Chapter 46: Finding a Place to Stay

The Celestial Master Hall was established jointly by the Three Sects, Four Gates, and Six Great Houses to better manage mystic masters and celestial exorcists. Mystic City, where the Hall was located, served as the headquarters for all mystic disciples. Twice a year, the registration and qualification exam there was the grandest event not just of the Hall but of the entire mystic world.

So when Yun Jiao and Bai Yu arrived, the whole city was bustling. The streets were filled with robed mystic disciples — some with peachwood swords on their backs, some carrying various talismans and artifacts — each exuding that unique, lofty “immortal master” air.

Because Yun Jiao and Bai Yu had left late, they reached the city just one day before the exam. By then, they discovered all the inns were completely booked. They wandered the city trying to find lodging, but everywhere was full. Just as they were about to resign themselves to a miserable night somewhere, they suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

“Old Bai! Daoist Friend Yun! Over here!”

A burly man in blue waved wildly at them. He was broad-shouldered, with a fierce-looking beard — standing out like a crane among chickens in the crowd of slender mystic disciples.

“Old Zhou!” Bai Yu blinked and looked him up and down. “Why are you here?”

“You’re coming, so of course I wanted to try my luck too!” Old Zhou grinned, then nodded politely to Yun Jiao before saying seriously, “But you two came way too late. The exam’s tomorrow, and all the inns were fully booked three days ago.” Then he turned to Yun Jiao, adding, “I figured you’d be bringing a young lady with you, so you’d definitely need a place to stay. I went ahead and reserved rooms for you.” He pointed to the inn behind him.

Bai Yu’s eyes lit up. He clapped Zhou hard on the back. “Old Zhou, thanks!” Finally, a place to sleep!

“Thank you, Uncle Zhou,” Yun Jiao said sincerely. Old Zhou was much more reliable than a certain old man back at the temple.

“No need to be polite. Daoist Friend Yun, just call me Old Zhou.” He laughed, leading them to the innkeeper’s counter. “Keeper, the two upper rooms I reserved — my friends are here.”

“Right here!” The innkeeper hurried over with two keys hanging from a wooden tag. “Two upper rooms, here you go.”

Bai Yu took the tags, just about to turn around when a white-robed young man suddenly stepped up beside them. “Innkeeper, give me an upper room as well.”

“This…” The innkeeper looked troubled and said politely, “I’m sorry, sir, but we’re fully booked.”

The young man frowned and glanced at Bai Yu’s group. “Didn’t you just give them rooms? Why is there none for me?”

“Apologies, sir. Those were the last two rooms, and this gentleman reserved them three days ago.” The innkeeper nodded toward Old Zhou.

The young man’s brows knitted tighter. His eyes flicked over Bai Yu, Yun Jiao, and Old Zhou, lingering briefly at their waists — as if searching for something. Finding nothing, he lifted his chin with thinly veiled arrogance. “Then give me one of your rooms. I’ll pay double.”

His tone was self-assured, as though offering to buy their room was a generous favor. The three instantly found his words grating. Bai Yu and Old Zhou frowned.

“Sorry, sir,” Bai Yu said coolly. “We booked these rooms in advance. We can’t give them up.”

The young man snorted dismissively, clearly unfazed by their refusal. “Thirty taels, then. How about that?”

Bai Yu’s temper flared. He’d never met such a rude brat. Though he had briefly thought about sharing earlier, being spoken to this way made him stubborn. “No. Inconvenient.”

“Fifty taels!” The youth raised his price again. “Fifty should be enough for you to rent here for two years. Besides, aren’t you two grown men? Just squeeze into one room and earn fifty taels.”

Bai Yu was livid now. “No. Not. Convenient!”

The young man’s face darkened. He swept his gaze over them and snapped, “You don’t know what’s good for you. I am—” He abruptly stopped, as if remembering something, and swallowed the rest. After a frustrated pause, he gritted out, “Fine. Name your price!”

Bai Yu drew breath to say “not for sale no matter the price,” but Yun Jiao suddenly stepped forward. Her expression was perfectly calm — serious even — like a stern head teacher. She looked the arrogant youth up and down, then said solemnly, “This young master… wants one of our rooms?”

Bai Yu and Old Zhou tensed. This brat had gone too far. Even the girl was angry now — surely she’d put him in his place.

“Yes!” The young man lifted his chin higher, radiating self-importance.

Bai Yu and Old Zhou were ready for Yun Jiao to scold him — but instead she smoothly plucked one key from Bai Yu’s hand, held it out, and said with crisp seriousness, “Three hundred taels. Thank you.”

Bai Yu: “…”

Old Zhou: “…”

Young man: “…”

(⊙_⊙)

What?!

Yun Jiao named the price so cleanly, with such righteous composure, that everyone — even the innkeeper — was momentarily stunned.

For the first time, they witnessed what it meant to open the lion’s mouth.

The young man stood frozen before finally grasping her words. “Th-three hundred taels?! Why don’t you just rob me!” Even at inflated festival prices, the best inns in Mystic City didn’t cost five taels a night. She dared ask for three hundred!

“Take it or leave it.” Yun Jiao’s face stayed perfectly calm. She gave the key a little shake. “If not, forget it. Old man, Old Zhou, let’s go.”

She turned as if to leave. The young man’s face turned green, then white, then blue. Seeing them about to walk away — and remembering he had no other option — he clenched his fists, ground his teeth, and spat, “Stop! Three hundred. I’ll take it!”

He yanked several silver notes from his robe, slapped them into Yun Jiao’s hand, and growled, “There! Satisfied? Give me the key!”

Yun Jiao accepted the notes and cheerfully handed him the room key. Then, after a moment’s thought, she added with perfect seriousness, “If you think one room’s not enough, we still have another. Three hundred taels as well.”

The young man’s eyes nearly shot sparks. He glared at her but swallowed his anger, muttering, “No need!” before stomping up the stairs.

Yun Jiao promptly passed the silver notes to Bai Yu. “Here. This should cover the temple’s expenses for the year. Remember to bring back more chickens!” After all, anyone raising a gold-eating beast should never turn down easy money.

Bai Yu: “…”

Old Zhou: “…”

…Apparently this was also a way to earn a living.

(End of chapter)