Huayun Dao was the official thoroughfare, the main road out of Qing State.

Yun City, his destination, wasn’t directly on the thoroughfare, but it was located fairly close to Huayun Dao. That was why this wasn’t the most direct route—it required a detour.

Yang Chan was currently traveling, taking occasional breaks along the way. The rests weren’t for him, but for his Qing State Horse. It wasn’t a machine, after all; it couldn’t just keep going like a car.

His cultivation was formidable and his recovery abilities were astonishing, so he naturally felt no fatigue. Han Bingyu could attest to that—she lost every time, eventually having to beg for mercy.

The Qing State Horse had good endurance, but it still needed a break after traveling for half a day. Unless Yang Chan wanted it to drop dead on the road, forcing him to walk the rest of the way, he had to let it rest, eat, and regain its strength.

Yang Chan also took the opportunity to refill his waterskin. He chose a spot with running water and let the Qing State Horse drink first. Only after waiting a moment to ensure there were no ill effects did he fill his own skin. He even inspected the water carefully before taking a sip.

He would have preferred to boil the water before drinking, but conditions didn’t allow for it. This would have to suffice.

Even with his Inner Refining of the Lungs and Spleens cultivation, he had no desire to ingest poison. Purging toxins from his system would be a hassle, taking time during which his Combat Power would decrease. This would place him in unnecessary danger, a risk Yang Chan would never accept. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Being able to resist poison and being affected by it were two completely different matters. Even if he could eventually neutralize the toxin, the distinction was massive from Yang Chan’s perspective.

’Another half a day to go. If I stick to the plan, I should reach Youjian Inn before nightfall.’

Once his checks were complete, Yang Chan slowly drank his water. He might not feel fatigue, but he still felt thirst and hunger. To deal with the immense appetite of a Martial Arts Cultivator, he had specially refined a type of filling pill, the Elixir of Essence Grain Pill. He had tested it before and found that he could gain the same 0.2 daily Potential Points from this Essence Grain Pill as he did from food, all while saving a great deal of time.

He didn’t know how effective the so-called Grain Avoidance Pills from cultivation novels were, but his own Essence Grain Pills worked quite well. A single pill could sustain him for half a day. Aside from being tasteless, they were very effective.

Yang Chan himself enjoyed good food, so back at the Cyan Yuan Sect, he hadn’t taken the pills often after testing them, preferring to eat regular meals. He only took the Essence Grain Pills when traveling, as they were a convenient way to mitigate the risk of being poisoned.

After swallowing a pill, Yang Chan waited for the Qing State Horse to recover. The animal simply couldn’t match his stamina, so he had no choice but to wait.

A legendary Exotic Beast would likely have far greater endurance, but they were difficult to acquire. Besides, they were wild and rebellious, not nearly as docile as a Qing State Horse.

’Youjian Inn has a decent reputation. From what I’ve heard, it’s not one of those inns that robs its guests. Still, I’ll need to be careful staying the night. You can know a person’s face, but never their heart.’

’Once I get to my room, I should set a few traps. If anyone has malicious designs, I’ll be ready to send them on their way.’

Yang Chan, bored with waiting, began planning for the evening.

’It isn’t easy to be out here alone. I must remain cautious, avoid danger, steer clear of conflicts, and never, ever meddle in other people’s business. And certainly no befriending beautiful women of the Jianghu.’

’Traveling old men and children are to be avoided, too. They’re all sources of danger and trouble.’

Yang Chan had committed these principles to heart. Until he reached the third step of invincibility—the point where heaven and earth could perish while he remained—he had to heed these warnings. Otherwise, a single careless mistake could be his undoing.

As Yang Chan mulled over his plans, the Qing State Horse gradually recovered. Seeing this, he didn’t delay any further.

"Brother Ma, once we get to Youjian Inn, I’ll get you the finest fodder and let you eat and drink your fill."

Yang Chan patted the Qing State Horse and then swung himself into the saddle.

’I can finally get a proper rest at Youjian Inn. But before I do, I need to make sure the Qing State Horse is stabled securely. I’d hate to have just left the Cyan Yuan Sect only to have my horse stolen from under my nose. I’d be a real fool then.’

He rode on, facing the sun. Its rays were no longer as scorching as they had been at noon, making it a pleasant time to travel.

Before leaving the Cyan Yuan Sect, Yang Chan had prepared for heavy rain, even packing waterproof gear. He never expected his first day out to be bright and sunny, rendering his preparations unnecessary.

...

Youjian Inn was, in fact, the inn’s name. It was located by a three-way fork on Huayun Dao and was a rather well-known establishment where most passing travelers chose to spend the night.

People from every walk of life could be found there, and some even caused trouble. But the fact that the inn had endured for so long suggested it had some real power behind it.

Yang Chan, of course, had already investigated this. The power backing the inn was a Grandmaster who had achieved the Inner Refining of the Second Lungs and Spleen. This Grandmaster was also the owner of Youjian Inn—or to be more precise, the proprietress. She was the sole survivor of an exterminated clan. She had managed a fortuitous breakthrough to the Inner Master realm and had hoped to restore her family’s glory, but her efforts were unsuccessful.

Afterward, she opened an inn on Huayun Dao—the very same Youjian Inn that now stood before him, which had earned a modest amount of fame.

Yang Chan had investigated these matters thoroughly using the Cyan Yuan Sect’s intelligence network. The information was fast and accurate; the only downside was the expense.

Fortunately, money was not an issue for Yang Chan, so he had been able to conduct a very thorough investigation.

’Her cultivation is weaker than mine, so she poses little threat. At the same time, her presence is enough to deter common riffraff. It’s an excellent choice.’

By the time Yang Chan rode his Qing State Horse up to the inn bearing the Youjian Inn sign, the sun was already setting. It hadn’t fully disappeared below the horizon, but it was close, matching Yang Chan’s expected arrival time.

Next to Youjian Inn stood a dozen or so other houses, making the area feel less desolate. This was one of the main reasons Yang Chan had chosen this particular inn.

He would have hesitated if it were an isolated establishment, but the presence of ordinary farming families nearby helped to dispel some of his concerns.

Smoke curled from the chimneys of the farmhouses, a clear sign that it was dinnertime. After a brief glance, Yang Chan dismounted and led his Qing State Horse toward the entrance of Youjian Inn.

"Sir, will you be stopping for a bite or staying the night?"

A waiter from inside the inn spotted him and hurried out to greet him, a wide smile on his face.

"Staying the night."

"My horse has been on the road all day. Please prepare plenty of high-quality fodder for him."

The waiter moved to take the reins, but Yang Chan waved him off. He personally led the horse, following the waiter into the stables. After finding an empty stall, he settled the Qing State Horse inside. Then, Yang Chan fastened a chain to the horse’s leg, locking it to two sturdy stone pillars.

Anyone trying to steal his horse now would be sure to make a huge commotion.

The waiter watched from the side, a look of bewilderment on his face. ’All guests bring their horses to the stables,’ he thought, ’but why is this one so... exceptional? This is enough to make a horse thief weep.’

Although it was the first time the waiter had witnessed such a spectacle, he kept a friendly smile plastered on his face, his service attitude remaining impeccable.