Wandering Swordsman |

The three of them led their horses slowly along the street, where the streetlights gradually lit up, adding a touch of warmth to the cold night.

As they walked, they kept a close eye on their surroundings, afraid of missing any potentially useful clues.

He Yun's gaze swept across the shops along the street from time to time, trying to find a trace of familiarity in the lights, whether bright or dim. Zhao Xue, on the other hand, seemed somewhat anxious, her steps slightly hurried.

Soon, they asked passersby along the street for directions and arrived at the most reputable inn in Liaocheng called "Yingbinlou".

The inn's signboard swayed slightly in the cold wind, creaking softly. Red lanterns hanging in front of the door emitted a warm glow, illuminating the area in front, as if welcoming every weary traveler. He Yun glanced up at the swaying signboard, a warmth rising in his heart, and quickened his pace towards the inn.

"Welcome to Yingbinlou, esteemed guests. Are you looking for accommodation?" The innkeeper's waiter immediately came out to greet them warmly upon seeing the guests arrive.

Although there were three teenagers in front of him, the waiter did not neglect them in the slightest. His smile was as warm as the lantern, making people feel at home.

He Yun smiled slightly and nodded. "Yes, are there any rooms available?"

"Yes, yes, gentlemen, please follow me." The waiter quickly replied, leading the three men inside. He then called another waiter to lead their horses to the back courtyard of the inn and settle them properly. Afterward, he led the three men into the inn's lobby. The lobby was elegantly decorated, with several landscape paintings hanging on the walls and potted plants adding a touch of tranquility and comfort.

As soon as she entered the inn, Zhao Xue couldn't wait to ask the waiter, "Brother waiter, do you know if there's a teahouse in Liaocheng run by someone with the surname Zhao?" Her eyes were full of anticipation, as if she were searching for some kind of answer.

The waiter paused for a moment after hearing this, then shook his head. "Sir, I really don't know this Mr. Zhao you're talking about. However, I've lived in Beiping for over ten years and have been to many teahouses in the city, but I've never heard of any owner with the surname Zhao."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xue frowned slightly, clearly somewhat disappointed. But she didn't give up and asked again, "Young Master, please think about it again. My uncle's name is Zhao Qingyun. Perhaps you've heard of him?" Her words carried a hint of pleading, hoping that the other party could provide some useful information.

Upon hearing the name "Qingyun," the waiter's smile froze instantly, and a barely perceptible hint of tension flashed in his eyes. Although this tension was fleeting, it was still keenly noticed by Shen Mo, who was standing to the side.

Shen Mo's heart skipped a beat, his gaze fixed on the waiter's face. The scene from not long ago, when he and his master stayed at the inn in Muye City, flashed through his mind. It was a similar night then, and they had been served by a waiter whose behavior was somewhat suspicious. This sense of déjà vu made him even more wary of the waiter before him.

Faced with Zhao Xue's questioning, the waiter's initial nervousness disappeared, and he forced a smile, shaking his head and saying, "Sir, I really don't know any Zhao Qingyun, but since you've come from afar, why don't you settle down first? I'll inquire about him again tomorrow; perhaps there will be good news." As he spoke, he gestured for the three of them to follow him to their room.

Shen Mo didn't follow immediately. Instead, he waited until He Yun and Zhao Xue had taken a few steps before slowly catching up. Standing at the back, Shen Mo gazed intently at the waiter's retreating figure, lost in thought. What did the waiter's sudden nervousness upon hearing Zhao Xue's uncle's name signify? He decided he must be even more attentive tonight; perhaps this seemingly ordinary restaurant held the answer they had been searching for.

The waiter arranged a suite with three bedrooms for the three of them. The room was spacious and bright, and elegantly decorated. Several exquisite landscape paintings hung on the walls, a few lush potted plants sat on the table, and an antique oil lamp on the windowsill emitted a soft glow. The waiter gave a detailed introduction to the room's facilities and told the three that they could contact him anytime if they needed anything. After saying this, he left the room to continue his work.

After the waiter left, Shen Mo gently closed the door and turned to He Yun and Zhao Xue, saying, "Brother He, Miss Zhao, the shopkeeper's expression was a bit strange when he heard the name 'Zhao Qingyun,' as if he was deliberately hiding something."

Shen Mo's words carried a hint of seriousness, and his eyes revealed a keen insight.

Upon hearing this, He Yun frowned and said with slight doubt, "Uh, really? Brother Shen, I didn't notice that."

Although He Yun is usually cautious, he is not as sensitive as Shen Mo when it comes to such details.

Upon hearing that Shen Mo's deduction was related to her uncle, Zhao Xue immediately became interested. Her eyes lit up, and she said, "Young Master He, why don't we go and verify whether Young Master Shen's words are correct tonight?" Her tone was full of determination, clearly showing that she had high hopes of finding clues about her uncle.

After a moment of silence, He Yun nodded and said, "Alright, Miss Zhao, it's better to be safe than sorry. If we can get news of your uncle, that would be best, but if not, it won't be a loss for us. Let's secretly observe Xiao Er's movements tonight; perhaps we'll find something."

After the three of them reached an agreement, they each returned to their own bedrooms to rest and prepare for their operation that night.

Shen Mo lay in bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time. His mind kept replaying the details of the day, especially the waiter's sudden change in expression, which made him feel that things were not simple.

As night fell, the inn was quiet, except for the occasional barking of dogs in the distance.

In the dead of night, all the lights in the guesthouse were turned off, plunging the second and third floors of the guesthouse into darkness.

Seeing this, the waiter quietly came out from behind the counter, carefully blew out the candle on the counter, and then quietly closed the inn's door. He looked around to make sure no one was watching, then quickly crossed the narrow street and headed out of the city.

As darkness fell, Shen Mo, He Yun, and Zhao Xue quietly left the inn and hid in the shadows nearby. When they saw the innkeeper leave the inn in the middle of the night, the three of them silently followed him.

They kept their distance as much as possible to avoid arousing the other's suspicion. The night wind carried a slight chill, brushing against their faces, but none of the three dared to relax their guard in the slightest; they had only one thought in their minds—to uncover the truth.