Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!
Chapter 126: Settling Down

Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Settling Down

As Shu Jing moved forward, they gradually left the bustling streets, and the surroundings became quieter.

Along the street, multitudes of buildings rose up, but there were hardly any stores, just rows of bungalows. Under the cover of night, lights shone brightly; through the windows, one could see people reading by candlelight.

This area was a massive settlement for the "locals," specifically, it could be considered the Library’s slum.

Those "book second generation" who failed the assessments were driven to this area. They were given a simple dwelling and some Gold Coins to fend for themselves.

The lucky ones found ways to obtain essentials and opened small shops, managing their livelihood while studying for their exams.

The average, or rather most people, would dress up beautifully in bright clothes during the day, clean and polished, to earn their living in the bustling commercial areas, returning at night to read by candlelight.

Those unlucky or convinced they couldn’t pass the Library exams either gradually declined, just getting by; or they started gathering travel costs, planning to pack up and leave the Library to seek another livelihood elsewhere.

All Things Library was not negligent toward this area; on the contrary, for the safety of the entire city, they tightly monitored it.

Along the way, Yang Yu saw many magician policemen patrolling the streets to maintain order.

"The streets here are safer than I imagined."

Uttering this sentence, however, only earned a bitter smile from Shu Jing,

"At least, it’s very safe until bedtime.

It’s better not to go out late at night when there aren’t many magicians on duty and it can be dangerous.

Especially for travelers like you, it’s quite possible that you might be targeted.

Now that we are close to the Library entry exam, some unscrupulous people might pretend to be adventurers or those who are indeed adventurers like you, to rob passers-by... no, sorry, although you’re adventurers, you are definitely not like those other adventurers.

After all, you even treated me to such delicious cake and ice cream."

"It’s okay, the quality of adventurers varies greatly, so it’s normal to be misunderstood."

Forgiving Shu Jing’s offense, everyone chatted leisurely as they walked, and before long, they arrived at a modest inn.

Each area here belonged to the Library, and the "locals" didn’t actually own any of the land. Opening an inn in such a setting required a bit of Wisdom and skillfulness.

Shu Jing’s great-grandfather found a loophole.

At that time, the Library had no explicit rule that "residence cards" couldn’t be traded. If someone wanted to leave, they could exchange their card for some travel money or keep it, which made returning and staying at the Library easier in the future.

Shu Jing’s great-grandfather worked hard to earn money and bought the residence cards from many who wanted to sever all ties with the Library, paying slightly more than the Library did, and thus established the current inn.

Of course, as soon as this method emerged, it prompted many to follow suit, forcing the Library to eventually amend the regulations. To leave, one had to surrender their residence card in exchange for an exit card, effectively preventing the proliferation of inns in the area.

As for those residence cards that had already been traded to others, the holders had to register and surrender all residency cards upon the expiration of their own or upon enrollment into the Library.

So, regardless of whether Shu Jing was admitted to the Library or not, this hostel wouldn’t exist for much longer.

Before that, the hostel still accepted travelers unfamiliar with the city, who had come in a hurry and had little leisure money, at much lower prices than elsewhere.

Standing at the door of the hostel was a plainly dressed woman who, upon seeing Shu Jing return, yelled, "Shu Jing, where have you been! I almost thought you were kidnapped, I was about to send someone to find you!"

Shu Jing looked apologetic, "I’m sorry, Mom. On the way back, I met some strangers who asked for directions, which delayed me quite a bit. They had nowhere good to go, so I brought them here."

The landlady scrutinized Yang Yu and his female companion, grabbed Shu Jing’s hand, pulled him back to her side, and gently choked his neck, a hand burrowing on Shu Jing’s head, "You youngster, don’t just bring some weird guests back home carelessly! I’ve already told you not to worry about the hostel’s affairs, go back and focus on your studies!"

After a bit of arguing, they pushed Shu Jing into the hostel. The landlady then turned to Yang Yu and his group, apologizing with a contrite face, "I’m sorry, dear guests, this young lad has caused you some trouble. As you can see, our place is rather modest, if you’re unsatisfied, you may find another place."

"There’s been no trouble, rather, he’s been a great help. As for the lodging, as long as the price is right, we don’t mind," Yang Yu, along with Iyas and Bai Jin, approached the front desk, nonchalantly requesting, "One double room, and one single room."

Approaching the front desk, the landlady brightened up, "Double room three hundred, single room one hundred and eighty. Food and drinks are extra."

After chatting with the landlady for a while and confirming the duration of their stay, she personally escorted them to their rooms.

The rooms here were not large, at most about ten square meters, with only very basic living supplies. Throughout, the landlady kept a continuous apologetic smile, a smile that was neither fearful nor terrified, but carried a trace of gratitude.

Once settled in the hostel, Yang Yu went to Bai Jin and Iyas’s room and directly cut to the chase,

"Iyas, tomorrow, I need you to come with me. Bai Jin and He Meng will stay at the hostel. I’ll inform Shu Jing tomorrow to let you stay there to study."

"Eh?"

Bai Jin widened her eyes, although her illness had improved, her character of speaking nonsense when agitated hadn’t changed.

"Why is it only Iyas going with you? That’s not fair!"

Bai Jin looked up, her gaze on Yang Yu empty and void,

"Hehe, I get it. Has this day really come? You couldn’t suppress your desires anymore and want to dump me off to another man, and then runaway with the tall and slender Iyas... or perhaps you two are planning to deceive me and secretly... secretly date. In this town, indeed, there are many fun things to do. It’s just that you don’t want to bring me, a third wheel, along!

You’re absolutely a perverted man, making me recover and then kicking me to the curb, you’re just so eager to experience that unprecedented sense of guilt!"

Hey, hey, Miss Bai Jin, your condition is acting up again.

Yang Yu had thought that after that day, Bai Jin would become more forthright and stop saying such things but, as it turned out, he had worried too much.

Deep inside, he felt helpless; so, she had accidentally seen him kicking the game table that day after all?