Hulan City.
The place where Bafang Inn is located is much quieter than Master Qiku imagined.
The buildings built are different from those in Daqi. They are all made of stones and are quite rough.
"This is the Bafang Inn? It's a long way to the south of the city." Master Qiku looked up and saw an archway outside the Bafang Inn, with Bafang Inn carved on the stone on the side.
Although the style of the Bafang Inn is very rough, judging from the entire building, the grade of this inn should be relatively high in the neighborhood.
"Master, Bafang Inn is safe. In Hulan City, safety and security are the most important thing." The coachman smiled.
"Okay, stay here."
Master Qi Ku looked around and looked at the crowds coming and going. He felt that the coachman's words may not be wrong. The people here were not dressed in flashy clothes and the prices may not be high. In addition, the guests who came and went walked peacefully. Not much defense.
"Master, I can only take you here. The carriage cannot enter here," the coachman said.
"Okay, put down all your luggage."
"Zoya, give me some money."
Master Qiku made a gesture with his eyes, and Zoya reluctantly took out the money and paid it to the driver, plus one or two more silver rewards.
Although this was all discussed in advance, Zoya couldn't help but feel bad about taking money out of her own pocket.
After the coachman drove away, Master Qi Ku walked inside.
After walking through the archway and entering the main entrance, a boy came to greet him.
"Do you want to be a guest officer or stay in a hotel?"
The boy was wearing prairie clothes and had a round face with a smile on his face.
"Staying in a hotel is a must. Come to a room first and then make some food." It was Zoya who spoke.
Master Qiku had already told Zoya in advance that after entering Hulan City, Zoya would do all the dealings and communication with people first. This would also cultivate her ability to survive.
"Okay, sir, please come this way."
I asked for two upper rooms and moved everything in.
Most of the things that could not be moved were left to the care of the herdsmen because they did not carry much luggage.
As for the guards organized by the herdsmen, Master Qi Ku did not bring any of them.
The main reason is that the situation in Hulan City is unclear. We haven't really settled down yet, so we shouldn't bring too many people here. When we settle down in the future and we need manpower, we just need to say something, and those people will naturally come.
The conditions for renting a hotel here are pretty good, not as good as the exquisite and attentive service in the inns in Daqi, but much better than living in tents on the grassland.
Now that you've arrived, you'll be in peace. Master Qi Ku planned to stay one night to recuperate his energy, and then go see King Hulan tomorrow to see what plans he has next.
Since King Hulan invited him over, even if King Hulan could not welcome him with great fanfare, there would definitely be a plan for him to settle down.
Otherwise, if King Hulan doesn't help, how can he do things for him.
…
The driver waved his whip and the carriage headed south of the city.
Many wealthy families live in the south of the city. The roads here are wide, shaded by trees, and there are few passers-by.
The driver turned a corner and entered a courtyard.
Someone skillfully took the reins and took the horse away, while the coachman unbuttoned his robe and walked into the house.
"My lord is waiting for you in the house." The guard at the intersection said to the coachman.
The coachman nodded slightly and immediately stepped into the house.
There was a person sitting in the middle of the dim room, a middle-aged man dressed in silk and holding a bone staff in his hand. His face was long and narrow, his chin was raised like a spoon, and his eyes were slender and lively.
He held the bone scepter in one hand and rubbed the skull on top of the scepter with his other hand.
"Kowtow to the Lord Red Priest."
The red priest's eyes were half-opened and half-closed, and his gaze fell on the coachman.
"How's the investigation going? Is there anything special about Master Qi Ku? Tell me everything that happened on the road, especially what Master Qi Ku said. Don't miss a single word." The red priest said calmly. .
As soon as the red priest's voice came out, the driver's fingers couldn't help but tremble. He said in a more respectful tone: "Reporting to the red priest, Master Qi Ku didn't talk much along the way..."
Immediately, the coachman said exactly what Master Qi Ku said, as well as all his actions and words.
"This Qi Ku is not easy. If you find an opportunity and get close to him again, it's best to find out what he plans to do." The red priest said.
"Yes." The driver nodded.
"You did a good job this time. We will reward you for your merits. You go to the accountant to pay one hundred taels of silver. In addition, it is better to approach Qiku sooner rather than later. If there is any news, please come as soon as possible." The red priest continued to give instructions.
The driver nodded again, but this time his eyes were filled with joy.
I didn't expect that as a driver, I could get a bounty for transporting a car. This was really a surprise.
"Go ahead."
The red priest said.
After the coachman retreated, the bone scepter in the red priest's hand hit the ground, and a figure emerged from the darkness.
"Call the priests in Hulan City to discuss something."
Others may not care, but as a very powerful priest among the priests, the Red Priest understands that the loss of faith is fatal to the priests.
…
The next morning, the first thing Zoya did when she opened her eyes was to check her clothes.
She didn't take off her clothes all night, just because she was worried that something would happen.
At first, she insisted on not sleeping while lying on the bed, fearing that an accident would happen if she fell asleep, but then as the night grew late, she fell asleep in a daze.
She had nightmares all night long, dreaming of her father, grandmother, and mother all standing bloody in front of her bed, and dreaming of more than a dozen prairie men charging at her with bloody knives in their hands, grinning ferociously.
Until the moment she woke up, her heart was still beating violently.
She sat cross-legged on the bed, clasped her hands together, and began chanting scriptures to dispel her fear.
Strangely enough, after reciting the scriptures for a period of time, she gradually began to calm down.
The living environment here is obviously the best house she has ever lived in in her life, but the fear of a strange environment makes her very uneasy.
"Gela..."
The door was pushed open from the outside.
Zoya was startled, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
"Zoya, go down and eat." Standing at the door was Master Qiku. He opened his mouth, revealing his white teeth, and said calmly.
Although Master Qi Ku had no expression, at this moment, Zoya's heart suddenly felt at ease, and her original fear dissipated instantly.
Yes, since her mother left, her only remaining relative is Master Qiku.
With Master Qiku here, she has nothing to fear.
"Okay, Master, come back when I clean up." Zoya nodded sharply.
She needs to comb her hair and clean her body. Now that she has arrived in Hulan City, let her life start again.
