37: Watch the excitement at the foot of Mount Huashan.

Hua Mountain.

Since ancient times, it has been known for its perilous beauty.

At this moment, at the foot of this most dangerous peak under heaven, the usual tranquility had long vanished.

A formerly inconspicuous small town was now bustling with carriages and horses, overflowing with people.

The air was filled with a peculiar scent, a mix of sweat, alcohol, the rust of weapons, and… a strong aroma of showing off.

Only two days remained until the Hua Mountain Sword Tournament, held once every five years!

Jianghu wanderers and Martial Forest experts from all corners of the land, as well as some wealthy merchants who loved a good spectacle, had all swarmed in.

Inns were fully booked!

Restaurants were fully booked!

Even some townspeople's woodsheds had been rented out at exorbitant prices.

“Goodness, what’s going on? This is even livelier than when our Tai Xuan Sect opens its gates!”

A clear voice, like a yellow oriole emerging from a valley, rang out, carrying a hint of innocence and curiosity.

Lu Nuannuan was riding on Qin Jiu’s neck, her small hands grasping his hair like reins, her large, dark eyes wide with wonder, finding everything new.

The little girl, having grown up to this age, had never seen such a grand spectacle!

It was like a country girl entering the city, completely dazzled!

Qin Jiu’s handsome face, however, was now darker than the bottom of a pot.

He was carrying his unruly Senior Sister, moving with difficulty through the crowded throngs, and constantly had to guard against her restless small hands pulling down his topknot.

His heart was so tired.

He, the dignified Ninth Prince of Great Qin, now an “outstanding student” of the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect’s Outer Gate, had actually fallen to the point of being used as a mount…

If this got out, how could he still face anyone?

Xiao Huohuo, who followed behind the two, was in a completely different state of mind.

Shock!

Unparalleled shock!

He looked at the Martial Forest experts around him, whose Qi was formidable, their temples bulging high, clearly indicating they were skilled internal martial artists, yet his heart felt no ripples, and in fact… he even felt a little like laughing.

Experts?

That’s it?

In his mind, he still recalled the world-shattering flying experience from the day before.

Senior Sister Nanny’s small body, one in each hand, dragging him and Qin Jiu, had flown them directly from the heartland of Great Song to the foot of Hua Mountain!

That speed, that feeling!

Compared to that, these so-called “experts” in front of him were as weak as newly hatched chicks!

Is this… the difference between Immortal and Mortal?

“Little Jiu, let’s find a place to stay first, my Senior Sister is hungry again!” Nanny patted Qin Jiu’s forehead, issuing her command.

“Yes, yes, my little ancestor.” Qin Jiu was on the verge of tears, resigned to his fate.

The three squeezed through the crowd for a long time, finally finding a dilapidated small inn in the most secluded corner of the town that still had a “Rooms Available” sign hanging.

The innkeeper was a scrawny, monkey-like old man, his triangular eyes darting about. Seeing the three enter, he immediately put on a fawning, calculating smile.

“Three distinguished guests, are you here for a meal or a stay?”

“A stay! We want the best room! And bring us all the delicious food you have here!” Nanny slid down from Qin Jiu’s neck, slapped her small hand on the counter, and declared with grandiosity.

The innkeeper was startled, then chuckled: “Little girl, you certainly have a big mouth. However, at this critical juncture, let alone the best rooms, even the woodsheds are full. There’s only one last room left…”

“How much? We’ll take it!” Qin Jiu quickly interjected, fearing that if he was a moment too late, even this last room would be gone.

The innkeeper’s eyes rolled, and he extended five bony fingers.

“Fifty taels of silver per day! Take it or leave it!”

This price was simply robbery!

Normally, no one would even want this shabby room for five mace of silver a night.

Qin Jiu frowned; he had no silver on him.

Just as he was in a dilemma.

“Here.”

Nanny flipped her small hand, and a gleaming golden ingot, about the size of a baby’s fist, landed on the counter with a “thwack.”

This gold ingot was the “pocket money” that old man Xiao Zhan had insisted on giving her back when she was at the Xiao Family.

The innkeeper’s eyes instantly went wide!

That was a ten-tael gold ingot minted by the government!

Let alone staying for one night, it was more than enough to buy his entire dilapidated inn!

“Oh my! Esteemed guests! Please, upstairs! Upstairs!” The innkeeper’s attitude did a complete 180-degree turn, bowing and scraping, personally leading the three upstairs.

After settling in, Qin Jiu finally let out a sigh of relief.

He looked at the still bustling street outside the window, his heart filled with tranquility.

Once upon a time, he too had yearned for this Jianghu life of flashing blades and swift retribution.

But now, having witnessed the vastness and mystery of the Immortal Dao, he understood.

The Martial Dao of Mortals was ultimately a fleeting illusion, destined to vanish in an instant.

The path his Revered Master spoke of, that supreme Dao directly leading to the heavens, was the only one! It was the eternal one!

Qin Jiu’s heart burned with fervor, just as the thought arose…

“Little Jiu, Xiao Huohuo, dinner’s ready!”

Downstairs, Nanny’s clear voice rang out, instantly pulling him back from his reverie to reality.

…

On the table, the dishes were abundant and the aroma of wine permeated the air.

They weren’t exotic delicacies, just ordinary Jianghu dishes, but the portions were generous and steaming hot.

The three weren’t pretentious either, devouring the food like hungry tigers, sweeping the table clean.

The plates on the table were cleaner than their faces.

After eating and drinking their fill, Nanny’s brief moment of composure immediately flew out the window.

The little girl’s eyes darted around, her small hand propping up her chin, and she mumbled: “It’s so boring staying in the inn. Shall we go out for a stroll?”

“Senior Sister, no, let’s not!”

Qin Jiu raised an eyebrow and quickly said: “This Dragon Snake Town is a mixed bag, not a good place. Revered Master told us to keep a low profile, so it’s best to avoid trouble.”

“Hmph, scaredy-cat!”

Nanny pouted, gave him a big eye-roll, and turned her head away, ignoring him.

Xiao Huohuo, sitting beside them, seemed somewhat stiff in his posture.

He knew perfectly well that he and these two Immortal Revered Masters from the Upper Sect were not on the same level at all.

To put it bluntly, he was just dead weight.

Being able to come out and broaden his horizons was already a blessing from his ancestors, so how could he dare to have any other thoughts?

Just as the atmosphere became a little subtle.

“Bang—!”

“Clang!”

Downstairs in the lobby, there was a sudden loud crash, the sound of tables and chairs being overturned clearly audible!

Following that was a cacophony of shouts and curses, and the “clanging” of swords being drawn was incessant!

“They’re fighting! They’re fighting!”

“It’s the brats from Quanzhen Sect and Emei Sect!”

“There’s a good show to watch, quick, quick, quick!”

“Boom!”

In an instant, the entire inn lobby erupted like a boiling pot, filled with a clamor of voices!

Nanny’s large, dark eyes instantly lit up with a “whoosh”!

“A fight?!”

The little girl was so excited she almost bounced off her chair onto the ceiling, her small face flushed, waving her fists and shouting: “Quick! Little Jiu! Let’s go watch the fun too!”