Castle of Black Iron

The accumulated snow on the street had long thawed due to so many passers-by, causing soft and icy mud. The person being thrown out of the inn together with his broken roll of quilt and blanket directly fell into the mud. How embarrassing it was! The passers-by on the roadside streets hurriedly dodged away from him. Zhang Tie and some passers-by then started to watch the fun on one side.

Some strong lads and a cook of the inn were standing outside the gate while glaring at the person who had been thrown out. A glib lad cupped his hands and explained loudly, “Dear neighbors and friends. Our Yuean Inn is not bullying him. This guy had lived in our inn for over 1 week for free. Previously, our boss was soft-hearted and let him live in for a few days as it’s cold outside. We’ve not imagined that this guy planned to stay in our inn all the way. He bullied us. It doesn’t work wherever it is. As we cannot stand it anymore, we have to drive him out of Yuean Inn. Please be the witnesses for us, we don’t mind whether he’s dead or not!”

After being thrown out, the one quivered all over out of fury. He stood up from the mud and pointed at those young men in the inn before saying furiously, “You...you...are going too far...I’ve paid this month’s rent and food...how could you drive me out before the end...”

“When you came here, our boss had told you that our rent would change with the marketing price. It changes every day. When in slack season, it would be cheaper; when in boom season, it would be more expensive. You paid the rent in November; however, the rent across Embracing Tiger City had been growing since the beginning of December. All the other inns’ rents were rising. Of course, our Yuean Inn’s rent and food fee would rise too. We’re following the general trend. Your rent and food fee has been used up soon after the new year festival. As our boss pitied you, he allowed you to stay inside for a few more days. Even if you notify the official, we will not be afraid of you. How ridiculous! How could you be a pharmacist? If all the pharmacists across the world were like you, pharmacists couldn’t even match coolies...”

“Hahaha...I’m not a pharmacist...if I’m not a pharmacist, how could I be so embarrassed...” The embarrassed middle-aged man burst out into laughter miserably with bloody eyes as if he had lost his marbles. He tore open his wet and dirty clothes and exposed his naked chest to the chilly wind before roaring towards the sky, “Come on, kill me; come on, kill me. I know you will not let me go; come on, kill me. All the people across the world are swarming around as flies do for good and hang around as dogs do for food. I’ve been so poor for the well-being of all the people across the world. It’s meaningless. If you want to torment all the people across the world, just do it. If you want to kill me, just do that. Aren’t your heavens reaching? Aren’t you preparing for turning all the medicinal materials into poisons? Come on, kill me...”

Being stimulated and humiliated by the lads of the inn, this middle-aged man was driven mad, which scared those lads a few steps back. They strictly guarded the gate of the inn so as to prevent him from breaking into the inn and causing some troubles. All the onlookers hurriedly scattered to a certain degree, including Zhang Tie.

“Alas, this man turned a bit abnormal. How about fetching the criminal hunters to catch him? It would be troublesome if he hurt someone...” Someone among the onlookers whispered.

“How about sending him to the Benign Doctor’s Clinic? It’s too cold, he’s driven mad. How poor he is!”

After hearing the words of the onlookers, that man laughed loudly. He even dropped off his tears, “Yes, I’m a lunatic, I’m a lunatic...”

“Even heroes might be breathless. Everybody would have a low ebb in life. Nothing to watch here. Please leave. This friend, please not be that excited!” A calm and crispy sound drifted out of the onlookers. When the all the people turned around, they saw a strong young man in snow-proof cloak behind the crowd. Given his voice, this man should be younger than 20 years old; however, those eagle-eyed people could find that his cloak and boots were all well-made and rare in the market. Additionally, this young man had an unspoken temperament. Even though he didn’t expose his face, he was still awe-stricken.

“Ha, just leave out of here, just leave...”

The young man’s voice sounded supernatural. After hearing his words, all the onlookers really left. Even that middle-aged man who was a bit excited just now became quiet. He didn’t shout loudly or did anything excessive anymore.

Of course, it was Zhang Tie who spoke. Additionally, he used a secret skill of Soul Forbidden Method. His words sounded very comfortable. Therefore, all the onlookers just followed his order unconsciously. When the crowd dispersed, Zhang Tie walked towards the gate of the inn as he asked those lads who were standing outside the gate of the inn, “How much has this guy owed you?”

That eloquent lad whispered while shrugging with a bit fearful look, “This man...has lived a few more days in our inn. He owes us over 20 silver coins. You know, we’re not a welfare institution...”

“Well, I understand you. It’s not your fault. Take it...” Zhang Tie flipped a gold coin onto the hand of the lad after drawing an elegant golden arc in the air. “I’ve paid off his debt. Keep the change. Tell your boss. It’s good to help people tide over difficulties; however, it would be much better if he could do well from beginning to end...”

“Yes...yes...yes, thanks, thanks...” After taking that gold coin, those lads revealed a smile at the same time. They treated Zhang Tie more politely. Such a generous and righteous guest was always welcomed wherever he was.

“Are there any other belongings of him in your inn?’

“No, no more!” Those lads hurriedly shook their heads, “He only came with such a broken blanket and a quilt. Nothing else!”

Zhang Tie turned around and looked at that middle-aged man who was especially berserk just now. That man had already recovered his composure while wrapping himself in clothes. His face had turned a bit blue in the cold wind. Zhang Tie told him, “Follow me!”

The middle-aged man hesitated for a second. After following Zhang Tie for a couple of steps, he threw a glance at the broken blanket and quilt in the mud as he wanted to pick them up.

“No need to pick them up. They are dirty and wet. Just throw them!”

After hearing Zhang Tie’s words, that middle-aged man stopped picking them up and just followed after Zhang Tie while shrinking his body.

Zhang Tie walked a short while ahead of the middle-aged man silently. The middle-aged man didn’t speak either. Over 10 minutes later, they stopped in front of “Jinyun Hotel” on a more prosperous avenue.

This “Jinyun Hotel” was much more luxurious than that inn. Although it was cold, the garden outside the hotel was still verdant. There was a huge dome which was made of glass fiber reinforced plastics on the top of the garden. There were heating units on the ground. The shiny marbles were resplendent and spotless. Two rows of tall and thin beautiful girls were standing at the gate to welcome guests.

Zhang Tie directly entered the gate. Being scared by such a grand place, the middle-aged man dared not enter it. Therefore, he became hesitated.

“Come in? You didn’t even care about your life just now, why not dare enter a hotel?” Zhang Tie turned around as he threw a glance at that middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man gritted his teeth. Closely after that, he followed Zhang Tie in as if he was ready to risk everything.

“Gentleman, you want...” A female usher walked over here as he threw a glance at Zhang Tie and that middle-aged man who followed after Zhang Tie. Zhang Tie looked noble all over; however, that middle-aged man behind him looked sloppy. They were absolutely from two different worlds.

“Prepare a special courtyard for me...” Zhang Tie said as he passed a good check to the girl, the par value of which was 1,000 gold coins. At the sight of such a “large denomination”, the girl swallowed all the words back. With such a gold check, the two people could live in the most expensive courtyard for 1 year.

Under the amazed gazes of the other gentlemen and young ladies who were accessing to the hotel, that female usher directly led Zhang Tie and that middle-aged man into a tranquil courtyard which was matched with a warm spring.

“Bring him some fitted clothes, shoes and socks for him given his size. I don’t care about money!” Zhang Tie told the female usher. Such a high-end hotel was always matched with a high-end shopping mall. It’s easy for people to buy clothes here.

After the female usher left, Zhang Tie told that middle-aged man, “You’d better take a bath and change a set of new clothes before talking with me...”

After doing all these, Zhang Tie just took a seat and drank tea water in the parlor while waiting for the middle-aged man to come out to talk with him after taking a bath.