The Invitation

The next morning, Liu Zhihao woke up early, feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep. He got dressed, packed his things, and headed towards the front desk to check out.

As he was leaving, he heard a voice calling out to him. He turned around to see the same man he had met the night before, the merchant.

"Good morning," the man said with a smile. "I hope you slept well."

"Yes, thank you," Liu Zhihao replied.

The man paused for a moment before continuing. "I was wondering if you might be interested in joining me on the road today. I have a few stops to make in nearby towns, and it would be nice to have some company."

Liu Zhihao hesitated for a moment before nodding. He couldn't help but feel drawn to the man, and the idea of traveling with him seemed like an opportunity he couldn't pass up.

"That sounds like a good idea," he said finally.

The merchant's face lit up with a smile. "Excellent! I'll go get my cart ready, and we can leave in a little while."

Liu Zhihao watched as the man hurried off, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation building inside him.

As they set off down the road, the merchant began to tell Liu Zhihao more about himself. He was from a small town on the outskirts of the kingdom, and he had always been interested in trading and commerce.

He had traveled far and wide, and had even visited some of the larger cities in the kingdom. He knew the ins and outs of the trade, and had built up a network of contacts and suppliers over the years.

As they talked, Liu Zhihao couldn't help but be impressed by the merchant's knowledge and experience. He felt like he had a lot to learn from him, and he was eager to soak up as much information as he could.

Before long, they arrived at their first stop, a small village on the outskirts of town. The merchant had some goods to deliver, and Liu Zhihao watched as he conducted his business with ease and confidence.

As they left the village, the merchant turned to Liu Zhihao with a smile. "I have an invitation for you," he said.

Liu Zhihao raised an eyebrow in surprise. "An invitation?"

"Yes," the merchant replied. "I have a friend who is a master of martial arts. He lives in a nearby town, and I was thinking we could visit him. I think you would find it interesting."

Liu Zhihao couldn't believe his luck. He had been hoping to find someone to train with, and the idea of meeting a master of martial arts was too good to pass up.

"I would love to meet him," he said eagerly.

The merchant grinned. "Excellent! We'll head over there tomorrow. I think you'll find it to be a very enlightening experience."