No Fighting Allowed in the Inn Chapter 23

The moon hung bright and the stars sparse, stretching over an endless wilderness.

An inn rose abruptly from the ground, standing solitary and imposing in the vast expanse like an island adrift at sea. Beneath its eaves swayed two lanterns, drifting with the wind like the glowing pupils of a great beast in the dark, watching the uninvited guests with silent vigilance.

The newcomers understood perfectly.

Everyone coveted the treasure map, yet none dared storm the inn in broad daylight. The cover of night concealed the truth.

Clad in dark attire and veiled in black scarves, they gathered outside the inn’s walls.

All was silent—so quiet that the only sound was the pounding of their own hearts.

There was an unspoken understanding among them: no one wanted to be the first to act, nor the first to breach the inn’s defenses.

Yet waiting indefinitely was no solution.

On the third floor, Lu Jianwei had not lit a single lamp.

Seated by the window, her senses stretched to their limits, she could discern the strength of these intruders even without the aid of her system.

They were mere scouts—low-level minions, the strongest among them barely reaching the fourth rank, while most lingered at the third, with a handful of second-ranks padding their numbers.

They lurked outside, motionless for what felt like an eternity.

On the second floor, Tao Yang had long abandoned propriety, sharing a room with Wei Liu, his fists clenched and palms slick with sweat.

"Shimei, there are… so many of them out there."

If they all rushed in at once, even with Yan Feicang’s help, they wouldn’t be able to stop them all. Some would inevitably slip through the chaos and seize Yue Shu and the others.

Though these martial artists weren’t particularly skilled, they had their tricks—poisons, hidden weapons, and other underhanded methods that made them unpredictable.

Wei Liu’s heart also wavered with unease, but the thought of Lu Jianwei’s calm demeanor sparked a flicker of anticipation.

She wanted to see just how Lu-jie would fend off these jackals.

"Why hasn’t Shifu come himself?" Tao Yang muttered in frustration. "With his ties to Yue Zhuangzhu, we wouldn’t be in such a desperate position."

If Leisurely Cloud Manor had no intention of protecting them, they wouldn’t have secretly tracked them down.

But if they were willing, why not step forward openly?

Wei Liu sighed. "If Yue Shu and the others truly wanted to go to Leisurely Cloud Manor, they wouldn’t have traveled all this way. Shixiong, have you not heard the rumors?"

"You mean the treasure map?" Tao Yang scoffed. "If such a thing really existed, why would it surface only now?"

Wei Liu shook her head. "Too many would rather believe it’s real. Look—they’ve surrounded the inn completely."

"You’re right. With so many vying for it, Shifu’s appearance would only complicate things." Tao Yang finally understood.

Wei Liu sighed again. "Did it never occur to you that Shifu sent us to find them quietly precisely for this reason?"

"Impossible!" Tao Yang snapped.

Wei Liu didn’t press further.

In the easternmost room, the Azure-clothed Envoy sat motionless at the table, while the Tall and Stout Grey-clothed Envoy and the Short Grey-clothed Envoy each pressed against a window, peering through the slits at the scene outside.

"Envoy, they’re not moving," the tall one murmured. "If they storm the inn, what should we do?"

Against such numbers, they stood no chance.

The Azure-clothed Envoy lowered his gaze in thought. "What about those two?"

"They’re on the first floor. No lights, no movement," the short one replied.

"Strange." The Azure-clothed Envoy frowned. "The intelligence said that old servant Zhang is a peak fourth-rank. He should’ve heard the noise outside by now."

In all his years of handling cases, he’d never encountered an inn as eerie as this.

In the first-floor servants’ quarters, Uncle Zhang gripped Yue Shu’s hand tightly.

"Uncle Zhang, the innkeeper told us not to worry. She’ll handle it—you don’t need to be afraid," Yue Shu whispered.

Uncle Zhang exhaled. "I’m not afraid."

He just wondered if that expert was even here tonight—and if she could truly stop so many.

Outside the inn, the invaders held their breath, waiting.

After what felt like an eternity, one finally lost patience. Relying on his superior lightness skill, he vaulted over the wall in an instant.

His movement was a signal—though none wanted to be the first, none wanted to be left behind.

Dozens of figures surged toward the main building at once.

On the system’s map, a swarm of green dots converged on the inn. Lu Jianwei’s lips curled slightly.

"Xiao Ke, ready?"

Xiao Ke "cracked its knuckles" in excitement. "Ready!"

Lu Jianwei smirked. "Activate the attack item."

She gave no warning, no intimidating display of force—just unleashed the item without hesitation.

A fifth-rank attack item was more than enough to handle a crowd of third and fourth-rank martial artists.

The cost? A trivial amount of silver.

And that silver could easily be recouped from the intruders themselves.

Among those rushing forward, some had stayed behind, watching cautiously from the sidelines.

Every eye was fixed on the scene unfolding in midair.

Inside and outside the inn, whether invader or guest, hearts pounded in anticipation.

A single lantern flickered to life.

In that instant, time itself seemed to freeze. The airborne invaders crashed into an invisible wall—

Then, an unseen hand struck their chests, so effortlessly it might have been a mere brush of the moonlight.

**"Bang—!"**

**"Pfft—!"**

Simultaneously, they were flung back beyond the inn’s walls, blood spraying from their mouths, their organs searing with pain.

Not a single cry escaped them. Even the injured dared not groan, biting back their agony in terrified silence.

Only the lantern in the center of the third floor burned brighter.

"By the heavens—"

The two Grey-clothed Envoys, peering through the window, gaped in shock.

Even without looking, the Azure-clothed Envoy could sense the dozens of auras expelled from the inn in an instant—all grievously wounded.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

What kind of godly power was this?!

These intruders might have been low-ranked, but there were dozens of them—not just a handful!

Who had struck them down?!

The question echoed in every mind present—shock, disbelief, and a creeping horror settling into stunned silence.

Even Yan Feicang, who had been deep in meditation, jolted to his feet, a shiver racing down his spine. Goosebumps erupted across his skin like tidal waves.

An expert. A peerless master.

A senior whose inner power was as vast and boundless as the sea—one he had never encountered before!

His long blade hummed faintly, its edge trembling with awakened intent.

"So strong… impossibly strong," Tao Yang muttered, shutting the window with numb hands. His mind had short-circuited, leaving him capable only of repeating those words.

Wei Liu’s expression mirrored his awe.

Among the invaders, reverence, terror, and dread churned like a storm. None dared take another step—some even froze mid-scratch, hands hovering in the air.

No one moved to help the wounded.

From her perch, Lu Jianwei rested her chin on her hand, feigning puzzlement. "Why has everyone stopped?"

Xiao Ke mused, "Perhaps they’re still preparing. Should we wait a little longer?"

"Then we’ll wait." She paused. "How much did we fine them earlier?"

Anyone who entered the inn without using the front door was considered an intruder—and intruders were subject to fines.

When the attack item had been activated, Xiao Ke had already deducted every last coin from their pockets.

"Total… thirty-five coppers," Xiao Ke admitted awkwardly.

Lu Jianwei: ???

"Maybe those coppers were just meant to be used as hidden weapons."

In other words, if no one had used projectiles, she wouldn’t have earned a single penny.

"A loss. A terrible loss!" Lu Jianwei clutched her chest, her heart aching. "All that silver wasted—and only thirty-five coppers to show for it?! Are they all this broke?!"

The system consoled her, "They *were* here to ambush you. It makes sense they wouldn’t carry much money."

“I never suffer losses, no matter what.” Lu Jianwei’s expression was cold and stern as she observed the green dots on the map. “They’ve only sent out less than a third of their people. The remaining two-thirds will surely produce a few who aren’t afraid of death.”

Besides, those who trespassed into the inn hadn’t died—they’d merely suffered minor injuries.

Wealth stirs greed, and for the sake of a treasure map, some would even throw their lives away.

A layer of clouds drifted with the wind, veiling the moon like a sheer gauze, dimming its glow and deepening the silence of the night.

Aside from the lights on the third floor of the inn and the lanterns by the entrance, there was no other illumination.

Finally, a voice sounded from beyond the courtyard wall.

“Do we still attack?”

That single quiet remark shattered the invaders’ hesitation. They couldn’t retreat without a fight—there was no way to explain such cowardice to their superiors.

Yet the scene they had just witnessed was too overwhelming, like an insurmountable chasm that left them frozen in fear.

“Just what kind of monster is that?” someone muttered. “To effortlessly repel dozens of people—even a sixth-rank martial artist couldn’t do that, could they?”

“Not just sixth-rank—even seventh-rank wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Damn. Then why even try?”

“No matter how powerful, there’s always a limit. If he can repel dozens, what about a hundred?”

“Should we join forces?”

The night was pitch-black, and none could recognize one another. If they all attacked at once, sheer numbers might overwhelm him. There were bound to be a few who slipped through.

At that point, it would come down to luck.

If strength wasn’t enough, they’d rely on fortune. Once they seized their target, they could settle things among themselves.

After some deliberation, the leaders among the invaders settled on a plan.

Their remaining hundred and sixty men would storm the inn from all sides simultaneously. As long as they weren’t all repelled, there was still a chance.

Rumors said the old servant surnamed Zhang was merely at the peak of fourth-rank, while that kid surnamed Yue was just a martial apprentice—hardly worth fearing.

A group of fourth- and third-rank fighters together should have no trouble overpowering one old man and a boy.

Whoever managed to snatch the prize would be up to fate.

“I heard Yan Feicang is also at the inn. He’s a sixth-rank martial artist.”

“Why worry? Yan Feicang is a martial fanatic who never bothers with others’ affairs. Haven’t you noticed he hasn’t shown himself even after all this time?”

“He doesn’t meddle? I thought he was fond of helping the weak?”

“The matter of White Crane Manor is beyond even his ability to influence alone.”

“Fair point.”

The signal to attack was given, and like dumplings tossed into a pot, the hundred and sixty men vaulted over the courtyard walls.

The injured lay on the ground, watching helplessly. They wanted to stop their companions but couldn’t bring themselves to dampen their spirits.

Only those who had personally experienced that unfathomable, ocean-like power would truly understand the terror hidden within this inn.

Lu Jianwei’s eyes curved in amusement.

“Xiao Ke, go easy this time. Don’t send them flying.”

Xiao Ke scoffed. “Who do you take me for?”

The attack mechanism activated. Every invader suspended mid-air by their lightness skill suddenly felt an immense, crushing force pressing down on them, as if they’d been plunged into a terrifying quagmire, unable to move an inch.

Countless invisible hands struck their chests. Pain exploded within them, blood gushed from their mouths, and like kites with severed strings, they plummeted to the ground with dull thuds.

What was even more horrifying was that they weren’t flung beyond the walls—they remained inside the courtyard.

This was different from before!

Lu Jianwei had amplified the attack this time. The invaders’ injuries were far worse than those outside the walls, leaving them incapable of rising anytime soon.

She spent twenty taels to purchase a potent muscle-relaxing powder from the system shop. A mere trace of it would render any martial artist below fourth-rank completely limp and helpless.

The clouds dispersed, and the bright moonlight bathed the wilderness once more.

No one spoke. No one cried out in pain. The only sound was the distant caw of a crow from a treetop.

Both inside and outside the walls, all fighting spirit had been extinguished.

Those outside could only watch as the hundred and sixty men, under the might of an invisible force, fell like broken-winged birds, crashing simultaneously within the courtyard walls.

Separated by the thick wall, they couldn’t see their companions.

With over a hundred men now trapped inside the inn, what were they to do?

A few quick-witted and bold souls struggled to their feet despite their injuries and fled desperately toward Moonview City.

“Weiwei, some escaped,” the system notified.

Lu Jianwei raised an eyebrow. “Good. Let them run.”

With so many hostages in her grasp, each one was worth a tidy sum in ransom. She wasn’t afraid of them reporting back—she was counting on it.

The lights in the main building of the inn suddenly blazed to life.

Uncle Zhang, Yue Shu, Xue Guanhe, and Yan Feicang emerged from the servants’ quarters, lighting the lanterns in the hall.

Xue Guanhe, being of lower rank and with no one to explain the situation, had sensed something unusual tonight but had no idea what had actually happened.

He lit the last candle, blew out the tinder, and turned to ask, “Did we have guests arrive?”

The other three: “...”

Sometimes, ignorance truly was bliss.

Uncle Zhang stepped forward and opened the main doors. Moonlight spilled in like water, casting a frost-like glow over the ground. In the spacious courtyard, rows of black-clad figures lay sprawled, blood trickling from their lips, arranged in neat concentric circles.

The sight was so spectacular it was unlike anything they’d ever witnessed.

Xue Guanhe peeked over Uncle Zhang’s shoulder, his eyes widening in shock.

Even a fool could tell these black-clad figures were villains who had attempted a night raid on the inn.

Yet he had heard nothing in his room.

To defeat so many people without a sound—it was beyond belief!

Yan Feicang followed closely behind, sweeping his gaze over the fallen invaders. His heart surged with emotion he could no longer suppress, and he raised his head, declaring loudly, “To witness such a divine feat tonight—I am humbled beyond words!”

He could no longer bring himself to speak of sparring.

He wasn’t worthy.

Yue Shu dashed out after them, joining Xue Guanhe in awed exclamations, his eyes shining as he stared at the black-clad men.

The invaders lay there like circus monkeys, forced to endure being gawked at and mocked.

These were men who were once respected as heroes!

Lights also flickered on the second floor.

The five guests there remained silent, pushing open their windows to gaze down at the neatly arranged intruders below. A long, quiet sigh escaped them.

“Envoy, this is… too terrifying,” the Short Grey-clothed Envoy stammered, wide-eyed. “I wonder if even our Commander could…”

“Hold your tongue!” the Azure-clothed Envoy snapped. “Do not speak recklessly of the Commander.”

“Understood.”

“Junior Sister, just what faction does this inn belong to?” Tao Yang murmured, still stunned and puzzled. “I’ve never heard of such an overwhelming display of power.”

Wei Liu, however, was unfazed. “What does it matter? This is no bad thing for us.”

The stronger the inn, the better it could protect Yue Shu and Uncle Zhang.

In the front courtyard, Uncle Zhang turned toward the main building and bowed deeply, his voice hoarse as he asked, “What are your orders, Innkeeper?”

A bundle dropped from the third floor, followed by a woman’s gentle, unhurried voice.

“This is a muscle-relaxing powder. Dilute it in water and force them to drink it.”

Uncle Zhang caught the bundle, which contained over a dozen bottles of the powdered drug.

He bowed again. “As you command.”

“I’ll fetch some water!” Xue Guanhe exclaimed excitedly, darting toward the kitchen.

Yue Shu hurried after him to help.

“Innkeeper, there are still men outside the walls. How should we deal with them?” Uncle Zhang asked.

Lu Jianwei replied, “Handle them the same way.”

A few of those outside had fled, but the rest either couldn’t or didn’t want to. Having witnessed the supreme power of the master here, their will to fight had long since crumbled.

Besides, returning now to report failure would only invite punishment.

All two hundred men were force-fed the muscle-relaxing drug, then carelessly dumped by the walls like discarded trash, stripped of all dignity.

These people were merely scouts, while the true power players remained hidden in the shadows, awaiting news.

None of them could have anticipated that within mere moments, their entire force of over two hundred would be utterly defeated.

“What?! All of them captured?”

“A peerless master? Hah, what a pathetic excuse for incompetence.”

“Two hundred people all injured? Are you joking with me?”

“Impossible. Even a seventh-rank Martial King couldn’t achieve that.”

“Just what kind of place is the Eight Directions Inn?”

Upon receiving the reports, the various factions were stunned, yet the facts left them no room for disbelief.

Though the dispatched warriors were only third or fourth-rank, they were still the solid backbone of their sects. To avoid tarnishing their reputations, they had deliberately disguised themselves, masks concealing their faces as they infiltrated under cover of night.

If all of them were captured and their disguises revealed—what would become of their sects