I Was Forced To Marry The Phoenix Empress

Chapter 296: Moving to the Inn

"Ah, the Brown Flu...the plight of these people never fails to evoke pity in my heart," Du Ming Li sighed with a bitter smile at those words and continued, "Since almost everyone who lives here is affected by this sickness, Young Master Chen’s cautiousness is only natural.

In fact, I was even more cautious than you when I first arrived here five years ago. I wore a mask covering half my face for almost a year even after being thoroughly informed about the disease."

Du Ming Li chuckled softly as she finished those words.

However, unlike her expression, lines had formed on Yi Chen’s forehead when he heard those words as he asked the next second, "...Wait, did you just say that you’ve been here for five years? Why...I mean why ar-"

"Why didn’t I catch it as well? Isn’t that what you want to ask?" Du Ming Li asked with a smile, fully understanding the confusion that was going on in Yi Chen’s mind, and said, "That’s because even with how gruesome this disease is, in a way, if allowed to run rampant, it can kill both mortals and us cultivators...there’s a limit to it.

And this limit is one’s cultivation level. Anyone who’s at or above the Ninth Qi Absorption Stage is immune to it. It’s also why this branch has only one working member, that is me, the manager."

"...So that’s how it is." Yi Chen widened his eyes in realisation. Being the only staff in this entire building and her not contracting the disease finally all made sense to him.

However, there was still one doubt in his mind, "Then...aren’t you a foreigner as well? When I entered the city, I was not only supposed to pay a medium-grade spirit stone as an entry fee but was also told that I must leave this place within two months’ time."

Understanding what Yi Chen’s question was, Du Ming Li answered without batting an eye, "That two-month window is actually a safety window for our own benefit. All the foreign workers below the Ninth Qi Absorption Stage go by it to ensure that they aren’t infected...and since there’s no chance of me contracting the disease, I’ve got no restrictions."

The edges of her lips curled as she continued, "That’s the kingdom’s way of making up for the food and water which the guests are going to consume as both of them get imported-"

Knock! Knock!

Just then, a knock was heard from the door.

"Ah, looks like your carriage is here." Du Ming Li muttered while slowly getting up.

Yi Chen did so as well while sweeping his hand over the packets of tea as they all entered his storage ring.

Standing next to the door, a middle-aged man with a brown patch evident on his face was waiting for the door to open and bowed towards them the moment it opened.

"Mhm." Du Ming Li nodded, and the next instant handed a Medium Grade Spirit Stone to the man and said, "This is Young Master Chen. Until the time he’s in this city, ensure that he’s well taken care of, understand?"

"Y-Yes, Lady Du, I completely understand." The man bowed even more deeply than before and soon turned towards Yi Chen.

"Young Master Chen, please." He said while gesturing toward the carriage.

Yi Chen glanced towards Du Ming Li and, with a subtle nod, got in the horse carriage the next moment.

"I’ll ensure that the array is repaired at the fastest possible pace, so Young Master Chen can take this moment to unwind and enjoy his time in the city. All your expenses will naturally be borne by our branch."

As she said that, Yi Chen saw a red card flying towards him through her storage ring.

"If Young Master Chen is in need of more, then inform me anytime," Du Ming Li said with a subtle smile and bowed.

"This..." Yi Chen accepted the red card as the sound of a whip reached his ear the next moment, causing the carriage to move.

Seeing the thousands of low-grade and medium-grade stones inside the card, Yi Chen couldn’t help but smile.

"Well...they certainly know how to make up for their mistakes, I guess." Yi Chen muttered under his breath.

"Uhm, did Young Master Chen say something to me?" the coach driver asked in a hesitant tone.

"It’s nothing. I was talking to myself." Yi Chen waved his hand with a smile.

"I see..." the coach driver nodded subtly before focusing on the path ahead as the carriage moved through the alley before entering a wider pathway.

Meanwhile, growing curious about the driver, Yi Chen checked his status panel.

===== STATUS ======

Name: Lin Duan

Age: 27 years

Strength: 23

Cultivation: Eighth Level of [Elementary Transformation Stage]

Remark: Limited cultivation potential. [Regenerate: 10,000 EXP]

==================

’Oh, he’s in the Elementary Transformation Stage?’ Yi Chen thought in an impressed manner before turning his head towards the side to watch the constantly changing views.

As he entered the wider pathways, more carriages could be seen traversing to and fro, but the pedestrians walking on the road had decreased considerably.

The reason was naturally the blazing sun overhead.

’It’s already afternoon, huh?’

He muttered while looking around at the shops and buildings that went past him one by one.

Clothing Stores, Decorative Items, Artefact Stores, Recreational Stores...lines of shops went by him as he began to understand that despite the difficulties that were faced by these people, they sure knew how to enjoy life.

Plenty of cultivators could be seen visiting these stores; some were exchanging spirit stones while others were using the yellow tablets as a means of transaction.

From what Du Ming Li had told him while exchanging his spirit stones, one low-grade spirit stone was equivalent to ten of these yellow tablets.

"If I want to acquire a few yellow tablets, where do I need to go?" Yi Chen suddenly asked.

"Yellow tablets...then Young Master would need to approach any Violet Medicine Hall outlet in the city and pay for it, or you can also exchange them with any willing individual for spirit stones," the coach driver explained.

"I see...then can I exchange a few with you?" Yi Chen asked.

"I apologise, Young Master Chen, but I have less than ten with me right now, as the rest I’ve saved up at my home for future use." The coach driver replied and continued, "However, if Young Master Chen desires to go to a Violet Medicine Outlet right now, then I can take you there before going to the Inn."

"No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll look into it later." Yi Chen replied with a brief smile as he let go of the matter.

"I understand," the man nodded and focused back on steering the carriage. About fifteen minutes later, they finally came to a stop in front of a three-storied building that was elegantly designed.

"Myriad Jasmine Inn" Yi Chen tilted his head to look at the exquisite-looking sign board and couldn’t help but subtly nod to himself.

"Young Master Chen, here."

The coach driver’s voice rang in his ear all of a sudden, making him turn towards him. With a subtle bow, he handed out a piece of stone, "Whenever Young Master Chen needs to visit anywhere, you can just call me using this Sound Transmission Stone. I, Lin Duan, will immediately be in your service."

"All right, thanks." Yi Chen accepted the stone and soon made his way towards the Inn.

Approaching the entrance, the gate was opened up for him from inside by one of the staff and with an appreciative nod, he made his way inside towards the reception counter.

"Ah, you must be Young Master Chen." A woman’s voice suddenly rang from next to him, and like an apparition, her figure appeared before him.

====== STATUS ======

Name: Wei Ru

Age: 210

Strength: 270

Cultivation: Fifth Level of [Qi Absorption Stage]

Nature: Air

Remark: Okay Talent, but may not live past 300 so doesn’t matter [Regenerate: 10,000 EXP]

====================

Yi Chen couldn’t help but furrow his brows subtly as his eyes moved from the status to her appearance.

Although much younger than Du Ming Li, her black hair had already started to turn white, but what particularly caught Yi Chen’s attention was the brown discolouration on her jade-white face.

’It must be because of the disease...’ Yi Chen thought to himself.

Taking Yi Chen’s expression as confusion, Wei Ru immediately said, "Ah, I almost forgot to introduce myself. I’m Wei Ru, the Myriad Jasmine Inn’s owner. Lady Du had already informed me about your arrival; that’s why I was able to recognise you."

"So, it’s Madam Wei." Yi Chen subtly bowed, which made the smile on Wei Ru’s face grow a little wider.

"Young Master Chen is indeed polite. Let me guide you to your room then." Wei Ru said with a bright expression and gestured towards the stairs.

"Yes."

With a nod, Yi Chen soon followed after her.