Chapter 52

The snowstorm raged on, blanketing the world in a vast expanse of white. In such harsh weather, even the most diligent laborers could only stay at home, either playing with their children or preparing a modest meal, drinking a little wine, and enjoying the rare leisure and tranquility, then gazing out at the snow, sighing that the auspicious snow promised a good harvest next year.

In the inn, the waiter was sitting by the table, his head nodding as he dozed off, propped up by his hand. The innkeeper was carefully calculating the accounts. Seeing the waiter's weary appearance, he couldn't help but smile helplessly and said softly, "Xiao Mo, if you're sleepy, go back to your room and rest. If you sleep here, you might catch a cold!"

"Uh..." Hearing the innkeeper's words, the waiter's head suddenly dropped, almost hitting the table. He looked at the innkeeper with bleary eyes and said, "It's fine, Uncle. I'll stay here and keep watch. If anything happens, you'll at least have some help, right?"

"Alright, do as you wish, but remember, you can go back to your room whenever you feel sleepy..."

The innkeeper smiled indulgently and continued to calculate the accounts, muttering to himself, "Sigh... This heavy snow has been falling for over half a month. Without any income for half a month, our losses are already significant. If the snow doesn't stop within a month, I'll have to sell the inn and return to our hometown to farm with my nephew."

"Uncle, you're thinking too much..." The waiter, seeing his uncle's despondent words, stopped dozing and comforted him, "Don't worry. Such a heavy snowstorm hasn't been seen in decades. It's already been half a month, which is quite remarkable. If it continues for another month, not only our inn but even ordinary people would run out of food. That's impossible."

"Actually, Uncle's thoughts about selling the inn aren't just because of the snow..." The innkeeper coughed lightly, rubbing his still sore chest and said, "A little tyrant has come to our Xiangyang city, bullying and dominating the market, acting without restraint. With such a person around, it's easy to imagine that our lives as businesspeople will be difficult, especially for us, running an inn and a restaurant, who will be the first to suffer."

Hearing the innkeeper's cough, the waiter looked at him worriedly and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Uncle. If I hadn't stood up to that bully, you wouldn't have been injured. It's all my fault..."

"It's fine..." The innkeeper smiled and said, "You're my nephew. If I don't protect you, who else would I protect? I'm just worried that if the guest returns and finds his belongings stolen, how will we explain it to him?"

Sighing deeply, the innkeeper said, "But that guest has been in the mountains for a long time. If he hasn't returned after so long, he might have met with an accident. Heh heh, that would save us the trouble of explaining..."

After saying this, the innkeeper shook his head and smiled bitterly, sighing endlessly.

At this moment, the waiter didn't respond to the innkeeper but instead looked at the door with a strange expression and exclaimed, "Uncle, it looks like someone is coming to our inn!"

"Nonsense, in such a heavy snowstorm, who would have nothing better to do than come to our inn for a drink or a meal?" The innkeeper scolded the waiter but also looked out the door, his eyes widening in surprise. Indeed, someone was there.

In the swirling snowstorm, a gray figure appeared in the distance, standing straight and tall. Despite the howling north wind, which seemed capable of sweeping a person away, it had no effect on him. He walked steadily closer.

As he got closer, the waiter exclaimed, "It's that guest, he's back!"

The innkeeper was speechless, muttering, "How can this guest be so sensitive? He hasn't been seen for months, and as soon as I mention him, he returns... Quick, Xiao Mo, go and prepare some ginger soup. He must be frozen from traveling in such a heavy snowstorm!"

"Okay, I'll go." The waiter turned to run to the kitchen.

"No need, I don't need that."

At this moment, Su Yi, still dozens of meters away, his voice cut through the snowstorm and clearly reached the waiter and the innkeeper's ears.

A moment later, he walked into the inn.

Seeing Su Yi standing there, straightening his clothes disheveled by the wind, both the waiter and the innkeeper were filled with disbelief. The waiter's hand trembled as he pointed and asked, "Guest, are you a ghost? Or have you already died and turned into a vengeful spirit?"

"What kind of talk is that? Do you really wish for my death?" Su Yi gave the waiter a strange look.

"Of course not, but why is there not a single trace of snow on you?" The waiter looked outside, where the snowstorm was still raging, but Su Yi, who had just entered, was spotless, as if he had just returned from a spring outing.

"It's just a bit of internal martial arts. Without some skills, would I dare to spend months in the mountains?" Su Yi casually found a table and sat down, saying, "Waiter, quickly bring me some good wine and food. I'm starving..."

"Sure, guest, please wait a moment, I'll go right away."

The waiter ran off to the kitchen to prepare the food.

The innkeeper put down his accounts and slowly walked to Su Yi, coughing again.

"Hey? Innkeeper, why has your health deteriorated so much in just a few months?"

Su Yi looked at him with confusion and said, "I can hear a faint echo in your lungs when you cough. You're not sick, are you? Did someone beat you up?"

The innkeeper smiled bitterly and said, "Guest, you have a keen eye. Actually, this matter is related to you."

"Really? I've been in the forest for months and haven't returned to the inn once. How could it be related to me?"

The innkeeper said, "Do you remember the fine Da Yuan horse you entrusted to our inn?"

"Of course I remember. But I remember paying enough silver, and even giving extra. Even if it were for a year, there should still be some left over..."

"The old man certainly wouldn't dare to embezzle your silver..." The innkeeper coughed several times before saying painfully, "Your Da Yuan horse is the best in the military. I wouldn't dare to neglect it. I fed it the best hay every day, and there were no major problems. However, about two months ago, a group of bullies came to our Xiangyang city and set up a 'Divine Fist Sect,' recruiting many disciples. The masters were all skilled in martial arts and were domineering and tyrannical, bullying the city without anyone daring to stop them!"

"About half a month ago, a young master from the Divine Fist Sect came to our inn for a drink. He heard the neighing of the Da Yuan horse and, without our permission, rushed to the back yard. He immediately took a liking to the horse and said he wanted to give it to his uncle for his birthday. He threw us ten taels of silver and tried to take the horse away. My young and impulsive nephew tried to stop him, but the young master was very domineering and punched my nephew. I was accidentally hit by the young master and have not recovered yet. Your horse was also taken away by that guy!"

At this moment, the waiter brought a steaming hot meal and placed it on the table, saying indignantly, "When I tried to argue, that guy punched me without hesitation. If Uncle hadn't protected me, I would have been the one injured."

"Oh? So my horse has been taken away for half a month?"

The innkeeper's face was filled with shame as he said in a low voice, "Yes, the old man knows your horse is worth a fortune. Even if we were killed, we couldn't compensate. I beg you, sir, to show mercy and spare my nephew's life. He is young and once stood up for your horse. As for me, you can do whatever you want with me!"