Zhu Xu suddenly spoke, and the innkeeper didn't react for a moment.
"Does he want me to do magic tricks?" Zhu Xu looked at Zhao Xue and then at Xiu Yong.
The former looked bewildered, and the latter covered his eyes.
"Miss, you misunderstand. I was asking about the two young gentlemen with you."
The innkeeper, realizing his mistake, interrupted Zhu Xu's wild speculation.
"Two young gentlemen? You can do magic tricks?"
Zhu Xu looked at the two beside her again.
The scene was as if a mistress was interrogating her pets who had gained sentience behind her back.
The surrounding guests, observing the peculiar atmosphere among the three of them, found it strange.
Zhao Xue frowned and looked at Xiu Yong, and Zhu Xu's gaze also turned to Xiu Yong.
Xiu Yong cleared his throat helplessly, meeting Zhao Xue's gaze. "Brother Zhao, would you like to try? Didn't we practice quite well in the corridor just now?"
As Xiu Yong spoke, Zhao Xue instantly understood what was happening, while Zhu Xu remained bewildered, shocked that these two actually knew human magic tricks.
Zhu Xu couldn't help but ask, "Why have you never mentioned this to me?"
Zhao Xue's brows, which had just relaxed, furrowed again.
If Zhu Xu weren't present, performing magic tricks or even overturning this entire inn would be as calm as playing chess with the Wine Immortal, as serene as the windless deep sea, for Zhao Xue.
With Zhu Xu by his side, Zhao Xue felt as if he had imposed a spell on himself, and every move he made required him to glance at Zhu Xu first.
For instance, at this moment, Zhao Xue would be uneasy if Zhu Xu knew that he had just clashed with Xiu Yong.
Zhao Xue said, "Xuxu, they've misunderstood. Let's go first."
Misunderstood?
Before Zhu Xu could figure out the nature of the misunderstanding, she subconsciously trusted Zhao Xue, whose tone and expression were normal, and stood up with him.
Seeing this, Xiu Yong also quickly got up to leave with them.
"Hey, please wait. If you gentlemen can put on a show for everyone, I'll not only waive your room fees but also your meals for the next few days."
The innkeeper, seeing them about to leave, hurried after them.
Zhao Xue, holding Zhu Xu's hand, did not stop. The still bewildered Zhu Xu could only look back curiously.
"Wait a moment, didn't you see the innkeeper chasing after you? Everyone has come to support you, and you refuse a toast only to drink a penalty?"
The innkeeper, who was over fifty, couldn't possibly catch up to them, but the human world was never short of busybodies who enjoyed a crowd.
"I'm asking you." Several men blocked Zhao Xue and the other two like a wall, and more people were approaching from not far away.
Zhao Xue's phoenix eyes narrowed into an abyss, and the men blocking their path naturally noticed Zhao Xue's death-stare.
However, as if emboldened by the numbers, they felt an unconscious fearlessness.
"Why don't you two try to perform something for everyone?"
Zhu Xu stood between Zhao Xue and Xiu Yong, holding Zhao Xue's hand with one and tugging on Xiu Yong's sleeve with the other, pulling them together. She whispered.
As Zhu Xu spoke, the demonic energy Zhao Xue had been gathering in his other hand instantly vanished without a trace, and his phoenix eyes transformed from an abyss into a gentle spring.
Xiu Yong, on the other hand, was in a predicament. After Zhu Xu spoke, Xiu Yong became even more flustered. He didn't know any magic tricks, nor could he use spiritual energy again!
Seeing Xiu Yong holding his forehead in distress, Zhu Xu immediately poked him and then winked.
"Please agree. Everyone has waited so long."
Xiu Yong froze for a moment, then immediately nodded, "Alright."
In the Nine Heavens, Xiu Yong had seen Zhu Xu get into trouble many times. Whenever Zhu Xu was caught by the Jade Emperor after causing trouble, she would always give Xiu Yong a meaningful wink.
Now, with another such wink, it felt as if Xiu Yong had been transported back to the past in an instant.
Yet, upon waking, a vast and long chasm still separated them.
"If you agree, then perform quickly!" Seeing that Zhu Xu and the others had relented, the crowd's spirit grew even more fervent.
"We will perform, but their props are all broken.
We came into the city precisely to purchase props.
Would you be able to let us go purchase props first?"
The purpose of these people was to watch the magic show, so they naturally would not refuse Zhu Xu's request.
"Yes, let's go."
The leading man among them spoke, then beckoned, and the crowd parted, creating a path for them to leave.
Seeing this, Zhu Xu's face lit up, and she immediately pulled Zhao Xue and Xiu Yong through the crowd.
A considerable distance from the inn later, Xiu Yong finally felt a sense of relief. "Where do we go next..."
Before Xiu Yong could finish, a soft, small hand covered his mouth.
Xiu Yong looked at Zhu Xu with confusion. Zhu Xu's eyes glanced behind Xiu Yong, and then she continued his sentence.
"Let's go to the West Market first."
As Zhu Xu spoke, Zhao Xue abruptly pulled her to the other side. "Don't be too close to him."
Zhao Xue's expression was displeased, but his tone remained soft.
He was jealous. Zhu Xu nodded, a smile involuntarily creeping onto her lips.
"Hey, why are you following us?"
A moment later, Zhu Xu seized an opportunity, pretending to have just noticed the people behind them, and turned to ask.
"What? Trying to escape?" The leader had not intended to hide their pursuit. Now that Zhu Xu had noticed, he asked openly.
"Brother, you're overthinking it. Our things are still there, how could we escape."
At most, they would wait until everyone dispersed in the evening and then quietly go back to get their luggage.
Zhu Xu said this while thinking. She interpreted the meaning of "saying one thing to the face and another behind one's back" with perfect clarity.
"Since that's the case, please proceed..."
"Proceed..."
...
As the leader spoke, those behind him echoed, imbuing the word "proceed" with a palpable menace.
"It's like this, our magic relies on these props.
If you all get to see the props we've made, not only will you learn our craft, but when you watch later, it won't be as interesting, will it?" Su Dan Novel Network
As Zhu Xu spoke, the men opposite exchanged glances.
Soon, one of them stepped forward.
"Brothers, rest assured. I'll keep an eye on them. I doubt these outsiders would dare do anything!"
The man who stepped forward had thick black hair, tanned skin, a broad face with sharp features. At first glance, he appeared strong and sturdy.
Perhaps due to this, the others had no objections.