The room was quiet, save for the soft clink of porcelain as Long Xiao set down his tea. The innkeeper blinked as Long Xiao titled his head, her fingers circling the rim of her teacup which she poured herself earlier, the steam curling like secrets in the air.
After a while, she spoke, "I believe I know who you're looking for."
Long Xiao's brows lifted. "You do?"
"You might have encountered the legendary cursed flower of our Xundu City, Xiao Hua." She mentioned as she set her cup down, as if the name was a petal caught in memory.
"Xiao Hua…?" Long Xiao repeated in confusion.
She nodded, setting her tea cup down and rising from her seat.
The innkeeper stood by the window, her gaze distant, robes catching the morning light like silk dipped in flame.
She didn't answer. Instead, she raised her hand, and the air around her shifted. From the basin beside the bed, water rose slowly, gracefully forming a floating sphere that shimmered like moonlight.
"Oh what's she doing now?" Long Xiao wondered.
With a flick of her fingers, the sphere flattened into a translucent canvas, suspended mid-air. Her cultivation stirred the water into motion, and within seconds, it began to paint.
"What's with all this water drama?"
Ah...is she going to show me who Xiao Hua is?" Long Xiao folded his arms as he watched the scene unfold before him.
No brush. No ink. Just rippling water, dancing under her control.
A child with delicate features appeared, wide eyes, hair tied with a single crimson thread. Mist curled around her feet, and petals drifted across the image like memories.
"I knew it." Long Xiao wore a proud smile as he unfolded his arms.
"That's what the street children call her," the innkeeper murmured. "A strange girl… who always appears when you're new or lost, then vanishes into mist."
The water shimmered again, revealing the girl standing beneath a blooming tree whose petals glowed faintly red.
"They say she's the spirit of a flower that bloomed during the first Scarlet Eclipse."
Long Xiao leaned forward, eyes narrowing.
"Yes that's her," he whispered. "The girl who led me to the inn."
The image faded, the water returning to the basin with a soft splash.
"Some say she's a ghost," the innkeeper said, turning to him. "Others think she's a fox spirit disguised as a child. But they all agree on one thincg…"
She paused, her eyes meeting his.
"If you see her, your life is about to change.
"Nonsense." Long Xiao thought, resisting the urge to laugh.
If this girl truly led you here… perhaps it is fate." She smiled like a blade sheathed in silk.
"Or perhaps… " She trailed off,
"You were simply meant to drink tea in this very room." She stared at him blankly.
"What kind of nonsense is that?
It sounds stupid and interesting at once." Long Xiao shook his head.
"Ahahaha" She laughed playfully, resuming her seat.
"You mean to say that this has been recurring?
If so, why has she not been pursued?" Long Xiao asked, getting up from the bed.
He walked to the window as he waited for an answer.
"She has been pursued a couple of times but..." She paused.
"Whoever pursued her... never came back alive." She stared blankly.
In the beginning, it was just a rumor until they were never heard from again".
She sighed, rising up from her feet as she walked over to Long Xiao's side.
"So fellow cultivator, do you still plan on locating her now?" She leaned in, smiling playfully.
"Yes. We have to put an end to this". He responded confidently, not pulling away.
"Well then.. I shall notify the Scarlet Star Sect to lend you some of their capable disciples for your desired mission.
Given that your stay is going to be elongated plus me offering you help, your final pay shall be thrice the original," She grinned, pulling back as she walked towards the door.
"What?! Three times the price!?" He shrieked.
"If you can't afford it, I do accept divine treasures." She winked, letting out a faint laughter and winked as she saw herself out.
Long Xiao clutched his earrings protectively at her words
He was still in disbelief. He had to activate the Divine Rant. He moved away from the window and sat in a classic meditation pose on the bed.
Divine Rant Activated
---
I am shocked...
Because the little girl is some sort of wanted thief.
She stole my belongings and she's nowhere to be found
On the other hand, I'm also shocked because the innkeeper regards me as a some sort of weakling.
Hmph!
Talking about notifying some useless humans.
Like how dare she?
Why would I be afraid of an evil spirit?
Right... She doesn't know is that I am a god.
And now I have to pay thrice the original price I don't even know.
What a cheat of an innkeeper!
No way in Heaven am I paying three times the price.
However, I have to admit that it's rather kind of her to offer help.
That's why she's definitely charging more.
This Xiao Hua is not just any evil spirit.
She's an evil spirit who has my money and everything.
I'm going to make sure she knows that she crossed the wrong person, I mean god.
But on the bright side,
This means I get to meet disciples from a Sect and observe their martial skills.
A blessing in disguise.
Nice.
Time to play the weakling and watch mortal drama unfold.
Divine Rant Deactivated
---
He decided to summon Lei .
There was no way he, the supreme miser would pay three times the original price.
"Lei, Lei ?" Long Xiao whispered, bringing the summoning bead close to his mouth.
Lei ignored him.
"Such a loyal mount I possess!" He scoffed, ruffling his hair.