A Ming’s words calmed Zheng Fan’s heart.
After all, he had once suffered the torment of an incurable ailment and had been obsessed with creating twisted horrors for many years. While it would be skewed to say he was mentally abnormal, it was estimated that a few of his nerves might indeed be wired incorrectly.
An unfamiliar world, a strange situation, but with the words, "If you don’t abandon us, we won’t abandon you," it all somehow seemed rather inconsequential.
Zheng Fan sat at a table in the corner of the lobby, listening to Xue Three tell stories on stage. Each modern anecdote and slightly risqué joke triggered endless laughter from the guests below.
SLAM! With a stamp on one quarantine certificate, it was immediately swapped for the next, and the stamping continued.
Also, the wine A Ming brewed was quite tasty.
To hell with worries, to hell with troubles, to hell with unease, to hell with reality, to hell with the past...
When he woke up, it was already dawn.
Zheng Fan sat up in bed. Hearing the movement, Yun’er pushed open the door, carrying a basin of water and a toothbrush.
Naturally, there was no toothpaste, and the toothbrush was also very rough. Still, not having to use willow twigs was already quite good. He brushed his teeth with green salt, washed his face, and then Zheng Fan returned to the lobby.
The inn didn’t operate in the morning, so apart from a few hired workers who came to clean, most people were lazing around. fr.eew eb novel..com
Breakfast was wonton noodles, which tasted pretty good.
After finishing his meal, Zheng Fan walked to the entrance of the inn.
Don’t laugh; a day had passed since he woke up, and this was the first time Zheng Fan had stepped outside the inn. Although it was only a small step across the threshold, the unease suppressed by alcohol the previous night was now rekindled by a faint dread stemming from the unknown.
The street was crowded. Because this was a border town, the crowd was mixed. Zheng Fan even saw several people dressed similarly to himself, though they were probably followers of Zoroastrianism.
Beside him, at the fortune-telling stall by the inn’s entrance, Blind Bei tapped a small bell, lowered his head slightly, and spoke softly, "My lord, good morning."
Zheng Fan sat down next to Blind Bei on the steps.
Blind Bei didn’t get up to offer his seat to Zheng Fan but remained sitting comfortably.
The warm and gentle sunlight shone on him, and his face showed an expression of enjoyment.
It was hard to imagine that a mass murderer could show such a peaceful and ordinary side.
Zheng Fan pursed his lips. At this moment, he felt like smoking.
"We have water pipes," Blind Bei suddenly said.
"Can you see through my mind?"
"No, I just thought that My lord would probably like a cigarette right about now."
"Forget water pipes; I’m not used to them."
"I’ll speak to Siniang later and ask her to try and find someone to make rolled cigarettes."
"Can tobacco be bought here?"
Blind Bei paused for a moment, seemingly understanding what Zheng Fan was thinking, and began to explain, "Our current location is a city called Hutou City, which borders a desert. The population is small, only about 20,000 to 30,000, but because it’s at a junction with the barbarian tribal territories, many merchant caravans pass through here for transit. Most of our inn’s guests aren’t locals but members of these merchant caravans."
Zheng Fan nodded upon hearing this.
A Ming had mentioned before that since he hadn’t woken up, they weren’t interested in exploring this unfamiliar world, nor did they see the need.
The only one who knew a little about this world was Blind Bei, who had been sitting at the inn’s entrance all this time.
"Which power does this city belong to?" Zheng Fan continued to ask.
Blind Bei tapped lightly on his table and replied, "Hutou City. It’s within the sphere of influence of Yan State."
"However, it shouldn’t be a historical dynasty from ancient China. To the south of Yan State, there’s a country called Qian State, and there are several other countries, but their merchant caravans are few. Around here, the caravans are predominantly from Yan State and Qian State.
On the other side of the desert are barbarian tribes. They pay allegiance to a Royal Court, but in reality, each governs itself. My lord can think of them as akin to the nomadic peoples of ancient China’s grasslands. They are relatively backward in terms of civilization and resources, so they need to trade here to obtain essential goods."
"So, we’re currently on the border?"
"So, is this world an ordinary one?"
Apparently, Bei hadn’t quite comprehended the meaning of Zheng Fan’s words at that moment.
"What I mean is, are the people here all ordinary? Is this a world without things like magic, Battle Qi, or cultivators?"
In Zheng Fan’s view, if this was truly an ordinary world, then even if the seven demon lords under his command couldn’t recover their true strength, they should at least have no problem getting by.
Blind Bei nodded thoughtfully, saying, "It is an ordinary world. In the past half-year, everyone I’ve encountered has been an ordinary person."
If everyone was on the same starting line, at least it would provide a sense of security and satisfaction.
However, just then, the urgent sound of hoofbeats suddenly echoed from the other end of the street. A troop of knights was galloping towards them.
Although Hutou City was small, being able to gallop horses within the city walls clearly indicated significant backing or authority.
When the troop of knights drew a little closer, Zheng Fan saw they were clad in uniform armor and carried small black flags on their backs. They were likely a cavalry troop—government cavalry, or rather, Yan State cavalry.
"Make way! Make way!"
"Make way! Make way!"
The leading cavalrymen cleared the path, brandishing leather whips. The street was thrown into chaos, with people and horses scattering. Two passersby, trying to dodge, crashed into Blind Bei’s stall.
Fortunately, Zheng Fan had quickly grabbed Blind Bei, preventing him and his stall from being knocked over together.
At this moment, a group of armored soldiers appeared at the other end of the street; those in front held long spears, while those behind carried crossbows.
The knights had no choice but to rein in their warhorses, forcing them to a halt, yet their faces still seethed with anger.
"Galloping horses in the city is a serious crime!" an officer among the armored soldiers roared.
Hutou City might be small, but being a border town, its garrisoned soldiers were quite impressive in terms of both equipment and morale.
"Insolence! The Recruitment Envoy is here with an urgent military report for the commander of Hutou City! Who dares to block our path?"
Hearing this, the armored soldiers blocking the path were momentarily stunned. Even their leading officer was caught off guard, but the group of soldiers didn’t back down.
The officer steeled himself and shouted, "Do you have proof?" However, his tone was significantly weaker than before.
The cavalrymen suddenly parted ranks, and a large, fat man in a blue official’s robe and cap urged his mount to the front.
This man was rotund and clearly the commander of these knights. Despite his size, he exuded an undeniable aura of authority.
When this man emerged from the cavalry troop, Zheng Fan’s mouth fell slightly agape in surprise.
It wasn’t that he was intimidated by the man’s official presence. In fact, while modern people, much like their ancient counterparts, might be obsequious towards officials, they wouldn’t go as far as the common folk of old, wailing and crying for a "virtuous lord."
What truly surprised Zheng Fan was the mount beneath the portly official.
At first, Zheng Fan assumed it was a horse—a taller and sturdier one than those ridden by the other knights. But when the official rode out alone, Zheng Fan got a clear look.
It wasn’t a horse. Its head resembled that of a horse, only its mouth was larger, its face longer, and altogether uglier. But atop its head, there was a slightly protruding horn.
Moreover, what Zheng Fan had initially thought was the glint of armor on a warhorse turned out to be scales naturally covering the creature’s body!
The fat official pointed to his mount and roared at the armored soldiers blocking his path, "Proof? This is my proof! Is that enough?"
The officer of the armored soldiers immediately knelt and saluted, "We greet the Recruitment Envoy!" At the same time, he quickly ordered his men behind him to step aside and clear the path.
Zheng Fan, meanwhile, stretched out his left index finger and prodded Blind Bei’s shoulder. "Look."
Look at that. And you still say this is an ordinary world?
"What?" Blind Bei asked in confusion.
"See for yourself," Zheng Fan said.
Zheng Fan fell silent.