Chapter 704: Reflected Exterior, Invisible Killing! (Part 2)

“Do not relax your vigilance. Divide into two groups, one group will follow Mr. Liu into the inn, and the other will stay to guard the goods. Everyone will take turns to rest and keep watch.”

“Yes!”

The remaining Darts Masters nodded one after another. The Darts Masters left to guard the goods couldn’t help but feel envious of Lin, the Escort Leader, and his men as they stepped into the inn. Some were grumbling inwardly that the Escort Leader was being overly cautious.

They had already entered the borders of Sanshan County, and this place wasn’t far from the official road station. What bandits would dare to rob here unless they were reckless? Furthermore, they had visited this inn more than a dozen times before and were quite familiar with it, with no prior incidents.

“Welcome, dear guests, please come inside!”

“Today, we have marinated meat, fine roast duck…”

“Serve what you think is best, just bring the good wine and dishes.”

The inn’s waiter, with a plain cloth draped over his shoulder, enthusiastically welcomed them, but the Darts Masters waved him off, eagerly interrupting him and telling him to just serve the food.

“Alright!”

The group quickly stepped into the inn. Mr. Liu, accompanied by a Darts Master, went to the guest room on the second floor, while the others sat on the first floor. The inn wasn’t empty, with six or seven tables occupied, each with three to five patrons.

Judging by their appearances, there were itinerant merchants, scholars in Confucian robes, and colleagues with long sabers at their waist in Darts Master’s attire.

“Keep a low profile, don’t cause trouble.”

Lin, the Escort Leader, led his group to sit at two tables in the corner. As they waited for the food, another person entered from outside. The waiter’s eyes froze momentarily and furrowed his brows, then smiled and greeted him.

“Guest, are you alone?”

“Yes, I’m alone.”

“Please, have a seat.”

The waiter led the newcomer to another corner, and at that moment, Lin, the Escort Leader, furrowed his brows.

“Something’s not right…”

Lin’s gaze briefly paused on the handsome, straw-clad young man. His steps were light, and there was no Qi Blood fluctuation — just an ordinary man.

But something was off when this person appeared. Lin sensed the waiter’s expression was unusual, intentionally or unintentionally exchanging glances with a few patrons drinking and eating on the first floor.

Feeling wary, Lin immediately sensed that the surrounding patrons were all covertly watching them, which made him smell a whiff of danger.

“You two, go to the second floor immediately.”

Lin, the Escort Leader, whispered in a low voice to the two nearest him. Although they were puzzled, they complied and quickly went to the second floor to find Mr. Liu.

Seeing the two successfully reach the second floor, Lin suddenly stood up. He took out a silver note from his sleeve and glanced around.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am Lin Fu, the Escort Leader of Feng’s Escort Agency. If any of the friends on the road have any advice, please feel free to share so we can avoid unpleasantness. Consider this money as an invitation for you all to drink.”

Lin slapped a twenty-tael silver note on the table while lifting his teacup.

The once-bustling inn instantly fell silent, an eerie calmness indicating the imminent violence.

Noticing the shift in atmosphere, the remaining Darts Masters from Feng’s Escort Agency silently placed their hands on the hilts of their swords at their waists.

“As expected from Feng’s Escort Agency, I’ve heard of Lin’s famous name. But today, this bit of money won’t settle my brothers. If you cooperate obediently, you might suffer less.”

At a guest table, a thin man in hemp clothing gulped down a cup of wine and said in a deep voice, “I am Black Wolf Saber Qiu Changyun. We only seek money, not lives. Leave the goods behind, and I’ll let you go!”

With those words, the thin man remained seated, while nearly thirty patrons on the first floor stood up, drawing concealed blades from under the tables, their cold eyes fixed on Lin as the leader of Feng’s Darts Masters.

Black Wolf Saber, Qiu Changyun?

Lin Fu racked his brains but had no recollection. He frowned slightly, guessing that these must be vagrant bandits who did a job and then moved to another area.

Although he hadn’t heard of Qiu Changyun, to be able to gather over thirty Martial Artists under him, this person wasn’t to be underestimated.

“Ah—!”

Suddenly, two screams echoed from upstairs, and two figures flew backward, crashing through the wooden railing and plummeting down from the second floor.

Upon closer inspection, who else could they be but the two Lin had sent earlier?!

They weren’t dead, but had bloody knife wounds on their front and back, clearly ambushed suddenly. At the broken railing on the second floor, two knife-wielding men emerged flanking the pale-faced merchant, Mr. Liu.

“Lin, save, save me… I’ll give your Escort Agency double, no, triple the reward afterward!”

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!

The two’s deaths and Mr. Liu’s hostage situation instantly ignited the scene, with both sides rapidly drawing their blades, the cold gleam reflecting their tense faces.

With swords drawn, tensions ran high, a battle seemed inevitable.

But just then, everyone’s attention subconsciously turned towards a certain figure in the center; the straw-clad young man had unknowingly entered the kitchen, now emerging with several jugs of wine and dishes wrapped in oil paper.

“This silver should be enough, I’m leaving.”

Su Mu saw the tense standoff in the inn and knew a bloody battle was about to erupt. He didn’t want to stay, leaving a silver ingot as meal payment, ready to depart.

“Stop, boy!”

After a brief silence, a bandit dressed as a woodcutter stepped in front of him, angrily drawing his blade, clearly not intending to let Su Mu leave.

Su Mu paid no attention, continuing his steps without pausing.

“Damn it, I told you to stop, are you deaf?!”