Dongfang Qinlan seemed to suddenly remember something and took out an item from her pocket.
"How did this hairpin end up in your hands?" Dongfang Huaizhu frowned and asked.
"Mr. Wangquan gave it to me before and asked me to pass it on to you. Maybe you lost it and he happened to find it," Dongfang Qinlan replied.
Dongfang Huaizhu silently took the hairpin and clenched it in her palm. For a moment, a flood of emotions welled up, and she stood still, lost in thought.
Seeing the grief on Dongfang Huaizhu's face, Dongfang Qinlan also stopped walking. "It's okay, sister. You still have Big Brother Mask. He's highly skilled in sword - fighting. Don't be sad."
Dongfang Huaizhu ignored Dongfang Qinlan and just stared at the hairpin in front of her.
In the bamboo pavilion beside the green pond, the sunlight spilled on the water surface. The water rippled with the gentle breeze, sparkling in the wind.
Jin Renfeng was half - reclined on a soft chair, holding a cup of wine in his hand. He seemed a bit drunk. He put down the cup, looked at the beauty in his arms, and couldn't help laughing. "You did a great job this time. Tell me, what reward do you want?"
The woman placed one hand on Jin Renfeng's chest, slightly opened her eyes, then propped herself up with one hand and looked at Jin Renfeng. "No, it's mainly because your plan was so good."
She couldn't help frowning, but Jin Renfeng obviously didn't notice this. Then he pulled the beauty beside him again and started to drink and chat merrily.
On the other side, Dongfang Huaizhu and Dongfang Qinlan noticed that it was getting darker.
Dongfang Qinlan couldn't help but stop and murmured, "Sister, I really can't walk anymore."
Dongfang Huaizhu looked up at the sky, then lowered her head. "You're right. It's already very late. Let's find an inn to rest tonight and continue our journey tomorrow."
Dongfang Qinlan quickly nodded obediently.
"Sister, sister, look. There's an inn up ahead." Dongfang Qinlan had noticed the inn a long time ago. As they got closer, she couldn't wait to jump up.
But Dongfang Huaizhu stopped. Holding her long sword, she looked at the inn in the distance. A bad feeling welled up in her heart.
"What's wrong, sister?" Dongfang Qinlan grabbed Dongfang Huaizhu's hand and frowned in confusion.
"Nothing. Maybe I'm overthinking," Dongfang Huaizhu said indifferently.
"Do you also have a bad feeling?" Suddenly, Dongfang Qinlan's face darkened. Then she looked at Dongfang Huaizhu coldly.
"Be careful in everything. Wait and see. I hope we're just overthinking," Dongfang Huaizhu tightened her grip on the sword in her hand.
When they entered the inn, they found that although it was brightly lit, there was no one there except for some tables.
"Waiter!" Dongfang Huaizhu led Dongfang Qinlan to the counter and shouted loudly inside.
Suddenly, an old man in shabby clothes rushed out of the kitchen.
The old man seemed to have a problem with his legs and walked with a limp. But when he saw Dongfang Huaizhu and Dongfang Qinlan, he quickly rushed over as fast as he could.
"Sorry, two young ladies. I was busy cooking in the kitchen just now, so I was delayed. Do you two want to eat or stay in the inn?" the innkeeper asked.
"Bring us some food first, and then give us a room," Dongfang Huaizhu said, then led Dongfang Qinlan to sit at a table.
After a while, the innkeeper staggered over with the food.
"Here are your room keys. They're on the second floor. Just find the room according to the number. If you need anything else, just tell me," the innkeeper said as he put down the food and took out a key from his pocket and handed it to Dongfang Huaizhu.
Dongfang Huaizhu took the key and told the innkeeper to leave.
Dongfang Qinlan had been on the road all day and was extremely hungry. When she saw the food, she couldn't wait to pick up the chopsticks and start eating.
However, Dongfang Huaizhu suddenly put her hand in front of the food.
"Sister, what's wrong? Do you suspect there's something wrong with the food?" Dongfang Qinlan whispered.
Dongfang Huaizhu nodded slightly.
Then Dongfang Qinlan opened her mouth, and a fierce red demon - slaying divine fire rushed out, burning the food.
"Burn it. It's always safer," Dongfang Qinlan said with a smile.
Dongfang Huaizhu finally felt relieved, and the two of them ate up all the food.
Unbeknownst to them, not far from them, the innkeeper was behind the counter, staring at them with a glint in his eyes.
After they were full, Dongfang Qinlan said she was sleepy. Dongfang Huaizhu found the room according to the number on the key. There were two beds against the wall in the room.
To be on the safe side, Dongfang Huaizhu suggested, "We'll sleep in the same bed tonight and take turns keeping watch. I suspect there's something wrong with that innkeeper."
But Dongfang Qinlan thought Dongfang Huaizhu was overreacting. She pouted and said, "No way. I think the innkeeper is a nice guy."
"Those clothes..." Dongfang Huaizhu stared at Dongfang Qinlan seriously and said,
"Even if he's poor, an innkeeper shouldn't be wearing clothes with holes and not even notice. Moreover, there's only a lame old man in charge of such a big inn. I always have a bad feeling."
Seeing Dongfang Huaizhu so serious, Dongfang Qinlan chose to believe her. "Okay."
At night, Dongfang Huaizhu turned off the lamp and let Dongfang Qinlan sleep inside. Dongfang Huaizhu deliberately didn't let them take off their clothes. Instead, they just covered themselves with the quilt. And to be on the safe side, Dongfang Huaizhu put her sword beside the pillow.
Not long after they lay down, Dongfang Huaizhu heard Dongfang Qinlan snoring.
Dongfang Huaizhu couldn't help sighing silently. She never really expected her to keep watch anyway.
I don't know how much time passed. Dongfang Huaizhu felt sleepy but forced herself not to fall asleep.
Suddenly, her brows furrowed, and a cold light flashed in her eyes.
There was an unusual smell in the air. It seemed to be a sleeping potion!
Dongfang Huaizhu deliberately held her breath to avoid inhaling too much air and closed her eyes, pretending to be affected.
The person outside the door thought that Dongfang Huaizhu inside had also been affected, so he boldly pushed the door open slowly.
He walked step by step to Dongfang Huaizhu's bedside. Seeing that the two were already in a deep sleep, he heaved a sigh of relief.
At this moment, Dongfang Huaizhu's closed eyes suddenly opened, and a fierce cold light flashed from them.
Then she picked up the sword beside her and slashed heavily at the villain.
At this time, Dongfang Qinlan beside her was still in a deep sleep and didn't wake up.
Fortunately, the villain didn't seem to be very powerful. Dongfang Huaizhu's skills were enough to subdue him.
After a few rounds, just as she was about to reach out and take off the black cloth on the villain's face.
Suddenly, the door was opened again.
Dongfang Huaizhu's face changed drastically. Just as she was about to look at who came in, the next moment, the subdued villain took the opportunity to break free. Then Dongfang Huaizhu felt a sudden darkness in front of her eyes and lost consciousness.