The inn's efficiency was impressive. Bai Yunfei had only waited a short while before dish after dish of various delicacies was laid out before him.
Piling a large bowl full of rice, Bai Yunfei began eating with an intensity bordering on ravenousness.
He was wolfing down his food with gusto when the attendant approached, carrying a wine pot. Placing it before Bai Yunfei, he said obsequiously, "Honored guest, your wine is here."
Bai Yunfei shoved a piece of meat into his mouth, scooped two more mouthfuls of rice, and mumbled, "Hmm, leave it there..."
He ignored the attendant after that, single-mindedly demolishing the feast on the table.
The attendant, however, didn't leave immediately. Instead, he eagerly poured a full, large bowl of wine for Bai Yunfei. "Honored guest, your eating style is so... vigorous. You must be a man of true spirit! This humble one has always admired heroic figures like yourself—those who devour meat in great bites and drink wine by the bowlful! Honored guest, allow me to toast you!" he said, bowing respectfully.
"Big bites of meat, bowls of wine... I'm not some Liangshan bandit," Bai Yunfei retorted, amused despite himself.
"Huh? Liangshan?" the attendant asked, puzzled.
"Tch! Enough talk! Go do your job! Leave the wine. I'll drink it if I want to. Don't disturb my meal!" Bai Yunfei snapped, his chopsticks pausing briefly. Yet, inwardly, he was equally confused. Liangshan? What's that? Why did those words just spill out? It must be those strange memories in my head acting up again…
The attendant's expression froze momentarily, a flicker of disappointment crossing his eyes. He quickly recovered, muttering "Please enjoy your meal at your leisure" before retreating.
Bai Yunfei consumed three large bowls of rice before his pace finally began to slow. After finishing a fourth and fifth, he felt about eighty percent full—a testament to the impressive appetite of a Soul Scholar. Since his strength had increased, he'd noticed his capacity for food growing significantly, likely due to his heightened energy expenditure. Though, if necessary, he could easily go two or three days without food, needing only water to sustain himself.
Finally satisfied, Bai Yunfei remembered the pot of wine beside him.
He picked up the already filled bowl, sniffed cautiously. The pungent aroma assaulted his senses, yet beneath it was an undeniable layer of fragrant richness. Hesitating for a moment, his curiosity ultimately won out, and he brought the bowl to his lips.
Unbeknownst to him, the innkeeper and the attendant had been covertly watching his every move from behind the counter. Their initial anxiety grew as he focused solely on the food, entirely ignoring the wine bowl.
"Damn it, does this fellow not like wine? We should have put the drug in the food instead!" the innkeeper muttered under his breath, his eyes darting towards Bai Yunfei.
"The drug works fastest dissolved in liquid, boss. Just wait. Since he ordered the wine, he will drink it," the attendant whispered back. He stole another glance and gasped softly. "Boss! Look! He's going to drink!"
Seeing Bai Yunfei finally lift the bowl, both men released a silent sigh of relief, quickly followed by a ripple of tension.
Bai Yunfei tilted the bowl and took a mouthful. Instantly, it felt like a ball of fire slid down his throat and landed in his stomach. A burning heat ignited in his chest. His face screwed up in acute discomfort. He hastily put the bowl down and gulped several mouthfuls of broth, which helped slightly, though a distinct flush began to spread across his cheeks...
The innkeeper and attendant were dumbstruck. This guy... doesn't know how to drink alcohol!!
Bai Yunfei looked at the wine bowl and shook his head, murmuring to himself, "Sigh... I was too excited that night to remember. Is this what wine tastes like? Not pleasant. Why do so many people like it?"
He pushed the bowl away decisively and resumed eating leisurely, aiming to reach full satiety before retiring for a good rest.
"Hmm?? Something feels... off..." he thought after a few more bites. "My head feels dizzy... What's happening? Am I just too tired?"
Puzzled, he shook his head slightly and decided it was time for bed. But as he glanced up, his heart instantly seized with alarm.
The other patrons who had been eating in the lobby moments before were gone. Not a single soul remained in the entire inn hall besides the innkeeper and attendant behind the counter... and himself!
"Not right... This isn't right!" He lightly tapped his dizzy head. "Everything was fine earlier. Then... the wine! But how could such a tiny sip make me this dizzy? That attendant... he was acting strange, almost desperate for me to drink..."
"And now the surroundings... Why does this feel eerily familiar?"
"Damn it! We've been tricked!"
Panic flared within him. But just as understanding dawned, a yell erupted from the counter.
"He's onto us! Get out here now! Grab him!"
The innkeeper's shout was still echoing when a flood of armed men surged into the hall – pouring through the kitchen door and bursting in from the main entrance. They swiftly surrounded Bai Yunfei, trapping him in the center.
These men had been summoned earlier, immediately after the innkeeper confirmed Bai Yunfei's identity. They'd arrived stealthily, intending to wait until he drank the drugged wine and slumped unconscious before simply binding him. But Bai Yunfei's unexpected inability to handle alcohol – stopping after a mere sip – had ruined their plan. By the time the weak dose began to take effect, Bai Yunfei had sensed something wrong, forcing the innkeeper to call his men out prematurely.
Bai Yunfei's initial panic lasted only a split second. By the time the men rushed out, icy calm had descended. He internally circulated his Soul Force, rapidly dispelling the lingering dizziness, while his eyes darted around, assessing the threat.
Over thirty men encircled him. Each looked robust and capable, clearly skilled fighters among ordinary folk.
Leading them was a man in his thirties with narrow eyes. This was Zhao Ping, one of Zhang Zhenshan's trusted lieutenants, a mid-stage Soul Warrior himself. He glared at Bai Yunfei, a glint of cunning in his eyes.
"He's ingested some of the secret drug! Don't let him recover! Seize him now!" he bellowed.
Simultaneously, Bai Yunfei snorted coldly. He moved before the others could react—charging straight towards Zhao Ping!
His speed was astonishing. Almost before Zhao Ping's shout faded, Bai Yunfei was upon him! Face paling, Zhao Ping scrambled backward, yanking a two-foot shortsword from his waist. Without hesitation, he thrust fiercely at Bai Yunfei.
Bai Yunfei's right hand swept upward. A small dagger materialized in his grip mid-motion. With a sharp Clang!, he deflected the thrusting blade.
He attempted to press his attack, but movement flashed beside him. A heavy broadsword swept towards his extended right arm—another attacker reacting swiftly. Bai Yunfei was forced to halt his momentum, pulling his arm back to evade the slash.
The attackers moved with unnerving coordination. The broadsword barely missed before Zhao Ping's shortsword stabbed forward again! Bai Yunfei had no choice but to leap backwards two urgent steps, narrowly avoiding the piercing strike.
But that retreat plunged him back into the heart of the tightening circle of foes!