My bathroom leads to the celestial realm.

20 ways to break the deadlock

Seeing Xu Yan's unusual expression, the waiter immediately realized the problem: "If you are not familiar with Mr. Yin, sir, our shop can take care of him for you."

Xu Yan thought for a moment: "No need. Get me something to eat, and let him wait a while!"

Since the shopkeeper was confident that he could get rid of Mr. Yin, it meant that the man wasn't a big deal.

The waiter agreed, and soon all the wine and dishes were served.

Although it wasn't a lavish meal, the taste was surprisingly good.

Xu Yan ate and drank heartily, completely forgetting about Mr. Yin.

However, a moment later, a cold voice suddenly came from the left: "Brother Xu, do you perhaps look down on me, Yin?"

Xu Yan turned his head and saw a fat man with a gloomy face, with a graceful and scantily clad maid on each side, making people grit their teeth.

That fatso is having such a fucking blast!

"You were looking for me?" Xu Yan asked.

The fat man released the maid and sat down opposite Xu Yan, saying, "Not bad!"

Xu Yan continued eating: "Please forgive my poor eyesight, when will we become acquainted?"

The fat man puffed out his belly: "So, we've met now, haven't we?"

His expression was nonchalant, clearly indicating that he didn't take the great writer Xu seriously.

Xu Yan took another sip of wine, which wasn't very strong, about the same as a soft drink: "Mr. Yin, what brings you here? Please speak frankly."

"Great!" The fat man slammed his hand on the table, nearly knocking over his wine glass. "Those three videos of you and Luo Jiuxiao yesterday were really good. I heard you have more. I'll give you three thousand spirit pearls to buy the rest of your videos, how about it?"

Xu Yan scoffed, then laughed in exasperation: "Three thousand spirit pearls? You've certainly got a good plan!"

The fat man's expression instantly changed: "What? You think it's not enough?"

"Is it less or less? Don't you know that, sir?" Xu Yan asked coldly.

The fat man's expression changed again: "No room for negotiation?"

Xu Yan chuckled: "Of course, we can discuss it."

The fat man was surprised, but his expression softened slightly: "What do you mean?"

"I have to pay more!" Xu Yan downed the wine in one gulp, feeling completely clear-headed.

Ever since watching that movie, he had wanted to write that line into his book, but he had never found the opportunity. He never expected to use it today.

happy!

"Fine, fine, fine!" The fat man stood up abruptly. "You, surnamed Xu, since you're so ungrateful, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"What?" Xu Yan glanced at the other person in surprise. "You want to make a move here?"

Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell silent instantly, and a quick-witted waiter ran to the back room to fetch the manager.

The shopkeeper didn't say anything, but just stood to the side with his hands in his pockets, watching with a smile.

The fat man's face looked like it had been dyed, with red, orange, blue, and green colors changing in turn.

He was quite straightforward, letting out a cold snort and saying, "I certainly wouldn't dare to make a move here, but you'd better not leave the inn, otherwise I have plenty of ways to deal with you!"

So soon they've reached the stage of making threats?

Xu Yan didn't even look up: "No need to worry about me, I won't see you out!"

The fat man waved his sleeve and said, "Let's go!"

The two maids obediently followed behind the fat man, going step by step.

Xu Yan put down her chopsticks and frowned deeply.

He appeared relaxed on the surface, but was actually under immense pressure and was even prepared to turn on them and take action on the spot.

I thought I could relax once I entered the inn, but before a day had passed, someone came knocking on my door.

What does this tell us?

This indicates that the situation is far beyond his expectations, meaning that the video has fallen into the hands of some powerful bosses, and the next step is likely to present it to a powerful cultivator with special interests!

It can be inferred that there is more than one person eyeing him. Fatty Yin is either the most impulsive and brainless, or the weakest, or simply a pawn pushed out by others to test the waters. As long as Xu Yan compromises and backs down, he will be confirmed as a soft target and easy to bully.

At that time, not only will Fatty Yin and his gang pounce on them and take a bite, but the inn itself will probably no longer be safe.

Thinking of this, Xu Yan suddenly felt a headache coming on.

It's just a few videos; if it's really necessary, sending them out is no big deal.

The biggest problem is who to send it to and how to get out unscathed.

Xu Yan scanned the room but didn't spot the down-on-his-luck uncle who loved to drink. Finally, he turned to the old shopkeeper and asked, "Senior, may I ask you a few questions?"

"No, please feel free to speak, sir!" The old shopkeeper said with a harmless smile.

"May I ask, senior, what is the background of this person surnamed Yin?"

"They don't have any real background; they're just using the name of the Spirit Gathering Society to swindle people."

He spoke casually, but Xu Yan dared not believe him. The Gathering Spirit Society was very likely one of the forces plotting against him!

No, the Gathering of Spirits?

This name is so unlucky. Is it an organization that specializes in summoning spirits and performing rituals?

The innkeeper bowed slightly: "If there's nothing else, sir, I'll take my leave now!"

"Wait!" Xu Yan called out to the shopkeeper, then thought for a moment and said, "Senior, I'm new here and I've been targeted by this scoundrel. I really don't know what to do. Could you please give me some pointers?"

The innkeeper smiled and asked, "What would you like, sir?"

How to break free from this entanglement?

The shopkeeper shook his head and said, "Wealth shouldn't be flaunted. Sir, you're already being watched; how can you easily shake them off?"

Xu Yanshen bowed deeply: "Please teach me, senior!"

He was desperate and grasping at straws. He laid out a few words and waited for the right time to hand over the footage through the innkeeper. He thought that the power behind the inn could then manipulate things and solve his current predicament.

If that doesn't work, would it be worthwhile to just seek refuge with someone else?

It wasn't that he lacked the ability to think creatively, but rather that his understanding of the lower city was insufficient, making it impossible for him to solve the problem using existing rules. Therefore, he had to resort to external forces.

The innkeeper smiled and said, "Although I haven't been able to determine your aptitude or talent, you were able to activate the protective array. If I'm not mistaken, you must possess some cultivation, is that correct?"

Not only does he possess cultivation, but it's quite profound; he's just too timid. If it really comes down to a fight, Fatty Yin is nothing but a pushover!

Xu Yan felt a chill run down his spine. Had they already thoroughly investigated his background?

He immediately came up with the excuse he had prepared beforehand: "I am just a rogue cultivator who has achieved some success by chance."

"In that case, sir, why don't you visit the Lingque Palace again? Once you join a certain immortal sect, your worries will be easily resolved."

Xu Yan...

Are you here specifically to rub salt in my wounds?

He didn't know if joining a celestial sect could solve his problem. But with a demon core inside him, how could he dare to join any sect casually?

Seeing that Xu Yan remained silent, the shopkeeper continued, "I happen to have some news; it only costs one thousand spirit pearls!"

Xu Yan gasped. "You old coffin-head, you really dare to ask for a thousand spirit pearls?"

Sure enough, no matter where you go, the information gap is always the most expensive thing!

Xu Yan gritted his teeth and immediately paid one thousand spirit pearls: "Please speak, senior!"

The shopkeeper immediately beamed with joy: "Hundred Herbs Valley is recruiting disciples for medicine trials. We don't care about qualifications or background, as long as you have cultivation."

Xu Yan... You're charging me a thousand pearls for such a trivial piece of news?

He knew about the menial disciples and the true disciples of the outer and inner sects, but what the hell was the medicine-testing disciple?

And that Hundred Herbs Valley, it sounds like a small sect that's easy to bully. Did that old geezer deliberately dig a pit for me?