Chapter 353: Chapter 353: Checking into the Inn, The Cheapest Room

The sky had just brightened, and the area near the city gate was bustling with an endless stream of martial artists and ordinary people coming and going.

But there was a significant difference from the last time Lu Chen entered the imperial city.

Even from outside the city, Lu Chen could feel that the atmosphere was no longer as vibrant, clearly because Qin Zhantian had been taken away by him, and Xu Qianqian’s wedding naturally could not proceed.

At the same time, he had learned from Yu Qingqing that the Hehuan Sect had given up on Xu Qianqian!

However, Xu Qianqian was still a member of the Xu Family and possessed a certain amount of cunning and tactics. She would certainly not cause a senseless commotion but would instead find a way to re-enter the Hehuan Sect.

This was the point that Lu Chen needed to pay attention to.

Upon entering the city, the festive red decorations that had adorned the streets were already taken down, and Lu Chen took only a brief look before redirecting his gaze.

The best places to gather information were, of course, inns and restaurants.

Lu Chen touched his face, trying to make himself look like a martial artist who had been weathering the elements, and walked into an inn.

"Guest, are you looking to stay overnight, or..."

With a slight smile, Lu Chen, who had already prepared some Yuan Stones, took one out from his bosom and tossed it over, saying, "I’d like to stay, just give me the cheapest room you have."

"Right away!"

The innkeeper slung the towel over his shoulder and headed to the counter to notify them, then turned to Lu Chen and said, "Guest, please follow me!"

Lu Chen followed him upstairs. This inn was very ordinary, which was precisely what Lu Chen wanted. It was in such a mixed and chaotic place that he could more easily pick up on a multitude of information.

Of course, much of this information was misinformed or based on rumors that needed Lu Chen’s own discernment to sort the truth from fiction.

The inn was also quite average, its wooden staircases worn with age, creaking with every step as if they might collapse at any moment.

But the innkeeper, obviously used to it, respectfully led Lu Chen upstairs.

After all, anyone who paid with Yuan Stones to stay at an inn must be a martial artist and needed to be treated differently from ordinary people.

"Guest, this way, please!"

The innkeeper led Lu Chen all the way to the back of the second floor, and only when they arrived in front of the room door did the innkeeper say, "Guest, the cheapest room you asked for is a four-person room. There are already two others staying here, please don’t be offended."

"No problem."

Lu Chen smiled slightly and then pushed the door open.

The wooden door was as old as the stairs, and it made an even sharper noise.

No sooner had Lu Chen set foot over the threshold than a loud shout came from inside, "Damn it, what are you doing here so early in the morning? Don’t you know I need to sleep?"

The innkeeper hastily said, "Guest, I’m sorry, there’s someone looking to stay! We only have one empty bed left in this room!"

Meanwhile, Lu Chen looked in the direction of the voice.

The voice was full of vigor, and judging by his realm, it had to be a martial artist of at least the Visceral Refinement Realm!

A Visceral Refinement Realm martial artist staying in the cheapest room was very likely up to no good, and like himself, probably looking to gather some information.

"Damn it, if I weren’t out of money, I wouldn’t have to put up with this crap!"

The bearded martial artist complained that he was sleeping, but his gaze towards Lu Chen was crystal clear.

Lu Chen chuckled and said, "Brother, sorry for the inconvenience. I am also running low on funds, so I’ll have to endure this for the time being."

"No worries, we martial artists don’t care much for luxury! If we have Yuan Stones, we spend Yuan Stones, if not, we spend silver and gold. And if there’s none of that, we have to be shameless!"

The bearded man didn’t take offense but spoke amiably to Lu Chen, seeing that he had an air of detachment about him and that, despite being a martial artist of the Visceral Refinement Realm, he could not see through him.

"Well said, brother."

Lu Chen turned to look at the other two beds.

Two people were sleeping there, covered in blankets, making it difficult to discern anything specific about them.

The empty bed was at the far end, near the window. Lu Chen walked straight over to it.

Since mastering the Heaven-Breaking Spiritual Method, he had stopped sleeping altogether.

Even at night, he would cultivate by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Now, seeing a bed again, he felt a mix of emotions.

Luckily, he hadn’t been cultivating for very long and hadn’t forgotten what a bed felt like.

Without even taking off his shoes, Lu Chen lay down on the bed, as if talking to himself, "After traveling all night, I’ve finally arrived!"

After saying so, he casually pulled over the blanket, which had an odd smell, and covered himself.

A few breaths later, light snoring sounds could be heard.

The room fell silent, the innkeeper left, and took care to close the door behind him.

"Do you think..."

After a short pause, the bearded man suddenly said, "Could this kid have also come for the Heavenly Pill Pavilion’s recruitment of disciples?"

As these words dropped, the martial artists from the other two beds also sat up, pulling back their blankets.

One was dressed like a scholar in a green shirt with a clean face, starkly contrasting with the bearded man.

The other was dressed in a martial artist’s attire, who stared at Lu Chen and said, "This information isn’t widely known, plus his cultivation level, undoubtedly, must be no weaker than ours!"

All these words fell without omission on Lu Chen’s ears.

Heavenly Pill Pavilion...

He had just received the news from Shang Qing!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read