When the group walked in, the innkeeper quickly turned and smiled, “Brave warriors, please sit. Order whatever you’d like to eat.”
“Innkeeper, we may not know much about these so-called demons, but if we can learn more, we’d be willing to help,” Xu Zimo said with a smile from the side.
“You all sit as well,” the innkeeper thought for a moment, then agreed to receive Xu Zimo’s group too.
“Brothers, it’s getting dark. Sharpen your blades,” said a burly man nearby.
“Those demons eat people and don’t even spit out the bones.”
“I never thought about returning when I came here. The Lord of Order said that if I die, he’ll send my child to the Great Order Academy,” said another burly man. “I think it’s worth it.”
The three young men and women in scholar’s robes seemed to be together and were drinking.
One of them laughed and said, “So what if the kid gets into the Great Order Academy? We don’t even know if Order City can survive.”
“Where are you from, young master?” one of the burly men asked the scholarly youth, noticing he seemed refined and distinguished.
“We’re from the Ninelands Academy. This is my senior brother, Shao Jie,” the girl beside him replied.
“Ninelands Academy?” Hearing that name, everyone around was shocked.
The Ninelands Region had nine major powers, and each generally had its own academy.
Order City had the Great Order Academy. Tower City had the Great Tower Academy.
Though all of them were renowned, the number one academy in the domain was undoubtedly the Ninelands Academy.
Its fame reached far beyond the Ninelands, across the entire Middle Continent, it was legendary.
Some even claimed it was the top academy under the Heavenly Dao Academy.
“So, you’re students of the Ninelands Academy. An honor to meet you,” the burly man smiled. “Students from your academy truly are elites. Even though Order City is surrounded by demons and close to becoming a dead city, you still came to slay demons. I respect that.”
“We came here to temper ourselves. Our teacher said that true training happens between life and death. Otherwise, it has little value,” Shao Jie replied.
“In a foreign land, we share Golden Flower Wine; across ten thousand miles, we mourn beneath the wild sky,” said the man with the wine gourd on his waist, suddenly laughing.
Leaning against the wall, he took big swigs of Golden Flower Wine from his gourd.
Getting caught up in the moment, he couldn’t help reciting a poem aloud.
“Even wine can’t shut you up,” the cold-looking woman beside him said icily.
“Sorry, sorry. Couldn't help it,” the wine gourd man waved his hand with a laugh. “Carry on, carry on.”
“Young master, what would you like to eat?” After serving the others, the innkeeper came to Xu Zimo and asked.
“Just a pot of wine will do,” Xu Zimo said, waving his hand. “Can I ask you something?”
“Please ask,” the innkeeper nodded.
“What’s this demon situation in Order City all about?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Young master may not know. Order City lies in the western part of the Ninelands and is one of the most famous cities here. Everything was peaceful until a year ago, when turmoil broke out in the Western King Valley. Shortly after, groups of demons began pouring out to attack Order City,” the innkeeper explained.
“For the past year, people have been in panic. Many left. Those who stayed are deeply attached to this place. What was once a bustling city has become what you see now.”
“Did you not investigate the situation?” Xu Zimo asked.
“The city lord sent people, but they say there’s something terrifying in the Western King Valley. No one dares approach,” the innkeeper shook his head.
“It’s been a year,” Xu Zimo frowned.
“Aren’t the nine major powers in the Ninelands united? Why haven’t the others helped?”
“Let alone other powers, even our own local force, Supreme Order, has abandoned Order City,” the innkeeper sighed.
“Why?” Xu Zimo asked in confusion.
By rights, Order City was Supreme Order’s pride. No matter what, it should’ve been defended. Now, demons were attacking it and they simply ignored it?
“I’m not entirely sure, but it seems our city lord had a falling out with Supreme Order. Now he’s on his own,” the innkeeper said, shaking his head.
He stepped forward, heated a pot of wine, and gently brought it over.
“These are troubled times. We’ve already prepared to live and die with this city.”
Xu Zimo sipped the wine, thinking to himself: so-called demons were neither monsters nor devils, but creatures created to resemble both.
Solving this wouldn’t be hard, just find the source and eliminate it.
If the source remained, no amount of killing would help.
Just as everyone finished eating, the sky outside had already darkened.
More and more soldiers patrolled the streets. In the pitch-black night, it felt like a silent beast was devouring all life.
“Innkeeper, thanks for the hospitality. Time for us to go,” the burly men said, grabbing their gear and disappearing into the night.
“Senior brother, what should we do?” the students from the Ninelands Academy discussed.
“They’re just small fry for now. We’ll wait until the real fighting starts,” Shao Jie replied nonchalantly.
“What about us, master?” the Bone Demon asked.
“Doesn’t matter. I’d actually like to see what these demons are,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.
This inn wasn’t far from the city gates.
Outside, the sounds of battle and strange screeches began to rise.
“We should go,” the cold, noble-looking woman stood and said to the wine gourd man.
“Got it. Looks like I won’t get to drink in peace,” the man chuckled, standing and following her out.
Watching them leave, Xu Zimo casually glanced toward the door.
Several figures passed by outside, cloaked in the thick night.
Suddenly, Xu Zimo’s gaze paused in surprise at one of the silhouettes.
He watched that figure disappear from sight, then grinned.
“Master, what is it?” the Seven-Face Infernal Archon looked toward the door in confusion.
“I think I just saw someone familiar,” Xu Zimo said.
“Not going to say hi?” the Bone Demon asked.
“Maybe they missed me dearly,” Xu Zimo chuckled, then stood and left the inn.
Walking onto Order City’s main street, there were no ordinary people around. The street vendors had long since hidden away.
Only Order City’s soldiers and cultivators who had come to help remained.
Following the main road, Xu Zimo headed directly toward the city gate.