The Great Qi Royal Capital.
Naturally, it was much larger and more prosperous than a small place like Tianwu City.
At this moment.
Everyone was discussing the Yao Beast riot outside the city.
"How could the Yao Beasts suddenly riot?"
"I heard it's because a Great Yao that can transform appeared in the Barren Forest!"
"Oh? How come I heard that a rare treasure was unearthed?"
"No, no, no."
One person glanced around, looking mysterious.
"Do you know? Not long ago, Commander Zhou and two revered retainers went to investigate deep within the Barren Forest, but they all returned injured! It's because a peerless villain appeared there!"
"Hiss... Really?"
"I heard it from our shopkeeper, so the credibility should be very high."
"Sigh... Even if it's true, there's no need to worry. Don't forget, the Restriction of our Royal Capital was bestowed by the Upper Sect. Whether it's a Yao Beast riot or a peerless villain, as long as they dare to come, we'll make sure they never return. Let's not worry needlessly!"
"That's true."
"..."
...
On the long street.
Gu Han and A Sha walked side by side.
After experiencing the thrilling ordeal outside, they naturally had no mind to appreciate the prosperity within the Royal Capital.
"Young Master."
A Sha looked up.
"Are we going to the Martial Academy now?"
"Not yet."
Gu Han's Face was still a bit pale.
Originally, according to his plan, he would travel and search for Spirit Medicine at the same time, arriving at the Royal Capital in exactly ten days. However, after the Yao Beast riot, he fled all the way, and on the road, he competed with the fatty in speed, so he only took three days to reach here.
At this time, there were still seven days until the academy opened.
"Let's settle down first."
Both he and A Sha had expended too much energy these past few days, so they naturally needed a good rest.
Having made up his mind.
He led A Sha towards an inn.
However.
As soon as they entered, the shopkeeper came forward, bowing with an apologetic expression.
"Full?"
Gu Han was a bit surprised.
"Yes."
The shopkeeper gave a bitter smile.
"Originally, with the opening of the Martial Academy, there were already many more people in the Royal Capital. Plus, with the Yao Beast riot, a large number of Loose Cultivators came from outside the city, so there aren't enough places to stay."
Gu Han was helpless and had to change to another one.
As expected.
It was full again.
The third one.
The fourth one.
...
After trying eight or nine inns in a row, everyone's answer was surprisingly consistent.
With the Yao Beast riot, the Loose Cultivators who were close naturally came to the Royal Capital early for refuge, and Gu Han was among the last batch, so it was only natural that he couldn't find a place to stay.
"Young Master..."
A Sha was a bit worried.
"Do we have nowhere to stay?"
"..."
Gu Han was speechless.
It couldn't be that bad, could it?
To have to sleep on the streets as soon as they arrived?
Or... should he go inquire if the Seventh Prince and Chief Steward Li had returned?
"Little brother."
Just as he was thinking.
Someone next to him reminded, "Why not try the inner city?"
"Inner city?"
"That's right. That's the center of the Royal Capital. Most of the largest shops in the city are there. If you have enough yuan crystals, little brother, you might be able to find a place to stay there."
"Thank you!"
Gu Han asked for directions and immediately left with A Sha.
He naturally didn't know that on the street nearby, the middle-aged man was holding a broken sword, grabbing a Loose Cultivator by the collar, and interrogating him relentlessly.
"Who killed that young man!"
"I..."
The Loose Cultivator was trembling with fright.
"I don't know, the scene was too chaotic at the time, I didn't... didn't see clearly!"
"Say that again?"
The middle-aged man applied a little force, instantly crushing his shoulder!
"Ah... Mercy!"
The Loose Cultivator cried out in pain and begged for mercy repeatedly.
"It seems... it seems like a young boy! Yes... yes, and a little girl was with him!"
"What did he look like?"
"I really didn't see clearly!"
"Useless!"
The middle-aged man then threw him aside, his Face grim.
"Young boy? Little girl?"
"No matter who it is, if you dare to kill my nephew, I will tear you to pieces!"
...
Inner city.
Compared to the outer city, it was naturally much quieter. Rows of buildings stood on both sides, some tall and majestic, others grand and luxurious, each with its own characteristics.
And the people who frequented here.
Most were dressed in expensive clothes and had arrogant expressions.
"Young Master."
A Sha's eyes weren't enough.
"So grand."
"Indeed."
Gu Han felt a bit emotional, finally understanding why there were so few Loose Cultivators here.
Too poor!
"Let's go."
Seeing A Sha's somewhat joyful expression, he smiled and directly chose the largest and most luxuriously decorated building to enter.
"En?"
Inside the shop.
A person who looked like a manager saw Gu Han's attire and subtly frowned.
"Sirs, is there something you need?"
"To stay at the inn."
A Sha eagerly asked, "You shouldn't be full here, right?"
"Naturally not."
The manager nodded, expressionless.
"However, the 'Yi' and 'Bing' type rooms are all occupied. Only one 'Jia' type room on the upper floor is left. Are you sure you want to stay?"
"What do you mean?"
Gu Han naturally heard the contempt in his words.
"Nothing."
The manager smiled complacently, looked Gu Han up and down again, and after confirming he hadn't misjudged, he slowly said, "This 'Jia' type room has a spirit-gathering array inside, and it also has the effect of calming the mind. Cultivating in it can be five times more efficient than outside. As for the fee, it's not much, just one thousand yuan crystals per day."
Gu Han's Face was ashen.
No matter where he went, he would encounter such annoying things where people looked down on others!
"Sirs."
The manager raised his eyelids.
"Have you thought about it? To stay, or not to stay?"
"Nonsense!"
Gu Han naturally wouldn't give him a good look either.
"Of course I'll stay..."
However.
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a conversation from outside.
"Junior Sister Liu."
It was a man speaking, his tone full of ardent desire.
"You are currently breaking through your Realm, and this 'Jia' type room here is unique in the Royal Capital, the best place for Cultivating. If combined with the spirit source in your hand, you will definitely be able to completely stabilize your Realm before the academy opens!"
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
This time it was a female voice.
The voice was clear and moving, with a hint of joy.
"What are you talking about?"
The man was almost captivated.
"Senior Martial Uncle Liu and my father are old acquaintances. Now that Junior Sister has come to the Royal Capital, I naturally have to fulfill my duties as a host! Don't worry, you can stay in this 'Jia' type room for as long as you want!"
As they spoke.
A man and a woman, smiling brightly, entered hand in hand.
The man's identity was unknown.
The woman...
It was none other than Liu Ying!
Seeing Gu Han and A Sha, her expression froze, and her Face quickly turned cold.
As for Gu Han...
He looked disgusted.
It was a bit sickening.
"Young Master Liu?"
Seeing the man, the manager's eyes lit up, his Face wreathed in smiles, and his attitude changed dramatically.
"Why have you come?"
"Just looking around."
Liu Tong replied perfunctorily, his gaze, however, remained on Liu Ying beside him.
"This 'Jia' type room, is it still available?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"That's good, prepare... En?"
Mid-sentence.
He noticed the beautiful woman beside him had an unusual expression, "Junior Sister, what's wrong? Do you know them?"
Saying that.
He glanced at Gu Han indifferently, frowning slightly.
"I know him."
Liu Ying took a deep breath, as if suppressing the frustration in her heart, which made the man beside her almost drop his eyeballs.
"He also comes from Tianwu City."
"Oh."
The man instantly lost interest.
A bumpkin from a small place, and not a beauty like Liu Ying, he naturally didn't even bother to look at him.
"Prepare it."
He looked at the manager.
"My Junior Sister Liu wants to stay here for a while."
"Good, good, good!"
The manager's smile grew even wider, almost bowing and scraping.
He naturally understood that this Young Master Liu Tong came from a prominent family and was generous. Every time he came here, he would receive a large extra benefit. He was a truly distinguished guest, a big spender in his heart!
As for Gu Han.
He had long been completely forgotten.
"Wait!"
He forgot.
Gu Han didn't forget.
"You said."
He stared coldly at the manager.
"There's only one 'Jia' type room left, right?"
"That's right!"
Facing Gu Han.
The manager naturally reverted to his previous tone, coldness mixed with disdain.
"I just said."
Gu Han said seriously, "I want to stay!"
"Is that so?"
The manager smiled without warmth.
"I didn't hear clearly."
"Now you hear clearly?"
"I'm sorry, it's already gone now!"
"You!"
A Sha was a bit indignant.
"We were clearly here first!"
"Heh heh."
The manager was unmoved.
"So what? Did you pay the yuan crystal? No! Then this room is ownerless, and I can let whoever I want stay in it!"
"Tsk tsk tsk."
To the side.
Liu Tong glanced at Gu Han with disdain.
"Junior Sister Liu, your fellow townsman seems to not understand the rules at all!"
"He's always been like this."
Liu Ying was expressionless.
"He always fails to see the gap between reality and imagination, doing things beyond his capabilities just to attract attention."
"I understand!"
Liu Tong's eyes lit up.
"With your beauty, Junior Sister Liu, you must have countless admirers. This kid... must be one of them too! Heh heh, that explains it. However..."
He changed the subject and glanced at Gu Han again.
"As a person, you must know your place! If you want to show off and assert your presence, you first need to weigh your own status and see where this place is! My Great Qi Royal Capital is not comparable to a poor, remote place like Tianwu City!"
"Of course..."
Speaking of this.
He looked at Liu Ying's expression and smiled complacently.
"Today, I'll give Junior Sister Liu some Face. Considering you're from the same hometown as her, I won't hold your offense against you. But this 'Jia' type room is not something you are qualified to stay in. Disappear from my sight within three breaths, otherwise, I will be very unhappy, and the consequences of displeasing me... trust me, few people can bear it."
"First."
Gu Han took a deep breath.
"I was here first, and this 'Jia' type room was reserved by me first."
"Second."
"You said I admire her? Then why don't you ask her who used to follow behind me, calling me Gu Dage, and practically throwing herself at me?"
"That's right!"
A Sha quickly chimed in.
"I saw it with my own eyes, she was so attentive to my Young Master, so attentive!"
"You!"
Liu Ying's expression changed dramatically.
Back then.
When Gu Han was still that spirited Genius, she was naturally very close to him, almost displaying her charm to the fullest. However, although Gu Han met with her often, he always maintained a distance between them. This became a thorn in her heart, and every time she saw Gu Han, that thorn would dig deeper, making her feel excruciating pain.
This was also the reason why she specifically targeted Gu Han after seeing his cultivation recover.
At this moment.
Having her past exposed.
She was almost dying of shame and anger.
"Junior Sister..."
Seeing Liu Ying's expression.
How could Liu Tong not understand that what Gu Han said was true?
Gu Han's words.
Made him, who had been so attentive to Liu Ying these days, trying to win her favor, completely a laughingstock!
While feeling ashamed and heartbroken, his perception of Gu Han instantly changed from disdain to jealousy, and there was even a hint of an indescribable sourness.
"And."
Gu Han ignored him and continued speaking to himself.
"Whether I'm qualified to stay... you, don't get to decide!"
"Gu Han!"
Liu Ying was so angry she almost bit through her teeth.
"You will pay the most painful price for your arrogance!"
"Arrogance?"
Gu Han sneered.
"No, that's not right!"
"It's just that you're used to bullying people, but unfortunately, I'm naturally hard-boned and never like being bullied!"
"So, today, you've picked the wrong target!"
"I've changed my mind!"
To the side.
Liu Tong suddenly spoke.
His heart was burning with jealousy, his Face somewhat distorted, staring intently at Gu Han.
"Today, you're not leaving!"