Chapter 48: The Deep Mountain Inn

“Visitors here?”

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An old man stepped out shakily, holding an oil lamp.

Commander Zhou observed the old man’s odd expression and unnatural pallor. A nearby Dragon Guard reached for his sword hilt, but Commander Zhou motioned him to stop.

“This mountain inn has no proper rooms—just one common bed. Ten coins per night. Will you sirs stay?”

The old man appeared oblivious to their tension as he pulled out a string of copper keys from the counter and dropped them on the table.

“We’ll stay.”

Commander Zhou tossed a string of coins onto the wood.

The old man pocketed the payment, grabbed the oil lamp, and shuffled toward the guest quarters with the keys.

“Commander, this place—”

“Silence.”

Commander Zhou cut off the guard and followed the old man. The Dragon Guards trailed behind, hands never leaving their sword hilts, poised to strike at any threat.

“Are you alone here?”

Commander Zhou walked close behind the old man, left hand resting on his sword. Though the man seemed peculiar, Commander Zhou detected no trace of Heavenly Demon power—just an ordinary human.

“My wife’s asleep. Too old to help,” the old man wheezed, struggling to fit the key into the warped door. After multiple attempts, the lock clicked open.

“Rest early. I’ll fetch your meal.” The old man hobbled away, keys jingling in his grip.

“False alarm,” a guard muttered, slumping in relief once the man left.

“Stay alert. Zhao Liu and Lü Tao—first watch.” Commander Zhou sat cross-legged on the bed to meditate. The others followed, drawing pure spiritual energy into their bodies through cultivation—a quicker restorative than sleep.

Night.

The group awoke refreshed but hungry.

“Why hasn’t he brought food?” someone grumbled.

Commander Zhou seized his sword. “To the kitchen.”

Blades hissed from sheaths as they moved.

Creak. Creak.

The rotting kitchen door swayed on broken hinges, its splintered wood nothing like the intact entrance they’d seen earlier.

“This…this was fine before!” a Dragon Guard blurted.

“There was dust everywhere. It must have been ages since anyone came here. The door didn’t look touched at all.”

The guard crouched to examine the kitchen entrance, finding it thick with dust. He estimated no one had entered or exited for at least three months.

“Impossible! I saw that old man walk in myself,” Knife King blurted out.

Not just him—all the Dragon Guards had witnessed it. Even Xu Yuan had watched the old innkeeper enter. Yet there were no footprints. How could a living person vanish like that? The old man had seemed completely ordinary.

“Ghosts?”

Someone’s muttered words sent shivers through the group.

“Let’s check inside. We’re Immortal Cultivators—since when do we fear spirits?”

The black-armored Dragon Guard slammed his boot into the kitchen door, bursting it open.

Dust-coated pots and untouched surfaces greeted them. The undisturbed scene chilled everyone’s blood. They’d all seen the old man enter—this made no sense. Commander Zhou had personally confirmed the innkeeper wasn’t a Heavenly Demon when they’d arrived.

“Move out.”

Commander Zhou spun on his heel.

Their orders were clear: recruit Knife King and deliver the Heavenly Demon corpse to the capital. Local oddities weren’t their concern.

“Wait—someone’s there.”

Two figures materialized by the entrance—the old man and a hunched old woman.

“Why leave so soon, sirs? Dawn hasn’t broken.” The old man blinked innocently at the group.

“Human or demon?” Commander Zhou barked.

Gray mist rippled across his body as spiritual energy flooded his longsword. No more games.

“Demons? This humble man doesn’t understand—”

“Enough talk!” The black-armored guard’s killing intent flared. “Better to kill wrongly than let go.”

“Why won’t that woman look up?” Knife King’s sudden question froze the room.

Gurgling laughter answered. The old woman’s head spun completely around, black gas pouring from her eye sockets.

“Heavenly Demons!”

Steel rasped as blades cleared sheathes.

Knife King moved fastest—leaping skyward, his sword channeled a surge of spiritual energy before slashing downward.

CRACK!

The table exploded into splinters. Both figures sprang aside unharmed. The old man’s skin sloughed off like rotten cloth, revealing scaled flesh beneath.

“Human skin disguises! No wonder we sensed nothing!”

“They’re eating someone!”

The “food” beneath the old woman’s claws was now clear—a half-devoured corpse.

“Purge the demons!”

Commander Zhou’s suppressed power erupted, breaking into the Foundation Establishment stage. Spiritual energy whirled around him like a typhoon. His horizontal slash pinned both demons in place before bisecting them with twin wet thuds.

“Reseal the coffin. We ride now.”

Sheathing his blade, Commander Zhou strode from the inn without glancing back.