228: Arrival at the Wolf Clan

The medicinal herb convoy arrived at the west gate of Frostfang City precisely at the third quarter of the Hour of the Snake.

Just as Su Feng, Patrol Captain of the Eagle Clan had expected, the Wolf Clan guards at the gate were relatively lax in their inspection of this convoy from the south, which possessed formal trade permits; they focused more on counting the goods and verifying the tax items.

The leader of the convoy, a one-eyed Wolf Clan man named 'Scarface,' was a fierce-looking but quite trustworthy middle-aged man. He calmly scanned Bai Yao and Xing Che, who were mixed in at the end of the group of laborers with gray cloth strips tied around their arms.

He said gruffly to the captain of the guards, "The usual rules. They're all poor wretches selling their labor. A few are refugees from the south—quite pitiful. Just give them a bite to eat, and that'll do."

As he spoke, he slipped a heavy small bag into the captain's hand.

The guard captain weighed it in his hand, grinned, and waved them through. "Go on in, Scarface. You know the rules; don't cause trouble."

"Rest assured, they're all honest folk!"

Scarface shouted, urging the convoy through the heavy, iron-clad city gates.

The moment they stepped into Frostfang City, a complex scent hit them—a mixture of smoke, livestock, cheap alcohol, and a faint hint of herbs and decay.

The scene inside the city was quite different from the majestic northern stronghold Bai Yao had imagined. The streets were made of packed frozen earth and were reasonably wide, but the buildings on both sides were low and cluttered, mostly constructed from rough black stone and timber, with roofs weighed down by thick snow.

There were many pedestrians from various clans, but most were in a hurry, their expressions solemn and their conversations kept in low whispers.

Patrolling Wolf Clan soldiers had sharp gazes, scanning the crowd from time to time, creating an invisible sense of oppression.

The convoy unloaded its goods at a warehouse called "Old Granary" in the west of the city.

Scarface called Bai Yao and Xing Che to a secluded spot and whispered, "I can only help this much with what Young Master Su Feng entrusted to me."

You are free now. Remember, in Frostfang City, speak little and observe more. Especially, do not provoke people wearing fox fur or jewelry; those are mostly that person's informants."

He glanced meaningfully toward the City Lord’s Manor. "As for a place to stay... go two streets south. There's the Gray Claw Tavern. The owner is an elder of the clan and is quite decent; he might find you a cheap place to stay. But don't expect too much. These days, life isn't easy for anyone."

After speaking, he didn't wait for the two to thank him before turning back to supervise the unloading, clearly not wanting any further involvement.

Following Scarface's directions, Bai Yao and Xing Che passed through several dirty and cluttered alleys and found the Gray Claw Tavern.

It was a two-story wood and stone building that looked older than the surrounding structures. The wolf head emblem on the sign was already faded and peeling.

When they pushed the door open, a wave of heat mixed with the smell of cheap ale, stewed meat, and sweat rushed out.

The small hall was filled with all sorts of customers, mostly lower-class beastmen in simple clothing, loudly playing drinking games and complaining about life, yet showing a kind of rugged vitality.

Behind the counter stood a one-armed old Wolf Clan man with graying hair and a hideous old scar running from his brow to his chin. However, his eyes were not cloudy as he methodically wiped a wine glass.

Seeing the unfamiliar "siblings," Bai Yao and Xing Che, he lifted his eyelids but said nothing.

Xing Che stepped forward and, using the code mentioned in Su Feng's intelligence, whispered, "Boss, we've come from the south and would like a bowl of snow water from Broken Blade Peak."

The hand of the old Wolf Clan member, Gray Paw, paused slightly in its wiping. His gaze lingered on Xing Che's face for a moment, then scanned Bai Yao, before he lowered his eyes and continued wiping the glass. His voice was not loud but clear:

"There is no snow water. There's half a wood shed in the backyard that's still empty. It doesn't leak wind. Two copper horns a day, includes one meal of black bread. Take it or leave it."

"Thank you, boss."

Xing Che placed a few copper coins given to him by Su Feng on the counter.

Gray Paw took the money and jerked his chin toward the back door. "Go on then. Remember, what you hear and see in the tavern stays in your gut when you leave. Don't walk around after the Hour of the Pig. Lately, the city... hasn't been peaceful."

The wood shed in the backyard was indeed simple, piled with some miscellaneous items, but it was cleaned reasonably well. Hay was spread on the ground, and there was a small window for ventilation.

For Bai Yao and Xing Che at this moment, it was a rare place of refuge.

After settling in, the two began to discuss their next move. Xing Che's body was still weak, but he forced himself to stay alert, analyzing, "The priority is two things: first, confirm Lin's exact condition and location as soon as possible; second, find out Moon Glass's background and patterns of movement to look for a potential opportunity to strike. Dividing our forces will be more efficient, but the risk is also greater."

"How shall we divide?" Bai Yao asked.

"You will use the identity of a wanderer who knows some medicine to try and get close to the outskirts of the City Lord’s Manor."

Xing Che pondered, "The City Lord’s Manor seems to be recruiting servants who understand pharmacology lately, especially those who can decoct medicine and know nursing. This is an opportunity. Your knowledge of agriculture and herbs is enough to pass the initial screening."

Once inside, don't be in a hurry to ask about Lin. First, establish a foothold, observe the environment, and figure out the rules among the servants and the distribution of informants."

"And what about you?" Bai Yao looked at his face with concern.

"I will stay in the shadows."

Xing Che's gaze became sharp. "My soul injury isn't suited for long periods of walking or dealing with people, but I can try to use Fox Clan methods to gather information from the city's shadows—taverns, street rumors, and ignored corners."

At the same time, I need to find a relatively safe place to try and map out the general layout of Frostfang City, especially the City Lord’s Manor and its surrounding alleys and drainage systems."

He paused and took out the breath concealing powder given by Su Feng from his robe, pouring out a small amount. "Take this with you and use it when necessary. Remember, inside the manor, your identity is just a southern wanderer who happens to know some herbs and wants to earn a living."

Speak little, see much, and pay special attention to any unusual movements within the manor around the fifteenth of every month."

This was a clue he had heard from Yu Xiang.

Bai Yao nodded and carefully put away the breath concealing powder. "You must be even more careful alone outside. Your injury..."

"It's fine, I know what I'm doing."

Xing Che interrupted her. "The plan is set. We will act separately tomorrow. For now, you need to rest and gather your strength."

That night, the cold wind howled outside the wood shed, and the clamor from the tavern's front hall could be faintly heard.

Bai Yao lay on the hay bed, unable to sleep for a long time. The wolf mark rested quietly against her skin, but she couldn't feel any fluctuations from Lin. This dead silence made her even more anxious.

She thought of the freedom Su Feng had when soaring through the sky, of Xing Che's pale but determined face, and of the unknown Lin in the distance... Meanwhile, on the neighboring hay bed, Xing Che also had his eyes open.

The soul injury he had forcibly suppressed was throbbing with pain, but what made him even more uneasy was the worry about Bai Yao about to step into the dragon's pool and tiger's den alone.

All he could do was recover a sliver of strength as quickly as possible and use all his wisdom to pave the way for her, even if only by a little.