No Fighting Allowed in the Inn-Chapter 98

◎Yin-Yang Gu, Return to Jiangzhou◎

Lu Jianwei decided to rest in Dada City for two days.

She had just acquired a treasured manual from the Gu God Sect and hadn’t finished reading it yet. Though Tiao’s poison had been neutralized, her body hadn’t fully recovered. Wen Zhuzhi, too, had been running around the mountains for so long that it wouldn’t be wise to set off immediately.

Now in Dada City, no one dared to cause trouble anymore. The Yi tribespeople would respectfully steer clear at the sight of the Eight Directions Inn.

Lu Jianwei finally enjoyed a rare sense of peace and tranquility.

The gu manual gifted by Alehong was written in the Central Plains language, so she had no trouble reading it. However, some of the gu techniques described were quite profound for her.

The Gu God Sect’s legacy spanned generations. Some gu arts had faded into obscurity, while others stood the test of time and remained relevant.

Lu Jianwei gained invaluable insights and even made an exciting discovery.

The book recorded a long-lost gu technique—the Yin-Yang Gu.

The Yin-Yang Gu could both kill and heal.

A single thought could bring death, another could grant life.

When refined to the level of a Gu Emperor, it reigned supreme above all other Gu Emperors.

It could kill without a trace and rescue from calamity.

As the saying went, medicine and poison were two sides of the same coin—so too were gu and poison.

The Yin-Yang Gu could absorb all toxins in the world. To preserve its own life, it would secrete a special substance to counteract the poison.

In other words, it could detoxify.

A peculiar idea struck Lu Jianwei—if she could refine a Yin-Yang Gu, perhaps she could cure Wen Zhuzhi’s poison.

Wen Zhuzhi’s condition was notoriously difficult to treat. Neutralizing one toxin would disrupt the balance of the other four, yet no medicine could simultaneously counteract all five.

But the Yin-Yang Gu could.

No matter how unique the Five Elements Poison was, it was still a toxin. Once the Yin-Yang Gu Emperor absorbed it, it would secrete a substance capable of purging the poison.

Yin and yang, the five elements—these were all about balance.

However, the book made it clear that the Yin-Yang Gu had long gone extinct—not because the method was lost, but because the refinement process was too demanding.

To refine a Yin-Yang Gu Emperor, five conditions were indispensable:

1. The gu master’s cultivation must reach the eighth level; otherwise, they couldn’t suppress the gu.

2. During the larval stage, the gu must be fed rare medicinal herbs and poisons daily, ensuring a balance between medicinal and toxic properties.

3. Once the larva developed yin-yang markings on its back, it must be fed one petal of Gubaitou daily for thirty days.

4. After maturing into a gu, it must be fed the master’s blood for another thirty days.

5. Once the bond between master and gu was established, the gu had to be refined into a ninth-level Gu King, then commanded to kill a martial artist of at least the eighth level to ascend to Gu Emperor status.

Lu Jianwei: “……”

Truly demanding.

The first condition alone eliminated most candidates—after all, how many eighth-level masters were also proficient in gu arts?

The second was a financial burden few could bear.

The third was even more challenging. Gubaitou only bloomed once every ten years. Even the Miao tribe might struggle to gather thirty petals at once, let alone fresh ones—though the book noted that using fresh Gubaitou daily would significantly increase the success rate.

This, however, worked in Lu Jianwei’s favor.

She had just obtained ten Gubaitou flowers, each with six petals—sixty in total. She had used one for Tiao’s medicine, but sacrificing thirty to cultivate a Gu Emperor wasn’t a bad trade.

Moreover, her system storage could keep the petals fresh—something even the Miao tribespeople couldn’t achieve.

The fourth condition was manageable, but the fifth posed a moral dilemma.

Where would she even find an eighth-level martial king to kill? And what justification did she have to murder someone?

All in all, for most eighth-level martial kings, refining a Yin-Yang Gu Emperor was more trouble than it was worth.

The costs were exorbitant, the materials scarce, and the targets nonexistent. Besides, its utility was limited.

Once refined, the Yin-Yang Gu Emperor could indeed suppress all other Gu Emperors and neutralize rare poisons—but such situations were few and far between.

Gu Emperors were already rarities, and poisons requiring the Yin-Yang Gu to cure were equally uncommon.

The book also stated that to detoxify someone, the gu needed ten days of feeding on the victim’s poisoned blood to adapt and familiarize itself with the toxin before purging it.

But if the poison was truly lethal, the victim would be long dead before those ten days were up.

In short, refining a Yin-Yang Gu Emperor seemed impractical.

Yet for Lu Jianwei, it could solve many of her problems.

The mysterious Gu Emperor manipulated by the mastermind would no longer be a threat, and Wen Zhuzhi’s Five Elements Poison could finally be cured.

“Xiao Ke, I want to refine a Yin-Yang Gu.”

“Not disgusted by bugs anymore?”

Lu Jianwei’s study of gu arts had been purely theoretical—she’d never handled actual insects, finding them repulsive.

But now, she had no choice. And her first attempt would be a high-stakes challenge.

“The martial world is still shrouded in shadows—the White Crane Manor case, the Zhou family case, the mastermind behind them remains elusive. Even the recent Gu God Festival rebellion had hidden players. If outsiders are already meddling in the southwest, I can’t afford to lag behind. Otherwise, I’ll just be a fish on the chopping block, waiting to be slaughtered.”

Xiao Ke cheered, “I support you! Time to buy some gu worms!”

“Gu worms are everywhere. I could just ask Aleshu for a larva—why buy from the system store?”

“The ones in the store are handpicked for quality, with higher chances of evolving into a Gu Emperor. Plus, don’t you want to keep this a secret? Whether you hunt for worms or ask Aleshu, someone will notice.”

Lu Jianwei raised an eyebrow. “Xiao Ke, you’ve gotten smarter. You can analyze things so thoroughly now.”

“I’ve been learning,” Xiao Ke said proudly. “So, buying?”

“Open the store. Let’s see how much it costs.”

The store interface appeared, with Xiao Ke helpfully scrolling to the gu worm section.

Larvae of different species varied in price, with quality further affecting the cost.

The Yin-Yang Gu was technically a predatory gu, requiring a predatory gu larva as its base.

It wasn’t species-specific—any predatory gu, refined via the method in the book, could become a Yin-Yang Gu.

The cheapest predatory gu larva cost a hundred taels, while the most expensive went for a thousand.

And that was just the starting cost—raising it would demand countless rare herbs and poisons. A thousand taels was merely the down payment.

But high risk meant high reward.

Lu Jianwei was willing to splurge.

She bought the highest-grade predatory gu larva—a “Mist Shadow Worm,” named for its hazy, indistinct appearance.

The larva was so tiny Lu Jianwei could barely make out its shape.

She decided to call it “Little Mist.”

Xiao Ke pushed another sale. “You’ll need a container to raise it. Want to browse?”

The container section popped up.

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

Lu Jianwei: “……”

“Clay pots are the cheapest, but I recommend this miniature glass pavilion—two floors, with bowls for food and drink on the first level and a cozy resting area on the second. A well-fed, well-rested gu grows better.”

The miniature glass pavilion: five hundred taels.

Lu Jianwei declined immediately. “Raising it tough builds character. If it’s coddled like a greenhouse flower, how will it ever dominate other Gu Emperors?”

“……”

“One clay pot,” she said firmly.

Xiao Ke sulkily deducted a thousand taels and a hundred coppers. A clay pot containing the larva materialized on the table.

Lu Jianwei only peeked inside briefly before closing the lid.

The lid had tiny ventilation holes and a small feeding slot that could be opened to drop food inside, then shut tight—ensuring the insects couldn’t escape.

The larvae were too small to consume large prey.

Lu Jianwei selected rare medicinal herbs like Dark-Eyed Fruit and Snow Hibiscus, along with exotic poisons such as the tail of a Spotted-Tail Scorpion and the roots of Ghost Cliff Grass.

She ground all the herbs and toxins into powder, then carefully measured them into the clay pot in a balanced ratio of medicinal and poisonous properties.

This balance didn’t mean the herbs could neutralize the toxins—it was simply a measured proportion.

Neither the herbs nor the poisons were meant for humans; they were food for the gu insects.

Using this method, it would take about a month for the gu insects to develop yin-yang markings on their backs.

In other words, forming a true bond with them would require three months.

Surely she couldn’t carry this clay pot around for three whole months?

Xiao Ke suggested, "You could buy a woven rattan casing for it—protects against bumps and makes it easy to carry."

"Alright, I’ll look into it."

The clay pot was only the size of a palm, inconspicuous enough, and with a rattan cover, it could be tucked away anywhere without drawing attention.

A rattan casing cost just five copper coins—a real bargain.

Just as Lu Jianwei was about to rest, movement sounded outside the courtyard.

It was Lvluo, Zhao Rui, and Bian Xingzhou—who had been "missing" for quite some time.

Lvluo, her face etched with worry, rushed past the courtyard gate to find her mistress but tripped over the scattered baskets and nearly fell headfirst into one.

"......"

He Lianxue stepped out of her room just then, her veil absent, her skin luminous like polished jade.

"Don’t worry. I’m here."

Lvluo wiped her tears, still shaken. "I waited outside Soul-Severing Ridge for so long, but you never came out. I wanted to go in and search for you, but I was afraid of getting lost. Then Young Master Zhao and Young Master Bian appeared and said you’d gone to the Valley of Forgotten White, that you were injured and had left. I was terrified!"

"Xue’er, are you alright?" Zhao Rui asked, guilt and concern lacing his voice. "I searched everywhere for you. You left without a word—I was so worried."

Bian Xingzhou gazed at her face and sighed softly. "Xue’er, word of what happened that day has already spread. It’s my fault—I failed to protect you."

He Lianxue replied calmly, "There’s no need for you to worry about me, nor do I need your protection. Stopping you from fighting over the Forgotten White was my own choice. Whether the rumors spread or my sect disciplines me, I’ll accept the consequences."

"Xue’er, I managed to get two petals. I’ll give you one—take it back to the sect. Sect Leader He Lian surely won’t punish you then." Despite his disheveled state, Zhao Rui was still eager to share his spoils with her.

Not to be outdone, Bian Xingzhou added, "Xue’er, I can give you one too!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Aleshu, leaning against the railing, couldn’t hold back his laughter, nearly doubling over.

"What’s so funny?!" Zhao Rui frowned. "Weren’t you supposed to be watching the spectacle that day? Why didn’t we see you?"

Aleshu propped his chin on his hand, grinning. "I hid. What if I got caught in the crossfire of your inner energy?"

"Then what were you laughing at just now?"

"Oh, just remembered something amusing." Aleshu’s eyes sparkled with mirth. "The Forgotten White is priceless. Since you’ve got some, shouldn’t you hurry back to your sects? Lingering here is just asking for trouble."

Bian Xingzhou insisted, "I’m only concerned about Xue’er. Xue’er, let’s return together?"

"With you? No way!" Zhao Rui scoffed. "She’s coming with me!"

He Lianxue’s expression remained indifferent. "No need. I’ve decided to stay and work at the Eight Directions Inn."

The two men: ???

"Miss?!" Lvluo was equally stunned.

He Lianxue said firmly, "My mind is made up. Lvluo, you’ll return with these two young masters. I’m staying."

"No! Wherever you go, I go!"

He Lianxue sighed. "Come inside first. I’ll explain in detail."

The door closed, leaving Zhao Rui and Bian Xingzhou standing dumbfounded in the courtyard.

What was going on? Why would Xue’er work as an innkeeper?

The most beautiful woman in the martial world—an inn attendant? Who would believe it?

Aleshu kindly advised, "Since Lady He Lian has no intention of traveling with you, why force the issue? You’d be better off returning to your sects and completing your missions."

Zhao Rui and Bian Xingzhou knew He Lianxue wouldn’t change her mind. Right now, returning to their sects was indeed more pressing.

Exchanging a final glare, they left the inn separately with a cold huff.

Lu Jianwei had enjoyed the show.

In this world, only Alehong and Aleshu knew she had taken all the Forgotten White. The petals Zhao Rui and Bian Xingzhou carried were fakes she’d replicated using her system—indistinguishable from the real thing.

Unable to tell the difference, they would return to their sects with counterfeit flowers. The chaos that would follow…

Well, she couldn’t help feeling a little excited.

Her trip to the southwest had gone smoothly. With her main objective accomplished, it was time to leave.

At dinner that evening, Lu Jianwei announced, "Tiao’s poison has been neutralized, and her health has mostly recovered. I plan to return to Jiangzhou tomorrow."

"You’re not going to Cangzhou?" He Lianxue asked.

Lu Jianwei shook her head. "Cangzhou is unfamiliar territory. Even if I found out who the buyer was, they’d likely just be a decoy. There’s no point."

After careful consideration, she realized the mastermind had sent three teams of elite assassins to infiltrate the inn simultaneously—partly to test her, partly out of spite.

Whether testing or venting, it meant they still held some reservations.

Reservations about a Level Nine Martial King, reservations about her mysterious "sect."

As long as her background remained unclear, they wouldn’t make an open move.

If she followed this lead to Cangzhou, she might be playing right into their hands.

Better to stay put and wait.

After all, the person holding the Gu Emperor was still hiding in the shadows. Until her yin-yang gu was fully cultivated, she wouldn’t pursue the investigation further.

He Lianxue ventured, "Could I go to Jiangzhou with you?"

Lu Jianwei refused bluntly, "The inn isn’t hiring new staff at the moment, Lady He Lian. Why insist on staying here?"

"By now, you must know what happened at Soul-Severing Ridge." He Lianxue’s voice wavered slightly. "Rumors condemning me will spread soon, and my sect will undoubtedly disapprove. I have nowhere else to go."

Lvluo’s eyes welled up. "Miss…"

"You’re a disciple of the Carefree Sect. I doubt anyone in the martial world would dare criticize you openly, Lady He Lian." Lu Jianwei offered sincere advice. "If you return now and go into seclusion for a month, ignoring the gossip, the rumors will die down on their own."

He Lianxue pressed, "Why won’t you take me in?"

"It’s not that I won’t—it’s unnecessary." Lu Jianwei left the door slightly ajar.

"I see." He Lianxue straightened, resolve hardening. "If you trust me, I can go to Cangzhou and investigate the buyer. If I find them, will you let me work here?"

She wanted to prove her worth.

At this point, Lu Jianwei couldn’t refuse outright.

Truthfully, she had never intended to shut He Lianxue out completely.

The daughter of the Carefree Sect’s leader, carrying the Gu Emperor—both identities intrigued her.

But things obtained too easily were rarely cherished.

"Miss He Lian's sincerity makes it hard for me to refuse any longer," Lu Jianwei said with a nod and a smile. "Regardless of whether we find what you're looking for, the inn welcomes you."

He Lianxue beamed with joy. "Thank you, innkeeper!"

"Hmph." Aleshu turned his face away, still disliking anyone from the Carefree Sect.

The staff exchanged glances: It seemed the inn would soon gain another member. They’d have to work even harder, or else this newcomer might outshine them, leaving them with no place to stand.

"Innkeeper, we left in such a hurry—your sect hasn’t arrived yet. What about the money and herbs in the courtyard?" Xue Guanhe asked.

Lu Jianwei replied simply, "No need to worry."

"And what about the three assassins?"

"Drag them back as laborers."

Assassins were disposable pawns; no one would come to ransom them. Since they couldn’t be sold for profit, they might as well serve their final purpose.

Besides, their suppressed inner energy was a rare resource.

Her cultivation skills were currently restricted by the system, but the day would come when they’d be unsealed. By then, these assassins might contribute to her leveling up.

Aleshu asked, "Are you really leaving tomorrow?"

"Why?" Lu Jianwei teased. "Does Young Master Lin not plan to return to Cangzhou? If you do, you could travel with Miss He Lian."

"..."

A'Nai added mischievously, "Then rumors might spread in the martial world—another admirer has joined the ranks of those beneath Miss He Lian’s skirt: Young Master Lin."

"..."

Aleshu glared at him.

This servant belonged to Wen Zhuzhi and surely knew his true identity. He was deliberately mocking him.

"Jiangzhou is lovely. I’d like to stay here long-term. Innkeeper Lu, what will become of this inn after you leave?"

Lu Jianwei replied, "It’ll remain. Perhaps one day, on a whim, I’ll return to admire Jiangzhou’s unique scenery."

"Will the inn need someone to manage it?"

"No need for Young Master Lin to trouble himself. Someone will come periodically to tend to it."

Aleshu insisted, "What I mean is—I could guard it for you."

As long as he remained in Dada City, no one would dare damage the inn.

Lu Jianwei was puzzled. "Why?"

"Consider it my way of thanking her... and thanking you." Aleshu smiled faintly.

For the first time, sincerity softened the young man’s pale face, and his usually cold eyes gleamed with warmth.

It was as though a burden he’d carried for years had lifted, freeing him from the cage of regret and self-blame.

Lu Jianwei shook her head. "Your kindness is noted."

"Very well." Aleshu didn’t press further. "If you ever return, I’ll host a feast in your honor to welcome you back."

All past grievances were now forgiven.

The next day, the staff packed their belongings and locked the courtyard gate.

"Innkeeper, won’t someone steal these things if we leave them here?" Yue Shu fretted.

Lu Jianwei assured him, "No."

Five horses and two carriages set off—one exquisitely luxurious, belonging to Wen Zhuzhi, and the other crude, carrying the three unconscious assassins. The task of driving the latter fell to Xue Guanhe.

Aleshu personally escorted them to the city gates, waving farewell as their party grew distant. Only when they vanished from sight did he turn back toward the Holy Medicine Hall.

At his desk, he pondered for a long while before picking up a brush and writing. He then summoned Ashicai.

"I’ve ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‍composed a farewell poem. What do you think?"

Ashicai: "..."

They departed Jiangzhou in mid-September. The journey lasted nearly two months, and by November, they arrived in Jiangzhou.

Winter had already settled in.

Along the way, Xiao Wu had been nurtured for two months, fed daily with medicinal herbs and poisonous substances. By the second month, it was also given "Old White Hair," and it was nearly ready to become a Gu.

A month earlier, a yin-yang pattern had emerged on its back—half black, half white, like the mythical Black and White Impermanence.

Three days after leaving Jiangzhou, Lu Jianwei had Xiao Ke collect all the herbs from the inn, storing them in the system’s inventory.

The silver also went into her private account.

Most of Xiao Wu’s food during the journey came from these herbs.

The three clans had been exceedingly generous, providing rare and common herbs in abundance—enough to open an apothecary in Jiangzhou.

As winter deepened, Lu Jianwei, unwilling to endure the biting wind, switched to riding in the carriage.

The carriage wound through Jiangzhou’s streets, drawing closer to the Eight Directions Inn. Just one more turn, and they’d be home—

The road was blocked.

Ahead, an endless line of luxurious carriages clogged the street, each belonging to wealthy patrons.

Liang Shangjun darted forward and asked a servant leaning against a carriage shaft, "Brother, what’s going on? Why is everyone stopped here?"

The servant eyed him, noting his plain clothes but the fine steed he led, and answered politely, "Everyone’s queuing to see Doctor Yuan for treatment."

"Thanks, brother."

Returning to the group, Liang Shangjun marveled, "In just half a year, Doctor Yuan’s reputation has grown so much. Innkeeper, how do we get back?"

"Blocking the road inconveniences the public," Lu Jianwei said. "Perhaps the authorities can clear the way."

"Innkeeper, I’ll go." Yue Shu dismounted.

With so many influential figures gathered, the local officials surely knew but couldn’t control them. But if the innkeeper spoke, it was different.

Now, the Eight Directions Inn was Jiangzhou’s most formidable force—neither martial artists nor commoners dared defy it.

Yue Shu, bearing the inn’s token, prompted the officials to dispatch officers immediately.

"No! I’ve waited forever. If I move now, someone else will take my spot!"

"You’re back again? Everyone’s waiting their turn—why should I move first?"

The crowd erupted in protests, refusing to disperse.

The officers took a deep breath and shouted, "Innkeeper Lu has returned! You’re in her way!"

Silence fell instantly.

Every head turned toward the rear, where a procession had indeed halted at the street’s end.

"Move! Clear the way!"

"Hurry up! Don’t delay Innkeeper Lu!"

"Quickly! This is agonizing!"

Carriages and horses swiftly shifted to the roadside, lining up neatly without a trace of disorder.

Lu Jianwei: "..."

Was she really that intimidating?

The carriage proceeded smoothly to the inn’s courtyard.

Uncle Zhang and Yun Hui stood outside, waiting eagerly to welcome them. Yun Hui’s gaze kept darting toward Tiao, hope shining in her eyes.

"Aunt Yun, Tiao’s poison has been cured!" Xue Guanhe, sensing her nervousness, reassured her in one sentence.

The weight in Yun Hui’s chest vanished. She meant to smile, but tears came first.

Embarrassed, she turned away, choking out, "Innkeeper, I’ll go prepare tea for everyone."

Tiao dismounted gracefully. After two months of recovery on the road, the frail girl was gone.

At seventeen, her bright eyes and radiant smile, clad in a padded dress, made her utterly charming.

"Mother," she called.

Yun Hui froze, her feet rooted to the ground.

"I’m better now. I can be your daughter again."

"You’ve always been my daughter."

Lu Jianwei stepped down from the carriage and smiled. "Aunt Yun, before, when Tiao’s poison wasn’t cured, she didn’t dare get too close—afraid it would hurt you more later."

Her words enlightened everyone present.

The toxins lingering in the body would shorten one's lifespan. The monthly antidote could only suppress them, but there would come a time when even that would fail.

If she were to pass away suddenly, leaving Yun Hui behind, how heartbroken her daughter would be.

Now, at least, the mother and daughter could live out the rest of their days in peace.

At this thought, Yun Hui could no longer hold back her tears and broke down sobbing in front of everyone, as if pouring out all her pent-up sorrow and fear.

"Tiao, take your mother back to her room," Lu Jianwei instructed. "The rest of you, unload the goods and tidy up. Where’s Doctor Yuan?"

"Doctor Yuan is in the clinic treating patients," Uncle Zhang replied, holding the reins of the horse. "Innkeeper, should we continue receiving guests today?"

"It’s fine. They’re all here seeking treatment—we shouldn’t keep them waiting too long." Lu Jianwei was eager to return to her room to check on Xiao Wu, whom she had carefully nurtured for the past two months. "I’ll head inside first."

Uncle Zhang called out to her, "Innkeeper, about the stable—"

"I’ve already heard about the attack on the inn," Lu Jianwei turned back and said solemnly. "Thank you all for protecting the Eight Directions Inn."

"It was our duty," Uncle Zhang replied cheerfully. "In a way, misfortune turned into a blessing for me."

Only then did Lu Jianwei notice the change in him and smiled. "You’ve broken through to mid-stage fifth rank? That’s excellent! We should celebrate—tell Xue Guanhe to prepare a few extra dishes for tonight."

"Will do!"