Chapter 58

PS: Thank you for the generous tip from Fengmo Xuri!

The inn was not small!

As soon as they entered, the first thing that caught their eye was the large hall on the first floor. From the looks of it, this place was where ordinary people came to eat and drink, and where common martial artists also gathered.

However, the Yue Lai Inn, known as the largest chain inn in the martial world, was clearly not just that.

Just as Yue Yuan entered the inn with Lu Wushuang, he saw a waiter leading several elegantly dressed young masters up to the second floor, fanning themselves. From their appearance, it was clear that the second floor was where the so-called private rooms were located.

"..."

Indeed, it was lively!

Yue Yuan pursed his lips, his gaze moving from the figures that had disappeared up the stairs. He casually scanned the surroundings and realized that the hall was incredibly bustling. Compared to the inn he had stayed at in the town earlier, this one was incomparably superior.

However, it was also too lively, with too much business.

Shaking his head, he glanced around and noticed that the hall was almost completely full, with people sitting in almost every seat. Among them, martial artists carrying various weapons were the most numerous.

All kinds of weapons, from golden hoop knives to black wood staffs and sharp swords, almost all eighteen types of weapons could be seen here.

It seemed that the Heroic Assembly indeed had a significant impact on the martial world.

It also reflected the high reputation of Guo Jing and Huang Rong in the martial world.

"Boss!"

"Give us a relatively quiet place!"

Yue Yuan retracted his gaze and walked up to the innkeeper, who was busily working on an abacus, and gave his instructions.

The innkeeper was quite plump, shaped like a ball, with no visible neck, and even his small eyes seemed to be hidden.

"Sure, two guests!"

The innkeeper looked up and glanced at Yue Yuan and Lu Wushuang. His gaze merely swept over the limping girl, Lu Wushuang, and then ignored her. In the innkeeper's eyes, a quick glance was enough to determine that the person in charge was the young Taoist in blue and white robes.

Especially since the Taoist was wearing a very luxurious robe... This Taoist was clearly a wealthy person.

Analyzing the Taoist's wealth in his mind, the innkeeper quickly checked the ledger and said, "Two guests, there is still a private room on the third floor. How about that..."

This question...

But it was skillful!

By asking about the private room, he was also indirectly probing whether Yue Yuan had enough money.

"Hmm!"

"Since it's quiet, let's take that one!"

"Also, bring us the best dishes and fine wine from the Yue Lai Inn!"

Yue Yuan glanced at the plump innkeeper, and with a wave of his right hand, a gold ingot the size of a baby's fist rolled out of his sleeve and landed in front of the innkeeper. "Have the waiter show us the way!"

"Sure thing!"

The innkeeper's eyes lit up at the sight of the gold ingot rolling in front of him, and his small eyes widened. He quickly picked up the gold ingot and turned to a nearby waiter, instructing, "Xiao Bao, take this Taoist and this young lady to the private room on the third floor!"

"Sure!"

"Two guests, please!"

The waiter, with a towel over his shoulder, immediately bent down and respectfully invited Yue Yuan and Lu Wushuang to go upstairs.

"Let's go!"

Yue Yuan glanced casually at the gazes of the people around him, not paying any attention, and led Lu Wushuang up the stairs with the waiter.

Behind them.

Lu Wushuang turned back and glanced at the gold ingot Yue Yuan had thrown down. She thought to herself that when she helped Yue Yuan pack his clothes earlier, she didn't see any gold ingots, only a stack of silver bills!

Not understanding where Yue Yuan got the gold ingot, Lu Wushuang followed him in confusion.

Regarding Yue Yuan's luxurious stay and dining at the inn, Lu Wushuang had already seen it before, so she wasn't particularly surprised.

However, Yue Yuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly, wondering if taking money from the innkeeper to pay the bill was too shameless? And throwing a gold ingot might have been a bit showy; he should have flown a silver bill instead!

It might have been a bit embarrassing for Xiang Shuai!

But by flexing his wrist like this, he was also reviewing the skills of the Bandit Chief, right?

Well, skills are the most important!

Yue Yuan stroked his chin and pondered.

As for the scene of Yue Yuan throwing the gold ingot, which was seen by countless martial artists in the hall, it didn't bother Yue Yuan at all. However, Lu Wushuang felt a bit awkward under so many gazes.

...

Soon, under the guidance of the waiter, Yue Yuan and Lu Wushuang arrived on the third floor.

The environment on the third floor was completely different from the noisy hall below. It was much more serene.

If one could find a seat by the window, lean against it, and quietly enjoy fine wine while watching the night scenery of Xiangyang, it would be a delightful experience.

"Huh?"

With a surprised exclamation, Yue Yuan suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on the wall beside him.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

Lu Wushuang, who was following behind, almost bumped into Yue Yuan. She stopped and followed his gaze to the wall, where she saw countless calligraphy works written in various styles, such as cursive and clerical script.

Unfortunately, Lu Wushuang was almost illiterate and couldn't compare to her cousin Cheng Ying in terms of knowledge. She had no idea what the calligraphy on the wall meant.

However, the waiter, seeing this, proudly introduced to Yue Yuan and Lu Wushuang, "The people who left their calligraphy on the wall are all talented scholars! Among them, the most famous are Yi An Jushi and You An Jushi!"

Yi An Jushi?

You An Jushi?

Lu Wushuang was completely confused.

However, Yue Yuan understood who these two were. Yi An Jushi was the female poet Li Qingzhao, and You An Jushi was Xin Qiji, who could be considered the second person in Chinese history to excel in both literature and martial arts, after Li Bai, who was known for his sword skills and was called the Poet Immortal.

And Xin Qiji was no less impressive!

If it weren't for Xin Qiji's bad luck and the deep influence of Confucianism, things might have turned out differently.

Impressive!

Yue Yuan couldn't help but admire Xin Qiji. In this era, Xin Qiji was indeed a remarkable figure. At times, it felt as if Xin Qiji, with his high literary skills, had achieved the same level as Guo Jing, one of the Five Greats in martial arts, and had also become the top scholar.

It could be said that throughout Chinese history, there were only these two figures who excelled in both literature and martial arts.

Unfortunately, neither of them achieved their desired outcomes and both died of illness and frustration.

Just that.

Yue Yuan had to admit that the Yue Lai Inn indeed had a rich cultural heritage.

However, what attracted Yue Yuan the most was not the calligraphy left by famous people on the wall, but a large painting on the north wall.

It was called large because the painting almost took up half of the wall.

The painting was simple, depicting a young man in white robes with a long sword at his waist. He stood quietly, with no other embellishments around him, only faint brushstrokes that looked like white clouds.

Apart from that, there were no words or names on the painting. It was just a plain, solitary painting.

Although ancient Chinese portraits were abstract and focused on inner essence rather than surface details, the young man in the painting seemed a bit chubby, but that wasn't the point. The point was that the person in the painting gave a unique, ethereal feeling, as if he were a celestial being.

After looking at it for a while, Yue Yuan pointed to the portrait and asked, "Waiter, is this the Poet Immortal Li Bai?"

Poet Immortal Li Bai?

This time, Lu Wushuang knew who it was.

"Uh..."

"I'm not sure. This painting has been here since I started working here!"

Seeing that the waiter didn't know, Yue Yuan didn't ask further. Instead, he had the waiter lead him and Lu Wushuang to the private room they had requested. Before entering the private room, Yue Yuan turned back and glanced at the portrait on the wall, deep in thought.

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