Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

Autumn has arrived.

On the edge of the Gobi Desert, a lone inn stands, its signboard reading "Yellow Sand Inn".

This place is remote and sparsely populated; it is the only one of its kind for miles around.

Early in the morning, the north wind howled, the sky was gloomy, and yellow sand filled the air, making the window paper crackle.

The old shopkeeper, fiddling with his abacus, sighed as he looked out the door, "Alas, another sandstorm has started, and the weather's bad too. Looks like there won't be any business today..."

Before he could finish speaking, the young waiter rushed to the door, shouting, "Old man, old man, we have guests! We have guests!"

The old shopkeeper was taken aback. In this awful weather with flying sand and stones, who would come?

He went to the door, lifted the curtain, and squinted. In the swirling yellow sand, a figure in black was walking against the wind.

The man was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit. Due to the strong wind and sand, his head and face were completely covered with a cloth, leaving only his squinting eyes visible.

He had an upright posture and a steady gait; he looked like a young man.

"Huangsha Inn, this is it."

Li Fu squinted at the outline of the inn amidst the sandstorm.

"We'll have to ask the shopkeeper later. Uncle Wu stayed here for three or four days; maybe we can find out some information."

However, Uncle Wu is usually taciturn, and his appearance and demeanor are unremarkable in a crowd; it's uncertain whether he can leave an impression.

He noticed the old shopkeeper and the young shop assistant looking in his direction, but suddenly their gazes passed over him and looked into the distance behind them.

"Are you traveling with anyone?"

Li Fu's mind stirred slightly, and he turned around to look.

The wind howled, and the sand beneath his feet was soft and loose. Even with his profound internal strength, he could not detect the movement behind him.

Two figures could be vaguely seen in the yellow sand behind them.

A man and a woman; the man was tall and slightly thin, while the woman was slender.

Similarly, being wrapped up tightly, wearing a straw hat and a face mask is an essential outfit for traveling in the desert, so that nothing can be seen except for one's figure.

Li Fu looked around again and stepped into the inn first, calling out loudly, "Innkeeper, waiter, bring me a plate of cooked beef and a pot of hot tea!"

He took off his straw hat and put it aside, intending to eat something first before inquiring about information, so that it would be easier to talk to him.

"Waiter? Waiter?"

Li called out twice, and the young waiter seemed to wake up from a dream and ran over, wiping the table in a flurry, while his eyes kept glancing towards the door.

Li Fu turned his head and saw why the waiter was in a daze.

The couple also entered the shop, took off their straw hats and veils.

When her appearance was revealed, even the old shopkeeper was stunned.

The man was handsome and dashing, with bright eyes, possessing the refined elegance of a young nobleman.

The woman was dressed in simple blue clothes, with an exceptionally beautiful face, especially her bright eyes, which seemed to speak volumes.

Each of them carried a long sword, like a perfect couple stepping out of a painting.

The woman smiled at the old shopkeeper and said, "Hello, sir. Do you have any hot tea?" Her voice was clear and pleasant.

The young waiter was completely mesmerized.

The old shopkeeper hurriedly invited the two to sit down and then urged the waiter to serve Li Fu tea and dishes.

Li Fu and the couple exchanged a glance, then politely withdrew their conversation and went about their own eating and drinking.

"This place is windy, sandy, and bitterly cold, rarely visited by people. What brings you three young men here?" The old shopkeeper couldn't help but ask, looking at the three young faces.

They didn't seem like business travelers; they were like people on a picnic, showing no awe or reverence for the desert, which was truly worrying.

"We need to go into the desert."

The young man gave a concise answer.

Li Fu also said, "It's most likely in the desert."

As soon as he finished speaking, the couple immediately glanced at him again.

The woman laughed and said, "Hehe, perhaps we're kindred spirits! What a coincidence! We came to the same inn, and we might even be heading into the desert together soon!"

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's expression changed slightly: "Three gentlemen, are you here for that deadly Golden Pavilion and Sand Ruins?"

Listen to the old man's advice: there are ghosts in that desert, you absolutely mustn't go!

He had received far too many people who came for the legends, only to perish in the desert.

Li Fu's expression remained unchanged.

"Ghosts? Where in the world are there ghosts!"

The woman laughed and didn't seem to care at all.

The man also said, "Not bad, not bad."

"That deep desert is no joke!" The old shopkeeper tried to persuade them again, but seeing that none of the three would listen, he had no choice but to give up, afraid of bothering them.

"Old shopkeeper, I'd like to ask you about someone. If you have any information, I'll reward you handsomely."

At this moment, Li Fu beckoned him over and described in detail Wu Bo's appearance and features, explaining that he had stayed here for three or four days.

The old shopkeeper and his assistant both shook their heads blankly, indicating that they had no recollection of it.

"Young man, I'm so sorry,"

The old shopkeeper said apologetically, "When there's no sandstorm, the shop actually has quite a few customers."

The old man often sat behind the counter, constantly calculating accounts, never looking up. Some customers came and went, going up and down the stairs, and he might not even have seen them.

They then called another waiter to rest in the inner room.

Both waiters said, "When we're busy, our feet barely touch the ground. We just finished serving one table and another one is already calling. After a while, we really can't remember what every customer looks like. We're so sorry."

The old man and the young man both seem to be honest people.

Li Fu was somewhat disappointed.

Uncle Wu's appearance and demeanor were indeed hard to leave an impression, especially considering it was a few years ago.

"ah!"

Just then, a waiter who had just finished serving Li Fu tea turned around and screamed in fright, almost jumping up!

In the corner, at an empty table, two people had quietly taken up their seats!

These two people looked different, but their expressions and temperaments were like they were cut from the same mold. Their faces were as pale as paper, their eyes were cold and unwavering, and their bodies exuded a sinister and ghostly aura, as if they had appeared out of nowhere.

Li Fu glanced at them with some surprise. He had been deep in thought and the wind had been howling, so he hadn't really paid attention to his surroundings.

These two seem to be quite skilled in martial arts.

"Waiter, bring tea."

One of them spoke coldly, his voice devoid of any warmth.

The waiter felt uneasy and dared not delay, so he picked up the teapot and went over.

Just as the glass was filled, the curtain was suddenly flung open with a whoosh!

A strong wind swept in, carrying yellow sand, and a few grains of sand landed squarely in the freshly filled teacup.

Immediately afterwards, five burly men filed in. They varied in height and build, some middle-aged and some young, but what they had in common was that each of them wore a pair of gleaming iron claws at their waist, clearly indicating that they came from the same school.

The five men looked gloomy and remained silent as they found seats.

The waiter was terrified, thinking that this gloomy guest would fall onto the sofa because of the tea.

Let's hope they don't start fighting.

"Pour it again."

To his surprise, the other person simply poured the tea on the ground with a blank expression, indicating that he should pour another cup.

The waiter quickly complied.

Li Fu glanced at the five people.

Are these martial arts figures here for the treasure, or just passing through?

His expression was so gloomy, it was more like he was going to a funeral…

The people at each table were drinking water and eating, and the atmosphere was somber.

Some people asked the waiter for dry rations, clearly preparing to enter the desert.

The curtain was lifted again, and two elderly monks dressed in ochre robes walked in with their hands clasped together and their steps steady. They sat down at an empty table, closed their eyes and remained silent.

The old innkeeper thought there would be no customers today, but in the blink of an eye, the inn was almost full, leaving the waiter dumbfounded.

Just as they were taking a peep, they heard the neighing of a horse.

Two elderly Taoist priests, dressed in feathered robes and wearing tall crowns, led two young Taoist priests as they gracefully arrived.

They moved with light steps and had an extremely stable lower body.

Upon entering, they saw two monks in yellow robes. The elder Taoist priest in the lead bowed respectfully, and the monks returned the bow with their palms together.

Li Fu secretly observed the various martial arts practitioners filling the room.

"It seems this trip won't be lonely, as there are quite a few companions."

The news that Mr. Jiuzhang had survived has likely spread throughout the martial arts world, causing quite a stir.

His gaze swept over the monks and Taoists; their attire and demeanor were otherworldly and serene, and they did not seem to be people who coveted gold and silver.

"Besides the Golden Tower and Sand Ruins, could there be another reason that has brought these people together here?"