Only after the disguises were completed did Shangguan Ye understand what that strange smile of Xiao Yan’s had meant back then.
He tugged at a small tuft of hair above the large black mole on his lip, his eyebrow twitching involuntarily. Turning to raise an eyebrow at Xiao Yan, who was covering his mouth to stifle a laugh, he then glanced at the hideously unfamiliar man in the mirror. A chill radiated from him as he gave a half-smile, half-smirk. “Your disguise skills are impressive… indistinguishable from the real thing.”
“Eh, of course! That’s the point—if it’s ugly enough, nobody bothers to look closely,” Xiao Yan replied. He had once been wary of Shangguan Ye, but after learning from Asi about his connection to the Little Grandmaster, he no longer feared him. With the Little Grandmaster backing him, what was there to worry about?
“Is that so…” Shangguan Ye squinted slightly.
Murong Qiufeng, watching from the side, couldn’t help but chuckle quietly, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Honestly, this look suits you.”
Shangguan Ye glanced back and saw the sly amusement in Murong Qiufeng’s eyes. His own spirits lifted somewhat—these past days had weighed heavily on him, and if he could elicit even this small smile, it was worth it. He didn’t want to overthink things. “Oh? So this is how I’m seen in the Treasure’s eyes, huh? Then you’ll need to match me. We have to look like a pair.” He reached out to pull him closer.
Murong Qiufeng stepped back, dodging the hand, and glared at him. He thought wryly that matching Shangguan Ye’s roguish personality would be perfect; nobody would suspect a thing.
Xiao Yan rubbed his chin, eyes gleaming, appraising Shangguan Ye. “With that rogue charm, it really hits the mark. Not bad, Master Uncle. What do you want to disguise yourself as? Maybe the innkeeper’s nephew?”
“I…”
Before Murong Qiufeng could respond, Shangguan Ye interrupted. “What I disguise myself as? Naturally, we’ll go as a matching couple. But we’ll need a female outfit too—some female presence will make it less suspicious.”
Murong Qiufeng’s lips stiffened.
Xiao Yan’s eyes sparkled, and he punched his palm in excitement. “Right! Why didn’t I think of that? Then Master Uncle can be the innkeeper’s daughter. You two pair up. Little Five can be your child. Ah, perfect! Though, Master Uncle, your appearance will need a slight adjustment. Come on, I can’t wait!”
Murong Qiufeng’s smile twisted further, taking a few steps back. “Better to stay as the nephew, then.”
Just then, a slightly hoarse voice entered the room. A man appearing around forty or fifty, wearing a high hat, looked in with curiosity at the group huddled together. Seeing Murong Qiufeng here, he brightened with surprise.
The others instinctively looked toward Shangguan Ye.
Yan Qiren also turned to the completely altered Shangguan Ye, nodding in understanding.
“Brother Yan, have you heard any news?” Murong Qiufeng poured him a cup of tea as he asked.
Yan Qiren accepted the tea, thanked him, then sighed. “I don’t know what exactly they’re plotting. Lately, more and more martial artists have been gathering in Yanyang. Rumor has it that the Martial Alliance might move its location here for an event. The sects that originally posted the bounty on you have even added allies. Not just minor sects—some are well-known major sects. And the bounty… the items involved are driving people mad.”
Everyone froze. “What do you mean?”
“Have you heard of the Nine-Life Lotus and the Blood Wolf King?”
Shangguan Ye raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes before narrowing them sharply.
Xiao Yan’s eyes widened. “Blood Wolf King? I’ve heard of that. Supposedly a descendant of a divine beast, can even cultivate into a demon but retain human intelligence.”
Murong Qiufeng had heard of the Nine-Life Lotus and looked astonished. Legend said only one grows every thousand years, with nine petals. It can instantly heal someone on the brink of death—as if giving them nine lives.
As for the Blood Wolf King, he’d also heard stories. Blood wolves exist in various breeds, and Shangguan Ye had given him a small blood wolf, though it wasn’t purebred. Legends held that a true Blood Wolf King descended from divine beasts—blood-red eyes, golden-red fur with silver limbs and chest. Its blood could extend life, enhance strength, be used in pills, and its fur could resist fire and water. Its claws could become divine weapons.
But blood wolves were rare; a Blood Wolf King even more so—like a divine treasure, never truly possessed or encountered by anyone. Furthermore, it was said to be ferocious and capable of magic. Capturing one was nearly impossible. Whether true or not, just the rumor alone shook everyone.
“No way. How could they have such things? Even if they did, why would they offer them as bounties?” Xiao Yan said incredulously.
Murong Qiufeng nodded. Displaying a treasure so openly would invite disaster. He couldn’t understand their thinking.
Yan Qiren shook his head. “The bounty items… the Nine-Life Lotus is from Yinshan Sect, but the Blood Wolf King…” He looked at Murong Qiufeng and Shangguan Ye. “They claim the Blood Wolf King is in Qiufeng’s possession. Whoever kills Qiufeng and takes it owns it.”
“That’s slander! Master Uncle wouldn’t have a Blood Wolf King!” Xiao Yan’s eyes were red with anger.
Murong Qiufeng frowned at Shangguan Ye. Coincidence or not, he did have a blood wolf—though not a king. Still, the timing of these claims was suspicious.
Shangguan Ye squinted back, tapping the table thoughtfully.
Xiao Yan, noticing their silent exchange, widened his eyes and trembled slightly. “N-no… it can’t be real, can it?”
Murong Qiufeng pursed his lips, a trace of seriousness in his eyes. “I do have a blood wolf, but it’s a pup, not a king. And it’s probably not purebred; its eyes are black.”
Yan Qiren’s eyes lit up. “A real blood wolf… I remember they grow atop snowy peaks and are nearly extinct. Even ordinary blood wolves are hard to find. So this news made many suspicious. Your wolf’s eyes were black as a pup, but by age two or three they turn red. When fully grown, the fur changes too. To know if yours is a blood wolf, just wait to see if its eyes turn red.”
Murong Qiufeng froze, glancing at Shangguan Ye with furrowed brows. Previously, Shangguan Ye had only said it was for hunting; he had no idea about the blood wolf, thinking it just an ordinary descendant wolf.
“Putting that aside, I’m more curious whether all this is just a coincidence…”
