Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3530: A New Place To Stay And Letting The Beasts Play

The next day dawned quietly, the bustle of Three Union City muted by distance and early hour. Pale sunlight filtered through drifting clouds, illuminating the outer districts where the noise of celebration preparations had yet to fully reach.

Lin Mu was in the courtyard of the Monarch Wing Inn when Daoist Chu and Meng Bai finally returned.

One look at their faces told him they had succeeded, though not without trouble.

”We found a place,” Daoist Chu said, rubbing his temples lightly. ”But it took far longer than it should have.”

Meng Bai looked exhausted but relieved. ”The whole night. We didn’t stop.”

Lin Mu raised a brow. ”Booked out?”

”Some,” Meng Bai replied. ”But that wasn’t the main problem.”

Daoist Chu sighed. ”Beast kin.”

Elyon, who had been leaning against a pillar with his arms folded, straightened slightly. ”They refused again?”

”Yes,” Daoist Chu said. ”Flat refusals. Even when we offered triple the asking price.”

Lin Mu frowned. ”Directly?”

”Directly,” Meng Bai confirmed. ”Several places said they had explicit warnings from the royal guards. No beast kin tenants. Not even temporary.”

Cattaleya clicked her tongue. ”So that’s how it is.”

Elyon let out a slow breath. ”You could have just excluded me. I told you. I can stay hidden. Or stay back.”

Daoist Chu shook his head. ”We suggested that. Multiple times.”

”And?” Lin Mu asked.

”They didn’t care,” Meng Bai said. ”Once the first few places rejected us, word spread. Background checks. People asking questions. By the time we reached the other districts, they already knew who we were.”

Lin Mu felt a faint tightening in his chest.

Information really did move quickly when it mattered.

”How did you manage in the end?” he asked.

Cattaleya crossed her arms. ”Please don’t tell me the inn you found isn’t falling apart.”

”It’s not,” Daoist Chu said. ”It’s actually in very good condition. Spacious too.”

Meng Bai brightened slightly. ”It’s big. Really big.”

”Then why was it available?” Lin Mu asked.

Meng Bai hesitated, then answered. ”Because of who it used to belong to.”

Lin Mu’s gaze sharpened. ”Go on.”

”It was the private residence of an exiled prince of the Butterfly Kingdom,” Meng Bai said. ”Apparently one of the few who survived.”

Cattaleya raised a brow. ”Exiled?”

”Yes,” Meng Bai replied. ”He was cast out long before the kingdom fell. Left the world entirely. The residence stayed behind.”

Daoist Chu continued, ”It remained under the stewardship of his personal retainer. Registered under a different name. That is why it was not seized when the city was divided.”

”And the steward?” Lin Mu asked.

”He despises the three kingdoms,” Meng Bai said frankly. ”Did not hide it either.”

Cattaleya snorted. ”Figures.”

”He agreed to rent it to us,” Daoist Chu added, ”on the condition that we paid extra and caused no trouble.”

Lin Mu felt a faint unease settle in his chest.

A former royal residence. Exiled lineage. A resentful steward.

This city was layered with ghosts.

Still, practicality won out.

”We need stability,” Lin Mu said. ”And space. Especially now.”

Elyon nodded. ”I’ll stay hidden. Fully. No chances.”

”I’ll handle the arrays,” Daoist Chu said. ”Once we’re there, no one will sense who’s inside.”

With the decision made, they wasted no time.

Within an hour, the group had packed what little they had and departed from the Monarch Wing Inn. The location of the new residence was even farther from the city center, nearly ten kilometers south, beyond several stretches of farmland and low residential clusters.

As they traveled, the city gradually thinned.

The air grew quieter. The streets less crowded. Buildings spread out, separated by walls, trees, and private roads.

When they finally arrived, Lin Mu understood immediately why Daoist Chu had sounded relieved.

The residence was impressive.

High outer walls made from pale stone encircled the property, reinforced with thick wooden gates bound in metal. The grounds within spanned nearly five hundred meters, broken into three distinct courtyards.

The architecture was older than most buildings in Three Union City, bearing the subtle elegance of the Butterfly Kingdom’s era. Flowing lines. Balanced symmetry. Carvings of wings and floral motifs worn smooth by time.

”This is... nice,” Cattaleya admitted.

”It’s sturdy too,” Meng Bai added. ”Look at the foundations.”

They were welcomed by the steward, an elderly man with graying hair and a straight back. His eyes lingered briefly on Elyon, but he said nothing.

True to Meng Bai’s words, the residence was well maintained. One side courtyard housed the steward and a small number of servants. The main courtyard stood empty, with wide stone paths, a central pavilion, and enough open space for even Cattaleya to move comfortably.

The remaining side courtyard was similarly vacant.

”We’ll take the main,” Lin Mu said after a brief look around. ”Daoist Chu, Elyon, the side courtyard will be yours.”

Daoist Chu nodded. ”I’ll set the arrays immediately.”

As soon as they settled in, Daoist Chu moved with practiced ease. Formation flags appeared. Runes were etched into the air. Within an hour, layers of isolation, concealment, and illusion wrapped the residence.

From the outside, it would appear as though only one cultivator lived there.

Inside, it was another matter entirely.

Only after the final array stabilized did Lin Mu finally relax.

”Alright,” he said. ”Time to let them out.”

Little Shrubby appeared first, stretching as he emerged into the courtyard. He sniffed the air, tail flicking.

”Better,” he said. ”Much better.”

The twin snakes were far less patient.

They burst from Lin Mu’s sleeves like streaks of light, coiling around pillars, slithering up walls, darting through the air with gleeful hisses.

”Careful,” Lin Mu warned. ”Not in the city.”

They froze midair, then dropped down, nodding vigorously.

”We go play outside,” one said.

”Far away,” the other added.

”Good,” Lin Mu replied. ”Things are unstable here.”

They did not need to be told twice.

WHOOSH

In the next breath, both snakes shot over the walls, vanishing toward the distant plains and forests.

Lin Mu turned to Little Shrubby. ”Keep an eye on them.”

Shrubby nodded, already shrinking slightly. ”I will.”

With a leap, he followed, disappearing beyond the residence.