After leaving Yong Sword Village, the Jinfeng Sect group traveled until the sun began to set. They arrived at the first inn they saw and, after booking rooms, settled into the main dining room for dinner. Already seated at a table, they spotted three familiar faces: Suo Dongmei, Mo Ehuang, and Hua Jian.
The inn stood as a solid, two-story structure of dark timber and white-washed plaster, its sturdy frame a welcome sight as the day's light faded. A large, sloped roof with deep eaves protected a wide front porch, and a single lantern hanging from the central beam cast a warm, inviting glow onto the road. The air, crisp from the setting sun, carried the scent of cooked meat and burning firewood.
Inside, the inn's livery was one of rugged practicality. The main dining hall was a bustling, lively space, filled with the low hum of conversation and the clatter of bowls and chopsticks. Sturdy, dark wooden tables and benches filled the room, their surfaces worn smooth by countless travelers. A large stone fireplace dominated the far wall, its dancing flames casting a warm, orange light that chased away the evening's chill. Simple lanterns hung from the ceiling beams, their soft light illuminating the faces of tired travelers and boisterous martial artists alike. The servants wore plain, earth-toned tunics, their movements efficient as they weaved through the tables, serving steaming bowls of noodles and jugs of wine. The atmosphere was one of comforting chaos, a true hub for those passing through.
As soon as Bazar Batu saw the three people, he murmured, "Huh, an evil man and an evil woman."
"Batu..." Kuo Lok warned.
"Lok ge ge, I can't eat and stay in the same inn as them," Bazar Batu said. "Can we change to another inn?"
"We can't," Kuo Lok replied. "Jiejie has already booked the room." He looked at Bazar Batu with a patient expression. "If you don't want to see them, we can go out for dinner and come back later this evening."
"Alright," Bazar Batu said.
Kuo Lok stood and spoke quietly with Kuo Wenqian, then returned to his companion. "Let's go," he said.
Bazar Batu rose from his seat, a happy smile on his face, and together they walked out the inn's main entrance. The evening market was a vibrant, joyful place. People strolled from stall to stall, enjoying the festive atmosphere. Kuo Lok and Bazar Batu found a table at a food stall and sat down. As they did, a loud, drunk man caught their attention by shouting at the vendor.
The drunk man wanted three more jars of wine, but the vendor owner was unwilling to give him more. "Young man, you've had enough," the owner said.
"I have money! Give me more!" the drunk man yelled, slamming his hand down on the table with a loud bang.
Bazar Batu turned and looked at the drunk man. His eyes widened in recognition. He murmured, "Ma ge." He then stood up and walked to the table. "Ma ge, it's you."
Drowned in his despair and liquor, Ma Jingguo looked up at Bazar Batu with a confused gaze. "Who are you?" he slurred before lowering his head back down to the table.
Bazar Batu pointed to himself. "It's me, Batu," he said.
Ma Jingguo slowly lifted his head. "Batu?" he mumbled. "Do you see my xiao shushu? I've been looking for him for so many days... I... I couldn't find him."
Bazar Batu was taken aback. "You... you've been looking for him this whole time?" he asked.
A sad smile crossed Ma Jingguo's face. "I forgot," he said, reaching for his wine pot. "I found him. He left with his lover."
Bazar Batu quickly snatched the jug of wine from Ma Jingguo's hands. He slammed it on the table with a violent thud. "Ma ge!" he yelled. "Is this how you're dealing with your pain? Did you forget what I told you years ago? Being drunk won't make you forget Mu Dishi!"
Ma Jingguo snatched the jug back, a sad, distant look in his eyes. "I'm not trying to forget him..." he said, his voice quiet. Tears began to fall. "It's just that... when I'm drunk, I can clearly see his face." He stood up, grabbed two more jugs of wine, and slowly walked away.
The stall owner shouted after him, "Hey! You haven't paid for those yet!"
"I'll pay for him!" Bazar Batu called out, already about to chase after Ma Jingguo, but Kuo Lok grabbed his arm.
"Batu," Kuo Lok said, his voice firm. "There are some things you can't do for another person. This man will have to save himself."
As they sat back down, a hand landed on Bazar Batu's left shoulder, its grip unyielding. A cold, firm voice spoke from behind him.
"I didn't know you actually found your way back here."
Bazar Batu turned to face him, his eyes wide. "Ge..." he breathed.
"Since you're all right, we're going home," Bazar Bataar said, his voice firm and final.
"No!" Bazar Batu said quickly, a frantic note in his voice. "I haven't been completely cured. I still need Lok ge to transfer his inner energy to heal me."
Bazar Bataar's gaze sharpened as he looked at Kuo Lok. "Is that true?" he asked.
"Batu has fully recovered," Kuo Lok replied.
Lee Jie smiled, her gaze on Bazar Batu. "I like this young man."
"Batu," Lee Jia said, her voice gentle, "do you know that you lie too much?"
Bazar Batu interrupted with a theatrical sigh. "When I get to heaven, they'll just cut out my tongue."
"Since you know that," Lee Jie said, "why continue to lie?"
Bazar Batu's smile vanished. He frowned and looked away from his brother and two sisters-in-law. "Because everyone always forces me to do things I don't want to do," he said, his voice laced with resentment.
"We only want what's good for you," Bazar Bataar said.
"What's good for me?" Bazar Batu yelled, his anger boiling over. "Did you ever ask me what I wanted? No, you didn't! I don't want to marry that woman, but you're always insisting that I have to!"
"What's wrong with her?" Lee Jia asked, a note of reason in her voice. "She's the daughter of a respected captain."
Lee Jie nodded. "Besides, father wants you to be married when you turn eighteen."
Bazar Bataar added, "If you don't like her, anyone is fine by me, as long as you get married."
Bazar Batu smiled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Ge, are you sure?"
"I am a man of my word," Bazar Bataar said firmly. "If I don't keep my promise, you can call me a dog."
"Really?" Bazar Batu asked again, his smile widening.
"My words stand," Bazar Bataar stated.
Bazar Batu's smile turned into a wide, triumphant grin. "Alright," he said, looking from his brother to his two sisters-in-law. "Then I will marry him." He then pointed directly at Kuo Lok.
Bazar Bataar slammed his hand on the table. "Nonsense!" he roared.
"Ge," Bazar Batu said, a mischievous smile on his face. "You promised that as long as I got married, you wouldn't care who I chose. Are you going back on your word? If you do, then you'll be a dog." He then turned to Kuo Lok. "Lok ge ge, you're willing to marry me, right?"
"I am willing," Kuo Lok replied simply.
A triumphant grin spread across Bazar Batu's face. "See? Lok ge ge is willing to marry me," he said, looking at his two sisters-in-law. "You two are my witnesses."
Lee Jia poured a cup of tea for Bazar Bataar. "Drink this," she said gently. "Calm yourself down."
Bazar Bataar took a few deep breaths, his eyes still fixed on Kuo Lok with an angry intensity. "How old are you?" he asked.
"I will be twenty years old in two days," Kuo Lok replied.
After they finished their meal, Kuo Lok and Bazar Batu stood up to leave.
Bazar Bataar quickly rose from his seat. "Where are you going?" he demanded.
"We're going back to the inn," Bazar Batu replied.
"Very well," Bazar Bataar said, his voice flat. "We'll walk with you." He looked at Bazar Batu and then smiled faintly. "Are you sure he truly wants to marry you? You have so many tricks, I don't know what to believe anymore."
Bazar Batu knew that his brother would not let this go. Since he was going to lie anyway, he decided he might as well go all out. He looked at Kuo Lok and said, "Lok ge ge, kiss me."
Kuo Lok looked at Bazar Batu and asked, "Right now?"
Bazar Batu nodded. Without hesitation, Kuo Lok leaned down and kissed him on the lips. Bazar Bataar and his two wives stared, their mouths agape, as if they were about to faint on the street.
"Quickly," Bazar Batu said, grabbing Kuo Lok's left hand. "The inn is this way."
The two young men walked side by side down the open street, their hands linked. Behind them, a short distance away, the three elders followed slowly, their faces a mixture of fury and utter disbelief. The evening air felt thick with their confusion and anger.
When Kuo Lok and the group arrived at the inn, a palpable change in the atmosphere caught Bazar Batu's attention. The familiar, bustling staff was gone, replaced by new faces with sharp, watchful eyes. The guests who had once filled the main dining room were also different; every one of them seemed to be a martial artist.
Bazar Batu's hand slipped into Kuo Lok's and he squeezed it gently. "Be careful," he whispered.
A waiter walked up to their table and, without a single wasted movement, asked, "What can I get for you?"
"Plain buns," Bazar Batu replied, his eyes scanning the room.
"And to drink?" the waiter asked. "Perhaps some tea?"
"We want buns," Bazar Batu replied. "No tea."
The waiter smiled, a strange, fixed expression on his face. "Our tea smells very good," he insisted. "Without water, plain buns may get stuck in your throat, and you may die from it."
Bazar Bataar repeated firmly, "No tea."
Bazar Batu's eyes narrowed as he stared at the waiter. "You keep insisting we drink tea," he said, his voice flat. "Are you trying to poison us?"
The waiter let out a stiff, forced laugh. "No, it's just that our tea tastes and smells so very good," he said.
"We will pass," Lee Jia stated firmly.
"Just bring us what we ordered," Lee Jie added.
The waiter left without another word. A short while later, he returned with two plates of eight plain buns. He set them on the table, but instead of leaving, he remained standing there, his gaze fixed on the group.
Bazar Batu took one of the buns. "Waiter," he said, his voice flat, "how are we going to eat if you're staring at us?"
Without a word, the waiter walked away from the table and stood by the register, his eyes still fixed on them.
Kuo Lok leaned closer to Bazar Batu. "Where is Wenqian jiejie and the others?" he whispered nervously.
"Let's get out of here first," Bazar Batu replied, his voice low.
Bazar Bataar's voice was firm and quiet. "Make a scene," he said. "You're the master of it."
Bazar Batu stood up in a huff and threw the two plates of buns on the floor, sending them scattering across the dirt. He pointed a finger at Bazar Bataar. "How dare you say that to me?" he shouted. "What trouble did I ever cause you?"
Bazar Bataar slammed his hand on the table. "Don't talk to me like that! I'm older than you!" he roared, grabbing Bazar Batu's front robe with both hands. "I'll drag you out of here and we'll go home right now!"
The people in the inn, who were either eating or drinking, were puzzled by the sudden scene.
Bazar Batu pushed his brother's hands away. "I'm not going! Lok ge ge, help me!" he cried.
Kuo Lok grabbed onto Bazar Bataar's arm, and the three men began a chaotic push-and-pull, slowly moving toward the front door. The two women followed, frantically trying to stop the fight.
"Ge," Bazar Batu muttered under his breath, "don't pull me too hard."
"Shut it," Bazar Bataar replied just as quietly, his eyes fixed on the door.
As the chaotic push-and-pull continued, the group stumbled closer and closer to the inn's front entrance. Just as they were about to burst through the door, they ran directly into a young man and an old man, both dressed in the robes of Taoists.