Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 234 Acquaintance
After pondering for a moment at the door of the inn, Chen Xuan walked in again.

"Young man, we really have no rooms left in the inn. You can see that the hall is packed with people. There's barely any room to stand. The woodshed has even been taken over. Do you think we can find another solution?"

Seeing Chen Xuan coming again, the waiter had to smile apologetically, not daring to offend him at all. Who knew if these wandering wanderers got upset, they might attack him.

Sometimes being a waiter is also a high-risk job, especially in a place like Tuoling Town where all kinds of people mix. But being able to open a shop in such a place requires some ability. Otherwise, not only can you not make money, you won’t even have a place to cry if you get bullied.

The owner of this store is a skilled man, and his internal skills are no less than Leng Bing's, but they are not top-notch. I don't know if he is the boss, but he is very good at using an abacus, which is probably a weapon at a critical moment.

Chen Xuan naturally did not come here to force anyone to do anything. He smiled and said, "Brother, I also understand your difficulties. Forget about not having a room. I wonder if you can sell me some fresh beef and mutton, two or three pounds will do. By the way, you can also bundle up some firewood or charcoal."

Are you planning to make a fire outdoors? The waiter immediately smiled and said, "Of course, no problem. There's absolutely no reason to refuse business. We even delivered fresh ingredients and two carts of firewood during the day. I just hope you understand that there are so many people these days, so the price may be a little higher than usual."

"No problem. Two or three pounds of beef and mutton and a bundle of firewood. How much does it cost?" Chen Xuan nodded and smiled.

The waiter immediately asked him to wait and went to ask the shopkeeper, who came back and replied, "How about two pounds of beef and one pound of mutton? Plus a bundle of firewood, a total of three coins."

Why don't you just go and rob them? Just a few pounds of unprocessed beef and mutton, plus a bundle of firewood, and you charge such a high price. It's more than ten times more expensive than usual. Do you think you are in a big restaurant in a big city? Even if the prices are higher here because it's remote, it's still a bit outrageous.

But Chen Xuan didn't say this out loud, because of the special situation here recently, it was normal for the prices to be inflated. He could only pinch his nose and accept it, saying: "Okay, go get it for me."

He was so moved that he wanted to do some business here to make some quick money.

The things were brought soon, Chen Xuan paid the bill, turned around and left with a speechless look on his face.

The inn hall was filled with so many people from the martial arts world that it was almost full. Seeing this, someone stood up and said, "Damn it, there's not even a place to lie down here, and it's just shelter from the wind and rain. It's really miserable. Innkeeper, give me some firewood and food. I'm going to find a sheltered place in the wild to spend the night."

"And I"

"Why didn't you think of it before? Count me in..."

Chen Xuan gave them a reminder, and they all followed suit.

The shopkeeper quickly said, "Okay, okay, wait a moment, I'll arrange it."

It would be great if we could get rid of these plague gods, so that they don't cause trouble after drinking. It would be troublesome to compensate for damages if they break things, and if they have a bad temper, we might even have to fight. It would be best if they all get out.

The waiter immediately looked miserable. He would be very busy from now on. With so many people, there might not be enough firewood. Even if he sold all the firewood, he would still have to start the fire. Could he borrow from other houses?
After leaving the inn, Chen Xuan walked out of the town, carrying a package on his back, holding food wrapped in oil paper, and carrying a bundle of firewood. He looked as miserable and miserable as he could be.

When he passed by a blacksmith shop, he walked past it, but he couldn't help but look back to make sure he was not mistaken. The old sign at the door read "Zhuo Ji Blacksmith Shop".

Isn’t this Zhuo Erniu’s signboard? Why is it here? The stains on it are exactly the same. I’m definitely not mistaken.

Looking at the shop again, it was a dilapidated house with mud walls and a thatched roof pressed down with stones. There was a shed next to it, and the fire was burning brightly. Zhuo Erniu was swinging a hammer and hammering away, apparently forging a knife. Had he changed his career from making farm tools?

It was already dark, but his door was still open. Wu Sanniang was in the house, rolling up her sleeves and polishing a long knife. The couple was working hard, one forging the knife while the other was polishing it.

Then there was a 'door god' outside his house. A man in tight clothes was lying on a recliner, drinking and eating meat happily. There was an ancient straight-backed long sword stuck next to him. Even through the scabbard, Chen Xuan could vaguely feel that the sword was extremely sharp.

My goodness, why did Gu Xifeng come here and hang out with Zhuo Erniu and his wife.

Oh yes, a few months ago, Zhuo Erniu and his wife said they were going to move, but ended up coming here. Gu Xifeng also said that he would travel to the west and witness the duel between two innate masters. It was normal for them to meet each other. Zhuo Erniu and Gu Xifeng had met before, and he even gave him an ancestral sword.

And looking at the current situation, it seems that Gu Xifeng has helped Zhuo Erniu to avoid a lot of small troubles. In Chen Xuan's opinion, his martial arts are still remarkable, otherwise it would not be easy for Zhuo Erniu to open a blacksmith shop and live safely in this place where many people from the martial arts world gather recently.

Chen Xuan paused to take a few more glances, and Gu Xifeng glanced over, burped, and said with a forced smile: "My friend, do you want to buy something? If so, go to my brother Zhuo. If you are here to cause trouble, you have to get past me first. I, Gu Xifeng, the Swift Blade, own this blacksmith shop. I hope you will give me some face."

He definitely didn't recognize Chen Xuan.

It was funny. Chen Xuan had suspected that he had come up with that lousy nickname. He seemed so arrogant after not seeing him for a few months. Could it be that he had become famous recently?

Look, there were people on the road who were staggering from drinking. After hearing his words, they seemed to sober up a little and then strolled away.

Maybe Gu Xifeng had dealt with many troublemakers in front of Zhuo Erniu's shop before, and sticking his stick there would have a good deterrent effect.

Wu Sanniang in the room looked up and said, "Young man, do you want to buy something or forge a weapon? Don't worry about that brother Gu outside the door. He doesn't mean any harm. Just tell me."

She is really the one in charge. She is the one who greets the guests, while Zhuo Erniu just lifts weights. She is definitely a good wife.

Gu Xifeng smiled and said nothing. As long as no one came here to cause trouble, he would be happy to be idle. No one recognized Chen Xuan. He smiled and shook his head and said, "Nothing, just passing by, took a look, goodbye."

Just leave after saying that. People are living a peaceful life here, there is no need to disturb them.

Gu Xifeng grinned, thinking that it was his own credit that he scared away those who might come to cause trouble. It seemed that the reputation of his Gale Knife had spread.

What people in the underworld want is a reputation, it feels good.

You have to know that Tuoling Town is very crowded during this period. It's not that no one has tried to stay at Zhuo Erniu's house. Most of them were handled by him. He fought in many battles and his martial arts skills have improved. Of course, Wu Sanniang is not a pushover either. Her archery skills have scared away many people. There are also bows and arrows hanging on the wall for ready use.

Looking at Chen Xuan's departing back, Wu Sanniang was puzzled and did not look away for a long time.

Gu Xifeng took a sip of wine and said in silence: "Sister-in-law, why are you looking at him? You can tell at a glance that he is a newbie in the martial arts world. He has never suffered the harsh reality. He looks relaxed now, but after going through some things, he has become bitter and resentful."

"No, I always feel that he gives me a familiar feeling, but I just can't remember it. I have never seen this person in my impression," Wu Sanniang shook her head.

Gu Xifeng said with a smile, "Haha, that's nothing. A lot of people have come to Tuoling Town recently, so it's normal to feel familiar sometimes."

"Yeah, maybe I'm overthinking it. Brother Gu, drink less, or you won't be able to hold the knife steady."

"It's very stable, don't worry, sister-in-law, my Swift Wind Blade is not just a name."

Zhuo Erniu continued to lift weights, making a clanging sound, as if he had endless energy. He looked happy and satisfied. He had a family, a woman, and friends. He could make ends meet. What else could he not be satisfied with?

After leaving the town, Chen Xuan came to the wilderness. There were people everywhere and there was not even an open space. He had to avoid people and look far away. It was really not easy to find a place sheltered from the wind.

"There are quite a few skilled fighters. Around this town, there are dozens of powerful warriors similar to the black-robed man I killed that night. There are even more powerful characters everywhere, and there are even two innate masters. It's really lively here. It really is true that birds of a feather flock together. It's rare to encounter such a person normally."

Chen Xuan muttered to himself as he walked away. He also knew that these were just a part of the people who came to join in the fun. There were probably more of them in Liuquan Town. When the two innate masters competed the day after tomorrow, all the monsters would emerge.

I heard that many people from other countries are coming here, so it should be very lively, right?
As for the two innate masters who are currently silent in Tuoling Town, Chen Xuan doesn’t think that Liu Zhenwei and Guo Jinglong are among them. Their cultivation is not as good as his, so how can they deserve the words "famous for many years".

The Ze Yuan Jue he practiced was good at hiding himself, and he was naturally also very good at sensing the cultivation level of others. Even others didn't know how to hide himself?

The more you understand this technique, the more its uses become apparent. It is indeed the only technique left by Old Liu.

More than a mile away from the town, Chen Xuan finally found a good place, located under a hill in the Gobi Desert, sheltered from the wind, and with a wide view.

There is almost no one behind the hill, and gradually there are undulating sand dunes.

Stopping here, he lit a fire, picked a few branches from the firewood, skewered the beef and mutton he had bought and started roasting them.

By the way, I took a look at Tuoling Town in the night. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides. Except for the direction of the grassland, the other three sides are higher and can block most of the wind and sand.

As he looked around, Chen Xuan discovered something interesting. That was that the people scattered in the wilderness around the town vaguely surrounded the town.

This is a very normal thing, but what is interesting is that the outermost circle seems to have nothing to do with each other, but Chen Xuan always feels that they are in the same group. Among them, on the highest hills in the north, there is one of the innate masters that Chen Xuan feels can see everything.

"Are they from a major sect, or are they from the imperial court? Surround them. If they start, they'll wipe out everyone here. Forget it, it's none of my business."

Chen Xuan paid a little attention to it but didn't take it to heart and continued to barbecue leisurely.

As the seasonings were added, especially the special sauce of the Tea Eagle Tribe and the chili peppers, the fragrance spread out immediately, gradually attracting people nearby to sniff and look over here.

Hearing the sound of someone swallowing saliva, Chen Xuan looked towards the loudest side and suddenly the corner of his mouth twitched.

Is it such a coincidence that all my acquaintances are gathered here?
It makes me feel relieved when I think about it. Two innate masters are going to fight, and those who have the conditions will naturally come to join in the fun.

"The question is, how did Zhao Qingluan and Liang Ren get together? What happened? Zhao Qingluan ran away after the martial arts competition, and you, Liang Ren, are still chasing her. You can't beat her with your martial arts skills, and you can't even force her. It seems like you are just a lapdog for Zhao Qingluan?"

Chen Xuan felt happy after taking a look over there.

Zhao Qingluan huddled beside the fire, sniffing in Chen Xuan's direction. Her eyes nearly turned green. It was truly too fragrant...

(End of this chapter)