157: Huangquan Inn

Along the Yellow Springs.

A Yellow Springs Inn.

The dark, decaying wooden beams were strung with thin red threads, from which hung a multitude of small brass bells, each the size of a finger.

A chilling wind blew from the distant Yellow Springs, rustling the bells and producing an eerie, tinkling sound.

On the stage.

A robed storyteller, his face caked with deathly white powder and a cinnabar dot between his brows, spoke with eloquent passion, but the hand emerging from his sleeve was a skeletal white, devoid of flesh and blood.

“The Yellow Springs has existed since ancient times. Tracing its origins, it can be traced back to a legendary Yang Spirit Realm mighty figure…”

Speaking, the storyteller lowered his voice, his gaze sweeping across the audience below.

“Have you all heard of the Yellow Springs Emperor? That one, with a single thought, could manifest billions of Clones. His True Spirit is immortal, never falling into Reincarnation.

The Yellow Springs, that is, was formed by him collecting all the dark and filthy waters of the world, refined with myriad secret methods…”

Below the stage, many of the onlookers had grim expressions, their small groups whispering amongst themselves.

‘I didn’t expect to run into an acquaintance here…’

The Kunpeng Avatar rested his chin on his hand, his gaze falling upon a figure wearing a gray bamboo hat.

Her posture was straight, and a pair of beautiful eyes were vaguely visible beneath the gray veil.

‘Xuan Xin…’

The grudge from that sword strike, he hadn’t avenged it yet… However, her aura seemed a bit strange.

Was she possessed by ‘that person’?

When he acquired Yellow Springs Mountain, he learned that Yun Niang had split off half of her soul and possessed Xuan Xin.

He hadn't expected to meet her here.

On the stage, the play concluded.

“When the Yellow Springs dries, and the blood moon rises, the Yellow Springs will reveal itself.

At that time, the Yellow Springs Emperor’s Legacy will appear at the bottom of the Yellow Springs River. Old Ghost wishes all you patrons good luck.”

The storyteller gave an eerie smile, took off his gray cap, and removed his own head, holding it in his palm.

His skull was pitch-black and hollow, looking like a human-faced bone bowl.

He walked up to each of the patrons in turn, bowing and holding out the human-faced bone bowl.

“Thank you, sirs, for your patronage.”

The Kunpeng Avatar’s eyes flickered as he watched the eerie storyteller begging for tips.

‘The Yellow Springs Inn suddenly appeared along the Yellow Springs a few months ago.

It spread news of the Yellow Springs Emperor’s Legacy through its plays.

However, it’s been three days… the same play for three days… I still can’t discern the origins of this Inn.’

Before long, the storyteller, having collected tips, came forward, the human-faced bone bowl in his skeletal hand displaying an eerie smile: “Sir, today’s tip…”

The Kunpeng Avatar nodded, casually pulling out a translucent crystal and dropping it into the bone bowl, where it made a clinking sound.

It was a yin crystal stone obtained from slaying Netherworld Beasts in the Yellow Springs along the bank.

This was both the tip and the room fee.

If not paid on time, one would be expelled from the Inn and forced to stay by the riverbank.

These three months, the Yellow Springs had flooded, and the Netherworld Qi was rampant. Except for a small number of Cultivators specializing in the Ghost Dao, few could withstand the bone-eroding Yin Qi.

“Thank you for the tip, sir…”

The human-faced bone bowl said with a grin.

The storytelling was the last entertainment before nightfall. Soon, the hunched Innkeeper, carrying a brass teapot with a long spout, went around pouring tea for each patron.

Fragrant, rich yellow tea flowed from the teapot, bringing a look of delight to many faces.

The tea leaves floating within were ordinary, but the water used for brewing was exceptionally special; it was refined Yellow Springs water, which, when consumed, had the effect of calming and purifying the soul.

Just this one bowl of tea far exceeded the value of a single yin crystal stone.

“Thank you, Innkeeper, this tea tastes excellent…”

The Kunpeng Avatar drank it all in one gulp. A cool sensation rose from his abdomen, surging into his mind. Immediately, it felt as if he had returned to the amniotic fluid of his mother’s womb, and his soul emitted a faint glow, becoming pure.

“Hehe, you’re welcome.

Esteemed guest, this tea has a calming and sleep-inducing effect.

Tonight, when you sleep, you must behave well.

Even if you hear any movement outside, you must not step out of your room.”

Under the dim lamplight, the hunched old Innkeeper shuffled along, his shadow long and eerie.

‘Can’t leave the room…’ The Kunpeng Avatar’s eyes flickered, and a faint smile appeared on his face: “A bit interesting.”

At night, the Kunpeng Avatar lay on the bed. The Yin Qi blew through the Inn, and the dark yin wood creaked, the light flickering, casting eerie patterns on the window.

“Ang––”

A sound like a river toad’s croak passed, and everything quickly returned to calm.

The next day.

A sliver of light pierced through the dark clouds, casting a faint glow.

Everyone filed out, eyeing each other with suspicion.

They had all been drawn by the Yellow Springs Emperor’s Legacy, viewing each other as potential rivals. Apart from a few groups, there was almost no interaction.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd let out a scream.

“Strange, where is Junior Sister Qilan?”

“Hmm? Didn’t she live next door to you?

By the time, why hasn’t she come out yet?”

“No, this Inn has no trace of her aura at all…”

Several people were horrified, a trace of fear appearing in their eyes.

They were all True Core Realm Cultivators; how could she disappear so silently overnight?

With one person mysteriously gone, many kept a poker face but felt a secret tightening in their hearts.

‘Is this what the old Innkeeper meant by ‘movement’… He must know something.’ The Kunpeng Avatar’s eyes flickered.

Nearing noon, the Yang Qi was scorching, and the Yellow Springs receded, revealing many bone fragments along the bank.

These were all bones that had been refined by the Yellow Springs water. With a little processing, they could be forged into white bone Magic Treasures, which were highly valuable.

At this moment, many people also took advantage of the low tide to wade into the water and slay the Netherworld Beasts within.

Scorching noon, with its abundant Yang Qi, was also when the Netherworld Beasts were at their weakest.

Slap––

A giant, sky-obscuring palm descended, instantly crushing the head of a profound iron black snake. A wisp of black Qi hooked out the yin crystal stone from its head with practiced ease.

“Tonight’s room fee is settled…”

The Kunpeng Avatar turned his head to look at the Inn shrouded in the dense Yin Qi fog.

Two crimson lanterns hung on the doorframe, the Inn’s main entrance wide open, the Yin Qi howling like a gaping maw.

Night.

“When the Yellow Springs dries, and the blood moon rises, the Yellow Springs will reveal itself…”

After listening to the play, he skillfully drank the soul-calming tea.

In the middle of the night, he indeed heard the ‘Ang’ sound again.

A purple gleam flickered in the Kunpeng Avatar’s eyes, but it was still hazy. Besides the howling Yin Qi, he saw no abnormalities.

The next day.

More people were gone.

This time, ten people.

Fear and suspicion appeared on everyone’s faces.

One must know that the entire Inn only housed a little over two hundred people.

“Ten people, this time ten people are gone!”

“How is that possible? Brother Li was even a renegade monk from a Buddhist temple, his cultivation reaching the Peak True Core Realm. How could he disappear so silently?”

“This Inn is not right!”

Creak––

The door swung open, and the hunched old Innkeeper walked out from behind the counter, his shadow elongated by the flickering, pea-sized lamplight.

A strange smile appeared on his face: “Esteemed guests, if you do not wish to stay, you may leave on your own…”

At these words, many people’s faces showed signs of wavering.

They had long wanted to capture the old Innkeeper and demand an explanation, but alas, no one could discern his origins, so they dared not act rashly.

However, the old Innkeeper’s tone suddenly shifted, astonishing everyone.

“After tonight, it will be the day the Yellow Springs Cave Abode reveals itself… You all should think carefully.”

The Kunpeng Avatar’s eyes immediately narrowed.