webnovelvip Chapter 197 An Unusual Inn
Chapter 197 An Unusual Inn
As I pushed open the door, a warm feeling rushed out.
The inn's lobby wasn't large, but it was kept clean and tidy.
Seven or eight wooden tables were arranged in a staggered manner, with oil lamps lit on them, casting swaying shadows on the walls in a dim yellow light.
Directly opposite the main entrance is a long wooden counter.
Behind the counter was a row of tall wooden shelves, filled with wine jars and various bottles and jars.
A few tables of guests were sparsely occupied in the lobby.
At the table by the window sat three burly men.
They wore shorts, their shirts open, revealing their bronze chests and thick chest hair.
Several small dishes and bowls of wine were laid out on the table. The man was eating meat and drinking wine with gusto, his voice so loud that it could be heard throughout the entire hall.
At the middle table sat two middle-aged men.
They wore long blue robes, with long swords at their waists. Their faces were thin, and their brows revealed a scholarly air. They were talking in hushed tones, occasionally glancing up at the doorway.
There was only one person sitting at the innermost table.
He was an old man, wearing an old gray Taoist robe, with white hair and beard, and a gaunt face.
Before him sat a pot of tea and a dim lamp, as he gazed down at a yellowed ancient book. It was as if everything outside him was irrelevant.
When Qin Mu and his group pushed open the door and entered—
All eyes turned to them.
That gaze lingered on Qin Mu for a moment, and then—
It landed on the three women.
Zhao Qingxue walked at the very front.
The moon-white dress gleamed softly under the dim light, and her long hair was loosely tied up, secured with only a white jade hairpin.
That stunningly beautiful face was completely exposed to everyone.
Her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her eyes like a cold pool reflecting the moon, her lips like newly opened rouge, and her skin as white as snow and as white as frost.
Her steps were unhurried, her back ramrod straight, and even in such an environment, she maintained the dignity befitting an emperor.
At this moment, she lowered her eyes slightly, not wanting these people to see the emotions hidden deep within them.
Then there's Xiaoyu.
She was wearing a light blue cloth dress and followed behind Zhao Qingxue, her head down and her hands nervously clasped together.
Her appearance was not as stunning as Zhao Qingxue's, but she had a natural beauty and vitality, especially her almond-shaped eyes, which were slightly wide open due to nervousness, with long and thick eyelashes that were blinking very quickly.
Finally, there's Yunluan.
She was dressed in a black outfit with a matching cloak, and her long hair was neatly tied into a high ponytail.
Her appearance was equally outstanding, but completely different from Zhao Qingxue and Xiaoyu.
He was cold and aloof, with a fierce and dignified air about him, as if he had been through many battles.
Her hand rested on the dark silver rapier at her waist, her sharp gaze sweeping over everyone who looked at them.
The lobby fell silent for a moment.
The three burly men held their wine bowls in mid-air, forgetting to drink.
The scholars at the table, who were talking in hushed tones, forgot to say something halfway through their conversation.
Even the old man at the very back, who was looking down at a book, slightly raised his eyes. His cloudy gaze swept over the three of them before he lowered his eyes again, as if he hadn't seen anything.
A look of amazement flashed in everyone's eyes.
In ordinary places, to see even one woman like this is already a great blessing.
And at this moment—
The three of them appeared together.
Especially the woman in the white dress at the head of the group—her appearance, her bearing, her majesty…
They are simply not like people from the mortal world.
One of the burly men slammed his wine bowl down on the table with a "clatter," spilling wine all over himself, but he was completely oblivious, staring blankly at Zhao Qingxue.
The other swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, his eyes flashing with undisguised amazement and...greed.
Zhao Qingxue felt those gazes.
Like a sticky tongue, licking your body.
Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Immediately, she turned slightly to the side, turning her face inward, not wanting these people to see her disheveled state.
This subtle movement did not escape Qin Mu's eyes.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips.
But he didn't say anything.
He simply stepped forward, past Zhao Qingxue, and walked at the very front.
As soon as he moved, the people's gazes finally shifted from the three women and fell on him.
He wore a moon-white robe, exuded a refined and elegant air, and had a languid smile in his eyes. Every gesture he made revealed an innate nobility.
Who is this?
The burly man's gaze swept over Qin Mu, the initial amazement in his eyes gradually replaced by disdain.
He's just a weakling who can't even kill a chicken.
He was swaggering through the city with three stunningly beautiful women; he was truly courting death.
They exchanged a glance, a knowing look flashing in their eyes.
The scholars at the other table also withdrew their gaze and continued their hushed conversation, though their eyes still occasionally darted over here.
The old man at the very back never raised his eyes again from beginning to end.
It was as if none of this concerned him.
Just then—
"Oh my! We have a distinguished guest!"
A charming voice came from behind the counter, breaking the brief silence.
A woman emerged from behind the counter.
She was in her early thirties, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and snow-white skin.
A pomegranate red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) clung tightly to her body, outlining the voluptuous curves unique to mature women.
The neckline was very low, revealing a patch of snow-white skin and a deep cleavage.
Her gait was graceful and elegant, her waist twisting like a willow branch in the wind, each step seemingly in rhythm, carrying a captivating charm.
Her gaze first fell on Qin Mu.
Those eyes, brimming with spring water, looked him up and down, revealing undisguised amazement and interest.
What a handsome young man.
He has an extraordinary bearing and is well-dressed; he is clearly an important person.
Her smile deepened as she stepped forward, her voice sweet and gentle:
"Gentlemen, are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"
Yunluan stepped forward and blocked her way.
Her movements were incredibly fast, like a ghost, causing the proprietress's smile to freeze slightly.
Yunluan looked at her, her voice cold:
Are there any rooms available?
The proprietress's gaze swept over Yun Luan, then looked at the three women with different temperaments behind her, and her smile widened rather than diminished.
"Yes, yes, of course!" she said repeatedly. "How many rooms would you like, gentlemen?"
Yunluan glanced at Qin Mu.
Qin Mu nodded slightly.
Yunluan withdrew her gaze, her voice still cold:
"One room."
The moment the words fell—
The lobby fell silent for a moment once more.
The eyes of the three burly men were wide open, bigger than copper bells.
One, one room?
Four people, three stunningly beautiful women, only want one room?
Doesn't that mean...?
They all turned to look at Qin Mu, their eyes practically overflowing with envy.
Especially the one who had dropped his wine bowl on the table, his mouth was agape wide enough to fit an egg, his Adam's apple bobbing violently as he swallowed hard.
That pretty boy is really lucky with women!
The scholars at that table exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes flashing with complex emotions.
Even the old man at the very back seemed to twitch his eyelids.
The proprietress was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.
She looked at Qin Mu, a hint of ambiguity flashing in her eyes, her voice becoming even more seductive:
"Okay, one room."
She turned around and walked ahead, swaying her hips.
"Gentlemen, please follow me. Room number one, the highest tier, is upstairs. It's guaranteed to be spacious and comfortable, and you can do anything you want..."
She spoke the last few words meaningfully, and even turned back to give Qin Mu a flirtatious wink.
Those alluring eyes were captivating, bewitching and seductive.
When she reached Qin Mu's side, she paused slightly and leaned closer to him, intentionally or unintentionally.
Her full breasts almost brushed against his arm.
"Young master," she whispered, her voice so soft it could melt water, "if you need anything tonight, just give the word. I... will be at your service."
She looked up at Qin Mu with deep affection, her red lips slightly parted, her breath sweet as orchids.
Qin Mu looked down at her.
Her charming face, with its sparkling eyes, was full of spring-like beauty.
He smiled, neither avoiding the question nor responding.
He simply said:
"Thank you for your help, boss lady."
The smile was faint, neither intimate nor distant.
The proprietress looked into his deep eyes and felt a slight flutter in her heart.
She has seen countless people and can see through a man's true nature at a glance.
She knew best what those seemingly serious people were really thinking.
Those who feign indifference cannot escape her notice.
But the man in front of me—
She couldn't see through it.
Those eyes were so deep, so deep that she couldn't see the bottom of them at a glance.
Her smile deepened, and her interest in this man grew even stronger.
"Please, sir," she said, turning to continue walking upstairs.
Yunluan followed closely behind, her gaze never leaving the proprietress.
Her hand remained on the hilt of the sword.
Qin Mu turned to look at Zhao Qingxue.
Zhao Qingxue stood still, motionless.
Her face was calm, so calm that there wasn't a ripple in it.
Only in the depths of those deep purple phoenix eyes did a complex light flash.
She overheard what the three burly men were saying.
She also saw the sticky gazes that fell upon her.
He also witnessed the landlady seducing Qin Mu.
But at this moment, those weren't what she was thinking about.
It was that "room".
There's only one room tonight.
She, him, and the two women were to be in the same room.
What will happen next?
she does not know.
This thought filled her with an indescribable sense of unease.
That anxiety was even stronger than when facing the broken edict of the founding emperor.
It made her more panicked than the moment she was kidnapped.
Because she didn't know.
I don't know what he'll do.
I don't know how she should deal with this.
I wonder what I'll become after tonight.
This feeling is so unfamiliar.
It felt so unfamiliar that it made her stiffen all over.
"Your Majesty the Empress?"
Qin Mu's voice rang in my ears, tinged with amusement.
Zhao Qingxue looked up and met his smiling eyes.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked. "Are you scared?"
Zhao Qingxue looked at him and spoke slowly.
The voice was calm, cold, and completely devoid of emotion.
"Afraid?"
A faint smile curved her lips, a smile that carried a hint of mockery and disdain.
"Qin Mu, I, Zhao Qingxue, have never known the meaning of fear in my entire life."
After saying that, she stepped past him and went upstairs.
His steps were steady, and his back was straight.
It was as if that moment of stiffness had never existed.
Qin Mu watched her retreating figure, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
Then, he smiled and followed.
Behind her, Xiao Yu followed closely, her hands tightly clasped together, her face as pale as paper.
She had no idea what would happen next.
But she had a premonition—
Tonight will be very long.
.......