in matching uniforms, carrying alcohol and dishes, but none of them were running. Everyone walked with a graceful, well-bred gait.

"They must have spent a fortune building this place!"

A smile spread across Sa Juyeong's face. That also meant there was a lot of money to be extorted.

A waiter who had been waiting inside guided them to where a man stood. He was a man with a ponytail and a friendly face, giving off a free-spirited vibe. "Welcome, guests," the man greeted warmly.

Sa Juyeong lowered his voice. "I am Sa Juyeong of the Northern Ocean Sect."

"It's an honor to meet you." The man with the ponytail bowed politely. "Will you be dining? Or staying?"

"I'm here to see the innkeeper."

"May I ask the reason for your visit?"

Sa Juyeong frowned. He did not think the innkeeper of the inn would be dressed so casually with his hair tied back. That meant that the man was nothing more than an employee.

A mere clerk at the entrance is asking me for a reason?

"I'll speak with the innkeeper directly," he snapped.

The man with the ponytail shook his head. "You can discuss anything with me, except for matters of money."

Sa Juyeong's expression hardened. "I said to call the innkeeper."

"He's busy right now, so you'll have to wait a moment."

Sa Juyeong fumed. He's even making me wait? Fine, let's see how far this goes.

"Fine, I'll wait," he grumbled, trying to step inside.

However, the man with the ponytail stopped him. "You must leave your weapons with us before you enter."

Sa Juyeong froze. What Lee Gaek had heard was true. "What did I just hear? I told you, I'm here to see your innkeeper. I'm Sa Juyeong of the Northern Ocean Sect."

"Yes, Master Sa. Still, you must leave your weapon before entering."

Sa Juyeong's gaze sharpened. "Have you ever seen a martial artist who entrusts his weapon to another?"

The man with the ponytail pointed to the words carved on the wall. "Those are the rules of our Hero Inn."

• Weapons cannot be brought into this inn. If anyone is caught secretly bringing one in, the weapon will be permanently confiscated.
• You must never fight in this inn. If this rule is broken, the offender must work at the inn without pay for a period determined by the innkeeper.
• You must never commit murder in this inn. If this rule is broken, the offender will pay with their life.
• You cannot stay in this inn for more than seven days a month.

"Are you people insane?" Sa Juyeong howled.

The man with the ponytail simply smiled, as if this reaction was nothing new.

Sa Juyeong was dumbfounded. The first rule about leaving weapons behind was child's play compared to the second and third. "If we fight, we have to work here?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"So if the innkeeper says to work for ten days, you work for ten days, and if he says to work for a lifetime, you work for a lifetime?"

"That's correct."

"So has anyone actually worked here?"

"Of course. There are people working here right now."

"Surely they aren't martial artists?"

"Would ordinary people have any reason to fight? They are all martial artists."

"And they just work obediently?"

The man with the ponytail smiled mysteriously. "No. We force them to work."

Sa Juyeong shook his head with a look of pity. What kind of idiots would get caught and be forced to work in an inn?

So, he's saying he hired some people who know a bit of martial arts?

"Then has anyone been killed for killing someone?" The man with the ponytail looked around, then whispered, "That's a secret only the innkeeper knows."

Sa Juyeong was speechless.

…Fine, let's assume all this crazy talk is a bluff.

For starters, he was curious about the fourth principle.

"Why can one only stay for seven days a month?"

"There was no such rule at first, but some people started using this place as their hideout. That's why we set a seven-day limit. After three days, the daily rate doubles. It's meant to encourage people to stay for only three days and leave."

Sa Juyeong turned to Lee Gaek and smiled. In any case, the words implied that one was unconditionally safe for those seven days. "I don't know who it is, but they've used their head. Once word gets out, wouldn't everyone want to come and see it at least once?"

"Yes, that's right," Lee Gaek agreed.

Sa Juyeong looked back at the man with the ponytail. "What will you do if I refuse to leave my sword?"

"Then you will not be able to use our inn, and naturally, you won't be able to meet the innkeeper," the man answered calmly.

Sa Juyeong lifted his sword, scabbard and all, from his waist. "Do you know what sword this is? It's a treasured sword passed down to the eldest son in my family for generations. If this sword were lost, you couldn't compensate for it even if you sold this entire inn. Are you still going to take it?"

The man with the ponytail pointed to a sign posted behind him.

• If a sword left in our care is lost, we will compensate for it at twice its value.

Sa Juyeong scoffed. "How exactly do you plan to compensate? My sword has a value that cannot be measured in money. You'll probably just tell me to sue you."

"Don't worry. We will never lose it," the man asserted confidently.

Lee Gaek, who was standing behind, asked skeptically, "Where do you plan to store the swords? Have you installed a vault made of thousand-year cold iron?"

He figured there was no other way the inn's managers could be this confident.

The man with the ponytail stepped aside and pointed at a round barrel behind him. Countless swords were stuck in it, shoved in haphazardly. "We store the swords here."

Sa Juyeong and Lee Gaek were dumbfounded. This was absurd. As if to prove that swords had really been entrusted, name tags of the innkeepers were attached to the hilts.

Unable to hold back any longer, Sa Juyeong shouted, "Have you ever seen such madness? You store these precious swords so carelessly? You just shove them all into a barrel?"

Suddenly, one of the weapons stuck in the barrel caught Lee Gaek's eye, a straight dao with a brilliant flame pattern drawn on its hilt.

The Soul Burning Flame Blade?

That couldn't be right. The user of the Soul Burning Flame Blade was Yeom Hwain, a man so cruel and violent that he would never entrust his weapon to such a place. Moreover, his Soul Burning Flame Blade was one of the most precious treasured blades among all daos. It was incomparably more valuable than Sa Juyeong's sword.

Could these people be playing a trick? Placing fake weapons here?

No, that was impossible. Impersonating a master like Yeom Hwain, of all people, would get the entire inn annihilated.

STEP STEP…

Just then, a middle-aged scholar walked down from the second floor.

The man with the ponytail greeted him with a smile. "Did you have a comfortable stay?"

The middle-aged scholar replied in satisfaction, "I stayed well and am now leaving. This is the first time in my life I've seen such a magnificent inn."

"I'm glad you enjoyed your stay."

Seeing the departing guest, Lee Gaek tilted his head. Where have I seen that person before?

He was sure he had seen the man somewhere, but he couldn't remember.

The middle-aged scholar said to the man with the ponytail, "Give me my sword."

"Yes."

The man with the ponytail pulled a sword from the barrel. His sword hilt also had a name tag.

The moment Lee Gaek saw it, his eyes widened.

The Pure Justice Hermit! I remember! I finally remember.

The scholarly man was the Pure Justice Hermit, a renowned master of the orthodox sects, and that sword was his unique weapon, the True Light Sword!

He had met the man over a decade ago. The Pure Justice Hermit had been surrounded by martial artists cheering for him, and he himself had been one of them.

The Pure Justice Hermit entrusted the True Light Sword to these people?

Even seeing it with his own eyes, Lee Gaek couldn't believe it. His gaze shifted back to the Soul Burning Flame Blade.

No way. Could that one be real too?

An inexplicable sense of unease washed over him.

In any case, this was a place where even the Pure Justice Hermit entrusted his sword.

"Today's appointment is important, so let's just leave our swords for now," he said to Sa Juyeong.

Sa Juyeong scolded back, "What are you talking about? What if they lose them?"

"We can just sit where we can see this spot," Lee Gaek replied, then sent a telepathic message to Sa Juyeong. [The guest who just left was the Pure Justice Hermit.

[The Pure Justice Hermit?]

[Since a master like him stays here, I think it would be best to meet the innkeeper first.]

The name of the Pure Justice Hermit had its effect. He was a famous figure whose name even Sa Juyeong had heard countless times.

In the end, Sa Juyeong reluctantly handed over his sword. Lee Gaek also entrusted his own. Still, they planned to sit at a table and watch the spot where the swords were kept.

"In that case, give us a table with a good view of this spot."

"I will do that."

Sa Juyeong nodded. He warned the man with the ponytail, "Let me make this clear. If my sword is lost, or if there's even a small scratch on the scabbard, you'll pay for it with your life."

"Here, you see? I will store it with care."

The ponytail man placed the swords in the barrel carefully, but in the end, it was still the same weapon barrel.

The two men took a seat where they could see the man with the ponytail. After sitting down, Sa Juyeong repeatedly pointed at the man with his finger, signaling him to guard his sword well.

However, before even fifteen minutes had passed, he could not stand waiting any longer.

"Get the innkeeper out here now!" he roared, his voice booming.

Someone at the next table said in a voice like scraping metal, "Quiet down, little boy."

Sa Juyeong turned his head, only to see an old man sitting at a table, drinking. The old man's face was so swollen and covered in bruises that it was impossible to identify him. It looked like he had been beaten severely.

Just then, as the old man lifted his cup, though, a tattoo of a blazing fire on his arm became visible.

Lee Gaek was stunned speechless. Yeom Hwain?

He had heard that Yeom Hwain had such a tattoo on his arm. Startled, he made to send his young master a telepathic warning, but it was too late.

Sa Juyeong complained loudly, "Who are you to speak so rudely, old man?"

No! Lee Gaek's heart sank.

As if confirming his suspicion, the old man's eyes grew incredibly cold.

This is bad. Lee Gaek's heart pounded as if it would burst. He had never heard of anyone who had provoked Yeom Hwain and survived. There were even rumors that he had burned an opponent to death with his ultimate dao technique just for looking at him the wrong way.

Just as Lee Gaek was desperately trying to figure out how to overcome this crisis, a woman walked out into the hall. She was a truly captivating and sensual woman who drew the eyes of everyone present. It was the first time either of them had seen such a beautiful woman in person.

She walked gracefully over to the old man and said, "Didn't I tell you not to drink while you're working?"

Her voice was gentle, but the old man was already on his feet, startled. He trembled with fear, not knowing what to do.

"A guest left it behind, so I just had one sip."

The old man hastily gathered the liquor bottle and dishes on the table onto a tray and cleared them away.

As he hurried away as if fleeing, the woman said gently, "You're kicking up dust. Don't run."

The old man flinched, then tiptoed away and disappeared toward the kitchen.

Only then did the woman turn toward the two men. "I heard you were looking for me?"