Chapter 103: Following Zhao Honglan to the Inn

Xin Ci sheathed her sword, her expression having returned to its usual calm. She spoke, “I lost. Tonight, you…”

“Don’t wait for tonight!” Lian Li immediately interrupted. “It is not proper for a man and a woman to meet alone at night. Why not do this: just go to the small grove nearby and say what needs to be said in private. Everyone is in a hurry.”

“Female Warrior Xin!” Sui Xin Monk shouted at that moment, his voice infused with internal energy.

Lian Li interrupted again instantly: “Yun Huizhou, make him shut up!”

As soon as Lian Li finished speaking, a tuft of the short beard on Sui Xin Monk’s chin was sliced off. It was clear that if he had been even a fraction slower in dodging, Yun Huizhou’s blade would have likely struck his lips.

Seeing that Yun Huizhou had neutralized Sui Xin Monk, Lian Li dashed to Zhao Honglan’s side and lowered his voice. “Hurry up and settle things with Xin Ci. Don’t drag it out until tonight. Right now, a Sui Xin Monk has popped up and Yun Huizhou is helping you hold him back. If you delay until tonight and some ‘Sui Xin Taoist’ shows up, it’ll be a real headache.”

Zhao Honglan nodded, then made a gesture of invitation toward Xin Ci. “Miss Xin Ci, this way please.”

Xin Ci gave Zhao Honglan a look filled with complex emotions, followed by an even more complicated look at Lian Li, before following Zhao Honglan toward the nearby grove.

Sui Xin Monk tried to follow them but was blocked by Yun Huizhou.

By now, Yun Huizhou was thoroughly annoyed by the monk’s repeated attempts to interfere with Xin Ci.

Impatience flared in his heart, and his strikes gradually began to incorporate lethal moves.

Sui Xin Monk was startled. He no longer dared to divide his attention toward Xin Ci’s side and could only focus entirely on dealing with Yun Huizhou.

The shift in the battle between Yun Huizhou and Sui Xin Monk caused the surrounding onlookers to be secretly alarmed.

Sui Xin Monk had been in the Jianghu for nearly forty years, yet he was actually being suppressed and beaten by a junior.

Moreover, seeing how Sui Xin Monk was struggling more and more to cope, had this Young Hero Yun not even used his full strength before?

Many people watched the fight while also casting a curious glance toward Lian Li.

Lian Li was still wearing his douli to hide his face, but those who recognized Yun Huizhou basically had a few guesses about his identity.

Lian Li noticed that although no one seemed to be looking directly at him, he felt as though he were the center of everyone’s attention.

Zhao Honglan returned after about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Seeing that Xin Ci had not appeared, Lian Li asked, “Senior Brother Zhao, where is Female Warrior Xin?”

Zhao Honglan smiled at Lian Li and said, “Miss Xin Ci left after we finished speaking.”

Lian Li looked at the current situation and nodded understandingly.

This duel had turned into a farce; if she came back now, she would only be a laughingstock. It was better to leave directly.

Even though she had ultimately fought Zhao Honglan without interference as agreed, Sui Xin Monk’s antics were enough to damage her heroic reputation in the Jianghu.

For the next few years, she would likely be burdened by this incident and would have to keep a low profile.

Lian Li couldn’t wrap his head around it. He didn’t know Xin Ci well, but he had heard of her reputation. He didn’t understand why she would do such a thing.

There was arguably no benefit for her.

Even if she and Sui Xin Monk had teamed up to defeat Zhao Honglan and Zhao Honglan had married her as promised, it wouldn’t have benefited her in the slightest.

Furthermore, Lian Li felt that in the original plot, Zhao Honglan might not have even lost.

Seeing Zhao Honglan return without Xin Ci, Sui Xin Monk knew the entire matter of the duel was over.

He didn’t plan to stay any longer, so he stopped counterattacking and instead utilized his movement technique, preparing to flee.

He had just pulled away some distance when his vision suddenly blurred. Zhao Honglan had already appeared on his intended path of retreat, thrusting his sword twice toward him.

He tried to dodge, but his path was blocked by Yun Huizhou. He could only take the two hits.

One strike hit his arm, and the other hit his waist.

Zhao Honglan didn’t use lethal force; these two strikes were merely to vent his anger.

Once the two strikes were finished, Yun Huizhou sheathed his blade and returned to Lian Li’s side, and Zhao Honglan also sheathed his sword and came back.

Sui Xin Monk was injured, and naturally, he was displeased.

The wounds weren’t heavy, but in his eyes, the insult was extreme.

If it weren’t for the fact that he couldn’t beat either Yun Huizhou or Zhao Honglan individually—let alone the two of them together—he would have likely charged forward to fight to the death.

Because of the hatred in his heart, he failed to manage his expression, and a hint of sinister gloom crossed his face.

Seeing this, alarm bells rang in Lian Li’s mind. He had to be wary of this insidious monk.

The monk had come out to stall Zhao Honglan; there was definitely a purpose behind it, perhaps even someone pulling the strings.

Now that Zhao Honglan had obtained the information he wanted from Xin Ci, he would surely follow that lead to find the person.

This insidious monk would certainly not let matters rest.

Thinking of this, he turned to Yun Huizhou and Zhao Honglan and said, “Let’s leave this place as well. We can talk where there are no people.”

Yun Huizhou and Zhao Honglan felt the same way. With the three in agreement, they quickly departed.

Now that the main characters had left, the crowd of spectators gradually dispersed as well.

However, all three of them knew that before long, what happened here would spread throughout the entire Jianghu.

Lian Li felt that although he had only fought a war of words this time, and his fame wouldn’t grow as much as Zhao Honglan’s or Yun Huizhou’s since they had actually fought, it was definitely more reliable than cross-dressing or ending up on the Beauty Ranking with some inexplicable rumors.

His path to becoming a Great Hero had moved forward by a small step.

The three returned to Linjiu City at top speed. Perhaps because he had learned what he wanted to know, Zhao Honglan didn’t look as despondent as before.

However, he was even more tense than he had been before he had the news.

Lian Li also knew this matter was urgent; if they were even a little late, things might end up just like the original plot.

Thus, he took the initiative to ask, “Senior Brother Zhao, what exactly happened?”

Zhao Honglan said, “Let’s go to the inn where I’m staying to talk. There are too many people here.”

Lian Li and Yun Huizhou had no objections and followed Zhao Honglan to his inn.

When they stood at the entrance of the inn, which could be described as resplendent and magnificent, Lian Li couldn’t help but let out a small exclamation.

“I didn’t expect to have the chance to stay in a five-star hotel in this life.”

“What is Junior Brother Lian saying?” Zhao Honglan turned back, confused.

Yun Huizhou spoke up: “Don’t mind him. He sometimes says strange things that somehow make a bit of sense.”

Zhao Honglan nodded with a smile. If it were any other time, he might have been interested in asking further, as Lian Li’s way of speaking and thinking was indeed quite interesting.

However, with things on his mind right now, he didn’t have much interest.

Following Zhao Honglan into this “five-star” inn, they saw the waiters dressed in uniform. Judging by the fabric, it was the kind of high-quality material that ordinary commoners could afford.

“Great Hero Zhao, you’re back?” a waiter asked with a smile. “Do you need hot water or food? Shall I bring them up for you?”

Zhao Honglan nodded and said, “No need for hot water for now. Bring up food for three.”