Suddenly, a bolt of lightning ripped across the sky, like a sword wielded by a god, instantly illuminating the entire earth. Immediately following was a deafening clap of thunder, like a roar of fury from heaven and earth, sending shivers down the spines of all who heard it.
The rain began to fall softly, like notes dancing on a musical string, playing the prelude to the night sky. Chuanliu looked up at the overcast sky, his brows furrowed, and his voice carried a hint of helplessness: "It seems we'll have to stay here tonight."
Zhuiming nodded.
Before they could quicken their pace again, another clap of thunder ripped through the sky, as if announcing the official arrival of the downpour.
Immediately afterwards, large raindrops fell like beads from a broken string, pattering down on their heads and instantly soaking their hair and clothes. Helpless, they quickened their pace and ran towards the nearby inn.
Stepping into the hotel, a warm feeling greets you.
The innkeeper was seen writing furiously at his desk, the pen tip scratching across the paper with a soft, rustling sound.
As he looked up, he saw two guests arrive, and immediately put down his pen, smiling as he greeted them.
"Oh, good afternoon, gentlemen. Are you checking into our establishment?" the owner's voice was warm and welcoming.
"Yes, I'll stay at the hotel," Chuanliu replied simply, nodding as he spoke.
"How many rooms would you like to book?" the owner asked, taking out his keychain to prepare for the guests' check-in.
"One room." Chuanliu glanced at Zhuimei beside him and quickly made a decision.
She kept her responses brief, avoiding excessive conversation to minimize the risk of exposure. The safest option now was for the two of them to share a room, allowing Zhui Ming to respond to any unexpected situations that might arise.
Then, as if remembering something, Zhuiming asked the owner, "How much is a room for one night?"
A shrewd glint flashed in the boss's eyes, and he replied with a smile, "Hehehe, one thousand yuan a night."
Upon hearing this, Zhui Ming's eyes widened, and he said with slight displeasure, "A thousand a night? In this desolate wilderness, aren't you taking advantage of our misfortune?"
The shop owner chuckled twice more. "As you said, this is the middle of nowhere, and it's raining heavily outside. Our shop is small and our profits are meager, so this is normal price fluctuation."
With that, the boss took the keys and went upstairs on his own, not caring whether the two people followed.
Zhuiming whispered to Chuanliu, "As expected of people from your Cube City, you've got a whole set of tricks for ripping off customers."
Chuanliu smiled. This shop was undoubtedly a shady business, but at least the owner didn't seem suspicious.
"Our shop is located in a remote area where wild animals often roam at night. Therefore, please make sure to lock your doors and windows at night. If anything breaks in and causes harm to your personal safety, our shop will not be responsible."
As the boss spoke, he took out his key, turned the doorknob, and gave the two men a serious warning.
A room decorated in a minimalist style comes into view.
The boss handed the key to Chuanliu, bowed, and quietly left.
Zhuiming locked the door from the inside and carefully checked every corner of the room. Only after confirming that there were no hidden mechanisms or secret doors did he feel at ease and sit down on the edge of the bed.
Looking at the overly simple yet excessively overpriced room, he couldn't help but click his tongue. If the two of them weren't trying to conceal their identities, he would have definitely taught that shop owner a lesson.
Chuanliu chuckled softly, "It's just one night, so just make do."
After hearing this, Zhuiming twitched the corners of his mouth, as if expressing disdain for the harsh conditions. Then, with a "thump," he collapsed heavily onto the bed.
The bed frame made a faint creaking sound.
He rolled over, stared at the ceiling, and said leisurely, "I've lived in places with even harsher conditions before, so I don't mind. Anyway, it's not my money, so I'll just treat it as an experience."
After hearing this, Chuanliu, unusually, did not refute it. She simply glanced at Zhuiming and then reminded him, "I didn't hire you for a spring outing. Be alert tonight. If I lose even a single hair, your commission will be gone."
Upon hearing this, Zhuiming immediately sat up in bed, a serious expression on his face, and assured him, "Don't worry, you're my little sugar daddy now, I'll protect you."
Before leaving the villa, Chuanliu and Zhuimei reached an agreement.
She hired Zhui Ming as her bodyguard at a high price to protect her as she made her way to the City of Spades until she found the "Queen of Spades".
Leave professional matters to professionals, and Chuanliu can get a good night's sleep.
Outside the hotel, the torrential rain continued to pour down, showing no signs of stopping. The dark, overcast sky completely swallowed the already dim sunset, and then the moon was also obscured by thick clouds, leaving only a pitch-black wilderness spreading in the night.
"Boom—boom—"
Suddenly, two blinding bolts of lightning ripped across the sky, accompanied by deafening thunder, illuminating the dark wilderness for a fleeting moment. In that brief light, one could almost see rain pouring down, frantically pounding the ground and splashing up droplets. However, the light vanished in an instant, followed by boundless darkness once more.
The girl lay quietly on the bed, breathing evenly, as if she had already drifted off to sleep.
Zhuiming sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes sharp, vigilantly sensing everything around him.
His ears were constantly listening to the sounds of rain and thunder, while his eyes searched for any possible threat in the darkness.
At this moment, the inn's simple decor seemed to amplify the sound, and the sound of footsteps clearly reached Zhuiming's ears through the vibration of the wooden planks.
As a seasoned assassin, he immediately became alert, his eyes fixed on the window like a hawk's. He pricked up his ears, carefully discerning the footsteps and conversations of the people who had just entered the inn.
He listened quietly, catching a low murmur of conversation coming from the hotel reception. Then, the hotel owner took out the set of room keys, the crisp clinking of the keys particularly noticeable.
Then, he heard the man take the key and whisper a thank you, after which his footsteps faded into the distance, clearly heading towards a room on the first floor.
"Boom—"
Another thunderclap resounded.
This time, in the instant the lightning illuminated the window, Zhui Ming caught a glimpse of two figures, one after the other, hurrying towards the inn in the rain.
The two figures appeared exceptionally clear in the lightning's flash, but were instantly swallowed by darkness.
A short while later, he heard the new guest and the owner exchange a few words, followed by the sound of keys being handed over, and then the sound of the new guest walking towards his room.
His gaze fell, trying to focus on hearing more, but the sounds were drowned out by the rain and became less clear.
When he looked up, he saw Chuanliu staring at him with his eyes open.
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