Chapter 48: The Deep Mountain Inn
\n“Visitors here?”
\nAn old man stepped out shakily, holding an oil lamp.
\nCommander Zhou observed the old man’s odd expression and unnatural pallor. A nearby Dragon Guard reached for his sword hilt, but Commander Zhou motioned him to stop.
\n“This mountain inn has no proper rooms\u2014just one common bed. Ten coins per night. Will you sirs stay?”
\nThe old man appeared oblivious to their tension as he pulled out a string of copper keys from the counter and dropped them on the table.
\n“We’ll stay.”
\nCommander Zhou tossed a string of coins onto the wood.
\nThe old man pocketed the payment, grabbed the oil lamp, and shuffled toward the guest quarters with the keys.
\n“Commander, this place\u2014”
\n“Silence.”
\nCommander Zhou cut off the guard and followed the old man. The Dragon Guards trailed behind, hands never leaving their sword hilts, poised to strike at any threat.
\n“Are you alone here?”
\nCommander Zhou walked close behind the old man, left hand resting on his sword. Though the man seemed peculiar, Commander Zhou detected no trace of Heavenly Demon power\u2014just an ordinary human.
\n“My wife’s asleep. Too old to help,” the old man wheezed, struggling to fit the key into the warped door. After multiple attempts, the lock clicked open.
\n“Rest early. I’ll fetch your meal.” The old man hobbled away, keys jingling in his grip.
\n“False alarm,” a guard muttered, slumping in relief once the man left.
\n“Stay alert. Zhao Liu and L\u00fc Tao\u2014first watch.” Commander Zhou sat cross-legged on the bed to meditate. The others followed, drawing pure spiritual energy into their bodies through cultivation\u2014a quicker restorative than sleep.
\nNight.
\nThe group awoke refreshed but hungry.
\n“Why hasn’t he brought food?” someone grumbled.
\nCommander Zhou seized his sword. “To the kitchen.”
\nBlades hissed from sheaths as they moved.
\nCreak. Creak.
\nThe rotting kitchen door swayed on broken hinges, its splintered wood nothing like the intact entrance they’d seen earlier.
\n“This…this was fine before!” a Dragon Guard blurted.
\n“There was dust everywhere. It must have been ages since anyone came here. The door didn\u2019t look touched at all.”
\nThe guard crouched to examine the kitchen entrance, finding it thick with dust. He estimated no one had entered or exited for at least three months.
\n“Impossible! I saw that old man walk in myself,” Knife King blurted out.
\nNot just him\u2014all the Dragon Guards had witnessed it. Even Xu Yuan had watched the old innkeeper enter. Yet there were no footprints. How could a living person vanish like that? The old man had seemed completely ordinary.
\n“Ghosts?”
\nSomeone\u2019s muttered words sent shivers through the group.
\n“Let\u2019s check inside. We\u2019re Immortal Cultivators\u2014since when do we fear spirits?”
\nThe black-armored Dragon Guard slammed his boot into the kitchen door, bursting it open.
\nDust-coated pots and untouched surfaces greeted them. The undisturbed scene chilled everyone\u2019s blood. They\u2019d all seen the old man enter\u2014this made no sense. Commander Zhou had personally confirmed the innkeeper wasn\u2019t a Heavenly Demon when they\u2019d arrived.
\n“Move out.”
\nCommander Zhou spun on his heel.
\nTheir orders were clear: recruit Knife King and deliver the Heavenly Demon corpse to the capital. Local oddities weren\u2019t their concern.
\n“Wait\u2014someone\u2019s there.”
\nTwo figures materialized by the entrance\u2014the old man and a hunched old woman.
\n“Why leave so soon, sirs? Dawn hasn\u2019t broken.” The old man blinked innocently at the group.
\n“Human or demon?” Commander Zhou barked.
\nGray mist rippled across his body as spiritual energy flooded his longsword. No more games.
\n“Demons? This humble man doesn\u2019t understand\u2014”
\n“Enough talk!” The black-armored guard\u2019s killing intent flared. “Better to kill wrongly than let go.”
\n“Why won\u2019t that woman look up?” Knife King\u2019s sudden question froze the room.
\nGurgling laughter answered. The old woman\u2019s head spun completely around, black gas pouring from her eye sockets.
\n“Heavenly Demons!”
\nSteel rasped as blades cleared sheathes.
\nKnife King moved fastest\u2014leaping skyward, his sword channeled a surge of spiritual energy before slashing downward.
\nCRACK!
\nThe table exploded into splinters. Both figures sprang aside unharmed. The old man\u2019s skin sloughed off like rotten cloth, revealing scaled flesh beneath.
\n“Human skin disguises! No wonder we sensed nothing!”
\n“They\u2019re eating someone!”
\nThe \u201cfood\u201d beneath the old woman\u2019s claws was now clear\u2014a half-devoured corpse.
\n“Purge the demons!”
\nCommander Zhou\u2019s suppressed power erupted, breaking into the Foundation Establishment stage. Spiritual energy whirled around him like a typhoon. His horizontal slash pinned both demons in place before bisecting them with twin wet thuds.
\n“Reseal the coffin. We ride now.”
\nSheathing his blade, Commander Zhou strode from the inn without glancing back.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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