Chapter 1

On one side was a black lacquered counter, behind which stood several wine jars, polished to a shine, looking as if they had been there for some time. The scent of alcohol could be detected from a distance.

A silver Taiping coin, entirely white, was spinning on the counter.

The shopkeeper, standing behind the counter, wore a half-new, half-old robe, with a blue headband that had been washed to a pale color. He propped his chin with his right hand, staring at the spinning Taiping coin in a daze.

A helper sat on a long bench, leaning against the wall, dozing off, his head nodding like a chick pecking at rice, bit by bit.

Suddenly, a man strode into the hall.

With a "slap," the shopkeeper reached out and pressed the spinning Taiping coin into his palm, then slowly moved his hand away, revealing the four characters "Taiping" (Peace and Prosperity) on the coin.

He lifted his head, a trademark smile on his face.

The man looked to be in his forties, his face weathered, and his body covered in scars.

His left sleeve was empty, and his right leg limped.

However, in this place, such an appearance was nothing out of the ordinary, neither frightening nor surprising.

Because this was a "inn."

Unlike ordinary inns, this "inn" was a place where all sorts of people mixed together.

High mountain immortals and lowly mud-dwelling creatures gathered here, including those dressed in luxurious clothing and those who engaged in petty theft, as well as many high-ranking individuals hidden among the common people.

Facing the man, the shopkeeper said, "Sir, what kind of business do you wish to conduct? As long as the price is right, we can always negotiate."

The man, who had come here with a maimed body, took out a brand new official note from his pocket and placed it on the counter in front of the shopkeeper, his voice hoarse, "This official note can be exchanged for a thousand Taiping coins at any official bank in the country."

The shopkeeper glanced at the note but did not speak immediately.

The man continued, "So many Taiping coins are enough for many people to retire and live a peaceful life as wealthy men."

The shopkeeper nodded in agreement, "If you want to buy someone's life, many people here would be willing to take the risk."

The man shook his head, "I don't want to buy a life; I just want to ensure someone's safety."

"From the hands of the Qingluan Guard."

The man's voice was not loud but very clear. The moment the words "Qingluan Guard" were spoken, the hall, which looked like an ordinary inn, fell silent, and all the "guests" paused in their actions, showing the fear inspired by the Qingluan Guard, which could even make children stop crying at night.

The shopkeeper played with the Taiping coin in his hand and said slowly, "In our Great Xuan Dynasty, the most terrifying thing for officials is not being dismissed from office, but being captured and interrogated by the Qingluan Guard. Once involved with the Qingluan Guard, family destruction and death are common. Those who fall into their hands often only wish for a quick death. Death has always been the greatest relief."

The man remained silent.

The shopkeeper looked at the man's official boots and the bloodstains on his clothes and continued, "Since the previous dynasty, the Qingluan Guard has existed for four hundred years, known for its ferocity. From the highest officials to the lowest outlaws, all fear them. Wanting to protect someone from the Qingluan Guard is a task no one dares to guarantee. You must know this, right?"

The man emphasized, "I know, but this is an 'inn.'"

The shopkeeper smiled slightly, somewhat self-deprecatingly, "The 'inn' is not what it used to be. We usually stay out of the Qingluan Guard's affairs. If we cross that line, the Qingluan Guard will not be lenient, and we who make a living here will suffer. Do you understand?"

The man fell silent and turned to look at the people in the hall.

No one dared to respond.

The man's face first showed disappointment, then turned to despair.

At that moment, a voice suddenly came from a corner of the hall, "I'll take this job."

The hall, which had been silent for a moment, suddenly buzzed with whispers, like the annoying insects of a summer night or the rats scurrying in the dark. Even the helper, who had been dozing off, woke up from his dream, looked around, and hurriedly left, as if afraid of being implicated.

The man's face regained hope, and he turned to look in the direction of the voice.

The speaker was a young man, wearing a cloak and a hat, dressed in a common traveler's outfit.

He sat alone in a corner, a short sword on the table in front of him.

The young man stood up and came to the counter, glancing at the official note on the counter, "A thousand Taiping coins is not a small amount. If converted to Ruyi coins, it could form a small mountain."

In the previous dynasty of Da Wei, private minting was rampant, and inferior coins were widespread, causing chaos in circulation and complicated conversions, with officials profiting from the situation. In response, the current dynasty standardized the minting of gold, silver, and copper coins, eliminating the square holes and making them round, named "Yuan."

The gold Yuan had "Chengping Wuyou" (Peace and Prosperity) engraved on the back, known as "Wuyou coins"; the silver Yuan had "Taiping" (Peace and Prosperity) engraved on the back, known as "Taiping coins"; the copper Yuan had "Pingan Ruyi" (Peace and Prosperity) engraved on the back, known as "Ruyi coins."

The shopkeeper glanced at the empty bench nearby, pressed the official note with his hand, and said calmly, "Brother, whether it's a mountain of gold or silver, let me give you a word of advice. Taiping coins are good, but you might not have the chance to spend them."

The young man replied, "Thank you for the advice, I understand the risks."

The shopkeeper sighed slightly, withdrew his hand from the note, and said no more.

The man looked at the young man and asked cautiously, "May I ask your name?"

The young man said, "Call me Qi Xuansu."

The "inn" does not directly participate in violent affairs but acts as a mediator, providing guarantees for both parties and earning a commission.

Those who can conduct such business are powerful, with branches of the "inn" all over the country, and it is said that there is a main branch, but no one knows where it is.

Since Qi Xuansu was willing to take the job, the two signed a contract under the shopkeeper's witness, with three copies. The shopkeeper kept one copy for record, and the other two were given to the parties involved.

If Qi Xuansu completes the job, he can claim nine hundred Taiping coins from the shopkeeper with the contract, with the "inn" taking a ten percent commission, or one hundred Taiping coins. If Qi Xuansu fails, the man can return nine hundred and fifty Taiping coins with the contract, with the "inn" taking a fifty Taiping coin fee.

If there are any disputes in the future, the two can use the contract to seek mediation from the "inn." If mediation fails, the "inn" will take appropriate action.

Whether this action involves financial loss or bloodshed is unknown to outsiders.

After the contract was signed and the details of the job were discussed, the man handed the official note for a thousand Taiping coins to the shopkeeper. The "inn" has a good reputation and has handled transactions worth tens of thousands of Taiping coins, so there was no need to worry about a thousand Taiping coins tarnishing its reputation.

The specific requirement of the job was simple: to go to the county office and rescue the county magistrate Li Hongwen, who was about to be taken away by the Qingluan Guard. It was said that the magistrate was involved in a major case, and if taken to the capital and imprisoned, his fate would be uncertain.

Qi Xuansu had heard about this major case, where two factions were vying for power, with complex and unclear motives.

As for the man's identity, it was not hard to guess. From his appearance, he was likely a close confidant of the magistrate, who had risked his life to seek help.

Seeing the shopkeeper store the contract and the official note, the man visibly relaxed, carefully putting away his copy of the contract, then finding an empty table to sit down and asking the shopkeeper for a pot of wine.

The shopkeeper opened a large wine jar behind him, and the scent of alcohol filled the air. He filled a pot with wine and brought it to the man without warming it. As he passed Qi Xuansu, their eyes met for a moment. The shopkeeper's gaze was complex, with a mix of pity and helplessness, as if looking at a man about to die.

Qi Xuansu paid no attention, put the contract in his sleeve, and returned to his table. He first hung the short sword on his waist, then pressed down his hat to cover his eyes, leaving only a slightly thin chin visible. He then shook his cloak to cover the sword on his waist.

The man took a deep drink of wine, slightly calming his emotions, and said, "Brother Qi, I've told you all the details. I must remind you that this is a dangerous task; don't be careless."

Qi Xuansu, who was about to leave, paused for a moment but did not turn back, "Thank you."

The man wanted to say more but, thinking of the contract in his pocket, feared scaring the young man away. He fell silent, drinking gloomily, and soon fell asleep on the table.

Because the entire "inn" was built underground, after leaving the hall, Qi Xuansu walked down a long corridor leading to the surface.

The corridor was lit by torches, and it took about half an incense stick's time to reach the exit.

The moment Qi Xuansu stepped out of the corridor, a crossbow bolt shot straight at his left leg, clearly intended to incapacitate him and make him an easy target.

Qi Xuansu narrowly avoided the bolt at the last second. The bolt grazed his thigh and embedded itself in the wall behind him, the arrowhead completely buried, the black feathers still trembling, showing the force of the shot.

He was very familiar with this type of crossbow bolt.

It was the standard equipment of the Qingluan Guard, with blood grooves and barbs on the arrowhead. If hit, pulling the arrow would tear a large piece of flesh, and if left in, the grooves would continuously bleed, making it extremely lethal.

Qi Xuansu turned to see a figure step out from the shadows, stopping about ten yards away.

The figure held a black crossbow, clearly the one who had fired the bolt. His attire, a blue narrow-sleeved long robe with a black iron beast head at the waist and black and white official boots, confirmed he was a member of the Qingluan Guard.