บท 35: Night at the Inn
Winter was a time of solace and rest.
Lin Fan stayed at home, perfecting his strokes with the pair of hammers.
The other villagers also recuperated in their homes from the toils throughout the previous spring, summer, and autumn.
They needed to get ready when next spring came again, as another cycle would repeat itself.
Planting the crops, tending them, and finally harvesting them for paying the autumn harvest tax.
That was the life of a villager without any hope of getting better.
…
Days passed by very fast with the short days and long nights.
When Lin Fan saw the tiny sharp green sprout of grass poking through the thin snow, he knew that it was time.
Spring, a new beginning, starts.
Time for him to get enrolled in Qing Feng sect.
Before setting off, the village head invited him and Uncle Liu's family for dinner.
On the table were roast chicken, vegetables, and fish soup.
All hard-to-get dishes near the end of winter.
Lin Fan, surprised at the sumptuous meal, felt the warmth as he enjoyed the dishes.
"Ho Ming, I wouldn't be around to keep you out of trouble. I want you to listen to Lin Fan and do whatever Lin Fan says."
Ho Fu, with his smoke pipe, tapped on the table to grab Ho Ming's attention.
With a roast chicken leg in his mouth, Ho Ming nodded in agreement.
The smoke pipe in Ho Fu's hand went up; Ho Ming instinctively tried to dodge.
"Ai…", Ho Fu sighed when he saw Ho Ming's reaction, and he put down the smoke pipe.
"I'm old, and you are your own man now. Remember what I've taught. Your entrance to the Qing Feng sect means a lot to the Ho family."
"I... will...", Ho Ming put down the roast chicken leg and silently replied.
This was the first time Ho Ming had heard his father talk to him in this manner.
The realization that he would be on his own going forward finally hit him.
Seeing the mood turning somber, Lin Fan said, "Don't worry, village head, I will take care of Ho Ming. I promise."
Uncle Liu also joined in and said, "Lin Fan is very capable; he will ensure Ho Ming's safety."
Then he went on to recount how Lin Fan had gone from near death to becoming a successful hunter.
When the dinner ended and Lin Fan was ready to leave, the village head handed a bottle to Lin Fan.
"There are Qi concentration pills inside; take them to increase your chances."
Lin Fan tried to push back Ho Fu's hand. "Village head, I can't accept this. Let Ho Ming have it."
Ho Fu insisted; with a pleading look, he looked at Lin Fan and said, "Please accept it. Take it as payment for your help in looking after Ho Ming."
"All right. Thanks.", Lin Fan took the bottle and kept it.
With the pills settled, Ho Fu took out a scroll and unrolled it. "Here is a map of how to get to Qing Feng sect.
"Go north from Feng Shou town; it's two days' journey away.
"There's an inn in between; you can stay for a night.
"Lots of those going for the enrollment will stay there, so it's relatively safe."
After looking briefly at the map, Lin Fan rolled it back and kept the map.
Then it was time to bid farewell to the village head.
With his stomach full from the hearty meal and warmth from the fireplace, Lin Fan had a good night's sleep.
…
Next day.
Before the sun rose, Lin Fan was already up.
In the dark, with only a dim candlelight, Lin Fan packed his belongings and his weapons.
Everything except the manuscript.
He wouldn't want to be mistaken as a spy from the Flowing Cloud sect.
By the time he was done, Ho Ming was already waiting outside.
With his dark rings around his eyes, Ho Ming greeted Lin Fan.
Lin Fan noticed but decided not to say anything about it.
"Come, let's go. We have a lot of walking to do."
Silently, Ho Ming just nodded.
When they made their way out onto the edge of the village, Ho Ming turned back and stopped for a moment.
He then took a deep bow.
After that, he stood up and patted Lin Fan's back. "Time for us to see the world."
By noon, they arrived at the inn.
There was already a crowd when they got there.
Some of them in their luxurious clothes and servants were having their warm meals.
Having traveled on horse carriages, they looked fresh and without a hint of fatigue.
These were the heirs of the rich families.
The others, like Lin Fan, were in their ragged coarse linen clothes.
Walking all the way from home, they were tired, hungry, and thirsty.
"Stay alert and be cautious," Lin Fan told Ho Ming as they entered the inn.
When it was their turn, the waiter greeted them and asked, "Two of you? Just having a meal or staying overnight?"
"How much for staying overnight?" Lin Fan asked.
The waiter kept looking over Lin Fan's shoulder at the rich young lord approaching the inn and impatiently replied, "That will be ten copper coins."
Lin Fan hesitated for a moment, and after some consideration, he gritted his teeth and paid the copper coins.
They could have camped in the wilderness for one night, but he didn't want Ho Ming to be affected by the lack of rest.
After all, no one knew what the criteria for the abilities test were.
With a wide grin, the waiter took the copper coins and led both of them to their room on the second floor.
After Lin Fan and Ho Ming put their stuff into their room, they came down for dinner.
The guests were enthusiastically chattering among themselves.
"Have you heard? The abilities test has been changed."
"Changed? I just bought a cheat sheet for last year's test!"
"I heard there were some selected ones with recommendation letters."
Everyone cried out in envy when they heard about the recommendation letters.
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