90: Disguise
As Feng Wu was about to leave, he heard shouts coming from the front hall, and couldn't help but frown.
Looking back, he saw a disguised and secretive man not far behind him, holding a package wrapped in black cloth, striding quickly towards the counter.
Behind him, a group of people followed, shouting and yelling about something.
“Hmph, a guy who hides his head and shows his tail, does he still want to cause a commotion in the Martial Alliance?”
Feng Wu's tone was full of disdain; having been in the Martial Alliance for a long time, veterans like him had seen too many newcomers like this, who would swagger and show off after completing one bounty.
He could tell from the man's actions that he was a novice. Although the man's black clothes and the way he only showed his eyes made him look experienced, the blood-dripping package in his hand was not the special cloth bag used by the Martial Alliance.
Professional bounty hunters always carried special cloth bags with them, precisely for when they encountered wanted criminals. Just from this point alone, one could tell that this person was definitely a rookie!
Such a flashy newcomer would probably die in a stinking corner somewhere one day...
Young, still too young... Feng Wu shook his head, his heart filled with a sense of superiority.
However, as Han Yi passed by him, Feng Wu suddenly froze.
He saw the wanted poster image in Han Yi's hand.
“Th-that's?”
Feng Wu suddenly stammered, his eyes wide, pointing at the wanted poster in Han Yi's hand and saying, “N-no way, you completed the bounty for Black Wind Stronghold's Second Boss, Iron Kill?”
Iron Kill's bounty was as high as two hundred silver taels, and Feng Wu was naturally envious.
He had once seen Iron Kill in action near the official road. Iron Kill's Blade Technique was heavy and ruthless, coupled with that ghost-head broadsword, riding on a Black Wind Horse, he was truly invincible.
Feng Wu had watched from afar for a few glances, knowing he was no match for Iron Kill, and had left dejectedly.
He hadn't expected to see Iron Kill's wanted poster taken down here...
“Mm.”
Han Yi glanced sideways at Feng Wu, a Refining Blood Martial Artist with strength '30~42'. He responded indifferently and walked straight towards the counter.
After all, the persona he gave Niu Li was silent and powerful.
“Lord Niu!” The officer behind the counter looked at Han Yi's waist token, then bowed.
Gulp!
Han Yi casually placed the package on the counter, and a head rolled out with a thud.
Drip, drop...
Blood flowed down the counter, some even seeping inside.
The pungent smell of blood permeated the air, making people instinctively cover their noses.
But the officer's expression remained normal, and he still examined it carefully.
However, his heart was surging like a great river.
He remembered this person, 'Niu Li'. Last time he submitted the bounty for Silver Sword Wu Awei. At that time, the officer hadn't paid much attention, after all, Wu Awei was just a Refining Bone Stage Martial Artist.
And this time, in just a few days, Niu Li had completed the bounty for Black Wind Stronghold's Iron Kill, who was the most troublesome among the Refining Blood. Clearly, Niu Li was either a Connecting Vessels Stage Martial Master or a Late Blood Refinement Stage expert.
Fortunately, he hadn't been negligent when receiving this person last time...
“Lord Niu, Iron Kill's bounty is two hundred silver taels. Would you like to exchange it for silver notes or gold?”
The officer asked politely, his face full of smiles.
Two hundred silver taels?
Han Yi remembered that when he came to the Martial Alliance last time, Iron Kill's bounty was only worth one hundred silver taels. It seemed Iron Kill had committed quite a few more deeds during this time...
“Exchange it for gold,” Han Yi paused, then said.
'Gold in times of chaos, jade in times of prosperity, antiques worth a thousand gold in times of peace.'
In this Da Xuan Dynasty, which was on the verge of turmoil, gold was more valuable.
“Lord Niu, this is your bounty money, please keep it safe.”
The officer fumbled around inside the counter for a while, then took out two small, glittering gold ingots.
One tael of gold was worth ten taels of silver, so two hundred taels of silver could only be exchanged for twenty taels of gold.
But it had to be said, the appearance of gold was indeed incomparable to silver. Even though there were only two small gold ingots, their golden luster would ignite people's greed.
“Mm.”
Han Yi nodded, quickly put the two gold ingots into his embrace, turned around, and left.
He had killed the Second Boss of Black Wind Stronghold, and staying longer might lead to unexpected events.
“My name is Feng Wu, may I know your esteemed name...”
Before Han Yi could walk out of the back hall, Feng Wu, who had been waiting for a long time, cupped his hands and bowed, introducing himself.
“You are too kind, I am Niu Li.”
Han Yi's expression was normal, his tone flat.
“I didn't know when an expert like Brother Niu arrived at the Martial Alliance. You are truly a talented individual with an extraordinary appearance!”
The smile on Feng Wu's face grew even wider. Iron Kill was strong, and since Han Yi could kill him easily, he naturally wanted to get acquainted with such an expert.
“...”
Han Yi was somewhat speechless. He was currently wearing a mask, and yet this guy could tell his appearance?
Although, Feng Wu was actually right...
“Brother Niu, are you free tonight? Would you do me the honor of coming to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in Heyue Ward for a drink with me?”
“Oh, I'm not free.”
Han Yi's tone remained unchanged.
“In that case, I won't bother Brother Niu. If there's anything in the future, just let me know...”
Feng Wu stepped aside and bowed.
He didn't feel embarrassed. After all, for people in their line of work, being highly vigilant towards others was normal. As long as he left a good impression the first time, he might be able to build a relationship next time...
After walking out of the Martial Alliance, Han Yi moved quickly, disappearing into the alley in a few flashes.
Subsequently, a man in a gray robe, looking sickly and with a sallow face, emerged from the alley.
This person was naturally Han Yi. To prevent being recognized and temporarily hide his tracks, he had no choice but to resort to this measure.
'Minor reclusion is in the wilderness, moderate reclusion is in the city, great reclusion is in the court.'
If he hid himself completely in his robe...
Just now, he went to a house whose owner was not home, took a shirt from the courtyard, and found some rouge and powder in the room to smear his face yellow, making him look like a middle-aged man with an illness.
Of course, when Han Yi left, he also left some broken silver for the family; he was not a gentleman of the beam.
Han Yi put on the gray robe and bent his back. He looked as frail as someone with a chronic illness, completely lacking the vigorous and imposing aura of a Martial Artist. Although his disguise method was crude, at least from a distance, ordinary people wouldn't recognize him.
If only there was a martial art technique for changing one's appearance... Why go through all this trouble!
Han Yi walked on the street, his mind constantly pondering.