Chapter 20: The Expanded Tavern

The next week passed quickly.

Wandering Cloud Tavern remained open while construction continued around it. During the busiest hours, Lin Yuan stayed in the kitchen while Su Mei and Xiao Lan handled most of the dining hall.

Whenever business slowed, he returned upstairs to cultivate.

His cultivation at Qi Refining Nine gradually stabilized.

Outside, the expansion took shape day by day.

Walls enclosed the wooden frame. The second floor was completed, followed by the roof, windows, and doors.

By the eighth morning, Master Han entered the kitchen while Lin Yuan was preparing breakfast.

"We’re almost finished."

Lin Yuan looked over.

"Almost?"

"Come look."

Lin Yuan wiped his hands and followed him outside.

For the first time since construction began, the eastern side of Wandering Cloud Tavern no longer looked unfinished.

Fresh timber and stone still showed where the old building ended and the new section began, but Master Han’s crew had matched them well.

Lin Yuan entered through the front.

The dining hall stretched farther east, with four new tables arranged in the added space.

Ten tables.

Forty seats.

More importantly, there was finally enough room between them that customers wouldn’t have to squeeze past one another during busy hours.

Lin Yuan continued into the kitchen.

The difference there was even greater.

When Xiao Lan first arrived, two people could work together, but they constantly had to move around each other.

Now there was room for another stove, additional preparation space, shelves, and storage.

Xiao Lan entered behind him.

She stopped and stretched both arms outward.

Lin Yuan glanced at her.

"What are you doing?"

"Testing something."

"What?"

She turned around once.

"I can move."

"You could move before."

"Not without hitting Su Mei."

Su Mei appeared in the doorway.

"You hit me three times."

"The third time was your fault." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"You turned around holding a pot."

"You walked behind me."

Lin Yuan left them to settle that argument themselves and headed upstairs.

Four new doors lined the expanded corridor.

He opened the nearest one.

A bed, a small table, a chair, and enough space for a traveler’s belongings.

Simple, but clean.

He checked another room before Master Han came upstairs.

"Everything matches the plan."

"You’re finished?"

"Almost. We’re checking everything again."

Master Han tapped the railing.

"Roof, doors, supports, connections. If nothing is wrong, we’re done this afternoon."

Lin Yuan nodded.

"Take your time."

Master Han looked at him.

"Most owners tell me to hurry."

"I’d rather the second floor stay above the first."

Master Han considered that for a moment.

"Reasonable."

He turned and went downstairs.

The final inspection lasted until late afternoon.

One door needed adjusting. Several roof tiles were repositioned. Master Han checked the connection between the old building and the extension one last time before finally putting away his tools.

He found Lin Yuan in the courtyard.

"Finished."

"Everything?"

"Everything."

Lin Yuan made one final walk through the building with him. Nothing stood out that needed changing.

Outside, he paid the remaining labor fee.

Master Han accepted the spirit stones.

"If you decide to add another half a building next month, find someone else."

"You don’t want the work?"

"I want customers who know when to stop building."

"Then I won’t call you next month."

Master Han nodded.

"Good."

"Maybe the month after."

Master Han stared at him.

Lin Yuan smiled.

"I’m charging more next time."

"Then I’ll find someone else."

"Good."

Master Han turned toward his workers.

Lin Yuan let him go.

The construction crew would leave for Green River City the following morning.

That evening, after the tavern closed, Lin Yuan entered the new dining area alone.

He stood quietly for a moment.

Something was different.

The difference was subtle, but after cultivating inside Wandering Cloud Tavern for so long, he noticed it immediately.

The spiritual Qi here was thinner.

Lin Yuan focused on the building.

The Territory Core responded.

Wandering Cloud Tavern

Expansion Construction Complete

Compatible Extension Detected

Integration Available

Existing Building Effects will extend to the connected structure.

Lin Yuan confirmed.

A faint vibration passed beneath his feet.

It traveled through the new floor and disappeared into the walls.

Several breaths later, the panel changed.

Wandering Cloud Tavern

Quality: Low Spirit Grade

Capacity: 40 Seats

Guest Rooms: 8

Minor Qi Gathering

Dust Repelling

Comfort

Structural Reinforcement

Lin Yuan dismissed it.

He didn’t need the panel to tell him the result.

The spiritual Qi around him had already changed.

He walked slowly through the new dining area before entering the expanded kitchen. The same faint concentration of spiritual Qi remained around him.

Upstairs was no different.

Lin Yuan stopped at the end of the new corridor and rested a hand against the railing.

For weeks, he had watched workers carry timber, raise beams, build walls, and cover the roof.

Now their work had become part of Wandering Cloud Tavern.

He headed downstairs and closed the doors for the night.

Master Han and his workers left shortly after breakfast the next morning.

The courtyard became quiet once their wagons disappeared down the road.

Lin Yuan returned inside.

Su Mei was opening the windows while Xiao Lan wiped down the new tables.

She looked around the expanded dining hall.

"We might finally have too many tables."

"Yesterday you wanted more space."

"I like the space. I’m wondering if we have enough customers."

Su Mei came downstairs.

"Wait until lunch."

Before Xiao Lan could answer, footsteps sounded outside.

Five cultivators entered.

Su Mei immediately turned toward them.

"Food?"

"And water."

One of the cultivators took several steps inside before slowing.

His gaze moved toward the fresh timber on the eastern side of the dining hall.

"I’ve been here before."

Lin Yuan glanced over from the kitchen.

The man’s face was vaguely familiar.

The cultivator looked around once more.

"You expanded?"

"Finished yesterday," Su Mei said.

She led the group toward the new section.

Xiao Lan picked up a pot of tea and followed them.

The five cultivators took one of the new tables.

Before their food was ready, another pair of travelers entered.

Then the sound of wheels came from outside.

A wagon stopped in front of the tavern.

Su Mei called the next order toward the kitchen.

Lin Yuan turned back to the stove.

Behind him, voices spread through the larger dining hall.

Bowls touched tables.

Chairs moved across the new floor.

Two weeks ago, that part of the tavern hadn’t existed.

Now five cultivators were eating breakfast there.