In the early morning, as the first ray of sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, a new day arrived quietly.
Xu Shang tidied his clothes and put on a bamboo hat, concealing the face that had been immersed in longing the previous night. He stepped down the stairs lightfootedly and came to the ground floor of the inn, choosing a table by the window and placing his bamboo hat aside. Aside from Xu Shang, the morning inn was occupied by only the innkeeper.
Xu Shang called the innkeeper over to order some food, and the dishes were served shortly after.
The innkeeper cupped his fists and said, "Enjoy your meal!"
"Wait," Xu Shang called out just as the innkeeper was about to leave. The innkeeper turned around and asked, "Is there anything else you need?"
Xu Shang said warmly, "Seeing how busy you've been, you probably haven't eaten yet. I happened to order a bit too much, so why don't we eat together?"
The innkeeper hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no."
As if he hadn't heard, Xu Shang stood up, pulled the innkeeper by the arm to a stool, and handed him a pair of chopsticks.
The innkeeper was pleasantly surprised; he had never imagined a guest would invite him to breakfast. He hesitated for a moment, but upon seeing Xu Shang's sincere gaze, his inner misgivings slowly dissipated.
"Well... then I must respectfully accept," the innkeeper said, taking the chopsticks and sitting down opposite Xu Shang.
The two began to eat and chat. Xu Shang inquired about the innkeeper's daily routine, and the innkeeper shared some small stories about the inn and anecdotes from Sanqing Town. As the conversation deepened, the atmosphere between them grew relaxed.
Xu Shang set down his chopsticks and chuckled softly. "How did the once bustling and prosperous Sanqing Town turn into this? Walking down the street, you can't even see a single person."
The innkeeper frowned, glanced around, and said with a grave expression, "The guest wouldn't know, but a little over a year ago, the Xu Family suddenly collapsed. As I recall, only the young master of the Xu Family miraculously survived. With the Xu Family gone, the other three families fought fiercely to seize their assets, turning the Xu Family estate into a battlefield. In the end, only the Su Family remained."
A trace of heaviness permeated the innkeeper's words as he continued, "Once the Xu Family fell, the balance of Sanqing Town was shattered. In those years, people in the town fled in fear of the chaos. Those who stayed behind are just like me—people with nowhere else to go."
Hearing this, Xu Shang felt a jolt in his heart. He had never expected the destruction of his family to have such a profound impact on this small town. His gaze deepened, as if he were deep in thought.
"What about the Su Family now?" Xu Shang asked in a low voice, a trace of unnoticeable trembling in his tone.
The innkeeper sighed. "Although the Su Family won the struggle, they were also severely wounded. As for Su Biyun, the young lady of the Su Family, no one has seen her since the young master of the Xu Family went missing. Some say she left Sanqing Town out of grief, while others say she has been searching everywhere for the young master's whereabouts."
Hearing Su Biyun's name stirred a complex wave of emotions in Xu Shang's heart. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and then said to the innkeeper, "Thank you for telling me all this. I'm full; take your time eating."
With that, Xu Shang stood up, preparing to leave.
Suddenly, the front door of the inn was kicked open, causing Xu Shang to pause. Outside the door strode a heavily built, bearded ruffian. He wore a leather vest that exposed thick arms covered in scars—clear evidence of countless past brawls as he walked into the inn.
The innkeeper hurried over to Xu Shang's side, warning with alarm, "Esteemed guest, you'd better leave quickly! That's the steward of the Su Family, Su Mang. Judging by the look of him..."
Xu Shang paid no heed to the innkeeper's warning, simply watching Su Mang quietly.
Su Mang spoke in an overbearing and unreasonable manner. "Old Fu, shouldn't you pay your shop rent by now? Besides, I heard you have a rather pretty daughter. I'm taking her away to be a concubine for my family head."
The innkeeper frowned deeply. "Didn't I just pay you the rent a few days ago? You people come every few days—how am I supposed to keep finding money to pay you? Qin Xin is still very young, and no matter what, I will never let her go!"
Su Mang said angrily, "If you won't toast, you'll be forced to drink a forfeit!" With that, an imposing and powerful aura erupted from Su Mang's body, forcing the innkeeper to stagger back a few steps.
Just as Su Mang was about to attack the innkeeper, a cyan sound wave swept past the innkeeper and Xu Shang, striking Su Mang before he could even react. Slowly descending the stairs was a woman dressed in plain clothing. Though her attire was simple, it could not conceal the elegance radiating from her movements and her eyes.
Su Mang stepped back a few steps. Catching sight of Qin Xin's graceful figure, he swallowed hard and said arrogantly, "So you're Old Fu's daughter. I advise you to come with me obediently, or today will be your dying day."
Qin Xin frowned heavily, thinking to herself, "Su Mang has the strength of Stage 9 Body Inscription Realm, while I am only at Stage 4. I am no match for Su Mang at all."
Xu Shang watched the scene unfold quietly. Though turbulent waves surged within his heart, his face remained calm. Su Mang's arrogance and the innkeeper's helplessness stirred an indescribable sense of fury and responsibility in him. He knew he could no longer stand by and watch.
The innkeeper's face turned pale. He knew he was powerless against Su Mang, but for his daughter's sake, he was willing to risk everything. Clenching his fists tightly, he braced himself for the impending conflict.
At that moment, Xu Shang slowly stood up, his voice calm yet resolute: "Steward Su, don't you think you're going too far?"
Su Mang turned his head and spotted Xu Shang, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes. Clearly, he hadn't expected a seemingly ordinary guest to dare challenge him.
Xu Shang turned to Qin Xin and whispered, "You're no match for him. Leave him to me."
Qin Xin frowned, sizing up the man before her who showed no fluctuations of spiritual qi whatsoever. "Can you handle this?"
Xu Shang said with a triumphant smile, "Trust me!"
"Who the hell are you? Daring to meddle in my business?" Su Mang roared, his voice laced with menace.
Xu Shang did not answer directly. Instead, he walked slowly toward Su Mang, every step exceptionally steady. A formidable aura emanated from his gaze, causing Su Mang to feel a faint wave of pressure.
"I am Xu Shang," Xu Shang said indifferently. Once upon a time, his name was known to everyone in Sanqing Town, but now, he appeared merely as an ordinary traveler.
Hearing that name, Su Mang's eyes flashed with panic, but it was quickly replaced by ferocity. "Xu Shang? Hmph, even if you are the young master of the Xu Family, you're nothing more than a stray dog now. How dare you act so arrogant here?"
Unprovoked by the insult, Xu Shang merely smiled faintly. "Su Mang, you're wrong. I'm not here to be arrogant. I'm just here to clean up some trash that doesn't know any better."
Enraged by this, Su Mang bellowed and charged at Xu Shang. But Xu Shang was faster; with a nimble sidestep, he evaded Su Mang's attack and immediately counterattacked, landing a punch straight into Su Mang's abdomen.
Su Mang let out a cry of pain and staggered back a few steps. He hadn't expected Xu Shang to possess such martial prowess. Without pressing his advantage, Xu Shang stood his ground and stared coldly at Su Mang.
Su Mang channeled spiritual qi into his fist and charged at Xu Shang once more. As he closed in, Xu Shang showed no intention of dodging. Qin Xin hastily cried out a warning: "Watch out!"
The punch landed, the resulting shockwave overturning the tables in the inn. Qin Xin hurriedly stepped back, steadying the innkeeper. Amidst a cloud of dust, Su Mang looked triumphant—only to see Xu Shang standing motionless in place, blocking his full-strength strike with just a single finger.
Qin Xin stared at Xu Shang in a daze, while Su Mang stood dumbfounded. Before Su Mang could strike again, a blood-red lotus the size of a stone appeared on Xu Shang's index finger, effortlessly shattering Su Mang's defense.
With a loud "bang," Su Mang collapsed facedown onto the floor. His clothes were in tatters and his body covered in wounds. Clutching his chest, he scrambled up unsteadily and gasped in shock, "You... you weren't able to cultivate! How on earth did you reach the Spirit Opening Realm in such a short span of time? How did you do it?"
Qin Xin looked at Xu Shang in disbelief. "To reach the Spirit Opening Realm at such a young age..."
Though unwilling to accept defeat, Su Mang knew he was no match for Xu Shang and could only slink away in dejection. Before leaving, he didn't forget to issue a threat: "Xu Shang, just you wait! This isn't over!"
Ignoring the threat, Xu Shang simply watched him leave in silence. The innkeeper looked at Xu Shang with gratitude, tears brimming in his eyes. "Young Master Xu, thank you. You saved us."
Xu Shang smiled and shook his head. "Don't thank me. I merely did what I ought to do."
As Su Mang departed, the atmosphere inside the inn gradually eased. Xu Shang turned to look at Qin Xin and the innkeeper, whose eyes were filled with gratitude and awe. The innkeeper's voice trembled as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he simply bowed deeply.
Qin Xin stepped forward, her eyes holding a mixture of curiosity and admiration. "Young Master Xu, your strength is unfathomable. To reach the Spirit Opening Realm in such a short time is unprecedented in Sanqing Town."
Xu Shang smiled faintly. Without revealing his cultivation secrets, he brushed it off lightly. "Everyone has their secrets, and I am no exception. What matters is that we made it through safely today."
Having regained his composure, the innkeeper looked at Xu Shang and said sincerely, "Young Master Xu, you haven't just saved us; you've given us hope. Ever since the misfortune befell the Xu Family, Sanqing Town hasn't seen a hero like you."
Xu Shang waved his hand, signaling the innkeeper that formalities were unnecessary. "I simply did what needed to be done. Sanqing Town used to be my home; I couldn't just stand by and watch it sink into ruin."
Qin Xin looked at Xu Shang with a flash of resolve in her eyes. "Young Master Xu, if you need help, my father and I will stand by your side. Though our strength is limited, we are willing to do our part for you."
Xu Shang nodded, sensing Qin Xin's sincerity. "I appreciate your kind intentions. However, I first need to understand the current state of Sanqing Town and the specific situation regarding the Su Family."
The innkeeper immediately chimed in, "Young Master Xu, if you need to understand the situation, I can help. Though I'm just a nobody, I do know a fair bit about Sanqing Town."
Xu Shang nodded, knowing the innkeeper and Qin Xin would be crucial allies in Sanqing Town. He needed their help, and he needed more information about the Su Family.
"Then let's start with the Su Family," Xu Shang said. "I want to know the current distribution of their strength and their influence in Sanqing Town."
The innkeeper pondered for a moment before beginning a detailed account of the Su Family. Qin Xin chimed in to supplement his words, and together, the two shared everything they knew with Xu Shang.