"Ah! The prodigies of the Changlin Academy! Of course, there are, others might not have them, but you prodigy young masters and mistresses must have them!"

The innkeeper spoke with a broad smile, stepping out from behind the counter, personally leading Jiang Chen and the others upstairs.

Hmm?

As he just ascended the stairs, Jiang Chen paused slightly, tilted his head towards the window, and saw a shadow flash by.

Frowning slightly, Jiang Chen moved his thoughts, glancing at the innkeeper leading the way in front of him.

The innkeeper, while leading the way, occasionally turned to glance at Jiang Chen and the others, and his gaze more often than not swept over Jiang Chen.

Elder Bu, is that you?

Jiang Chen muttered inwardly, following the innkeeper to the fifth-floor rooftop of the tavern without revealing anything. This area was at the top of the tavern.

"Honored prodigies, there are three superior rooms here, please see how you wish to divide them."

The innkeeper spoke with a light smile, gesturing towards the rooms on the side and scanning the group.

Beside the innkeeper, three rooms had signs reading 'Vacant' hanging on the doors.

"Senior Yun, Senior Jian, what do you think..."

Zhang Qian turned to look at Yun Tao and Jian Wuheng.

"We'll allocate them ourselves, don't trouble the innkeeper!"

Jiang Chen smiled slightly at the innkeeper and spoke softly before Zhang Qian could finish speaking.

Zhang Qian paused, closed his mouth, and Yun Tao along with the others looked at the innkeeper.

"Oh, alright! Then you five rest first. I'll have food and wine prepared for you below and brought up to you."

The innkeeper's face was full of smiles, looking natural.

"No need, we'll go down to eat later."

Jiang Chen waved his hand.

"Alright! Very well, I'll have it prepared below."

The innkeeper nodded and turned to leave down the stairs.

At the top of the stairs, the innkeeper glanced back at Jiang Chen, finding Jiang Chen watching him. He quickly put on a smile, saluted with clasped hands, and turned to go downstairs.

"This innkeeper seems a bit off!"

Jian Wuheng spoke softly.

"We'll talk inside."

Jiang Chen waved his hand, opened a room, and went inside, with the others following behind.

The room had two compartments, the outer one was a living room, and the inner one was a bedroom, with elegant decor. A thick animal skin carpet covered the floor, silencing footsteps.

"Junior, Wu Hen, is there really something wrong with that innkeeper?"

Yun Tao frowned slightly.

"There should be!"

Jiang Chen nodded lightly: "When we were entering the teleportation array in Mingyuan City, I had the feeling of being followed. Once we arrived at the tavern, someone has been watching us from outside the window. Every time the innkeeper turned back his gaze fixated on me, suggesting that their target might be me!"

"Their target is you?! Could it be that Elder Bu wants to deal with you?"

A thought struck Yun Tao, his brows tightening.

"That seems likely."

Jiang Chen nodded lightly: "However, he probably won't confront us directly just yet. It's possible that the innkeeper wanted to find out where our bedrooms are to kidnap me quietly at night!"

"Does he really have such nerve?"

Jian Wuheng spoke softly, a trace of doubt in his eyes: "Or could the issues with Hui City's Shangluo Family be related to their Bu Family, knowing we came because of that, they want to stop us and take the opportunity to deal with you?"

"We can't rule out that possibility!"

Jiang Chen nodded lightly: "The Shangluo Family moved their entire clan to the outskirts of Hui City three years ago and built a manor. They have not sent anyone to Changlin Academy despite being given student quotas, and no one from the whole family has left the manor since. There's certainly something fishy here. As soon as we showed up, the Bu Family began watching us. I'm not sure if they just want to deal with me or if this also involves the Shangluo Family's matters."

"Since the Bu Family has set their sights on us, we can't stay here!"

Zhang Qian spoke softly, not questioning why Bu Fuqi wanted to target Jiang Chen. It was also his way of surviving as someone without background, avoiding unnecessary probing.

"Indeed, we shouldn't stay here. The Bu Family's patriarch is a mid-stage Unity Realm strongman. If their family really has issues, we have no chance of defending ourselves."

Jian Cangqiong spoke in a deep voice.

"Alas! We should have listened to Junior Brother back then and either contacted the instructors or had our master accompany us. If Master were present, the Bu Family wouldn't dare make a move!"

Yun Tao wrinkled his brows, speaking somewhat self-reproachfully.

"Senior Brother, if we rely on Master for everything, what's the point of our experiences?"

Jiang Chen looked up at Yun Tao.

Upon hearing this, Yun Tao nodded, and the others showed agreement in their eyes.

"The Bu Family is watching us, and for now, the exact reason is uncertain. Perhaps they're just overly enthusiastic or worried about any mishap on their territory and not being able to explain it to the Academy. However, we can't be too unprepared."

Jiang Chen softly said: "Later, let's go down and have some food, and observe the innkeeper and others' reactions."

"Alright!"

Yun Tao and the others nodded.

Inadvertently, the leadership of the team shifted to Jiang Chen.

With the decision made, the five stood and left the room, heading down to the first-floor hall.

"Oh, esteemed prodigies, you plan to taste the cuisine of our Qingyun Tavern?"

As soon as the five descended the stairs, the innkeeper came up to them with a smile.

Jiang Chen carefully sensed the innkeeper, who was a cultivator at the Divine Infant Realm Peak.

"Yes, innkeeper, bring us some of your signature dishes."

Jiang Chen spoke with a smile.

"Alright! This way, please!"

The innkeeper smiled broadly, gesturing to an empty table in the center of the hall.

Jiang Chen and the others obediently walked over.

Sitting at the table, Jiang Chen and the others covertly observed the innkeeper and the waiter's actions in the shop.

No matter what they were doing, these people would occasionally glance at Jiang Chen and his group.

The five exchanged glances, understanding each other.

As the food was served, Jiang Chen and the others tasted a bit before setting down their chopsticks.

"Ruo Xue, since we're out here, would you like to buy some clothes?"

Jiang Chen turned to Ouyang Ruoxue, speaking with a light smile.

Ouyang Ruoxue paused slightly, knowing it was an act, but couldn't help feeling a hint of sweetness.

"Okay!"

She nodded lightly, her face slightly flushed, turning her head slightly, avoiding Jiang Chen's gaze.

"Let's go!"

Jiang Chen smiled slightly, took a gold ingot from his space ring, placed it on the table, and headed toward the tavern's entrance.

"Oh, are the esteemed prodigies heading out?"

The innkeeper quickly approached Jiang Chen and the others with a smile: "Let my assistant guide you around the city. He's very familiar with Changyun Prefecture, where all the fun spots are, and where to find fashionable clothing. He's quite in the know."

"No need, we're just wandering around."

Jiang Chen shook his head lightly, turned, and left the tavern, with Yun Tao and the others following.

The innkeeper's face was full of smiles, escorting them out of the tavern. Watching their backs, the smile gradually faded from his face.

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