As Long Xiao sulked, Lei lay on the bed.
"You brought this on yourself, Master." He teased.
Long Xiao ignored him by reviewing his spiritual notes.
Spiritual stones, taels and money in the mortal world are equivalent to merits in the heavenly realm. They are significant in trading.
While seated, he decided to prepare his spiritual stones which he obtained through the exchange of merits to avoid any embarrassment in the morning.
"It never hurts to prepare for unwanted embarrassment."
With a smile, he reached for his pouch.
"Oh my Heavens!" He froze.
"What's wrong, Master?" Lei stood up abruptly from the bed.
"It is gone." He said, staring at the wall in disbelief with his mouth slightly opened.
"What, Master?" The bird inquired.
"My spiritual stones," he began
"My heavenly treasures," he continued.
"All of it. Gone without a trace." He checked his robe and there were no holes.
"I can't believe Master got robbed on his first day." Lei laughed.
Long Xiao glared, activating Divine Rant.
Divine Rant Activated
---
I hadn't handed anything to Lei. My storage pouch was tied to my robe.
I hadn't even bumped into anyone.
So how…?
Was it… no.
It couldn't be.
She was just a little girl.
Plus she helped me.
I don't believe she's capable of stealing.
But doubt is clinging to me like mist in a spirit forest.
Is this what the Art of Insanity looks like?
I have to find her and clarify my thoughts.
But where do I find her?
Even if I did find her, leaving the inn too without paying would be unrighteous.
Worse...I would lose my hard-earned heavenly merits.
What should I do?
Yes. I'll talk to the innkeeper.
Divine Rant Deactivated
---
He paced. Thought. Panicked a little.
Then suddenly...dizziness. Long Xiao's limbs felt heavy. His vision blurred. He collapsed onto the floor like a divine bag of flour.
"Master!" Lei rushed quickly to his side.
Everything faded for him.
Lei carried him from the ground and placed him gently onto the bed. When Long Xiao opened his eyes, it was already morning. Lei had fallen asleep on a chair, his hand in his beside the bed.
Long Xiao's head spun. His throat was dry and he could barely focus.
"Whatever has affected me… is wearing off, slowly." He thought as he patted Lei's head gently. This made Lei wake up.
"That tea. What was in it?" Long Xiao wondered.
"Master, you're awake." Lei cheered.
"You've been asleep for three days." He stated, launching himself onto Long Xiao.
He pulled him into a tight embrace which was slowly choking Long Xiao.
"Dear sirs…" A voice sliced through the haze.
"Is everything okay?"
They turned.
Long Xiao pulled back abruptly from Lei's embrace, breathing heavily and silently thanking the stranger for saving him from Lei's death hug.
She was standing at the door, watching them intently.
Hair untied, robes finer than any other woman he had seen in the inn. Not a commoner. Not just staff.
Her robes were a striking blend of rouge silk and snowy white layers, the red as deep as freshly spilled petals and the white as crisp as morning frost.
Her long red hair fell freely down her back, undisturbed by ornament, yet impossibly elegant. At her collar, a single crimson tassel hung like a whisper of her true identity or so he thought.
Long Xiao and Lei, who were seated on the bed, stared in awe at the beauty in front of them.
"Please come in!"
"Are you the innkeeper?" Long Xiao asked, throat sore, as Lei rose from the bed.
"Yes, I am." She answered.
"...I'll be back later." She bowed a little, closing the door behind her.
"I think we scared her." Lei giggled, ruffling his hair.
"Master, what happened to you? I just left you for a while and this happened." Lei nagged, pouring Long Xiao a cup of tea which Long Xiao had specially brewed in the Heavenly Realm.
"Hush! As if you being present would have changed anything." Long Xiao rolled his eyes.
Lei handed Long Xiao the tea.
Long Xiao took a sip, swirling the cup.
"Yes. The tea... and my storage pouch." He began.
"There's something big going on." Long Xiao wondered as he took another sip.
After a while, there was a knock on the door. Lei opened it, revealing the in keeper. He made way for her, closing the door.
"Please have a seat!" Lei gestured.
She sat, taking in a deep breath before beginning.
"Fellow Cultivator, my workers informed me that you've been in this room for three consecutive days.
You have neither paid nor accepted service. Is something wrong or you were planning on leaving without paying?" Her tone was sweet, but her eyes were daggers.
"Ah. So this is what mortals call 'the death stare.' It really does feel like being stabbed in the gut," Long Xiao thought, observing the lady.
Lei's eyes gleamed. "Straightforward beauty. Uh-oh, Master is in trouble."
"Uhm I'll be right back." Lei said quietly, not wanting to be involved in his master's issue with the lady.
With a dip of his head, he slipped out the door.
He passed through the front door for once.
"Unfaithful bird," Long Xiao muttered under his breath, turning his attention back to the innkeeper.
He straightened his back and gave her a serious look.
"Innkeeper… this might sound absurd… but my storage pouch has been stolen."
"Stolen?" she echoed, lips twitching.
"Yes. As soon as I entered the city, a small girl approached me and offered to show me an inn.
I believe she took it. If you could help me locate her, I will pay my dues with interest." He added.