Chapter Sixteen: Subtle Transformations

After burying the chief of the Black Demon Stronghold, Qin Feiyang and his companion continued their pursuit of the old man in black. A wolf’s vision and sense of smell are naturally superior to those of humans, especially when it comes to the scent of blood, to which wolves are most sensitive. The old man in black had been bleeding all along his flight. Guided by the smell of blood, the Wolf King led Qin Feiyang in relentless pursuit.

The Black Demon Stronghold had already been reduced to ashes. Yet the flames had not died; instead, they rapidly spread into the surrounding forest. Within a five-hundred-meter radius, a sea of fire raged, painting half the sky crimson. All the traps were consumed in the inferno, reduced to nothing.

The old man in black fled into this burning region. The thick, acrid smoke and scorching heat not only evaporated his blood quickly but also disrupted the Wolf King’s sense of smell.

Soon, man and wolf arrived at the fiery region’s edge. Qin Feiyang stood on a hillside, surveying the inferno ahead. “He went in there?” he asked.

The Wolf King nodded.

“This old fox is clever,” Qin Feiyang frowned. Now, tracking with scent would be much more difficult.

The Wolf King barked and ran down the slope, glancing back, urging Qin Feiyang to follow.

Cautiously, Qin Feiyang entered the sea of fire behind the Wolf King. The oppressive waves of heat crashed over them, and in an instant, both man and beast were drenched in sweat. The Wolf King sniffed carefully, advancing slowly.

After nearly half an hour, they emerged from the flames to find a river before them—the very same river they had crossed earlier. The old man in black sat slumped beside a stone stele, deathly pale and gasping for breath. The dagger had been pulled from his abdomen, but blood still seeped from the wound.

He noticed their approach but made no attempt to flee, as if he no longer had the strength.

Qin Feiyang and the Wolf King exchanged a glance and strode toward him.

The old man in black frowned. “I’ve already left. Why do you still pursue me?”

“Because you are an assassin from the Black Demon Stronghold. Only by killing you can I find peace,” Qin Feiyang replied.

“You saw the situation for yourself,” the old man said. “If you let me go now, I swear I’ll leave Iron Ox Town forever and never appear before you again.”

“You’re too dangerous. I can’t trust your word,” Qin Feiyang shook his head. His eyes flashed with murderous intent as he gripped his sword, Cangxue, and lunged at the old man.

The Wolf King also leapt, baring its fangs and pouncing.

With a sinister smile, the old man in black sneered, “You can’t be fooled so easily, Qin Feiyang. You are not simple. This debt—I’ll settle it with you someday.” With that, he dove headfirst into the river.

“Not good!” Qin Feiyang exclaimed and jumped in after him, the Wolf King following close behind. Moments later, Qin Feiyang surfaced, his expression dark and brooding. Soon after, the Wolf King emerged, shaking its head.

“This old fox is even more troublesome than I imagined. But he can't stay hidden underwater forever. Let’s get to shore first,” Qin Feiyang called to the Wolf King, swimming across the river.

Once ashore, man and wolf kept a close watch on the river, ready to investigate at the slightest ripple. But even as the sun rose high in the sky, the old man in black did not resurface. No blood appeared in the water. With the river flowing, the Wolf King could not track him.

The Wolf King let out a low growl, as if asking what to do next.

Qin Feiyang’s eyes flickered. If the old man had drowned, his body would float up. Since he had not, there was only one explanation—he had escaped. Yet how had he managed it? That, Qin Feiyang could not fathom.

He sighed, glanced at the Wolf King, and smiled. “We’ll deal with him if we ever cross paths again.”

He had originally intended only to teach the Black Demon Stronghold a lesson. Now, with everyone except the old man wiped out, he was satisfied with the outcome.

The Wolf King grinned, as if to say the adventure had been exhilarating.

Qin Feiyang shook his head, amused, cleaned Cangxue, sheathed it, and took out his spatial pouch. The treasures hidden within were the true prize of this venture.

However, upon inspecting the pouch, he froze in disbelief.

The Wolf King eyed him curiously.

Without a word, Qin Feiyang squatted down and poured all the gold coins from the pouch onto the ground—just one hundred in total.

“How could this be? An assassin organization with such a reputation, and this is all the gold they possess?” Qin Feiyang frowned deeply.

The Wolf King was equally puzzled. By rights, the Black Demon Stronghold should have accumulated not only a great sum of gold but also elixirs, weapons, martial arts manuals, and more. Yet the pouch contained nothing but a paltry sum. For an assassin organization, this was laughable.

No, the old man and the chief would not have slaughtered each other over a mere hundred gold coins. There had to be other treasures, hidden elsewhere.

“White-eyed Wolf, shall we search the stronghold ruins?” Qin Feiyang suggested.

The Wolf King nodded.

Quickly, Qin Feiyang stowed the coins, fastened the pouch to his waist, waded across the river, skirted the fire, and combed the ruins in search of the missing loot.

Yet after half an hour of searching, they found nothing.

“There must be treasures still hidden, concealed somewhere unknown to us,” Qin Feiyang murmured.

Suddenly, he pulled out the jade pendant the stronghold chief had given him, studying it with a frown. “Could this be a key?”

He pondered a moment, a faint smile playing at his lips. Whether there were more treasures or not, and whether the jade pendant was a key, he would keep his guard up.

Man and wolf retraced their steps home. Nearing the village, Qin Feiyang once again invited the Wolf King to accompany him, but the wolf declined, taking no share of the gold.

Thus, they parted ways.

Uncle Yuan had already buried the bodies of the dead white wolf, Lin Guo, and the others.

Qin Feiyang returned home to reassure his family, then hurried to Iron Ox Town. He was going to purchase Body Tempering Pills.

Though he had only acquired a hundred gold coins, it was a small fortune for him—enough to advance to the rank of Martial Master.

Moreover, elixirs weren’t only found in the Pill Hall. There was another place brimming with elixirs: the Treasure Pavilion.

The Treasure Pavilion was an independent force, one even the Pill Hall dared not offend lightly. After all, if the Pill Hall wished to sell its wares at high prices, it relied on the Treasure Pavilion’s market reach.

And the goods sold by the Treasure Pavilion were guaranteed genuine; only, their prices outstripped the market.

In the past five years, Qin Feiyang had visited the Treasure Pavilion, but the steep price of the Marrow Cleansing Pills had always been beyond his reach. He had endured no shortage of humiliation from the staff as well.

At this moment, the sun blazed overhead; most townsfolk sheltered indoors, leaving the streets nearly deserted. Those who did see Qin Feiyang eyed him with surprise.

News of his tumble down the Pill Hall’s stone steps had spread through Iron Ox Town. All assumed he would need weeks, if not months, to recover. Yet here he was, only two or three days later, striding through town with renewed vigor, the pallor gone from his face, his complexion rosy, his steps steady and powerful—he looked healthier and more spirited than ever.

“Could it be that, after that serious injury, his illness has vanished?” people wondered.

But Qin Feiyang walked on, unbothered by the curious stares.

He first stopped at a tailor’s, buying several sets of plain, coarse linen clothing. Though he now had money, there would be many demands on his purse in the future, so he needed to be frugal. Besides, after five years of hardship, he cared little for outward appearances—cleanliness and neatness sufficed.

Leaving the shop, he headed straight for the Treasure Pavilion, located in the southern part of town. The sweltering heat meant few customers braved the journey; some staff even dozed behind the counters.

As soon as Qin Feiyang entered, a few staff members stood up to greet him, but upon recognizing him, they slunk back, their disdain undisguised.

Qin Feiyang was used to such treatment and paid it no mind. His gaze swept the room and locked onto a particular spot.

At a counter stood a young man and woman, appearing to select something, while a staff member served them with a beaming smile.

Though their backs were to him, Qin Feiyang instantly recognized the girl.

“Yiyi, what are you doing out in such heat?” Qin Feiyang called, smiling as he approached.

It was Lin Yiyi.

“It’s Brother Feiyang…” A trace of joy lit Lin Yiyi’s eyes. She turned toward him, about to rush over.

But the boy beside her suddenly grabbed her arm and leaned close to her ear, whispering, “Don’t forget what Uncle Lin said.”

Lin Yiyi trembled and lowered her head, her cheeks turning pale.

Qin Feiyang frowned and stepped closer. “Yiyi, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

“There’s nothing wrong with me, so you needn’t worry,” the boy interjected, positioning himself in front of Lin Yiyi and eyeing Qin Feiyang with contempt.

“And who are you?” Qin Feiyang asked.

“You’re not qualified to know my name. And this isn’t a place for you. Leave, now!” the boy snapped.

Qin Feiyang’s brows shot up, and he was about to retort.

But at that moment, Lin Yiyi spoke. “Qin Feiyang, please go. From now on, let’s not see each other again.”

As she said this, her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Qin Feiyang froze.

He could hardly believe that the girl who had once risked her father’s wrath to steal him elixirs, now spoke such words to him.

He glared at the boy and said coldly, “Step aside.”

The boy sneered, “And if I don’t, what will you do?”

Not only did the staff of the Treasure Pavilion refrain from intervening, they folded their arms, eager to watch the drama unfold.