The main thoroughfare of Silver Peak Village pulsed with life, a vibrant tapestry woven from countless goods and the ceaseless clamor of trade. The street buzzed with people, many accompanied by what were openly called servants, slaves, or maids, their status clearly defined. Brothels lined both sides of the street, their entrances adorned with women beckoning to male passersby, some even standing outside, their allure a silent invitation, their laughter echoing.
Guozhao Zhiqiang led his group towards the Beautiful Flowers Inn, its grand facade radiating opulence, its lanterns casting a warm glow. The six hunters and their bandit captors halted before the entrance. In an instant, ten beautiful women emerged from within, their smiles bright and practiced, their silk robes rustling. They skillfully coaxed the bandit followers inside, their voices honeyed, but one woman stopped Mu Yin, blocking her path with a graceful hand.
The woman smiled, her voice honeyed. "Women are not allowed, dear lady," she stated, her smile unwavering, a hint of steel beneath the sweetness.
"Get out of the way!" Mu Yin snapped, her face contorted with anger, her eyes blazing. She pushed the woman with such force that she stumbled, falling into the four women behind her with a surprised gasp. Mu Yin stormed inside, but by the time she reached the main hall, the six hunters had vanished, as if they had simply evaporated. All she saw were eleven of her own followers, already deep in revelry with the inn's women, their laughter loud and boisterous.
Mu Yin, her fury mounting, grabbed Miao Jing by the front of his collar, shaking him. "What about the six people, you idiot?!" she shrieked, her voice raw with rage. "Where did they go?!"
Miao Jing, oblivious in his pleasure, blinked up at her, a happy, drunken grin on his face. "I don't know, Boss," he replied, his words slurred. "They were just here..."
Mu Yin shoved Miao Jing to the ground, her disgust palpable. "Useless!" she snarled through gritted teeth, her hands clenching into fists.
Meanwhile, the six hunters stood composed in the center of the Beautiful Flowers Inn's bustling hall, calmly surveying the scene of laughing men and women enjoying themselves, their faces impassive. A maid approached them, her footsteps light, her smile polite.
"Who are you looking for, honored guests?" the maid inquired politely, her head tilted.
"Someone wants us to meet here," Lee Nianzu replied, his voice calm and even.
"Are you Guozhao hunters?" she asked, a flicker of recognition in her eyes, a hint of awe.
Lee Nianzu smiled and nodded, confirming her suspicion.
The maid's smile widened, her eyes sparkling. "Hunters, please come this way with me. Lady Jiang is expecting you."
The six hunters followed the maid through a labyrinth of opulent corridors, past richly decorated rooms, until they reached a private room. Inside, a well-dressed woman was seated, awaiting their arrival, her posture regal.
"You must be Lady Jiang, right?" Lee Nianzu greeted respectfully, bowing slightly.
Lady Jiang smiled, a professional, welcoming gesture. "Hunters, please sit down." She gestured to the seats around a low table. "I have reserved rooms and women for your entertainment tonight, as per our arrangement."
"Lady Jiang," Lee Nianzu said, his tone polite but firm, his gaze steady, "thank you for your hospitality, but we must decline the entertainment tonight. Please tell us why we are here. What is the task?"
Lady Jiang's expression grew serious, her smile fading. "We built a new inn not long ago. Many workers were injured when we first started, but finally, we were able to finish it. However, since its opening, guests reported missing items, blankets being pulled at night, especially male guests; they would feel as if someone was watching them. Male guests also reported a cold hand caressing their face while they slept. This beautiful inn we just opened not too long ago is now abandoned because of these rumors. Houses around the inn even mentioned that at night, they will see candlelight inside the inn and guzheng music can be heard, hauntingly beautiful."
"What is the history of this land, Lady Jiang?" Tian Xiang asked, his interest piqued, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Lady Jiang shook her head, a weary sigh escaping her. "I don't know. This land has been passed down from generation to generation. If there was a history, it would have been lost long ago, buried by time."
"We will rest at the inn tonight," Guozhao Zhiqiang stated, his voice calm and decisive, a clear command.
Lady Jiang's brow furrowed slightly, confusion in her eyes. "I've already reserved rooms for you here, hunters? Why waste money on another inn?"
"I'm talking about your abandoned inn," Guozhao Zhiqiang clarified, his gaze unwavering.
"But... hunters..." Lady Jiang began, clearly hesitant, a note of concern in her voice. "It's dangerous."
"We are here for work, not for entertainment," Guozhao Zhiqiang reiterated, his voice firm. "The sooner we finish our work; the sooner we leave Silver Peak. We will handle the danger."
Lady Jiang looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, a professional smile returning to her face, recognizing his resolve. "If you say so, I will send a maid to escort you there." She waved her hand, and a young maid stepped forward, her expression timid. "Xiao Jia, take these five hunters to the Morning Glory Inn."
"Yes, Lady Jiang," Xiao Jia replied, her voice soft. She strode towards the door. "Hunters, please come with me."
The five hunters bid farewell to Lady Jiang and followed Xiao Jia out of the private room and into the bustling corridor. As they followed Xiao Jia downstairs towards the main door, a woman in shackles stumbled, bumping directly into Guozhao Zhiqiang, her body trembling.
The shackled woman quickly fell to her knees, her voice trembling, filled with fear. "I'm sorry, sir, please forgive me. I didn't mean to."
Guozhao Zhiqiang bent down, gently holding her shoulders, and helped her up, his touch surprisingly tender. "It's okay," he murmured, his voice soft. He looked into her eyes. Her eyes and eyebrows reminded him strikingly of Deming, a haunting familiarity. He recalled Deming begging him to let him go, not having seen his face. The way the woman's tears streamed down her cheeks was hauntingly similar to Deming's. He gently wiped her tears, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, a profound empathy in his eyes.
"Boss," Gen's voice cut through the moment, a low warning, "everyone is waiting at the door. We need to go."
Guozhao Zhiqiang quickly released the shackled woman. But the woman, desperate, grabbed Guozhao Zhiqiang's hand, her voice a fervent plea, filled with raw hope. "Please take me with you! Please, sir!"
Lee Nianzu, observing the scene, noticed Deming's discomfort, a subtle shift in his expression. He quickly walked back to Guozhao Zhiqiang and the woman. He stepped up to them, gently placing his hand on Guozhao Zhiqiang's arm, a silent signal. "I'm sorry, miss, we can't take you with us," he said kindly but firmly, his voice regretful. "We still have something to attend to. Perhaps another time."
Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at the woman, his eyes holding a promise, a silent vow. "I will come back for you." He released her hand and walked out of the Beautiful Flowers Inn, his heart heavy.
When Mu Yin returned from the bathroom, her eleven bandits were still fully engrossed in their revelry with the women of the inn, their laughter echoing. She frantically approached Miao Jing, her face contorted with renewed fury. "What about the five men, Miao Jing?!" she demanded, her voice a shriek. "Where did they go?!"
Miao Jing, his eyes still glazed with pleasure, raised his head, a confused frown on his face. "They are standing there, Boss," he said, pointing to the center of the room. "Right there."
"I didn't see anyone, you fool!" Mu Yin snapped, her patience gone.
"Right there..." Miao Jing's eyes finally focused, and he saw no one. His happy expression faltered, replaced by bewilderment. He looked at Mu Yin, utterly confused. "I swear they were there, Boss! Just a moment ago!"
Mu Yin hit him hard on the head, a resounding smack. "Useless! Get up and go find them!" she roared at her remaining men, her voice echoing through the hall.
Just as the bandits were about to storm out the door, an old lady appeared, blocking their way, her presence calm and unyielding. "Please pay before you go, dear sirs," she said calmly, a sweet smile on her face.
Mu Yin glared at the old lady, her voice dripping with madness. "Pay what?! We didn't ask for anything!"
"My dear," the older woman replied, a knowing smile on her face, her eyes twinkling, "nothing in Beautiful Flowers Inn is free. The eleven of you have been drinking and eating, and it cost a total of three hundred thirty-four coins. Please settle your bill."
Mu Yin was startled, her jaw dropping. "What?! That's impossible!"
"Pay the money, or you won't be able to leave here," the old woman stated, her voice hardening, her smile unwavering. "It's simple."
"I, Mu Yin, won't pay!" Mu Yin declared, defiance in her stance, her fists clenched.
"Guards!" the old woman shouted. Instantly, twenty-four strong men materialized, blocking the doorway, their faces grim. "I've been in this business for a long time. I don't deceive anyone, and nobody can deceive me. Pay or suffer the consequences."
Mu Yin's face contorted into a sarcastic smile, a forced bravado. "I'm just testing you; we'll pay." She reached into her robe, pulled out a small gold ingot, and handed it to the old woman, her hand trembling slightly. "Here is your money. Can we go now?"
The old woman took the gold ingot, walked to the register counter, and returned with two small silver ingots and some coins. She handed the money back to Mu Yin, a sweet smile on her face. "Please come back again, thank you for your business." The twenty-four guards dispersed, leaving the doorway clear.
Mu Yin stared at the money in her hand, then frantically looked at Miao Jing and her subordinates, her face burning with humiliation. She stomped out of Beautiful Flowers Inn like a madwoman, leaving her reputation, and most of her money, behind, her fury palpable.
The abandoned inn, Morning Glory Inn, sat at the end of a dead-end street, its facade weathered and silent. Xiao Jia opened its door, a creaking sound, allowing the six hunters to follow her into the main living room, the air inside cool and still.
"This is the main dining hall," Xiao Jia explained, her voice echoing slightly. "The staff who used to work here say that most of the paranormal activity is in the back and in the guest rooms. Feel free to move around." Ten maids walked in, each carrying two baskets filled with food, their footsteps soft. They placed the baskets on the table, the aroma of cooked dishes filling the air. Xiao Jia looked at the five hunters. "We're leaving now. I'll deliver breakfast tomorrow. The door opens from the outside. If you don't think you can handle it, feel free to walk out at any time. We won't judge."
"Thank you, Xiao Jia," Lee Nianzu said politely. "I'll send you off."
Yu Lei sighed dramatically, walking to the table, his eyes gleaming at the sight of food. He sat down. "Finally, it's time to eat!" He took plates from a basket and placed them on two tables, then pushed the tables together. "Everyone grab a chair! Let's feast!"
As everyone settled down to eat, Tian Xiang asked, "Senior Brother, what did the lady say to you when you helped her?"
"She asked me to help her," Guozhao Zhiqiang replied, his voice calm.
"Are you going to help her after we complete our job here?" Tian Xiang inquired, curious.
"Mmm," Guozhao Zhiqiang hummed, continuing to eat, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"There are six of us," Tian Xiang mused, "two people in one room should be fine. We can pair up."
"Before it gets dark, let's take a walk around the premises," Guozhao Zhiqiang suggested, "and check the rooms."
Guozhao Zhiqiang and Deming walked around, checking the guest rooms, their footsteps echoing in the silence. He noticed that Deming had been unusually quiet since they left the brothel, a subtle tension in his posture. He turned to Deming. "What's the matter, Deming? You're quiet."
Deming shook his head. "Nothing, Zhiqiang. Just thinking."
"Are you sure?" Guozhao Zhiqiang pressed gently, his gaze searching.
"Mmm," Deming confirmed. He turned to open one of the guest rooms, but found it locked, the handle unmoving. "Zhiqiang, this room is locked from the inside. That's odd."
Guozhao Zhiqiang pulled Deming behind him and sent a talisman towards the door, a soft glow emanating from his palm. "Open," he commanded. With a soft click, the door swung inward, revealing a surprising sight.
Unlike the other rooms they had inspected, this one was surprisingly clean, free of dust. A guzheng sat on a table, beside it a bottle holding a single yellow tulip, fresh and vibrant. Guozhao Zhiqiang walked to the table, looking left and right, his gaze scrutinizing every detail, a thoughtful frown on his face.
"Strange," Deming murmured, his eyes wide. "The room doesn't look desolate at all. It looks lived in."
"Let's go back," Guozhao Zhiqiang decided, a thoughtful expression on his face, a hint of unease.
As soon as Guozhao Zhiqiang and Deming stepped out of the room, the door silently closed behind them, a soft click. Then, the hauntingly beautiful music of the guzheng began to play from within, echoing through the silent inn, a ghostly melody.