Immortality: Starting with a grave, I'm invincible when burying corpses.

"Young master is joking. The soldiers are protecting us. The refugees are just a bunch of pitiful people who can't survive. The villagers are hardworking and simple. How could they have anything to do with bandits and brigands?"

The shopkeeper blurted out words he himself didn't believe. He felt strange today, wondering why he had inexplicably said so many terrible things that could ruin his family. Realizing his mistake, he hurriedly tried to say something nice.

"Hopefully... In this world, you can see all sorts of strange and bizarre things... To reduce the number of bad things, you have to be fiercer and more ruthless than others. If everyone is afraid, they will naturally restrain themselves..."

Mu An sighed, unsure whether he was speaking to the shopkeeper or to himself. After his sigh, he resumed eating his food.

"The wine was good, and the food was decent too."

"I am honored that you like it, young master."

The teahouse owner didn't leave either, but respectfully waited by his side, pouring wine and serving dishes for Mu An, and occasionally telling him interesting local stories.

……

"Oh no! Oh no!"

"The demon race has attacked!!!"

"Run! Run! Lock all the doors and windows! Grab your weapons, there are many monsters outside the city gates!"

"Bang!!! What are you waiting for, tea?! Run! The monsters are already at the city gates!"

"I'm going to die! I'm going to die! There are monsters everywhere, and I can't see the end of them..."

Even when chaos erupts on the streets, the teahouses remain bustling, with people immersed in their own worlds, discussing what they want to know.

The shouts grew louder and louder, drowning out the noise in the teahouse, until the kind-hearted man suddenly pushed open the teahouse door and shouted loudly inside.

The bustling teahouse fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a lively atmosphere again.

"Run!"

"Hey? You haven't paid yet, buddy!"

"Forget about paying money! Escaping is the priority!"

With a series of clattering sounds, tables and chairs overturned, spilling tea and food all over the floor.

The teahouse, which had been bustling not long ago, suddenly became deserted. Even the old storyteller nimbly ran out, taking a kitchen knife with him as he left.

The cooks who were cooking also heard the noise. Two cooks rushed out of the kitchen with knives in hand, only to find the teahouse in a complete mess.

The shopkeeper, his mind blank, looked at the teahouse where he had lived for over twenty years, and then at the flustered cook in front of him.

The middle-aged man, who was a little greedy but not excessive, took several deep breaths and waved weakly at the two cooks.

"Go, all of you go. Take the knife with you and go back to protect your families."

The two cooks bowed to the teahouse owner and quickly rushed out of the teahouse.

Only two waiters and the shopkeeper and his wife remained in the shop, lost in thought.

The younger waiter approached the shopkeeper and tugged at his sleeve.

"Dad, everyone's run away, aren't we leaving?"

Hearing the sound, the dazed shopkeeper snapped out of his reverie. He lowered his head slightly, wiped the waitress's somewhat dirty cheeks, and then carefully untied her hair.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, your father is here, your mother and your brother are here too, everyone is here."

The waitress was still a little scared. Her rough hands gripped her father's sleeve tightly, and her voice trembled involuntarily. "Dad, are we going to be eaten by monsters? Will we end up like Grandpa and Grandma, going to a very, very far place..."

The older waiter finally realized what was happening. He threw off his undershirt, picked up a cleaver for chopping bones, and held it up to his sister.

"Don't be afraid, Xiaoqing. If the monster comes, I'll kill it! You and your mother hide in the house together. Your father and I will protect you."

The girl, called Xiaoqing, looked at her brother and then at her father, and burst into tears.

"Alright! Stop crying. There are still garrison troops in the city. It's not certain that they can't hold it!" The shopkeeper suddenly raised his voice, startling the girl into stopping her crying immediately.

The older waiter chimed in, "Father's right. Those soldiers in the city are really tough. Xiaoqing, don't you remember? Last year when they were collecting protection money, they beat a lot of people on our street half to death. They're so good at fighting, they can definitely hold out."

The shopkeeper's wife also came over. She glared at her husband and hugged the girl from behind.

"Little Qing, don't cry, don't cry. Mommy's here, we're not afraid. Why don't you hide in the house with Mommy, okay?"

"Hmm..." The girl wiped away her tears and gripped her mother's hand tightly.

It wasn't until the mother and daughter hid inside that the innkeeper discovered that the young man sitting by the window was still in the teahouse, enjoying their local specialty, chicken frames.

"Young master, you've seen it yourself, the monster is here, you..."

Mu An didn't look up, but instead found a silver ingot from somewhere and slammed it on the table.

"The wine tastes good. Warm up two more pots for me, and it would be best if you could stir-fry a couple of simple home-style dishes and add some peanuts or something to go with the wine."

The waiter suddenly flew into a rage, shouting at Mu An, "What's wrong with you! Can't you see what's going on? The demon race is here, and they don't care how noble your status is!"

The shopkeeper, on the other hand, was much more rational. He grabbed his son and shook his head at him.

The shopkeeper, who had lived in Wangliu City for forty years, smiled freely and sat down opposite Mu An with a cheerful expression.

"What would you like to eat, young master? There's no need for money. It's fate that we met. Consider this last meal my treat... I just wonder if my family could join you for the meal?"

"Being able to have a meal with such an important person as you might bring some good fortune to our family, and perhaps even help us be reborn into a better family..."

When he said this, the shopkeeper was very generous and not at all as reserved as before. Although he still used respectful words, he was no longer as tense as before, as if he were inviting a friend to dinner.

Mu An glanced at the shopkeeper and smiled.

"That's great! I love free things, so if someone's treating me, I'll definitely eat."

Seeing that Mu An agreed, the shopkeeper stood up and turned to walk towards the kitchen.

"While dining is meant to be lively, it can't be too noisy, especially with mosquitoes and flies; they're just annoying to look at. Don't you agree, boss?"

"What you say is very true, young master. The point of eating is to enjoy yourself."

Mu An also stood up, looked out the window, and spoke calmly.

"How long will it take the shopkeeper to cook?"

"Please be patient, young master, it will be over in a quarter of an hour."

"That's enough. I'm going out for some exercise. I hope I can have a warm drink when I come back."

The shopkeeper suddenly raised his head, his clenched hands trembling uncontrollably. He turned around excitedly, his words barely audible.

"I...I definitely won't let you down."

The window was empty except for a table of dishes that were still warm.

"Father? What's wrong?"

"Quick! Quick! Go warm the wine right now! Our family's survival depends on this benefactor!"

……