Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 861 5000
As the paper figure Xiao Ran blew disappeared into the vast night and snowstorm...

The wind near the guesthouse suddenly seemed to sharpen, and the previously steady snowflakes began to swirl and dance wildly. A chilling air current carrying icy shards, penetrating to the bone, swirled and surged towards the "Hongxing Guesthouse" from all directions.

The light outside the guesthouse flickered, and the light seemed to become extremely dazzling at this moment. The light, which was originally hundreds of meters away, was now clearly visible from a kilometer away in the heavy snow.

Jin Chanzi was sitting cross-legged on a chair, resting with his eyes closed. Sensing the sudden change in atmosphere, he didn't even lift his eyelids, but just curled his lips and snorted at Xiao Ran, who was standing by the window: "You really are wicked."

Xiao Ran grinned and casually closed the window, blocking out most of the cold wind, but the invisible chill still seeped in through the cracks.

He seemed completely unconcerned: "When doing business, with the lights so dim, who can see anything? I'm just trying to bring him wealth and prosperity."

He walked to the table and poured himself a cup of hot water. "We paid four thousand ghost money to stay here. We can't possibly not even know which deity is worshipped in this place, can we?"

Some people might think that Xiao Ran's actions were unnecessary.

If you're out in the world and don't even know the ways of the world, then you're really naive and innocent. You'll end up getting sold out without even realizing it, and you'll probably still be counting the money for the seller.

Wu Man was squatting on the ground, taking out several pieces of processed meat with great interest from his seemingly bottomless spatial equipment.

Place the meat pieces in three small jars and put them on a stove to cook slowly.

Hearing Xiao Ran's words, he replied without looking up:

"That makes sense. That kid is either a true saint or a master of the empty city ploy. It's worth spending a little money to watch a show."

After saying that, Wu Man began to change her clothes and took a hot shower during the break.

After Wu Man finished showering, she, along with Xiao Ran and Jin Chanzi, took turns taking a quick hot shower and changing into a set of dry clothes.

I felt refreshed instantly, the dust from my long journey dispelled by the heat and the scent of soap.

At this moment, the meat broth in the three earthenware pots on the stove was bubbling and bubbling, the rich aroma of meat mixed with the freshness of the broth, filling the small room and dispelling the last trace of chill brought by the wind and snow outside the window.

Wu Man simply sprinkled some salt into each earthenware pot, and then added some finely chopped scallions and cilantro.

The hot soup immediately brings out the unique aroma of scallions and cilantro, which blends perfectly with the meat flavor.

Three bowls of steaming hot, clear broth with a rich, meaty flavor are all you need for a good stew.

Just then, a commotion was heard downstairs.

The three sat around a small table by the stove. Just as they picked up their chopsticks, their movements paused slightly. They exchanged a glance, and without saying a word, they tacitly softened their movements, sipping the piping hot and delicious meat soup while quietly and attentively listening to the sounds downstairs.

A dull, monotonous camel bell sound came from afar, jingling...jingling... The sound was not loud, but it pierced through the wind and snow and the curtains with exceptional clarity, echoing in the silent hall.

Immediately following was the sound of a heavy cotton curtain being gently lifted by a withered, skeletal hand. On the wrist of that hand was a ring of shiny, oily bone beads, made of some unknown animal or human bone, which made a soft, teeth-grinding "clack" sound as they struck each other.

A bald, thin, and somewhat emaciated man walked in. He was wrapped in a heavy fur robe that smelled strongly of mutton, and unmelted snowflakes still clung to his shoulders.

His eyes, gleaming with an abnormal, almost beast-like crimson light under the lamplight, slowly and carefully surveyed the simple yet unusually "clean" environment of the guesthouse, filled with scrutiny and suspicion.

Finally, his eerie red eyes fixed on the calm, expressionless young man behind the counter, who wore gold-rimmed glasses.

The young man seemed oblivious to the strange bone garland and red eyes. He calmly stood up from behind the counter, his face still bearing that formulaic, calm expression, and asked, "Are you here for a room or a meal?" His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of Xiao Ran and the other two upstairs.

When the bald man saw the young man's calm demeanor, especially his calm eyes that showed no fear or scrutiny, his pupils suddenly contracted, seemingly taken aback. He hesitated for a moment, then uttered a muffled murmur, his voice hoarse, "...Eat."

As he spoke, he walked to the table furthest from the counter against the wall and sat down somewhat stiffly.

After sitting down, he leaned forward slightly, his red eyes fixed on the young man behind the counter, and asked in a low voice, "Shopkeeper, do you have red meat buns or white meat buns here?"

This is slang from the Guandong underworld!

Red meat refers to the meat of ordinary animals, while white meat... well, that's human flesh!

The young man behind the counter adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, the light reflecting off the lenses obscuring the emotions in his eyes. His voice remained flat and monotonous as he clearly stated:
"No steamed buns, the chef isn't working. Only instant noodles, 300 yuan a bowl."

The three people in the room upstairs heard it clearly, and Wu Man almost spat out her soup when she heard the young man's words.

"Could she really be a naive and innocent girl?"

Xiao Ran smiled with narrowed eyes but remained silent, calmly drinking the meat soup.

If the martial arts slang doesn't match, that's a real problem. The bald man was clearly taken aback, and his eyes suddenly turned somewhat unfriendly.

Just as he was about to lash out, another series of footsteps came from outside the door.

Then a man's loud voice, thick with a Northeastern accent, burst through the curtain and said, "It's freezing cold here, I'm freezing to death! I didn't expect to find a warm place here! Hey, it's fucking warm!"

As they were speaking, the thick cotton curtain was once again forcefully pulled open with a "whoosh," and a gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes rushed into the hall, making the front desk registration book rattle and causing the light from the incandescent bulb on the ceiling to flicker.

Two burly men, dressed in thick fur robes and wearing dog-skin hats, squeezed in one after the other. The one in front had a loud voice, a robust build, a face red from the cold, and white frost on his eyebrows and beard, exhaling large puffs of white breath.

As he shook off the thick snow from his clothes, he scanned his surroundings with his bull-like eyes, a look of surprise and a rough smile on his face: "Wow! Look at this place, it's pretty clean! That's rare!" He turned to his companion and shouted, his voice so loud it seemed to make the room buzz.

His companion followed closely behind, also a burly man, but with a round face and a thick beard. He looked more amiable than the man in front of him, and shook the snow off his clothes, chuckling as he chimed in, "That's right! In this shabby place, to have such a bright and spacious room is like a fairy cave. It's rare, truly rare!"

When their gazes swept over the silent, bald man in the leather robe sitting in the corner with bloodshot eyes, they paused only slightly, showing little surprise or fear, as if seeing strange people in this godforsaken place was normal.

They walked straight to another empty table closer to the front desk, pulled out chairs with a clatter, and sat down with an air of authority, leaving wet streaks on the clean cement floor from the mud and snow on the soles of their boots.

The round-faced, bearded man sat down and immediately gestured with his chin toward the young man behind the counter, speaking in a loud voice: "Boss, come and eat! Bring on the best dishes and drinks you have! I've been running around all night, my stomach is practically sticking to my spine!" He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup jump.

The young man behind the counter maintained his calm and unwavering expression. His gaze fell precisely on the muddy and snow-covered leather boots of the burly man on his left, and his brows furrowed imperceptibly. His voice remained as flat as if he were reading an instruction manual: "No, the cook isn't at work."

Upon hearing this, the smile on the burly man's face on the left froze instantly, replaced by a furious anger at being mocked.

He slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, causing the plastic tablecloth to flutter and nearly spitting in the young man's face: "What?! You son of a bitch! You dare to mess with your grandpa?! Opening a shop in the middle of the night and you're telling me you don't have a cook?! What a bunch of idiots!"

His other hand had already instinctively gone to the bulge at his waist, where a weapon was clearly tucked. Just then, the round-faced, bearded man on his right reacted with lightning speed. He stood up abruptly, not targeting the young man, but instead, with lightning speed, he stretched out his large, fan-like hand and firmly pressed down on his companion's wrist!
"Third brother! What are you doing! Quiet down!"

The bearded man plastered a seemingly amiable smile on his face, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. He glared at his companion while laughing awkwardly at the young man, "Hahaha, little brother, don't misunderstand! Please don't misunderstand! My brother here has a fiery temper, he's easily provoked! He's been out in the cold all day, his brain's frozen stiff, he doesn't think before he speaks!"

He used tremendous force, forcibly pressing the burly man called "Third Brother" back into his seat, while continuing to smile obsequiously at the young man.

"No main course is fine, but a hot meal will do! In this awful weather, having a place to shelter from the wind and snow and a bowl of hot soup noodles would be heaven! 300 it is, please, young man, get us two buckets of hot instant noodles as soon as possible! Our stomachs really can't take it anymore!"

As he spoke, his other hand deftly pulled out a bulging leather money bag from his pocket, its original color obscured by oil stains. He weighed it in his hand, making a rustling sound as if the paper money was being rubbed together.

His gaze, seemingly casual, swept quickly over the young man behind the counter, the silent bald, red-eyed customer in the corner, and the stairwell leading to the second floor before he smiled and pulled his brother to sit down.

The three people upstairs, including Xiao Ran, were fully aware of the commotion below. Xiao Ran, in particular, noticed the round-faced man's expression and quickly realized, "So they are two spies. Who are they waiting for?"

Xiao Ran had never been to Northeast China, but he was a seasoned veteran. From the expressions and eyes of these two men, he could immediately tell what their purpose was.

These two are spies, which means the real force is still behind. This gang of bandits wouldn't go to such lengths to rob a guesthouse. It seems I've really gotten myself into big trouble this time.

In fact, the paper figures that Xiao Ran threw out were not some kind of supernatural or evil spirit. The reason they attracted these people was simply because they reflected the lights outside to a more distant place.

Therefore, the purpose of these robbers was probably not actually to target the guesthouse.

The young man behind the counter turned around and started working. In no time, he brought two buckets of instant noodles to the table.

Whether instant noodles taste good or not is secondary; the key thing is that they're really delicious.

Especially in this awful weather outside, a steaming bowl of instant noodles is truly tempting.

"Give me a bucket too." The bald man sitting in the corner looked at the two buckets of instant noodles, unconsciously swallowed, and shouted to the young man.

The young man nodded, then turned around and poured a bucket of water for the bald man.

Before the bucket of instant noodles could be delivered to the bald man's table, the curtain was pulled open again.

A man and a woman walked in. The man was blind, but he was holding a knife in his hand, and his other hand was on the woman's shoulder.

Strangely, the woman's face was stiff, and despite the cold weather, she was only wearing a thin layer of clothing. When she walked, her leg joints were so stiff that she couldn't even bend them.

Especially the smell on his body, it's hard to say whether it's fragrant or foul, but it always feels particularly pungent.

As soon as the man and woman entered, the bald man and the two men eating noodles all looked over at them, their eyes scanning the couple, each becoming wary of the other.

Led by the woman, the man sat down near the door and sniffed, "Hey, a bowl of noodles, please."

The young man raised his head, his tone calm, as if he were used to such things, and said calmly, "300 ghost coins."

"Boom!"

The man casually tossed a bag of ghost money toward the young man, and the bag landed squarely on the counter.

The man's move left the other three looking at each other in bewilderment.

The two men eating noodles exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting slightly. They were clearly taken aback by the blind man's precise throwing of the money bag and the strange woman who exuded an eerie aura.

The layman sees the spectacle, the expert sees the details. This blind man entered the room in less than a moment, yet it seemed as if he had already taken in the entire situation of the guesthouse.

At this moment, the round-faced, bearded man stood up, cupped his hands, and said:
"I am Bing Lian Shui (surname Pan), and my courtesy name is Wan Shan (Pan Wan Shan). I eat the food of Feng Zi Men (bandits), and follow the leader to make a living in the snow cave."

Looking at them side by side, they're like wolves in sheep's clothing, their ways are truly impressive! I wonder what kind of reputation they hold? (Introducing themselves)

"So that the brothers can see for themselves, and then we can have an explanation to give to the leader!"

Pan Wanshan spoke fluent slang, but it displeased the bald man beside him.

Why?

He arrived first and has been sitting here for ages. Instead of asking me who I am, you're asking a blind man first.
Before the blind man could speak, the bald man couldn't help but sneer: "A blind horse crossing the river."

The moment those words were spoken, both the blind man and the round-faced, bearded man's expressions changed.

Baldy's words were clearly a sarcastic remark to the two round-faced men, implying that they were blind to the true value of a person and instead worshipped a blind man instead of their own.

But to the blind man standing nearby, these words had a completely different meaning.

As the saying goes, a cripple is ruthless, a blind man is poisonous, and a mute is wicked.

Don't be fooled by his physical disability; such people are often the most prone to having twisted minds.

Even though he knew the words weren't directed at him, the blind man felt they were a sarcastic remark.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned cold.

With a loud crash, the table was overturned by the two bandits, who drew their knives and shouted, "Damn it, we'll kill you!"

As they spoke, the two men drew their swords and charged. These two were quite skilled.

Pan Wanshan's companion, Wang Bin, was exceptionally agile, seemingly skilled in light-body techniques. He pushed off the chair with his toes, leaping high into the air like a hawk. With a flick of his wrists at his waist, several poisoned flying nails and caltrops, gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light, shot towards the bald man at the innermost part of the room with a sharp whistling sound! The technique was cunning, targeting all of the bald man's vital points.

At the same time, Pan Wanshan also made a move.

Instead of leaping, he shot forward like an arrow, skimming the ground, a thick-backed ghost-head saber trailing behind him, its blade scraping against the concrete, creating sparks and a piercing hissing sound.

Just a few feet away from the bald man, he suddenly exhaled and shouted, his arm muscles bulging. The ghost head knife drew a shrill crescent arc, and there was a faint gray-white sharp aura on the blade. With a shrill whistle like tearing silk, it slashed fiercely towards the bald man's waist and abdomen!

This slash was fierce and ruthless, clearly intended to kill, and to cut the bald man in two!

The bald man was already sitting in the innermost corner, with nowhere to hide. Faced with this vicious and cunning attack from both above and below, his scarlet eyes showed no fear whatsoever; instead, a cruel mockery flashed across them.

"Humph!"

The bald man's cold snort wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling, unsettling quality.

He remained seated, but suddenly raised his right foot and stomped forward with lightning speed!
"boom!"

The table in front of him, that heavy solid wood square table, was as if it had been struck by a battering ram, making a dull thud as it rose off the ground, accompanied by a whistling sound, and crashed straight towards the hidden weapon that was being shot from mid-air and Pan Wanshan who was rushing along the ground!
What incredible force! The table spun around, knocking away and crushing most of the incoming projectiles with a clanging sound. Its momentum didn't diminish at all; instead, it gained even more power, crashing through like a roaring locomotive.

"court death!"

Pan Wanshan roared, his eyes flashing with ferocity. His stance remained unchanged; instead, he used the momentum of his forward charge to channel all his strength into the blade, causing the greyish-white blade light to instantly grow a foot longer!
"Open it for me!"

"Crack! Boom—!"

The thick-backed ghost-head dagger, carrying unparalleled sharpness, struck the flying tabletop solidly!

Wood chips scattered like exploding fireworks, and the hard solid wood tabletop was cleaved in two by this strike imbued with the sharpness of a blade!

However, at the very instant the wooden table shattered and fragments obscured the view,

A massive, dark red figure pierced through the swirling rain of wood chips like a ghost!
It was that bald guy!
Using the flying table as cover, he leaped forward.

Even more horrifying was his outstretched right hand. His entire arm had swelled up, and the veins under his skin bulged out like dark red earthworms. His palm was covered with intricate and eerie dark red runes, radiating a scorching and evil aura!

Its five fingers were spread wide, and a miniature blood-red vortex seemed to be condensing in the palm. With a suffocatingly hot palm wind and a strong bloody aura, it ignored the distance and slammed down on Pan Wanshan's head with overwhelming force!
Before the palm strike even arrived, the scorching heat, like melting gold and corroding iron, and the nauseatingly bloody oppressive feeling had already made Pan Wanshan gasp for breath and his face change drastically! His sword technique was outdated, and new strength had not yet been generated. In his haste, he could only barely parry with his sword.

But the bald man's palm strike was too fast! Too fierce! Too evil!

The giant, dark red hand, carrying destructive power, slammed into Pan Wanshan's hastily raised ghost-head blade and the protective energy he hastily gathered!

"puff!"

A dull sound that makes your teeth ache!

The sturdy blade of the Ghost Head Saber groaned under the strain, visibly bending and deforming! Pan Wanshan was struck as if by a giant hammer, his entire body flying backward like a kite with a broken string.

With a loud thud, it slammed heavily against the wall, creating a large spiderweb-like crack in the white wall with its pale green wainscoting. It coughed up a mouthful of blood, its face ashen, clearly suffering from severe internal injuries.

Seeing his companion Pan Wanshan blasted away by the bald man's palm, spitting out blood and his fate unknown, Wang Bin's eyes instantly turned red!

"You son of a bitch, I'll fight you to the death!"

Wang Bin cursed and pulled out a hidden weapon from his pocket. Without even looking at it, he used all his strength to throw it hard towards the bald man!
The hidden weapons, like a shower of flowers from a celestial maiden, accompanied by sharp whistles as they pierced the air, enveloped the bald man and the area around him.

But as Wang Bin threw out the hidden weapon, he pushed off with his feet, unleashing his full agility. Like a startled rabbit, he sprang towards the open door!

Wang Bin's speed was undeniably fast, his figure bringing with it a gust of cold wind. Just as one foot was about to step out of the heavy cotton curtain, a hand with distinct knuckles, slightly thin but exceptionally steady, appeared out of thin air and calmly placed itself on Wang Bin's raised forearm.

"Crack!" Wang Bin's body stiffened, as if he were possessed, frozen in place, unable to move.

The young man had appeared by the door like a ghost, his gaze sweeping over the messy hall behind his gold-rimmed glasses. He said expressionlessly, "Table, chairs, and two teacups, 5000."

(End of this chapter)