No Fighting Allowed in the Inn Chapter 50

◎Blood-Eroding Insect, the Martial Alliance Investigates (Part 2)◎

Lu Jianwei took Tiao to the small courtyard where the corpses were kept, running into A'Nai along the way.

He had come to deliver money.

"Shopkeeper Lu, your courtyard gate was closed last night, so I didn’t disturb you," A'Nai said, handing over a money box.

Inside were ten banknotes worth a hundred taels each.

Lu Jianwei smiled. "Please give it to Guan He and have him deliver it to my courtyard."

"Alright." A'Nai asked curiously, "Where are you two headed?"

"To examine the corpses."

"..."

The assassins' bodies were stored in a remote courtyard, far from the main area, with a guard stationed outside.

It was early spring, and the weather was cool. Lu Jianwei had also used preservatives, so the bodies showed no signs of decay.

She put on gloves and removed the corpse’s clothing.

Zhao Jiang hurried over and said, "Shopkeeper Lu, if you need anything, just let me know."

"Aren’t you supposed to be heading to Dongliu City?"

Zhao Jiang sighed. "With such a major incident happening in Dongliu City, the merchant convoy is postponing the trip. We’ll rest here for a few days and set off once the turmoil dies down."

"That’s for the best." Lu Jianwei paused, then added, "The courtyard might get a bit messy later. Apologies in advance."

"You’re too polite, Shopkeeper Lu. You’re doing this to uncover clues." Zhao Jiang waved his hand. "I’ll leave you to it."

He turned and left, closing the courtyard gate behind him.

The corpse’s upper garments had been removed, revealing a ring of black-purple discoloration around the heart, stark against the surrounding grayish-white flesh.

Most gu worms would reside near the heart, while more sinister ones would burrow into the brain.

Judging by the black-purple symptoms, the assassin’s gu worm must have been near the heart, controlling his speech and life.

The moment he showed signs of betrayal, the gu worm would immediately erode his heart, causing it to rupture and leading to death.

Without the warmth of a human host, the gu worm would also perish.

Lu Jianwei took out a sharp knife, cut through the flesh, and soon extracted a black insect the size of a peanut from the heart.

Thanks to her intensive study the previous night, she recognized the gu worm at once.

Gu worms were categorized by function, with the most well-known being love gu. Others included life gu, puppet gu, sensory gu, and hunting gu, among others.

Though the categories seemed limited, each contained numerous varieties, with some gu worms being more potent than others. The higher the grade, the stronger their power.

The gu worm inside the assassin was a Blood-Eroding Insect, a type of puppet gu. It thrived on blood and, once tamed, was controlled by a mother gu. The offspring gu would enter the host’s body near the heart, lying dormant in the warm flesh.

If the host betrayed its master, the gu worm would awaken from dormancy, bite through the heart, and perish alongside its host.

Lu Jianwei placed the dead insect in a vial and returned to her courtyard.

She flipped open The Theory and Practice of Gu Arts, searching for the reason why the gu worm could instantly detect betrayal.

Gu worms had no intelligence—how could they discern a host’s betrayal?

The answer lay in commands.

During the taming process, key syllables were ingrained into the gu worm’s instincts. Once triggered, they would react instinctively.

Before dying, the assassin had uttered the words, "I am." The gu worm immediately activated, rupturing his heart.

The key syllable must have been "I am."

Assassins sworn to secrecy would never reveal their identity, so they’d have no reason to say "I am"—unless under interrogation.

Lu Jianwei realized she had underestimated the martial world.

She locked herself in her room and continued studying gu arts.

At the very least, the next time she encountered a similar assassin, she would be able to neutralize the puppet gu in advance.

In the garden of the Jin residence, Xue Guanhe and A'Nai sat around a stone table, the former enthusiastically recounting the events in Dongliu City.

A'Nai snorted. "You refused to tell me last night, but now that I’ve delivered money to Shopkeeper Lu, you’re suddenly chatty. You’re really money-minded."

"It’s not like Shopkeeper Lu demanded the money—your young master offered a thousand taels for the information!" Xue Guanhe retorted without hesitation. "Since your young master was so sincere, Shopkeeper Lu, being kind-hearted, naturally didn’t refuse."

"I was talking about you!"

"If I’d told you last night, what if you’d gone back on your word?"

"My young master would never renege! Don’t spout nonsense!"

"Just teasing. I just didn’t want to tell you. You must’ve been itching with curiosity all night, tossing and turning, right?"

A'Nai leaped up to hit him. "You did it on purpose!"

"So you did lose sleep!" Xue Guanhe laughed triumphantly, happily engaging in the scuffle.

After exchanging a few playful blows, both collapsed onto the grass, panting.

"Last time at the inn, we didn’t dare fight. This time was much more satisfying." A'Nai rested his head on his hands, squinting up at the blue sky.

Xue Guanhe frowned. "There’s something I don’t understand."

"What?"

"If the assassin already had a gu worm planted in him, why bother hiding a poison capsule in his teeth?"

A'Nai scoffed. "Are you stupid?"

"You’re the stupid one!"

"The poison capsule was just to let the assassin kill himself to avoid interrogation. No one cares about a dead man, so no one would discover the gu worm."

"So?"

A'Nai plucked a blade of grass and chewed on it, legs jiggling. "An ordinary swordsman assassin—who could trace his origins? That’s the first line of defense."

"Then why bother with the gu worm? It just leaves clues."

A'Nai sighed. "I told you you’re stupid. Did you forget how Shopkeeper Lu triggered the gu worm? The mastermind was guarding against experts like her."

"Not many are as skilled as Shopkeeper Lu, right?" Xue Guanhe argued.

A'Nai: "Exactly. That’s why the mastermind is meticulous, using the gu worm as a second line of defense. Even if the gu worm is exposed, it’d take time to trace any useful leads."

Few could unravel such sinister schemes.

Xue Guanhe frowned. "They’re hiding this deeply—they must’ve planned this carefully. Why slaughter the Zhou family? Now that we’ve killed their assassins, will they come after us?"

"They might keep an eye on us, but they probably won’t act," A'Nai speculated.

"Why not?"

"They’re operating in the shadows. If they move against you, they’d be exposed—unless Shopkeeper Lu uncovers the origin of the gu worm."

"Still gives me the creeps." Xue Guanhe rubbed his arms and stood. "It’s getting late. I’ll go cook."

"I’ll join you."

In her courtyard room, Lu Jianwei set down the book, feeling somewhat defeated.

The Blood-Eroding Insect was neither rare nor particularly advanced among gu worms. Tracking its origin would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

"Shopkeeper, dinner’s ready," Xue Guanhe called from the courtyard gate.

Lu Jianwei went to the main hall, where Wen Zhuzhi was also present. She paid him no mind and sat down to eat.

The food was delicious, but after reviewing so many gu worm illustrations, her mind was filled with their grotesque appearances, leaving her with little appetite.

"Shopkeeper Lu, try this." Wen Zhuzhi reached out, sliding a small dish toward her.

Only then did Lu Jianwei notice a plate of supplementary food beside his left hand—a type of pastry, cut into neat cubes, each no larger than two or three dice. A faint, tangy aroma wafted from it.

She didn’t touch it, merely raising a questioning glance.

"I heard you didn’t have much appetite this morning. This pastry is appetizing—perhaps you’d like to try it."

Having said this, Wen Zhuzhi didn’t press further, lowering his gaze to his medicinal meal as if he’d only mentioned it in passing.

Lu Jianwei picked up a piece of pastry and placed it in her mouth. The sweet and tangy flavor instantly captivated her taste buds, gradually dispelling the nausea brought on by the book of gu worms, leaving only a faint fruity aroma.

The pastry was filled with sour raisins, and when bitten into, the soft, chewy texture combined with the jujube fragrance of the pastry itself was indeed appetizing and mouthwatering.

She returned the kindness, saying, "I've identified the type of gu worm, but its origin is still unclear."

Wen Zhuzhi paused, then lifted his gaze with a smile. "What is it?"

"Blood-Corroding Worm, a relatively common puppet gu," Lu Jianwei replied, picking up another piece of pastry.

Wen Zhuzhi mused, "I believe I've heard of it."

"Young Master," A'Nai exclaimed in surprise, "When we went to the southwest to seek medicine, we did hear the locals mention it. Could the murderer who killed the Zhou family be from the southwest?"

"The southwest is indeed known for its gu arts," Wen Zhuzhi said slowly, "but there aren't many sects capable of mobilizing multiple high-level martial artists simultaneously."

Tiao added, "The southwest mostly deals with gu worms and poisonous insects. Those who use swords are rare."

"That makes it even harder to track down," Xue Guanhe muttered gloomily as he shoveled rice into his mouth. "I really don’t understand why they had to kill so many people."

Luo Lianhuan gritted her teeth. "They killed three of my senior brothers. Once we find out who they are, I’ll make them pay!"

"Miss Luo, the letter has already been sent to your sect. I’m sure Red Cloud Peak will send someone to Shuangxi City soon," Zhao Jiang interjected.

Luo Lianhuan replied hoarsely, "Thank you."

Being in a foreign land surrounded by strangers, with her senior brothers dead or injured, the pressure she had endured these past few days was immense.

Her former arrogance and willfulness had long been buried.

Lost in thought, Lu Jianwei absentmindedly finished an entire plate of pastries. Only when she snapped out of it did she realize the plate was nearly empty, with only a few crumbs left.

For the first time, she felt a twinge of embarrassment but pretended not to care, turning her attention to the dishes before her.

"Lu—Lu Innkeeper, my senior brother still hasn’t woken up. He…" Luo Lianhuan stared at Lu Jianwei with pleading eyes.

She didn’t know why others referred to her as "Innkeeper," nor did she have the energy to question it, so she simply followed suit.

Lu Jianwei replied impassively, "His external injuries are no longer life-threatening, but his internal injuries are more complicated."

"Complicated?" Luo Lianhuan stiffened, gripping the hem of her robe tightly.

"His cultivation is at the fourth level, but he was struck by a fifth-level martial artist, damaging his meridians. He needs someone to help regulate his qi."

Such was the cruelty of the martial world—the strong preyed on the weak. Lower-level martial artists had to be extremely cautious when facing higher-level opponents.

If struck by a higher-level martial artist, death might be a mercy. Surviving meant enduring constant agony as the residual force ravaged their meridians.

Luo Lianhuan paled. "Then… does that mean he’ll never be able to practice martial arts again?"

"I said he needs someone to regulate his qi," Lu Jianwei repeated, setting down her chopsticks now that she was full.

Luo Lianhuan choked back a sob. "But who would be willing to do that for him?"

"Doesn’t Red Cloud Peak have martial artists above the fifth level?" Xue Guanhe asked, puzzled. "Can’t you just ask a sixth-level master to help?"

"It’s not that simple," Zhao Jiang sighed, shaking his head. "The slightest mistake could lead to backlash. The risks are too great."

Unless the relationship was extremely close or the benefits substantial, few would be willing to take on such a task.

"But—" Xue Guanhe instinctively glanced at Lu Jianwei, but seeing her indifferent expression, he swallowed his words and clamped his mouth shut.

Niu Xiaoxi had once been injured by Hu Jiuniang, also a fifth-level martial artist, with residual force left behind. Yet the Innkeeper had healed him quickly, making it seem effortless.

Now he realized it wasn’t easy at all—it even carried risks.

The Innkeeper was truly kind-hearted.

He couldn’t go blabbing about this, or else Red Cloud Peak might shamelessly beg her for help.

Luo Lianhuan turned to Lu Jianwei in desperation. "You promised to save my senior brother’s life for ten thousand taels."

"And he’s still alive," Lu Jianwei said. "His life is preserved."

Luo Lianhuan: "…"

And she still charged ten thousand taels for this? What a rip-off!

She turned to Yan Feicang. "Brother Yan, if this continues, my senior brother’s meridians will deteriorate further. Could you… could you help him? Once my father sends people, I’m sure he’ll reward you handsomely!"

Yan Feicang looked up and said earnestly, "My internal energy is too aggressive—it’s unsuitable for regulating qi. Innkeeper Lu likely has another method, but ten thousand taels is far from enough."

"Exactly," Zhao Jiang agreed solemnly. "This matter requires careful consideration. Miss Luo, perhaps it’s best to wait until your sect sends someone before making a decision."

Luo Lianhuan had no choice but to concede.

After the meal, everyone returned to their rooms.

A'Nai crouched on the floor, organizing a chest, and asked, "Young Master, since we’re not going to Dongliu City, when are we returning to Jiangzhou?"

"No rush," Wen Zhuzhi replied, placing a chess piece. "Take out that set of pink porcelain tea ware and gift it to Innkeeper Lu."

"What?!" A'Nai shot to his feet, reluctant. "But this is a treasure you just acquired! A full set of priceless porcelain—why give it to her?"

Wen Zhuzhi said, "We agreed earlier—if she told me the type of gu worm, I’d reciprocate with a gift."

"But does it have to be something this valuable?"

"It’s of no use to me. Send it over."

A'Nai took a deep breath and bent down to retrieve the tea set. It was stored in an exquisite wooden box, cushioned with soft cotton to prevent damage.

"Such a fine treasure… how could you bear to part with it?"

Hugging the box, he trudged slowly toward Lu Jianwei’s courtyard, where he ran into Xue Guanhe at the gate.

"Here to see the Innkeeper?" Xue Guanhe asked curiously. "What’s in your arms?"

A'Nai jerked his chin toward the courtyard. "A gift from the Young Master to Innkeeper Lu."

"What kind of gift?"

A'Nai huffed. "None of your business."

"Fair enough," Xue Guanhe scratched his head. "Young Master Wen is so generous and thoughtful. Earlier, if not for him, the Innkeeper might still have had no appetite. I was so stupid—I didn’t think to prepare something light and appetizing."

A'Nai puffed up proudly. "Of course. The Young Master is the best person in the world. When he heard Innkeeper Lu hadn’t eaten well this morning, he sent me out to buy ingredients and personally made the pastries."

"He made them himself?" Xue Guanhe gasped. "Young Master Wen knows how to bake?"

"The Young Master is skilled in many things," A'Nai said, adjusting the box in his arms. "Enough chatter—I need to deliver this."

Lu Jianwei was meditating when she overheard the conversation outside her courtyard. A flicker of surprise crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.

The gate opened, and A'Nai entered with the ornate wooden box, placing it on the table with an awkward air.

"Innkeeper Lu, this is a gift from the Young Master as thanks. Please accept it."

Lu Jianwei approached the table and lifted the lid.

Inside lay a delicate set of pink porcelain, bathed in sunlight from the window. The glaze shimmered with a translucent, soft luster, reminiscent of peach blossoms in spring—elegant, refined, and subtly radiant.

Her system couldn’t help but interject: "A rare, top-tier pink porcelain set. Its value is incalculable."

Lu Jianwei stared for a few seconds before smiling faintly. "I can’t accept such an extravagant gift without merit."

"You won’t take it?!"

"You won’t take it?!"

The system and A'Nai’s voices overlapped in disbelief. Both were utterly stunned.

Lu Jianwei said, "Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. When I save lives, no amount of reward is too much. But a mere piece of news about the 'Blood-Corroding Worm' isn’t worth such a lavish gift in return."

The system fell silent.

A'Nai also stayed quiet.

Put that way, it did seem that Lu Jianwei had initially demanded high compensation precisely because her inn could preserve lives.

It sounded rather principled.

A'Nai hesitated before saying, "But my young master insisted on giving it to you."

"Take it back and relay my words to him exactly," Lu Jianwei replied, unable to comprehend Wen Zhuzhi’s intentions and thus bluntly rejecting the extravagant gift.

A'Nai had no choice but to carry the box out of the courtyard.

Lost in thought as he walked, he was suddenly stopped by Xue Guanhe, who had been waiting nearby.

"What do you want?"

Xue Guanhe glanced at the box and blinked in surprise. "The innkeeper didn’t accept it?"

"Nope. What are you doing here?"

Xue Guanhe tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Has my cooking gotten worse?"

"No, it’s still as terrible as ever."

"I’m not joking—I’m serious!" Xue Guanhe pressed anxiously. "The innkeeper had no appetite for breakfast or lunch today. She only ate a bit more at lunch because of Young Master Wen’s pastries. Tell me, has she grown tired of my cooking?"

A'Nai rolled his eyes. "That’s what you’re worried about?"

"Isn’t this a big deal?"

"Calling you slow would be an understatement," A'Nai said, poking his forehead. "Think carefully—why would Lu Jianwei suddenly lose her appetite?"

Xue Guanhe frowned. "If I could figure it out, would I be asking you?"

"Let me ask you this: after that assassin died the other night, did Lu Jianwei still not know what kind of po