No Fighting Allowed in the Inn Chapter 61

◎Breaking Through to Level Six, the Polar Golden Silkworm, and Rising Winds and Scudding Clouds◎

The recovery of Feng Yan and Luo Sheng became the most powerful testament.

The medical skills of the Eight Directions Inn were no empty boast.

What the Divine Physician Valley could heal, Innkeeper Lu could heal; what the Divine Physician Valley couldn’t heal, Innkeeper Lu still could.

The martial artists of the jianghu flocked to the inn.

Who didn’t have a few friends or family suffering from the ravages of internal energy?

The woman in black and the Twin Ghosts of Yin Mountain had clearly been far-sighted, booking rooms early. Witnessing Luo Sheng’s recovery from severe injuries firsthand, they were now utterly convinced.

"Innkeeper Lu," the woman in black abandoned Luo Sheng and strode straight to the counter, speaking solemnly, "Please save my son’s life."

"Without seeing the patient, I can’t guarantee a cure," Lu Jianwei replied cautiously, unwilling to raise false hopes.

The woman stared intently at her. "He suffered the same injury as Luo Sheng. If you could heal Luo Sheng, you can heal him too."

"How long has he been injured? What level was the attacker?"

"Less than half a month. Level six."

Lu Jianwei: "I don’t make house calls."

"Don’t worry, I’ll bring him to the inn."

"The fee is ten thousand taels. A deposit of two thousand first."

Without hesitation, the woman produced two thousand taels in silver notes.

"Innkeeper Lu, wait for me. I’ll be back soon."

After she left, the Twin Ghosts of Yin Mountain approached.

"Innkeeper Lu, we’re here to ask you to save someone," the Earth-Burrowing Ghost urged sharply. "Starving Ghost, hurry up and hand over the two thousand taels!"

The Starving Ghost resignedly pulled out the money.

Lu Jianwei smiled. "I only treat one patient a day, and the inn has limited rooms. We can’t accommodate more."

"We can wait until tomorrow," the Earth-Burrowing Ghost said, his eyes glinting. "There’s a clinic across the street—we can take our people there to recuperate."

Thus, the Eight Directions Inn officially launched its "convalescence" business.

Lu Jianwei healed the son of the woman in black, then helped the Twin Ghosts’ friend purge the invasive internal energy.

In just two days, her level progress bar was on the verge of reaching level six.

Only a sliver remained.

Meanwhile, the clinic across the street experienced a surge in visitors.

Patients who couldn’t stay at the inn for recovery all relocated to the clinic. They would go to the inn for treatment during the day, return to the clinic to rest at night, eat the inn’s food, drink the inn’s medicine—and treat the clinic as if it were the inn.

Seriously?

The clinic’s owner looked up at the signboard again.

No mistake there.

This was a clinic, not an inn!

Of course, faced with the bizarre and intimidating martial artists, neither he nor his apprentice dared to say or ask anything.

At least these people remembered to pay.

After a few days of this, the owner called his apprentice over.

"Maybe we should stop running a clinic and turn this into an inn instead."

The apprentice frantically waved his hands. "No, no! The people of Jiangzhou still rely on you for medical care!"

"True," the owner sighed, his face weathered. "But how can I possibly run a clinic like this now?"

The apprentice thought about it and had to agree. He hugged the owner, tears streaming down his face.

The Eight Directions Inn’s "guests" continued to multiply.

Lu Jianwei still only accepted one patient per day.

By the fifth day, her level finally broke through to level six!

A level-six martial artist could already be considered a first-rate expert in the jianghu.

The ones who deserved the most gratitude were Song Xian and the gray-robed assassin outside Dongliu City—generous "contributors" of experience.

She truly wished there were more such "selfless" individuals.

In high spirits, Lu Jianwei descended the stairs and settled behind the counter with a book.

"Innkeeper Lu, please examine my son again."

"Innkeeper Lu, my brother’s chest is hurting again."

"Innkeeper Lu…"

The families, supporting their patients, swarmed over from the clinic across the street, buzzing around her ears like flies.

No. This couldn’t go on.

She raised a hand to silence them.

"Their injuries are no longer critical. As long as they take their medicine on time, they’ll recover gradually."

"But they’re not fully healed yet. We can’t rest easy."

"Exactly, exactly!"

Lu Jianwei’s expression remained cool. "Their current condition can be treated by any clinic in the city."

"But they don’t understand how to treat martial artists’ injuries!"

"Innkeeper Lu, I don’t trust other clinics. I only trust you."

"Right, right. Could you take another look?"

Lu Jianwei closed her book. The moment the pages snapped shut, an invisible force radiated outward from her, sweeping across the surroundings.

Majestic as a mountain, overwhelming in its might.

The martial artists—some level five, some level six—were instantly flung beyond the inn’s courtyard.

"I don’t care who sent you to test me. The patients are healed. Do not disturb me again. Starting today, the inn will be closed for ten days."

The courtyard gate slammed shut, cutting off their view.

The martial artists exchanged glances, stunned by the unshakable power they’d just encountered. None dared to force their way in.

After lingering uncertainly, they eventually dispersed.

Lu Jianwei sat back down and reopened her book.

Her earlier expulsion of the crowd served two purposes: to warn the schemers among them and to buy herself time to consolidate her insights and stabilize her cultivation.

"Jianwei, why did you say they were sent to test you?" Little Guest didn’t understand.

Everything had seemed perfectly normal.

Lu Jianwei explained, "Have you ever seen family members who, while seeking treatment for a patient, leave the patient outside and enter the clinic first to observe?"

"No."

"Look at them—sons enduring agony, friends facing bleak outcomes. Did any of them show genuine concern?"

"True."

"Besides, while treating them, I noticed they all feigned unconsciousness to spy on my methods."

"No wonder you drugged them before every treatment."

Lu Jianwei smirked. "Everyone wants to master this skill. Did they think I was a fool?"

She accepted patients for the money and to absorb their internal energy. But stealing her techniques? Not a chance.

Closing the inn for ten days would let those martial artists stew.

After a day spent fully refining the absorbed energy, her level stabilized at six.

Progressing from level six to seven required a staggering 100,000,000 points—an insurmountable chasm for most martial artists.

Unless one was a prodigy or blessed by fortune, reaching level seven was harder than ascending to heaven.

"Little Guest, if advancing from six to seven takes most of a lifetime, and seven to eight is even harder, how did those Martial Kings manage it?" Lu Jianwei was eager to learn from their experience.

Without absorbing others’ energy, bridging eight and then nine digits sounded downright despairing.

"Natural talent, comprehension, and rare opportunities—none can be lacking," Little Guest said. "From the very beginning, one must cultivate a mental art perfectly suited to their physique. Comprehension ensures smooth progress with few bottlenecks. Opportunities include—but aren’t limited to—herbs that boost internal energy, energy transfers from others, or life-and-death situations that unlock latent potential."

Lu Jianwei’s eyes lit up. "There really are herbs that enhance internal energy? When I first arrived and asked, you said no."

"If I’d told you, would you have focused on cultivation?" Little Guest snorted. "Besides, such herbs are vanishingly rare. Whenever one appears, it sparks bloodshed."

"And energy transfers? How do those work?" Lu Jianwei asked. "Isn’t internal energy mutually incompatible between people? If transfers are possible, why are there still patients suffering from invasive energy?"

Xiao Ke explained, "The principles and targets differ. Power transfer is only possible between blood relatives who practice the same cultivation method, and the giver must do so willingly. Typically, it’s an elder nearing the end of their life, passing their power to a younger generation to avoid waste. How much the recipient can absorb depends on their innate talent and current level."

Lu Jianwei understood. "So, you’re saying neither spirit medicines nor power transfer are options for me, right?"

Xiao Ke teased, "You could always try a sudden breakthrough in potential."

Lu Jianwei scoffed.

After closing her door, she immersed herself in studying medicine. At the same time, she didn’t neglect her research into gu poison techniques.

The existence of those gray-clad assassins was a constant reminder—this martial world was anything but peaceful.

Hidden dangers lurked everywhere, ready to strike at any moment.

The "wealth" she possessed now was like a castle in the air—mysterious on the surface, but the slightest touch could send her plummeting to ruin.

What she had seen so far was merely the tip of the iceberg.

Countless seventh- and eighth-level old monsters lurked in the shadows. A mere flick of their fingers could shake the entire martial world.

On the fifth day of her seclusion, Luo Sheng’s injuries fully healed.

Elder Ge of Red Cloud Peak came to bid farewell.

Luo Lianhuan was reluctant to leave, but under Elder Ge’s firm insistence, she had no choice but to mount her horse.

"Brother Yan, we’ll meet again at next year’s grand competition at the Martial Alliance!"

Yan Feicang: "…"

After the four from Red Cloud Peak departed, the only remaining "permanent guests" at the inn were the Wen family master and servant.

They had stayed so long that A'Nai had blended in seamlessly with the staff, making them feel less like temporary lodgers and more like part of the inn itself.

The one who most looked forward to their extended stay was Yue Shu, who eagerly brought books to consult about formations.

After personally dismantling a formation that night, his understanding had deepened, bordering on obsession. Every day after finishing his chores, he would bury himself in studying formations, and his skills had improved noticeably.

"Ouch!" A cry came from the stables.

Liang ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍Shangjun, holding a manure shovel, poked his head over the fence and roared, "Yue Shu! Can you stop setting up formations in the stables?! I almost stepped in dung!"

"Ah?" Yue Shu scratched his head sheepishly. "But A'Nai said you once broke through the formations in their residence. You’re supposed to be good at this!"

Liang Shangjun: "I’m currently suppressed by internal force restrictions!"

"Oh, right. I forgot."

"…"

Liang Shangjun was on the verge of tears. Despite his striking looks, he had somehow become the lowest-ranking member of the inn.

Only Yun Hui was kind-hearted enough to take pity on him. Hearing his complaints, she brought him a bowl of freshly made sweet soup.

"Drink it while it’s hot."

Liang Shangjun put on an obedient smile. "Aunt Yun, it’s too smelly here. How can I enjoy it?"

"Then hurry up and finish cleaning so you can drink it outside."

Liang Shangjun’s confidence in his face was utterly shattered.

Among the three women in the inn, not a single one showed the slightest reaction to his looks.

After cleaning the stables, he went to the well in the backyard to wash up, where he encountered Yan Feicang, who was focused on chopping firewood.

The man wore a gray-brown short robe, sleeves rolled up to his forearms. With each swing of the axe, the muscles in his arms flexed smoothly, and his handsome face seemed even more striking.

Yan Feicang noticed his stare and shot him a sharp glance.

"Something wrong?"

"Miss Luo likes you, doesn’t she?"

"…"

Liang Shangjun pressed on, "Why does she like you? How did you win her affection? Can you teach me?"

"You—" Yan Feicang nearly dropped his axe in shock. "Good luck."

Liang Shangjun shook his head like a rattle drum.

"No, no, I don’t mean it like that. I’m not interested in Miss Luo. I just want to know how to win a lady’s favor."

"No idea." Yan Feicang had zero interest in the topic.

"Which lady caught your eye?" Xue Guanhe sidled up, curious. "With your looks, winning a girl’s heart shouldn’t be hard."

Liang Shangjun sighed bitterly. "I used to think so too."

"The girl you like doesn’t like you back?" Xue Guanhe’s eyes filled with sympathy. "Then the problem isn’t your face."

"What is it?"

"Lots of things."

Liang Shangjun: "I’m all ears."

"Before I started wandering the martial world, my parents tried arranging a marriage for me. They valued character most, then ability, followed by family background, and lastly, looks." Xue Guanhe said. "Your face is fine, but maybe that lady prioritizes the first two."

Liang Shangjun: "…"

"I’m not saying your character or skills are bad, but, well, stealing isn’t exactly an honest profession."

"But if a girl is already wealthy, powerful, and from a good family, shouldn’t she care more about looks?" Liang Shangjun lamented. "A face like mine wasted on shoveling manure—what a tragedy!"

Xue Guanhe delivered the final blow: "Eh, it’s not that bad. No one in our inn is ugly."

"…"

Heartbroken, Liang Shangjun walked away.

Xue Guanhe returned to the kitchen and sighed to A'Nai, "The legendary thief fell for a girl who doesn’t like him back."

"Heard that." A'Nai fanned the stove leisurely. "The ‘girl’ he’s talking about is your boss, Lu Jianwei."

"Huh?!"

A'Nai scoffed. "Old news. He’s been trying to offer himself as a pillow-warmer for a while now. Still hasn’t given up."

"Why does he insist?" Xue Guanhe couldn’t understand. "The boss would never go for him."

A'Nai shrugged. "He just likes making a fuss."

"What do you mean?" Xue Guanhe eyed him suspiciously. "You sound like you know him well."

"Not really. If he’d just agreed to Young Master’s deal, he wouldn’t be stuck shoveling manure."

"What does Young Master Wen want him to do?"

"Steal something—right up his alley. But he refuses."

Xue Guanhe was burning with curiosity. "Steal what? From where?"

"Secret." A'Nai tapped his shoulder with the fan. "Get back to cooking."

At the start of Chen hour, everyone gathered in the main hall for breakfast.

Uncle Zhang suddenly spoke up. "Boss, I heard something while out shopping."

"Go on."

"The Zhou family was massacred because Zhou Renjing obtained a spiritual artifact—the Polar Golden Silkworm. Rumor has it this thing can absorb others’ cultivation for personal use."

"Ah!" Xue Guanhe gasped. "But that thing’s unusable, right? You can’t just steal someone else’s internal energy!"

A'Nai sneered. "As if that’s uncommon? You’re too naive."

"I’ve heard of the Polar Golden Silkworm, but its effects aren’t that miraculous. One misstep, and the backlash is deadly." Liang Shangjun said. "Martial arts should be practiced properly—no shortcuts."

Lu Jianwei quietly ate her meal, feeling slightly called out.

"Xiao Ke, when you gave me that cultivation method, weren’t you afraid I’d turn into a demon who drains others’ power?"

"Good and evil have their retribution." Xiao Ke replied. "The same act, done with different intentions, leads to different outcomes. What you gain will be worlds apart."

Lu Jianwei: "…Since when did you study philosophy?"

"Simply put, if you truly harbor evil intentions, you’ll face backlash sooner or later—just like those who wield the Polar Golden Silkworm."

"That thing actually exists?" Lu Jianwei frowned.

Xiao Ke: "Legends say it does, but rumors aren’t always reliable."

"Oh."

Lu Jianwei instantly lost interest.

"So it was because of this that the Zhou family met their tragic fate?" Yue Shu looked astonished. "Has the Polar Golden Silkworm fallen into the murderer's hands now?"

"That's unclear." Uncle Zhang glanced at Lu Jianwei, hesitating as if wanting to say more.

Lu Jianwei raised her eyes. "What is it?"

"There are also rumors mentioning you," Uncle Zhang said carefully. "They claim you can heal those people because you used the Polar Golden Silkworm."

"How absurd!" Xue Guanhe fumed. "Who's deliberately slandering the innkeeper again?"

Liang Shangjun raised an eyebrow. "It's not entirely impossible. If the Polar Golden Silkworm can drain a person's inner energy, it could also heal injuries."

Wen Zhuzhi spoke calmly. "The Polar Golden Silkworm is only recorded in ancient texts. Whether it truly exists is still unknown. Even if it can absorb inner energy, it cannot accurately distinguish between different types, let alone heal wounds. The rumor is baseless."

"Exactly!" Xue Guanhe shot Liang Shangjun a glare and muttered under his breath, "Someone like you would never be favored anyway."

Liang Shangjun chuckled dryly. "I was just analyzing the logic behind the rumor. I don’t believe it, but that doesn’t mean others won’t. Innkeeper Lu, this seems deliberately targeted at you."

"Could it be the Martial Alliance again?" Xue Guanhe clenched his fists. "One smear campaign wasn’t enough, so they’re trying another?"

"Probably not," Yan Feicang unexpectedly interjected. "Whether the Polar Golden Silkworm exists or not, the Martial Alliance wouldn’