Chapter 2017: Not at Ease
Chapter 2017: Chapter 2017: Not at Ease
Outside Leisure Village.
Xiao Yi’s figure descended from the sky.
As he stepped into Leisure Village, he was met with an atmosphere of tranquility and calm.
Within the village, the aura of strong individuals occasionally emitted.
This time, there were even legendary presences, some among the stronger legends.
Leisure Village is a place designated by the Guisha City Lord for recuperation within Guisha City.
The ’villagers’ here are often different.
Of course, the purposes of those coming to Leisure Village also vary greatly.
Xiao Yi stepped into Leisure Village.
Whoosh... Shortly after, a figure appeared beside him out of thin air.
"Vice Hall Master Xiao Xun." Shen Xinghe smiled and cupped his fists.
The figure was indeed Shen Xinghe.
Xiao Yi nodded, acknowledging the greeting.
"I just happened not to know where Heartless Inn is; you should know, right?"
Keenly, Shen Xinghe nodded, "Of course, I have had the fortune of receiving guidance from the Heartless Inn Master several times and have been to Heartless Inn a few times."
"Lead the way," Xiao Yi said directly.
"Alright." Shen Xinghe did not mind Xiao Yi’s unreserved manner, and gestured for him to follow.
After a while, under Shen Xinghe’s guidance, Xiao Yi arrived at a corner of the village.
"Vice Hall Master Xiao Xun, please wait a moment," Shen Xinghe said, "To see the Heartless Inn Master, a prior request is necessary."
"Only if the Heartless Inn Master is willing to meet, can we see him."
"Otherwise, no one can see the Heartless Inn Master."
Xiao Yi nodded and asked, "How to request a meeting?"
Shen Xinghe answered, "Vice Hall Master Xiao Xun, please wait a moment, there are servants of Heartless Inn in Leisure Village, I’ll go find them."
Evidently, to see the Heartless Inn Master, it requires the servant of Heartless Inn to notify, only then can a meeting be requested.
However, just as Shen Xinghe was about to leave.
Whoosh...
A spatial ripple formed in the air.
A spatial rift appeared.
"Hmm?" Shen Xinghe was surprised, "Has the Heartless Inn Master directly agreed to meet?"
Shen Xinghe glanced at Xiao Yi, surprised, "Vice Hall Master Xiao Xun certainly holds considerable sway."
Xiao Yi frowned slightly; he did not consider himself influential.
He had only met the Heartless Inn Master once.
"Vice Hall Master Xiao Xun, you may enter." Shen Xinghe said, "I will not be going."
With a bitter yet envious expression, Shen Xinghe said, "There’s still a significant contribution gap before I can request guidance at Heartless Inn again, possibly ten years or so without a chance."
Xiao Yi nodded his head and stepped into the spatial rift.
Indeed, Heartless Inn exists within a subspace.
Xiao Yi steadied himself, and the surrounding scenery had changed.
This wasn’t within Leisure Village anymore, no, it still was, but within a subspace of Leisure Village.
In front of him stood a house.
It wasn’t a straw hut, nor was it the simple huts found outside in Leisure Village, but it didn’t appear particularly grand either.
The house was large enough but looked rather ordinary.
Xiao Yi approached and glanced up; a plaque bearing the three large characters ’Heartless Inn’ was inscribed.
Xiao Yi stepped into the house.
Inside the house, the first thing that greeted him was a courtyard.
Beyond the courtyard was a large hall.
In the hall, a middle-aged man in coarse clothing sat quietly.
The middle-aged man stared calmly at Xiao Yi, clearly awaiting his arrival.
Xiao Yi walked toward the hall and slightly bowed, "Heartless Inn Master."
The middle-aged man was, of course, the mysterious Heartless Inn Master.
Xiao Yi cupped his fists, "I have come because..."
"I know." Heartless Inn Master interrupted, "You have come seeking the Ten Thousand Poison Fruit."
"Yes." Xiao Yi cupped his fists and nodded.
Heartless Inn Master spoke calmly, "Three days ago, the Manager of Guisha City Lord’s Mansion came to inform me of this matter."
"I agreed to help and to ripen the Ten Thousand Poison Fruit for you."
"I also instructed you to come to Heartless Inn today, three days later."
Heartless Inn Master spoke plainly.
"But today, I’ve had a change of heart." A hint of ripples flashed in Heartless Inn Master’s otherwise calm eyes, as he looked at Xiao Yi with some helplessness.
"A change of heart?" Xiao Yi was taken aback.
Initially, he too had arrived with hopeful anticipation.
Initially, he believed this time the Ten Thousand Poison Fruit would have no unexpected issues and surely be acquired.
After all, Guisha City had never broken its rules.
Things promised by the Guisha City Lord and Heartless Inn Master had never been reneged.
Thus, Xiao Yi was momentarily stunned.
But what followed was Xiao Yi’s cold gaze.
"Why?" Xiao Yi bit his lip and asked coldly.
A time like this, twice like this.
With expectations each time, only for ice-cold reality to douse him from head to toe.
This disappointment, for him now, felt unbearable.
That Ten Thousand Poison Fruit, he desperately needed it.
"No reason." Heartless Inn Master shook his head blandly.
"That Ten Thousand Poison Fruit, I will not give it to you, nor will I ripen it further."
"Perhaps, you can find a better choice." Heartless Inn Master said mysteriously.
Xiao Yi remained silent.
Heartless Inn Master frowned slightly, "I had agreed originally, now that I’ve changed my mind, I can offer you compensation."
"Whatever you ask for, I’ll not deny."
Heartless Inn Master added, "No cost needed, no deduction from your Guisha City contribution, nor exchange needed."
From Heartless Inn Master’s tone and words, the Ten Thousand Poison Fruit was evidently unattainable.
Heartless Inn Master obviously intended to compensate.
But any other compensation, Xiao Yi did not need.
Xiao Yi’s eyes were as icy cold as the Cold Abyss.
"Ha." Xiao Yi let out a cold laugh.
The lifeless sound of laughter made Heartless Inn Master’s brows furrow tighter.
"Perhaps I can address your Martial Arts concerns, until you’re satisfied."
In Guisha City, Heartless Inn Master was the most mysterious individual.
Coming to Guisha City and becoming a Ghost Hunter, likely over ninety percent came for Heartless Inn Master.
Just to accumulate enough contribution points to seek guidance from Heartless Inn Master.
Imaginably, earning Heartless Inn Master’s guidance is an incredibly fortunate affair.
Moreover, to request a meeting with Heartless Inn Master is inherently difficult, his guidance limited in time.
Now, Heartless Inn Master’s intent was clearly to offer guidance to Xiao Yi without a time limit.
If other martial artists heard this, they’d likely be ecstatic.
Even older legendary martial artists, those ministers within Guisha City Lord’s Mansion, or those with strength above seventy thousand paths, upon hearing this would surely race to it as if receiving great favor.
But for Xiao Yi, without that Ten Thousand Poison Fruit, nothing else mattered.
"No need." Xiao Yi shook his head, "Goodbye."
The icy voice fell.
The indifferent figure turned away.
"Guisha City, Free Region, ha, it seems I shouldn’t have come, nor need to be here."
"The Free Region is not so free."
...
Second update.