The inn was spotless, but there wasn't a soul in sight. The city lord must have transferred the innkeeper and waiter away beforehand.
Yin Ming couldn't understand the meaning of his actions. Was he afraid that they would target ordinary people?
It was strange, but we still had to eat. There were no waiters at the inn, so it seemed we'd have to fend for ourselves.
When Yin Ming went to the kitchen to look for usable ingredients, he suddenly discovered several delicious-looking dishes on the stove, with the fire still burning and rice cooking in the pot.
Judging from how badly the match is burning, the person who started it must have left not long ago.
This is even stranger. If the chef wants to leave the kitchen, he must pass through the front hall, but Yin Ming and his group didn't encounter a single person when they came in.
There were no marks on the window, so it's unlikely that they escaped by climbing out.
Besides, chefs aren't anything shady; there's no need to be so secretive.
It's so strange, really so strange.
Yin Ming leaned closer to the dishes and, imitating the ancients, probed them with a silver needle—no reaction.
I smelled it again carefully—there was nothing strange about it.
I picked up a piece of meat and squeezed it—the ingredients seemed normal.
Just in case, Yin Ming still took out a Hundred-Cure Pill and gave one to each person.
The Baijie Pill, as the name suggests, is for detoxification. One pill is enough to deal with ordinary poisons, so even if the food is really poisoned, there's nothing to worry about.
Can't I not eat? Of course not, I'm hungry.
After the meal, the group each chose a room to rest.
Yin Ming fetched water from the kitchen and took a bath in the room.
So comfortable!
As my mind calmed down, the things I was thinking about became clearer—this Xucheng really seemed strange the more I thought about it.
Not only were there no innkeeper or waiters at the inn, but when they arrived in Xucheng, it should have been the busiest time of the night market, yet the streets were completely deserted.
Where are the city's inhabitants? Did the city lord order them to hide, or is the city simply a ghost town?
If it's the former, what is the city lord's purpose in doing this? If it's the latter, where did the original city residents go?
"Knock knock knock..."
There was a sudden knock on the door, followed by Lingyao's voice.
"Yin Ming, it's me."
"Come in," Yin Ming replied casually.
Having soaked for a while, Yin Ming got out of the bathtub, grabbed the undergarment hanging on the screen, and put it on as he walked out from behind the screen.
“Yin Ming, don’t you think there’s something strange about Xucheng? I just…” Ling Yao’s words were cut short.
Yin Ming brushed the wet hair that had fallen in front of him back and lowered his head to tie the belt of his inner garment. Not hearing anything further, he casually tied a knot in the belt before looking up at Ling Yao with a puzzled expression: "Why aren't you saying anything?"
And what's with your face so red? Did you sneak a drink?
“I…” Lingyao suddenly lowered his head, sat down at the tea table in the center of the room, and poured himself a cup of tea.
He tilted his head back and drank the tea in one gulp, but still dared not look up, staring straight at the teacup in his hand. "I just noticed those two city gate guards, their expressions were a bit strange."
"What's so strange about it?" Yin Ming also sat down at the tea table. He reached out and took the teapot in front of Ling Yao, filled Ling Yao's teacup, and poured himself a cup as well.
It was already dark when they were at the city gate, so Yin Ming didn't pay much attention to the expressions of the two guards.
Lingyao fell silent again, her face growing even redder as she held the cup in her hand.
Yin Ming rested his elbow on the table and looked at Ling Yao: "A Yao, you haven't been drinking, have you?" What kind of alcohol makes your face turn so red?
"I, I didn't, I didn't drink..."
Yin Ming shook his head, his speech already stammering, but he still stubbornly insisted, "Why don't you rest for a bit? I've already made the bed."
Although I didn't smell any alcohol on Ling Yao... Oh right, when Yin Ming was getting water earlier, he saw a vat of sake in the kitchen. I don't know what it was made of, but it smelled amazing, very mild but incredibly potent—
Yin Ming thought it was something good, so he scooped up a spoonful and tasted it. The taste was quite good, but after a while he started to feel dizzy.
Did this kid drink that jar of wine thinking it was water? His face is so red, how much did he drink?
"Shall we rest here?" Lingyao's tone was full of uncertainty.
"Yeah, you seem pretty drunk, why don't you just sleep here?"
Yin Ming looked completely at ease. What's wrong with friends sleeping together? It's not like we've never slept in a dormitory before.
"I think I'll go back to sleep." Lingyao stood up, seemingly feeling the effects of the alcohol, and swayed a few times as he stood.
Fearing he might actually fall, Yin Ming quickly stepped forward and put his arm around his shoulder.
Feeling Lingyao's slightly trembling and swaying body, Yin Ming said helplessly, "Stop being stubborn."
Yin Ming helped Ling Yao to the bed, and he didn't know what Ling Yao was so nervous about, his whole body was stiff.
They're just trying to sleep, not doing anything weird. What's there to be nervous about? Just close your eyes, clear your mind, and start dreaming.
Yin Ming lowered the bed curtains and extinguished the candles on the table with a wave of his hand.
Perhaps because he was drunk, Yin Ming felt that the person lying behind him was breathing heavily.
Lingyao seemed to have something to say earlier, but judging from the current situation, he probably can't say it now. Oh well, let's just leave it at that and ask him again tomorrow.
Just as Yin Ming was about to fall asleep, Ling Yao's weak voice came from behind him: "Yin Ming, the expressions of those two city gate guards today were extremely unnatural. Even when they greeted the city lord, their faces were stiff the whole time."
Hmm? Like facial paralysis?
"Also, I casually opened the window just now and saw some children playing downstairs. Their tone was clearly full of happiness, but their faces were completely expressionless, which looked very strange."
Are there children in the city? Then all the city's inhabitants should be there; the city lord deliberately made them hide.
What is the city lord's purpose?
Lingyao's description is indeed not right. One or two people with facial paralysis can be understood, but it is unlikely that everyone in the city would have facial paralysis. After all, facial paralysis is not a hereditary disease, and it is unreasonable for the facial nerves of everyone in this city to be damaged.
However, we cannot rule out the possibility that it was caused by someone with ulterior motives.
Considering the city lord's various actions... he's really suspicious; he must have some kind of ulterior motive.
“Hmm, let’s investigate tomorrow. If the city lord is behind all this, then we absolutely cannot let him get away with it,” Yin Ming pondered.
This city lord doesn't look like a good person. If we really find something wrong with him, Yin Ming wouldn't mind helping the people get rid of this scourge.
***
An endless expanse of pale blue sea, surging whirlpools, and in the sky, nine celestial serpents and a white dragon locked in a fierce battle...
Lingyao found himself on the shore, his body tightly bound by an invisible force, the immense suction from the whirlpool seemingly pulling him into an endless abyss.
Unable to move, at the mercy of others, suffocating in despair.
A figure arrived gracefully, his clothes fluttering in the wind, and a faint light shimmered on his red robes.
A figure wrapped his arm around his waist and pulled him away from the vortex, and all his discomfort vanished instantly.
Out of fear, he buried his head in the figure's chest and held it tightly, as if the tighter he held it, the more sense of security he could draw from the figure.
The scene shifts, and a figure is seen battling the Nine Heavens Serpent in mid-air. The figure moves with ease, effortlessly subduing the serpent, leaving only its dazzling fiery red glow in the world.
He waved and smiled at the figure, and the figure turned and smiled back—it was Yin Ming's face…
Lingyao was instantly jolted awake from his dream.
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