Chapter 54
Chapter 54: No. 1, Royal Beast Street
Su Yan woke up sore and heavy-limbed, as if every bone in her body had been wrung out.
Yesterday’s opening had left her high on adrenaline. She’d worked until she forgot what fatigue was.
She’d assumed three or five guests would be decent.
Instead, every room had filled.
She’d even diverted overflow guests to neighboring inns—earning both goodwill and profit.
By the time she finally lay down, it was already deep into the night.
Today, she’d promised Little Hao an entire day.
She didn’t break promises.
Even if she couldn’t do something perfectly, she would still squeeze out every last ounce of effort before admitting defeat.
Bai Kai Xin was still asleep in his room.
Little Xian Zi was already up. He used a water-type dust-cleansing spell to sweep the inn clean until it gleamed, the air itself seeming to brighten as floating grit vanished. Then he prepared breakfast for the guests—hot porridge, fragrant buns, crisp side dishes—steam and aroma spilling into the hall.
Seeing Su Yan awake so early, Little Xian Zi looked startled. “Sister Su, why aren’t you resting?”
“I’m going out.” Su Yan rubbed her temples. “Call a carriage for me.”
“Okay.”
Her head ached in that familiar, irritating way. She missed vitality-restoring pills.
One pill, and every unpleasant feeling vanished.
In her heart, she called out—like she did every day: Little Mei… has the system finished updating?
Silence.
As cold as ever.
Su Yan sighed. The update speed was ridiculous. Did it lose its connection or something?
Little Xian Zi returned from outside. “Sister Su, the carriage is here. Should I have him wait so you can eat first?”
“No,” Su Yan said. “I’m not hungry.”
She stretched, joints protesting. “Tell Bai Kai Xin I might not be back until night.”
“That long?”
“Maybe,” Su Yan said. “Or maybe I’ll be back early. I don’t know yet. I’m going.”
She waved and left.
Little Xian Zi watched her go, quiet awe sitting in his chest.
He’d heard Bai Kai Xin say it before—Su Yan had opened this inn on a whim. A place to live. A job for Bai Kai Xin.
Yet that casual decision had changed everything.
Little Xian Zi had once been a beggar at the roadside, cheated by friends until he had nothing left.
When he’d stood on the edge of a river, ready to jump, she had appeared with Bai Kai Xin and said, calm as if discussing the weather, “If you don’t want to live, then sell your worthless life to me.”
—
“No. 1, Royal Beast Street,” Su Yan told the coachman.
The coachman’s eyes widened. “That’s the noble district. My carriage can’t enter.”
“Is that so?” Su Yan blinked herself awake. “Then take me to the closest place.”
“That, I can do.”
The coachman snapped the reins, and the carriage rolled forward, wheels humming over stone.
The ride was steady enough that Su Yan dozed off again, head tipping against the side of the carriage as the world rocked in gentle rhythm.
When the coachman finally called her name, she woke with a start, still half asleep.
“We’re here,” he said, looking at her oddly. “No. 1, Royal Beast Street.”
Su Yan yawned. “Didn’t you say you couldn’t enter?”
“Someone was waiting at the entrance to guide us in,” the coachman replied. “That’s why we were allowed through.”
Su Yan understood immediately.
Pei Xuan had sent someone.
He was… unexpectedly meticulous.
Su Yan climbed down and said, “Go back to the inn and settle the fare with Little Xian Zi.”
“Sure!”
The carriage turned and left.
Su Yan looked around Royal Beast Street.
The name sounded grand, and the street lived up to it—a wide, flawless road, broad enough for twelve carriages side by side. Not a speck of dirt. Not a stray weed. The flowers and shrubs along the edges were lush, clipped and perfect, as if this place had never known decay.
She was almost impressed enough to laugh.
As that thought crossed her mind, a black metal gate swung open.
A streak of black shot toward her like lightning—
—and slammed into her arms.
“Little Hao,” Su Yan said, catching him with a startled breath. His body was warm and solid, smelling faintly of clean water and sun-warmed fur. “How did you know I was here?”
Pei Xuan followed behind at an unhurried pace, looking as untouchable as he had in the teahouse. “His sense of smell is good.”
“That’s… convenient.”
Su Yan held Little Hao against her shoulder and looked at Pei Xuan. “So, Mr. Pei—do you have plans today?”
“Mr. Pei?” Pei Xuan echoed, one eyebrow lifting.
“If you don’t like it, I can call you something else.”
“Just call me Pei Xuan.”
“All right.” Su Yan nodded. “I’m Su Yan. Call me Sister Su if you want. It’s just a form of address.”
Pei Xuan’s gaze stayed on her a beat longer than necessary. “I don’t have any plans.”
Su Yan realized she’d gotten an answer and pressed on quickly. “Little Hao seems fascinated by the outside world. That’s why he keeps trying to run out. So… why don’t we go to the Divine Beast Academy today? I’m taking the entrance exam tomorrow. I can familiarize myself with the place.”
“You’re taking the Divine Beast Academy exam?” Pei Xuan looked genuinely surprised.
“Yes,” Su Yan said.
“What talent?” he asked.
Su Yan adjusted Little Hao so his front paws rested on her shoulder, freeing one hand. Then she lifted her fingers.
A flame bloomed—small, bright, steady. It cast warm light across her knuckles and danced in Little Hao’s curious eyes.
“Fire-element profundity,” she said.
Pei Xuan’s golden eyes narrowed slightly. “How strong?”
“Green Rank.”
“With fire-element profundity,” Pei Xuan said, “as long as the student isn’t fundamentally flawed, the academy usually won’t refuse.”
Something in his expression hinted at confusion, like he couldn’t place her. “Did you awaken it as a child?”
“No,” Su Yan said. “A lucky chance.”
Little Hao reached out and batted at the flame with a fluffy paw.
A heartbeat later, the smell of singed fur drifted up.
Su Yan burst out laughing. Pei Xuan’s lips twitched, and for the first time, real amusement flashed in his eyes.
“The Divine Beast Academy’s dean is visiting today,” Pei Xuan said. “If you want to meet him, wait a while.”
“Really?” Su Yan’s eyes brightened. “That would be perfect.”
A good first impression mattered.
Back on Earth, connections could outweigh skill.
She had a feeling this world wasn’t any different.
Su Yan rubbed Little Hao’s head. “Then… may I tour your estate while we wait?”
Pei Xuan stepped aside, one hand gesturing her in. “The honor is mine.”
Beyond the gate stood a screen wall painted with mountains and rivers, so vivid it looked almost real—mist curling around painted peaks, water glinting as if it might move.
Past it, a vast lake opened up, scattered with blooming plants across the surface and colorful koi slipping through the water below. The air carried a cool, clean dampness, like living water breathed here.
They followed a flat bluestone path for nearly a hundred meters before reaching a long stretch of steps.
Up those steps was a broad platform—and beyond it, a landscape that matched the screen wall: mountains and forest rising like a carved dream. Between the trees, tall buildings stood in imposing clusters, roofs layered like waves, pillars thick as ancient trunks.
Su Yan stared.
No wonder Pei Xuan’s true form was enormous.
His home was, too.
“Is it just you and Little Hao living here?” she asked.
“For now,” Pei Xuan said. His gaze flicked toward the lake. “That is Little Hao’s bathing pool. It draws living water from the earth veins.”
Su Yan looked down at Little Hao.
Since colliding into her at the gate, he hadn’t shown the slightest interest in getting down.
Pei Xuan spoke again, as casually as if offering tea. “If you want to live here, you can. There are many empty rooms.”
Then he continued forward without waiting for her answer—like he already knew it.
Su Yan huffed a small laugh and followed. “I have an inn. I don’t lack a place to stay. But… where’s your wife?”