The Inn Encounter (2)

//Last Updated on June 22, 2024

***

Mei Lin paused for a time before returning her gaze towards Liu Feng. "And what if I refuse?"

Liu Feng shook his head. "That is entirely up to you, but I hope you will consider my offer. I could use someone like you in my group, and I am convinced by the skills you displayed."

Mei Lin was initially suspicious. She was thankful to the innkeepers for taking her in after her father died, and she didn't want to leave them seeming ungrateful. But the offer of travelling and seeing the rest of the world was appealing to her. "I appreciate the offer," she remarked, "but I have obligations here at the inn."

Liu Feng saw the conflict in her eyes and decided to make her a proposal. "I understand your predicament," he explained, "but consider this. I need a skilled individual to accompany us on our travels, and I will hire someone for that anyway. You're a great candidate for the job and I'm willing to compensate you nicely for your services. If you don't like it after a few days you are free to back out. That's all there is to it."

Mei Lin's eyes widened at the offer, the prospect of leaving the inn and earning a good amount of money was tempting.

"I will think about it," she said, "and let you know tomorrow."

The two of them then began to talk about their travels and the places they had seen. Mei Lin's expertise and sharp wit captivated Liu Feng.

He was likewise taken aback when he discovered she was a well-known hunter in this Mint village. She told him about her mother, who died while giving birth to her, and her father, a hunter who died a few years ago, and how he taught her the fundamentals of draggers and bows when she was very little.

Time flew past, and it was time for Liu Feng to return to his room. He said his goodbyes and left Mei Lin. He agreed to wait until the next day for her response.

***

The night flew by, and Liu Feng awoke late in the morning, feeling refreshed and ready to face the day.

He washed his face, dressed, and made his way down to the inn's dining room. Zhang Yan was waiting for him, and he had no food until now. The aroma of delicious food filled the air, making both of their stomachs growl.

He took a seat at a table and placed an order for a dish of steaming hot congee, a bowl of savoury dumplings, and a pot of freshly brewed tea. Because Zhang Yan had also ordered the same breakfast, it arrived at their table quickly and they began to eat.

Liu Feng and Zhang Yan went to the village market after eating their breakfast. He attained his goal after consulting with Mei Lin. He watched the hustle and bustle of the locals going about their regular activities as he walked.

When he eventually arrived at the market, he started setting up his items. Unfortunately, he quickly discovered that the snake meat he had bought was decaying and that no one was interested in it for the meat. Liu Feng sold the entire thing to a local leatherworker who was interested in obtaining the hide for a decent price. Meanwhile, he realised that the cicada event was still going on and that many locals were unable to leave the village.

The poison sack of the python piqued the interest of the village physician, and the rest of the flesh was purchased cheaply. Guard Li, one of the guards, became interested in a straight sword and purchased it. After a while, several villagers arrived to purchase weapons as well. Liu Feng was not surprised, after all, he had previously learnt of the cicada problem.

Despite the setback with the snake meat, Liu Feng made some solid sales and was satisfied with the day's results. He was well aware that the firm was not his.

He was well aware that money was not his primary objective. He wanted to learn about the culture and blend in as quickly as possible in this foreign world.

As the morning progressed, Liu Feng and his company returned to the inn for lunch. They dined on stir-fried vegetables, rice, and a spicy tofu dish, accompanied by steaming cups of tea. Both of them returned to their rooms, rejuvenated and revitalised.

Despite having the urge to sleep, Liu Feng did not lose time and sat in the lotus position. He focused on his [The Eight Trigram Dao Convergence Scripture] and began cultivating it. There was no progress on any of his techniques but he did not lose hope.

Soon it was afternoon and Liu Feng Checked his progress. Fortunately, there were some changes in his status.

[Cultivation: Qi Condensation Stage 2(3%)]

Feeling content, he left his room to meet Mei Lin. On the previous day, she had promised him that she would give her reply.

Mei Lin finally made her decision and agreed to join Liu Feng on his journey. She was excited about the prospect of travelling and seeing the world outside of the village and the inn. Liu Feng was relieved that he had found someone to accompany him on his journey and paid her 5 gold coins upfront and promised to pay her 3 gold coins every month.

"Here are some extra 5 gold coins as we will be dealing with some pests along the road." Liu Feng gave her some more money. "However, be properly prepared because the travel might well be rough."

She was initially perplexed, but suddenly, as if hit by lightning, she widened her eyes as she realised what he was talking about.

"Are you certain? If you wish, I may ask some villagers for help," Mei Lin said, anxious.

"No, leave it. If something goes wrong, we will simply flee. Isn't that an option??"

"Okay…But, just to be clear, if the situation becomes too tough to manage, I will leave as previously agreed."

Liu Feng was taken aback by this blatant remark, but he agreed to it regardless and planned to depart as soon as possible in the morning.

They sat down after finishing the arrangement to discuss their plans for the next day. They also talked about the difficulties they would experience on their journey and how they would deal with them.

***

Liu Feng woke up early the next day, feeling revitalised and energised from his cultivation practice. He hurriedly dressed and went down to the inn's dining room, where Zhang Yan and Mei Lin awaited him. They all shared a delicious breakfast of steamed buns packed with savoury meats and veggies, bowls of rice porridge, and cups of tea.

After having their breakfast, the trio assembled their belongings and prepared to embark on their journey. Liu Feng had bought a horse the previous day for their carriage. Mei Lin wore a dark hunting outfit and carried a bow and arrow as well as some hidden daggers. She was in control of the driving. As they headed out, Liu Feng and Zhang Yan were both on high alert for any potential hazards along the way.

After several hours of journey, they came across a small swarm of Emerald Cicadas.

Liu Feng's eyes widened as he saw the horde of Emerald Cicadas ahead of him. He had always been disgusted by insects and this sight did not change his feelings. His heart rate increased and he felt sick in his stomach. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He knew he had to remain composed even if it was only for the sake of appearance.

The Emerald Cicadas were a formidable sight. With their bright green exoskeletons and piercing red eyes, they were a force to be reckoned with. The average cicadas were somewhere from 3 to 4 feet in length, with long, spindly legs that allowed them to jump and fly great distances. Their wings were a translucent green that made a distinctive buzzing sound as they flew. They had sharp, pointed jaws that were capable of inflicting serious injury and a potent venom that could cause paralysis and death.

Liu Feng and Zhang Yan sprang into action, using their weapons and combat skills to take down the insects. Meanwhile, Mei Lin used her bow and arrows to support them from a safe distance.

There were only a few cicadas this time, and the duo accomplished the task quickly, thanks to Mei Lin's outstanding assistance.

Soon after, the trio reassembled and organised themselves to take a breather before continuing on their journey.

Liu Feng wanted to see if he could get any lesser dao fragments from them, but he was disappointed because all he got were Dao Points. After amassing a large number of dao points, he requested the assistance of the others in collecting the dead insects, hoping to sell them in Gale City.

The trio resumed their journey after gathering some decent harvest in good condition.