Chapter 109: Dong Yi

That night.

In Jinyang City.

An old, dilapidated carriage moved slowly along the streets of Jinyang City.

Driving the carriage was an old driver dressed in plain clothes.

Inside the carriage sat a young man dressed in black.

The young man had his hands tucked into his sleeves, his thin face looking at the streets on both sides, wondering what he was thinking.

"Master, ahead is the East Market Inn," the old driver reminded him.

The young man on the carriage came back to his senses, looked at the inn in the distance, and waved to stop the carriage.

"Stop the carriage further away; I'll find my own way back later."

After saying this, the young man in black got off the carriage.

Perhaps because of the cold weather, the young man tightened his black robe and walked slowly toward the inn.

The inn's main door was open, and there were guests drinking in the hall.

The young man paused at the door, scanned the hall, and then stepped inside.

"Guest, are you staying or eating?" the waiter asked, greeting the young man with a smile.

The young man looked around and shook his head: "Looking for someone."

"May I ask, did a group of people arrive today, quite a large group, about twenty people?" the young man asked.

The waiter nodded immediately: "There was such a wealthy group of guests."

"Hmm, that's right; go tell the leader, the one surnamed Duan, that someone is here to visit and wishes to have a word."

"I'll wait for him downstairs."

"Bring me a pot of wine."

As the young man said this, he looked toward a window seat in the hall.

"Alright, guest, please wait a moment; I'll go pass the message and bring your wine first," the waiter said, turning around nimbly.

The young man sat down at the empty window seat.

Before long, the wine was brought out.

And the waiter ran upstairs to pass the message.

In a room at the very back of the second floor of the inn.

Duan Yu was shirtless, waving a straight saber in his hand.

Knock, knock, knock~

A knock came from outside the door; Duan Yu stopped his movements, looked back, and frowned: "Who is it?"

"Guest, I'm the waiter from the inn; a young man in black came downstairs just now, saying he's looking for you and hopes to see you."

In the guest room, Duan Yu put down the straight saber and picked up his clothes to put them on.

A young man in black?

In this Jinyang City, besides Dong Yi, he had no other acquaintances.

Especially a young man—let alone knowing one.

So who could it be?

Was it someone sent by Dong Yi?

Or...

Duan Yu frowned, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Why had so many strange things been happening lately?

After putting on his clothes, Duan Yu pushed open the door.

The waiter's voice also caught the attention of Tie Shitou and Wang Hunu, who were staying next door.

The two pushed open their doors and looked at Duan Yu.

"Big Brother Duan," Tie Shitou called out.

Duan Yu waved his hand: "It's nothing; you two get some rest early. We have to gather outside the city tomorrow morning and enter the mountains, so get some good rest."

"I'll go see who it is."

With that, Duan Yu pointed toward the corridor to the inn waiter: "Let's go."

First floor of the inn.

Half of the pot of wine in front of the young man was already gone.

There were no side dishes, no drinking companion, and the young man just drank cup after cup.

Soon, his pale complexion became much more flushed.

"Who are you?"

Duan Yu stood beside the dining table.

His tall figure blocked the candlelight, casting a shadow over the young man.

The young man raised his pale face, his long, narrow eyes looking at Duan Yu, his first reaction being surprise.

Duan Yu looked at the young man's surprised eyes and confirmed that they were meeting for the first time.

"Duan Yu?" the young man asked.

Duan Yu nodded and sat down generously in front of the young man.

"That is I."

"You came to visit late at night, drinking alone without even side dishes—that seems a bit shabby, doesn't it?"

Duan Yu turned to the waiter and said: "Bring another pot of good wine, and slice some mutton, and make two small side dishes."

The young man looked at Duan Yu and said: "My salary is meager, only enough for cloudy wine to support my family; it is a bit shabby."

"My treat," Duan Yu replied with a smile.

After the waiter brought the wine, Duan Yu poured a cup for himself first, then poured one for the young man in front of him.

"We should be meeting for the first time."

"But you were able to find my place and call my name; you must have heard of me."

The young man clinked glasses with Duan Yu and then introduced himself.

"Let me introduce myself; I am Jia Xu, courtesy name Wenhe."

"Young Master Duan naturally wouldn't have heard of the name of a small person like me."

"But I have heard of Young Master Duan's great name like thunder."

"Coming to visit rashly today, I do indeed have something to discuss."

Hiss!

As soon as Jia Xu finished speaking, Duan Yu practically gasped.