Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 670: Chapter 512: Robbery by Facial Recognition without Spending Money

Shocked back into reality by Gu Changsheng’s question, the shopkeeper immediately lowered his head and walked out from behind the counter, bowing respectfully, ”I didn’t know we had such honored guests visiting, my apologies for not greeting you properly! Please do forgive us!”

This abrupt shift from impudence to politeness left Gu Changsheng feeling perplexed; he cocked his head and exchanged a confused glance with Zhou Mu.

”Honored guest, this is your gold, please take it back!” The shopkeeper picked up Gu Changsheng’s gold from the counter, holding it in both hands and presenting it respectfully, never daring to look Gu Changsheng in the eye again from start to finish.

Absently accepting his gold, Gu Changsheng’s mouth twitched involuntarily.

What’s the meaning of all this commotion?

”Waiter, have you not quickly tidied up the Tian character number one room for our honored guest?” Without waiting for Gu Changsheng to speak, the shopkeeper shouted upstairs.

”Right away! I’m on it!” A voice responded from the floor above, followed by the sound of footsteps on the stairs.

”Honored guests, please forgive our humble accommodations. The first floor is quite wearying; I invite you upstairs to rest,” the shopkeeper said, bowing and gesturing invitingly.

”Uh... that... what about the pass permit, no longer required?” Seeing this, Gu Changsheng asked with an air of suspicion and uncertainty.

”Please forgive me! I failed to recognize Mount Tai and did not realize honored guests were visiting us, hence the rude interruption! The permit is not required anymore! Not required!” Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper dabbed at the cold sweat on his forehead, bowing and ingratiatingly replied with a smile.

”So, you also don’t want this gold?” Gu Changsheng proffered the gold a little further forward, asking again.

If one stays at an inn, isn’t there at least a room charge?

Otherwise, wouldn’t that be a loss-making business?

”No need, no need! Your visit to our humble establishment is our good fortune! It makes the whole inn shine!” The shopkeeper wiped sweat at an even quicker pace, bending so low that his back was nearly touching the ground!

Seeing this, Gu Changsheng cocked his head and glanced at Zhou Mu, innocence brimming in his eyes, then turned back to the shopkeeper, who was still bending over, and jokingly said, ”Shopkeeper, this isn’t some sort of ’black shop,’ is it? An inn that doesn’t take money for business is asking to shut down, isn’t it? Or do you have ulterior motives and are planning something nefarious?”

Right, right? Does the world truly have inns that offer free lodging?

”I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare! Not if you gave me the courage of three men would I dare to...,” the shopkeeper started, then paused before switching gears, ”I wouldn’t dare to harbor any ill intentions towards honored guests! Please feel at home in our establishment. Any command you give, as long as I can fulfill it, I wouldn’t dare to refuse!”

Gu Changsheng eyed him suspiciously, then glanced outside at the sky and the subtle shift of his phoenix eyes. He immediately took Zhou Mu’s hand and headed upstairs.

Seeing this, the shopkeeper quickly took two steps to catch up, bowing and leading the way in front.

On the staircase, Gu Changsheng watched the shopkeeper walk ahead with an obsequious bow, and his mouth twitched yet again!

Just a moment ago, the guy was all arrogant, barely giving them a second look. Now he’s turned into this subservient character—what gives?

”Evildoer, we didn’t accidentally check into a ’black shop,’ did we?” Gu Changsheng tilted his head and whispered to Zhou Mu beside him.

Zhou Mu chuckled, touched her head, and said, ”What black shop could there be on the main street? He clearly saw your face...”

And the mark on your forehead!

”My face?” Gu Changsheng touched her cheek in response, ”There isn’t a flower blooming there! How could my face be more effective than that pass permit?”

What’s the rhyme or reason here? Can one really pay with a face at an inn?

People from Jinchuan City are really so superstitious!

A smile lifted the corners of his mouth, and Gu Changsheng touched his chin, full of self-satisfaction, ”Who would have thought that one day, I could get by on my face—a feeling truly indescribable!”

To pay with a face! Could it be, without realizing it, I’ve become a celebrity?

Gu Changsheng decided that the next day, he definitely needed to go out and see if his face was really that effective!

The Tian character number one room did not disappoint; it was exceptionally elegant and clean, and Gu Changsheng was very pleased!

That day had been filled with climbing mountains, crossing bridges, and even spelunking, leaving all of them covered in dust. Gu Changsheng ordered a large bucket of hot water, and as if the shopkeeper had anticipated their needs, it was swiftly prepared.

After a comfortable bath washing away the fatigue of the journey, Gu Changsheng ordered a full table of food. Full of food and wine, they all finally settled down for the night!

Gu Changsheng’s Tian character number one room was in the center, Zhou Mu’s room was on the right, and Yuan Bao’s room, as well as Little Monk Bu Jie’s, was on the left.

At this moment, the four of them gathered in Gu Changsheng’s room, and he asked the waiter to call the shopkeeper in.

As the shopkeeper entered and saw all four guests present, he instantly stood at attention, bowing respectfully.

”Is there anything else you require?”

”No! Shopkeeper, I just want to ask why you agreed to let us stay in your inn upon seeing me,” Gu Changsheng said, leaning on Zhou Mu’s shoulder, legs crossed, raising an eyebrow.

If you don’t understand, you ask. She is a curious child!

”This...” Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper glanced up at Gu Changsheng, then quickly lowered his gaze again, beginning somberly, ”Why pretend ignorance? Your status is evidently noble, and I dare not speak of matters related to you!”

She was feigning ignorance?

She knew damn well what she was doing!

She was as clueless as a three-meter-tall monk who couldn’t find his way north, about to beg Little Monk Bu Jie for a razor so she could become a nun!

”Look, all of you, do you really have to beat around the bush? Isn’t it much better to speak plainly? Come on, out with it, how did I suddenly become so precious?” Holding her throbbing temples, Gu Changsheng opened her mouth in resignation.

On hearing this, the Shopkeeper followed her gesture and shifted his gaze, glancing at the center of her forehead, then quickly lowered his head, shaking it without a word, his face an expression of deep secrecy!

”My distinguished guest, please don’t make it difficult for me, I have a lowly mouth and dare not talk nonsense!”

No sooner had he finished his sentence than the Shopkeeper, as if afraid Gu Changsheng would question him further, beat a hasty retreat!

Watching his retreating back, Gu Changsheng was dumbstruck.

It took her a while to come back to her senses, and she couldn’t help but curse resentfully, ”Damn it! Am I a tiger? Why did he run away, too?”

Dammit, Granny Wu Shan ran off without finishing her unclear words, and this Shopkeeper had outdone her, not saying a useful word, and ran off, too!

One by one, they’re really something!

”Sleep, sleep! Damn it, Bashu really is full of freaks!” Waving her hand, Gu Changsheng got up and threw herself onto the bed.

Having journeyed southward, enduring days of wind and sleeping outdoors without pause, she hadn’t touched a bed in a long while!

Zhou Mu approached, covering her carefully with a cool blanket, leaned down to kiss her on her forehead, and then headed to the next room.

Hearing the sound of his departure, the corners of Gu Changsheng’s mouth curled up involuntarily. Her foster father was a very ceremonious man, and under his many admonitions, even that evildoer had become much more disciplined. At least, climbing into bed wasn’t as frequent an occurrence!

Lying in bed, looking up at the ceiling, Gu Changsheng’s mind couldn’t help but wander far away.

Her little meat bun’s whereabouts were still unknown...

The next day, having waited the entire morning without any sign from the Cloud Palace, Gu Changsheng knew that this matter couldn’t be rushed, moreover, the people she had arranged hadn’t arrived in Jinchuan City yet, so she and her party grandly set out for the street!

After all, being idle was still being idle, right?

Gu Changsheng, still with a sheer scarf masking her face, attracted far less attention than Zhou Mu, that evildoer. Wherever they went, he inevitably drew countless sidelong glances.

”How much for this fan?” Gu Changsheng stopped at a stall, holding a jade stone fan and spoke with interest.

”With a Pass Permit, thirty taels of Silver with Patterns each!” The elderly stall owner glanced at Zhou Mu standing behind Gu Changsheng before speaking.

At his words, Gu Changsheng grimaced. Pass Permits again! In the territory of Jinchuan City, without a Pass Permit, truly one could hardly move an inch!

A wicked smile curled up on her lips, and she slightly lifted the jade stone fan in her hand, lifting the corner of her sheer scarf. With a slight raise of her eyebrows, Gu Changsheng looked at the astonished stall owner and asked again, ”How much for this jade stone fan?”

After staring at Gu Changsheng for a few more moments and hearing her question, the old stall owner regained his composure, his face a panic as he shook his hands, ”It’s free, it’s free! My distinguished guest, look, here’s an even better one, a top-quality Cloud jade fan. Why don’t you pick this one?”

Watching the old stall owner’s recommendation, Gu Changsheng’s mouth twitched, but in the blink of an eye, that valuable Cloud jade fan was pushed into her hands.

Yuan Bao, loaded with bags both big and small and trailing behind his mistress, couldn’t help but twitch at the mouth and eyes at this sight.

His mistress had already been taking things for free along the way!

Those who ran stalls or shops in Jinchuan City were also very strange, offering the best goods for free as soon as they saw Lady Changsheng!

This... this was just too bizarre!

On the first day, Gu Changsheng’s party returned loaded with goods, having spent not a dime!

On the second day, still no word from Cloud Palace, Gu Changsheng repeated her trick and again returned home loaded with goods.

On the third day, still with no one coming, Gu Changsheng took her loot home with no courtesy whatsoever!

By the fourth day, Gu Changsheng received a signal from Han Qiu and the others, knowing they had already entered the city. Feeling slightly relieved, she continued her shopping.

It took her only four days to practically visit all the shops in Jinchuan City; the inn’s storeroom was now stuffed full with things she hadn’t spent a penny on!

All the Shopkeeper could do was shake his head and wryly smile at this.

But Gu Changsheng was, indeed, oblivious. If it’s free, why not take it? She wanted to see how long she could keep getting things without paying a cent!

On the fifth day, when Gu Changsheng was all primed to continue her raid, the Shopkeeper finally led a young woman of twenty-eight before her, blocking her path.

”His Highness Prince Changsheng, His Royal Highness the Prince Mu, the Cloud Palace invites you!” The expressionless twenty-eight-year-old woman spoke in a mechanical tone.

At these words, Gu Changsheng immediately smiled, clapping her hands together, ”Haha... So you couldn’t stand it anymore? I thought you, Witch Lord, were going to wait until I’d plundered Jinchuan City dry before freeing up some time to see me!”