Chapter 234: The Third Master

The inn looked like it was already closed for the night. The tables were wiped clean, and the chairs were turned upside down on top of them. While the rest of Guizi Jie was bustling with activity, this, the largest establishment on the street, was deserted.

The attendant, looking at the vibrant, striking young woman in fiery red before him, felt his face burn as he recalled all the secret slang he had used that she had understood.

Seeing the attendant lost in thought, Zhang Xia waved her hand in front of him, "What are you thinking about?"

The attendant furtively glanced back at the proprietor.

The proprietor pushed aside the abacus and account book on the counter and strode out from behind it. He cupped his hands and said, "This is truly a case of 'the flood washing away the temple of the Dragon King' – forgive this young attendant of mine for his shallow experience, for showing off his skills in front of experts and making a fool of himself. According to jianghu rules, if you pretend to be a master in front of one and get caught, you have to stab yourself to resolve the matter."

The proprietor was a middle-aged man in a black, short, martial-looking outfit. He didn't look like an innkeeper at all, but more like a seasoned鏢頭 (biaotou, dart master or caravan guard leader) who had traveled extensively. He had a ruddy complexion and prominent temples, and his voice boomed like a large bell, clearly indicating he was a martial artist.

The strange couplet, the coded entry words, and the martial artist proprietor – this Longmen Kezhan was extremely mysterious.

It was warm inside. Chen Ji took off the cloak draped over his shoulders and hung it on his arm. He said calmly, "There's no need to stab yourself. Since the proprietor is being upfront, we have no intention of being unreasonable."

The young attendant breathed a sigh of relief.

The proprietor thought for a moment. "How about I decide to waive the room fees for everyone?"

At this, Chen Ji shook his head. "We plan to stay for a long time; I'm afraid the proprietor will feel the pinch if we stay too long. There's no need to waive the room fees, just prepare three rooms for us..."

Zhang Zheng quickly interrupted, "One room, just prepare one di-zi (earth level) room for us. We just need a few extra blankets, and we'll pay extra."

The attendant looked confused. "We still have plenty of empty rooms in our inn."

The proprietor placed a hand on the attendant's shoulder and said with a smile, "Guests are paramount. We'll prepare as many rooms as the guests want, no need for unnecessary talk. But since you are so generous, our Longmen Kezhan cannot be ungrateful. I will arrange for you to stay in the tian-zi jia hao (heaven level A) room, and charge you the price of the di-zi jia hao (earth level A) room, how about that?"

Zhang Zheng lowered his voice and asked in a whisper, "We said it's fine, why is he still insisting?"

Zhang Xia replied, "This is the rule of the jianghu. We have accepted his kindness, and only then is this matter settled. From now on, we cannot mention this matter outside, to avoid embarrassing the Longmen Kezhan."

"So that's how it is..."

Zhang Xia, mimicking a man, cupped her hands and smiled, "If we refuse again, it would be disrespecting the proprietor. We accept your kindness and will stay in the tian-zi room."

The proprietor politely cupped his hands. "Thank you for your generosity. Xiao Liu, please lead the guests to the tian-zi jia hao room."

"Yes," Xiao Liu replied, bowing to Chen Ji and the others. "Guests, this way, please."

He stepped onto the wooden floor of the inn, which creaked with every step. Just as he was about to go up the wooden stairs, Chen Ji suddenly perked up his ears. He seemed to hear a rustling sound coming from beneath the floorboards. The sound... was like sharp metal objects being rubbed back and forth on a whetstone.

Chen Ji stopped in his tracks, and the sound of grinding beneath the floor also stopped.

Xiao Liu stood halfway up the stairs and turned back. "What's wrong, guests?"

"Nothing, let's go," Chen Ji smiled and lifted his foot to follow.

After Chen Ji and the others went upstairs, someone flipped down from the shadows on the beam, landing lightly beside the proprietor. It was a limping attendant, holding a cleaver in his hand.

"Proprietor, is it a Lengzi Dian (official) or an Yingzhua (secret agent)?"

The proprietor narrowed his eyes and looked towards the end of the stairs. "Doesn't look like it. Officials aren't usually this easy to talk to."

"What about the Yandang (eunuch faction)?"

The proprietor put his hands behind his back and thought for a moment. "If it were the Yandang, they would just come and tear down my inn. They wouldn't pretend to be guests. You've seen the Yandang in Guyuan City; they are the most lawless ones."

"Then where are they from?"

The proprietor thought for a long time but couldn't figure it out. "Recently, Guyuan has been full of all sorts of strange characters; who knows where they came from."

The attendant tentatively suggested, "Jing Dynasty spies?"

The proprietor's eyes shifted. "Doesn't seem like it, but you should go out tomorrow and scout around. These people seem to have just arrived in Guyuan, and maybe some acquaintances saw them when they entered the city. But be careful; don't fall into the hands of these Over-the-River Dragons."

The attendant didn't understand. "They don't look particularly troublesome."

The proprietor calmly said, "What is an Over-the-River Dragon? An Over-the-River Dragon is someone who clearly sees that this place is unusual, yet still dares to walk in."

The man asked in a low voice, "What are they here for?"

The proprietor returned behind the counter and said unhurriedly, "Guests who come to my Longmen Kezhan must have heard rumors in the marketplace and are looking for something. No rush, I won't look for them; they will come to me sooner or later. We'll know then."

Just then, the thick cotton curtain was lifted, and the cold air from outside rushed in, causing the candlelight in the inn to flicker.

The attendant turned around and said, "Guests, are you here to stay, or... Third Master! A rare guest, didn't you go to the capital?"

The newcomer was a middle-aged man with a long saber hanging at his waist. His left eye was blind, only the white remaining in the socket, giving him a fierce and formidable appearance. He patted the dust off his clothes, took a copper coin from his sleeve, and threw it at the proprietor with a swift, powerful motion.

The proprietor leaned back slightly, catching the copper coin between two fingers in front of his nose. He held the coin up to examine it, and saw the words "灯火" (Deng Huo, lamplight) cast on it.

The proprietor's eyes were sharp as he asked, "Third Master, has the Supervisor returned to Guyuan?"

Third Master calmly said, "You're getting more and more out of line. Is the Supervisor's business something you can inquire about?"

The proprietor's face darkened. "I'm only being polite by calling you Third Master. If you weren't serving under the Supervisor, what would you be? Back when you were under the General's command, you were just a defeated subordinate. I was just asking if the Supervisor had returned to Guyuan; why are you getting worked up?"

Third Master sneered. "Put away your little schemes; the Supervisor is not someone you can think about. If you break the rules again, I will kill you."

The proprietor scoffed and rolled up his sleeve to his forearm. "You?"

Third Master pressed his left hand on the hilt of his saber. "Try me."

In the tense atmosphere, the attendant hurriedly smoothed things over. "Two gentlemen, there are still many guests in the inn. Please don't disturb them; otherwise, you will all be punished by the Supervisor. Proprietor, Third Master has brought the Deng Huo copper coin; he must have something important to discuss."

The proprietor remained silent for a few seconds, then lowered his sleeve again. He said lazily, "Speak, what is your business at my Longmen Kezhan?"

Third Master said coldly, "A few people entered your inn just now. Arrange the room next to theirs for me. Remember, don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't say what you shouldn't say."

The proprietor looked upstairs suspiciously, then turned back and asked, "Wait, who are these people that you've come to keep an eye on? Is this your business, or the Supervisor's business?"

Third Master did not answer.

The proprietor asked again, "Are you here to kill them, or do they have something the Supervisor wants? If they have something the Supervisor wants, I'll kill them in the middle of the night, take it, and send it to the Supervisor."

Third Master said impatiently, "Are you done? The Supervisor is not in Guyuan; I came back alone."

"Then why didn't you say so earlier!" The proprietor suddenly lost interest and waved his hand, no longer looking at him. "Xiao Wu, lead San'er to the tian-zi yi hao room. Oh, and later, call the guest in di-zi bing hao up; it's time to send him off."

Third Master raised his eyebrows at being called "San'er" but ultimately said nothing.

In the tian-zi jia hao room, Xiaoman was kneeling on the floor spreading out the bedding. Zhang Zheng sat on a chair nearby, idly poking the newly lit charcoal in the brazier with iron tongs.

Xiaoman glared at him fiercely. "What are you doing? Make your own bed!"

Zhang Zheng said lazily, "Can't you help me make it?"

Xiaoman rolled her eyes at him. "I'm the young master's maid, not yours."

Zhang Zheng's eyes widened. "Why are you always picking on me? You're so sharp with your words."

Xiaoman flattened the bedding with both hands and said slowly, "Someone who frequents brothels and expects kind words from others? Don't corrupt my young master."

Zhang Zheng quickly explained, "When did I frequent brothels? I meant I have nothing but disdain for those courtesans! Although my brothers around me are into that, I am a man of integrity."

Xiaoman sneered, "Right, right, in a pot of cooked rice, you're the only uncooked grain."

Zhang Zheng opened his mouth, speechless for a long time.

Zhang Xia by the window turned around. "Are you two incompatible? Why are you always arguing... Shh!"

Just as she was speaking, she heard footsteps outside the door.

Chen Ji had been holding Wuyun and standing by the window frame, silently looking out through the gaps. At this moment, he turned around abruptly, his gaze following the sound, as if he could see the figure in the corridor through the door and wall.

The next moment, there was a creak from next door. Someone pushed the door open and entered the room, then there was no more movement.

Zhang Xia dipped her finger in the tea cup and wrote on the table, "Is it a guest of the Longmen Kezhan?"

Chen Ji frowned and shook his head, also dipping his finger in the water. "As soon as we moved into the jia hao room, someone immediately moved into the yi hao room. Better to be cautious; walls have ears."

Zhang Xia nodded and turned to whisper instructions to Zhang Zheng and Xiaoman.

Chen Ji turned back and looked out the window again. The tian-zi room was on the third floor of the Longmen Kezhan, the highest point in Guyuan City. He looked into the distance and could even see the flickering flames on the distant city wall and the border troops, like tiny black ants, moving back and forth.

Inside the city wall, the low, earthen houses were scattered unevenly. On the densely packed rooftops, figures of local strongmen occasionally jumped back and forth. Looking closer, the Longmen Kezhan's backyard was spacious, complete with a stable, wood shed, kitchen, and cattle shed. The sounds of singing and drinking games drifted from the brothel next door.

Xiaoman finished making the bed and walked to Chen Ji's side, lowering her voice. "Young master, please rest early."

Chen Ji shook his head, picked up the tea cup, and wrote on the window frame with water. "You guys sleep first. I'll keep watch for the first half of the night, and Xiaoman, you keep watch for the second half."

Xiaoman was startled internally. *Me?*

She suddenly felt a bit guilty. *Strange, with Zhang Zheng here, why would the young master ask me to keep watch? Has the young master seen through something? Has the young master discovered my identity as an official? What else has the young master discovered?* Many chaotic thoughts flashed through Xiaoman's little head. She had originally wanted to test her young master, but she was thrown off guard by his single sentence.

Late at night.

Zhang Xia made a bed on the floor and slept in the inner room. Zhang Zheng slept on the floor in the outer room, his head tilted. The eight-immortals table in the room had been moved aside to make space for sleeping. In the end, no one slept on the beds; they all slept on the floor.

Xiaoman moved a small chair and sat by the brazier, wide awake. Chen Ji was staring out the window. Her round eyes were fixed on Chen Ji's back, she didn't know what she was thinking.

At this moment, even the singing from the brothel next door had stopped, but Chen Ji's gaze was fixed, and he became alert.

In the darkness, he saw an attendant sneak out of the octagonal building, followed by a fat man with a large head and ears, dressed in silk. The two walked all the way to the stable. Once inside the stable, the thatched shed blocked the view, and Chen Ji could no longer see any trace of them.

A moment later, the attendant walked out of the stable, cautiously looking around. After a long while, he confirmed that everything was safe. He tightened his collar against the cold wind, breathed into his hands, rubbed them together, and returned to the octagonal building.

The fat man with the large head and ears had disappeared forever in the stable.