No Fighting Allowed in the Inn

◎ Fengzhou Plans, Antidote, Clues About the Sword ◎

After listening to Xiao Ke's live update, Lu Jianwei felt quite pleased—her staff had grown capable of handling things independently.

"How is Uncle Zhang?"

"Don’t worry, he just exhausted himself during his breakthrough. With Doctor Yuan here, he’ll be fine. He might even have a pleasant surprise when he wakes up."

"That’s good." Lu Jianwei leaned back. "What about Fengzhou?"

Xiao Ke replied proudly, "They couldn’t find anything at all."

The Fengzhou inn was now just an empty building with nothing inside. Everything related to the "master’s sect" had been stored away in the system. There was no way outsiders could uncover anything.

"Xiao Ke, you’re amazing," Lu Jianwei praised with a smile.

"Just doing my best," Xiao Ke said modestly before asking, "Jianwei, are you really not planning to hire another staff member?"

"What, you want the ‘Number One Beauty’ to work at the inn?"

Xiao Ke: "She made a fair point—the inn is understaffed. Once we return to Fengzhou, we’ll need even more workers. And she’d definitely work for free. Are you sure you don’t want to take her in?"

Lu Jianwei raised an eyebrow. "Is it really about her not needing pay, or is there something else?"

"Well… that’s just a small part of it."

"Let me guess—you’re interested in her unique physique. Once she joins, countless young talents will flock to the inn, vying for her attention. They’ll inevitably start fights over her, and you can fine them all. Am I right?"

"..."

Lu Jianwei: "I knew it."

"Is that so wrong? I haven’t made much profit in a while."

After reaching Level 8, Lu Jianwei rarely used the inn’s special tools anymore. Most of the earnings went straight into her personal account, leaving Xiao Ke feeling rather deprived.

"Didn’t we just use some tools in Jiangzhou?"

"Those were assassins. No one’s going to bail them out, and they only had a few coins on them. I actually lost money on that deal."

"Fair point." After a moment of thought, Lu Jianwei asked, "Have you considered expanding into other businesses?"

"What kind of business?" Xiao Ke eyed her suspiciously. "Are you trying to trick me again?"

Lu Jianwei: "I’m just trying to help. If you’re going to doubt me, then forget it."

"...Sorry, I shouldn’t have doubted you. Go ahead."

"Since we’ve been together for so long, I’ll forgive you this time." Lu Jianwei waved it off magnanimously. "It’s almost been a year—the Fengzhou inn renovations should be almost done, right?"

On the system map, what was once a barren wasteland had transformed into a vibrant landscape. Lush greenery now dotted the 8,000-acre land, with buildings arranged in an orderly Bagua formation.

Xiao Ke was puzzled. "They should be. Why?"

"Our inn has already made a name for itself in the martial world. It’s time to return to our headquarters and take a break." She pretended to rub her legs. "All this traveling over the past year has worn me out."

"But you still haven’t told me how I can make money," Xiao Ke pressed.

Lu Jianwei: "If I provide a viable idea, shouldn’t I get a cut?"

Xiao Ke: "...What split are you thinking?"

"I won’t take advantage of you—after all, the system needs energy to function." She smiled. "You take 80%, I take 20%. Fair?"

Xiao Ke: "Tell me the idea first."

"Promise me first."

"Fine. If it works, we’ll do it your way."

Satisfied, Lu Jianwei continued, "The 8,000 acres I bought—they’re technically part of the inn’s domain now, right?"

"Technically, yes."

"But I paid for that land myself. The construction was overseen by Boss Xue, and I funded everything out of my own pocket."

"Where are you going with this?"

"If the land is part of the inn, then we can bind inn tools to it. But since it’s also my private property, shouldn’t I get a share of the profits from those tools?"

Xiao Ke was stunned. "You just said 80-20!"

"Right—20% for the idea, and the remaining 80% split evenly between us. What’s the problem?"

Xiao Ke fumed. "You might as well just say 60-40!"

"I just wanted to explain the reasoning." Lu Jianwei shrugged. "But if you’re not interested in making money, forget I mentioned it."

After a pause, Xiao Ke relented. "Fine, let’s hear it."

"With the main inn at the center, the 8,000 acres—aside from the flower groves and farmland—are lined with buildings, each serving a different purpose."

"What purpose? We run an inn," Xiao Ke said warily.

"And we still are." Lu Jianwei remained firm. "Modern luxury hotels offer all kinds of services. We should keep up with the times while adapting to local customs. Do you think martial artists only need food and lodging?"

"So you’re still set on a themed inn."

"Just tell me—yes or no?"

"..."

"Xiao Ke, don’t get hung up on appearances. Look at the bigger picture."

"What bigger picture?"

"You bound me to this world to reform the martial world’s culture and establish new rules, didn’t you?"

"Exactly."

"Then as long as we achieve that goal, why does the method matter?"

"...That’s not wrong."

"There’s something I’ve always wondered," Lu Jianwei mused. "There are many ways to change the martial world’s rules. Why did it have to be an inn?"

A martial arts growth system or a sect-building system would’ve worked too.

Xiao Ke: "Because you empathized with an innkeeper in your past life."

"That’s it?"

"Also, many martial conflicts happen in inns. Running one lets us interact with more martial artists and disputes."

Lu Jianwei: "But at this point, the Eight Directions Inn is practically its own faction."

"That’s fine. Compared to individuals or sects, an inn is more neutral and offers more possibilities."

Lu Jianwei grinned. "See? You said it yourself. Why limit how we run the inn?"

"..."

"Back to the main point—the martial world is steeped in bloodshed, all driven by profit. Even with the Mystic Mirror Bureau, it’s a drop in the bucket. To change the rules, we need real influence."

"You’re right."

"But I should remind you—even in the modern world with strict laws, darkness exists everywhere. We can’t truly eradicate it." She gave a fair warning.

Xiao Ke understood. "But cases like the treasure map scheme, the Dongliu City Zhou family incident, and Lin Congyue’s case prove that martial artists lack a shared code of conduct."

No rules, no laws—everything was settled by force.

People like Zhao Rui and Bian Xingzhou never saw stealing as wrong.

For warriors like the Dongliu Duo, killing for treasure was routine.

Martial artists fighting among themselves was one thing, but they often endangered civilians too.

So, they needed a leash.

Lu Jianwei smiled. "What I’m proposing is meant to subtly ‘enlighten’ them. Do you still want to stop me?"

"I didn't stop you," Xiao Ke muttered awkwardly. "It's just the split..."

"Suddenly, I think being a carefree Martial King here is quite nice. Why go back?"

"Let's just split it like this!" Xiao Ke gave up resisting.

Lu Jianwei already had a plan in mind, one that could only be implemented after returning to Fengzhou.

"I want to bind inn props to special functional buildings. The specifics can be discussed later, but the profits will be divided proportionally."

Xiao Ke asked curiously, "What kind of special functional buildings?"

"I have a rough idea," Lu Jianwei said. "Most martial artists grow through combat, while a minority rely on seclusion or sudden enlightenment. For the former, we can provide a platform that ensures their safety during battles. For the latter, they need an absolutely quiet and secure space—or even the option to gain inspiration by watching others fight."

"Combat can indeed unlock potential, but can they truly gain insights if they know they won't die?" Xiao Ke questioned.

Lu Jianwei replied, "Why does the Martial Alliance hold a grand competition every three years?"

"To assess the strength of each sect and help them understand their standing in the martial world." Xiao Ke caught on. "Are you saying they also seek breakthroughs this way?"

"From what I know, many fighters are injured during these competitions—most due to failing to hold back their strikes, while a few are deliberately sabotaged. Regardless of the reason, injuries are never the desired outcome."

Xiao Ke said, "So you want to use props to monitor fighters in real-time and prevent accidents before they happen?"

"Exactly."

"But will they really grow this way?"

"This is just one option," Lu Jianwei revealed her shrewd merchant nature. "If a martial artist seeks excitement and challenges someone to a duel but fears death or permanent injury, they can book medical assistance from the inn in advance. If they’re hurt, the inn will prioritize their treatment."

Xiao Ke finally understood her intention.

"You want to attract more martial artists to the inn this way, subtly influencing their mindset until they become staunch supporters of the inn’s rules, right?"

Lu Jianwei nodded. "Besides that, there are many other ideas. We’ll discuss them later."

"..."

"So, do we have a deal?"

"How much will you charge?"

Lu Jianwei smiled. "We’ll negotiate the price later."

"Fine, let’s cooperate." Xiao Ke ultimately surrendered to the lure of profit.

The next day, Lu Jianwei bid farewell to Alehong. Escorted by the Buwu tribespeople, she spent two days traversing the vast mountain ranges before leaving.

Wen Zhuzhi accompanied her, along with two others trailing behind—He Lianxue, now fully recovered from his injuries, and Aleshu, disguised as a Central Plains native.

Along with them arrived the gratitude gifts from the three tribes: money and medicinal herbs, so abundant they couldn’t all fit inside.

Lu Jianwei’s journey had been immensely fruitful. Not only had she effortlessly obtained the White Bone Flower, earned a fortune and countless herbs, but she had also gained the friendship of the southwestern tribes.

Regardless of the Yi tribe’s stance, at least the Buwu and Miao tribes were exceedingly friendly toward her.

The inn’s staff heard the commotion and opened the courtyard gate. Before they could even catch sight of their boss, their jaws dropped at the sight of bamboo baskets piled high outside.

What in the world?

Did the boss go to the Gu God Festival and… well, earn this many herbs?

"Thank you for your hard work," Lu Jianwei said politely.

The tribespeople replied, "Boss Lu is our people’s benefactor. These herbs are nothing. Once we move them inside, we’ll return to our villages."

They were efficient workers, and in no time, the courtyard was filled with baskets.

"Boss Lu, Young Master Wen, we take our leave."

"Boss," Xue Guanhe hurriedly asked, "what should we do with all this?"

"Leave it here for now. I’ve already informed my sect—someone will come to collect it." Lu Jianwei turned to Wen Zhuzhi. "The Gu God Sect’s gifts for you are also here. Have A'Nai sort them out later."

"No need. They’re all yours." Wen Zhuzhi smiled. "They’ll be far more useful in your hands than mine."

Lu Jianwei insisted, "I’ll compensate you—"

"Boss Lu, must we be so formal?" Wen Zhuzhi’s tone was light, his expression calm, as if teasing a friend. No one else found it odd.

But to Lu Jianwei, it made her feel a pang of guilt.

"Clear accounts make good friends" had always been her principle—even between lovers, boundaries mattered. Her earlier words had been pure habit.

She once had a dog that adored her as a puppy, often digging up strange treasures from hidden corners to gift her. It would even hide meat bones from its bowl, waiting until outsiders left to proudly present them to her.

She always refused without mercy. The dog would then stare at her with big, dejected eyes before picking up its "treasure" and slinking away.

After enough rejections, the dog stopped playing the game altogether.

Later, when the dog passed away, she sometimes remembered those moments with a faint sense of regret.

"Alright," she said, meeting Wen Zhuzhi’s gaze. "I’ll hold onto them for you for now."

Wen Zhuzhi’s expression visibly brightened.

"Young Master!" A'Nai rushed over, taking the large bundle from his lap and scrutinizing him before sighing in relief. "You must be exhausted after traveling through the mountains. Come inside—I’ve prepared medicinal soup."

Aleshu asked curiously, "How did you know your master would return today?"

"The White Bone Flower bloomed two days ago. Once Boss Lu obtained it, she’d naturally return. I made an estimate and prepared in advance. If they hadn’t come back, it wouldn’t have mattered." A'Nai answered offhandedly.

Xue Guanhe exclaimed excitedly, "Boss got the White Bone Flower? Does that mean Tiao’s poison can be cured now?"

"Mm. The Gu God Sect gave me two petals." This was Lu Jianwei’s public explanation. She took out a porcelain vial and handed it to Tiao. "The antidote."

Tiao froze.

Her eyes locked onto the vial, her face dazed, as if she didn’t dare reach for it.

After years of longing, she suddenly felt timid.

"What’s wrong?" Lu Jianwei teased. "Don’t trust my medical skills?"

"No." Tiao shook her head fiercely, accepting the vial. "It feels like a dream."

Without hesitation, she tipped it into her mouth and swallowed.

With the White Bone Flower’s potency, the antidote worked swiftly. Within moments, the faint purple tint on Tiao’s lips faded, replaced by healthy pink. Her pale complexion grew rosy.

The poison that had shackled her for ten years was finally gone.

An indescribable lightness filled her chest, the weight on her shoulders vanishing in an instant.

To be reborn—this was what it felt like.

Tears welled in Tiao’s eyes, spilling over one after another, vanishing into the earth like all misfortune eventually buried by time.

Embarrassed, she turned away, trying to wipe them, but they only fell faster.

Xue Guanhe thoughtfully handed over a handkerchief and said cheerfully, "The boss must not have eaten or slept well these past few days outside. I’ll prepare a feast to welcome her and Young Master Wen back, and also celebrate Tiao’s recovery from the poison."

"I’ll join you," Yue Shu quickly chimed in, tugging at Liang Shangjun. "You should help too."

Liang Shangjun: "..."

"It seems lively in the inn while I was away. The stables have three extra guests," Lu Jianwei said with a smile before ordering, "Yan Feicang, drag them over here."

Yan Feicang obeyed, hauling the three assassins behind Lu Jianwei into the main hall.

"Boss, these three showed up out of nowhere and attacked the inn without a word," Xue Guanhe called out from the kitchen. "Luckily, we didn’t embarrass you."

Tiao turned and added, "They’ve been fed the usual guest treatment, and the poison capsules in their mouths have been removed."

Lu Jianwei nodded in approval. "Well done."

The staff grinned widely, clearly pleased.

"Innkeeper Lu..." He Lianxue stepped forward hesitantly, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

Lu Jianwei turned and smiled. "Ah, I almost forgot. If you two are staying, just pay according to the inn’s rules. Where’s Miss Lvluo?"

"I told her to wait outside Soul-Severing Ridge. If she doesn’t see me, she’ll return on her own."

"I see."

Lu Jianwei strode into the hall.

The three assassins were dumped in the center, their jaws dislocated, their inner energy sealed, and their limbs tightly bound. After two days in the stables, they looked utterly disheveled and dazed.

He ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‍Lianxue and Aleshu shamelessly followed inside, but Lu Jianwei didn’t stop them.

She settled into a rattan chair as Wen Zhuzhi poured her tea. Tiao retrieved a pill from her medicine pouch—the "Open Heart" pill—and forced it into the assassins’ mouths. The drug took effect swiftly.

Lu Jianwei signaled Yan Feicang to begin the interrogation.

Yan Feicang snapped their jaws back into place and demanded sternly, "Who sent you? What’s your mission?"

The three shook their heads, faces blank. "We don’t know."

Everyone: ???

Yan Feicang pressed, "Why did you come to the inn?"

"To kill everyone inside."

"Why kill everyone here?"

"We don’t know."

Lu Jianwei: Were they brainwashed on a deeper level?

The gray-robed assassins outside Dongliu City had poison capsules in their teeth and blood-devouring worms in their bodies—a double insurance—yet they still spilled the truth, exposing the Zhou family case.

This time, whoever sent these killers was even more cautious.

No worms—just hypnosis.

She didn’t know which faction was behind them, but her enemies were limited: the Martial Alliance, the Thousand Miles Tower, the Black Wind Fort, and, perhaps, the Divine Doctor Valley.

The Martial Alliance had sent assassins before, making them suspicious. The Thousand Miles Tower was the most enigmatic, possibly scheming something sinister. The Black Wind Fort’s leader was only a seventh-level Martial King—unlikely to send a seventh-level assassin.

As for the Divine Doctor Valley, her gut said no.

The assassins at the Gu God Festival had subparasites controlled by the Gu Emperor, so even the Gu God Sect couldn’t extract information from them. The plan had been to incite chaos during the festival and overthrow the sect leader, but thanks to her and Wen Zhuzhi, it failed.

If she were the mastermind, she wouldn’t take that lightly.

Sending these killers served two purposes: revenge and probing.

Best-case scenario, the inn would suffer heavy losses, dealing her a crushing blow. Worst-case, they’d at least test whether the "ninth-level Martial King" was present.

But they got nothing.

One seventh-level, five sixth-level, and one fifth-level—dispatching so many elites at once was no small feat. Could the Martial Alliance even afford that?

Lu Jianwei doubted it.

Only she knew that all three branches of the inn had been attacked. The others were still in the dark, baffled by the sudden appearance of these assassins.

He Lianxue suddenly said, "These swords... I feel like I’ve seen them before."

She was referring to the assassins’ weapons—ordinary longswords, common enough to be found anywhere, now lying discarded on the floor.

Yan Feicang remarked, "These swords are nearly identical, likely mass-produced. They’re no different from standard blades on the market. It’s not strange you’ve seen them."

"But I really think I’ve seen them somewhere," He Lianxue insisted, though his words made her waver.

Wen Zhuzhi picked up a sword and examined it closely. "While the design matches common market blades, different forging techniques leave distinct grain patterns."

"What grain patterns?" Aleshu leaned in, puzzled. "It’s just a sword. What’s so special?"

Lu Jianwei recalled that the wealthy Wen was also a connoisseur of weapons. Back at the Fengzhou inn, when Yue Shu returned her sword, he had praised its exceptional craftsmanship.

"What insights do you have, Master Wen?"

"Forging methods vary by region, resulting in different blade textures. I’ve compared swords from renowned smithing families and noted some patterns," Wen Zhuzhi stated confidently. "This sword was made by the Yao Family of Cangzhou."

Lu Jianwei raised a brow. "Yao?"

She suddenly remembered the crane-shaped whistle in her system inventory—a token given to her by the couple at Guihe Residence as thanks. They’d invited her to visit the Yao Family Ironworks if she ever went to Cangzhou.

At the time, she hadn’t understood the significance until Liang Shangjun explained that weapon forges were off-limits to outsiders.

"The Yao Family is Cangzhou’s largest forging dynasty, their craftsmanship among the best in the martial world. Owning a custom Yao Family weapon earns you respect," Liang Shangjun mused, strolling out of the kitchen. "Of course, they don’t come cheap."

Lu Jianwei: "How much?"

"Depends on the smith. Prices vary, but even the lowest-tier craftsman charges at least a hundred thousand."

Lu Jianwei: "..."

Now that’s lucrative.

No wonder the Hong father and son had paid two hundred thousand without blinking.

I’m not ruthless enough.

"If I recall correctly, the Carefree Sect is also in Cangzhou," Aleshu said sourly. "No wonder Miss He Lian found the swords familiar."

He Lianxue admitted, "Most of our sect’s weapons are indeed sourced from the Yao Family."

The others nodded—proximity made business sense.

"The Yao Family mass-produces weapons for bulk orders alongside custom pieces," Yan Feicang said. "Even if we know the swords are theirs, tracing the buyer is near impossible."

Lu Jianwei: "Surely the Yao Family keeps records of every transaction?"

"Even if they do, they’ve made countless identical swords. Pinpointing the buyer would be difficult," Yan Feicang countered. "Besides, without special connections, the Yao Family wouldn’t cooperate."

No one would willingly embroil themselves in a feud between two factions.

Lu Jianwei lowered her gaze in thought.

Should I use that whistle?

But if this was part of a larger scheme, would it drag the innocent Yao couple into danger?

"Shopkeeper Lu," Wen Zhuzhi began, "the Yao Family has many branches, and tasks like forging these common swords are usually assigned to distant relatives, with each branch taking a share. This narrows the scope. Even if they share the same lineage, every blacksmith has their own unique techniques. The subtle differences in craftsmanship may go unnoticed by outsiders, but they won’t escape a fellow artisan’s eye."

Lu Jianwei understood. "You’re saying that if we find the blacksmith who forged these swords, we’ll likely trace them back to the buyer."

"Exactly."

"I’ll think it over."

Lu Jianwei didn’t make a decision right away. There were still many things to consider—she needed to weigh whether the trip to Cangzhou would be worth it.