The stalls have all closed, leaving the streets empty and deserted.

Adding to the sweltering weather at the moment, a person was draped in a black cloak, which made them particularly eye-catching. Juxi followed her all the way, stopping in front of a not-so-well-known tavern, and paused to listen to the noise inside.

Remembering this was where Yuanhui had first brought him, as usual, the tavern at this time was filled with customers. Juxi couldn't help but wonder if she would stay here?

With concern for the girl's safety, he comforted her, "This isn't a place for decent folks, the girl might get into trouble!"

But the girl did not bypass this inn. Leading the horse, she continued to the other end of the road. There was another smaller tavern ahead, named "Yixiang," which sounded nice but was sparsely populated.

The reputation of this tavern was not very good, mainly because of the clientele... The two burly men sitting at the front desk with scars all over their bellies and arms were clearly not legitimate businessmen.

One of them was a regular customer of mine who had commissioned me for a hefty sum before. As the innkeeper looked up from the barrel of white wine, he sized up the customer. The stranger in the overcoat stood stiffly in front of the bar, silent.

"What would you like?"

"Do you have draft beer?" the girl spoke up, but her tone immediately displeased the innkeeper.

The innkeeper had never heard of draft beer, but Juxi had tasted it before in the Western barbarian lands. Now in the homeland, the idea of tasting draft beer was laughable.

Although a bit discouraged, the girl flung more than fifty taels of silver from her bundle onto the table and ordered the innkeeper, "Bring whatever drinks you have, and also bring some of your specialty dishes, I'm very hungry right now!"

"Um," the innkeeper rubbed his beard nervously, "Sir, just wait here, I'll bring you the dishes right away!"

The innkeeper wiped the sweat off his hands onto his clothes, encountering such a generous patron for the first time, he was very enthusiastic about his work. The whole kitchen busied itself with serving the girl, pouring wine into large ceramic cups and slaughtering a pig at the back.

"A strange person indeed, better be cautious," thought Juxi as he entered this somewhat rundown tavern. Today, he was wearing a worn-out hunter's leather vest and carrying an ordinary iron sword on his back. Nothing out of the ordinary, he was just like an ordinary hunter.

But in this place in the Capital, no one dared to carry weapons openly. Even if they did, no one boldly displayed a sword on their back like him! Otherwise, before you even stepped out, the surrounding guards would tie you up... Those who were less kind might directly execute you on the spot!

So, as Juxi passed by the girl's table, many people kept their distance from him out of respect. However, he had no intention of sitting down; instead, he took a sip of wine.

"I'm looking for a place to drink."

"We... We're full!" the innkeeper muttered fearfully, all eyes still fixed on the mysterious black iron sword on Juxi's back, making him a bit annoyed.

"With your status, you should go to... the Capital Inn?"

"Really? But I prefer it here."

"But... we really don't have any more space." The innkeeper almost cried in his tone.

"Don't worry, I'll pay you." Juxi said softly, taking out two ingots totaling about a hundred taels of silver from his pocket. He had only brought this much with him today, and if he had to spend more, he would really be left with nothing.

"..."

The innkeeper's heart fluttered a little, and he was about to instruct the waiter to make room for Juxi, but Juxi refused. He thanked the innkeeper for his kindness, saying, "No need, I'll just sit next to that friend over there and have a drink."

And thus, the story began. Juxi sat calmly opposite the girl, never once casting a glance at her, which made her somewhat uneasy.

At that moment, a tall blond man stood up and walked to the bar, keeping a watchful eye on the girl since she entered the tavern. Judging from the appearance of a Westerner, it was clear that he was the girl's companion and had not fled!

Without a word, the blond man stood in front of the girl, who remained undisturbed, as if she had found the words to persuade Juxi.

Slowly pouring a glass of wine for herself, she took a sip, and to her surprise... she almost spit it out!

"Hmph, are all barbarians like you? It seems that this place is full of uncouth people!"