Chapter 18: Hai An

Just as Xia Nan had seen in various films, animations, and novels in his previous life.

The owner of the White Tit Tavern was a middle-aged man with a pair of handlebar mustaches, currently focused on polishing a wine glass.

Having seen countless adventurers, he naturally wouldn't spare a second glance for Xia Nan's youthful appearance.

Even when Xia Nan walked straight up and sat at the bar, the tavern owner merely lifted his eyelids slightly.

"Accommodation is one silver coin per night, correct?"

Xia Nan confirmed, referencing the information provided in the [Adventurer's Handbook].

The man gave a slight nod.

"And for long-term stays, is there a discount?" Drawing from his experience in his past life, Xia Nan followed up.

"That depends on how long you intend to stay."

Hearing this, Xia Nan nodded and didn't ask further.

The price of "1 silver coin/night" at the White Tit Tavern was already relatively cheap for this town; any lower, and there would be no guarantee of comfort or safety.

Although there were discounts for long-term rentals, if he wanted to continue delving deeper into the life of an adventurer, such temporary lodgings lacked a sense of belonging.

Furthermore, there were certain risks regarding both the storage of belongings and daily living.

Xia Nan actually leaned more toward purchasing his own property in town.

Of course, that was on the premise that he had a certain understanding of the surrounding environment and sufficient funds.

*Perhaps I could find some real estate agents to chat with if the opportunity arises?* he thought to himself.

Meanwhile, prompted by the hunger gnawing at his stomach, Xia Nan's gaze drifted to the menu hanging on the wall.

"Set number three, please."

The price was two silver coins—the daily wage of a laborer.

It included a large portion of fragrant, tender stewed meat, a bowl of rich and mellow mushroom soup, several slices of white bread served with butter and cheese, and a large mug of refreshing ale.

As a single meal, it might be considered a bit expensive.

But for Xia Nan, who had just finished a dangerous journey and harvested a "fortune," it was the best choice to soothe his body and soul.

To be honest, the taste was quite good.

The stew was savory and well-seasoned, and the mushroom soup was exceptionally fresh and sweet—especially when paired with toast, allowing the umami of the soup to soak into the bread, complemented by a small slice of sweet and salty soft cheese.

Even for Xia Nan, who was accustomed to the countless delicacies of modern society in his previous life, a sense of pleasant surprise arose in his heart.

Of course, it was also possible that because he had spent many days gnawing on dried meat and hardtack in the forest, everything tasted delicious to him now.

As the food settled into his stomach, his entire being felt warmed and nourished.

Sitting at the bar, Xia Nan's gaze swept across the tavern.

Surprisingly, despite having arrived in an otherworldly realm with a Western fantasy setting, the number of intelligent beings of other races he had encountered since his transmigration was actually not that high.

Perhaps only one or two out of every ten people.

And most were Gnomes or Halflings; as for the Dwarves and Elves that were frequently active on the screens of his previous life, he hadn't seen a single one...

Xia Nan's gaze suddenly paused.

"There's one now."

By a rectangular wooden table near the window of the tavern, four figures of varying forms were seated

A slender, beautiful blonde girl in her early twenties sat with her arms crossed and legs crossed, looking somewhat indifferent;

Beside her was a slightly plump man dressed in luxurious, bright clothing, acting ostentatiously as he leaned in with a fawning expression to please the girl.

But what caught Xia Nan's attention was the last one: a tall man sitting alone on one side of the wooden table.

His shoulder-length silver hair, which clearly signaled his elven bloodline, was neatly tied behind his head. His features were exquisite and delicate, his skin pale, and his eyes were the silver-gray characteristic of elves.

However, upon closer observation, one could see that while his ears were pointed, they were not as elongated as traditional elves, and his build was somewhat leaner than an average male, yet not as frail as an elf.

"So, perhaps a half-elf?"

Xia Nan guessed using the meager knowledge of this world in his mind.

"Carrying a longbow on his back fits my traditional impression of elven professions, but... are these four a party?"

"Wait! Four?"

He suddenly realized he had overlooked something.

It was like a television remote that is right in front of you but impossible to find—something you are holding in your hand but treating as if it were a lost phone.

Just as he sensed something was wrong, the last person he had subconsciously ignored appeared in Xia Nan's field of vision.

A middle-aged man in tight-fitting gear with an unremarkable appearance.

Compared to the three people around him, he had nothing noteworthy about him, appearing as if he were merely a passerby sitting at the same table.

And it was precisely because of this that when Xia Nan realized something was amiss, his heart skipped a beat.

His gaze swept over the short dagger wrapped in coarse cloth at the man's waist, and he immediately withdrew his eyes as if struck by an electric shock.

"Wood, what's wrong?"

Hean tightened his somewhat loose ponytail. Noticing his guard's unusual behavior out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but ask.

"It's nothing, Young Master."

Wood frowned slightly, glanced toward a certain direction at the bar, watched for a moment, and then turned back to reply.

"Don't be too nervous. Although we are near the Misty Forest, this is River Valley Town. With so many adventurers coming and going on the streets, there won't be any danger."

Hearing this, a trace of helplessness appeared on Wood's expressionless face.

"Young Master, it is precisely because there are so many adventurers here that we should be even more careful."

Hean naturally understood what his guard meant, but perhaps due to his recognition of the man's strength or simply his personality, he replied with a smile

"Relax. The Adventurer's Association is right next door to this tavern. Who would be bold enough to cause trouble here?"

"Rather than worrying about that, we should take this time to discuss our upcoming plans."

To this, the guard Wood only frowned deeper.

"Young Master, although I have said it countless times, I must remind you once more."

"The Misty Forest is extremely dangerous!"

"Even I, if I venture deep into it, might not be able to come out safely. You..."

"Alright, alright." The silver-haired half-elf waved his hand. Though he didn't look impatient, he interrupted the man's words and joked, "Then I'll reiterate it once more: our target this time is on the outskirts of the Misty Forest. The outskirts!"

"Fine." Wood had actually long since compromised in his heart, otherwise he wouldn't have allowed him to come here, "But there is one thing you must promise."

"Go on."

"We need to add a few more people to the group."

Following the guard's gaze, the half-elf looked at the two people opposite him, and a look of agreement appeared on his face.

"You're right."

(End of Chapter)