Lu Zheng smiled. He glanced at the Inn Owner. He actually seemed pretty low-key. He had a sinewy build and an average height. His face was a bit clean and light tone for a martial artist, either.

  He could not help but think, It’s hard to believe he is on the Adept Rank.

  Adept Rank could now summon elemental qi on their techniques. The elemental qi was vastly different from the normal one, their manifestations were more solid. As a result, their weapons were no ordinary as it had to be able to handle the elemental qi.

  Lu Zheng sipped the wine and tasted the sweetness of the apple flavor.

  At the same time, Lu Zheng took the chance to sweep his gaze and imprint the surroundings in his head. He was trying to search for the Inn owner’s weapons.

  Suddenly, the Inn owner said, while having his back facing towards Lu Zheng as he was cleaning another bottle of wine, “I fight with my fists. If I have to be serious, I have to go to my room and grab the gauntlet with me.”

  Lu Zheng was surprised. He did not expect him to suddenly reveal crucial information about himself. He furrowed his eyebrows, thinking, What is his intention, really?

  It’s obvious he is already aware of what happened on the second floor.

  Also, is he not affiliated with the Scorching Blade Clan? I have not heard a member of them using gauntlets as their weapons.

  Lu Zheng wanted to ask many questions in his head, but found it stuck in his throat.

  He did not know where to begin at all.

  “You don’t have to be nervous. Let your body move and take a breath.”

  Lu Zheng was stunned. It was at this moment he knew he would never be able to defeat him.

  Hence, he relaxed, leaving his fate to the Inn owner.

  The Inn owner turned around, glanced at the empty glass in Lu Zheng’s hand, and smiled.

  He grabbed the bottle of wine on the table, not far from Lu Zheng, and poured more wine.

  He said, “Congratulations for your breakthrough. Intermediate Rank at your age? You’re quite a talent.”

  Lu Zheng was surprised. In the end, he sighed and giggled like a silly child.

  It has been a while since he was genuinely complimented, so he was thankful from the bottom of his heart.

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  He replied in a soft voice, “Thank you.”

  The Inn owner was surprised. He exhaled with a smile.

  He said, “Despite possessing such an extreme killing intent, you still are a child in the heart. I want to hug you right now, but it’s not the best time for that yet. First, you have to survive.”

  Lu Zheng was surprised. At this point, he completely left himself defenseless. Against the Adept Rank, who seemed to have known a bit too much of himself, he was helpless.

  Ravyn was surprisingly silent, too. It appeared even he would be hopeless in such a situation.

  The Inn owner meaningfully glanced at his money pouch and Lu Zheng protected it with his right hand by instinct.

  The Inn owner chuckled. “I say it right now, those gold coins are useless with you at the moment, even in the future. After all, you have to survive in the wilderness alone.”

  Lu Zheng was taken aback. He replied, “But it might be useful in the future if I enter the city, though.”

  The Inn owner nodded and said, “Yes, but that has to happen. How about this? I’ll carry your money before you manage to reach another city. In fact, I was about to ask you for compensation in exchange for hiding your identity after massacring even the internal members of the Scorching Blade Clan.

  Thankfully, most of them are dispensable.”

  Lu Zheng furrowed his eyebrows, staring at the Inn owner filled with suspicions, “In the end, you were really after my money.”

  The Inn owner chuckled and replied with a smile, “Yes. But, don’t worry. If you really manage to cross the river upstream and arrive at the inland mountain range, where you can find the Stoneroot Hold City, I will return the money to you.”

  He suddenly raised his hand and extended his index and middle finger, saying, “I will give it to you two times, too.”

  Lu Zheng was surprised, lowered his head, and contemplated.

  In fact, he had long accepted his offer. However, he was pondering about the Stoneroot Hold City, too.

  He contemplated. I have heard of the Stoneroot Hold City. It is located beside the vast mountain range. All of the martial artist practitioners practiced earth martial arts, as the place possessed rich earth qi.

  Compared to the Ebonshade City, where it is located in the volcanic mountain near coast, where the place is both rich with water and fire qi, causing the emergence of two middle-sized clan, the Stoneroot Hold City only has a single middle-sized clan, but they are more advanced both in quality and quantity.

  Lu Zheng glanced at the Inn owner, who was smiling at him, and continued to contemplate.

  He must be an elder there. What was the name of the clan?

  As much as Lu Zheng wanted to remember them, he was unable to.

  In the end, he gave up and replied to the Inn owner’s offer.

  “Alright. I’ll trust you. I don’t have a choice, either.”

  He did not hesitate to unwrap the tie on his money pouch and handed it to the Inn owner, whose eyes sparkled in excitement.

  Lu Zheng almost rolled his eyes as he asked, “What is your name?”

  The Inn owner was surprised. Grasping the money pouch tightly, he did not hesitate to reply, “Huangtu Jinluan.”

  Lu Zheng was surprised. He thought. Jin… as in, money…

  He chuckled as he said, “Your name suits you.”

  Jin was taken aback and shrugged.

  He replied, “They used to say that to me before. Whatever. Those stoic, stone cultivators… If it was not for me, they would not have been able to maintain their wealth.”

  Lu Zheng shrugged and replied, “Well, they don’t have to. Wealthy people would willingly sponsor them with money in exchange for powers.”