As dusk approached, the snow swirled and danced, half resembling plum blossoms, half like drifting willow catkins.

A few snowflakes fell onto the windowsill of a small tavern by the official road, the only place within ten miles to escape the wind and snow.

At this moment, Wei Changle stood behind the tavern window, staring absentmindedly at the heavy snowfall outside through a small gap in the window.

Last night, he had been a successful business mogul, building an empire from scratch and nearly causing a fitness influencer with a large chest and an alluring figure to faint from dehydration.

But when he woke up, he found himself in this unfamiliar tavern, his soul having entered the body of a young man, and the memories of the original owner flooding in like a tidal wave.

Wei Changle, second son of the General of the Eastern Cavalry of the Daliang Empire, had just turned sixteen a month ago. Due to some trouble he had caused, he was demoted and sent to the remote county of Shanyin in Shuozhou to fill the vacant position of county magistrate.

He could only bring two attendants from Taiyuan Prefecture to travel to Shanyin County for his new post.

Unexpectedly, a snowstorm struck on the way, forcing them to seek shelter in the tavern. In the span of a single dream, he had undergone this soul transmigration.

He yawned, slowly turned around, and glanced around the tavern.

The tavern was already packed with people. Tables and chairs had been moved to the sides and piled up, with a large fire burning in the center. A dozen or so people huddled around the fire, warming themselves, while others rested in various corners of the tavern, some even snoring.

His gaze landed on a corner where there were two figures: an elderly man and a young boy.

The elderly man, over fifty years old, was named Wei Gu, and the boy, no older than thirteen or fourteen, was called Zhinü, a nickname meaning "pig servant." Both were attendants traveling with Wei Changle.

Wei Gu was lying on the ground, using a long wooden box as a pillow, while Zhinü was half-asleep, leaning against the wall, tightly clutching a bundle in his arms.

Laughter erupted from around the fire as the group seemed to be sharing something amusing.

Wei Changle had no interest in their conversation.

Suddenly finding himself in this world, he needed to adapt and think carefully about his next steps.

He slowly walked to the corner of the room and sat down next to Wei Gu.

"Second young master, rest well. We won’t be able to leave tonight," Wei Gu sat up and murmured. "We'll wait until morning, then it’s just two more days of travel. We’ll reach safely."

Since he had arrived in this world, it had nearly been a full day. Wei Changle had already calmed down from his initial shock.

The second son of the Wei family wasn’t in a lowly position. Becoming a county magistrate, though a demotion, was hardly a miserable job, so he was able to accept it without much difficulty.

"Old Wei, I didn’t cause any trouble on the way here, did I?" Wei Changle leaned against the wall and smiled. "The master must have sent you to keep an eye on me, reporting everything I do in secret. So, when you write your letters, you should speak more favorably about me."

The original host had been a troublemaker, and the Wei family was worried that Wei Changle would continue to stir up problems.

Wei Gu chuckled. "Second young master is joking. Old servant is just here to look after you, not to spy."

"If you're really looking after me, you should’ve sent a young and pretty lady to do it," Wei Changle rolled his eyes. "You can’t even take care of yourself, how are you supposed to take care of me?"

Wei Gu awkwardly smiled. "But there’s Zhinü, isn’t there?"

"Zhinü listens to the second young master. Whatever you say, he’ll do," Zhinü chimed in obediently, his clear eyes shimmering with a faint, shy smile.

"You’re such a good kid," Wei Changle glanced at him but didn’t seem pleased.

"Second young master, would you like to have something to eat?" Zhinü, noticing that Wei Changle seemed troubled, asked softly. "Should I go bake a pancake for you?" Before he could finish, he suddenly turned toward the window, his delicate face showing a wary expression.

Wei Changle noticed and couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, "What’s wrong? Did you hear something?"

"Hoofbeats!" Zhinü’s hearing seemed unusually sharp. "Second young master, there are hoofbeats coming this way."

Wei Changle closed his eyes. Sure enough, the faint sound of hooves could be heard through the wind and snow.

He was about to stand and move toward the window, but Wei Gu suddenly grabbed his arm and whispered, "Second young master, we were told before we left to act as if we saw and heard nothing, no matter what happens on the road. Don’t get involved in anything that could cause trouble. Safety is the most important thing!"

Wei Changle hesitated for a moment but decided not to move.

Wei Changle sat still, his gaze lingering on the window as the sound of hoofbeats grew clearer. The wind howled, mixing with the steady rhythm of the horses’ steps. The noise seemed to be coming closer, and the atmosphere in the tavern grew tense, even though no one else seemed to notice or care.

Zhinü remained alert, his eyes darting around as if to confirm what he had heard. Wei Changle took a deep breath and leaned back against the wall, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in his chest.

A moment later, the sound of the hooves stopped abruptly outside the tavern. Then there was a knock at the door.

Wei Gu, still sitting cross-legged on the ground, looked up with a calm expression. "Second young master, don’t worry. We’ll be fine."

The door opened with a creak, and a tall figure stepped inside, dusted in snow. The man was dressed in a dark cloak, his face hidden beneath a hood, and his boots left traces of snow on the floor.

The tavern patrons turned their heads, momentarily distracted from their chatter. Some of them tensed up, sensing that the newcomer’s arrival might signal something significant.

Wei Changle narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of the situation. He had a feeling that the arrival of this person wasn’t just a coincidence.

The man stood at the threshold, scanning the room briefly before his gaze landed on Wei Changle. He hesitated for a moment, then took a step forward, his voice low and steady. "I’ve been traveling for days and need to rest. Is there room to spare?"

There was a brief silence, and then Wei Gu rose slowly, bowing slightly. "Of course, sir. Please come in. The snowstorm is fierce tonight. It’s best to stay here until morning."

The stranger nodded and stepped inside, his eyes scanning the tavern one last time before he made his way to a seat by the fire. The warmth seemed to relax his stiff posture, and he removed his hood, revealing a sharp, handsome face. His expression, however, remained serious and distant.

Wei Changle observed him closely. He wasn’t sure what to make of the man, but his presence definitely changed the dynamic in the room. There was something about him that didn’t quite fit with the ordinary tavern patrons, something that felt out of place.

As the stranger settled by the fire, Zhinü stood up quietly, his movements swift and fluid as he walked over to the newcomer.

"Would you like something to eat, sir?" Zhinü asked politely, his tone soft and respectful.

The man glanced at Zhinü, his eyes narrowing slightly. "A bit of bread and some wine will do."

Zhinü nodded and quickly moved to prepare the order, his movements quick and precise. The stranger’s gaze remained fixed on Wei Changle for a moment longer before he turned his attention back to the fire.

Wei Changle exchanged a glance with Wei Gu, who had returned to his seat, his expression unreadable. It seemed as though the two men were silently communicating, sharing an unspoken understanding.

The tension in the tavern didn’t completely dissipate, but it was clear that the arrival of the stranger had shifted the atmosphere. Everyone continued their own conversations, but the eyes of the tavern’s occupants occasionally flicked toward the newcomer, wondering who he was and what brought him to this remote, snowbound place.

Wei Changle couldn’t help but feel that this stranger might be important—important to his future, to his plans, and to the strange fate he had found himself in. But for now, all he could do was wait and observe.

The tension in the tavern didn’t completely dissipate, but it was clear that the arrival of the stranger had shifted the atmosphere. Everyone continued their own conversations, but the eyes of the tavern’s occupants occasionally flicked toward the newcomer, wondering who he was and what brought him to this remote, snowbound place.

Wei Changle couldn’t help but feel that this stranger might be important—important to his future, to his plans, and to the strange fate he had found himself in. But for now, all he could do was wait and observe.

As the minutes stretched on, the sound of the wind outside howled louder, and the fire crackled in the hearth. Wei Changle felt the weight of the situation settling heavily upon him. Despite the warmth of the fire, the uncertainty gnawed at him. What was he supposed to do next? How would he navigate this strange new world?

Zhinü returned with a small plate of bread and a cup of wine for the stranger, placing them gently on the table in front of him. The stranger nodded in silent gratitude but did not speak further.

Wei Changle’s mind was still spinning. He looked once more at the stranger, then at the fire, and finally back at Wei Gu. The elder seemed calm as always, but even he could not conceal the slight furrow in his brow—a sign that things weren’t as simple as they seemed.

But there was nothing to be done tonight. They were stuck here in the tavern, waiting out the storm. Tomorrow would bring another day, and with it, new opportunities—or new challenges.

For now, all they could do was wait.

A traveler, who had been near the door, clearly also heard the commotion. He stood up, moved toward the window, and peered outside through a crack. He suddenly staggered backward in shock, his voice trembling with horror. "No... No, it's bandits...!"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was as if a stone had been thrown into a calm lake—the tavern erupted into chaos. Many people’s faces showed alarm and fear.

"Everyone, don't panic! Don’t panic!" A chubby old man in his fifties walked out from behind the counter in the corner, raising his hand to signal everyone to stay calm. "I’ve been running this tavern for over ten years, and we’ve never had a bandit raid. This must be some misunderstanding. Let me go check it out."

The crowd watched nervously as the tavern keeper walked toward the window, holding their breath, hearts pounding in anticipation.

Wei Changle, equally curious, stood up and joined the tavern keeper by the window, peering outside.

In the snowstorm, a group of over twenty horsemen rode toward the tavern like a pack of wolves, their horses galloping fiercely through the snow, leaving trails of snow in their wake as they charged in the direction of the tavern.

These horsemen were large and burly, dressed in sheepskin coats, wearing leather hats, and all carrying longbows with sabers strapped to their waists.

When the riders got closer, they immediately split into two groups. More than twenty riders divided into two teams of about ten, spreading out like geese in flight. The two teams then circled the tavern at high speed, the sound of their galloping hooves pounding like knives against the hearts of everyone inside, striking fear into their very bones.

Amid the thundering hooves, a voice from outside shouted sharply, "Fu Wenjun, we know you're inside! Come out now!"

"It's the Night Crying Lord!" The tavern keeper’s face turned ashen. He turned to the crowd and said in a low voice, "The Night Crying Lord is here."

Upon hearing this, several people in the tavern visibly paled, and one person even collapsed to the ground, trembling. "D... disaster is upon us... we're going to be in trouble...!"

Wei Changle was puzzled. He glanced around but didn’t know who Fu Wenjun was, or why such a large group was rushing through the snow to find him. But the others in the tavern didn’t seem concerned with Fu Wenjun’s identity. Instead, they were terrified of the "Night Crying Lord" and eagerly asked the tavern keeper, "Who is the Night Crying Lord?"

"The land of a thousand bandits, where the Night Crying Lord claims lives," the tavern keeper said, his face full of bitterness. "You’re not from Shan Yin, so you don’t know, I suppose."

"A pack of wolves that devours people without spitting out bones!" someone spat on the floor, muttering curses. "They wear the skins of officials but do things more depraved than real bandits…!"

The man gritted his teeth, clearly harboring deep hatred for the Night Crying Lord.

Beside him, another man clenched his fist, saying, "There’s no one in Shan Yin who’s not afraid of them, no one who doesn’t hate them. How... how could they have come here to cause trouble?"

Wei Changle, however, quickly realized that these "Night Crying Lords" were not bandits, but officials.

The phrase "the land of a thousand bandits, where the Night Crying Lord claims lives" made sense now. It was clear that the Night Crying Lords hailed from Shan Yin, which was the very place Wei Changle was heading to. This suggested that the place he was about to go was not a peaceful one, but rather a place of great danger.

"Which one of you is Fu Wenjun?" The tavern keeper bowed to the crowd and said, "The Night Crying Lords are looking for you. Please, step outside to meet them."

A burly man, his face full of fear, scanned the room frantically and called out in a panic, "Who’s Fu Wenjun? The Night Crying Lords are looking for you! Hurry up and go out before you drag everyone down with you."

The moment he said this, others quickly chimed in, "That’s right, which one of you is Fu Wenjun? Don’t make us all suffer for your actions. The Night Crying Lords will do anything—they have no rules!"

Just then, Wei Changle, standing beside the tavern keeper, suddenly lunged forward with a swift movement. He grabbed the tavern keeper and pulled him to safety, just as an arrow shot through the window with a whoosh, landing with a thud in the ground. If Wei Changle hadn’t acted so quickly, the arrow would have struck the tavern keeper in the back.

A gasp escaped from the crowd, and Wei Changle turned to look. The arrow was still burning, the tip of it was on fire, a fire-tipped arrow!

The tavern keeper, taken by surprise, seemed dazed for a moment. When he saw the flaming arrow, he immediately realized how close he had come to death. He felt both fear and gratitude.

Wei Changle’s expression turned cold, his eyes filled with a cold, calculating light. He understood now—these Night Crying Lords were ruthless and cruel, without a shred of mercy.

"They’re going to burn the tavern down," someone cried out. "The Night Crying Lords are going to burn us all alive!"

[--------------------------------------------]

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