"Lin Tian, thank you. If it weren't for you, traveling at night would have been so troublesome," Zhu Li expressed gratitude.

"No need. The roads here are really difficult to traverse. Wudu is so developed, yet they can't build a paved road directly to the town?" Lin Tian remarked with confusion.

In Huaxia, this situation is rare now; cement roads have even reached every village. In England, it's unimaginable that a whole town wouldn't have a paved road.

However, the concept of towns in England seems different. Compared to a village in Huaxia, the towns here are not much bigger.

Xiao Manxue, also being from Huaxia, naturally felt deeply about this and explained, "Domestically, the density of villages and towns is high. The distance between villages and towns is very small, so constructing paved roads is very cost-effective. But in England, it's different. Building a separate road just for Sorlin Castle isn't very feasible."

"Alright, let's not discuss this anymore. Zhu Li, find an inn for us to stay at first," Xiao Manxue instructed Zhu Li.

As Zhu Li drove through the streets of the town, Lin Tian looked out from the car, feeling quite strange. The outside streets were too quiet; there were no pedestrians, and the shops were all closed. In one word, quiet.

Others also noticed the abnormality of the town and opened the car windows to take a look. At five in the afternoon, the town should have been bustling with people finishing work and going out to shop, but the situation was exactly the opposite; every door was shut tight.

Xiao Manxue picked up the car intercom and said to the cars behind, "Attention everyone, the situation in the town is a bit unusual. Do not leave the team casually, do not act alone."

"Senior, here we are. This is Fengye Inn, considered the largest inn in town," Zhu Li said, parking the car in front of a five-story building.

Lin Tian got out of the car and saw a painted wooden post in front of the inn. A wooden sign hung on it, bearing the name of the inn: Fengye Inn, a very poetic name.

But the atmosphere here wasn't poetic at all. A black crow stood on the wooden sign, and when it saw someone approaching, it cawed a few times and flew away.

Crows are unpopular in almost every place and country because they are believed to be a symbol of bad luck. Their ominous reputation comes from the legend that crows enjoy eating the flesh of the dead, being associated with death and evil.

The team members apparently believed in this legend, too, and coupled with the eerie scene on the street just now, everyone's nerves were on edge.

"The inn's door is closed too. I'll go knock and see if anyone's there," Zhu Li said, walking up to the door and knocking on it.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

The sound of knocking echoed through the quiet street, resonating in everyone's hearts, making their expressions even more solemn.

"Creak..." The door slowly opened, and the last rays of sunset seeped through the door slit, illuminating the interior of the inn, which was too dim to make out.

Once the door was fully open, the person in front of them was an elderly woman, slightly hunched, with gray hair, wrinkles lining her face, cloudy eyes, and wearing reading glasses.

With such a street, under such circumstances, it's only natural for people to associate the elderly woman opening the door with the witches from stories who toy with strange crystal balls.

"I... we need lodging," Zhu Li stuttered, slightly taken aback.

"Alright, come in if you need lodging. Sorlin Castle is small, so it's rare to see so many tourists at once," the old woman said warmly, smiling.

Despite the wrinkles, her smile was unsettling. However, the team members were selected as elite; after the initial shock, they quickly calmed down, carrying their backpacks and filing into the inn.

The ground floor of the inn served as a lobby. The elderly woman turned on the lights, making the lobby slightly brighter. She slowly moved behind the counter and asked, "How many rooms do you need?"

Zhu Li looked at Xiao Manxue, with an inquiring glance. Xiao Manxue stepped forward and said, "For safety reasons, no one should be alone. Each room should house two people, so they can look after each other."

This suggestion faced no opposition. After explaining, Xiao Manxue turned to the elderly woman and said, "Granny, we need seven rooms, preferably on the same floor."

"The inns here are quite small; one floor can't accommodate seven rooms. I'll arrange three rooms on the second floor and four on the third. Would that be alright?" asked the elderly woman.

"No problem," Xiao Manxue nodded.

After completing the procedures and receiving the room cards, Xiao Manxue distributed them one by one to the team members, instructing them to settle in first. However, she stayed behind.

Since she remained, Lin Tian, Rossi, and Zhu Li, the assistant and guide, naturally stayed as well.

"Young lady, is there anything else you need?" the old woman asked.

Xiao Manxue introduced herself, "My surname is Xiao. How should we address you, Granny?"

"Everyone calls me Granny Mary; you can call me that too," the old woman responded very amiably.

"Granny Mary, I have a question for you. When we entered town earlier, there was no one on the street, and all the shops were closed. Has something happened in town?" Xiao Manxue asked directly.

Lin Tian and the others looked at the elderly woman. Unexpectedly, Granny Mary laughed, "Hehe, young folks, surprised, huh? Actually, tomorrow is the town's annual Lavender Festival, so all the shops close these days, and everyone gathers at the east of the town to prepare for the festival. It's a big event here, and everyone takes it very seriously."

"Lavender Festival?" Lin Tian and the others were stunned; this answer was too unexpected. It turned out the whole town had ceased business to prepare for the grand festivity.

In the traditional festivals of England, there isn't a Lavender Festival, making it apparent that the festival is localized.

Granny Mary warmly added, "You've arrived at the perfect time. Tomorrow, you can join this festival. At the festival gathering, if young people have partners, they must participate as a couple. If you don't have a partner, that's okay, as there will be a matchmaking event."

"What is a matchmaking event?" Zhu Li asked curiously.

"A matchmaking event is where young men and women gather, and if you fancy a young lady, and the young lady fancies you, and both of you are single, then these young people can develop a relationship. If the romance succeeds, the town residents will host a grand wedding for them at the next Lavender Festival and offer their heartfelt blessings," Granny Mary explained with a chuckle.

"Isn't this just a mass matchmaking event? We have that in Huaxia too, like singing love ballads for matchmaking," Lin Tian remarked in surprise, saying this in Chinese to Miss.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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