novelapdf Chapter 60 The Inn Has Eyes, Visitors Have Prices
Chapter 60 The Inn Has Eyes, Visitors Have Prices
The inn was very quiet.
It was so quiet that even the sound of the wind seemed abrupt.
The dried meat under the eaves occasionally swayed, making a soft creaking sound, as if reminding everyone that this place wasn't deserted.
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Li Xuan sat at the wooden table.
My fingers just touched the table and then stopped.
I didn't knock again.
He no longer needs to create rhythm.
Because the rhythm—has already been taken over by someone else.
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Not far away on the opposite side.
The middle-aged man was still chopping wood.
One at a time.
The voice was neither hurried nor slow.
But every axe blow was steady.
That's too stable.
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"This man is no ordinary innkeeper."
Chen He stood behind Li Xuan and said in a low voice.
The voice was very low, almost whispered.
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Li Xuan didn't look at him.
He simply gave a faint reply.
"Um."
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Chen He frowned.
He wanted to say something more, such as "Should we leave first?" or "Make preparations in advance".
But the words stuck in his throat.
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Because he suddenly realized something—
Li Xuan saw it even earlier than him.
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Since they didn't leave.
This means—
This was intentional.
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Thinking of this, Chen He unconsciously tightened his grip on the knife handle.
The knuckles are slightly white.
But I felt a little more at ease.
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Since it's a setup.
That would not be passive.
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the other side.
Li Yuanshan sat on the other side of the table.
The ledgers have been opened.
But he stared at the same page for a long time.
Not a single word was changed.
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He was actually listening.
Listen to the sounds around you.
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The sound of wood being split.
The guards made a slight shift in their steps.
and also--
That indescribable feeling of "someone is watching".
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He swallowed hard.
I quietly looked up.
I happened to make eye contact with that middle-aged man.
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That instant.
His heart skipped a beat.
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The other person's gaze was very ordinary.
There was even a hint of a smile on his face.
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But that way of "judging people"—
It doesn't look like they're looking after guests.
It's more like—
Valuation.
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Li Yuanshan quickly lowered his head.
Pretend to continue looking at the accounts.
But her ears were already red.
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"Has I been seen through...?"
He felt a little flustered.
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At this time.
The middle-aged man split the last piece of firewood.
He stuck the axe into the ground.
He clapped his hands.
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"Your shipment—"
He suddenly spoke.
The sound wasn't loud.
But it's just the right amount of time for everyone to hear it.
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"It's worth quite a bit, isn't it?"
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The air suddenly tightened.
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Li Yuanshan almost dropped the account book in his hand.
He looked up instinctively.
A flicker of panic crossed his eyes.
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Chen He's body tensed instantly.
He shifted his feet slightly to the side.
Position adjustment.
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The guards moved closer without making a sound.
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Only Li Xuan.
Didn't move.
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He looked up.
His expression was calm.
"good."
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This answer is vague.
But it also feels natural.
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The middle-aged man smiled.
Come over here.
Pull out a chair and sit down.
The movements are slow.
It's as if they're not worried at all about being rejected.
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"It's alright, but it comes with a price."
He looked at Li Xuan.
There was something more in his eyes than before.
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"If something has a price, someone will be interested in it."
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Li Xuan nodded.
"normal."
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The two spoke in a very flat tone.
But Li Yuanshan, who was listening nearby, felt a tightness in his chest.
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"What are those two talking about?"
His mind is a little slow to catch up.
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The middle-aged man suddenly smiled.
He reached out and picked up the teapot on the table.
I poured a glass of water.
It was pushed in front of Li Xuan.
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"This road."
He said.
"Not everyone can leave."
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Li Xuan glanced at the glass of water.
I didn't drink it.
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"so?"
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The middle-aged man tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
The sound wasn't loud.
But it seemed as if it was emphasizing something.
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"Or—pay up."
"Or—I'll give you my life."
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He spoke very bluntly.
There was no attempt to conceal anything.
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Li Yuanshan's breath hitched.
My fingers clenched unconsciously.
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"They're here..."
His heart tightened.
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Chen He's eyes had turned cold.
He slowly moved his hand from the hilt to a more comfortable position.
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But he didn't move.
Waiting for Li Xuan.
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Li Xuan looked at the other person.
His gaze remained unchanged.
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"Whom do you represent?"
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As soon as those words were spoken...
The air tightened again.
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The middle-aged man did not answer immediately.
Instead, she smiled and looked at him for a few moments.
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"You certainly asked a direct question."
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He leaned back a little.
The chair made a slight scraping sound.
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"Black Rock Gang".
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Three words.
It was said very softly.
This gave everyone present a slight jolt.
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Chen He's eyes narrowed.
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"It really was them..."
His heart sank.
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Li Yuanshan subconsciously looked at Li Xuan.
There was a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
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Li Xuan nodded.
It was as if they had confirmed something.
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"And who are you?"
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"Just a doorman."
The middle-aged man smiled.
"So he's kind of... a debt collector."
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He said this in a very relaxed tone.
But he didn't hide that feeling of "I'm in charge" at all.
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Li Xuan did not respond.
Just looking at him.
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A few breaths later.
He spoke:
"This is the first time we've walked this road."
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"so?"
The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow.
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"So we can talk."
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As soon as those words were spoken...
Li Yuanshan suddenly looked up.
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"talk?"
He almost spoke up.
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But seeing Li Xuan's expression, he forced himself to hold back.
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The middle-aged man's expression changed slightly.
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"Aren't you afraid?"
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"What are you afraid of?"
Li Xuan countered with a question.
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"I'm afraid I'll take action now."
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Li Xuan glanced at him.
His tone was very indifferent.
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"You're going to take action."
"I wouldn't have sat down in the first place."
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The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment.
Then he laughed.
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This time, the smile seemed more genuine.
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"interesting."
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He sat up straight again.
Their gazes re-examined Li Xuan.
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"There aren't many people like you."
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Li Xuan did not respond to this comment.
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"condition."
He spoke directly.
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Middle-aged people don't beat around the bush.
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"Toll fee".
"Based on the value of the goods, 20%."
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The words had just left his mouth.
Li Yuanshan almost jumped up.
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"Twenty percent?!"
He couldn't help but lower his voice.
"Why don't you just rob it!"
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After he finished speaking, he realized that the occasion was inappropriate.
Shut up right now.
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The middle-aged man glanced at him.
Not angry.
Instead, he smiled.
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"We're robbing them."
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Li Yuanshan: "..."
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He didn't know how to respond for a moment.
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Chen He's face darkened.
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"Twenty percent."
He said in a low voice.
"Can you finish this?"
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The middle-aged man shrugged.
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"We've been eating this food for many years."
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This statement carried a hint of confidence.
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Li Xuan did not respond immediately.
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He glanced down at the table.
I tapped it lightly with my finger.
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a bit.
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Then stop.
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He's calculating.
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It's not about settling accounts.
It is calculated—
Station.
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Two percent.
For the Li family now, it's not that they can't afford it.
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But once it's given...
This road will forever belong to someone else.
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That's the rule.
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Once the rules are accepted...
It's very difficult to change.
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Li Xuan looked up.
Looking at the other person.
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"We won't pay."
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This statement is very straightforward.
But it was like a stone, smashed directly into the water.
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The air fell silent instantly.
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Li Yuanshan's heart skipped a beat.
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"It's over..."
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Chen He's hand was already fully gripping the knife handle.
His breathing became shallow and deep.
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The middle-aged man did not immediately turn hostile.
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He just looked at Li Xuan.
His gaze slowly turned cold.
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Are you sure?
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Li Xuan nodded.
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"Sure."
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A few breaths of silence.
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The middle-aged man suddenly laughed.
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"OK."
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He stood up.
Gently push the chair back.
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"Let's take a look—"
He dusted off his hands.
Her tone returned to its previous relaxed state.
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"Can your batch of goods get through this road?"
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Done.
He turned around.
I went inside the house.
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He never looked back.
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The air fell silent again.
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Li Yuanshan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
I feel a little weak.
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"That's... all?"
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His voice was still trembling a little.
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Chen He did not relax.
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"no."
He said in a low voice.
"This is just the beginning."
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Li Xuan stood up.
He patted his sleeves.
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"Walk."
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The tone was simple.
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The team regrouped.
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When Li Yuanshan stood up, his legs were still a little weak.
He glanced at the room.
I have an indescribable feeling in my heart.
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"That person just now..."
He asked in a low voice.
"What if they lead men to chase after us?"
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Li Xuan mounted his horse.
There was no turning back.
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"Won't."
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Why?
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"He has already seen what he wanted to see."
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Li Yuanshan was taken aback.
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"Then what he just did...?"
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Li Xuan looked at the road ahead.
His gaze was slightly cold.
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"It's about pricing."
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The column began to move.
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The post stations were gradually left behind.
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But everyone knows it.
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From this moment on.
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They've been targeted.
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and--
They weren't from the same group.
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The wind started blowing again.
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The road ahead is still long.
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Chapter Sixty (End)