Although she hadn't recovered, Lu Si managed to come closer to the border between Jin and Baimu. Rather than entering immediately she stayed at the outskirt in a lodging before contacting her own people to come escort her. She feared the bandits at the border were still at large. Adding to that, there were men trailing after her.

Lu Si did not remember what happened a year and a half ago but recalled one particular phrase: Do not enter Jin if you value your life. Although she never meant to enter this country, but the line of death and this country's border was just one that she was forced to step on. It would be hard not to believe in superstition after that whole ordeal.

Cai Ying have traveled across many towns and cities in Jin, but she found no traces of her father. Armed with just the dagger that Zhen Rong left her and a bit of money that she took from the Zhou manors she managed to keep herself well fed and healthy. However, there would come a day of her running out of fund for this journey. She could become a mercenary with her martial art skills, but she didn't want to kill anyone either. To save some money she lived only in abandoned places, but tonight was the night she wanted to rent a room to rest her back and clean herself, and then have a little feast to feed her tiring body.

Lu Si occupied a table away from the inner courtyard where the skylights was most prominent. She hid away to a corner with a mask covering half of her face, enjoying her dinner while listening to the rumors passed around by the many merchants and residences of the lodging.

Cai Ying entered the lodging and was greeted by the receptionist, also the owner of the place. Her eyes landed on the many guests eating and chatting in front of her. The layout of the lodging was simple enough for her to escape if anything were to go amiss.

"Miss, what bring you here to our Tian Guang Inn? We have restaurant and lodging, or perhaps you prefer both?"

"Sir, I would like a room for one night and possibly some food."

"Yes, I will have it for you. Would you like to eat in your room or in the skylight hall?"

"I will dine in the hall."

While the owner scrambled to get a room prepare, Cai Ying was led to an unoccupied table neared a table where many brutes were frozen by her graceful beauty.

When she sat down and smiled at the waiter they hooted and roared like an animal in heat.

"Beautiful!"

"Majestic!"

"Elegant!"

"Gorgeous!"

They repeated one after another while they moved their seats over to surround her. Cai Ying kept her cool facade without giving them attention. Words could not describe her rage from within. The disrespectful hooligans.

The waiter gulped with shaken hands. He tried to insert himself to get her orders but was stopped by the men.

"Patrons, please let me take her orders." He pleaded.

"I'll do it!" Roared one of them, and he pushed the waiter away before turning back to Cai Ying, "Beautiful Miss, what would you like to eat? Fish, Pork, Beef, or vegetables?"

One of them leaned in close and whispered, "Or...me?"

They guffawed at their stupid jokes. They became the loudest bunch there. The people either ran off to their room or showed their disgust through their eyes instead of interfering.

Lu Si continued her food as usual despite growing impatient inside. She ate her food slowly, but her eyes were glued to Cai Ying; if those rude men lay a hand on her she'd kill them all.

One of them slammed on the table. "ARE YOU DEAF?"

"Answer us! Which one of us do you want to come home with?" Asked another.

"Could she be a mute?" One asked.

One of them sighed, "a disable."

"But beautiful!" One reached out his hand to touch Cai Ying's chin only for her reflex to catch him by the wrist.

The men gasped in a mocking tone. They derided her, and laughed at how nimble her hand was around the man's wrist. How her fingers were so dainty that it might break, but the one who's wrist trapped in her hand writhed in pain.

"Expert, please have mercy on me!"

The men quiet down as soon as they heard the outcry of their comrade. Yet, one scoffed at the idea of a woman holding down a man so easily. He stormed forward in order to grab her but Cai Ying was quicker, she twisted the wrist of the man and sent him spinning in midair. She grabbed her sheathed dagger to fend them off.

Lu Si smiled with satisfaction on the great performance in front of her. Her eyes shifted to the bowl of walnuts on her table. A great idea came to mind; she lined up the walnuts in a row, then flicked them out to show her appreciation. Each walnut hit each of their crucial point. It hurt so bad they dropped like flies.

Cai Ying dropped down from midair when she saw the strange phenomenon, but when she looked around there was no one suspicious. The Owner rushed over to apologize to her but the men got back up and exact revenge on the Owner. Cai Ying scowled at them but they showed no fear.

"You wait until more of our men come!" They glared at her with threats.

"You!" One of them pointed to the Owner of the inn.

"Husband!" The Madam came over to grab onto him. "Don't agitate them!"

"I didn't do anything, they were creating such a mess–"

"SAY THAT AGAIN! WHO CREATED A MESS? YOU DARE CRITICIZE US?" The shameless and stubborn man roared. His men joined in. The couple cowered in fear. They looked around for help but no one had the courage to intervene. Cai Ying acted with no interest but she was waiting for the right moment. Lu Si moved to the balcony to have an easier view of the scenario below.

"ROUTINE CHECK UP!" A man bellowed. He led a small group of men in blue uniform into the inn.

The troublemakers glanced at each other before recoiling away.

"Officer!" The owner ran to him. "Arrest them, they're here to cause trouble."

"What trouble?" One of the men spoke up. "We're just normal guests, happen to have a disagreement so a brawl broke out due to it."

The Captain of the guards glared at the group of burly men who cowered away. They shifted their glances to each other and away from him and his subordinates. Their acts revealed so much to him, but he was not there to arrest them. He was ordered to go find a woman with the scent of myosotis.

"Mister Li," the Captain called for the owner of the inn. "Call everyone from your inn to come out to the lobby and have them all line up for me."

The pair of owners and everyone had questions, but they were stopped from asking any further questions by the guards as they pushed people around to line them up. Lu Si planned to escape through the window in her room, but when she looked out there were more guards stationed outside. In just a few seconds the temperature in her body rose as her heart beat rapidly. Head full of aches. The nervousness ran rampant in her stomach while eyes wandered around the room, looking for a place to hide as the footsteps getting closer.

[ BAM! ]

The doors kicked opened. The guards saw no one. They entered and looked around through some nooks and corners, found no one. They retreated and went to a different room. They checked the whole inn and rounded all the guests to the lobby.

The Captain made everyone lined up before he made his way around everyone to sniff them. When he came upon Cai Ying he became enamored with her piercing gaze and haughty face. The Captain lingered a bit longer to admire Cai Ying from head to toes. Then with a smirk he slowly leaned in to take a deep inhale. Cai Ying felt a disgusting aura seeping out from him. The disgusting scent of his, the smug face and the disturbing action done just now evoked some violence inside of her. Before she could do anything, the Captain called for retreat.

The crowd dispersed and went back to their room. The group of burly men left around the same time as the guards. Cai Ying took a deep breath before apologizing to the pair of owners. The fear and despair appearing on their face made her soft inside. She wanted to help, but she couldn't even take care of herself for the upcoming days. All she could offer was some form of protection for the night.

Lu Si jumped down from the top of the bed's awning and dusted herself. She kept to her room with windows closed, but the walls were thin enough for her to overhear close range conversations.

"My Lady, this way," the Madam said as she lead Cai Ying to the room next to Lu Si's.

"Thank you, Madam."

"If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask the–"

"I do need something," Cai Ying interrupted. "Where do I go to take a bath?"

"Ah, if you need a bath, our lodging has maids that can prepare them for you in your room."

Cai Ying pulled out a gold coin to give to the Madam, "Then I'll have to trouble you and the maids."

The Madam grinned and nodded before leaving her be.

Lu Si sniffed herself when she overheard their conversation. "Do I need to bath?"

Over on the other side, Cai Ying smiled when she heard the low voice.