Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Curiously asking passersby, he learned that inns with surnames were usually managed by the descendants of Jade City’s families. Although they were personally owned by individuals, they leveraged family prestige. Each surname was well-known, which attracted guests.

Li Xian was at "Renhuang Square," located in the northwest corner of Jade City, considered relatively poor. Yet, viewed with the naked eye, it was bustling. He could see well-known restaurants like "Mortal Dreams" and "Endless Embrace" built of jade.

The liveliness was unimaginable. Li Xian feared that his "forty taels" of silver would not allow him to stay even for a moment. Behind "Mortal Dreams Restaurant" and "Endless Embrace Restaurant," young servants frequently carried fine wine and delicate dishes out.

These were leftovers from Jade City’s wealthy patrons, then sold to ordinary restaurants. Many restaurant stewards awaited early, and upon seeing leftover dishes, immediately bid high prices to secure them. The bids were surprisingly high, with one hundred taels common and several hundred taels often seen. Rare dishes could cost a thousand taels.

Turns out many ingredients were exclusive to large restaurants. Regular inns and restaurants needed famous dishes to bolster their reputation, hence the scramble for leftovers. Observing from afar, Li Xian understood Jade City’s operational rules, neither looking down upon nor despising them.

He inquired at four inns: "Far Guest Inn," "Flower Bird Inn," "Spring Breeze Inn," and "Rest Inn." Each stood over thirty-three feet tall, not small in scale, but quite ordinary in Jade City.

Far Guest Inn was relatively approachable with a nice environment. A "lower room" cost 240 wen coins per day; if responsibilities for meals, laundry, and bathing were needed, 300 wen coins were required per day.

Every evening from the hour of You (5-7 p.m.), a troupe stationed at the inn would perform opera. One could purchase tea and a seat to enjoy. However, a tip was required afterward, at least twenty wen coins. If guests had horses, stabling required 100 wen coins, hay and care for the carriage would cost several dozen wen coins too. Combined, nearly 500 wen coins per day were needed.

Li Xian thought: "That constable in Qingping Pavilion had inherited a family residence, so four taels of silver sufficed for daily living. Renting inns like this makes forty taels of silver seem insufficient. However, since I have nowhere else to go, I might as well stay here temporarily."

Li Xian deliberated briefly, deeply feeling the difficulty of saving money, painfully so, and paid one tael of silver to cover three days of food and lodging. The shopkeeper raised his brow and instructed an assistant to lead him upstairs.

The staircase spiraled up, and on the third floor was an open platform, constructed with hollow spaces, resembling a wide terrace. On it, a stage was set up, tea and seating arranged, offering excellent views. One could enjoy opera performances and observe street life.

Imagine late afternoon and evening, sitting at the tea table, listening to music, enjoying tea, and chatting idly. As the sun sets and lights gradually brighten, one appreciates the bustling splendor. Li Xian had initially planned to save money and be thrifty. Yet suddenly thought: "Since I’m here, I might as well enjoy it. I’ve experienced Jade City’s dangers, why not its prosperity?"

Following the attendant to the fifth floor, the corridor seemed as new, adorned with jade between wooden fixtures. Very glamorous, with delicate porcelain and scrolls from renowned artists displayed nearby. A lush garden could be seen outside the corridor.

The fifth floor featured two upper rooms, two medium rooms, and two lower rooms. The upper rooms boasted beautiful views, with a small courtyard, spacious and open. The medium rooms had a bathing room, study, martial room, and kitchen.

As Li Xian was walking, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. A group ascended to the fifth floor, personally accompanied by the inn’s shopkeeper. The group was elegantly dressed, led by a young girl wearing colorful clothes, her skirt short, not reaching the knees, legs wrapped in semi-transparent silk socks, wearing leather boots that shined with a polished glow. At her waist was a Jade Belt, a sachet hung from it, and a jade chain around her neck. Her attire was resplendent and completely clean, with exquisite makeup, dignified in travel.

Her face was quite attractive, causing the attendant to pause for a moment. Then lowering his head, he pulled Li Xian aside to wait, allowing passage. The girl strode swiftly, her long hair fluttering in motion, casting casual glances at Li Xian and the attendant, her gaze lingered briefly on Li Xian’s face.

Li Xian had deliberately soiled his face entering the city, avoiding attention. Planning to reveal his true appearance once he understood Jade City, yet his stern and handsome features, and unique expressive eyes were difficult to completely hide. The girl gave a quick glance, noticed something strange but did not investigate further, and passed them.

Leaving behind a waft of fragrance. The shopkeeper greeted them with a smile, accommodatingly. Li Xian asked, "How much silver does a room like that girl’s cost?"

The attendant said, "It’s not just money... you can’t stay there just with wealth. In theory, a night in an upper room only costs twenty taels of silver."

Li Xian was surprised, "Only twenty taels of silver?" muttering, "I, Li Xian, have earned tens of thousands of taels before. Spending twenty taels on lodging seems quite expensive for me. It’s surprising the inn waiter in Jade City says this so easily. Their world view is broader than mine."

The attendant continued, "That’s just part. Twenty taels is the housing cost, but staying in an upper room isn’t just about housing. The assorted expenses often add up to thirty taels of silver. Moreover, importantly..."

"Jade City has rules, the unrecognized cannot easily stay in upper rooms. Across many Jade City inns, upper rooms are prioritized for the ’recognized’ and ’prestigious’. Only when these people are absent are the unrecognized allowed entry. Even if initially they stay, if upper rooms become scarce, the shopkeeper will evict the unrecognized to vacate rooms, first accommodating the recognized and prestigious."

Li Xian asked, "I see, but if foreign guests travel to Jade City, and are accommodated in lower or medium rooms, wouldn’t they be angered?"

The attendant chuckled, "Esteemed guest, I see you have some wealth, but your understanding seems limited. Don’t you know, that forces like the Five Sacred Sword Alliance, Daoxuan Mountain, and Sword Lake Villa... renowned worldwide, only need to present their sect Token. Coming to Jade City, naturally treated as honored guests, almost half-status residents. Definitely not treated disrespectfully."