Chapter 66: Pushed Beyond Endurance

Early the next morning, Lin Hao awoke and, after eating something in the main hall, resolved to ask the attendant exactly where he was so he could leave and hurry back to the Clear Breeze Sect. After all, there were still matters there that had not been settled.

After finishing his meal, Lin Hao slapped the table and called out, “Attendant!”

To his surprise, the one who appeared was the very same surly attendant from the night before.

At first, the attendant’s manner was warm and polite. “Yes, sir, how may I help you?” But the moment he saw Lin Hao, his face fell immediately. Still harboring a grudge over last night’s lack of a tip, and seeing Lin Hao’s plain attire that hardly suggested wealth, the attendant wished to have nothing to do with him.

Lin Hao, frowning and visibly displeased, did not want to argue. He simply asked, “Excuse me, but where exactly is this place?”

“What? Sir, are you joking with me? You don’t even know where you are? How did you get here?” The attendant stared at Lin Hao in astonishment, as if he thought Lin Hao was making fun of him, then sneered openly.

Suppressing his anger, Lin Hao’s eyes grew cold. “Just tell me—where is this place?”

The attendant’s temper flared in return. With a snap, he threw his towel onto the table and said with a disdainful snort, “A penniless wretch playing the lord, don’t even know where you are, and you think you’re fit to cultivate?”

This remark made Lin Hao’s expression darken immediately, his gaze boring into the attendant. With a thud, the attendant dropped to his knees, toppling a nearby stool.

Lin Hao stood, his voice icy as he pressed the attendant’s head underfoot. “What did you just say? Repeat it for me.”

At this, every eye in the hall turned toward Lin Hao. Whispers of fear and speculation rippled around the room, and another attendant hurried off to inform the innkeeper.

Though fear flickered in the attendant’s eyes, he remained defiant. “You dare draw a weapon in the inn? Are you tired of living?”

“So you dare mock me?” Lin Hao retorted, believing it was mere bravado. He pressed his foot down harder.

The onlookers grew more astonished, murmuring amongst themselves, but Lin Hao, too furious to care, ignored them, not realizing he was missing an important piece of news.

Seeing Lin Hao’s anger, the attendant shouted, “You’ve broken the rules! You’re finished, I tell you! If you let me go now, maybe I’ll spare you, otherwise you’ll die here today!”

At this, Lin Hao released his hold, yanked the attendant up by his collar, and punched him square in the eye.

A heavy thump—and a cry of pain rang out. When Lin Hao let go, the attendant sported a black eye.

With fury blazing, Lin Hao drew his Cloud-Swallowing Sword and pressed it to the attendant’s throat. “You cur, you dare speak to me like that? You’re the one who’ll die here today!” He raised his sword, ready to end the attendant’s life.

“Stop right there! Who dares cause trouble here? Cease this instant!” The innkeeper’s shout rang out.

Lin Hao, hearing the authoritative voice, lowered his sword and turned to the innkeeper, who now glared at him in disbelief and outrage. “How dare you make trouble in my establishment? Do you even know where you are?”

Lin Hao could only roll his eyes—if he knew, why would he be asking?

The hall had fallen deathly silent. Only then did Lin Hao sense that something was wrong—a bad premonition gnawed at him.

He eyed the innkeeper warily. “So your attendant bullies guests, and you, as the innkeeper, side with him?”

The innkeeper shot a stern look at the attendant, who, feeling guilty, dared not meet his gaze. Lin Hao thought perhaps the innkeeper was reasonable, but the next words dashed that notion.

“Do you not know the rules here? Even if my attendant wronged you, you broke the rules by drawing your sword. Young man, you…”

“Why can’t one fight inside the inn?” Lin Hao asked, puzzled.

All eyes turned to him as if he were a fool.

“So he’s an outsider—doesn’t know our rules.”

“Exactly, everyone knows you can’t fight inside.”

The murmurs finally reached Lin Hao’s ears. He frowned at the innkeeper. “So there really are such rules?”

“Of course there are,” the innkeeper replied coldly. “Even if my attendant offended you, you’ve broken the rules—I can’t protect you. My advice: leave at once, or you’ll be in real trouble.”

Even as he spoke, the main doors of the inn crashed open with a kick. “Who’s causing trouble here? Show yourself!”

A squad of uniformed officers entered, sabers at their sides, with dozens of men behind them. Their leader glanced around, saw Lin Hao still holding the attendant, and strode over, his face stern. “Surround him!”

In an instant, Lin Hao was encircled, wholly bewildered by the situation.

“You there—are you the one causing trouble?” barked the officer, pointing at him.

Lin Hao frowned. “Causing trouble? I was only disciplining a servant who wouldn’t listen.”

The officer sneered. “So, you’re an ignorant outsider. Around here, fighting in inns is forbidden—break that rule, and you die.”

Only then did Lin Hao understand why no one dared act violently, and the innkeeper’s earlier warning made sense.

He cursed inwardly: Damn it, how was I supposed to know? No one told me the rules!

He felt a pang of regret for his impulsiveness. Facing the officer, he said sincerely, “I apologize—I truly did not know. I’ll offer my apologies here and now. Since I just arrived, could you grant me a chance?”

But the officer only saw this as weakness. “So you’re an outsider? All the more reason to learn our rules. If you don’t know, you’d better keep your head down. Those who challenge us end up dead in the streets. You want a chance? Fine. Today, I’ll give you one.”

He propped his foot on a chair, pointing between his legs. “Crawl under me, and I’ll let you go.”

His men laughed loudly. “Yeah, crawl under! Do it for each of us, and we’ll let you off!”

Lin Hao’s fists clenched, his knuckles cracking with rage.

His eyes blazed, and his face turned cold. “You go too far,” he said through gritted teeth.

“So what if we bully you?” the officer jeered. “Hear what this brat just said, boys? He dares talk back!”

After a bout of laughter, the officer’s expression hardened. “Yes, we’re bullying you. Seize him, tear him apart! Let this be a lesson to anyone who thinks of breaking our rules.”

By now, most of the inn’s patrons had fled or hidden away. Only the innkeeper, attendants, and the officers remained.

At the officer’s command, the men surged forward. “Die, boy!”

A look of disdain flashed in Lin Hao’s eyes. He hadn’t shown his strength in the Strange Arts Pavilion yesterday, but these men were nothing to him.

With a shout, Lin Hao swung his fist—a fiery dragon roared forth, instantly incinerating five men to ash.

The attendant screamed, “Murder! Help!”

Lin Hao’s Cloud-Swallowing Sword flashed through the air—a single stroke, and the attendant’s cries were silenced forever, his throat pierced.

The others, witnessing Lin Hao’s might, were stunned.

The officer’s expression turned grave. “You dare strike us? You really have a death wish! All of you, kill him now—whoever slays him will be promoted!”

Greed for rank and reward spurred the remaining men to attack.

A cacophony of shouts and clashing weapons filled the inn, as if the whole place was being torn apart.

At last, with a resounding crash, the inn’s doors and windows on the first floor were smashed to pieces. Bodies flew through the air, landing in a heap like a pile of dolls.

Every one of them was badly injured, blood at their lips, eyes blackened and swollen.

Cries of pain filled the hall.

Lin Hao stood coldly in the center of the ruined inn, a mocking smile curling his lips as he gazed at the defeated heap.

Around them, the few who remained looked on in shock and awe.

“My heavens, what just happened? Someone actually dared to fight inside the inn!”