Leading them was a monk wearing a headband, holding a golden staff.
Behind him followed eighteen tall and strong men, each with a whale emblem embroidered on their chests.
"Why are people from the Giant Whale Gang here?"
Xu Nuo felt a sense of foreboding rise within him.
At this moment, Chang Jiuye and the other regulars were already terrified out of their wits. They wanted to flee, but lacked the courage. They could only huddle together, praying they wouldn't be noticed by the Giant Whale Gang.
"Waiter, bring us a jar of your best wine and two catties of beef!"
The monk tossed the staff to one of his followers and sat down at the table in the very center.
The other eighteen men stood by with large sabers in hand.
Xu Nuo quickly cut two catties of beef and had Gou Dan bring a jar of Nuo Wine to the monk. He then opened the wine jar and personally poured a cup for the monk, saying, "Please enjoy, sir."
The monk lifted the cup and drank it down in one gulp, "Shopkeeper, your wine isn't strong enough!"
Xu Nuo had an innocent expression on his face. "This Nuo Wine is brewed by myself, so it lacks potency. If you don't like it, how about I get you a jar of excellent Daughter Red Wine instead?"
The monk waved his hand. "While your Nuo Wine isn't strong, it's smoother and more aromatic than other wines. It's good for casual drinking. No need to change it."
Saying that, the monk lifted the wine jar and took more than ten gulps. "Shopkeeper, I heard Prince Xiaoyao Li Ling visited your establishment some time ago. Is that true?"
"Half a month ago, Prince Xiaoyao did indeed visit the tavern."
Xu Nuo maintained his innocent look, but his mind was in turmoil.
The monk picked up a piece of beef and put it in his mouth, then glanced at Xu Nuo with a half-smile. "Being able to drink and chat with Prince Xiaoyao, your background as a shopkeeper must be extraordinary!"
Extraordinary my foot!
Xu Nuo had already guessed the purpose of Iron Head Monk's visit. "You jest, sir. I am but a commoner, how could I presume to have any connections with Prince Xiaoyao? It's just that my Nuo Wine was fortunate enough to be favored by Prince Xiaoyao, and we exchanged a few words."
"So that's how it is!"
Iron Head Monk looked enlightened and chuckled, "Our leader heard that Prince Xiaoyao gave you a string of Prayer Beads. Could you let me see them?"
So it was for the Prayer Beads!
Xu Nuo put on his innocent expression. "Gou Dan, hurry to my room and get that string of Prayer Beads for this customer."
Iron Head Monk glanced at Xu Nuo with surprise. He hadn't expected this person to be so straightforward.
Soon, Gou Dan brought the Prayer Beads and reluctantly handed them to Iron Head Monk.
The monk fiddled with them for a while, his eyes gleaming. "Truly a treasure from a virtuous high monk of Guanyin Zen Temple!"
Iron Head Monk exclaimed and directly put the Prayer Beads on his wrist, then looked at Xu Nuo with a half-smile. "Shopkeeper, I really like these Prayer Beads. Name your price!"
When he said this, Chang Jiuye and the others immediately broke out in a cold sweat for Xu Nuo, fearing that Xu Nuo, not understanding the situation, would name an outrageous price and anger Iron Head Monk, which could result in him being beheaded!
"Nu... Brother Nuo, this is the leader of the Giant Whale Gang, Iron Head Monk!" Chang Jiuye couldn't help but remind him, his voice trembling.
"Your arrival, Leader Tie, is beyond my expectation. I hope you will forgive my ignorance." Xu Nuo's voice also trembled.
Seeing Xu Nuo trembling with fear, Iron Head Monk smiled with satisfaction. "No need for pleasantries. Name your price for these Prayer Beads, I'll buy them!"
Pigs flying would be more believable than that!
Xu Nuo had a pure and innocent expression. "The Prayer Beads are wasted on me. Since Leader Tie likes them, I will give them to Leader Tie."
Giving away Prayer Beads worth tens of thousands of taels of silver just like that?
Iron Head Monk glanced at Xu Nuo with even more surprise. Even he couldn't be so decisive!
Xu Nuo put on a pained expression. "To be blunt, Leader Tie, I do have a personal motive. The world is chaotic now, and Ping'an Town is not entirely peaceful. I only hope that Leader Tie will look out for the tavern on behalf of these Prayer Beads. I will be content!"
"Not bad, you're quite sensible!" Iron Head Monk stood up, patted Xu Nuo on the shoulder, and gave him a look of approval. "You can rest assured. From now on, as long as I, Iron Head Monk, am here, I will ensure your tavern's eternal peace!"
"Thank you, Leader Tie."
"Farewell!" Iron Head Monk picked up his staff and led his eighteen followers out of the tavern.
As he reached the entrance, he suddenly turned back. "Your Nuo Wine is quite good for casual drinking. Send 100 jars to my gang every month from now on!"
Xu Nuo readily agreed.
The Iron Head Monk mounted his warhorse and, with his 18 followers, left Ping'an Town like the wind.
Chang Jiuye breathed a sigh of relief, his forehead covered in beads of sweat. "That was close. Fortunately, Brother Nuo was sharp. If you had really named a price just now, you might have lost your head. It's just a pity about the Prayer Beads!"
Wu Si also sighed. "If it were me, I might have chosen money over my life!"
Gou Dan bit her lip, disliking seeing the shopkeeper bullied.
Although he had given away the Prayer Beads, Xu Nuo felt relieved. However, what made his teeth ache was the monthly delivery of 100 jars of Nuo Wine.
Brewing wine wasn't difficult for him; he could brew 100 jars in half a month. The problem was that the cost of 100 jars of wine alone was 50 taels of silver. That's 50 taels a month, and a full 600 taels a year.
Given the Giant Whale Gang's overbearing nature, there was a high probability he wouldn't get paid for the wine.
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Xu Nuo quickly calculated.
With his current savings, plus the income from the small tavern and the Pear Garden, he could only hold on for another year or so at most!
"If you're weak, you can only be slaughtered!"
Xu Nuo sighed.
Ever since he advanced to the Bone Forging Realm, his cultivation had not improved for over a year.
And resolving this trial with Iron Head Monk had also increased his misfortune points by 5.
...
One year later, on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the 28th year of Jianwu.
The moon was bright and the stars were few; magpies flew south.
In the tavern's backyard, Xu Nuo held a three-foot-long Green Peak Sword, continuously practicing the Bloodthirsty Sword Technique.
[Bloodthirsty Sword Technique Realm Improved]
After about an hour of practice, a notification appeared before his eyes.
Xu Nuo opened his Panel.
[Name: Xu Nuo (20 years old)]
[Talent: Endless Lifespan (Eternal Life and Immortality, Immortal and Indestructible)]
[Misfortune Points: 14 points (Fate)]
[Realm: Bone Forging (Third Level of Acquired)]
[Bloodthirsty Sword Technique: Proficient (Fourth Level)]
The Bloodthirsty Sword Technique had advanced to the Proficient stage, the fourth level, and his Misfortune Points had reached 14. The gray word "Fate" behind it flickered.
However, Xu Nuo did not click on it. It was best to use good steel on the blade. At the same time, he wanted to see if that word "Fate" would change as the Misfortune Points increased.
"Bone Forging Realm + Fourth Level of Bloodthirsty Sword Technique, I wonder how I compare to Iron Head Monk now?"
Over the past year, he had dutifully sent 100 jars of Nuo Wine to the Giant Whale Gang every month. As he had expected, after so many deliveries, he had never received a single payment for the wine!
Now, his savings had been depleted by more than half, and in another six months, he might not even have money to brew wine.
"What should I do?"
Xu Nuo didn't want to confront the Giant Whale Gang directly.
Not to mention the hundreds of members of the Giant Whale Gang, he might not even be able to deal with Iron Head Monk alone.
Iron Head Monk was a master of the Muscle-Tendon Realm, while he was only in the Bone Forging Realm.
Killing enemies across realms, hah, that was the exclusive privilege of peerless geniuses.
Xu Nuo didn't even have the talent for cultivation, so how could he be a genius? Moreover, ever since he advanced to the Bone Forging Realm, he hadn't even engaged in real combat. His combat experience was extremely lacking. Facing a seasoned warrior like Iron Head Monk would be suicidal.
"If all else fails, I'll have to flee!"
The next morning, Xu Nuo woke up very late.
The tavern had already opened for business, but there weren't many customers today.
Gou Dan was listlessly playing with Xiǎo Bái. Seeing Xu Nuo, her little face lit up, and she quickly stood up. "Shopkeeper, why are you waking up so late today?"
"I had insomnia last night."
Xu Nuo cut a piece of beef and put it in his mouth.
"Oh." Gou Dan seemed to have thought of something, and a hint of excitement flashed across her face. "Shopkeeper, I went to deliver something to Old Evil Huang last night. Guess what information I got?"
Xu Nuo couldn't be bothered to guess and ordered a plate of peanuts, practicing catching them with his mouth.
Gou Dan pouted. "Shopkeeper, can you believe that Old Monster Huang is only 26 years old this year!"
"Looking at him, even 62 would be too young. And you say 26!"
Xu Nuo glared at Gou Dan somewhat exasperatedly.
"It's true." Seeing Xu Nuo's disbelief, Gou Dan became a little anxious. "He said it himself!"
"Then he must have aged very quickly!"
Xu Nuo laughed humorlessly.
"I asked him why he looked like that, but he wouldn't say!" Gou Dan sighed, her eyes full of doubt. "How could such a young person age so rapidly?"
"Perhaps it's the Art of Disguise!"
Speaking of the Art of Disguise, Xu Nuo couldn't help but think of the Crooked Mouth Monk. A few days ago, he heard the young swordsman who often frequented the tavern mention that some martial artists had recently attempted to break into the capital to rescue the Crooked Mouth Monk, but they had failed.
All the martial arts experts were defeated.
"Shopkeeper, I want a catty of wine!" Suddenly, a childish voice rang out. Xu Nuo looked up and saw a boy of about 8 or 9 years old rush into the tavern.
Judging by his appearance, Xu Nuo felt he looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall where he had seen him before.
Before he could give an order, Gou Dan had already walked over and eagerly took the wine pot to serve him a catty of wine.
The little boy took the wine pot and turned to run.
Gou Dan panicked and grabbed him. "You haven't paid yet!"
The little boy froze, a look of distress unbefitting his age appearing on his face. "Second brother, I was in a hurry today and didn't bring any money. Please be merciful and let me go. I need this wine urgently!"
Gou Dan said angrily, "Even if you're in a hurry, you can't not pay! If everyone was like you, would we have to drink the northwest wind?"
The little boy became anxious. "Second brother, my name is Lǐ Xiù, and I live in Li Family Bay. My mother and I came to town today for some business. We met a strange person by Pingxin Bridge, and he captured my mother. He's forcing me to come to the tavern to get wine. If I don't get it