Chapter 223

Chapter 223

Liu Buhua turned to Xie Yinxue, "Godfather, should we spar and see?"

The two should be able to gauge their strengths well during the spar, so there's no need to worry about inadvertently injuring each other.

However, Xie Yinxue slowly shook his head, replying, "No need."

If Qin He can make such a claim, he must be confident that no matter whom Xie Yinxue faces from those present, as long as it's a test of cultivation, Xie will always be the least proficient.

And Xie Yinxue has no room to contest or claim any injustice.

After all, compared to the others present, the disparity in the number of times he and Liu Buhua have cleared the "Lock of Longevity" is glaringly evident. And the more they clear it, the better they understand the patterns within.

For instance, regarding the true identity of the guide NPC in this dungeon, Xie Yinxue would bet that everyone, except himself and Liu Buhua, probably thinks it's Bu Jiuzhao.

But that's not the case.

Strictly speaking, the first voice they heard upon entering the dungeon, not from a player, was from a white crane, not Bu Jiuzhao — the white crane, Qin He.

If the name alone isn't enough evidence, then when Qin He nearly revealed all the requirements to clear the dungeon, Xie Yinxue and Liu Buhua could firmly ascertain: Qin He is indeed the true guide NPC in this dungeon.

Their ability to deduce this so swiftly isn't due to their experience in the "Qingshan Mental Hospital" dungeon? It's a precious experience that participants with fewer completions lack.

Hence, Qin He must place Xie Yinxue and Liu Buhua's "cultivation" at the very bottom to ensure a relatively fair starting point for all participants.

Otherwise, with Bu Jiuzhao added to the mix, if Xie Yinxue and Liu Buhua have the advantage of the right time, place, and people, what's the point for the other participants?

Seeing Xie Yinxue remaining silent, Qin He understood that he had grasped the essence and continued with a smile, “All guests in the inn will come out after lunch and return to their rooms before dawn. Since it's still early, esteemed Daoists can first return to their rooms to sort out their belongings and reconvene at the Moonlit Hall during lunchtime.”

The Moonlit Hall serves as the main hall of the Fairy Inn, where participants have their daily meals.

"If any Daoists have further inquiries, please seek me in Room Mystical Sky. If there are no other matters, then the task of searching the inn for all malevolent beasts and investigating if any ancient beasts have escaped from Long Snow Isle falls upon you. I have some other affairs to attend to and must take my leave."

With that, Qin He turned and left.

Xin Tianhao was still lamenting over his lost limited-edition sneakers, muttering, "What belongings? We lost everything on the way to this inn!"

"Not us," Yu Jiayi retorted, lifting a golden pouch from her waist, "Don't you have a storage pouch?"

Xin Tianhao raised his index finger, “No, we only have storage rings.”

"It's the same idea," Yu Jiayi said, “Inside our storage pouch is a bottle of elixirs: three Healing Pills for wounds and two Spirit Concentration Pills, which can significantly enhance cultivation in a short time. How about you?”

Xin Tianhao focused on his golden storage ring and thought: Release everything inside.

In an instant, a white jade vial appeared in his palm, containing five pills just as Yu Jiayi described: blue ones were Healing Pills and the red ones, Spirit Concentration Pills.

Xin Tianhao exclaimed in delight, “Hey, we have the same things in our storage ring!”

Xie Yinxue turned his gaze to Xin Tianhao, not for the vial — which he had in his ring as well — but to observe everyone's hands. Their storage rings were worn on their index fingers.

Only he and Bu Jiuzhao wore theirs on the ring finger.

The corner of Xie Yinxue's lips curled up, and as he turned to the man three steps to his left, their eyes met. About to address him, Xie Yinxue began, "Bu..."

"Senior Bu, what's the method to mend the seal of the ancient beasts on Long Snow Isle?"

However, someone else beat him to the punch. The question came from Baihezi.

Bu Jiuzhao, appearing slightly interrupted, subtly furrowed his brows. It was a minuscule change that would go unnoticed unless one was intently watching or deeply familiar with him.

To the crowd, Bu Jiuzhao always seemed expressionless. Responding to Baihezi's query, he threw several bamboo slips with red tassels to the participants, “The methods to mend the seal are in these slips. Review them once you return to your rooms.”

"Oh, alright." Baihezi took the bamboo slip and started to walk away. After a few steps, she turned back, sizing up Bu Jiuzhao from head to toe. Then, with a roguish grin, she remarked, “Senior Bu, you're quite handsome.”

Bu Jiuzhao: “...”

Subconsciously glancing at Xie Yinxue, and catching the young man's raised eyebrow, Bu Jiuzhao sternly said to Baihezi, “Daoist Baihezi, mind your words. I'm not your senior.”

Lily waved offhandedly, "I know, I know. We're not from the same sect. Can't I just go along with what your juniors are calling you?"

Cai Lele, who was heading towards the 'Di' numbered guest rooms, paused in surprise and said, "Lily, what are you doing?"

"Flirting with NPCs. Just look at them. We seldom see such good-looking people in real life. Since we've come across them, why not have some fun?" After speaking to Cai Lele, Lily turned back to Bu Jiuzhao and asked, "Isn't that right, Senior Bu?"

The man didn't utter a word and simply turned to leave.

Lily sighed, "Sword cultivators, be it in games, TV shows, or instances, always seem so oblivious to romance." After feeling disappointed for a brief moment, her eyes lit up as she greeted the two slender-waisted dancers on the central stage of the Moon-drinking Hall, "Hello there, lovely... ah, I mean, beautiful ladies!"

The two women ceased their dance, descended the stage, and smiled demurely, "Greetings, Daoist Lily."

"What are your names?" Lily draped an arm around each of them and exclaimed, "You both smell so nice and oh, such supple waists!"

The woman on the left replied, "My name is Man."

The one on the right added, "And I'm Xiao Man."

Lily gushed, "Those are the most beautiful names I've ever heard, just as beautiful as your appearances."

The two women giggled and playfully nudged her shoulder, "Daoist Lily, you're such a flatterer."

"Stop teasing," Lily responded, holding their hands, "Nothing is sweeter than you two beauties, right?"

Cai Lele: "..."

Cai Lele was dumbstruck.

The other participants were also taken aback. Even Bu Jiuzhao, who hadn't gone far, paused with a hint of astonishment in his eyes.

They even thought that if Qin He hadn't left earlier, he too might have been roped in by Lily's playful banter.

Liu Buhua mused, "Perhaps I could learn from her?"

Xie Yinxue quickly intervened, "No, you shouldn't, or at least, you really shouldn't."

Xuan Ting stared at Lily, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief, "Are you serious?"

"Shh, don't disturb us," Lily hushed him with a sultry gesture, placing a finger to her lips. She then wrapped her arms around the two women's waists and asked them affectionately, "My Man, my Xiao Man, are you two the dancers hired by the Fairy Inn?"

Man and Xiao Man simultaneously replied, "Yes, we are."

Yuriko asked again, "You must know how many new guests have recently checked into the inn, right?"

"Indeed, the inn has been thriving lately, with about three hundred new guests." Both Man and Xiao Man spoke in unison, playfully brushing a strand of hair behind their ears, revealing their aqua-blue with hints of crimson ear feathers. "All of the guests look perfectly human, not a single one looks like a demon, unlike us."

Yuriko: "Oh, you're demons too?"

Man and Xiao Man: "Yes."

"I love demons, they're so adorable," Yuriko said, winking at the two little foxes, Hui Zhu and Bai E. "Come here, let me hold you. I have some questions for you."

Xin Tianhao stepped back, eyes wide with caution, "Beware of Furui's influence."

Xie Yinxue: "..."

Hui Zhu and Bai E approached innocently, "What would you like to ask, Priestess Yuriko?"

Yuriko gently patted their heads, "Among these three hundred guests, have you noticed anyone acting suspiciously?"

By this point, everyone realized that Yuriko's true intention was to gather information from the inn's demonic staff. Her approach was a bit unconventional, but it seemed effective.

Hui Zhu informed Yuriko, "Man and Xiao Man are from the Man Man bird species. When they dance, it rains in the Museum Continent. However, since guests numbered 10, 11, 14, and 22 checked in, it has been raining outside even when they don't dance."

"Man Man bird?" Qing Ping scratched his head, "Xiao Yang bro, do you know what bird that is?"

"They are called Biyi birds," answered Chu Yiyang. "There is a bird in the Chong Wu mountain that looks like a wild duck but has only one wing and one eye. It can only fly when it finds its mate. This bird is called Man Man, and when seen, the whole world will be flooded."

Tan Fanyi looked at him in admiration, "Impressive, bro. How do you know that?"

"It's recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas," Chu Yiyang replied modestly. "I like reading miscellaneous books, so I'm aware of it."

"When seen, the world will flood? Their appearance is a bad omen then," Xuan Ting, taking note of another detail, pointed his sword at Man and Xiao Man, "They must be monsters."

Bai E raised a paw, pleading, "Master Xuan Ting, Man and Xiao Man are not evil. Please spare them."

Xuan Ting, undeterred, said to Yuriko, who was still holding Man and Xiao Man, "Yuriko, move away."

"Brother, are you mistaken? They're staff of the inn, not guests," Yuriko rolled her eyes in exasperation at him. "The guests won't come out until after lunchtime."

Xuan Ting's boss, Gan Hongchang, chided him, "Have you had too much protein shake? All your brains have turned into muscles?"

"I'm sorry, big brother," Xuan Ting apologized, clearly respecting Gan Hongchang's words. Yet, he was annoyed at Yuriko's attitude and took out his frustration on her. The next time he looked at Yuriko, there was a hint of darkness in his expression.

Yuriko asked without paying him any mind, "Grey Pearl, do you know how much longer until lunch is ready?"

"It won't be long," Grey Pearl replied, "Just about half an hour more."

Author's Note:

"On Mt. Chongwu, there exists a bird. Its appearance is like a wild duck but with only one wing and one eye. When paired, they fly. Named 'Manman', their appearance signals great floods." ——From "Classic of Mountains and Seas"