Chapter 76 Meng Tao, The Host Of Qilin’s Spirit
*Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang*
Twenty-one bullets, twenty-one shots, and thirty-three seconds. The four assassins turned into corpses with forehead shots, ruptured eyes, and holes at their throats.
"Hmpf," The young man snorted as he wiped the blood from his face, followed by stealing their storage rings and weapons.
After placing everything in his storage ring, he closed his eyes for a moment and opened his eyes. The amber eyes once again turned to brown. He then walked away calmly.
Pan Tao (Meng Tao) is an illegitimate heir of the previous leader of the Meng clan, born to a commoner woman. His mother died during childbirth. His father also eventually died of an unknown illness when he was four years old.
After that, his grandfather, Meng Yi Jun took over the position once again and also decided to groom Meng Tao as the next clan head. However, many people were against it, mainly due to his inability to cultivate despite being born with Ether particles.
Meng Tao started to train from the age of 8 and yet, he had to make a breakthrough to the 1-circle realm. The reason for this is the Qilin. For some unknown reason, Meng Tao's body is storing the spirit of this creature from the legends. All the ether he absorbed from the crystals gets consumed by this spirit, instead.
In return, he could use some of its abilities. However, he can only keep it secret from everyone. Neither the Qilin nor Meng Tao knows why it happens when the Meng clan itself is a minor noble clan, founded around 300 years ago.
Putting aside his powers for a moment, he had this opponent in the form of a cousin who is just as qualified as him for the position of the clan head. So, naturally, assassination attempts were common.
His grandfather knew what's going on in the clan. He wasn't strong enough to crush the opposition with his fist either. In the end, he made a deal with the elders that Meng Yu Han will be announced as the next clan head as soon as the latter turns 21. It was only one year away.
He thought everything would go well but the insecure Meng Yu Han still sent the assassins after Meng Tao.
Unknown to them, Meng Tao was good friends with Lin Cai, one of the cousins of Lin Xue. After Lin Cai's parents received a portion of the weapons and bullets from the Lin Clan, this 16-year-old girl sent them to Meng Tao.
Within a week, he combined the gun shooting with his own techniques to become formidable enough to take out a three-circle realm and 3 two-circle realm assassins with his own hands.
Back to the present, after finishing them off, he was going back in the same direction that he came from. The town center is where the Meng Mansion is also located.
On his way, he crossed the Bear Inn. When his eyes fell on it, he thought about Mark and Alina, "those two. There's something off about those two. Even my eyes couldn't find anything, back when I first saw them. But, then again…"
Mark's image disappeared, leaving behind only Alina's image in his head. A grin escaped from Meng Tao, "that woman looks very pretty. I wonder whether they are a couple. Considering how she walks a step behind the man, all the way, she might be his servant."
As soon as he mumbled those words, a tiny beast appeared on his shoulder. It has the head of a sage dragon with long whiskers but there are antlers on top of its head like a deer, has the body of a horse but was fully scaled. Strangely, it was only visible to him.
The chimera-type beast opened its mouth and spoke in a human tongue, "kid, I already told you before. Those two are heaven-defying beings that go against the will of the heavens.
And people like them either bring peace to the world or cause great destruction. Unfortunately, most people in the past history only turned bad. You already have enough on your head. Better stay away from unnecessary trouble until I regain enough of my strength."
"I guess I'll listen to you." Meng Tao continued to walk.
Meanwhile, inside of the rooms at the inn, Mark was formulating a plan as the Android projected the map of the Empire with her eyes.
"Hmm, let's see… I'm now in the town of Daqing. After having lunch, let's depart to Huqiu city.
Then, tomorrow, we'll go to Tianping city. On Day 3, after briefly stopping at Maxong town, we'll leave for Shangwan city.
Shangwan city is the headquarters of Sui Province. The business opportunities will be high. So, let's stay there for a couple of days and see if I can sell the weapons in bulk. Maybe, I can use the loophole to earn more money, hehe…
Anyway, on Day 5, I'll leave for Tinghe city. On Day 6, after briefly stopping at Luozhuang town, let's leave for Xinfang city.
Xinfang is around 150 km away from Imperial City. I guess we can directly go home, on the seventh day without stopping at any town or village."
After finishing the plan, Mark took a short nap while Alina sat on the floor and kept an eye on him.
At around noon, Mark and Alina checked out of the inn.
The innkeeper at the reception desk was grinning to himself as he looked at their backs, "the guy looks like he was very hungry. Must have spent quite a stamina during the past few hours. If I have such a heavenly beauty with me, I would have made love for all day. I'm envious. Damn that fellow."
Mark and Alina didn't bother to look around and went directly to the nearby restaurant that the innkeeper recommended.
The Golden Dragon restaurant is the most popular restaurant in the town of Daqing and where the wealthy townsmen and visitors eat there.
Not only did Mark and Alina look like an attractive couple, but they also looked well-off. So, the guards allowed them inside with respect.
As they stepped inside, they saw little customers inside, having their food.
"Hello, Welcome to Golden Dragon restaurant." The manager greeted them with a smile. "Would you like to eat on the ground level or need a private chamber on the first level?"
Mark glanced at others who are staring at them, or more likely, at Alina. He doesn't want to bother with those gazes. He replied, "Private dining is better."
The manager's smile became wider upon hearing that. "How should I address you?"
"My name is Lu Zhen and she's Alina," Mark replied.
"Lu? A commoner? And Alina? What kind of name is that?" The manager fell into thoughts but he quickly recovered and spoke, "Lord Lu, Lady Alina, please follow me."
They followed him to a narrow staircase in the corner that leads to the first floor.
Upon reaching the end of the staircase, what he saw is a series of rooms of about ten in number with a curtain at the entrance. Each is as big as 100 sq. ft, big enough to even take a rest, much less eat in peace.
Mark took the very first one, nearby the stairs.
The inside was spacious as he thought. After he took the seat, the manager handed him a scroll with the items and their prices written on it, "Lord Lu, may I know what you would like to eat?"
Mark looked at the menu. There were roughly ten items written. The most expensive is the Imperial Roast Duck, which costs nearly 5 gold coins.
He had eaten once in the Imperial city. It was 16 gold coins there. Maybe, it's because it is a town and the chef's skill level will be low, the cost is also less here.
"Imperial Roast Duck, Shangwan braised chicken, Hmm… Wensi tofu, and hmm… you know what, forget it. Bring each dish from the list."
As Mark gave the order where the total bill amounts to twenty gold coins, Manager Do was on high clouds and hurried downstairs.
Half an hour later, four beautiful-looking servants came upstairs along with the dishes. But, before they reach the chamber they need to serve in, a voice interrupted from nearby.
"You came at the perfect time, Manager Do. Send them here and entertain the young master."
"Lord Duan, we have an esteemed customer. Give me a couple of minutes." Manager Do spoke politely as he gestured the girls to get into the chamber. After all, he had ten dishes with him. "Lord Lu, here are the dishes you ordered."
"Lord Lu? That's not a noble surname. I wonder who he is." The young man in his late twenties raised his eyebrows as he followed the manager inside. The waitresses were placing the dishes on the table. But, his eyes fell on the girl.
"This girl…" Upon seeing Alina, his eyes lit up. "Duan Zhong, forget those bitches, this beauty will satisfy the young master. Let's hope this Lord Lu has a lower background."