Song of Adolescence

Chapter 399 Wushuang Not Seeing Wushuang

A small inn on the side of a road. The waiter was slumped over the table, dozing off.

A handsome young man with a long sword casket on his back walked into the inn. He looked around with a smile and asked, "Reception, do you have vacancies?"

The waiter raised his head when he heard the voice and rubbed his eyes. "Yes, yes. Does the guest want a first class room or an ordinary guest room?"

"How much is a first class room, and how much is an ordinary room?" The youth asked.

"Thirty coppers a night for the first class room, and fifteen coppers a night for an ordinary room," the waiter replied.

"Ordinary is fine, then." The youth chuckled, then found a corner and sat down. "Is there anything to eat in your inn?"

"I'm sorry, sir, but our cook has already left for the day. I still have two steamed buns left from dinner tonight. If the guest wants it, I can heat it up for you and you can have it with some hot tea. I’ll charge you two coppers for it." The waiter explained groggily and yawned at the same time.

"That would be great, thanks." The youth took out a handful of copper coins from his shirt, raised his hand and gestured sharply. A total of twelve copper coins fell, neatly arranged in front of the waiter.

The waiter rubbed his eyes hard, thinking that he was half-asleep and seeing things.

"Waiter, I'm a little hungry, please hurry up with the steamed buns." The youth smiled.

"Yes, yes." The waiter ran off hurriedly.

The youth sighed, touched his money purse, and sighed again. "I’m the dignified citymaster of Unrivaled City and I can’t even afford to stay in a first class room. If I'd known, I’d have asked shixiong for more money when I left. Sigh. I’ll have to be frugal with my spending."

While the youth was muttering to himself and counting his remaining coins, about a dozen people suddenly walked into the inn. Most of them were young men and appeared to be young disciples of some sect or another of the martial world. The one in the lead walked up to the counter and knocked on it lightly. "Shopkeeper, are you there?"

The youth put away his money purse and looked at them with interest.

The waiter walked out carrying two steamed buns, and was startled when he saw more than a dozen guests suddenly appearing. "Are these good sirs… staying tonight?"

"Yes." The man nodded. "I need thirteen rooms in total."

The waiter thought for a while, put down the steamed buns and opened the registration book on the table. He looked through it for a while, then said, "Sir, we only have twelve rooms left."

"Twelve rooms?" The man frowned slightly.

The waiter nodded. "Yes, originally we had exactly thirteen rooms, but unfortunately, the guest over there arrived just before you and already booked one of the rooms."

The man turned his head, glanced at Wushuang, then walked over and sat down. His tone was very polite and he suggested, "This brother, we are Luoxia Sect disciples who are on our way to attend the banquet at Wuming Valley. We’re passing through, but this little town only has one such inn and we happen to be short of one room. I wonder if this brother is willing to let us have the room? Here, I can offer five taels of silver. Please kindly accept it." After speaking, the man placed a small piece of silver on the table.

The youth chuckled and pushed the silver back. "You said it yourself, this little town only has one such inn. If I give you the room, where will I stay? Besides, there are so many of you. Can’t you get two people to squeeze in for a night?"

"This brother, our Luoxia Sect has always been upright and honest when we travel the martial world. These five taels of silver are enough for you to stay in such an inn for three months. I don't think our request is too much." The man was still very polite.

"You don't understand what I mean. You have your rules, but I don't have to follow your rules. My rule is very simple. I don't want to." The youth waved his hand. "Waiter, where are my steamed buns?"

"Coming." The waiter picked up the steamed buns and was about to come over.

But suddenly, he heard the sound of a sword leaving its scabbard.

Among the people who were standing in the room, one of them had drawn his sword and pointed it at the waiter.

But the sword stopped there.

Because another sword was blocking him.

It was a very small sword, barely visible in this dark night.

"Flying Sword Arts," the man sitting in front of the youth exclaimed in surprise.

The youth hooked his fingers, and the flying sword fell back. He smiled and said, "Waiter, I saved your life. Shouldn’t you give me an extra steamed bun?"

The man said solemnly, "So you’re a martial expert. I will give up the room to your distinguished self." After speaking, he stood up.

"Wait," the youth suddenly said.

"What is it?" The man smiled slightly.

"Are you still going to stay here?" the youth asked.

"I said earlier that there is only one such inn in the town, so we can only squeeze two of us in a room." The man was still polite.

"But you guys were going to kill the waiter," the youth said quietly.

The man raised his hand and called to the man who drew his sword. "Come here."

The man withdrew his sword, and walked up to the man in charge. The man raised his hand furiously and slapped him to the ground. "You useless piece of trash. You’ll be staying up to keep watch tonight. You’re not allowed to sleep." Then, he immediately walked back to the counter. "Reception, please help us with the arrangements."

"Wait," the youth called out again.

The group leader did not turn his head.

"Although I have a lousy memory, I’m very good at identifying martial arts. The palm strike you used just now has nothing to do with the Luoxia Sect." Wushuang smiled and stood up.

"Is that important to you?" the man asked.

"Actually, it's not that important, but this is the first time I’m travelling the martial world on my own and I want to have a good sleep tonight. You can all leave and I won’t kill you." The youth knocked his hand on the sword casket beside him.

The man suddenly laughed out loud. Then, he whirled around and with a flick of his hand, a chain hidden in his sleeve shot out. A dagger that was tied to the end of the chain flashed with a cold light, aiming straight for the youth.

The youth smiled, kicked out a foot, and the sword casket snapped open. He waved his hand and six flying swords rose out of the casket. However, the dagger on the chain was repelled by an oil-paper umbrella.

Another person had appeared in the inn without their notice. He was dressed all in black and he held an oil-paper umbrella in his hand.

"Housemaster!" The thirteen people bent to their knees at the same time.

The youth was taken aback for a moment. He lowered his hand and the six flying swords fell back into the casket. He could clearly tell that the man before him was no ordinary person, but a true martial expert.

The man with the umbrella gave him a small nod, then turned around and said to the thirteen people, "Why are you here?"

"We received a letter from the Patriarch and are on our way to Heavenly Revelations to assist. Why… does Housemaster not know about this?" The group leader showed his surprise.

"What about Xie House and Mu House?" the man with the umbrella asked.

"They received the letter too. Each House sent thirteen people to assist. However, we’re travelling to Heavenly Revelations via different routes," the man replied.

"Go back," the man with the umbrella said evenly.

"Go back? Heavenly Revelations City is only two hundred miles ahead. Are we turning back now?" the man asked, puzzled.

"The Patriarch has betrayed Hidden River. The Head of Mu House and I had originally planned to return to Hidden River and open the Shura Hall to discuss this matter and convict Su Changhe. But, we met you on the road instead. Looks like he intends to be one step ahead of us." The man with the umbrella sighed softly.

"You guys are from Hidden River?" The youth suddenly realised. "No wonder. So you must be… the Umbrella Ghost."

Su Muyu turned around and said mildly, "I'm afraid so. Honourable Citymaster of Unrivaled City."