Jin Wutu, having changed his appearance, walked alone through the desolate mountains. Half a day later, he arrived at a small mountain market deep in the Wild Mountain wilderness.
This small mountain market was a tiny marketplace amid troubled times.
Displaced tribal Barbarian Cultivators, or those fleeing after committing crimes, occasionally met here to exchange goods, trade with one another, and conduct shady dealings. Jin Wutu entered the market. The mountain path was narrow, with stalls lining both sides. Their owners were ragged Barbarians or men with venomous brows and eyes, their snake-like gazes fixed on Jin Wutu.
Jin Wutu ignored them. Without letting his gaze stray, he walked onward by himself until he reached an unmanned little tea house at the very end.
The tea house was so small that it had only a broken door, a weathered wooden signboard, and a tea table.
A teapot and two teacups sat on the table.
There were no other guests, nor was there an owner.
Jin Wutu approached the tea table. Both guest and host, he poured himself a cup of tea, cut his finger, dripped a drop of blood into the cup, then raised it and drained it in one gulp.
Once the tea entered his stomach, Jin Wutu's entire body began to tremble.
Blisters rose across his skin, and his muscles began to twist.
The tea was like a virulent poison. It melted into his blood and swiftly coursed through his body. A moment later, seemingly finding nothing unusual, it turned into faint smoke and drifted away from the top of his head.
Jin Wutu's skin and flesh gradually returned to normal.
Only then did a middle-aged man's voice speak faintly. "Not bad. No mark has been placed on your body, and you haven't brought any dubious things along