The proprietress quickly approached, her presence drenched in heavy perfume. With a coquettish smile, she pulled the little girl, Nanae, closer to her side and asked sweetly,
"Customer, are you planning to stay the night?"
There was a subtle hint of seduction in her eyes, though her husband standing behind her appeared completely indifferent. Instead, he offered an ingratiating smile, nervously rubbing his hands together. His greedy demeanor, oddly enough, seemed more grounded compared to his wife's flirtatious airs.
However, Tong Gu, who remained on constant alert in this perilous Game of Fate, didn't miss the brief flash of fear in the little girl's eyes. Keeping his composure, he cast a sidelong glance at the girl in the blue kimono. She kept her head down, avoiding his gaze.
Calmly, Tong Gu set down the elegant, narrow wooden box from his back, reached into his pouch, and said,
"Let me eat something first."
The yellow-faced innkeeper eagerly grabbed the money pouch, weighing it in his hands with a grin that revealed several decayed teeth.
"Of course, sir, right away!"
The innkeeper shuffled off happily to the kitchen, while the proprietress cast Tong Gu an intrigued smile before pulling along the reluctant Nanae.
The girl in the blue kimono raised her head slightly, her lips moving as if to form words. No sound came out, but she seemed to be mouthing a warning. Tong Gu couldn't decipher it immediately, his brows furrowing slightly.
Moments later, a few simple dishes were served. Nanae and her older sister carried the plates to the table. As the older girl placed a cup of sake by Tong Gu, she subtly glanced around, ensuring their parents weren't watching. She then lightly nudged her younger sister with her elbow.
Nanae blinked in confusion at first, then suddenly flung herself to the ground, wailing loudly.
Both the proprietress and her husband paled at the sight. Dropping everything, they rushed to Nanae, fretting over her like she was a precious jewel.
In stark contrast, their eldest daughter seized the opportunity to lean closer to Tong Gu. Her voice was barely audible as she whispered,
"Leave now—they're planning to harm you!"
Tong Gu didn't react outwardly, his expression calm as he met the girl's panicked gaze. Slowly, his right hand moved to rest on the box containing his Nichirin blade. His breathing slowed, extending his awareness over hundreds of meters. He detected no other hidden presences—only the family of four.
"Are they not your parents?" Tong Gu asked softly, pouring himself a cup of sake.
The girl, who had been growing increasingly frustrated with his seemingly dense demeanor, trembled with anxiety.
"Stop asking pointless questions, big guy! Just run—night is falling!"
The girl's urgent tone drew the attention of her mother, who was inspecting Nanae for injuries. Finding none, she relaxed—but her face darkened as she noticed her eldest daughter lingering near Tong Gu.
"Minai! Take your sister and go to bed now!" the woman snapped harshly, her tone devoid of any maternal warmth. The stark difference between her treatment of her daughters was jarring.
Minai cast one last desperate glance at Tong Gu before lowering her head. She tugged on her giggling younger sister and led her away. Nanae waved cheerfully at Tong Gu as she left, oblivious to the tension in the air.
Tong Gu put down his sake cup. He had already decided not to eat anything from this family. Casually, he slid the wooden box forward, ignoring the proprietress and innkeeper's shifting expressions. Feigning nonchalance, he asked,
"Does this town have demons?"
The moment the question left his lips, the couple's faces twisted in fury. The once-charming proprietress glared at him, her narrowed eyes filled with malice.
"Another one of those foolish swordsmen?" she hissed, her voice dripping with contempt.
Behind her, the innkeeper appeared almost paralyzed with fear, muttering prayers under his breath as if to ward off the wrath of unseen forces.
"Demons?!" the proprietress shrieked. "They are divine messengers!"
Her sharp voice cut through the quiet town, the noise jarring against the peaceful facade. Tong Gu remained seated, his hand resting lightly on the box. He sensed figures beginning to gather outside the inn, their presence unnerving. The crimson leaves of the riverside trees, now shadowed in the evening gloom, took on an eerie, otherworldly quality.
Unwilling to escalate the situation unnecessarily, Tong Gu stood, lifting the box. With a polite smile, he said,
"I see. I hope to meet your divine messenger someday. For now, though, I must be on my way."
He turned to leave, but the innkeeper stepped in front of the door, clutching a kitchen knife that glinted menacingly in the dim light.
"You ordered all this food and didn't touch it. Are you saying my cooking isn't good enough?"
Despite the innkeeper's trembling stance, the blade in his hand betrayed a dangerous intent. Outside, more townsfolk gathered, their expressions blank as they stared silently at Tong Gu.
A dark realization dawned on Tong Gu.
Divine messenger? Demons? Strange villagers? Hedonistic revelry...
If his suspicions were correct, this place was perilous beyond measure. Tong Gu's hand tightened on his blade. He had no qualms about cutting down these lunatics if it meant ensuring his survival.
Suddenly, Minai's voice pierced through the tension.
"Nanae has fainted!"
The little girl bolted from the back room, her panicked cries breaking the eerie stillness. The proprietress froze, her face turning ashen. Abandoning all pretense, she rushed to the rear of the inn, with her husband stumbling after her.
Even the villagers outside appeared alarmed, their stoic expressions cracking as they muttered anxiously.
Seizing the chaos, Minai grabbed Tong Gu's hand and tugged. Despite her efforts, it was like trying to move a mountain.
"Come on!" she hissed urgently, her small face scrunched in frustration. "We have to go!"
Tong Gu glanced at her briefly before lifting his blade and following her lead.
They ran westward, Minai expertly weaving through the town's winding streets until they reached the base of a massive red-leafed tree. Its sprawling branches formed a dense canopy that obscured the sky.
Without hesitation, Minai hiked up her skirt and scrambled up the tree. She poked her head through the leaves, signaling for Tong Gu to follow.
With ease, he climbed the tree. Hidden within the thick foliage was a carefully constructed hideout, woven from vines and wooden planks. Tong Gu immediately recognized the faint scent emanating from within.
Wisteria flowers.
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