The Cloud Ancient Road was one of the oldest official roads in the empire. It led from Lanyan City to Muyu City. There were hundreds of guest houses along the way. It was said that the Cloud Ancient Road was even older than the Qin Empire. It had existed for tens of thousands of years.
…
The night was dark. A man and a woman rode their horses slowly on the ancient road.
Lin Muyu touched the neck of the horse. She couldn't help but feel sorry for it. This old horse was probably about the same age as her. It was dying, but it still had to do such a hard job.
He looked up at the sky and couldn't help but worry. "The clouds are dense. It's either going to snow or rain."
Qin Yin tied her cloak with a ladylike button in front of her chest. She smiled and said, "Brother Yu, since we came out together, shouldn't we give each other a new name?"
"Sure. What should I call you?"
"How about this … we'll use your surname. I'm Lin Yin, and you're Lin Yu. What do you think?"
"Lin Yu?"
Lin Muyu couldn't help but smile. "It sounds like we're going to get wet in the rain. It's a bit ominous …"
As soon as he finished speaking, a drop of rain fell on his nose. He wiped it. It was a little cold. He hurriedly grabbed the reins and said, "It's going to rain. Xiao Yin, let's go quickly. There should be a small town ahead."
"Okay!"
…
It didn't take long for the winter rain to start. Fortunately, there was a dim light on the road ahead. There was a house!
Dismounting from the horse, Lin Muyu picked up a worn-out oil-paper umbrella and opened it with a whoosh, only to find that there were seven or eight holes in it. She couldn't help but smile. Qin Jin really didn't care about his daughter and godson. The umbrella he prepared for them was almost dispensable.
However, he still covered Qin Yin with the umbrella. Qin Yin looked up at him and smiled sweetly. "No need. I'll use the cloak to block the wind and rain …"
"But your cloak is only made of coarse cloth. It can't block the rain at all."
"Oh, that's true …" Qin Yin stuck out her tongue, almost forgetting that she was no longer wearing the exquisite princess cloak.
The two of them led the horse and walked towards the light. After a few minutes, they entered the small town. They could see restaurants and inns in the distance. There were many merchants, cultivators, mercenaries, and travelers on the Ancient Cloud Path. The business in the small town along the way was very good, especially when it was raining and they were in the middle of nowhere.
There were more and more people in the town. Lin Muyu and Qin Yin didn't stand out when they walked in the crowd. After all, the shabby cloaks they wore made them look no different from people who wandered the world.
First, they found a place to eat and rest. Lin Muyu's eyes kept looking at the shops on both sides. Suddenly, her eyes stopped on a huge horizontal board with a line of words written on it. She couldn't help but read it aloud, "The beef cow hates the pot and the iron mountain, wow … there's actually such a domineering poem in this rural area …"
"What poem …" Qin Yin pouted and held his hand. "Why don't you read it upside down?"
Lin Muyu was speechless. She wanted to find a hole to hide in. She pouted and said, "Just write it properly. Why do they have to write it upside down? I really can't see through them …"
Qin Yin held back her laughter. "Brother, where are we going to sleep tonight?"
"How about this iron pot restaurant? Let's eat first and then find a place to sleep."
"No …" Qin Yin's beautiful eyes were like water. She glanced at their clothes and laughed softly. "Do you think our attire and occupation are suitable to eat expensive beef loathe?"
"That's true …"
Lin Muyu pointed to the front and said, "There's a wine shop there. It also provides accommodation. Let's stay there?"
"Yes." Qin Yin smiled and nodded.
…
The tavern was bustling with people, and business was good. There was an umbrella dragon's head hanging on the eaves of the tavern. It looked a little scary, and the name of the tavern was written below it — Umbrella Dragon Tavern. From afar, a waiter greeted them with a smile on his face. "Would you like to have a meal or stay here?"
"Yes, we are." Lin Muyu asked, "How much does it cost to stay here for a night?"
The waiter led the horse over and smiled. "The two of you are husband and wife, right? A first-class husband and wife room is only 10 silver coins a night. "
Lin Muyu was about to agree immediately. He didn't want Qin Yin to suffer too much with him. However, he didn't expect Qin Yin to take off her cloak and reveal a freckled face. She smiled and said, "Waiter, how much is a second-class room for a night?"
"Three silver coins."
"Then give us a second-class room."
"Alright, please come in. I will help you get a room and feed the horse."
"Thank you."
After entering the wine shop, they found that it was indeed a foul atmosphere. There were dozens of tables in the huge wine shop's lobby, and almost all of them were occupied. There were all kinds of people. There were wild mercenaries wielding axes, gentle scholars, and even merchants silently calculating their gains and losses. All of them were busy with their own things.
Lin Muyu held Qin Yin's hand and sat down in a corner of the wine shop. He called out to the waiter and asked, "Xiao Yin, what would you like to eat?"
Qin Yin smiled and said in a natural and unrestrained manner, "Let's eat something simple. After all, we don't have much silver coins left. Waiter, can we have two portions of coarse bread and a bowl of vegetable soup?"
"Alright, please wait for a moment!"
The waiter nodded and bowed before leaving. Not long after, their dinner was served. Even Lin Muyu, who was used to the harsh life in the army, was stunned. The coarse bread was really coarse and as hard as iron. She almost had to use the Dragon Spirit Sword to slice it. As for the vegetable soup, it was already slightly cold. No wonder these two servings of food only cost 10 copper coins.
Qin Yin looked at Lin Muyu and couldn't help but smile. She dipped the coarse bread into the vegetable soup and said, "Brother, it can be bitten like this …"
"Oh, is that so?" Lin Muyu looked at her with a smile.
Qin Yin opened her cherry lips and took a bite of the bread. Suddenly, she was petrified. How could she have known that the bread was so hard? She blushed and put down the bread. "Looks like I'll have to soak it a little longer …"
Lin Muyu laughed heartily.
It wasn't easy to eat something warm in this cold weather. Moreover, they couldn't show off their skills here. Otherwise, it would be easy for others to discover the truth.
After finishing the meal with great difficulty, the waiter of the tavern clapped his hands and said with a smile, "Dear friends of Jianghu and Yun Zhong Ancient Road, next up is the wonderful program that this tavern has prepared for everyone. Our shopkeeper has specially invited a few 'exquisite beauties' from the Western Region. They are good at playing the Huqin. I hope that everyone will do me the honor. Ha … please!"
Amidst the hustle and bustle, five women dressed in thin clothes walked to the simple wooden stage in the center of the hall with huqin in their arms. After bowing gracefully, they began to play and sing some songs that Lin Muyu couldn't understand. Although she couldn't understand them, the melody seemed pretty good. Qin Yin sat there with a smile on her face, enjoying the moment of peace.
After the song, the waiter walked up to the stage again and put his arm around the shoulders of two of the beauties from the Western Region. He smiled and said, "Friends, as you can see, the beauties of our Umbrella Dragon Tavern are both talented and skilled. It's winter now, and the weather is cold. I'm sure all of you don't want to sleep alone. We've all tasted the feeling of being alone. So … you can bring these five beauties back to your room to accompany you to sleep. However, the highest bidder wins … Now, is there anyone willing to bring the beauties on my left?"
A drunk mercenary in the crowd raised his axe high and laughed. "Five, I want all of them. Five Jin Yin coins, deal! Whoever dares to compete with me, I'll chop him in half with my axe! "
The waiter was stunned. He smiled and said, "Sir, the number of beauties in the tavern is limited. You can't take them all! Besides, isn't one Jin Yin coin too cheap? "
"None of your business. I want them!"
The mercenary carried his axe and staggered forward. The waiter's eyes flashed and he suddenly stepped forward. His palm was filled with zhenqi, and he seized the mercenary's vital acupoint on the mercenary's wrist. He pushed the mercenary out of the door and said with a smile, "Sir, you've drunk too much. You'd better rest early!"
The waiter pushed the mercenary away lightly and the mercenary fell into the mud outside with a grunt.
Lin Muyu frowned. She didn't expect there to be such an expert in the tavern. That waiter was at least at the second level of the Earth Realm!
"Everyone, continue to eat and drink. Haha, let's continue to fight for these Western Region beauties!" The waiter nodded and bowed to the crowd with a cheeky smile.
Soon, the five Western Region women were taken away to serve the guests, and the tavern fell into an awkward atmosphere. They probably didn't prepare any other programs.
At this moment, Qin Yin stood up and said to the waiter, "My brother and I are entertainers who travel the martial world … May I ask if we can perform a song for everyone in your tavern?"
The waiter's eyes lit up. Although Qin Yin had put on makeup, the waiter could still see the girl's elegant and refined appearance. He nodded and smiled. "Sure, please, miss."
"Okay, thank you."
Qin Yin tugged at Lin Muyu, a gentle smile in her eyes. She laughed softly and said, "I've said that we'll be performing along the way, you can't be lazy. Xiao Yin, play the zither, I'll practice the sword …"
"Okay …"
Lin Muyu braced himself and walked onto the stage with Qin Yin. He raised his hand and pulled out the rusty iron sword on his back. He cupped his fists and smiled at the crowd. He said loudly, "My sister and I are entertainers in the martial world. We pass by this place, so we will perform a zither dance to thank you. If you think it's good, you can give us some money. If you think it's not good, you can just laugh it off."
Everyone was solemn, and their eyes all fell on Qin Yin beside him. They were all looking at the beautiful girls. Who had time to look at the handsome guy!
…
Qin Yin sat down gracefully and gracefully. Her Royal Highness's temperament and etiquette were not something that ordinary women could possess. She tightened the strings of the seven-stringed guqin and placed it on her thighs. With a light wave of her hand, the first melody was already playing in the tavern. It was melodious and sweet, as if a young girl was expressing her thoughts.
Lin Muyu was a little speechless. He was good at killing people with a sword, but to accompany a sword dance … This was a little difficult for him.
In desperation, he followed the rhythm of the melody and waved his long sword gently. There was nothing else but the routine of the Wind-riding Swordsmanship.
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