Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Harbinger of Doom

After signing the contract, Su Bai was driven out of the carriage by Old Xue as if he were a plague demon.

“Damn, this guy really…” Su Bai took out the bronze mirror from his pocket, examining his face from left to right, touching it with his hand. “Nothing wrong here, I’m no less good-looking than you. Hmph, just jealous of my handsome and dashing looks.”

“Ugh~” Qu Qiuzhuo almost threw up hearing Su Bai’s words, and Su Bai successfully earned another label in her mind: a narcissist.

Qu Qiuzhuo couldn’t stand Su Bai’s daily vanity, so she complained, “I didn’t want to look at your battered face every day, but now seeing you like this, you really shouldn’t have restored it.”

“I won’t.” Su Bai quietly made a funny face.

Just as he turned, a man wearing a bamboo hat appeared in his line of sight.

He slightly raised his head, revealing a cold face under the hat. Beneath his sword-like eyebrows were black eyes flashing with cold light. A powerful divine aura enveloped Su Bai’s whole body, instantly making him feel as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.

The man said nothing aloud, yet a cold voice echoed: “Who are you? What is your intention with this disguise?”

A worried voice came from the jade pendant: “This is bad. His strength is higher than I expected, at least at the fifth level of transcendence. You need to be careful.”

Su Bai knew well what he was facing. But when he saw the people behind the man in the bamboo hat, he suddenly understood how to proceed.

Behind the bamboo-hatted man stood three women. The two on the sides wore garments blending green and white, their hair neatly tied up, resembling refined young ladies. The woman in the middle was beyond a simple description of ethereal beauty.

Her hands were as delicate as soft willows, skin like congealed cream. She wore no makeup, her features gentle, radiating a powerful affinity from the moment she was seen. Her lips were naturally red, eyebrows green without paint, serene and surpassing the reflection of flowers on water.

Every frown and smile exuded infinite charm, devoid of any seductive allure, only endless gentle beauty.

She was the sixth miss of the Shang family but wore only a modest plain white long brocade robe, cinched at the slender waist with a pale blue wide belt. Silver butterfly earrings dangled by her ears, her jet-black hair pinned up with a jade hairpin into an exquisite bun.

Any slight alteration would spoil her perfection—truly a beauty that could cause fish to sink and birds to fall, and shame the moon and flowers.

“Speak quickly!” The man with the bamboo hat raised his voice when Su Bai remained silent.

“I…” Su Bai was about to play the victim in front of Shang Wenyi when the man stepped forward and yanked off Su Bai’s human skin mask.

When his true face was revealed, the two maids behind covered their mouths in shock at Su Bai’s appearance.

“Do you have anything more to say?” The man threw the mask aside and drew a sharp sword, its tip instantly pressing against Su Bai’s throat.

Su Bai hurriedly looked at Shang Wenyi, who immediately stopped the man. “Brother Qin, don’t act rashly. He hasn’t explained himself fully—there might be more to this.”

Qin Feng didn’t lower his sword but replied coldly, “Miss, don’t be deceived by this man’s appearance. Someone disguising himself to infiltrate the caravan is never simple-minded. Let me send him off early.”

“Wait!” Shang Wenyi’s voice came again. “Brother Qin, don’t mistakenly harm a life.”

Her clothes fluttered as she moved lightly and swiftly between them, pulling Su Bai behind her with a small hand.

Her tall, graceful figure, slender waist like a willow, stood before Qin Feng, her brows slightly furrowed. “Brother Qin, life is precious—it’s not something to be taken lightly.”

Qin Feng still didn’t lower his sword, lamenting, “Young mistress, you’re too soft-hearted. Along this way, how many people have you let go? If we hadn’t protected you with all our strength, who knows how many would have harmed you?”

Shang Wenyi pursed her lips, lifting her head firmly. “I know some have lied to me, but if they’re telling the truth, to stand by and watch is to let innocent people die.”

Qin Feng knew Shang Wenyi was determined to protect Su Bai. He slowly lowered his sword, snorted coldly, and whispered with inner strength, “If you dare to think of the young mistress, I will tear you to pieces.”

The cold voice made Su Bai’s heart race.

Seeing Qin Feng leave displeased, Shang Wenyi took a pouch from her side, pulled out some scattered silver coins, and gently placed them in Su Bai’s hand. “I don’t know why you came here, and I don’t have much money on me. This is all I can give. You’d better leave soon.”

Su Bai pushed her soft hand away, bowed deeply, and said, “Miss, your kindness humbles me. I bear no ill intent, please rest assured.”

Looking up again, Shang Wenyi smiled faintly, revealing shallow dimples. “It’s alright. Keep the silver. I know you sneaked in because you had no fare. Those goods belong to an uncle in our caravan. I’ll repay him on your behalf.”

---

“Uh.” Su Bai was a bit embarrassed to be seen through so thoroughly. He hadn’t expected Shang Wenyi to be so astute; he was at a loss for words.

Shang Wenyi handed the silver to a nearby maid, then bowed slightly to Su Bai before turning to leave.

“Wait!” Su Bai called out suddenly as she was about to go.

Shang Wenyi turned back, still smiling faintly, tilting her head slightly. “Is there something else?”

Realizing he had been abrupt, Su Bai awkwardly replied, “Oh, no… sorry, I’ll be more careful next time.”

Watching Shang Wenyi’s figure fade away, Su Bai’s gaze deepened. “This woman is not as naive as she appears. Well, if she were truly foolish, the Shang family wouldn’t have invested so much in her training. I was just thinking too simplistically.”

“Master, the silver the miss gave you…” the maid beside him said.

“Oh, thank you.” Su Bai looked at the blushing, adorable girl and smiled. “You’ve worked hard too. Consider the rest half as a gift to you.”

Though he said half, he only took two coins. Su Bai felt awkward accepting all of it; the money was just enough to buy some provisions. He could hunt in his spare time.

“Hey!” The maid wanted to follow him, but Su Bai pointed back, freezing her in place without turning his head. “You’ll be released in a cup of tea’s time. Also, tell your miss that the life-saving grace at Mount Yue of Jingzhou eight years ago has never been forgotten.”

Then he lightly stepped to the last carriage in the caravan, registered there, and followed the group of struggling merchants on their journey.

Su Bai only had two sets of clothes in his bag. His human skin mask had been torn by Qin Feng, and he lacked the materials to make another anytime soon.

He didn’t look like a destitute merchant, so he smeared more lime on his face, didn’t wash his hair, and finally looked somewhat the part.

---

Three days later

The city’s trade was nearing its end, and Shang Wenyi had returned to the caravan surrounded by many commoners.

Back in the spacious carriage, Shang Wenyi sat by the small bed, her jade arm casually resting on the small table, one hand propping her face as she stared blankly out the window.

The thunder beast was just something she sat on out of curiosity. With Qin Feng around, nothing would happen, but the carriage was still much more comfortable.

“Miss, what are you thinking about?” The maid beside her asked, noticing her expression.

“I’m thinking… over the past nine years, my father’s dissatisfaction with me has grown, and my brothers’ hostility has increased day by day. I had hoped these last couple of years would be peaceful, no more trouble, but father instead sent me to lead the caravan across the southern counties.”

As she spoke, Shang Wenyi’s face darkened and she sighed deeply.

This puzzled the maid even more. “Miss, why are you so sad? Isn’t this a good opportunity from the master?”

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world. My brothers have long disliked me. In the past two years, father protected me too much, so they didn’t dare be too reckless. Now father has clearly relaxed his control over them. Whoever makes a big move now is just pushing themselves into the spotlight.”

Shang Wenyi’s eyes were somewhat lost. She had made it clear she had no interest in the family headship, but her brothers wouldn’t let go. Still, it was understandable—The Shang family’s wealth was enough to breed suspicion and madness.

“Hey! Right.” The maid seemed to suddenly remember something, speaking excitedly.

“Xiao Qing, can you not be so reckless?” Shang Wenyi glanced at her with some helplessness.

Xiao Qing was much younger. At twenty-five, Shang Wenyi was considered an old unmarried woman in their time. She hadn’t found someone she truly liked, and her father hadn’t arranged a marriage, so she remained in the inner chambers.

Xiao Qing was embarrassed by the rebuke but knew the miss wouldn’t punish her. She playfully stuck out her tongue and said, “Miss, do you remember that handsome guy from three days ago?”

Hearing this, Shang Wenyi glared at her and feigned sternness, “What handsome guy? Your words are getting out of line. Maybe I haven’t been strict enough with you.”

“Pooh, pooh, pooh—it’s that young master!” Xiao Qing lightly tapped her rosy lips. “He asked me to pass a message to you, about the life-saving grace at Mount Yue of Jingzhou eight years ago.”

“Eight years ago?” Shang Wenyi’s delicate brows furrowed. “If I’m not mistaken, that was the first time I led the caravan. But I really don’t remember anyone like that.”

After pondering, she gave up. “Forget it. No need for this person to repay me. Let it all blow away with the wind.”

“Miss, I think that young master is handsome and would be a perfect match for you.”

“Xiao Qing!” Shang Wenyi’s expression turned displeased, her phoenix-like eyes glaring at Xiao Qing, warning without words.

Xiao Qing realized her overstep and quickly knelt, begging for mercy. “Miss, you’ve been worried all along. I just wanted to make you smile.”

Shang Wenyi didn’t punish her, but worried that Xiao Qing’s words might be used against her by others, so she said, “Don’t speak of this again. That man and we are strangers. There will be no connection in the future. Don’t talk nonsense.”

Meanwhile, Su Bai traveled southward with the caravan.

In his spare time, he spoke to the jade pendant, “I really don’t know if meeting Shang Wenyi here is a blessing or a curse.”

“Why do you ask?”

“Her situation isn’t good. I feel this ship won’t stay afloat much longer.”

“I thought you were thinking of playing the hero and rescuing a beauty, but you just want to move somewhere else.” Qu Qiuzhuo, though disdainful of Su Bai’s words, didn’t oppose.

Survival is the most important capital. When the big tree falls, the monkeys scatter.

“You’re not wrong. From what you’ve heard these past two days, the Shang family’s waters are deep. But Shang Wenyi is kind by nature and can’t be ruthless. She’s not suited for the merchant path.”

Su Bai raised an eyebrow. Qu Qiuzhuo surprisingly agreed with him for the first time, which left him incredulous. “Wow, is this the greatest beauty of the Great Wei I know? She actually agrees with me? I’m truly honored, truly honored.”

“Get lost!” Qu Qiuzhuo snapped.

“Shh!” Just as Qu Qiuzhuo was about to scold Su Bai, he suddenly raised a finger to his lips.

Seeing Su Bai’s serious expression, Qu Qiuzhuo reluctantly held back.

Su Bai held his breath and concentrated. A freezing inner energy burst forth, enveloping his entire body.

Within two breaths, a thin layer of frost covered him; even his breathing temporarily halted.

The Concealment Technique of the Supreme Ice Mystery Art was the first skill Su Bai learned. He knew his own strength well, so he worked hard to master this life-saving art.

That thin frost served as a carrier for his inner energy, shielding his divine aura from detection.

Moreover, under the cultivation of the Supreme Ice Mystery Art, his body and senses became extraordinarily strong. This time, being able to hear approaching footsteps early was thanks to this. Though every cultivation was a torment, these benefits made him satisfied.

With his Concealment Technique now practiced to perfection, Su Bai felt excited: this was his first real test—consider it a proving of his cultivation.

He then focused on the direction of the sound. Soon, clearer footsteps entered his ears.

Through a crack, Su Bai looked at the approaching figures.

Frowning slightly, he thought to himself, “So it’s these people.”

Qu Qiuzhuo, inside the jade pendant, also saw them and quietly smiled, “Your curse really works. The poor girl is about to be in trouble so soon. Heh heh.”