Youyang Inn.

The largest privately-run inn in West Gate Town, the only comparison is the official post station owned by the government, where ordinary people would rarely stay.

Thus, despite its size, the official post station is dilapidated.

The population in town is not large, about two or three thousand people, and half of them are spies from various forces within Longchuan Canyon.

Therefore, those who actually need lodging are all outsiders coming in.

Inside Li Hen City, there’s the Soul Captivating Cave, a black market, and many shady deals. Those entering properly from West Gate Town are mostly people from inside Li Hen City.

Those with ulterior motives wouldn’t take this route, as it’s easy to reveal their identity.

"One room, two rooms, staff, give us three upstairs rooms, arrange them to be right next to each other," Lin Miao instructed the attendant. "Also, give the horses the best quality feed, money is not an issue."

A bag of silver pieces was tossed over.

"Got it, don’t worry, I’ll take care of them more attentively than my own father!"

Other guests, hearing this, immediately started teasing, "Your horse’s father was born with a job of pulling carts for rich people, indeed luckier than you!"

"Go, go, eat your food..."

"Haha!" The attendant blushed slightly, causing a burst of laughter.

"Sir, don’t listen to their nonsense, these are all rough people from the martial world, they speak without a filter." The attendant took three keys from the shopkeeper, quickly stepped up the stairs, leading the way, "With this heavy snow, where did you come from?"

"The attendant didn’t recognize our carriage?"

"Hehe, turns out it’s the distinguished disciples of the Snow Mountain Sect, sir is truly blessed..." The attendant turned his head to glance at Sun Youwei along with Lianxin and Liansuo, showing a slightly envious smile.

This attendant knew martial arts, once in West Gate Town, even if they’re just running a simple business, never treat them as ordinary people.

"These three rooms are the best in our inn, they’re right next to each other, arrange as you see fit."

"Thank you, please send some hot water in, we’d like to take a bath and relieve our fatigue," Lin Miao instructed.

"Okay."

The attendant acknowledged, turned, and left. Lin Miao gave Lin Mao a look, and he followed.

"Why is the town so deserted today, not lively at all as usual..."

"My friend, you don’t know, today is the wedding day of West Gate Town Guard’s sister," another person, seemingly very informed, spoke.

"I heard West Gate Town Guard Lu Xiong serves as a registered disciple under Mr. Liang of Heaven-Dominating Tower, his sister Lu Min is marrying a disciple of Mr. Liang, whose surname is also Liang, apparently, his nephew..."

"Don’t talk nonsense, Lu Xiong is a government official, how could he apprentice under a Heaven-Dominating Tower elder, if the court finds out, he’ll lose his job!"

"Isn’t that the case..."

"The Master of Heaven-Dominating Tower, Nie Tian, has also recently advanced to Heaven Tier, soon Li Hen City will have two Heaven Tier masters, there’ll be a good show to watch as one mountain can’t have two tigers."

"When did Master of Heaven-Dominating Tower Nie Tian break through?"

"Just recently, but the announcement was made yesterday..."

Lin Miao’s six senses were extremely sharp, if he wished, he could hear every move within the entire inn. The inn was already a place rich in information, so he immediately began collecting related information.

After all, it was his first time staying in West Gate Town.

"Sir, hot water is here, let Lianxin attend to your bath..." Lianxin came in with a bucket of hot water, for the three rooms.

She shared a room with her sister Lianrui, Sun Youwei with Ling Yu’Er, and Lin Miao with Lin Mao.

Not yet married, Lin Miao couldn’t room with Sun Youwei; he had to adhere to rules and not overstep such boundaries.

"No need, attend to your matters, I can wash myself simply," Lin Miao spoke, not being overly meticulous when traveling; soaking in hot water could relieve fatigue.

"Yes."

"Go find out about the West Gate Town Guard’s sister’s wedding tonight, see what’s happening?" Lin Miao remembered something and instructed.

"Okay, I’ll let sister Liansuo go, she loves such festivities."

"Alright."

...

"Attendant, send the food to our room, and bring us two pounds of warm wine, serve the dishes as you see fit, but the taste must be good."

"Alright, sir, please wait."

After washing, Lin Miao went to Sun Youwei’s door and knocked, "Senior sister, may I come in?"

"Junior brother, just a moment, I’m not done washing yet..." a slightly flustered voice came from inside, accompanied by the sound of water being splashed.

"No rush, take your time," Lin Miao waited at the door.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the door opened, Ling Yu’Er came out with a water bucket, only then did Lin Miao step inside.

Inside, a brazier was burning, making it much warmer than outside.

Sun Youwei had changed clothes, her long hair draped over her shoulders, sitting at the dressing table, her face in the copper mirror was flushed and incredibly beautiful, unconsciously sparking a soft yearning.

"Senior sister, you are truly beautiful." Lin Miao walked over and leaned down, whispering softly in her ear.

"Junior brother, do you like senior sister’s face or the person herself?"

"I like the face, but I like the person even more, senior sister. If not for observing mourning for our master, we might have gotten married long ago."

"Junior brother, otherwise..." Sun Youwei turned around, her breathing slightly hurried as she spoke.

"What are you saying, I’m not that eager." Lin Miao reached out to gently flick the tip of Sun Youwei’s delicate nose. "The most precious moments should be saved for the most important times. Senior sister, that day will come soon."

"Mm."

"Come, let me comb your hair, then we can have dinner. We’ve been traveling the whole day and haven’t had a proper meal, you must be starving, right?"

...

During dinner, they noticed Liansuo was missing. Sun Youwei curiously asked, and Lianxin replied that she went out to gather information.

Sun Youwei didn’t ask further questions. She knew there were some things that wouldn’t change by her asking, so it was better not to ask.

"Save some food for Liansuo for when she returns."

"I already did, don’t worry, young master. I saved her a big chicken leg, we all only got one, and she gets one just for herself. Lucky her." Lianxin said.

"Haha, indeed. Come, it’s cold, let’s drink some wine to warm ourselves." Lin Miao raised his cup, and Lin Mao and Ling Yu’Er each poured half a cup. They were still underage, so they had to drink less.

After dinner.

Lianxin stayed in the room chatting with Sun Youwei and Ling Yu’Er.

Lin Miao meditated and cultivated in his room.

Lin Mao quietly climbed up to the beam and wandered around the inn, serving as a guard for the night.

Some time later, Lin Miao slowly opened his eyes, which were bright in the darkness, indicating that his inner energy had reached a certain state.

Currently, he was suppressing his cultivation at the Peak of Blood Fusion Realm and hadn’t broken through because he felt there was still room for improvement when cultivating the Moon Attraction Chapter.

Since there was still room for enhancement, there was no need to rush. Who knew if leaving this space would affect future progress after advancing?

He still wanted to touch the realm after the Heaven Origin, and it would be a pity to miss the opportunity due to haste.

"Young master?"

"Liansuo, you’re back. Come in quickly." It was Liansuo’s voice. This girl was gone for quite a while, why did she just return now?

"Young master, I’ve found out. Indeed, Ru Xiong, the overseer of West Gate Town, is marrying off his sister tonight. His sister is marrying someone named Liang Huan, the son of the town’s grain merchant boss, but Liang Huan is not getting married for the first time. It’s his second marriage; he divorced his current wife to marry Ru Xiong’s sister..."

These melodramatic stories can indeed be found everywhere—men abandoning their first wives to climb rank and associate with powerful people.

Ru Xiong probably didn’t want to marry his sister off as a concubine, or maybe the Liang Family had already found that wife disagreeable, just using this as an excuse to divorce and remarry.

However, the version he heard was slightly different from Liansuo’s findings. It was suspected that Ru Xiong had become a registered disciple of Mr. Liang from the Heaven-Dominating Tower, and his sister was marrying Mr. Liang’s disciple. Liang Huan, too, bore the surname Liang—perhaps there was some connection?

It was other people’s private matters, not something he wished to meddle in, unless it affected his journey the next morning.

"Did any Heaven-Dominating Tower people attend the wedding feast?"

"Yes, an elderly fellow at the main table had a very strong aura. If met in combat, I wouldn’t be his match." Liansuo stated.

"Looks like the rumors might not be baseless. Liansuo, hurry and eat, then rest," Lin Miao ordered.

"Yes, young master."

The night passed uneventfully, and by dawn, Lin Miao and his group departed West Gate Town, heading towards Longchuan Canyon.

Entering Longchuan Canyon from West Gate Town required a toll payment, akin to city entrance fees, calculated per person and goods.

However, the charge wasn’t based on the value of the goods. West Gate Town didn’t have the guts to collect such fees; Jianghu people aren’t known for their mild temper. If you didn’t pay and simply passed through, what could they do about it?

Thus, the toll was entirely dependent on the travelers’ disposition. If you didn’t have the skills, it’s best to pay obediently.

Being stopped would lead to trouble.

The guarding soldiers had keen eyes; they knew who to stop and who to let pass, clear-headedly.

Lin Miao was a low-profile person, avoiding trouble; thus, he paid a hundred coins per person for toll and, including carriage fare, it amounted to no more than a tael of silver, which he didn’t mind.

These soldiers were stationed there, and the court couldn’t afford to pay them high salaries. Certainly, these tolls didn’t go into their pockets, but officers would occasionally allow some to trickle down.

The officers ate meat, and they had to let the soldiers sip some soup at least.

So when the carriage was stopped, Lin Miao simply had Lianxin pay a tael of silver, bypassing the checkpoint with bewildered soldiers.

"Am I dreaming? These are people from the Snow Mountain Sect, and they actually voluntarily paid the toll..."

The soldiers were familiar with dealing with Jianghu people and naturally recognized the "Snow Mountain Sect" emblem on the carriage; impersonation would lead to removal from Jianghu.

Disciples of the Snow Mountain Sect were significant figures in Jianghu, daring to charge them toll was akin to a death wish.

"Young master, on the carriage..."

"Don’t stop, keep moving forward." Lin Miao knew what Lianxin wanted to say but stopped her.