Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Luminous Mystic Forest, Ping An Inn, Xu Jiujiu (I)
Two days later at dusk, Ling Bai arrived at Ping An Town, the closest stopover to the Luminous Mystic Forest.
The town's name carried the meaning of 'arriving and departing safe and sound,' and it was about four times the size of an ordinary village. Except for the lack of thick defensive walls, it was essentially a small city, with shops lining both sides of the streets and quite a bustling atmosphere.
With a single glance, Ling Bai noticed that the shops' main businesses were almost all related to Spirit Masters, offering a dazzling array of goods. For example, there were long spears and armor forged by blacksmiths, detoxification and healing elixirs concocted by physicians, and so on.
This was the so-called 'living off the mountain when near the mountain, living off the water when near the water.' Ping An Town was adjacent to the Luminous Mystic Forest. As such, most Spirit Masters would replenish their supplies here before entering the forest.
Looking up at the dimming sky, and considering that entering a spirit beast forest at night was by no means a wise choice, Ling Bai decisively chose to find an inn to stay the night and proceed to the Luminous Mystic Forest early the next morning.
The Ping An Inn was a simply decorated two-story wooden building. The first floor served as a dining hall to entertain guests, while the second floor housed numerous guest rooms.
Ling Bai retrieved a transparent white membrane from his Storage Spirit Guidance Device. The membrane was as thin and light as paper and seemed to have liquid constantly flowing within. He gently placed it over his face, and after a flash of white light, his facial features underwent subtle changes, and his dazzling golden hair and eyes transformed into more common black hair and eyes.
It was a Class 5 Spirit Guidance Device—the Ice Silkworm Mask—crafted from rare Water Diamond Ice Crystals mixed with Extreme North Ice Silkworm silk. It possessed the ability of 'Imitation', which couldn't be seen through by anyone below the Spirit Saint rank.
The Luminous Mystic Forest was vast, and the Snake Queen Medusa was adept at concealment. The innate abilities of the Death Abyss Spider Emperor were more suitable for this situation than those of the Seraphim, but once the Death Abyss Spider Emperor's abilities were activated, it would appear too much like those of an Evil Spirit Master.
On the Douluo Continent, Evil Spirit Masters were universally despised; even passing dogs might dare to kick an Evil Spirit Master. If someone remembered his true appearance and he failed to silence them, it would be extremely troublesome. Therefore, Ling Bai spent a huge sum to buy the Ice Silkworm Mask during his journey to prevent future complications.
"One standard room, please. Also, bring a pot of tea and two of your signature dishes."
The Luminous Mystic Forest was one of the major gathering places for spirit beasts, second only to the Star Dou Forest. Many Spirit Masters came to hunt spirit beasts here. Inside the inn, various types of Spirit Masters were gathered. It created a boisterous atmosphere filled with laughter, shouts, and ceaseless chatter. Ling Bai informed the clerk at the front desk, then casually found an empty table and sat down.
At the adjacent table were seven or eight burly men. Leading them was a woman who appeared to be in her thirties. Her skin was sallow and coarse, she was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted with a bloated figure, and her large face bore an uncanny resemblance to a bicycle seat. Clad in a tiger-skin skirt, she was eating and drinking heartily with her subordinates in an unrestrained and boisterous manner.
"Hey, Boss Luo, look over there!"
Zhang Wu, who had been toasting their boss, suddenly caught sight of Ling Bai. His eyes instantly lit up and he hastily reported to their boss, Luo Mei, in a hushed tone.
Luo Mei gulped down a mouthful of wine and rolled her eyes impatiently. But when she followed the direction of Zhang Wu's gaze, she couldn't help but freeze momentarily.
Although describing a man as 'beautiful' might seem inappropriate, that face truly possessed a kind of allure that straddled the boundary between genders, so striking it bordered on enchanting.
A gleam of excitement like that of a predator before the hunt flashed in Luo Mei's eyes. She licked her rough, chapped lips. She had always relied on her strength to seize handsome young men to satisfy her desires. Encountering such a top-tier specimen stirred a restless urge within her. Her dark, sturdy thighs clenched and relaxed as she practically drooled with anticipation.
"Boss Luo, shall us brothers...?"
Zhang Wu chuckled lewdly, his perverted intentions evident without needing to elaborate further. As subordinates, the most crucial thing was to grasp the boss's desires. He wasn't picky—men or women, it was all the same to him. Once the boss had had her fill of fun, it would undoubtedly be his turn to enjoy himself for a couple of days.
"Mm... Argh!"
Luo Mei was just about to nod and signal Zhang Wu to boldly proceed when her mind was suddenly struck as if by a heavy blow. It felt like a sharp sword had viciously torn her brain apart, the pain so intense that she cried out on the spot, her hands clutching her head as she tumbled off the chair.
"Boss, what's wrong?"
The surrounding people hurriedly crowded around and helped Luo Mei up. Supported by her subordinates, she staggered back into her seat, coincidentally making eye contact with her 'prey' across the table.
"Shh—"
Ling Bai raised his index finger to his lips. The blood-red light erupting from the depths of his pitch-black eyes caused Luo Mei's face to turn deathly pale. The excruciating pain that had felt like her brain exploding made her no longer dare to meet Ling Bai's gaze. She immediately lowered her head and, in a hushed tone, scolded:
"Shut up! Eat!"
The group was perplexed. Why would their usually arrogant and unruly boss let this exceptional young man go so easily? Little did they know that Luo Mei was already drenched in cold sweat, inwardly exclaiming how fortunate she was to have escaped with her life from the hands of the Grim Reaper.
Before long, the waiter brought a pot of fine tea, a plate of stewed spirit beast meat, and a dish of greens unique to the Luminous Mystic Forest. Ling Bai slowly savored the local specialties, not giving Luo Mei and her group a second thought.
Trash, not worth the effort.
Cre-eak—
The wooden door emitted a strained creak as it was pushed open, and a man and a woman entered the Ping An Inn. Both of them possessed an extraordinary bearing.
The man was a tall, robust middle-aged figure with stern, fierce features and bulging muscles on his exposed arms. The woman had golden hair cascading over her shoulders, skin fairer than snow, clear and indifferent eyes, and lips as delicate as March peach blossoms. She was a stunning beauty with a dignified and noble temperament.
A true noble young lady cultivated by a great family, and her loyal guardian, Ling Bai objectively assessed.
The man scanned the inn's surroundings after pushing the door open, then gently said to the woman, "Miss Xu, the conditions in this remote town are limited. I'm afraid you'll have to make do with staying here for the night."
Miss Xu slightly nodded her head. Clearly, she was not a fussy woman. With a gentle smile, she replied, "It's fine, Uncle She Chong. We've had a long, tiring journey. Please arrange two rooms and order a few dishes."
"Yes, Miss."
She Chong went to the front desk to book rooms and order food, while Miss Xu looked for an empty table. At this time, the inn was about eighty to ninety percent full. It just so happened that the table next to Ling Bai was unoccupied. She considered for a moment, then stepped forward to head that way.
To get from the shop entrance to the empty table, one needed to pass by the tables of Luo Mei and Ling Bai respectively. Zhang Wu's lecherous eyes had been glued to Miss Xu's face, red lips, and bosom from the moment she set foot in the inn. Their group hailed from a small border town in the Star Luo Empire and were accustomed to throwing their weight around, relying on their spirit power.
Zhang Wu had initially set his sights on Ling Bai, but their boss Luo Mei had inexplicably backed down at the last moment. Now, faced with the breathtakingly beautiful Miss Xu, his lust instantly overwhelmed what little reason he had left!
The instant Miss Xu walked by, Zhang Wu seized the opportunity and reached out with both hands, aiming to wrap them around that delicate willowy waist, actually intending to pull her directly into his arms!
"Your Highness, watch out!"
She Chong cried out from the distant front desk, too far to intervene. Ling Bai's chopsticks, poised to pick up food, paused slightly upon hearing this.
Traveling incognito had its pros and cons. Concealing one's identity was naturally necessary. However, She Chong's instinctive exclamation revealed a flaw in their disguise. In great clans or sects, subordinates generally addressed the heir as 'Young Master' or 'Miss,' but 'Your Highness'... that was a title commonly used for royalty and crown princes in the imperial court!
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