Chapter 14: The Seventh-Grade Silver Rabbit

Returning to the backyard, closing the door, and placing the spirit stone in his dantian, Lin Dong activated the inn system.
If the inn owner stayed in the guest rooms himself, it would surely arouse suspicion. Since Lin Dong wanted to use the cultivation bonus, it was inconvenient for him to stay in the guest rooms.
Fortunately, the location of the guest rooms could be changed. Moreover, after the inn system was upgraded to level 2, there was still a shortage of 10 guest rooms. By adjusting the attributes of the room he was in to make it a guest room and activating the cultivation bonus, Lin Dong immediately entered a meditative state.
He woke up after 36 cycles. Normally, it would take until lunchtime to do this, but now it was just dawn.
He went out to buy some steamed buns, then pulled Lin Shuang out of bed and helped her finish breakfast. After that, Lin Dong arranged a carriage to take her to Qiushui Academy.
When he returned, the inn already had many customers. The originally spacious lobby became slightly crowded with five additional tables and chairs. Those who ate in the inn in the morning were regular guests. Upon seeing Lin Dong, they rushed over to confirm whether the signs on the five innermost tables matched what Wang Liuzhi had said.
After getting an answer, although these regular guests said nothing, they all thought the same thing… Inn owner Lin must be desperate for money.
Lin Dong’s character was proven once again. Though the regular guests were reluctant to spend a little silver to support Lin Dong, they would give extra copper coins when checking out—ranging from a hundred to just over a dozen, as a token of their goodwill.
Before even three cycles had passed, Lin Dong was sent away by Wang Liuzhi. The five new tables had their first customer—Bai Jingtai.
Lin Dong had expected Bai Jingtai to support him. He believed that even if there was no prior relationship between them, after this meal, given Bai Jingtai’s wealth, he would definitely dine at these five tables three times a day.
Unfortunately, Xilan City was too small, with very few wealthy merchants like Bai Jingtai. Moreover, the local rich people didn’t stay in inns. Otherwise, after the inn was upgraded to level 2, the guest rooms would also have a comfort bonus. Although it cost 1 spirit stone per day, charging 10 silver pieces per night could yield a profit ten times higher.
After finding out which table Bai Jingtai was sitting at, Lin Dong sent Wang Liuzhi away, activated the inn system, and set the comfort level of Bai Jingtai’s table to double.
After thinking for a while, Lin Dong gritted his teeth and set the comfort levels of the other four tables to double as well.
With the cultivation bonus for guest rooms at double, it cost 1 spirit stone per day, or one spirit stone in total. For the dining tables, a double comfort bonus cost 0.2 spirit stones, so five tables at double would cost one spirit stone per day.

Lin Ji Inn was unknown to the wealthy people in Xilan City. It would take at least a day or two for the news of a one-tael silver fee per hour to attract a few curious wealthy individuals. Initially, Lin Dong planned to activate the comfort enhancements one by one to save a tael or two of spirit stones, but since Wang Liuze interrupted him again, he decided to activate the enhancements for the other four tables as well.

Returning to his room to cultivate for seventy-two days in a row, he came out to find a full moon hanging in the sky. At the door, Wang Liuze had been waiting outside since closing time—already for over an hour.

“Boss, Shou Zhugan has found out that seven shop owners are willing to sell their shops and backyards for 200 taels per mu.”

“Are they connected? Which one is the largest?” Lin Dong asked.

“Cheng Ji Cloth Shop and Wang Ji Rice Shop are connected. The largest is Tian Xin Pawnshop on the east side of the street.”

Lin Dong was overjoyed. Wang Ji Rice Shop was only three shops away from the inn. Its area might not be as large as Tian Xin Pawnshop’s, but its door width was far greater. Including Cheng Ji Cloth Shop, the total door width was at least 30 meters.

“Just Cheng Ji Cloth Shop and Wang Ji Rice Shop. Tomorrow, go and ask the two households behind their shops. Offer 100 taels per mu to see if you can buy them.”

“Okay! By the way…” Wang Liuze turned around but then came back: “Boss Bai came to see you during lunch.”

“I know. I’ll go see him tomorrow morning,” Lin Dong nodded. Bai Jingtai coming to see him must be to ask why he enjoyed both meals so much today. He could just use a spirit array to brush it off, and it would also be a good chance to discuss borrowing money.

With a new location in mind, the first step toward building a new inn was taken.

Opening the inn system, he saw that his experience level had increased to 2% at level 2. At this rate, it should take about two months to reach level 3.

Two months…

Lin Dong tapped his head. If he was willing to spend silver, the new inn should be built by then. In other words, the new inn would need to be at least at the scale of a level 3 inn. For long-term planning, it might even need to reach level 4 or 5.

While thinking about this, he went into the kitchen. In a good mood, he prepared a plate of braised pork and some vegetables, along with a pot of wine. He placed them on a tray and carried it out of the kitchen. To his surprise, there was someone sitting by the stone table where he usually ate.

Dressed in white as snow, with a blue sword on the table, his fair hands gently stroked the silver rabbit lying on the table. Under the bright moonlight, Yun Lan seemed to be covered in a holy glow that seemed untouched by the mundane world, making Lin Dong feel somewhat ashamed of himself.

It also seemed like just a moment. Lin Dong returned to the kitchen to get another pair of chopsticks and a wine glass, then strode over to the stone table.
“I didn’t expect you to be staying at Lin’s Inn.”
Setting down the tray, Lin Dong smiled.
Yun Lan smiled but said nothing.
Lin Dong didn’t mind either. Having met her twice, he had a good impression of her. Though incredibly strong, she wasn’t as arrogant as Bai Qi, Fu Zizhou, or even that scribe Liu Shun. After placing the dishes down, Lin Dong picked up his wine glass and held it toward Yun Lan. “How about having some late-night food?”
Yun Lan shook her head.
Lin Dong didn’t insist. He poured himself a glass of wine and began eating while drinking, occasionally glancing up at Yun Lan, whose elegant demeanor remained unchanged despite her veil. He enjoyed himself quite a bit.
Unperturbed by Lin Dong’s somewhat intrusive gaze and rough eating habits, Yun Lan showed no sign of leaving. Sometimes, she even glanced at Lin Dong with interest.
“By the way, how’s that rabbit of yours?”
Feeling about 70% full, Lin Dong finally turned his attention to the silver rabbit on the table for the second time.
Yun Lan let out a soft sigh. “Young Master Fu’s prescription works for lower-tier spiritual beasts, but since the silver rabbit is a seventh-tier spiritual beast, the effect isn’t significant. Plus, with my daily nurturing with spiritual energy, the injuries from the Lingdan have only been temporarily alleviated.”
Lin Dong was intrigued. A seventh-tier spiritual beast?
He had thought the little rabbit was just a first- or second-tier spiritual beast. Who would have guessed it was actually a seventh-tier one?
After the inn reached level 2, it gained a stable attribute. When Yun Lan was at a loss, she could just throw the silver rabbit into the stable. Once healed, it would count as completing a hidden task.
Lin Dong hadn’t paid much attention to it before—first, because he thought the rabbit should belong in the kitchen, and second, because he assumed the reward for such a low-tier beast wouldn’t be much. But now that he knew it was a seventh-tier spiritual beast, it seemed he needed to tell Wang Liuzhi to pay more attention.
Making up his mind, Lin Dong focused back on his food. Just as he was about to start eating, Yun Lan suddenly asked, “Why did you agree to let Xiao Shuang sell food in the academy?”
“She likes it. Why not?” Lin Dong retorted.
“You’re very much like my father—eccentric in your ways and never restricting your daughter according to worldly standards.” Yun Lan smiled gracefully and stood up.
Lin Dong smiled too but didn’t get up to see her off. He continued to devour the leftovers.