Jing Wen sat quietly in his room at the inn, regulating his breath. Outside the window, the lingering sunset bathed the room in a golden glow.
He slowly opened his eyes and took a brand-new outfit from his Storage Bag-a fitted black martial outfit, a belt with subtle patterns, and carefully prepared disguise tools.
"Time to assume another identity," he murmured, gathering spiritual power at his fingertips and gently brushing them over his face.
With faint cracks from his bones, his previously refined features gradually became sharply defined.
He took out a specially made false beard and carefully attached it. In moments, he had become a burly man with a thick, curling beard.
After studying himself carefully in the bronze mirror, Jing Wen nodded in satisfaction.
This rugged appearance was worlds apart from his usual cool, aloof image.
He stretched his limbs, placed the items he intended to sell into a separate Storage Bag, and strode out of the inn.
The Golden Jade Pavilion in the Market's western district was renowned for "asking no questions about provenance."
Jing Wen had chosen to sell here precisely because of the Jin family's influence behind it. The family had established itself in all the major Markets by maintaining relationships with every faction that were neither too close nor too distant.
"Please come inside, Senior!" Seeing Jing Wen's imposing bearing, the attendant at the entrance hurriedly bowed in welcome.
Jing Wen entered the Golden Jade Pavilion with the stride of a dragon and tiger, his eyes gleaming above his thick beard.
"Bring your manager here!" he barked in a rough voice.
His voice boomed like a great bell, making the teacups on the counter tremble faintly.
Before long, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe hurried over.
Fair-faced and clean-shaven, he was Jin Buhuan,