The young man let out a sigh and stared at Yan Jiaojiao, saying, "You're being unreasonable. We're only able to keep rooms vacant because we have a strong backing and the rooms are specifically reserved, not just randomly left empty. Do you understand? What are you talking about, making up ghost stories?"
After speaking, the young man turned to the onlookers and explained, "I'm personally refuting this rumor. My inn is clean and free of any strange hauntings. Everyone can rest assured!"
The others were skeptical. After all, in a city as crowded as Mancheng, many people couldn't even find a place to stay and slept under the trees. It seemed strange that this inn had so many vacant rooms.
The young man clearly noticed their questioning glances. He closed his eyes as if making a decision and said, "Alright, alright, I'll tell you then. It's because my inn has a rule."
"What rule?"
"Our inn does not accept male guests."
The crowd: "??"
It was unclear who started it, but everyone's gaze slithered down towards the young man's crotch.
The young man hadn't expected such a wild reaction. He immediately covered himself and clasped his legs together, exclaiming, "Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing! Is this a group lewd act! We don't accept male guests not because our inn is full of women, but because we have a powerful figure residing here who dislikes men, especially those who come from the fissure."
The crowd frowned upon hearing this.
"Seriously, what kind of ridiculous rule is that? I've never heard of anything like it."
Initially, they were only mildly curious about the inn, but now their curiosity had piqued significantly.
However, Yan Jiaojiao, who had been invited to stay, remained calm and composed.
She simply waved her hand, "No, no, don't block my way. I have business to attend to."
"Hey, what business do you have? I've revealed all my inn's secrets to you, and you still won't stay? Isn't that going too far?"
Yan Jiaojiao rolled her eyes, "What do you mean, 'forced lodging'? I told you I have business, can't you understand that I'm not staying at your inn?"
She then rubbed her wrist, looking ready to fight.
The young man was surprised by Yan Jiaojiao's fierce demeanor and her immediate readiness to fight. He took a step back, establishing a safe distance, and said, "I just want to make money, you see. My inn's room rates are several times higher than others, and we have many rules, which is why we have few guests."
Yan Jiaojiao heard this and immediately decided to slip away.
Damn it, she had to resort to a scheme because she was low on spirit stones, and this guy wanted to swindle her out of the spirit stones she had worked hard for and sacrificed Xiao Hei's "dog life" to obtain?
He could dream on!
Yan Jiaojiao ran as fast as her legs could carry her. The young man was clearly not very skilled in cultivation. He tried to chase at first but fell behind from the start and couldn't catch up.
He sighed helplessly, "Oh well, I'll just go back and tell those mercenaries that no one can share a courtyard with them."
The onlookers were astonished, "Your inn has mercenaries staying? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Mercenary groups were a highly respected organization on the Boundless Continent.
These groups were composed of various experts who made a living by taking on and completing missions.
Initially, they were called "squads."
As their numbers grew and they reached a certain scale, they would be referred to as "mercenary groups."
Mercenary groups operated in dangerous areas because danger was accompanied by opportunity.
"Sigh, which mercenary group is staying at your inn?"
By the reputation and scale of a mercenary group, one could infer the level of danger in a place. This was a criterion used by lone adventurers to determine if a place was worth staying in.
Although more experts meant a more dangerous place, fortune favored the bold. If they dared to venture into the fissure for opportunities, why would they fear a little danger? It would be better not to come at all!
"It's the Death Like Wind Mercenary Group."
"Death Like Wind?"
Everyone was shocked.
"Are you talking about that Death Like Wind that almost disbanded a few years ago? That can't be right. Didn't this mercenary group disappear from public view? How has it reappeared now? Wasn't their leader killed while fighting the First Mercenary Group for a treasure? Without a leader, how do they still gather? Who do they listen to?"
As the crowd babbled, the young man didn't know how to answer. Just as he was about to say he didn't know, a whirlwind suddenly blew past. Everyone looked closely and saw Yan Jiaojiao, who had just tried to escape, rushing back.
"Hey, you just said the Death Like Wind Mercenary Group is staying at your inn?"
The young man blinked, looking confused, and asked, "Guest, are you a fan of the Death Like Wind Mercenary Group?"
Fan?
She wished she could twist those people into iron wire and snap them!
"Take me there."
Surprise and joy flashed in the young man's eyes, "So you are willing to stay at our inn now?"
"Yes."
Since it was the mercenary group who would be paying, Yan Jiaojiao no longer felt the pinch.
That's right.
Yan Jiaojiao had actually come to Mancheng specifically looking for the Death Like Wind Mercenary Group.
She had initially thought she would have to search for a while longer to find this mercenary group, but unexpectedly, what she sought everywhere had been found without any effort.
She hadn't even started looking, and these people had delivered themselves to her doorstep.
Yan Jiaojiao hadn't known the identities of the people who took Rong'er and Dongfang Xu until she saw the hastily scribbled words "Death Like Wind" among the items Dongfang Xu had left behind.
Yan Jiaojiao had inquired extensively and finally learned that a mercenary group called Death Like Wind had arrived in Mancheng.
Coincidentally, the other party had also contacted Yan Jiaojiao telepathically, stating that the meeting location was Mancheng.
To avoid attracting attention, Yan Jiaojiao had initially infiltrated Mancheng discreetly.
Now that she had found them, Yan Jiaojiao was no longer inclined to hide. Let them use whatever tricks they had.
After all, based on Yan Jiaojiao's prior investigations, the members of the Death Like Wind Mercenary Group were all people with stories. She just didn't know why they were looking for her.
...
Meanwhile, inside the Yue Lai Inn, the few remaining members of the Death Like Wind Mercenary Group sat at a table, their expressions grave.
"Will she come?"
A female member asked with some concern.
The others shook their heads, "It's hard to say. Although we know these two people are very important to Yan Jiaojiao, it's not to the extent that she would risk her life. It's truly uncertain whether she will come."