Chapter 109: Turmoil at the Inn

As soon as they entered the inn, the travelers at every table turned their gazes toward them. Though most eyes were filled with admiration, there was no shortage of lecherous, ill-intentioned stares among them.

At the central table sat several burly Dragonkin warriors, clad in armor emblazoned with the insignia of the Savage Tiger Guild, their greatswords resting nearby. The leader, a brutish man with a villainous face, emboldened by drink, whistled loudly and called out, “Hey, little Light Elf, come over and join me for a drink!”

Lingmeng turned her face away in disgust. “Repulsive.”

The skinny man beside him, his expression ingratiating, chimed in, “Don’t be so ungrateful, girl. Haven’t you heard of the Savage Tiger Guild? It’s the biggest adventurers’ guild on this street. Having our boss invite you is an honor!”

Judging by their tone, the Savage Tiger Guild was evidently well-known in these parts, but Lingmeng didn’t even glance back, replying coldly, “Never heard of it.”

The leader, his dignity affronted, quietly extended his foot, aiming to trip Lingmeng as she walked by. Lingmeng, distracted and looking elsewhere, was oblivious and about to stumble.

At that moment, Blackfeather stood just outside the inn’s entrance and called out, “Can’t you see the lady isn’t interested? Why don’t you come sit with me instead?”

No sooner had he spoken than, with a subtle twist of his wrist and a deft move, he swapped places with the brute, sending him flying across the room to land at Blackfeather’s feet, crashing to the floor. Blackfeather promptly raised his leg and stomped heavily on the man’s chest. The blow was so fierce that blood spurted from his lips.

“Savage Tiger Guild? Looks more like a guild of cowards to me.”

Lingmeng suddenly realized someone had tried to trip her, but by the time she turned, the brute had already been knocked into the table behind. Unperturbed, she remarked leisurely to Blackfeather, “These lowlifes—I could have dealt with them myself without your help.”

The leader’s underlings finally recovered from their shock, drawing their weapons and rising to their feet. Around them, Dragonkin diners at nearby tables drew their swords as well, pointing them at Blackfeather and his companions.

Chixin stepped inside, while White Saintwild and Tears of Lingxiao, hearing the commotion from upstairs, opened their doors and came to the landing. The Light Elf girls, terrified, huddled behind Blackfeather.

“So, you want a fight? Come on, all at once,” Blackfeather said, and, as he spoke, delivered another kick to the guild boss’s head just as he struggled to rise. The blow struck the temple, nearly splitting the brute’s skull; he rolled several times before coming to rest against the wall, limbs flailing.

Lingxiao’s Tears cast a “Binding Chain,” tightly tying up several guild members at the table. These “adventurer guilds” were certified by the Magicians’ Alliance, but their members varied wildly in ability.

Witnessing this, the inn’s patrons erupted in fury, shouting, “Outsiders! Don’t cause trouble in Dragonkin territory!”

“We’re causing trouble? Who started it?” Blackfeather retorted, his anger growing at the Dragonkin’s unreasonable behavior.

White Saintwild saw the truth and spoke up in support, “Making lewd remarks to a lady—you don’t think that deserves punishment? If I’d handled it, none of you would be left standing.”

Guests upstairs, drawn by the noise, crowded around the railing, peering down and banging their sword scabbards against the banisters, shouting, “How dare you attack people on Dragonkin land! Outsiders, you won’t walk out of here unscathed!”

Others chimed in, “That’s right! You think there’s no one here to stand up for us Dragonkin? You’ve gone too far! Let them go, and let’s keep the peace!”

The inn was in an uproar. The out-of-town guests, sensing trouble, slipped away along the walls, frightened of being caught in the conflict.

Lingmeng, seeing all the diners brandishing their blades and the angry mob, felt as though they were the wrongdoers, and was infuriated. “This is the first time I’ve heard of a place where the Dragonkin commit wrongs and no one is allowed to teach them a lesson!”

The innkeeper, hearing the commotion, hurriedly poked his head out from behind the counter and gestured to calm the crowd. “Everyone, I am the owner of this inn. I was present for the whole incident. Let me say a few fair words. The guild brother merely said something inappropriate, but didn’t use force—I think the ones who hit him were in the wrong. Even if a Dragonkin does something wrong, we have our own leaders—namely, the town chief—to judge. It’s not for outsiders to interfere.”

“What?” Blackfeather’s anger flared even hotter at those words.

“There’s such a custom here?” Tears of Lingxiao was equally baffled.

Upstairs and downstairs, the Dragonkin began banging their sword scabbards on tables in unison, chanting, “Outsiders! Get out! Get out!”

Blackfeather exchanged a glance with White Saintwild and said, “We can’t let Lingmeng suffer this injustice. If they refuse to listen to reason, we’ll fight until they admit defeat!”

White Saintwild nodded. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

Captain Chixin was anxious, shocked that the situation had escalated so badly. She hurriedly tried to calm them, “Do you really want to cause trouble in Dragonkin territory?”

She stepped forward and loudly explained, “People! This is just a misunderstanding! These visiting magicians mean no harm—they’ve helped many Dragonkin infected. For the sake of all they’ve done, let’s let this misunderstanding be settled peacefully!”

Lingmeng snapped, “You Dragonkin are truly impossible! Clearly you were at fault, yet somehow it feels as if we are the ones to blame.”

She turned to the Light Elf girls behind her. “Pack up—we’re not staying here tonight!”

Chixin had no choice but to return the rooms to the innkeeper, and everyone left. Only then did the tension inside the inn subside.

She looked at the party members from the Holy City and said, “Perhaps he was wrong, but I won’t condemn my own people. After all, he gained nothing from it, and Blackfeather already kicked him. Let’s leave it at that.”

Lingmeng snorted coldly. “Now I finally understand why the Pantheon refused to send anyone to cure the infected here! Once I finish treating the infected, I’ll return to the Holy City immediately. I don’t want to spend another day in Dragonkin territory!”

With that, she and the Light Elf girls strode angrily away.

Tears of Lingxiao, whose fondness for the Dragonkin had always stemmed from Shen Zai Guo, realized after today’s events that she understood nothing about this race. Previously she’d dismissed tales of “Dragonkin arrogance,” “difficult to get along with,” and “warlike, savage people,” but now she began to understand them.

White Saintwild spread his hands and said, “Anywhere else, this would be seen as righteous intervention. But here in Dragonkin territory, we’re suddenly the villains. No wonder Lingmeng is so angry.”