Forging Immortality: The Undying Blacksmith

Chapter 71: Dragon Gate Inn

Li Qing’s journey to Qingzhou was less a frantic race against time and more a leisurely tour. He passed through several cities along the way, taking well over 10 days before finally approaching the provincial border.

“Master Li, Jingyang City is just ahead.”

The coachman’s voice drifted into the carriage, announcing their arrival at the edge of Qingzhou’s territory.

Jingyang was Qingzhou’s southernmost city. While it couldn’t be called prosperous by the standards of Feng Country, in the barren lands of Qingzhou, it was considered quite affluent.

Hearing the news, Li Qing lifted the carriage curtain. In the distance, the silhouette of a city wall came into view. The carriage rumbled along the official road, kicking up a long trail of dust. Behind it, a young tiger loped along, running with wild abandon.

As they neared the gates, Li Qing decided to call Fantong back inside to avoid the kind of chaos they’d caused in previous cities. He placed his fingers to his lips and let out a sharp, lingering whistle.

“Aooo!”

Hearing the call, the cub reacted instantly, bounding towards the carriage with incredible speed. Wind and sand swirled in its wake. Though still young, it already possessed the intimidating aura of a full-grown tiger, so much so that the carriage horses grew skittish and agitated.

The coachman wrestled with the reins, struggling to calm the spooked animals. Only when the tiger cub leaped gracefully into the carriage did the horses finally settle.

After so many days on the road, the cub’s once silk-like fur had grown dull, matted with a thick layer of grime. A flicker of helpless disdain crossed Li Qing’s eyes as he began patting the dust from Fantong’s coat. With each firm pat, a small cloud erupted from its fur.

“Ao…” the cub grumbled softly.

“You’d better be on your best behavior this time,” Li Qing warned. “No more trouble like in those other cities.”

The mere thought made him recall an incident from a few days prior. While passing through a wealthy city, Fantong had caught the scent of donkey meat pancakes from a roadside stall and, unable to resist, had bolted. Li Qing, who had been in the middle of his cultivation, hadn’t reacted in time to stop the cub from bursting out of the carriage.

The sight of a tiger on the loose had sent the entire street into a panic. The poor pancake vendor had been so terrified his legs gave out, leaving him unable to even run. Li Qing had to pay out dozens of silver taels to smooth things over. He was lucky it hadn’t escalated; an accusation of letting a tiger harm someone would have been a far greater mess.

“Ao!” The cub rolled onto its back, exposing its belly in a clear gesture of submission.

***

Qingzhou, Jingyang City.

Though considered a major hub within the province, it paled in comparison to the other cities of Feng Country. The desolation at the city gates spoke volumes—few merchant caravans seemed to frequent this place.

Li Qing simply tossed the guards a few bits of silver. They pocketed the bribe without a word, waving him through without even a routine inspection.

The streets inside were nearly empty of vendors. Only a handful of shops were open, and each one had employed burly, menacing thugs who stood guard at the entrances like grim statues.

The carriage hadn’t traveled far before the sounds of a brawl erupted from the street ahead.

“Damn it, you blind fool! You dare try to pickpocket your grandpa? I’ll smash every last one of your fingers for this!”

Hearing the commotion, Li Qing lifted the curtain. Two men were wrestling in the middle of the road. One was relentlessly bashing a brick against the other’s head, his victim’s face already a bloody mess.

Li Qing watched, unfazed. They had only just entered the city, with the gate guards still in sight, yet such brazen violence was already on display.

Brutal and aggressive. So this was the infamous spirit of Qingzhou.

Fortunately, even in a province so steeped in martial culture, it wasn’t as if Inner Force masters roamed every street while Outer Force practitioners were less than nothing. His own Outer Force cultivation was more than enough to ensure his safety here.

“Keep going,” Li Qing said calmly from within the carriage. “Find an inn somewhere in the city. We’ll rest for the night and leave in the morning.”

The carriage, clearly from the prosperous capital of Shengtian, exuded an air of wealth that attracted many furtive glances. Even the coachman gripped the reins tighter, his knuckles white with tension.

As they moved deeper into the city, the streets finally showed some signs of life. Shops were open, hawkers called out to passersby, and laborers went about their business. The carriage eventually came to a stop before an impressive building.

Dragon Gate Inn.

Stepping out of the carriage, Li Qing paused for a moment, a faint smile touching his lips as he read the name. “Well now,” he murmured, “let’s see what makes this Dragon Gate Inn so special.”

As he spoke, the tiger cub leaped out from the carriage behind him. Its striped, mottled fur and the distinct ‘king’ character pattern on its forehead left no doubt as to what it was: a real tiger.

The moment Fantong appeared, the numerous eyes that had been sizing up Li Qing’s carriage instantly withdrew. The silent appraisal was replaced by the sound of several sharp, fearful gasps. Any ill intentions harbored by the onlookers evaporated.

This newcomer was obviously wealthy, but he was just as obviously not to be trifled with. A man who kept a young tiger as a pet was a formidable figure indeed—a true dragon crossing the river.

As Li Qing entered the Dragon Gate Inn with Fantong at his heels, he felt a new wave of scrutinizing gazes sweep over them.

“Aooo!” Fantong lifted its head and let out a defiant roar, as if sensing the unwelcome attention.

“Welcome, guest. Are you here for a meal, or a room?” A waiter approached, a practiced smile on his face. Surprisingly, he showed little fear, a clear sign that he had seen his fair share of unusual patrons.

“Two of your best rooms.” Li Qing tossed two silver coins to the man.

Catching the silver, the waiter’s smile grew wider. “Right this way, sir.” He led Li Qing toward the stairs. “You’re not from Qingzhou, are you, guest?”

Li Qing raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”

“Heh,” the waiter chuckled knowingly. “The Black Fiend Gang and the Lei Family are at war right here in Jingyang City. The news has spread all over Qingzhou, so no one in their right mind wants to set foot in the city at a time like this.” He gestured around the inn. “But you don’t need to worry. As long as you’re staying at the Dragon Gate Inn, you’re perfectly safe. Both the Leis and the Black Fiends have to give us face.”

An inn with that much influence?

Li Qing nodded, intrigued. “That sounds interesting. Why are they fighting?”

“The word is, the Black Fiend Gang ambushed a convoy and stole a very important treasure from the Lei Family. I don’t know the specifics, but that’s what started the war.”

Li Qing could only smirk. Leave it to Qingzhou to offer up such a spectacle the moment he arrived.

“Alright, guest, here are your rooms,” the waiter said, stopping before two doors. “Just give a shout if you need anything.” He paused, his smile fading slightly. “Oh, and one more thing. If it’s not urgent, I’d advise against going out at night. Best not to get caught in the crossfire.”

With that final warning, the waiter turned and briskly descended the stairs.