"The dishes are ready, the dishes are ready!" Just then, Bai Qi rushed out from the kitchen, carrying several plates of food and a jug of wine. He entered the main hall and immediately sensed something was off. He froze on the spot, glancing around in confusion. All he could see was his boss lady standing on the second floor with her face flushed green, eyes shut tight, her slender body trembling with fury.
"What's going on?" Bai Qi sidled up to Yang Kai and whispered.
"A storm is brewing," Yang Kai replied. He reached out and took the wine and food from Bai Qi's hands, then turned and made his way up the stairs to the second floor with quick steps. The waters were already muddied—there was no reason to stick around here any longer. Better to lay low for a while.
Back in his private room, he shut the door and activated the restriction. Yang Kai couldn't help but burst into laughter, his face brimming with satisfaction.
Though the boss lady was decent enough, in the end she had cost him a Miemeng Golden Plume and even injured him. Now that the chance had come, it was only right to settle the score!
Besides, with things as they were, drawing attention toward the boss lady was the best possible move.
He sat at the table, pouring himself drinks and considering his future path, when suddenly a thunderous bang rang out and the door was kicked straight open.
Yang Kai shot to his feet in alarm, spinning toward the doorway. "Who dares!" he roared.
Who would be bold enough to throw hands inside the First Inn? Did they have a death wish?
But the sight before him made him shrink back—for the one who had kicked open his door was none other than the First Inn's proprietress, Madam Lan.
The boss lady swept in wreathed in a cold aura, a faint, mocking smile on her lips. Her eyes locked onto Yang Kai as she hooked the door shut with one dainty foot.
"Madam... Madam Lan..." Yang Kai retreated step by step until his back hit the wall. His gaze darted around—why on earth didn't this room have a single window? He couldn't even jump out to escape.
Teleportation was out of the question as well. Against a Sixth-Stage Open Heaven powerhouse, he wouldn't get the chance.
"What... instructions does the madam have?" Yang Kai stared ahead with a terrified expression, his heart hammering in his throat. He silently resolved that if Madam Lan actually attacked, he would immediately unleash the Dragon Transformation Secret Art to make her think twice.
Madam Lan let out a soft, cold laugh. "Don't worry, I won't kill you. If I did, I'd truly never be able to clear my name."
Hearing this, Yang Kai breathed an inward sigh of relief—only for Madam Lan to continue in a leisurely drawl: "I won't kill you, but I can certainly beat you up. Boy, are you ready?"
Yang Kai swallowed hard. "Madam, let's talk this out properly. There's no need for violence. And this is the First Inn, after all—I'm a paying guest here. You're the proprietress. Is it really appropriate to lay hands on a guest?"
"Of course it's not!" Madam Lan advanced step by step until she stood right in front of him, a fragrant breeze wafting forward. Her silver teeth clenched suddenly. "But if I don't thrash you, this lady's anger will never be quelled!"
"What about your inn's reputation?" Yang Kai pressed himself back as far as he could, but with his back already against the wall, there was nowhere left to go.
"Drop the reputation talk—today, not even the heavens could talk me out of this!" Madam Lan raised one dainty fist, squeezing it until the knuckles cracked. Her murderous aura surged like a force that could devour the sky and swallow the earth. Between words, her fist shot out with lightning speed, striking Yang Kai square in the left eye.
Boom! Yang Kai's vision went black. Golden stars swarmed before his eyes, and even his thoughts turned to mush.
The boss lady's punch was no light tap—it had nearly knocked him out cold on the spot.
Before he could recover, the fist came swinging toward his right eye. Another thunderous impact.
Instinctively, Yang Kai curled up in the corner, cradling his head as he endured Madam Lan's fists and kicks. In his heart, he swore that one day he would get his revenge and settle this debt.
He had no idea how long it lasted—a heartbeat or perhaps a year—before the rain of blows finally stopped. He cautiously peeked through the gaps between his fingers and saw Madam Lan standing with her hands on her hips, breathing hard, a thoroughly satisfied look on her face. "That feels better! You little brat, you'd better watch yourself from now on!"
With that, she turned and left.
Yang Kai cursed under his breath and collapsed onto the floor.
At the doorway, Bai Qi watched the boss lady depart with graceful strides, then poked his head out to check both ways before stepping inside and closing the door. He padded over to Yang Kai, crouched down, and looked at him with sympathy. "That was quite the beating. The boss lady was really furious—I've never seen her that angry before."
Yang Kai lay weakly on the ground, feeling as though half the bones in his body had been shattered. Though Madam Lan hadn't meant to kill him, she had truly hit hard. He had only just recovered from his previous injuries, and now he was beaten up again. The frustration was almost unbearable.
"Are you just... going to keep staring at me like that?" Yang Kai shot a sideways glance at Bai Qi, who was still crouching in front of him. "Could you at least give me a hand and help me up?"
Bai Qi grinned sheepishly. "If someone else had beaten you up, I wouldn't mind helping. But the boss lady did this—if she found out I helped you, how could I keep working here?"
"Then what are you even here for?" Yang Kai glared at him.
Bai Qi replied: "Just came to enjoy the show... Tsk tsk tsk, kid, you've offended the boss lady. I'd say your days ahead aren't going to be easy."