Chapter 18: Astonishment! The Young Hero of the Martial World Visits the Innkeeper’s Room at Midnight
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Chapter 18: Shock! A Young Hero of the Martial World Slips into the Innkeeper’s Room at Midnight…
Inside the inn, Zheng Jian was blissfully unaware, but the martial men around him were suffering. Each one was anxious, scratching their heads and cursing their lack of literary talent, all striving to come up with a nickname for Zheng Jian in hopes of quickly satisfying this young master. Otherwise, everyone feared they’d be tormented to death…
To kill a man is but a matter of a blade’s edge, but this was killing the heart!
Yes, killing the heart!
“Young hero, I think ‘Gentle Breeze Divine Sword’ suits you well. It’s both resounding and elegant!” The waiter, at his wit’s end, sidled up to Zheng Jian with flattery, nearly falling apart under the strain.
“Hm? If you don’t want your dignity, I still do! How can a youngster like me claim the title ‘Divine Sword’? My master wouldn’t dare! My grandmaster wouldn’t dare! You little vixen, get out of my sight!” Zheng Jian casually dismissed the waiter. Was he joking? He had just emerged from the mountain—how could he be called ‘Divine Sword’?
The waiter retreated, proving the saying true: a sycophant ends up with nothing…
The innkeeper scurried out from behind the counter, “Young hero, I do have an idea. You seem skilled with the sword. ‘Divine Sword’ is too ostentatious, so why not ‘Heaven-Restoring Swordsman’? One who turns the tide and restores the heavens—what do you think?”
Zheng Jian was startled, his gaze towards the innkeeper changed. ‘Heaven-Restoring Swordsman’ was not a title anyone could casually invent. It was the name of the protagonist in an old martial arts novel Zheng Jian had read in his previous life! Though the plot was hazy, he still remembered the line: “After two emperors and three kings, comes the Heaven-Restoring Swordsman. Beyond the Twin Jade Stars, Three Isles and Four Divine Powers.” That phrase encompassed the strongest figures of the martial world in the novel.
Could it be that this innkeeper was also a transmigrator?
Thinking this, Zheng Jian probed, “Odd changes remain unchanged?”
The innkeeper looked confused, “What does that mean?”
Judging by the innkeeper’s expression, Zheng Jian concluded he wasn’t pretending; he truly didn’t understand. His guard eased a bit, but he decided to keep an eye on the innkeeper of the Joyful Inn—after all, an inn spanning all martial arts worlds might truly be suspicious!
…
Whether the innkeeper was problematic or not, the martial men present all applauded.
“This is good!”
“Young hero, I too find it fitting, and above all, refined!”
“It’s both striking and cultured. I agree as well.”
A chorus of approval followed. They were truly terrified of Zheng Jian. Though they doubted he was worthy of the title, circumstances prevailed. They only wanted to send off this calamity quickly, honor be damned…
Zheng Jian listened, genuinely satisfied. Though he was reluctant to lose these living sources of resentment points, looking at their pitiful expressions, his heart softened…
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What could he do? He was a man of honor, after all.
“Very well! ‘Heaven-Restoring Swordsman’ it shall be!” Zheng Jian declared on the spot. “Today, everyone has brainstormed and given me a refined nickname. Next, I’ll trouble you all to spread the word! Don’t try to shirk—I remember everyone here. If I hear the wrong title in the future, don’t blame me if I come knocking for justice!”
Everyone took a collective, sharp breath. This youth was cunning as a fox, planning even for the aftermath!
The thought of helping to publicize made their livers ache with anger. In their minds, the same phrase echoed: “Today, I really shouldn’t have come to the Joyful Inn for dinner!”
“Certainly, certainly.”
“We wouldn’t dare!”
They quickly agreed. Having helped choose the nickname, for the sake of their lives, they had no choice but to comply…
Another wave of resentment points rolled into Zheng Jian’s system…
…
Leaving the Joyful Inn, Zheng Jian felt refreshed.
No matter what, at least he had reclaimed his name. That previous title, ‘Thief’s Nemesis,’ was simply unbearable. Zheng Jian wished he could send a blade to whoever invented it!
Though ‘Heaven-Restoring Swordsman’ wasn’t perfect, it was far better than ‘Thief’s Nemesis’ or ‘Sturdy Vajra,’ wasn’t it?
With that thought, Zheng Jian felt much better. At least he was more capable than Xiao Meng—Xiao Meng suffered in silence, but Zheng Jian had managed to set things right for himself!
Granted, his method was a bit underhanded…
But judging by results, he achieved his goal and gained resentment points—fame and fortune both!
Splendid!
He glanced back at the now deserted Joyful Inn, and the innkeeper’s old face floated to mind. “I must probe further. Two tigers cannot share one mountain; nor can a martial world hold two transmigrators!”
…
Late at night, Zheng Jian changed into his special black attire for killing and arson, stealthily slipping into the Joyful Inn. The thought that the innkeeper might be a transmigrator made him restless!
If he was a transmigrator, today’s probe had exposed Zheng Jian’s own status, meaning the grass had been stirred and the snake alerted!
Accordingly, Zheng Jian set a guideline, three plans, five strategies, and seven tactics, preparing fully for any countermoves the innkeeper might have. Only then did he sneak in.
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The inn had long since closed, the rear courtyard shrouded in darkness so thick one couldn’t see their own hand. Zheng Jian first circulated his internal energy, listening carefully. “Hmm, breathing is steady, snoring loud—the plan can proceed!”
He crept to the innkeeper’s room and listened again, finding the snoring unchanged. Only then did Zheng Jian quietly open the window and slip inside.
Once inside, he glanced at the ceiling beam—no one.
He had to check; in such scenes, the adversary is usually lying in wait on the beam…
Tiptoeing to the bedside.
“Snore… snore…”
Zheng Jian frowned, then struck a pressure point, gripping the innkeeper’s wrist and probing with his internal energy. If the innkeeper was a transmigrator in the martial world, he’d surely possess some level of martial skill!
The result: blocked meridians, even signs of hypertension…
Zheng Jian tried several more methods, nearly waking the innkeeper for direct interrogation. Every method proved the old man was no transmigrator and had no martial skill. He was nothing but a common, frail old man…
In other words, Zheng Jian had spent the night outwitting the air…
“How idle am I, really?” Zheng Jian cursed inwardly. It was pure coincidence—the old fellow’s mind simply wandered and happened to land on ‘Heaven-Restoring Swordsman’…
Thinking it over, although his hands were stained with blood, Zheng Jian couldn’t bring himself to harm a feeble old man. He couldn’t embrace the mindset of ‘better to kill by mistake than let slip.’
He turned to leave, but to be sure, crept back once more—still nothing unexpected…
In the end, Zheng Jian left the Joyful Inn…
Damn it, this was all too hasty…
…
Second update delivered—asking humbly for recommendation votes
(End of chapter)
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