Chapter 80: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

Seeing Bai Feiyu showing no intention of making friends, the innkeeper tactfully nodded in understanding.

After lunch, Bai Feiyu and his companions returned to their rooms to rest. They had deliberately chosen several rooms near where their carriage was parked, so they could keep an eye on it through the windows. This precaution was to guard against anyone attempting to steal from their carriage.

After all, the fact that the Gui Xu Sect had specifically dispatched four disciples to escort these spiritual artifacts spoke volumes of the importance attached to this mission.

This time, it was Yang Fan’s turn to watch over the carriage. In truth, although Bai Feiyu had suggested drawing lots, he ended up losing… Since he had lost, it naturally fell to Yang Fan to keep watch over the carriage. After days on the road, everyone was somewhat weary and in need of a good rest. Though Yang Fan felt a bit put out, he had given his word to Bai Feiyu and would keep his promise.

At two in the afternoon, Bai Feiyu, Shi Yuan, and Qianshuang were each fast asleep in their separate rooms. The recent intense heat made everyone drowsy by midday. Yang Fan was no exception, but at least their carriage was in the stable, and there was a place to rest on the carriage itself, which made things more bearable for him.

Around noon, Bai Feiyu suddenly awoke with a start. He was seized by a vague sense of foreboding. For reasons unknown, he got up and quietly crept to the door to listen for any sounds outside.

As he pressed his ear to the door, Bai Feiyu did indeed catch something. Though the voices were hushed, he managed to discern a few words:

“These disciples are from the Gui Xu Sect, here to escort something valuable.”

“What is it? To warrant four disciples as escorts? And one of them is even at the Shackled Realm.”

“Who knows? But if we pull this off, we can forget about running this inn. We’ll never have to worry about money again.”

“The Gui Xu Sect is filthy rich. Their disciples likely carry plenty of treasures as well.”

“Yes, let’s do it. We’ve lain low in this backwater for years waiting for a big score. I was about to give up—who knew such a fat fish would come to us?”

Bai Feiyu was instantly alarmed. Fortunately, he’d sensed something amiss and awakened; otherwise, had they stayed asleep, these people might well have killed them in their beds.

The conspirators knew a Shackled Realm cultivator was among them, yet were still bold enough to make a move—clearly, they had their own Shackled Realm expert, possibly more than one, or else they would not dare act so rashly.

Trouble had come sooner than expected.

Bai Feiyu immediately opened his door, intending to head for Qianshuang’s room. But the moment he stepped outside, he saw the innkeeper and several servants grinning viciously as they headed upstairs. They seemed startled to see him awake—everyone assumed their guests would be napping at this hour. Who would have thought one of them would be up?

“Kill him!” the innkeeper barked, and they rushed forward as one.

Seeing this, Bai Feiyu kicked open Shi Yuan’s door and then burst into Qianshuang’s room.

“Qianshuang, wake up! We’re in serious trouble!” Bai Feiyu called urgently.

Qianshuang, startled from sleep, shot upright at once, and Shi Yuan came running from the next room.

“Damn it, you found out!” the innkeeper cursed, anger and shame twisting his face.

Their plan had been simple: quietly murder the three youngsters upstairs—none of whom looked like Shackled Realm experts—then all together go and finish off the one in the stable. Even if that man managed to escape, he wouldn’t reach the sect in time. All they needed was to pack up the loot and vanish.

But Bai Feiyu’s timely awakening had exposed their scheme, injecting uncertainty into what should have been a sure thing.

“Curse you! I’ll kill you!” the innkeeper roared, unleashing his Shackled Realm cultivation as he lunged at Bai Feiyu.

In that instant, Bai Feiyu realized with shock that this seemingly ordinary innkeeper was actually a first-level Shackled Realm cultivator. How could such powerful individuals be hiding out in a simple inn?

There was no time to dwell on that, for the other servants were already charging forward. Bai Feiyu quickly noticed that all of them possessed at least the Haoqi Realm, with the strongest at the ninth level of Haoqi.

“Heh heh, you won’t escape us today,” one servant sneered. “We brothers crossed the Zhao royal family and fled into these remote mountains, biding our time for a fat catch. Now, with this windfall, we’ll be set for life. Surrender now and we’ll grant you a quick death.”

Only now did Bai Feiyu understand. No wonder these men, with such cultivation, were hiding here as innkeepers.

“That depends on whether you have the strength to take it!” Bai Feiyu retorted coldly. In the next instant, his own power erupted as he launched a fierce punch at the innkeeper.

Among all present, the innkeeper was clearly the strongest. Bai Feiyu knew—strike the leader first, and the rest would fall apart.

Fists and claws collided as Bai Feiyu and the innkeeper fought fiercely. Qianshuang and Shi Yuan engaged the servants, holding them at bay. Yet the innkeeper was, after all, a Shackled Realm cultivator, and Bai Feiyu could not hope to bring him down quickly.

Suddenly, Bai Feiyu sensed something was wrong. Why hadn’t Yang Fan come upstairs yet?

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