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The mountain wind continues to howl outside the inn in the night, carrying a hint of unruly freedom. The indigo lanterns sway in the wind, like ships rocking in the ocean, illuminating the entrance of the entire inn, as if it were a beacon in the night, guiding lost travelers.
Xiao Xiangzi, the graceful innkeeper, stands in her lobby, her figure appearing and disappearing in the flickering candlelight, like a flowing ink painting. She wears a soft, flowing blue gown that gently sways with her movements, like delicate willow fluff. Her long hair cascades smoothly over her shoulders, casually tied behind her head, exuding both casualness and elegance.
Her eyes sparkle with intelligence, as if she can see through all the mysteries of the world. There is always a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, yet it seems to conceal a secret unknown to others. Xiao Xiangzi manages this inn, a place she considers her own, with great precision. From changing the smallest lamp wick to keeping the lobby clean, she doesn't miss a single detail.
She has a special attachment to money, not out of greed, but because she deeply understands that as a woman, to be independent in this world, she must have enough money to support herself. Therefore, she often personally checks the inn's account books to ensure that every income is recorded clearly. She has unique insights on how to save costs and increase revenue, which has made the inn thrive under her management.
Some say that Xiao Xiangzi pursues money to an almost peculiar degree, but in reality, her pursuit of money is not just for money itself, but more for the pursuit of independence and freedom. In this male-dominated world, she wants to prove in her own way that women can also create their own world with their wisdom and abilities.
She always handles guests' needs with just the right touch, neither overly enthusiastic nor indifferent. She can always capture the subtle emotional changes of the guests in conversation and respond appropriately. This is not only a professional quality, but also an intuition she has honed over the years. She knows that as an innkeeper, making guests feel at home is her most important task.
In her leisure time, Xiao Xiangzi would sit in a corner of the lobby, holding a tattered book, quietly reading. The books were mostly poetry and essays, from which she drew wisdom and sought solace for her soul. Strange legends and stories always surrounded her, circulating among the guests and adding a mysterious color to the inn.
One evening, a gray-robed old man arrived at the inn, carrying a worn bamboo basket that seemed to contain some peculiar items. Xiao Xiangzi, curious, approached and greeted him with a smile, asking, "Good evening, sir. Are you here to stay at the inn, or just to enjoy the moonlight?"
The old man smiled and looked at her, saying, "I have some unusual herbs and woods from the mountains, perhaps you could make use of them here at the inn." Xiao Xiangzi's eyes lit up even more brightly, as she had always had a strong interest in unusual things.
"Oh? Please come in, sir. Let's sit down and talk slowly." Xiao Xiangzi led the old man into the inn's hall.
In the inner hall, the candlelight flickered gently, casting heavy shadows. Two people sat around the table, Xiao Xiangzi carefully examining the old man's belongings. The plants and wood emitted a faint luster, seemingly containing unusual energy.
Xiao Xiangzi tentatively asked, "Are these plants and wood rare spiritual items from the mountains?" The old man nodded and smiled, his words carrying a hint of mystery: "Each one is a rare find in the mountains, of great value to practitioners or those who know their worth."
Xiao Xiangzi felt a stir in her heart, as she had always been greatly interested in these strange things. However, her expression did not show much emotion as she asked calmly, "I wonder, how does the old gentleman want to trade?"
A hint of shrewdness flashed in the old man's eyes as he slowly replied, "It depends on what price you are willing to offer. After all, these items are not commonly seen outside."
Xiao Xiangzi smiled faintly, knowing that this was a negotiation of prices. She calmly responded, "Old sir, since it's a treasure, it naturally should be exchanged for a treasure. I have some rare antiques here, I wonder if you are interested?"
The two then began the negotiation of the trade. Xiao Xiangzi demonstrated her intelligence and shrewdness, knowing how to gain the upper hand in the trade without making the other party feel dissatisfied. In the end, they reached an agreement that satisfied both sides.
After the transaction was completed, the old man smiled and said, " Xiao Xiangzi, you truly live up to your reputation. Your trading is both fair and shrewd. If I have the chance, I will come back to you in the future."
Xiao Xiangzi politely bid farewell to the old man, but in her heart, she was thinking about the uses of these plants and trees. She felt that these items might be related to some supernatural events that would occur at the inn in the future. There was a shrewd gleam in her eyes.
When the night was quiet, the inn returned to its usual tranquility. Xiao Xiangzi sat by the window, playing with the spiritual objects just obtained in the trade, a hint of triumph flashing in her eyes.
The night was deep, and the moonlight shone through the window, casting mottled reflections on the floor of the inn, creating shallow patches of light. Xiao Xiangzi gently put down the spiritual objects in her hand, her eyes revealing deep contemplation. The night at the inn was always filled with mystery and uncertainty, like an unsolved puzzle.
Just as Xiao Xiangzi was about to get up, urgent footsteps suddenly came from outside. A nimble young man hurriedly rushed in, his face filled with anxiety: " Xiao Xiangzi, something's wrong! There's something strange happening in the valley, and some villagers have gone missing!"
Xiao Xiangzi furrowed her brows, knowing that this was no ordinary matter. She immediately put down what she was doing and asked seriously, "What exactly happened? Explain it clearly."
The young man gasped for breath and described in detail what had happened in the valley. It turned out that in a nearby valley, several villagers had gone missing at night in recent days, and the villagers believed it was the work of demons.
Xiao Xiangzi thought for a moment and decided to go to the valley herself. She had always had a keen insight into these supernatural phenomena and perhaps could find some clues.
She quickly changed into her action attire, with a short sword inscribed with ancient runes hanging from her waist. Then, she hurried towards the direction of the valley with the young man.
The valley appeared deep and mysterious in the night, shrouded in an eerie atmosphere. Xiao Xiangzi observed the surroundings, her eyes filled with vigilance. She noticed some strange footprints and torn clothing fragments.
"It does seem rather unusual," Xiao Xiangzi said in a low voice, her tone carrying a hint of seriousness.
They cautiously ventured deeper into the valley, when suddenly, a piercing roar echoed from up ahead. Xiao Xiangzi tightly gripped the short sword in her hand, warily looking towards the source of the sound.
In the forest under the night sky, moonlight seeps through the gaps in the trees, casting mottled shadows. Suddenly, a figure leaps out from the thicket, disrupting the tranquility. The person's eyes are unfocused, as if lost in a daze, and blood at the corner of the mouth indicates a recent intense struggle. Xiao Xiangzi reacts swiftly, drawing a concealed dagger from her sleeve and pressing forward, her eyes not only alert but also revealing an unfathomable calm.
With a deft turn, she subdues the person on the ground and coldly demands, "Who are you? Why are you here?" The person seems unable to control themselves, only trembling uncontrollably and murmuring incoherently.
At this moment, a strong and eerie aura surged from the depths of the valley, carrying a cold and murderous intent. Xiao Xiangzi sensed the abnormal power and furrowed her brows, thinking to herself, "What secrets does this valley hold?"
She retracted her dagger and vigilantly gazed into the darkness ahead, murmuring quietly, "Whoever you are, and whatever your hidden purpose may be, today Xiao Xiangzi will unveil your true identity."
Suddenly, the figure let out a scream, as if some force was pulling it away from the body, disappearing into the night. Xiao Xiangzi frowned, knowing that this was no ordinary matter, and a great disaster was imminent. Though she felt some tension in her heart, she was more excited.
She recalled the mysterious legends told by the old travelers at the inn, often mentioning hidden secrets in the depths of the valley, even rumors about treasure. As a woman with a particular obsession with wealth, Xiao Xiangzi couldn't help but feel a hint of greed in her heart. She told herself, "The secret of this valley might bring me unexpected riches."
Xiao Xiangzi took a deep breath, preparing to further investigate. Her heart was filled with curiosity, and even in the face of unknown danger, she remained high-spirited. This might be an opportunity to explore the mysterious and supernatural, as well as a moment to prove her abilities.
The wind howled in the valley as Xiao Xiangzi tightly gripped her short sword and stepped into the unfathomable darkness...
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