Disguise

Yunyouzi pondered for a moment before saying, "When this old Daoist came last time, my cultivation was far inferior to what it is now, yet a single magic tool was enough for a round trip. Still, we are heading into the third layer's inner valley. To be safe, we can buy two more as a precaution." Back at Yinshan Pass, Yunyouzi had already explained the situation to Qin Sang. Their objective lay within Wuya Valley's inner valley—the most perilous part of the entire region. Had Yunyouzi not known a path, their strength alone would have made it a suicidal venture. Qin Sang had it relatively easy; once he helped Yunyouzi restrain the strange person, he could withdraw. Yunyouzi, on the other hand, had to brave extreme danger and venture deeper on his own, clearly staking his life on a slim hope of survival. Yunyouzi had surely weighed the pros and cons before making his resolve, so Qin Sang did not try to dissuade him further. The immortal path was arduous; there was never any chance of reaping rewards without facing great peril. Qin Sang nodded. Though these jade pendants were expensive, they were by no means a burden to them, and Yunyouzi's suggestion was prudent. After some further discussion, the two agreed to set out the day after next. "...I didn't expect Mingyue's disciple to possess such remarkable talent. Senior, what do you think? If you don't have time to teach him personally, I can recommend him into Shaohua Mountain to cultivate." Qin Sang gave Yunyouzi a detailed account of Daoist Priest Jixin and Mingyue, as well as Li Yufu's exceptional aptitude, seeking his opinion. In the mortal realm, Li Yufu was Mingyue's disciple, making him Yunyouzi's great-grand-disciple. Entering the immortal path could maintain that very bond. If Yunyouzi did not wish to be distracted, Qin Sang would recommend Li Yufu to Shaohua Mountain instead. Even that starting point would place him far ahead of ordinary cultivators. "Jixin and his disciple stayed true to their hearts. They died worthy deaths!" Learning that Daoist Priest Jixin and Mingyue were venerated by the people with living shrines across thousands of households, Yunyouzi felt deeply comforted. Hearing Qin Sang ask about arrangements for Li Yufu, Yunyouzi pondered and said, "Brother Qin has sharp eyes. After seeing the Tan brothers, I did feel something stir within me and entertained thoughts of finding a successor. Since Li Yufu already shares this mortal connection with me and possesses good talent, there is no need to trouble ourselves further. However, with this journey into Wuya Valley, this old Daoist's future remains uncertain..." After thinking for a moment, Yunyouzi retrieved a wooden plaque and handed it to Qin Sang. "This is a token of a Taiyi Dan Sect disciple. Brother Qin, please hold onto this. If this old Daoist fails to make it out, I will trouble you to make a trip to Qingyang Temple. Have Li Yufu take this token and join the Taiyi Dan Sect under my name as my disciple. I still have some possessions stored in my cave dwelling at the sect; those will all be his as well." When speaking of losing his life in Wuya Valley, Yunyouzi's tone remained placid, as though he were discussing someone completely unrelated to himself. Hearing this, Qin Sang felt a pang of sorrow. Taking the token, he forced a smile. "Senior, you haven't even laid eyes on Li Yufu himself to gauge his character. To make such a hasty decision—what if he turns out to be an ungrateful wretch who ruins your reputation?" Yunyouzi shook his head and said resolutely, "Someone chosen by both Jixin and Brother Qin cannot possibly be an ungrateful wretch." Qin Sang blinked, then nodded gently. *** On the third day. Having adjusted their conditions to their peak and purchased two more jade pendants, Qin Sang and Yunyouzi departed Qingyang Market, continuing their flight deeper into Tianduan Mountain. Traveling without pause, it took them only five days to arrive near Wuya Valley. From far away, a sweep of crimson painted the eastern horizon. Blood clouds blotted out the sky, stretching countless li north and south, far beyond the reach of their sight. Though named a valley, Wuya Valley was not a mere mountain gorge, but a vast and enigmatic expanse of land. Undulating mountains rolled endlessly across the terrain, with Wuya Valley nestled deep within them. Having just entered the mountain range, they were still some distance from the true Wuya Valley, yet a faint blood-colored mist already drifted through the air, bringing an abnormal chill to their surroundings. This blood-colored mist was the outward diffusion of the blood miasma from Wuya Valley. If a cultivator inhaled even a mouthful of it, they would feel plunged into an abyss of ice. If their cultivation fell short and the blood miasma coated their flesh, the toxins would seep into their vital organs, leaving them beyond the help of gods or immortals. However, the mountain range was remarkably barren, devoid of spirit herbs, so ordinary cultivators rarely came here unless they were entering Wuya Valley. Yunyouzi gazed toward the valley and said, "Brother Qin, the first layer of Wuya Valley is relatively safe, but only in comparison to the second and third layers; it remains fraught with hidden perils. Furthermore, the first layer sees the most cultivator activity. Careless fools often disturb nests of demons or beasts, or trigger ancient restrictions, throwing the valley into chaos. Every so often, the first layer undergoes drastic changes, so my past experience might not be very reliable anymore. We could find a guide first, or disguise ourselves as herb gatherers and slip into another party. That could save us quite a bit of time..." Qin Sang nodded in agreement. The information he had gathered at Qingyang Market aligned with Yunyouzi's words. The deeper one ventured into Wuya Valley, the stronger the fiends, demons, and ghosts became, yet they did not roam in packs across the entire area like those on the outskirts, and anyone who entered those depths was exceptionally cautious. Conversely, unexpected incidents frequently erupted in the first layer, where even beast stampedes were not uncommon. *** A desolate mountain ridge. From a distance, it appeared unremarkable, but upon drawing closer, faint ripples became visible in the air. The blood miasma was kept at bay by these ripples, unable to breach the perimeter. At that moment, two streaks of light shot in from the southwest. Just as they were about to cross the ridge, the figures within seemed to notice the anomaly below and came to an abrupt halt. The lights faded to reveal two figures—Qin Sang and Yunyouzi. The two exchanged a glance. Yunyouzi said, "These restrictions only serve to repel the blood miasma and sound an alarm; there isn't even a defensive formation. This must be one of the mobile markets. Let's head in; we are bound to find herb-gathering parties here." The so-called mobile markets were unique fixtures outside Wuya Valley. Whenever Wuya Valley underwent an upheaval, such as a surge of blood miasma or an eruption of beast tides, the occupants would promptly abandon the market and flee into the distance. Since establishing a few simple restrictions required minimal cost, they lost almost nothing. Once Wuya Valley calmed down, they would return, pick another location, and rebuild the market. Over time, this had become customary. The market Yunyouzi had frequented during his last visit had already been reduced to ruins, and it had taken them considerable effort to locate this one. "If anyone asks, tell them we're entering Wuya Valley to gather Huanglong Grass," Yunyouzi's voice transmission reached Qin Sang's ears. Qin Sang nodded slightly and followed Yunyouzi into the market. Huanglong Grass grew mostly in the deepest reaches of Wuya Valley's first layer, not far from the second. Disguising themselves as gatherers seeking Huanglong Grass would allow them to part ways with the party once they reached the appropriate area. The structures inside the market were exceptionally crude. Houses roughly stacked from coarse stone slabs or crooked, low wooden shacks served as storefronts, scattered haphazardly across the ridge. The streets twisted and turned with no apparent order. Yet among these unassuming shops, quite a few were established by well-known merchant guilds of the cultivation world.