Chapter 47

As Hua Ren made his way to the door, a short, stout man with a slight hunch approached him, bowing slightly before gesturing for him to follow. Wordlessly, Hua Ren complied, trailing behind as they ventured through a dimly lit corridor hidden behind the inn. The man moved quickly, leading Hua Ren down a narrow, spiraling staircase that seemed to wind endlessly into the earth.

The further they descended, the more the faint hum of noise grew into a low, distant rumble. Hua Ren's sharp eyes scanned his surroundings, taking in the thickness of the stone walls. This place was certainly designed for secrecy. He wondered what could be hidden so deep beneath an inn. As they reached the bottom of the staircase, a massive black steel door with the carving of two identical crouching tigers came into view. The symbol of the Twin Tigers Inn.