Chapter 364: Inn

"So scary... I'll go back and tell my family to stay indoors for the next few days."

"I've heard people from other towns talk about the 【Circle】, but this is my first time seeing one. It's said that once this thing is drawn, you can only enter, not leave. Is that true?"

"Try it and you'll know."

“……”

A few people with a donkey cart loaded with goods, looking like they were going to do business in another town, were standing behind the black arc, discussing in low voices.

One of them tentatively lifted his foot, wanting to cross the black arc, but before his sole could touch the line, a ripple stirred in the void, and four calligraphy characters appeared in mid-air!

【NO PASSING】.

A repulsive force came from his toe, and the man staggered back half a step, his eyes full of shock as he looked at the four large characters.

"It's just like the legends! Heavens, how is this done?"

"The methods of the gods are not something we can understand... Let's go. There's a madman in Liu Town now, and I don't feel safe staying outside."

"But what about our goods? Li Town is still waiting for our flour."

"When will this thing disappear?"

"Don't know. It's said that when this thing appeared before, it lasted from a few hours to two or three days..."

"Sigh, forget it... let's go back. Waiting here is no solution."

The few turned around and walked back toward Liu Town.

In a place they didn't notice, Chen Ling walked slowly to the arc, his brows furrowed tightly.

"【Circle】... Is this also a method of the 【Floating Life Painting】?"

Chen Ling tried to cross the arc, but was also blocked by an invisible barrier. Even when he secretly used force to try and break through, the barrier didn't budge at all, like an invisible cylinder wrapping the entire Liu Town inside.

Chen Ling withdrew his steps with a heavy expression, muttering to himself,

"Can't leave..."

Although Chen Ling didn't yet know what kind of organization this so-called 【Floating Life Painting】 was, their methods had opened his eyes. Whether it was the lightning that appeared out of thin air or the circle that acted as a prison, everything exceeded his expectations.

Now, trying to force his way out wouldn't work. The other party would likely mobilize people to capture him immediately, trying to catch a turtle in a jar within the effective time of the 【Circle】...

Chen Ling's eyes behind his lenses narrowed slightly.

"The jar has been covered... but who is the turtle remains to be seen."

Chen Ling had broken out of the encirclement of the Gray Realm, stormed the Star Chamber of Commerce, and infiltrated the Aurora base—when was it ever less dangerous than now? Thinking they could wipe him out here with just a circle was far too naive...

His brain spun rapidly. As if thinking of something, his gaze drifted leisurely toward the flour convoy that was about to leave.

……

Night deepened.

Not long after Chen Ling left, several figures carrying large and small bags walked slowly from the road outside the 【Circle】.

"Master, we're almost at Liu Town." The Senior Brother in white saw the faint outline of the town in the distance and said, "Which wilderness are we staying in tonight?"

The master, wearing theatrical robes and with empty hands, walked leisurely at the very front, speaking unhurriedly.

"We're not going to the wilderness, we're staying at an inn tonight."

"An inn?"

The other three were stunned for a moment. Whenever they went out on tour, they rarely stayed at inns. After all, they carried a large amount of performance equipment, so they usually found a place to sleep while setting up the stage in the wilderness.

The Senior Brother pondered for a moment. "Master... is your... waist not feeling well lately? Can't sleep on hard surfaces?"

"Your waist is the one not feeling well!! Your master's waist is perfectly fine!"

The master glared at him.

"Then why stay at an inn?"

"What? After suffering for so many days outside, you're not willing to enjoy some comfort when your master brings you to it?"

"We're willing, but what about all this stage equipment?" The minor role asked worriedly.

"Just find a place in the wild to hide it."

The master raised his hand and pointed to the woods not far away. "Old Four, it's up to you."

Seeing that the master was truly determined to stay at an inn, the three disciples looked at each other and followed suit, placing everything in front of the woods, piling it into a small mountain.

The minor role waved his hand gently at the small mountain, and everything gradually became transparent, its presence reduced to a minimum. Even if someone stood in front of these things, they wouldn't be able to detect their existence.

After hiding the things, the four of them approached Liu Town. Just then, the Senior Brother in white seemed to notice something.

"Huh... 【Circle】?"

"It really is a 【Circle】... Did those painting people seal Liu Town?" The minor role then felt the existence of the circle, his gaze falling on the sky above Liu Town. "What happened here?"

The three pairs of eyes looked at the master simultaneously. After all, it was he who suggested coming to Liu Town, so he must know something.

The master smiled slightly without explaining, just waving his hand.

"What happened? How would your master know... By the way, since we're entering the town, let's all change our faces."

After saying this, he raised his hand and tore at his chin. As a face mask drifted away, his figure instantly turned into a seventeen-year-old beautiful youth, with bright eyes and white teeth, his face like jade, a white ribbon tied around his long black hair, fluttering in the night wind.

"Tch... at your age, pretending to be young again." The Senior Brother rolled his eyes silently, then also tore off a face mask.

The next moment, he transformed into a woman in a green dress, walking beside the beautiful youth like his sister or mother.

The minor role and the Third Senior Brother also changed, becoming a plain-looking young man and a dignified middle-aged man, respectively, with not the slightest resemblance to their previous appearances.

After the disguise was complete, the master, who had turned into a beautiful youth, yawned lazily and stepped casually behind the 【Circle】 arc. The three behind him followed one after another, entering Liu Town.

The youth, the woman, the young man, and the middle-aged man—the group of four walked through the alleys in the middle of the night, their figures occasionally illuminated by streetlights, casting long shadows on the bluestone road.

"And he said he didn't know... Master is leading the way." The minor role whispered from behind.

The master, who had turned into a beautiful youth, seemed extremely familiar with the place, leading the three to turn corners repeatedly, and soon arrived in front of an inn.

This inn had three small buildings. They crossed the threshold, passed through the courtyard, and went straight to the counter.

"Is the boss not here?"

Seeing the counter empty, the Senior Brother asked in confusion.

The beautiful youth master stood in front of the counter, smiling at a certain spot without speaking.

Before long, a figure walked out from the lounge behind the counter.

"Sorry, I didn't hear you just now."

A figure wearing half-rimmed glasses walked out from behind the counter, the silver chain of his glasses shining brightly in the light. The innkeeper wiped his hands with a towel while walking behind the counter, asking with a polite smile:

"May I ask, are the four of you checking in?"

……

……

The second offline signing event is being held in Hangzhou tomorrow (January 27th)! Sanyou is rushing over to meet everyone offline, so there will only be two updates for the next few days~~ See Weibo for information about the signing event~