Chapter 491: Taiping Inn Grows and Thrives! Xiao Ran’s Mortal-World Heart-Cultivation! The Massacre of Dongyang Village!

The next morning, Li Yanchu awoke feeling refreshed and clear-headed. When he opened his eyes, it was already around ten in the morning. Whenever a major event occurred, he would take a long sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and invigorated.

He dressed, washed up, then stepped into the courtyard, breathing in the fresh air, his mood exceedingly pleasant.

I should stay away from those ghost-infested places in the future. It’s still more comfortable staying in the temple

, he thought.

“Daoist Master Li.” A crisp voice sounded behind him.

Hearing the voice, Li Yanchu turned. From behind the door of one of the temple’s guest rooms peeked a young, pretty face with large, bright, watery eyes and twin ponytails. Her clothing was quite different from the style of the Central Plains, and her whole presence radiated a lively, romantic air. It was Liu Jun, the girl he’d brought back from the Liu ancestral hall.

“Morning,” Li Yanchu greeted with a smile.

“It’s not morning anymore, look how high the sun is,” Liu Jun muttered with her head lowered.

Li Yanchu paused, glanced up at the sky.

I slept that long?

he thought.

Such were the perks of being a Daoist, no need for scheduled checks, clocking in, or work shifts. He was the only one living in the temple, and business wasn’t exactly booming anyway...

Rumble!

Then, a strange sound reached his ears. He instinctively glanced at Liu Jun.

Her face flushed red as she said, “It was too scary back there... I didn’t eat anything the whole time. I didn’t even feel hungry then... but now I’m starving.”

“If you’re starving, why not go get something to eat?” Li Yanchu asked, puzzled.

“No money,” Liu Jun squeezed out the two words.

Li Yanchu froze. “Wait, don’t tell me you expect me to take you out to eat?”

Liu Jun nodded.

“So I went through all that, saved you from the Liu ancestral hall, got nothing in return, now I’m housing you... and I have to feed you too?” he said in disbelief.

Liu Jun looked embarrassed. “All my money was swindled away. I also met a lot of people with bad intentions on the road. I’ve been skipping meals here and there. Daoist Master Li... I can help you with chores in the temple. Just... just feed me.”

Li Yanchu sighed. “Being a good person is a loss-making business.”

But complaining aside, he still took Liu Jun out to eat. He rarely ate on the streets anymore, as he always went to Taiping Inn.

The shopboy was already very familiar with him. After all, he was the innkeeper’s man.

“Daoist Master Yanchu, tea, or...?” Zhang San asked.

“We haven’t eaten yet. Bring a breakfast spread, a large one,” Li Yanchu said.

At this point, he was basically a wealthy local tyrant, although all the money was in the innkeeper’s hands.

“Right away. Please wait,” Zhang San replied respectfully.

At this hour, breakfast would normally be over, but things were different when Li Yanchu came.

Soon, Zhang San brought out a large breakfast spread from the kitchen. Before Li Yanchu could even pick up his chopsticks, Liu Jun had already started eating. She was truly starving, and the steaming buns and freshly fried dough sticks were irresistible. She ate quickly, like a storm sweeping through the land.

“Slow down,” Li Yanchu said.

He was someone who trained in martial arts, so his appetite was naturally big. Even though he had already mastered the Fasting Art that allowed him to live on wind and dew alone, going a whole year without food or drink without issue, Daoist Master Li still preferred steamed buns and a proper breakfast, even if today’s had come a bit late.

What he didn’t expect was that this young, pretty girl with twin ponytails could

eat that much

.

After the meal, he sighed, “Eight buns, ten

youtiao

[1], three bowls of soy milk, and six eggs... at this rate I’m not sure I can afford to hire you.”

He couldn’t help but marvel.

Liu Jun laughed shyly, looking a little bashful.

“It’s fine. It’s just food. Come work for me instead.” A charming, sultry voice drifted over.

Li Yanchu turned and couldn’t help but laugh. “What, is the inn short on helpers?”

A mature, languid, and stunningly beautiful woman shot him a sideways glance.

“What, you’re reluctant to let her go? Or do you want to keep this little girl by your side?” the innkeeper said irritably.

“Come on, what would I be reluctant about? I barely know her. It’s just that she seems to be under some sort of curse, something strange, and I want to investigate it,” Li Yanchu explained.

“What do you think, little girl? Want to work for me? Two taels a month, with food and lodging included,” the innkeeper said.

“Thank you, ma’am,” Liu Jun said with a sweet smile.

A very spirited little girl indeed...

The innkeeper smiled enchantingly.

“Are you full? If not, I’ll bring more.”

“I’m full. Thank you for the concern, ma'am.”

“Good. If there’s nothing else, come find me later. I’ll arrange things for you.”

“Thank you, ma'am!” Liu Jun called out cheerfully.

The innkeeper rolled her eyes at Li Yanchu, then, swaying her figure as ripe and alluring as a peach, slowly walked away. With just a few words, she had smoothly recruited this twin-tailed young girl as her helper...

“I forgot to ask, do you have any family left? Do you need to go back and tell them?” Li Yanchu asked.

“There’s no one left in my family. It’s just me. I’m not going back. From now on I’ll work hard for ma'am here,” Liu Jun said softly.

“...” Li Yanchu.

So she really

was

looking for a job. He had thought she wasn’t going to stay long-term, and that he’d exorcise the curse then send her on her way.

Suddenly, Li Yanchu paused as he noticed one of the inn’s helpers. The figure looked familiar.

He took a closer look, and his brows furrowed.

Why is she here?

“Daoist Master Li, we meet again.” The young helper with rosy lips, bright white teeth, and a very youthful-looking face smiled cheerfully.

“What are you doing working here as a helper?” Li Yanchu asked, surprised.

“To be precise... I’m doing odd jobs. I thought about it, and my master said I needed to cultivate my heart through life in the mortal world. Since I have to cultivate my heart, why not do it in a place like this?”

This young lad, with a face so tender that it looked like a pinch would make it release moisture, was none other than Xiao Ran. It was hard for Li Yanchu to connect her image in Daoist robes with the errand-runner she looked like now.

Although Xiao Ran’s face was soft and youthful, her figure was extremely impressive; it was full and curvy, blessed by the heavens. But right now, she appeared quite ordinary; she’d clearly bound her chest.

“You really are something,” Li Yanchu said with a sigh.

“Daoist Master, you eat first. I’ll go back to work.” Xiao Ran smiled and walked off.

After she left, Liu Jun, now glowing with satisfaction after her meal, asked, “Daoist Master Li, you two know each other?”

“Not very well. We met a few times.” Li Yanchu didn’t explain further. A Daoist cultivator coming to work in an inn as an errand-runner was... odd.

He glanced at the innkeeper. “Are you planning to build Taiping Inn into some grand establishment?”

Suddenly, a stumbling figure rushed into the inn and collapsed with a heavy

thud

. Seeing this, the entire room jumped in fright.

The man was covered in blood. Wearing a bamboo hat with a long blade at his waist, he was clearly a wandering swordsman.

“There’s a demon causing havoc in Dongyang County, it’s already wiped out three villages!”

With his final breath spoken, the swordsman fell still and died on the spot.

1. Youtiao, known in Southern China as yu char kway, is a long golden-brown deep-fried strip of wheat flour dough of Chinese origin and also popular in other East and Southeast Asian cuisines. Conventionally, youtiao are lightly salted and easily separated by hand. Here is a picture for your

reference

. ☜