Chapter 654: Three Together

Volume 3, Chapter 5: Renowned in One Corner

The Fu family's main castle, a stronghold that brought them fame, is located deep within a mountain called Purple Path Mountain, in the western part of Yuanwu Nation.

This mountain is perpetually shrouded in a faint purple mist. If a mortal enters, they not only lose their sight but also experience teary eyes and a swollen throat after a short time in the mist. Staying longer can even lead to poisoning and death.

Although the local inhabitants are well aware of the danger of these purple mists and avoid them like the plague, some unsuspecting outsiders still stumble into them each year, meeting their demise there.

The Fu family, who have long considered this entire mountain their territory, are completely unfazed by the deaths of these mortals.

Mortals die; what else is there to say? Besides, to die under the "Poison Cloud Purple Haze Formation," which the Fu family painstakingly commissioned several formation masters to set up, could even be considered good fortune for these mortals.

However, in recent days, although Purple Path Mountain remains shrouded in mist, this normally desolate place has gradually grown bustling. Monks frequently appear outside the purple mist, shouting something, then display a radiant red invitation-like object before being led into the mist and disappearing.

The closest mortal town to Purple Path Mountain is a small city called Taihe. This city is not large, only about ten li across, with a population of merely 100,000. Yet, it possesses all necessary facilities, including taverns and inns, without exception.

A’er is a young waiter at Yongqu Inn, one of the two inns in Taihe City. Although only ten years old, he has been working as a waiter for three or four years.

Now, slightly thin, he leans listlessly by the inn's entrance, weakly calling out to passersby to enter.

This isn't due to A’er being lazy, but because it is currently the peak of summer. No one could maintain the energy to shout loudly after an entire morning under the scorching sun.

Therefore, even the notoriously shrewd and stingy Manager Liu, upon seeing A’er's listless appearance, merely grumbled a few words despite his dissatisfied expression, then focused on diligently working his abacus made of yellow wood, calculating the thick ledger on the table.

A’er raised his head, looked at the pale sky, muttered a few complaints under his breath, then lowered his head again, mumbling greetings he couldn't even hear himself, appearing even more dispirited.

He was considering whether to sneak back into the kitchen for a few glasses of cold water to quench his inner heat, hoping Manager Liu wouldn't notice. But just then, he suddenly felt the sky darken, and the surroundings immediately became cool. This startled A’er, making him look up in surprise.

Before him, three strange figures had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

One was short and stout, wearing a tall crown and sackcloth robes, resembling a large soft ball. Another was bald and barefoot, with bulging eyes and rough features, towering ten feet tall. The last had disheveled hair tied back, a menacing expression, and cold eyes.

"Are the three sirs looking for lodging?" A’er's years as a waiter weren't for naught; after his initial surprise, he immediately responded with a wide smile. In his experience, though these three looked fierce and intimidating, they were certainly generous high-spenders.

"Nonsense! If we weren't looking for lodging, why would we be here? Here, prepare a top room for each of us three, and then prepare a table of the finest food and wine to be sent to our rooms," the short, stout man, who resembled a meatball, said impatiently, glaring with his small eyes and casually tossing a large chunk of silver into A’er's arms.

"Yes, yes! Please come in, sirs! The food and wine will be ready immediately. A’er, quickly prepare the three best top rooms for these three sirs!" Before A’er could say anything, Manager Liu, who had already noticed everything at the door, suddenly sprang forward like a man in his thirties or forties. He snatched the silver from A’er's arms and said with a fawning expression.

"Yes, manager," A’er replied helplessly, although his teeth were itching with resentment at Manager Liu's actions. He sighed inwardly, his promised tip once again snatched away by the manager.

If he weren't only skilled as an inn waiter, and if there weren't only two inns in this city, he would never work for this stingy old man.

After severely cursing Manager Liu in his mind, A’er still led the three guests to a room on the second floor with a smiling face, then excused himself.

"Huh?"

As soon as A’er moved away from the three, the unbearable heat suddenly reappeared. This made him scratch his head, feeling a surge of confusion. After tilting his head and thinking, he descended the stairs, still utterly perplexed.

A lavish table of food and wine was quickly prepared. A’er helped the other waiters carry the dishes into the room.

The three men were seated around the table, silent.

A’er glanced at them with a hint of surprise. The disheveled-haired monk seemed to sense something and suddenly cast a cold gaze at him.

This look sent a chilling shiver through him, instantly making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave. A’er immediately lowered his head in terror and then, flustered, retreated from the room. Even when he returned to the inn's entrance, his heart continued to pound uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, inside the room, the three finally began to converse.

"Brother Han, why did you use a soul-stirring technique on a mortal? Did that boy displease you?" As soon as the short, stout man sensed that no one was outside, he chuckled and asked the disheveled-haired man.

"Nothing. That young waiter also possesses spiritual roots. Although his spiritual root aptitude isn't great, cultivating to the third or fourth layer of the Qi Condensation stage shouldn't be an issue," the disheveled-haired monk said expressionlessly.

"Spiritual roots? That is quite surprising. But hearing Brother Han say so, that young waiter's aptitude isn't that impressive. However, Brother Han can actually discern spiritual roots without direct contact. Your divine abilities are truly astonishing," a hint of surprise flashed across the stout monk's face as he spoke, somewhat moved.

"My cultivation isn't much higher than yours, fellow Daoists; I merely practice a related secret technique," the disheveled-haired monk said slowly, glancing at the stout monk.

"Brother Han is too humble. However, with an aptitude like that young waiter's, there's no real future in the cultivation world. Even if he luckily cultivates to the Foundation Establishment stage like us, without a sect to rely on, he'd be nothing but a lonely ghost, bullied by fellow cultivators of the same stage! Didn't we come to Purple Path Mountain hoping for some opportunity during the Fu family patriarch's birthday celebration? If we could be noticed by one of the powerful families or demonic sects attending the celebration, our fortunes would be immense. It's just a pity that we rogue cultivators can only enter the Fu family castle on the day of the birthday celebration, otherwise, why would we wait here for half a month?" The stout monk sighed and said with a bitter smile.

"Hmm!" The disheveled-haired monk nodded coldly, seemingly unwilling to say more.

Seeing the disheveled-haired monk's demeanor, the stout man exchanged glances with the bald burly man. The bald burly man then opened his wide mouth.

"Brother Han, my brother and I only knew that you were also going to the Fu family castle for the birthday celebration, which is why we traveled together. But after traveling for several days, we only know that you are also a rogue cultivator with extraordinary cultivation. We don't know where you cultivated before, and why we have never heard of your esteemed name," the burly man said in a booming voice, staring at the disheveled-haired monk with his ox-like eyes.

After the burly man spoke, a sharp gleam flashed in the stout man's eyes, and he stared unblinkingly at the monk surnamed Han.

The disheveled-haired monk's expression remained unchanged, and he calmly replied:

"I, Han, was a cultivator from Yue Nation. I only recently moved to Yuanwu Nation. It's not strange that you two fellow Daoists haven't heard of me."

"Yue Nation! Isn't that under the control of the Ghost Spirit Sect? Why didn't Brother Han try his luck with the Ghost Spirit Sect? Why come to our Yuanwu Nation?" the stout monk asked, blinking his small eyes.

"How does Brother Luo know I haven't tried? It's just that there was no way to get in. Moreover, in Yue Nation, the Ghost Spirit Sect now reigns supreme and tolerates no other sect's cultivators. That's why I came to Yuanwu Nation to try my luck. Unexpectedly, upon arriving here, I heard about the Fu family patriarch's birthday celebration. This is a rare opportunity, so naturally, I wouldn't easily let it pass," the disheveled-haired monk said calmly.

"So that's how it is. It seems Brother Han has had a tough time," the stout man chuckled upon hearing this. He stopped asking questions and began to chat about various rumors in the cultivation world.

After the food and wine were consumed, the disheveled-haired monk excused himself and retired to the adjacent room.

As soon as the disheveled-haired monk stepped out of the room, the stout monk's previously smiling expression vanished, replaced by a hint of ferocity.

He suddenly pulled out a talisman from his robes, formed a hand seal with both hands, and then flicked it into the air. The talisman instantly transformed into a large expanse of white light, enveloping the entire room.

This talisman was actually a sound-insulating talisman!

"Brother Luo, is what this kid said true or false? Is he really a rogue cultivator?" As soon as the bald burly man saw the monk surnamed Luo finish casting the spell, he eagerly asked, appearing impatient.

"A rogue cultivator? Definitely not. Most likely, he's a disciple from some minor sect!" The stout monk sneered, then stroked his fleshy chin and said ominously.