Of course, they would occasionally greet each other. It was clear that everyone in this place knew one another. Even if they weren’t close, they had at least met once before.
When Luo Gang and his group entered, the patrons inside the bar paused, their eyes widening slightly. They seemed surprised to see anyone enter. The drinkers stopped their actions, watching the newcomers intently.
Luo Gang’s group took their seats. A waiter approached. Without hesitation, each of them ordered a beer—the most abundant stock in the bar. After tipping the waiter, Luo Gang asked, “Can we find a guide here who knows the way to the Gusi Lan Ruins?”
The waiter looked at Luo Gang. “You want to travel to the Gusi Lan Ruins?”
“Yes, for tourism.” Luo Gang spoke with a serious, sincere expression that made him appear trustworthy.
The waiter nodded slightly. “In this small town, the only guide who knows the Gusi Lan Ruins well is Balph. However, Balph’s fees are high. It costs one thousand million coins per day, and that doesn’t even include tips.”
Luo Gang lowered his head to consult with his companions. Then he said, “What if we offer him three thousand million coins to guide us to the Gusi Lan Ruins?”
Hearing this, the waiter’s attitude improved noticeably. “Of course. Please wait. He is not here today; he will return tomorrow. You can stay at the hotel opposite this bar tonight. Come here at ten o’clock tomorrow morning. He will be here, and you can discuss the details with him then.”
Luo Gang and his group whispered among themselves again, then nodded in agreement. “Fine. We’ll go to the hotel opposite. But where are the restaurants here?”
“There are no restaurants in this place. If you want to eat, you can still come here. Although this is a bar, we also serve food,” the waiter answered earnestly.
Luo Gang thought for a moment, then turned to Zhu Yanyi and the others. “I’ll go book the rooms first. You all order some food here. Once I’ve booked the rooms, I’ll come back, and we’ll eat together.”
“Okay.” The others nodded without objection.
Luo Gang tipped the waiter and asked him to lead him to the hotel opposite to book two rooms. Rooms were tight in this area; only two remained. Luo Gang had no other choice. Having rooms was better than having none, so he booked both remaining rooms immediately. He then returned to the bar just as their ordered food arrived. They ate together and then went to the hotel to rest.
Being in an unfamiliar place, they did nothing but take a brief walk outside. They quickly lost interest. They remained calm, showing only the mild excitement of ordinary tourists. None of them noticed that someone was observing them from the shadows.
After returning to the hotel, Zhu Yanyi and the others showered and rested, appearing to wait patiently for the next day.
In truth, all seven of them knew that someone was watching them in the dark. Luo Gang felt a secret shock in his heart. It seemed this small town was not just a simple supply station. If it were merely a supply station, no one would be watching them so urgently.
She secretly felt grateful for having listened to Zhu Yanyi.
They rested, ate, and even watched the sunset as it dipped below the horizon, acting as if they were truly tourists.
“Waiter, has Balph arrived?” The next day, a little past ten o’clock, Luo Gang led the group back to the bar.
The waiter pointed to a middle-aged man drinking in a corner. The man had a thick beard, making it hard to see the fine details of his face. “That is Balph.”