I sighed.
"Sorry, everyone. The fun is over for today!"
The tavern owner's shoulders slumped in visible relief—he must've been used to rich people being more unreasonable. He bowed again.
"I'm so thankful that you chose my tavern to spend your time in, Honored One. If you return later, I will make sure that the best dishes and wine are ready for you!"
"And crrrank up prices even more, eh, mate?" Chang Dong slurred, then laughed.
"That's alright! Business is business—the prices on food are gonna get higher than the Divine Dragon flight!"
"So what? I'm not poor, and this is a good place—why not return?"
I laughed and went toward the exit, slightly swaying on my feet. The wine here wasn't a cultivator-grade one, but I must've drank enough for a horse.
Chang Dong followed me, now without his "ladies of pleasures". For someone who kept up with me while drinking, his walking was surprisingly steady.
"Whaaaaat a life," I said, meeting the fresh late evening air with my face. "I wish the Lin Manor had more taverns and more people like you, Uncle Dong."
The merchant laughed. "Keep praising me, Master Ru, and my head will fly above the clouds… Aha-ha-ha, no, a man like me must stay humble. But this was such a great evening—and it must be ended apop… arpop… ended in a great way, too. Let me show you something amazez…"
"Amazing?"
"Right, that! Trust me, it's really special!"
Well, what could happen even if I was caught by a curfew? It wasn't made with cultivators in mind.
"Sure. Lead the way! So what is that special thing?"
Chang Dong wagged his finger. "Oh no, master, this is a surprise! Must be a surprise. A secret! But I will tell you, because you are such a great person, and a good friend. I know you only for a day, but it feels like we've been friends forrrever! I never was a friend with a cultip… cultivator, too!"
"A surprise? Well, still, tell me!"
"No, master, no, I caaaan't!"
I kept needling him with questions as we went, but Chang Dong was surprisingly stubborn about this, and I was easily distracted in my drunken state.
Eventually, Chang Dong led me to a completely ordinary wooden building. He opened the door with a key (after two failed attempts) and showed me inside.
"Behold! That!"
"That?" I looked around. "Is that the surprise? These are just boxes!"
Boxes, crates and jars laying in near stacks. The building was a warehouse.
Chang Dong slapped himself on the forehead.
"I forgot. The secret surprise is inside, Master Ru. Follow me!"
He led me further in, stopping on the way to take and lit an oil lamp from a shelf. I followed, wondering if I should just leave after all… This felt increasingly like a trap, although I saw no Qi of an enemy.
We went down into a cellar, which was full of more crates and jars. Chang Dong moved one aside, showing a trapdoor in the floor.
"This! Want to know where it leads?"
I stared at it in surprise, feeling like my head was finally clearing up.
"Is this a tunnel?" I guessed. "Does it lead outside the wall?"
"Yes! You understood from the first glance—how insightful! Have you seen many tunnels in your life? I thought cultivators prefer to fight in the skies on their majestic flying swords…"
I shook my head, which was feeling much clearer upon this discovery. So Chang Dong had a secret tunnel, which led right to our enemies… And if they discovered it, they could launch a secret attack at us at any moment!
Oh, Lin Chu had to find out about it—
"Uncle, what are you doing?"
He was already opening the hatch and climbing down the tunnel.
"Outside!" he told me cheerfully. "After all your tales about the Tao clan's Golden Phoenix, I want to see her with my own eyes. If I don't, I will regret it until the end of my life! Come on, I will show you the way and all the tricky places, Master Ru."
My first thought was to shout at him, close the hatch, and report these findings to Lin Chu immediately. What was wrong with this person? I didn't care that he was drunk, did he have no self-preservation at all?!
My second thought was that before I report, it would be better if I found out where exactly this tunnel was leading. Maybe it's Lin forces that will be able to launch a sneak attack through it! Besides…
"Tricky places? Are there traps, Uncle Dong?"
"A bit, a bit of them, my friend! We don't wanna no unsavory characters walking through, right?"
"True… Alright, lead the way. But be careful and quiet!"
I followed Chang Dong and the flickering flame of his lantern down the staircase.
The tunnel on the bottom of it smelled musty, and the walls were made from bare packed soil and wooden support beams. Two people at most could walk side by side here with their shoulders pressed together. I tried not to imagine what will happen if the tunnel suddenly collapsed.
"This must've taken a lot of effort to build… What for?" I asked, following Chang Dong.
He chuckled. "Business, my friend, all business! Money is the lifeblood of the world. However, some people, like guards at the gates, don't arpe… apper… value the hard work of people like myself who move the money around. And maybe even forbid selling some goods in the city, when someone there still needs them. And money provides!"
I nodded in understanding and chuckled.
"So the tunnel is for smuggling! Don't worry, Uncle, I won't tell anyone that your textile trade isn't legal."
"Master Ru!" Chang Dong gasped. "You wound me! My textile business is entirely, aaaaab-so-lu-te-ly legal! I pay every tax and tithe!"
I narrowed his eyes at him. "Oh, yeah?"
He laughed loudly.
"Yes, Master Ru—I can swear that upon the grave of my dear grandpa! Trading in silks and linens is legal… It's selling incense, spices and jewels made by the Crystal Phoenix Sect is not. But nobles like them oh so much, and not only them… so the money provides!"
I grinned too, but soon grew serious again. We must've still been inside the city, but I was already afraid of being overheard.
"Alright, be quiet, Chang Dong. Quiet."
He led me forward, warning about a few traps in place and disabling them as we passed.
When we saw a ladder leading up, he was about to go straight up, but this time, I stopped him. He looked much less drunk than when we left the tavern, but was still far from sober.
"Uncle, you were of great help. But now, stay here. Don't do anything stupid!"
I looked at him with my most serious glare until Chang Dong slumped his shoulders and stepped back.
"But Golden Phoenix…"
"Quiet."
I took a deep breath and climbed up.