"This... Fellow Daoist Yi, feel free to go ahead. Leading the way is just a simple gesture—there's no need for thanks, let alone a meal," Zhang Feng said with slight hesitation, surprised that Yi Tianxing seemed so familiar with the Dragon Gate Inn.
Judging by the way things looked, their relationship wasn't superficial—clearly, they had known each other for some time.
There were very few guests whom Wang Xiao'er treated so warmly. That joy of his was clearly genuine, quite different from how he usually acted with others. Anyone who wasn't blind could see it.
Yi Tianxing even seemed to know the proprietress.
This wasn't just an ordinary relationship.
"No need to stand on ceremony. It's just a meal, not a big deal. Order whatever you like. The 'dark cuisine' here is rather interesting," Yi Tianxing replied with a calm smile and followed Wang Xiao'er upstairs without further comment.
"So the Dragon Gate Inn has been upgraded—it's grown from two stories to four," Yi Tianxing remarked, glancing upward.
"Thanks to the blessings of all our patrons, the inn was upgraded once. Two more stories were added, so we can host more guests. The proprietress often says that the inn owes its current success to Mister Yi," Wang Xiao'er said with a grin, clearly not trying to hide anything.
After all, such a thing couldn't be kept secret from Yi Tianxing. It was obvious to anyone that the inn had improved dramatically, especially in terms of its foundational strength.
"It's been a long time since I've seen the inn. I bet the proprietress has only grown more devastatingly beautiful," Yi Tianxing chuckled, the image of Jin Xiangyu still vivid in his mind.
"Mister Yi will know for sure once you meet her," Wang Xiao'er replied with a smile, tactfully avoiding any comment—he wouldn't dare gossip about the proprietress. That would be a death wish.
"City Lord Yi, if you want to know whether I've become more beautiful, why not come up and see for yourself? I've been longing for your arrival so much that I haven't been able to sleep at night. I've grown thin, you know," a silvery laugh drifted from the top floor, filled with playful teasing.
Just the sound made one's heart flutter and imagination run wild.
"I didn't realize I had such charm, enough to keep the proprietress awake at night. That's quite the crime on my part," Yi Tianxing responded with a smile as he ascended.
Before long, he reached the top floor.
By the window stood a mesmerizing figure, her back graceful and alluring. Even from behind, her beauty stirred one's heart and ignited desire. She was the embodiment of seductive charm, enough to move any soul.
She was stunning beyond words—peerless and enchanting.
"Absolutely breathtaking," Yi Tianxing remarked with admiration.
"What about this then?"
She turned around. Her face was covered in bright red blotches, as if soaked in blood, almost like the skin had been peeled off to reveal raw flesh beneath. The bloody spots looked like they might start dripping. It was a horrifying sight—like a vengeful spirit soaked in gore.
Undeniably, it was terrifying.
"Still beautiful," Yi Tianxing said calmly. He had seen this face before and wasn't frightened by it.
"Some people may be beautiful on the outside but venomous on the inside. That kind of beauty is more terrifying than a ghost. Compared to them, the proprietress is far more beautiful. Outer beauty is nothing—true beauty lies within," he added.
Hearing that, Jin Xiangyu let out a soft, silver-bell laugh and said playfully, "City Lord Yi truly knows how to talk. It's been so long, yet your charm hasn't faded one bit. To think we'd meet again despite the distance—such fate! How about this: why don't you marry me? I'll serve tea, bring water, and… warm your bed."
"Uh…" Yi Tianxing paused in surprise before smiling and replying, "Sure. If the proprietress is willing to marry, then I, Yi Tianxing, dare to wed." There was a trace of seriousness in his tone.
"Haha, City Lord Yi, weren't you in Xuanhuang City? What brings you to the Golden Sand Desert? If I hadn't recognized your aura, I would've thought you an imposter," Jin Xiangyu changed the subject with a laugh.
"How I got here? That's a secret. But isn't it the same with you? You've suddenly appeared here—along with the entire Dragon Gate Inn. I even sent people to look for you back then, but couldn't find a thing. I thought we'd never meet again. Never expected fate to arrange this reunion," he replied.
Jin Xiangyu clearly didn't want to elaborate on how she had moved the whole inn to the desert either.
"Indeed, fate brought us together again. I didn't expect it myself. Who knows if we'll have another chance to meet in the future. I won't be staying long in the desert. I'm merely a passing traveler here," Yi Tianxing said.
He was referring to the Starry Sky Immortal Wandering Talisman, which allowed him to travel the world in spirit. It had a time limit. When he was at the Yellow Rank, each use required a thousand years of recharge and lasted only three months.
However, after his Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower evolved, the talisman was upgraded to the Profound Rank, massively increasing its power. Not only did the cooldown reset, but a single use now allowed for nine months of spirit roaming—nearly a year.
Furthermore, after this usage, the cooldown would shrink to just five hundred years. If he provided it with enough power—like abundant stellar energy—the recharge time could be shortened even further.
It also had another ability: he could end the spirit roaming at any time and return to his body in Xuanhuang City.
This gave him a lifeline. If things went south, he could leave immediately.
But no matter how long he stayed, he would eventually have to leave. In the Golden Sand Desert, he was destined to be a visitor—for now, at least.
"Proprietress, let's have some food and wine. I've been missing your inn's 'dark cuisine' for a long time. Finally, I get to taste it again," Yi Tianxing said with a laugh. "Don't worry—this time, I'm paying. I've brought plenty of Eternal Coins with me."
His words carried a subtle, deeper meaning.
Jin Xiangyu's eyes lit up. With a chuckle, she said, "It's a rare joy to reunite here at the Dragon Gate Inn. Even if I were short on money, I could still afford one banquet. Talking about money now would be slapping my own face."
"Very well. Since the proprietress insists, bring out your best dishes. Of course, you'll provide the food—I'll provide the wine," Yi Tianxing said, not pushing the issue further. With a wave of his hand, a jar of fine wine appeared before him. The jar bore a large character: 'Du'.
"A wine jar marked 'Du'—could this be Du Kang Wine?" Jin Xiangyu's eyes narrowed slightly in curiosity.
From what she knew, only Du Kang's wines were marked with that character.
And for Yi Tianxing to bring it out so solemnly—it certainly wasn't ordinary.
"Good eye. It is Du Kang Wine, and what's more, this batch was personally brewed by Du Kang himself—a true masterpiece. You treat me to food, I treat you to drink," he replied with a smile.
"Du Kang is in your Xuanhuang City?" Jin Xiangyu asked shrewdly.
"That's right. Old Du is now settled in my city, brewing wine every day, enjoying life."
"City Lord Yi is truly remarkable. Not only is your fortune unmatched, but your methods are impressive. Even a wine sage like Du Kang has taken up residence in your city. I'm envious," she said, then shifted tone: "Let's not beat around the bush. As I said last time, the Dragon Gate Inn needs a large supply of Eternal Coins. If possible, I hope our two sides can form a partnership."
She had already realized the tremendous benefits of Eternal Coins. Once fully integrated into circulation, they would cause a sensation and bring endless returns—critical for raising the inn's status.
The Dragon Gate Inn wasn't an ordinary inn—it was an artifact-class building, with mysterious powers and vast potential. But it needed the right conditions to evolve. A stable, circulating currency was one of the essential criteria.
Eternal Coins fit that role perfectly.
This had allowed the inn to seize the opportunity to upgrade. But they still lacked a steady supply. Without more Eternal Coins, they couldn't circulate the currency—turning it from an asset into a burden.
Securing more coins had become a top priority.
And today, as if guided by fate, Yi Tianxing had returned.