THE INNKEEPER

The day started out normal, yet a single decision seemed to change the fate of all the guests of the Midnight Inn. Z wanted to get hammered in an attempt to alleviate the guests’ sorrow, and Wu Kong delivered in a spectacular fashion.

Dazed from drinking the most potent of elixirs, the guests from a single restaurant began to sing and dance, reveling in whatever thought came to mind without a single hint of inhibition. More importantly, anyone and everyone who saw them immediately identified the state they were in.

Such a state was the closest to an enlightenment without actually experiencing one – at least in terms of effects. After all, their strength would be raised and their cultivation strengthened without their realm actually being elevated.

Curious as to what caused such a scene, many guests followed the trail and ended up at the same restaurant, and ended up taking a cup of the elixir Wu Kong was doling out without reservation.

From one to ten, to a hundred to a thousand, up until it was tens of millions of the Inns guests, they all drank the elixir that seemed to never end. Many of them managed to tolerate the drunk without becoming dazed, but most did not.

So began the Party-that-never-ends! At least, that’s what some of those who didn’t get dazed called in. In truth, the party merely lasted six continuous days.

That is how long it took most of those who drank the elixir to regain their mental clarity. Of course, hundreds of thousands stayed in such a state for days after that as well, but compared to the original tens of millions, it was a small number.

Or maybe many of them ended up returning to wherever they came from since they weren’t in the state of mind to pay the Inn its due rent.

Regardless, six days had gone by when Z groaned as he rubbed his eyes, trying to get used to his new eyesight. Naturally, it was better than before. Yet when he opened his eyes, the immense surge of information gave him a headache – much like a hangover.

“There, there, now your mental pain has become your physical pain,” said Wu Kong, who was sitting nearby, his legs up on a table. In the distance, the Wishing Well could be seen, as well as a long line leading up to it.

This was the favourite spot for Mr. Wu, as Z remembered. He even had a few friends who gathered here as well, and met over coffee and drinks.

“What… what happened?” Z asked as he lifted himself off the floor.

“Just what you wanted. You got hammered. Though, for you specifically, I would not advise such a thing. In your dazed state, you revealed a few things that maybe you should not have.”

“Huh?” Z said, struggling to understand. He tried to remember, but had no memories from the moment he took that drink.

“You won’t remember much. After all, most of your brain was occupied with keeping you alive, and absorbing the elixir you drank. Anyway, do you recognize this?”

Wu Kong summoned a projection of a sword and mimicked an attack that caused Z to immediately freeze. That was… that was…

“Yeah, I thought you might. I would ask you why you know that old brat, Zareks sword technique, but I suppose that would be an invasion of privacy. But I’m sure you understand, this is not the kind of thing you should be showing to others easily.”

Z merely nodded, his nervousness clearly still there. Zarek was one of the first human kings, and recently Z had started seeing some of his memories, triggered through his own blood. Through that, Z had inadvertently learned some of his techniques, despite the fact that he didn’t really prefer them.

More importantly, this was definitely not a secret that could be easily revealed. Though Z liked to play around, he was not a kid and not a fool. He’d seen what happened to those who revealed their treasures but didn’t have the strength to protect them.

Just as Moon had been used for her body’s incredible abilities, if Z was captured, he could be used to retrieve the king’s memories.

Of course, within the Inn Z felt safe. Instead, the reason he was nervous was that he didn’t want the secret being revealed. That would cause him problems whenever he left the Inn, not to mention it might even affect him within the Inn.

He had a good relationship with Mr. Wu, but if he asked him for a favor that would be highly unprofessional.

“You do not need to worry too much, little Z. I have a very close connection to the human race, believe it or not. I won’t reveal your secret. But knowing your secret puts me in a certain predicament I had been avoiding.”

“If you are troubled as a result of my actions, I truly apologise,” said Z, feeling guilty. “Is there anything I can do to help you resolve your issue?”

“Indeed there is, little one. Indeed there is. For various reasons, I have been avoiding the Innkeeper, just as he has avoided me. But now, I can no longer ignore him. But to barge up to him would not be proper. I need you to deliver a letter of intent to the Innkeeper to arrange a formal meeting.

“Such a thing is actually too hasty an act between those like us, but given the state of affairs, it must be so. Yet handling a letter of intent is not something easy. Even if I mask you from its aura, and the energy it carries, performing a task on behalf of a Dao being will forever alter your Karma. Is that something you can accept?”

Z’s eyes widened and he immediately tried to bolt up, yet Wu Kong’s ability kept him from moving.

“None of that formality business. Just think about my proposal, and give me an answer in due time. You do not need to take up such responsibility. I can send it even without you.”

“There is no need to hesitate. I will deliver the message to the Innkeeper,” Z said solemnly. There were many things he didn’t know, including the fact that Wu Kong was a Dao Lord up until just a few moments ago. What he did know, however, was he trusted the Innkeeper irrevocably, and so if there was any danger, the Innkeeper would handle it for him.

Plus, it was his duty to help the Inn in any way that he could, and delivering the message of a Dao being was absolutely one of those.

Of course, Z didn’t know for sure that Wu Kong was really a Dao being. He merely claimed to be one. Yet for some reason, he didn’t doubt him either.

“Excellent determination. Then take this,” said the monkey, and held out a metal scroll container.

The scroll container was relatively simple. Its middle was orange, adorned with the figure of a golden monkey wrapping around its length. Both sides of the scroll were similarly sealed with large, round golden screws in an oval shape, presenting a pleasing image overall.

At a single glance, one could tell that it probably came from noble origins, yet at the same time it did not seem overwhelmingly gaudy either.

It was a simple scroll container, and when Z grabbed it he felt that it did not even weigh more than a few pounds. Yet at the same time, its weight was greater than anything Z had ever touched.

It was not physical weight. No, Z could not tell accurately what kind of weight it was, yet it pressed down on his very being to the extreme limit of what he could tolerate, as if it knew just how heavy to be.

For some reason, Z also knew that he had to deliver this scroll by land. He could not teleport to the Innkeepers office, and instead had to walk there on his own two feet, as if it would complete some kind of ceremony.

Wu Kong did not speak once more, and instead looked away from Z wistfully. Indeed, he had been specifically avoiding the Innkeeper. Or more specifically, he had been avoiding confronting the Innkeeper with the truth of why he had come to the Inn. He had hoped to maintain such a state for a few hundred years at the very least, but he just had to go and see something he shouldn’t have seen.

But now that the letter intent had been sent, the monkey couldn’t help but wonder about the Innkeeper. He had heard rumors, of course, but it could not compare with seeing the man in person – if he indeed was a man.

Meanwhile, one dragged step at a time, Z moved towards the Innkeepers office. At his current rate, it would take him days, perhaps even weeks to reach the office.

Though, due to the different rate of the flow of time, a much shorter period would have gone by for Lex.

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