26 Pursuit in Tiankong City (1/2)

More energy was needed when Xue Wei was moving with Wang Xiaoyun, and he was starting to feel its toll on his body.

”We need to get away from here,” he sighed as he shook his head. It had been amusing at first to flee, but now it was evident that this was a movement of significant scale against him, and that their aim was him and Wang Xiaoyun.

Fortunately, it was not only Xue Wei who had noticed this, but the other families had also seen the same, even the commoners had noticed it, and people were starting to gossip about who exactly could be so brazen and try to attack Xue Wei in the middle of the day.

Experts continued to move in bigger and bigger groups, yet as they grouped up, they also found that it was getting harder and harder to locate Xue Wei and Wang Xiaoyun.

It was as if two sides were playing hide and seek. Xue Wei and Wang Xiaoyun were just two people, and they soon learned to hide in the crowded areas.

Sometimes, the commoners would call out and alert the groups of pursuers where they were, but most of the commoners had changed their opinion about Xue Wei after seeing him cripple two noble-borns while protecting three commoner girls.

To get vengeance for the many girls who had been abused by the nobility, they felt much better, and Xue Wei had achieved this revenge.

”This way, young master, young miss,” a blacksmith said with a smile and led Xue Wei and Wang Xiaoyun into the smithy.

”If you walk through the back of my smithy, you will reach a charming little restaurant. It is not very busy, but it is used by the majority of the commoners around here. I doubt that the nobles and their guards have even heard about it.”

”Why don't you go there for the sake of having a bit of peace on your date? I will ensure that they do not know where you have gone, and I am sure that the restaurant will not tell anyone either as long as you spend a few coppers.”

Xue Wei grinned and cupped his hands in respect. ”I am very grateful for your assistance,” Xue Wei said gratefully. Xue Wei and Wang Xiaoyun crossed the smithy and walked out through the back gate into a small alleyway where there was a little restaurant known as the Black Lion.

The Black Lion was small; there were at most fifty tables with chairs. The room was dimly lit as the gate was in the alleyway, but the scent of food that wafted out smelled great, and Xue Wei felt his stomach rumbling.

”Why don't we go in and enjoy ourselves?” Xue Wei asked, and Wang Xiaoyun giggled. She took Xue Wei's hand. Xue Wei felt a comfortable coldness, which was as if he had touched porcelain, and he squeezed the hand gently.

There were no customers within the restaurant, only a single waitress and a matron standing behind the counter were present. When they saw Xue Wei and Wang Xiaoyun, their eyebrows rose in surprise, but a smile also spread on their faces.

”I assume that the young master has decided to hide here for the time being?” The matron laughed, her big chest heaving up and down.

Xue Wei was surprised that even this person knew about the current chase that was ongoing in the city, but he could only grin slightly as he nodded his head. ”We are indeed on the run right now, and found your charming restaurant by the help of a certain blacksmith. We would like to hide out here for some time. Of course, you will be paid handsomely in return.”

Xue Wei picked up three silver coins from his purse and placed them on the counter. ”We will take the room in the corner, and would like some food and wine. If we manage to get through the day unnoticed, then I will double your pay,” Xue Wei said. The eyes of the matron shone, not with greed but with pleasant surprise.

”We will give you all the food and snacks you could possibly eat,” the matron laughed before she went beneath her desk and rummaged through some boxes. After a bit of time, she straightened her back and in her hand were a veil and a bamboo hat.

”I can guarantee that my staff will not betray you, but I cannot say for sure that my other customers will not. Knowing those men that are trying to catch you, they will offer up a reward for finding you soon.”

”Some will be tempted, and they will lead the people straight to my restaurant. Although I fear no one, I do not wish for my place to be ransacked or destroyed by random vengeful cultivators. Thus, if you could wear this, I will be very grateful.”

Xue Wei looked at the bamboo hat and grinned. ”Sure thing,” he said and accepted the hat, placed it on his head, and went to the darkest corner.

Wang Xiaoyun grinned too as she accepted the veil and hid away her face. Now they looked incredibly shady, but at least no one was capable of seeing who they were.

Soon, food and drinks made it to the table, and the two relaxed as they started eating and drinking, chatting and laughing together.

Time went by fast; the two were not gulping down the food but taking it slow while chatting, so they did not feel full until after a long time. All the dishes were made from mortal animals, and although they were not able to increase their strength, they tasted amazingly well, and both Xue Wei and Wang Xiaoyun, who were used to eating Fierce Beast meat, were astonished at how tasty these dishes were.

Slowly, more and more customers started to appear in the restaurant, and although Xue Wei and Wang Xiaoyun were being noticed and glanced at from time to time, no one tried to interrupt the two in their talk together and the meal they were sharing.

The restaurant turned bustling, and many people appeared in the small chamber. Many started ordering and eating their dinner, and after dinner, most stayed to enjoy some beer and wine.

Xue Wei and Wang Xiaoyun waited for the sun to set before they rose to their feet and paid an extra five silver coins to the matron and made their way into the narrow alleyway.

They were walking hand in hand, but they had kept the veil and the bamboo hat, hiding their appearances as they made it to the main road.