Chapter 82: The Sect Among Blossoms

“Honored guest, would you like a meal or a room?”
The inn attendant greeted him with boundless enthusiasm.

“I’d like your finest room,” he replied.
“And also, prepare a good meal for me.”

“Certainly, sir. Please follow me,” the attendant said warmly.

They passed through the bustling main hall of the inn, where nearly every table was occupied.
A great number of martial artists had gathered, each bearing an air of menace.
Their weapons rested at their sides.
With a single glance, Bai Li Feihong could tell these men were not ordinary.
At the same time, the inn’s patrons were eyeing Bai Li Feihong—especially the long blade in his hand.
The sheath, crafted from some mysterious leather, suppressed the unique aura of the Demon-Slaying Blade.
The sharp-eyed among them could still discern that the sword in Bai Li Feihong’s hand was of extraordinary value.

“Sir, this is our finest room. I’ll go prepare your food and drink right away. Is there anything in particular you’d like to eat?”
“Meat. Lots of it,” Bai Li Feihong answered offhandedly.

“Very well. Also, our inn provides hot water. Just press the switch to the left and hot water will flow,” the attendant added helpfully.

Bai Li Feihong nodded.

The exchange between nations had brought new trends to the Great Yuan Empire, and inns and hotels were the first to improve the quality of life for their guests.

“It seems Baihua Town is more complicated than I imagined,” he thought.

The most advanced water supply and drainage systems, and so many martial artists gathered here.
Bai Li Feihong could see the vengeful spirits clinging to these men with his naked eye.
They were all seasoned fighters who lived by the blade.
He had no idea how they’d entered Baihua Town, but it certainly wasn’t like him, sneaking through mountain forests to find the place.
There must be a main road connecting it to the outside world.

“Nanshan County should be safe for the time being.
I’ve killed nearly three hundred pirates, and eliminated five traitors in the city who colluded with them.
They’ll investigate the dead pirates, and until the investigation is done, they won’t target Nanshan County again.
Nanshan County isn’t as weak as I thought, either.
What worries me is the threat from within—those who betray their own for personal gain, causing irreparable damage.
I’ll stay in Baihua Town for a day or two to investigate, leaving Nanshan County to fend for itself for now.”

At present, everyone in Nanshan County was hostile toward him.
Returning now would only be an exercise in futility.
They had no affection for Bai Li Feihong, and he felt the same toward them.
If not for the skill points at stake, he wouldn’t bother with them at all.

He luxuriated in a hot bath.
It was already deep autumn.

In the Eastern Coastal region, the temperature had dropped.
By the time Bai Li Feihong finished bathing, the attendant delivering the wine and dishes was already waiting outside his door.

“Sir, I’ve brought you half a roast lamb, several of our signature dishes, and our local specialty wine—Hundred Flowers Brew.”

The attendant showed no sign of impatience, instead beaming at Bai Li Feihong as he set the food on the table.
He didn’t leave, but waited quietly.

Bai Li Feihong tossed him a gold coin.
“This covers the food, two days’ lodging, and the rest is your tip.”

Such generosity naturally pleased the attendant, who accepted the coin with effusive thanks.

The table was piled high with food.
Bai Li Feihong took out a silver needle and tested the dishes—no poison.
Silver-needle testing was not foolproof, but by his understanding of the poisons in this world, most deadly toxins would be detected this way.
Anything that wouldn’t be detected likely couldn’t kill him anyway.

He savored the meal and wine, his keen ears picking up the conversations of the inn’s other guests.

“Many here have entered the martial path. The strongest among them is apparently at the Aperture Refinement level.”

Such strength would rank as an elite Demon Suppressor in the Bureau.
This person was hiding in his room, quietly enjoying dinner as well.
As for those downstairs, they were all martial artists of Three Blood or higher, with plenty of Nine Blood warriors among them.
But the true experts—those who had truly mastered the martial path—stayed in their rooms and did not join in the chatter.
That was a pity, for those were the ones Bai Li Feihong most wished to observe, but they kept their secrets well.
It was difficult to glean any useful information from them.

“The Hundred Flowers Festival in the Hundred Flower Garden is about to begin. This time, the Flower Fairy herself will descend from the mountain to officiate.”

“If the Flower Fairy favors you and accepts you as a disciple, your life will change forever.”

“I’ve heard the Flower Sect is soon to be removed from the list of evil sects...”

“Hush, don’t speak recklessly of the Flower Sect.”

The others hurriedly hushed their companion.
Drink loosens tongues and leads to trouble.

The Flower Sect?
No wonder.
That sect was deeply entangled with the Guliang royal family. Even after being labeled an evil sect, the Demon Suppression Bureau had not dared to destroy them entirely.
Among the concubines of the founding emperor of Guliang, there had been a Flower Sect saintess.
Her bloodline still persisted in the present royal family.
Though the disciples of the Flower Sect had committed many crimes, the Bureau usually targeted individuals rather than the entire sect.

“What is the Flower Sect planning by establishing a town here?”
This place was not far from Nanshan County.

Could the Flower Sect have infiltrated Nanshan County as well?
Bai Li Feihong’s expression grew grave, though his curiosity was stronger still.
He glanced at his more than five thousand skill points, which gave him some confidence.
If all else failed, he could use the points to break through to the Primordial Embryo stage.
For now, though, he held back—his Aperture Refinement was not yet complete.
At the same time, Bai Li Feihong wanted to gather more martial will.
Every ultimate martial art condensed a strand of martial will, and martial will was the key to nurturing the primordial seed.

“I’ll act according to the circumstances.”

“The Flower Fairy’s arrival is a rare opportunity. If she brings forth a bounty of spiritual flowers, we’ll have a chance to buy them, and after consuming them, cleanse our bodies and gain true martial bones—enabling us to cultivate the inner path.”

“That’s right. If not for our company’s partnership with Master Chu, we wouldn’t even have gained entrance to Baihua Town.”

“Too bad Justice Town was cleared out by the Demon Suppression Bureau.”

“That was a great place for entertainment and diversion.”

“Now that Justice Town is gone, we’ll have to go all the way to the northern port to get goods.”

“Let’s not pretend. Why are we all here in Baihua Town? Isn’t it because the town has mastered plant modification techniques? We’re all here to get poppy seeds from Baihua Town.”

“The seeds cultivated here now yield more than those in the plantations of the Lafar Empire.”

As the wine flowed, the discussions became ever bolder.

This was Baihua Town; here, no one needed to hide anything.
None of them feared the Demon Suppression Bureau’s interference.
The Bureau in Nanshan County was already barely holding on—they had their hands full.

“In the end, we’re back to the main issue,” Bai Li Feihong thought, cold killing intent flickering in his eyes.

He had suspected before that the forces behind the opium case included more than just the Princess’s faction—clearly, there was also a heretical cult involved.
The chief suspect was undoubtedly the Underworld Sect, given that Eastern Shore City was heavily infiltrated by them.
There were also many Underworld agents within the Canal Transport Guild.
Even Zhang Fu’s ability to command Night Demons to kill—something a mere Four Blood martial artist could never accomplish—proved he possessed a heretical technique capable of controlling Night Demons.
And where did such forbidden arts come from?

Now, the true power behind the scenes had finally revealed itself—the Flower Sect.
Justice Town belonged to the Flower Sect, while Great Li Town was the realm of the Underworld Sect.
They kept out of each other’s affairs.