The bar was quiet, far too quiet for a place that had just moments ago been bustling with murmurs and the clinking of glasses. Every eye was on Jin Xuanji, the boy who, despite having no trace of inner energy, had somehow stood unfazed, unintentionally catching the attention of everyone in the room. Whispers began to rise among the crowd like smoke from a smoldering fire, soft and curious.
"Is that the boy with no cultivation?"
"He stood up to the guards... Did he get lucky or is he hiding something?"
The three guards who stood before Jin Xuanji appeared thoroughly confused. Their brows furrowed and their hands hovered over their swords as if trying to recall the correct protocol in such an awkward, unexpected situation. Their hesitation didn't last long, however. After a few awkward moments of staring between each other and the young man before them, they finally seemed to gather their resolve. Almost in sync, they unsheathed their weapons.
Each sword gleamed under the bar's dim lighting. The hilts were intricately designed, green like jade and carved into the shape of a diamond with a circular emblem etched into its center. It was clear that these weren't ordinary weapons—perhaps enhanced with minor enchantments or simply ceremonial, but they carried weight and prestige.
Jin Xuanji's mouth went dry. The moment he had hoped to avoid had arrived.
'Ahh, I'm dead…' he muttered under his breath. His body stiffened. Even the thought of defending himself felt impossible. He knew too well that without inner energy, even attempting a basic martial technique could leave him with shattered bones and ruptured veins. Still, he forced a nervous smile and raised his hands slowly in a gesture of surrender.
"You know, 3v1 is kind of unfair…" Jin Xuanji said, his voice rising just enough to be heard but carrying none of the bravado he wished it had. His expression was the perfect blend of fear and fake confidence, a cocktail of desperation and last-ditch humor.
"Unfair, my ass! You attacked the bar and knocked down one of our guards!" one of the guards barked, clearly the most vocal of the three.
"You attacked me first when I just tried to have a drink!" Jin Xuanji replied, his voice a little higher-pitched than usual, his arms still in the air.
The guards weren't buying it. They shifted into a familiar stance, one Jin Xuanji had seen before—the same one used by Xia Yuze. A formal posture, rigid and disciplined. It spelled trouble.
Before their swords could close the gap between them and Jin Xuanji, a voice rang through the room—loud, commanding, and unmistakably aged.
"Why would you attack them? They just wanted to have a drink!"
Everyone turned their heads. An elderly man, with a long white beard flowing like a waterfall down to his chest and white hair tied neatly behind his head, stood at the entrance. He wore a blue and white robe that swayed slightly as he walked forward, his presence demanding silence. Behind him stood two men dressed entirely in black. Their faces were obscured by full-face black masks, giving them an almost spectral appearance.
"Leader Huang!" one of the guards shouted, panic etched across his face. "This is—"
"Shut," Leader Huang interrupted curtly.
The guard immediately lowered his head. "Yes…" he mumbled.
Leader Huang turned to Jin Xuanji with a soft smile that did not quite reach his eyes. "We are sorry for what my bar guards have done. To compensate, every order will be on the house."
Jin Xuanji raised an eyebrow. Was this genuine hospitality or sarcasm buried beneath formalities? He exchanged a quick glance with his younger brother, Jin Wei, who looked equally baffled. Regardless, Jin Xuanji nodded slowly.
"And also, I want a room," Jin Xuanji added quickly before the moment passed.
"That would not be a problem," Leader Huang responded with a diplomatic smile.
With that, the group moved upstairs. The second floor of the bar was quieter and more refined. A sliding door of bamboo stood before them, and once opened, revealed a room with a large table surrounded by cushions instead of chairs. It was minimalist, yet elegant.
Jin Xuanji and Leader Huang sat cross-legged on opposite ends of the table. Jin Wei remained standing behind his older brother like a loyal shadow.
"Leader Huang," Jin Xuanji began, "Why are you sitting with me? Aren't you a busy man running this establishment?"
"I have some time," the leader replied smoothly, not giving anything away.
Leader Huang glanced up at Jin Wei and gave a small nod. "Would you get us something to drink?"
"Brother," Jin Xuanji grinned, "Get us the most expensive drink the bar has."
Leader Huang said nothing, but his expression remained unreadable.
A short while later, Jin Wei returned with a massive bottle. He carefully poured the golden liquid into small cups for both his brother and Leader Huang. The aroma was strong, a mix of sweet and burning sharpness that could probably knock out a bear with one sniff.
After a brief sip, Jin Xuanji leaned forward slightly.
"Can I ask a favor, Leader?"
One of the guards beside Huang instantly bristled, stepping forward. "The elder has already given so much, and you still dare to ask more?"
Leader Huang let out a soft giggle, then chuckled, then burst into a genuine laugh. "You know what, sure."
Jin Xuanji didn't hesitate. "May I have the Floweresa Pill?"
Leader Huang's face changed slightly, the smile fading just for a moment before returning. He gently placed his cup down.
"Floweresa Pill? Ahh… I've heard the rumors. You were born without inner energy. Planning to use it to gain what you never had?"
The question floated in the air like smoke. Jin Xuanji nodded slowly, almost nervously.
The Floweresa Pill… He remembered the warmth that surged through his body when Elder Han had given it to him the first time. It wasn't just a medicinal miracle; it had been his salvation, the moment he first felt the flow of Spirit Qi within him, the moment his dantian truly awakened.
"I really need that pill… Please Leader Huang! Give it to meeeee…" he thought silently, praying in his head with all the subtlety of a man crossing a minefield in slippers.
"Sure," Leader Huang said.
Jin Xuanji's face lit up with the kind of happiness reserved for people who've just found out they won a lifetime supply of noodles. Jin Wei practically bounced where he stood, barely containing his joy.
"Thank y—"
"But only if you can beat one of my guards here," Leader Huang added, cutting him off with a mischievous glint in his eye.
The air stiffened.
Jin Xuanji blinked. "Ah… I see. Of course. Just a minor thing. A little spar, a small duel… no pressure."
He turned his head slowly toward the two masked guards. One of them cracked his knuckles. The other adjusted his mask like he was about to start a shift at a haunted mansion.
This was going to hurt.
Badly.
But Jin Xuanji, as always, grinned anyway.
"…Could I at least finish my drink first?"