"First, within the inn, the use of weapons is strictly forbidden. No fighting is allowed. No matter the grudge, even if you encounter your father's killer, you cannot raise a hand inside the inn. If you must fight, do it outside. Anyone who starts a fight inside will be expelled and appropriately punished. Moreover, regardless of whether you're a demon, monster, or ghost, once you enter the inn, you are a guest of the Dragon Gate Inn. The inn welcomes all guests."
"Second, to stay in the inn, you must pay a daily fee. If you can't afford to continue your stay, you'll be kicked out. Only when you can pay again can you re-enter. Payment can be made with money or valuables. Generally, anyone who can make it to the inn is capable of paying."
"Third, the inn is not a pawnshop. Any items used as payment cannot be redeemed once given."
Jin Xiangyu spoke these rules with a light smile.
These weren't just rules — they were laws.No one was allowed to break them. If anyone did, the consequences would be severe — a fact obvious from how long the inn had lasted, and from the respectful demeanor of the guests toward Jin Xiangyu.
If you could help it, it was best not to break the inn's rules.
"Alright, your food is here. Enjoy it! If you change your mind, feel free to come find me. I'll be waiting for you in my room~" she said, blinking flirtatiously, her beautiful eyes filled with a teasing light.
If it weren't for that terrifying face...
At this moment, nearly every man in the inn would probably have been consumed by lust.Even so, many still secretly swallowed their saliva, entranced.
As they watched Jin Xiangyu sway her hips and walk upstairs, more sounds of gulping could be heard around the inn.
"That face isn't disguised,"Yi Tianxing's gaze sharpened. At first, judging from her figure and demeanor, he suspected Jin Xiangyu might be using a disguise or wearing a mask.But with his innate Yin-Yang Eyes, he could detect no flaws — he was 90% sure that it was her real face. She was born that way.
With such a face growing up, the pressure she must have endured was unimaginable.
After all, the world favors beauty and despises ugliness. Like an ugly duckling shunned by a flock, a person with such a face would naturally face rejection, disdain, and harsh gossip.The burden would be unbearable for most.
For her to survive and thrive, her inner strength must be astonishing.
"She is truly a remarkable woman," Yi Tianxing mused to himself.
"Guest, your food is ready,"At that moment, a waiter appeared, carrying a tray covered with three dish covers.
Clack, clack, clack!
The waiter swiftly placed the dishes before Yi Tianxing.
"Behold — Green Lotus Frog Soup!"
The waiter lifted the first cover. Instantly, a dazzling light burst forth, and a strange, enticing aroma filled the air, spreading through the inn.
Gulp!Nearby diners instinctively swallowed.
As the glow faded, a clear broth appeared — pure white as jade, dotted with thumb-sized lotus leaves floating gently on top. Beneath the leaves lay a vividly lifelike frog, appearing to cool itself under the shade.It was like a beautiful painting, stunning in both color and aroma.
"For food to glow — this culinary skill is already at a transcendent level,"Yi Tianxing nodded inwardly.Though he didn't know how it would taste, based on its appearance and scent, it couldn't be too bad.
"And next, the Golden Fried Rice!"
The waiter uncovered the second dish. Another wave of golden light radiated outward.
There, a serving of golden fried rice emitted an alluring aroma that stirred every cell in Yi Tianxing's body into excited agitation. His taste buds salivated uncontrollably.He was filled with an urgent desire to dig in.
"What exquisite Golden Fried Rice. It should rival Lai He's craftsmanship,"Yi Tianxing evaluated to himself.
"And lastly — Jade and Gold Platter."
The waiter uncovered the third dish.
Within the glow lay glistening golden corn and peanuts, each grain shining brightly.Their vibrant color and plumpness stimulated an almost irresistible appetite.
The aroma was simply overwhelming.
"To think a black inn would serve cuisine of this caliber... I thought they'd be dishing out something like human meat buns! But... wait."
Yi Tianxing, reaching for his chopsticks, suddenly grew wary.He swept a glance around the inn.Most guests were eating their own roasted meat or wild fruits — very few were ordering from the inn.
The likely reason: the food here was too expensive.
Still, he grew cautious.This was a black inn after all — he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
What if the food was drugged?
With that thought, he activated his innate Yin-Yang Eyes.His pupils turned black and white, two divine lights swirling within them.
When he looked again at the food —
His face changed drastically.
This... wasn't gourmet food at all! It was horrifying dark cuisine!
What he had seen earlier had merely been an illusion!The true appearance of the dishes was enough to make one's scalp tingle.
Starting with the Green Lotus Frog Soup:The lotus leaves and broth were real, but the "soup" wasn't ordinary — it was pureed frog juice!He could even see the minced frog flesh floating inside.The raw, bloody smell was unmistakable.It was live frog juice!Who the hell could drink this stuff without vomiting?
It was nauseating to the extreme.
Next, the Golden Fried Rice:Even worse — instead of golden, fluffy rice, it looked like a sticky mess of golden-colored feces.Egg yolk and rice grains were clumped together into a repulsive mound.
Just the sight of it could make a person gag.
Finally, the Jade and Gold Platter:Forget corn and peanuts — the platter was filled with greasy, shiny dung beetles!Those terrifying bugs glittered ominously under the light.
This wasn't fine cuisine. It was outright black-hearted dark cuisine.
No sane person would willingly touch it!
Yet here it was, served proudly before him.
"A black inn, truly a black inn,"Yi Tianxing's heart shuddered.
They even used illusion magic to trick the eyes into seeing gourmet food!If he hadn't been cautious, he might have eaten these abominations without realizing.
However...
"Strange,"he thought."Despite everything, my food cells are going crazy with hunger. Why?"
He suppressed his anger and reconsidered.Illusions could deceive the eyes, but they couldn't deceive the tongue.Moreover, other guests who had eaten didn't seem to notice anything odd.
There had to be more to it.
If this really was true dark cuisine, it might actually be top-tier — legendary dark cuisine focused not on appearance but on pushing the limits of flavor.
"If that's the case, it might be worth a try,"he decided.
After all, what did he have to fear from a few weird dishes?If it was truly inedible, he could simply stop.
Resolving himself, he picked up the spoon, lifted a bit of the repulsive Green Lotus Frog Soup, and brought it to his mouth.
He could even see a frog's severed head floating in the broth, its dead eyes staring at him.
But with his mind prepared, Yi Tianxing wasn't deterred.
He slurped the spoonful into his mouth.
Instantly — his eyes lit up.
The disgust he had braced for evaporated in a flash.