Upon seeing the group enter, the innkeeper quickly turned around and smiled, saying, "Brave warriors, please take a seat. Feel free to order whatever you’d like to eat."
"Innkeeper, although we don’t understand much about demons and monsters, we’re willing to help if we can learn more," Xu Zimei said with a smile on the side.
"You all take a seat as well," the innkeeper thought for a moment, then welcomed Xu Zimei and her companions too.
"I say, brothers, it’s getting dark. Sharpen your blades," the burly man nearby spoke.
"Those demons and monsters are the kind that consume people without spitting out their bones."
"I never thought about returning since I came here. The City Lord of Great Chu once said that he would send my child to Great Chu Academy after my death," another big man said.
"That alone makes my life worthwhile," said the burly man.
The three youths wearing scholar robes seemed to be together, drinking on the side.
One of them laughed and said, "Even if you go to Great Chu Academy, it’s still uncertain whether Chu City will survive this ordeal."
"Which place does this young master hail from?" The burly man glanced at the scholarly youth, who looked quite distinguished, and asked.
"We are from the Nine States Academy; this is my senior brother, Shao Jie," the woman beside him said.
"Nine States Academy?" Upon hearing this name, everyone present felt a tremor in their hearts.
The Nine States Domain contains nine powers, each of which essentially establishes an academy in its territory.
Great Chu has Great Chu Academy, just as Great Liang also has Great Liang Academy.
Although these academies carry prestigious names, if one were to discuss the premier academy of the Nine States Domain, it would undoubtedly be the Nine States Academy.
The reputation of the Nine States Academy is not only renowned in the Nine States Domain but also far-reaching across the Central Continent.
Some even say that the Nine States Academy is the foremost academy under Heavenly Dao Academy.
"So you are students from the Nine States, a pleasure indeed," the burly man said with a smile.
"It’s no surprise that disciples taught by the academy are Talented Disciples. Even though Chu City is now encircled by demons and monsters, on the verge of becoming a dead city,
you all are still willing to come here to slay demons and exorcise monsters—I admire that."
"We’re here for training. Our teacher always said that real training takes place between life and death; otherwise, the effect is minimal," Shao Jie, the student from the Nine States, said.
"Sharing Jinhua Wine in a distant land, mourning together under the vast sky with the migrating geese." At this, the man with the wine gourd hanging at his waist laughed heartily.
Lounging against the wall, he took big gulps of Jinhua Wine from his gourd.
Being in high spirits, he couldn’t help but shout out a poem.
"Even drinking can’t shut your mouth," the cold woman beside him said coolly.
"Sorry, sorry, I couldn’t help myself," the man with the wine pot laughed and waved his hand, saying, "Carry on, carry on."
"Young master, what would you like to eat?" After the shopkeeper brought everyone else’s meals, he finally came over to Xu Zimei and asked.
"Just a pot of wine will do," Xu Zimei waved his hand and said, "May I ask you some questions?"
"Please ask, young master," the shopkeeper nodded and replied.
"What’s this about the demons and monsters you have here in Chu City?" Xu Zimei asked.
"Young master, you may not know, but our Chu City is located in the west of the Nine States, and it is one of the most famous of the nine cities in the Nine States Domain.
Everything was peaceful, and nobody dared to cause trouble, until a year ago, when disturbances began in the West King Valley to the west.
Not long after, groups of demons and monsters started to pour out and attack our Chu City," the shopkeeper explained.
"This past year has been filled with anxiety, and many people have left. Those who remain are deeply attached to this place.
What once was the most prosperous of cities has now become what it is today."
"Haven’t you seen what the situation is?" Xu Zimei asked.
"The City Lord sent people to look, and it’s said that there is a great terror in West King Valley. No one dares to approach," the shopkeeper said, shaking his head.
"It’s already been a year," Xu Zimei said with a frown.
"Aren’t all nine great forces of the Nine States united? How come the other forces are not dealing with it?"
"Let’s not even talk about other forces. Even our own Great Chu has abandoned us in Chu City," the shopkeeper said with a sigh.
"Why is that?" Xu Zimei asked, puzzled.
Logically speaking, Chu City is Great Chu’s facade, and they would defend it at all costs. Yet now they allowed it to be attacked by demons and monsters and took no notice.
"I’m not entirely clear on the details, but it seems that our City Lord of Chu City had a falling out with Great Chu.
Now we are in dire straits," the shopkeeper shook his head.
He went up to Xu Zimei and prepared a pot of hot wine, gently serving it, and said, "These are troubled times, and we people have already prepared to share our fate with the city."
Xu Zimei sipped the wine, pondering. The so-called demons and monsters were neither monsters nor demons but a kind of creature created to be like both.
This kind of thing is easy to solve, one just needs to find the origin and kill it.
If the source isn’t dealt with, killing endlessly is probably useless.
After everyone finished their meal, the sky outside had already darkened.
On the streets, more soldiers were patrolling; under the pitch-black night, it was as if a silent beast was devouring all life.
"Shopkeeper, thank you for your hospitality. We should be going," the burly men said as they picked up their gear and walked out of the shop, disappearing into the lengthening night.
"Senior brother, what should we do?" The few from Nine States Academy discussed among themselves.
"Going now means we’re facing small fry. We’ll join the fight when it gets serious," Shao Jie said indifferently.
"Master, what about us?" the White Bone Demon asked from the side.
"It doesn’t matter. I actually want to see what these demons and monsters are like," Xu Zimei said with a smile.
This inn wasn’t too far from the city gate.
At this moment, sounds of battle and some strange roars were gradually heard from the outside world.
"We should be going," a noble and icy woman stood up and said to the man with the wine gourd.
"I know, seems like we can’t drink in peace," the man with the wine gourd said with a chuckle as he stood up and followed the woman out.
Watching the two leave, Xu Zimei inadvertently looked towards the direction of the door.
Several figures passed by the entrance. Under the dense night, in a flash, Xu Zimei’s gaze carried a trace of surprise as he looked at one of the figures.
He watched the figure disappear from his line of sight before finally breaking into a smile.
"Master, what is it?" The Seven-faced Demon General also glanced at the door, asking in confusion.
"I think I just saw an old acquaintance," Xu Zimei said.
"Aren’t you going to say hello?" the White Bone Demon asked.
"Maybe he’s missing me," Xu Zimei chuckled and stood up, leaving the inn.
Walking on the main street of Chu City, there was barely a common person in sight. The street vendors had also hidden early in their homes.
Those present were soldiers of Chu City and some cultivators who had come to help.
Heading towards the main street, Xu Zimei walked straight in the direction of the city gate.