Chapter Twenty-Four: The Innkeeper

The leader of the group was extremely respectful, speaking with utmost caution. By now, he had changed the way he addressed Su Fan, calling him “senior,” as strength commanded respect in the world of cultivation.

Su Fan didn’t make things too difficult for them, his expression unchanged as he continued to listen.

“That morning, before the inn had opened, the innkeeper called the four of us together. He told us he was leaving to travel the world. In the future, a young cultivator would come to take over the inn. We asked how we would recognize this person, and he only handed us a small flag. He said there was a soul within the flag, and the one who could subdue it would be the person we awaited. If someone tried to take the flag and recited the incantation, they could also summon the soul within to attack. But, Senior, it seemed you didn’t subdue the soul—you devoured it. That’s why I didn’t tell you the truth at the time. Now that you wish to know, I will tell you everything we know.”

Su Fan didn’t believe his story and continued, “Since your innkeeper has left to travel, the inn now belongs to you four. You have no lack of money. Why, then, do you still rob mortals?”

The young attendant, who had been stunned the whole time, finally came to his senses and replied quickly, “It was the innkeeper’s request before he left. He said that if we wanted to meet that person, we had to do this. We were surprised at the time, because the innkeeper was a righteous man. We didn’t understand why he asked us to do such a thing. He explained that if we wished to truly embark on the path of cultivation, we had to find the one he spoke of. That’s the only reason we did those things. Over time, our constant robbery made us lose our way, which led to what happened today. The gold and silver in the storage pouch is all we have taken over the years—we never used any of it, as we had no use for such things.”

Su Fan remained silent. He found their explanation utterly unconvincing—he was not a careless person.

The leader seemed to sense Su Fan’s disbelief and stammered, “If you don’t believe us, Senior, you can come with us to the backyard and see for yourself.”

“Lead the way,” Su Fan replied coldly.

Soon, the five of them reached the backyard. The attendant raised his hand and drew a symbol, tapping lightly in the air. A dim vortex appeared where his finger pointed. The attendant entered first, a gesture to show Su Fan there was no danger. The rest followed, and the vortex in the courtyard slowly dissipated.

Inside the vortex was a cave residence, bright as daylight, filled with abundant spiritual energy. At a glance, Su Fan saw that the cave was lined with spiritual veins and ore.

After a short while, the five reached the end of the cave, where there was a large stone chamber, about three times the size of a guest room at the inn. On the wall at the back of the chamber was carved a massive Taiji diagram. In the center stood a stone table, with five stone chairs before it, each inscribed with words.

Su Fan spread his spiritual sense across the writing on the chairs. Instantly, he was shaken to his core—for inscribed on each chair was a name. One of them was his own. He steadied his mind and kept his expression calm.

The other four saw the names on the chairs and realized their own names were there as well. The attendant suddenly exclaimed, “Boss, when the innkeeper brought me here, I don’t remember seeing any names!”

The leader replied with a mocking tone, “It’s been over ten years—do you really remember? You were just a child then.”

The attendant muttered a curse under his breath, then ran up to Su Fan and asked respectfully, “Senior, is your name on one of the chairs?”

Su Fan nodded, not answering further, taking it as confirmation. The attendant beamed with delight. “See? We weren’t lying. Our innkeeper was a remarkable man—he predicted you would come.”

Su Fan frowned deeply and walked over to the chair bearing his name, sitting down. The other four also sat in their designated seats.

Suddenly, a blue light emanated from the center of the stone table, drawing everyone’s gaze. After three breaths’ time, the blue light condensed into a pillar, shining on the ceiling. From there, a purple light refracted down onto the Taiji diagram on the wall, bathing the entire image in its glow. The black and white of the Taiji spun clockwise rapidly for ten breaths, then gradually slowed.

With a crack, the Taiji diagram opened in the middle. Su Fan immediately sent out his spiritual sense to probe. Behind the opening was a small stone chamber, about the size of a typical wooden cabinet.

Su Fan approached and found no barriers or formations within—only a single jade tube. He sent his spiritual sense into the jade tube but found nothing. Jade tubes were usually used for recording cultivation methods or scriptures. In larger sects, since there were too many disciples for each to have a scroll, jade tubes were used for their ease of storage. A master would imprint their knowledge within for their disciples to retrieve with their own spiritual sense.

Su Fan was familiar with jade tubes. Normally, a disciple would see the contents with a simple scan. That he saw nothing meant the contents were precious, and the creator had set special conditions—typically, it required the designated person’s blood to unlock.

Su Fan’s brows furrowed, a trace of gravity in his eyes. According to the four, their innkeeper had foreseen his arrival years ago. This jade tube was surely left for him. But could it be a trap, waiting for him to step right in? Even so, with his meager cultivation in the early stage of Qi Refining, would someone go to such lengths just to harm him?

Steeling himself, Su Fan bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall on the jade tube. With a wave of his hand, he drew the tube to him and scanned it with his spiritual sense.

Instantly, a blinding white light flashed before him. When it faded, an elderly man with hair and beard as white as snow appeared, stroking his beard and smiling gently at Su Fan. “My young friend, you must be Su Fan. At last, you have come. I have waited long for you.”

Su Fan remained calm. This old man was but a trace of spiritual consciousness, yet even so, his strength was such that Su Fan could not gauge it. He asked, “May I ask, Senior, who you are and what you seek of me?”

“My name is unimportant,” the old man replied cheerfully. “The reason I sought you is to grant you great fortune—unless, of course, you do not want it.”

Su Fan could not fathom the old man’s intentions. Knowing he was no match for him, he tried to withdraw his spiritual sense, only to find it bound by a strange power—he couldn’t break free or sever the connection.

Su Fan’s gaze turned stern and he said coldly, “I cannot accept a reward without merit. I have done nothing to deserve your favor.”

A peculiar light flashed in the old man’s eyes, and he said with interest, “Not bad—not easily swayed by profit.” He then gazed deeply at Su Fan before continuing, “Many years ago, I divined that you would appear in Luo City, and I waited for you for ten years. To my surprise, I was wrong—the only time in five thousand years of cultivation that my calculations failed. After that, I tried again and again, but your fate became ever more obscure.”

“In the end, I exhausted a century’s worth of cultivation for one final divination. This time, I saw that you would come in the next ten years, though the exact time eluded me. I wished to wait for you in person, but, alas, my time had run out. What you see now is but a remnant of my consciousness—I passed away ten years ago.”

“Do not ask why I waited for you here. When your cultivation is sufficient, you will understand. Whether you believe me or not, today I must ask you to help me with three tasks. Will you hear me out?”

Su Fan nodded, signaling the old man to continue.

The old man laughed and stroked his beard again, speaking calmly, “I trust you have already claimed the soul. I obtained it from a strange place, and through it, I divined your existence. Now, the third task: care for my four disciples and this inn for five years. The cave contains four spiritual veins—three minor, one major. For five years, you may cultivate here as your reward.”

“The second task: after five years, leave the inn and set up the strongest defensive array you know. Place the jade tube in the northeast corner of the cave’s stone chamber, and another chamber will open. Within are a number of mid-grade spirit stones, all yours, for purchasing treasures or techniques.”

“The third task: I request that you look after my disciples and help them in their cultivation. The reward for this will come to you in due time.”

At these words, the old man smiled meaningfully, then continued, “Years ago, when I first came to Luo City, I met these four by chance and saw their struggles in the Dao. With a little guidance, they cared for me in every way, willingly serving as my attendants for many years. Cultivators are usually aloof, but these four were loyal and grateful. I owe them a debt of fate, and now I need your help to fulfill it. I hope you will see it through.”

With those words, the old man’s figure gradually faded away. Su Fan slowly withdrew his spiritual sense and retrieved the jade tube, sighing inwardly. The old man was indeed a remarkable figure. Even after decades, he had foreseen Su Fan’s arrival. Still, his words could not be taken at face value—Su Fan would have to observe further.

Seeing Su Fan withdraw his spiritual sense, the four quickly left their seats and rushed to ask what had happened.

Su Fan smiled slightly and said, “Your master says he is well and wishes you to cultivate diligently.”

The attendant cheered, “See, Boss? I told you the innkeeper was fine!”

Su Fan felt a tremor inside, though his face did not betray it. The one called “Boss” frowned and said, “The night the innkeeper left, I heard him on the rooftop, stargazing—he said his life was almost at an end.”