Scarface slammed his fist on the table, causing the wine jug on it to tremble. From the force, Hu Li could tell that he was a martial arts expert.

The girl gestured to Scarface and coldly said, "You talk big. What's it to you? The control of the capital is too loose. A small Jin Yiwei dares to act as an accomplice to a tiger."

"What do you know?" Hu Li asked.

"About you two," the girl glanced meaningfully at both of them, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth, "and about your missing master. There's nothing I don't know."

"What have you done to him?" Hu Li's voice grew darker.

"What have I done to him? He brought it upon himself," the girl gritted her teeth.

Inside the inn, the four people were supposed to sit separately, but the atmosphere became tense.

Hu Li clenched his fists, his gaze not leaving the faces of the two.

These two dared to break into Shangyong City. If what they said was true, Hu Li's master might already be in their hands. They came for the half of the map, knowing about him, Jiang Yu, and his master Bai Huaishui.

"What do you want?" Hu Li asked loudly.

The girl hadn't spoken yet.

As the group stepped over the threshold of the inn, rainwater from their raincoats dripped onto the floor, forming puddles in no time.

The leader's gaze swept through the hall, seemingly not noticing the two tables, and arrogantly threw his raincoat onto the nearest seat by the door. Only after he sat down did the rest of the group enter.

Seeing a group of unknown people entering, the girl remained silent.

Hu Li glanced sideways at the group. They occupied two long tables in the inn, drinking hot tea. There were nine of them, all wearing blue clothes under their raincoats, with delicate patterns on the cuffs, indicating their quality.

"Waiter, bring us some good wine," someone said loudly.

Hu Li observed closely; this person was the one who had entered the inn first. By now, he had taken off his hat, revealing a slightly younger face. Looking at the others around him, he seemed to be the youngest among them.

Just as the waiter was about to respond, the person on the left of the young man raised his hand slightly and said in a deep voice, "Shen Wen, don't cause trouble."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Shen Wen responded softly, changing his request to, "Bring us some hot tea."

Hu Li glanced over, seeing Jiang Yu finishing his drink.

"Master Shen, this drink is for you," Hu Li took an empty cup, poured some wine, and stood up, gesturing towards Shen Wen.

Scarface's hand on the table moved, but the girl tapped the table, signaling him not to act rashly.

"Thank you for your kindness, brother," the person on Shen Wen's left said.

His demeanor was extraordinary, quite different from the reckless nature often seen among wanderers.

Though Shen Wen was unwilling, he still said, "Thank you."

However, Hu Li had already stepped forward, placed the cup in front of Shen Wen, made a gesture of invitation, and stood in front of the table, watching Shen Wen.

Typical of someone who enjoys watching trouble.

Shen Wen only wanted to drink a sip of wine according to his mood, but now there was someone stirring up trouble, making him feel trapped in the middle.

"What's your intention, little brother?"

"Just curious," Hu Li straightened up and said, "what would the Shen family offer in exchange if I were to capture you, Master Shen?"

Jiang Yu smirked at Hu Li's words.

"Nonsense," Shen Wen said.

"It's just Hu Li's nonsense. Please forgive him for any offense," Hu Li clasped his hands and returned to his seat.

The small inn's door rarely displayed a sign saying "full."

After a stick of incense, the two entered the guest room.

"Why is the Shen family from Jiangnan here?" Hu Li asked, "Even prestigious families are short of money?"

"Not sure," Jiang Yu said.

Just as Jiang Yu finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. They both stood up, with Jiang Yu hiding behind the door, and Hu Li opened it.

Standing at the door was the girl from earlier. Hu Li said lightly, "Do you need something, miss?"

"You're not worried about your master at all," the girl said in a strange tone.

"If I say I'm worried, will you let him go?"

"You're dreaming."

"You didn't finish your words earlier. Now there's only the two of us. What do you want before you consider letting him go?"

"I want the half of the map in your hand."

"Miss's tone is quite big," Hu Li pursed his lips and said, "but my master is not worth as much as a map. Miss, please leave."

With that, Hu Li closed the door on her.

"You won't escape, Hu Li," the girl said ominously before leaving the doorstep.

At night, Hu Li descended the stairs quickly and saw a person sitting by the window in the lobby.

Hu Li stood for a moment, then walked slowly behind the person and reached out to pat his shoulder. The person blocked Hu Li's hand.

"Why isn't Master Shen resting so late?" Hu Li smiled.

Seeing Shen Wen's appearance, it was clear what he was doing. With a wine glass in one hand and Hu Li in the other, Shen Wen was caught in the act.

Feeling guilty, his eyes widened. But when he saw it was Hu Li, he relaxed a bit and let go of him, saying, "Asking pointless questions is boring."

Hu Li found a seat beside Shen Wen. Shen Wen looked at him and asked, "Are you planning to capture me?"

Hu Li laughed, "Why would I capture you? Just scaring people with the name of the Shen family."

Shen Wen looked at Hu Li suspiciously, and Hu Li continued, "Master Shen, do you remember there was another table besides us?"

Shen Wen nodded, indicating he remembered.

"The person at that table captured my friend. I have to thank you, Master Shen, for arriving just in time."

Shen Wen raised his hand to indicate that there was no need to thank him. Shen Wen didn't care whether what Hu Li said was true or false. As for Hu Li's identity, no one who came to Shangyong City this time would be unaware of it.

When Hu Li stood beside their table and revealed his name, Shen Wen probably had an idea. Shen Wen drank two glasses of wine and looked at Hu Li, "We followed those two all the way to Shangyong City."

Hu Li frowned, "What are their identities?"

"Still uncertain," Shen Wen smiled, "but they came to find you, most likely for the Liangwang Tomb. The only thing we can be sure of is that the Shen family won't trouble you, but they certainly won't let you cause trouble for yourself."

"Master Shen, I have one more question," Hu Li said.

"Ask."

"When you followed them here, did they arrive in Shangyong City today?"

"We followed them one after the other, no more than half an hour apart," Shen Wen said.

If you calculate the time like this, when they arrived in Shangyong City, he and Jiang Yu were already in the inn, and Bai Huaishui was no longer there.

Unless they had a group of accomplices already lurking in Shangyong City.

Hu Li frowned.

"Hey," Shen Wen tapped Hu Li's shoulder and asked, "do you really have half of the map?"

"I do, but I don't know if it's genuine."

Shen Wen leaned against the wall, sighed, and said, "People seek their own death. Some things are just not worth it."

Hu Li didn't expect this young Shen family member to have such insight. Shen Wen took a sip of wine and chuckled, "Drinking more is better than anything else."