Chapter 97: Strange Inn (5000 words)

Night is black, wind rises, moonlight turns cold.

The thick, inseparable night, like a hand representing death, holding the pen of the Book of Life and Death, painted everything hazy like ink, so the heavy night formed a picture of death.

A piece of gray-black.

Only the bright red blood dripping from the wound on the neck of the wanted criminal nailed to the wall became the most shocking color in this gray-black world.

Until, amidst the echoing slow footsteps, a gray figure slowly walked into the scroll, replacing the dazzling blood, and became the coldest chill outside the Ban Quanlu inn.

This chill seemed to make the dripping blood freeze for an instant, and it made the old man at the inn entrance shrink his eyes tightly, looking at the figure walking over.

A head of black hair draped over his shoulders, a slender figure carrying tallness, and an indifferent gaze matched with a distinct-angled face, as if it were a blade slowly unsheathing.

It was Xu Qing.

His expression was calm. Under the gaze of the old man on Ban Quanlu, he walked step by step to the corpse, took off the other party's leather bag, pulled out the dagger expressionlessly, slashed slightly, the head flew up and was held by him, and when the corpse fell, he kicked it slightly with his right foot.

Instantly, this corpse fell directly at the old man's feet.

The old man's expression was gloomy, but there was wind behind him, and the large snake's head spread out whistling. Upon seeing Xu Qing, there was clearly light in its eyes.

"Gurgle, gurgle."

"Treating you." Xu Qing looked at the large snake and spoke lightly.

The large snake was very happy and swallowed it in one bite, nodding at Xu Qing.

"Xu Qing, don't go too far!" The old man on Ban Quanlu stared at Xu Qing and spoke coldly.

Xu Qing also looked at the old man, but his right hand swung violently. Instantly, the dagger in his hand shot out toward the distance, breaking the wind and emitting a whistling, sharp sound, replacing the screams, and nailing into the brow of another wanted criminal who was galloping toward here.

The huge force caused this person's skull to shatter, and red and white splashed at the same time. His body was also rolled back two zhang by this impact, and with a 'Bang', he fell heavily to the ground.

This scene made the old man's brow jump. He felt that this Xu Qing in front of him seemed even more formidable than when he was on Sea Lizard Island, and his heart was suddenly worried.

"What exactly do you want to do!" The old man glared at Xu Qing, veins bulging on his face, and a dangerous feeling emerged on his body, and ropes appeared out of thin air all around, hanging down.

But the moment they appeared, a hot force erupted on Xu Qing's body, forming high temperature and sweeping toward the surroundings. Instantly, those ropes bent one after another, not daring to approach.

Just at this moment, a scream suddenly came from not far away.

That was the third wanted criminal who came here. Just by approaching this place, he turned blue-black all over, spat out black blood, and died of poison.

Xu Qing didn't bother with the dead wanted criminal. At this moment, looking at the old man's neck, he weighed whether he could kill him, and his aura gradually became colder.

The old man stared at Xu Qing, feeling depressed in his heart. He naturally knew the purpose of the other party coming here, but sending out thousands of spirit stones made his heart ache, so he had planned to use the reason that he gave the bag as an excuse to waive the spirit stones when he asked earlier.

But Xu Qing didn't say a word, which made the old man understand that his opening his mouth was useless, especially since the aura on the other party at this moment already had killing intent, which made the old man's heart skip a beat, and a life-and-death crisis surged strongly.

"Xu Qing, don't be impulsive, I have a trump card!

The trump card is this inn. It only looks like an inn, but it is actually a strange entity. It is currently sleeping, but once it wakes up, the First Peak of the Seven Blood Eyes will immediately come to suppress it, and you will be finished too!

"

The old man spoke extremely fast. As he finished speaking, the entire inn shook violently, and a terrifying fluctuation radiated from every table, chair, and all the bricks and tiles of the inn, as if at this moment the inn had become a strange entity and was about to wake up.

Xu Qing's eyes shrank, and the sense of crisis was incomparably strong at this moment. He retreated several steps instantly.

As for the large snake, it had been watching curiously from afar from beginning to end, helping no one, seemingly thinking that the two couldn't fight and there wouldn't be a life-and-death crisis. It noticed the change in the inn, but its expression seemed to show some closeness, and its head rubbed on the ground, as if greeting the inn.

However, after noticing Xu Qing looking at itself, it hurriedly emitted 'Gurgle, gurgle' sounds and nodded constantly, as if reminding Xu Qing that what the old man said was true.

"Xu Qing, I am not a human, and this inn is not a simple inn. It is a kind of strange entity, and my clan has an ability that can make strange entities sleep."

"So I brought the sleeping it to the Seven Blood Eyes many years ago, preparing to sell it to the First Peak, but the First Peak didn't give me money immediately, letting me guard this strange entity for them for ten years before paying. There was no way, they promised too much, so I agreed, but I am also poor, I also need to cultivate."

"Also, Huang Yan and I are good friends, I saved Zhang San's life, and the captain of the Sixth Team and I are life-and-death friends. Xu Qing, don't be impulsive, we can also become good friends. The wanted criminal clues I gave you before were true, I didn't mean to harm you."

Xu Qing's expression was gloomy, looking at the old man who was explaining quickly, and then looking at the inn. In the night, this inn seemed to have turned into a ghastly big mouth in his eyes, which could swallow everything.

He knew that this old man was not simple, and must have life-saving means, so he hadn't attacked from beginning to end, but he hadn't expected that his trump card was the inn itself!

And the other party's words, about selling to the First Peak, Xu Qing didn't believe.

But the feeling radiated by the inn was very real. For this, risking a kill, Xu Qing felt it was not worth it.

His personality was vigilant. At this moment, he decided not to attack anymore, preparing to observe this place for a period of time, so he glanced at the old man, suppressed his killing intent, and spoke lightly.

"Give me the spirit stones!"

Sensing Xu Qing's killing intent disappear, the old man hurriedly took out three spirit tickets from his bosom, totaling three thousand, and threw them. These three spirit tickets headed straight for Xu Qing and were checked by Xu Qing after being caught. Afterward, he cut off the head of the wanted criminal's corpse, held it in his hand, and without any hesitation, turned and left.

From beginning to end, he only said two sentences.

At this moment, looking at Xu Qing's departing figure, the large snake hurriedly poked its head out and called out 'Gurgle, gurgle', the sound seeming to carry some joy.

Xu Qing didn't look back and walked away slowly.

"Stop calling, you white-eyed snake, our spirit stones are gone. Not only do you not feel heartache, but you also side with him. He really wanted to kill me just now, this inn almost woke up!" The old man was indignant and hurriedly took out a detoxification pill to eat.

"Gurgle!"

"You actually said I deserved it..." The old man heard this, became even more indignant, flicked his sleeve, sat there, and smoked the pipe fiercely, while his heart was still shocked by the killing intent he felt for that instant.

"The malevolent Qi on this brat is even heavier. I don't know how Sea Lizard Island is, I have to go and inquire!"

In the night, Xu Qing moved forward silently, his mind floating with the scene of the inn earlier. The strangeness of this world made him unable to determine whether the other party was telling the truth, but the dangerous feeling radiated by the inn was very real.

So after walking a long way, Xu Qing looked back at Ban Quanlu in the distance, and after a long while, withdrew his gaze, completely suppressing his killing intent.

Because the magic boat hadn't finished its promotion, Xu Qing decided to go to the Arresting Division, on one hand to cancel his leave, and on the other hand, he planned to stay for a night. And in the Arresting Division, Xu Qing saw the captain who had just finished his busy work and was about to leave.

The captain was eating an apple while walking out. Seeing Xu Qing and the three heads in his hand, he narrowed his eyes and smiled, throwing over an apple.

"So diligent, just came back and went to catch people. Is the harvest not much this time going out?"

Xu Qing caught it, then took out a spirit ticket of 100 spirit stones and handed it over.

"The harvest is okay."

"I heard that there is an island near the West Coral Islands where many people died. You didn't go there, did you?" The captain ate the apple, smiled, and asked with interest, looking like he was playing mystery.

Xu Qing looked at the captain and shook his head.

The captain ate the apple, smiled, didn't continue this topic, but spoke in a low voice, making a mystery.

"Let me tell you a earth-shattering big event. After you left, there was a big case here, which caused heated discussions among many disciples in the city. It was too miserable, really miserable."

The captain said this and looked at Xu Qing, as if waiting for Xu Qing to ask.

Xu Qing also looked at the captain and didn't speak.

After a long while, the captain sighed.

"Xu Qing, when others talk to you in this tone, you should express some curiosity, so that others won't feel awkward and can continue to speak. This is politeness."

Xu Qing was thoughtful, and curiosity appeared on his face.

Only then was the captain comfortable. After looking around, he said in a low voice.

"The captain of the Third Team of the Earth Department, that fish, was killed."

"The Arresting Division has to investigate this matter. However, it's an alien, so it's just a formality. But the other party still has protectors, especially his two sisters, who are searching for the murderer like crazy..."

"This world is too chaotic. How could a good ally's young master die just like that? This is a big deal, right? I won't say more, Junior Brother Xu, I'm going to patrol the night."

Saying this, the captain stood up, patted his clothes, jumped off the stone chair, and walked out. But when he passed by Xu Qing, he spoke lightly.

"The Mermaid race and the Seven Blood Eyes are allies, so they are allowed to search. I heard... the Mermaid race has a technique that can allow the two sisters to sense the murderer's trail. They have been searching for more than a month, checking everyone who had dealings with that fish. They should have found it by now..."

"Everyone is watching. This matter is very interesting." The captain looked at Xu Qing with a smile that wasn't a smile, didn't say more, and left the Arresting Division.

Xu Qing stood in place, pondering for a while.

After a long while, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he turned to hand over the heads of the three wanted criminals, exchanged for rewards, and meditated in the Arresting Division for a night.

The next morning, Xu Qing left the Arresting Division and walked on the street as usual. When passing by a candied hawthorn stall, he bought a skewer and ate a few bites, then walked into an alley and stopped his footsteps.

Soon, a woman walked quickly behind him and knelt down behind Xu Qing.

"Master."

This woman had a graceful figure and looked very seductive. It was his informant from back then. Later, Xu Qing didn't need any clues, so he didn't summon her.

"Any big events recently?" Xu Qing turned around, looked calmly at the woman in front of him, and asked while eating the candied hawthorn.

Looking at Xu Qing's candied hawthorn, the woman's heart trembled, but soon fanaticism returned to her eyes.

"Recently, everyone has been discussing two things the most. One is that the Seventh Peak disciple competition every thirty years is approaching. Every Seventh Peak competition will be a bloody storm. It is said that the location chosen last time was the Mermaid race, and their clan island flowed with blood, later becoming an ally of the Seven Blood Eyes."

"The second thing is also related to the Mermaid race. Their clan young master died, and his two sisters have been searching in the port for more than a month..."

Many messages in the port were often understood by people of the three religions and nine streams. After becoming Xu Qing's informant, the woman clearly had a focus on investigating news, so the words she said now made Xu Qing very satisfied. He thought for a while and asked.

"Anything else?"

The informant pondered for a while and said again.

"Nothing big. By the way, some time ago, a small sect migrated out of the range of the Seven Blood Eyes. This kind of thing is rare. It seems to be called Jin something sect."

"Jin Gang Sect?" Xu Qing's eyes condensed, and he spoke slowly.

"Right, it is this Jin Gang Sect." The informant nodded.

Xu Qing pondered. After a moment, he gave the other party five spirit stones, turned, and left.

Five spirit stones were already a heavy sum for the woman. Her breathing was rapid, and when she looked at Xu Qing's back, she was even more fanatical.

After leaving the alley, Xu Qing walked on the street, his mind pondering the migration of the Jin Gang Sect.

"Left?" Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, and thought of the Mermaid race matter again. From the captain and his informant, he verified the authenticity of this matter. At this moment, killing intent slowly emerged in his heart.

"These two things are hidden dangers."

Xu Qing whispered in his heart, but his expression didn't reveal any killing intent. He calmly finished a day of duty, and during the period, he even went to the Sea Records Hall to report the matter of the Giant Dragon Chariot.

According to the rules of the Sea Records Hall, after unrecorded information is reported and confirmed to be true, there will be rewards, but confirmation takes time, so Xu Qing left after reporting and arrived at Zhang San's Transportation Division at dusk.

There, he saw Zhang San, who was exhausted but contained madness.

"Junior Brother Xu, this time your magic boat is the most satisfying work I, Zhang San, have ever had!" Zhang San took Xu Qing to the warehouse and pushed the door open violently.

With the opening of the big door, an astonishing magic boat was reflected in Xu Qing's eyes.

The hundred-zhang ship body was filled with sea lizard skin. As the black light flowed, an aura of the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation rushed toward him, and the degree of its protection was visible to the naked eye.

The original structure remained unchanged, but two massive, curved horns had been added, extending from both sides of the hull. While extremely ferocious, the sharp intent radiating from them was enough to make even Xu Qing's pupils shrink after he felt it.

Even more astonishing were the eight sails, which were now more than twice their original size. Their structure had also changed, and they were pitch black, resembling the wings of a fierce beast.

Not only that, but the interior of the hull was plastered with Foundation Establishment sea lizard skin. This made the magic boat far sturdier than it appeared on the outside, creating a deceptive quality that could determine life or death at a critical moment.

"As for the divinity, I have already extracted it for you and fused it into the eight sails of your magic boat. Once activated, your boat will possess the power to fly and dive into the sea."

"Most importantly, I have connected the divinity to your entire hull. With its vitality, your magic boat now possesses a certain degree of self-healing capability. This is extremely precious among all the magic boat attributes in the entire Seven Blood Eyes!"

"Additionally, this divinity can be unleashed to form a heaven-shaking strike. Its power is immense; whether a Foundation Establishment cultivator can withstand it is hard to say, but in all likelihood, even if they do, they will be severely injured. However, I don't recommend you do this—it's too wasteful. After a few times, the divinity will be completely exhausted, and once the divinity is gone, your boat's performance will also drop significantly."

"You could say that although your boat hasn't ascended to the level of a Foundation Establishment boat, it is in no way inferior to an ordinary one. You only need to insert a Foundation Establishment core, and it will be a true Foundation Establishment boat, and an extraordinary one at that!"

"Therefore, don't easily insert just any Foundation Establishment core. If you're going to insert one, use the heart of the best fierce beast. If you could get the heart of a divine creature... then your magic boat would be no different from a Foundation Establishment divine creature!"

"But I know your personality doesn't like to be flashy, so I've set up a concealment for you. It can make your boat look the same as before, and when you need it, you can change it back to its current appearance at any time!" Zhang San looked at the magic boat with fanaticism as he introduced it to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing also gasped, looking at the behemoth before him, his mind filled with shock.

After a long while, when he left the Transportation Department and returned to the 79th Port, Xu Qing's mood was still surging.

And at this moment, within the main city of the Seven Blood Eyes, five figures—two in front, three behind—were speeding through the night.

The three in the back appeared to be attendants, while the two in front were women. Their eyes held sharp glints; these two were the elder sisters of the mermaid youth, and also the mistresses of the Third Senior Brother.

The younger sister's expression was filled with intense murderous intent, while the elder sister's eyes held a strange look. Their needs were different, but their goal was the same.

"We have been searching for over a month, checking everyone who had friction with our younger brother, and ruling them out one by one. Only this person hasn't been investigated because he went out to sea!"

"No matter. As long as we get a close look, we can use our bloodline to detect if this child is the murderer!"

"If it really is this child, I will surely skin him alive, make him suffer in this world, swallow his flesh daily, and after he dies a miserable death, I will extract his soul and place it in a mermaid lamp to burn for the rest of his life!" The younger sister gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with intense resentment.

At this moment, the night wind rose, as if an Asura were coming to claim lives!

Two chapters today, nearly 9,000 words~

To gain your love, this little Mengxin is giving it his all while typing~