Xiao Wu crawled out from the secret passage in the stable, brushing off the hay on his body as he walked out. "Guest, why are you alone?"
Chen Ji didn't answer but countered, "Where have you been?"
Xiao Wu's eyes darted around uncertainly. "Me? I went down to check if there are any hidden Jing Dynasty spies left in the passage."
Chen Ji knew he wasn't being truthful and replied calmly, "I brought back the shopkeeper's corpse; you all should bury him properly."
Xiao Wu froze for a moment, then cupped his fist and said, "Guest, you are truly righteous. From now on, I will be the shopkeeper of Dragon Gate Inn. Should you return to Guyuan and give any orders, Xiao Wu will risk life and limb without hesitation!"
Chen Ji felt a stir in his heart, his sharp intuition telling him that the change of shopkeeper at Dragon Gate Inn was not something Xiao Wu could decide on his own—nor even Third Master Hu.
