Chapter 50: Oh..!

After a few seconds, Gojin finally whispered, just loud enough for them to hear without getting too close.

“I’ll lead the way, so stay close behind and keep your eyes peeled. This inn is suspicious.”

He didn’t sound determined, rather sketchy.

The two nodded and followed closely behind Gojin as they entered the inn.

The inn’s insides were sparsely illuminated with wooden rafters running overhead. Faded wall hangings covered the walls and a damp odor pervaded the atmosphere. The waterways had a dilapidated wooden floor that needed to be fixed, there were low hanging laterns. In one corner, there was an old fireplace, which had no hope of warming the space as its coals were almost out.

In front of the reception area sat a young woman clad in a pink hakama. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, her wide grin were more mischievous than welcoming.

She said in a rush:

“Welcome to Taksu Inn! I assume you’re travelers. Currently, six rooms are available,”

Her creepy smile returning.

Kenji thought, “Looks normal to me. But that smile gives me the creeps.”

He stared at the woman.

Gojin leaned in, matching her grin with a menacing one of his own.

“How much for three bookings, three hearty meals, and… privacy?”

He added the last point, suspecting that the inn might be struggling, especially since she had mentioned six available rooms. With only one staff member seemingly managing everything, he sensed something was off.

Businesses that are on the brink of collapse sometimes turn to heinous activities, such as slave trading, and this could be the inn’s true purpose.

Or, nope.

She instantly wore a unflappable expression and cleared her throat as she feared his weird smile.

“Um, sure. 200 for three rooms, and meals are free. About privacy, all of that is affirmative.”

Gojin smirked and tilted his head towards Kenji, then nodded.

Kenji exclaimed with a grin:

“Oh, oh, oh!”

Kenji burst into laughter for no reason; only Gojin understood. Sakura and the female were confused.

Instantly, Kenji lunged at the woman with his sword aimed at her neck, then paused just inches away.

Gojin added:

“You’re a cunning Kitsune.” (A Nine-tailed fox)

She suddenly found herself standing where Gojin was, and he was now behind the reception desk. He had swapped locations with her using Ki tapping.

How he knew she was a kitsune? When she was frightened, a glimpse of a tail peeked out from behind her, revealing her true form unknowingly. Gojin had spotted it then gave Kenji a subtle sign, though neither he nor Sakura had seen the tail to know anything about her true form.

The gesture indicated suspicion, prompting Kenji to turn his blade toward her.

When Gojin declared she was a Kitsune, Kenji’s jaw dropped, matched by Sakura’s shock.

Kenji lowered his sword, which had been aimed at Gojin when he swapped positions.

Sakura asked in disbelief:

“What do you mean she is a Kitsune?”

Suddenly, the Kitsune began to laugh maniacally as she revealed nine brown tails.

While Kitsunes typically live for up to 1,000 years, her brown tails indicated she was likely around 300 years old. In Kitsune lore, the color of their tails reflects their age and experience; those with multiple tails are usually older and more powerful.

Her brown tails implied that she had not yet reached the pinnacle of her kind’s wisdom and abilities.

She was quite cunning, running a literal scam. The inn was just her way of earning money. She took in travelers who wandered into the middle of nowhere at night. At least she didn’t feed on them like most Kitsunes did. Instead, she rented them rooms and then scared them away with her antics, leaving them to abandon their belongings while she pocketed the money. Truly, as the saying goes:

’Kitsune are always the most cunning.’

Kenji and Sakura kept their gaze on her, surprised as she continued laughing. Her brown ears puffed out from her head. Gojin maintained a wide grin, taking a seat on a wooden chair and crossing his legs.

Suddenly, she dropped to her knees and began begging.

“Please, don’t harm me. I’m just trying to earn a living. I’ll call you master and lick your feet if you let this slide just once!”

She cried with a repentant expression.

“Yeah, whatever. I wasn’t even planning on doing anything to you. You can go on with your scam. We only came here for a good night’s sleep and food. I suppose that would be free now… isn’t it?”

She replied abruptly, her tone sorrowful:

“Yes! Everything is free! Choose any room you want down the passage.”

She raised her hands, demonstrating the rooms while her fear was evident. This showed her immaturity.

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Ayumi! From the Green Forest.”

“Great, now show us to our rooms and get the food prepared—nine bowls for me and however many you want for them.”

“Yes, Master. I’ll do that right away. Here’s the way to your rooms. Kindly choose any you want.”

“Seriously, don’t call me master. I hate it ’cause it’s annoying.”

Ayumi nodded with a smile, standing up from the ground as her tails slowly vanished.

Kenji and Sakura were still in shock, unable to make sense of what was happening.

They exclaimed simultaneously:

“I just saw a Kitsune!”

Wide smiles on their faces as they jumped with excitement, holding each others hand tightly.

Her ears were still present, flapping with excitement as Gojin stood up from the wooden chair and walked toward the sliding shoji doors. She jumped in front of him and opened them, revealing a long passage lined with multiple rooms on each side.

She laughed awkwardly:

“Heh… ehe.”

“All the rooms are actually empty. I just left a few lanterns on to make it seem occupied,” she explained.

Gojin replied with a smile:

“Nice! You need to scam more people. I’m right behind you; no one can mess with you as long as you keep this up. This is pure talent.”

He genuinely encouraged her, always having had a devilish mindset anyway.

Kenji and Sakura trailed behind them as they stepped into the passage, opening each room one by one, searching for one that piqued their interest.

Gesturing to an open room, Kenji said:

“Oh, I love this one.”

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