As Fang Yuan walked over to the phantom leopard corpses, Bai Ningbing's gaze was involuntarily drawn to him.
She watched as he crouched down and began rummaging through the leopards' ears.
Before long, Fang Yuan pulled two small, delicate purple leaves from the male leopard's left ear and the female leopard's right ear.
These were Breath Concealment Gu.
A Third Transformation plant-type Gu. When used by a Gu Master, it could mask one's aura, conceal one's cultivation level, and serve as a form of disguise.
Nearly every phantom leopard had a Breath Concealment Gu hidden in its ears. However, phantom leopards always moved in pairs, possessed at least Thousand-Beast King-level strength, excelled at ambushes, and were incredibly fast and agile — catching them was extremely dangerous and troublesome.
Moreover, phantom leopards were a species unique to the vicinity of Purple Secluded Mountain. As a result, the fact that Breath Concealment Gu could be found in their ears had not yet become widely known.
In Fang Yuan's previous life, after a hundred and fifty years, a Righteous Path figure named Sun Gan emerged, earning the title "Hunter King." He pioneered the large-scale hunting of phantom leopards, harvesting Breath Concealment Gu and selling them on the market for enormous profits, thereby amassing his fortune.
After him, countless Gu Masters flocked to Purple Secluded Mountain to strike it rich. Within just a few years, the phantom leopards were driven to extinction.
But for now, Purple Secluded Mountain was still a secluded and quiet place.
During the day, it was safe; at night, it was extremely dangerous. There were no stockade families here, only the rudiments of family settlements — villages.
Although they had no Earth-listening Flesh Ear Grass to use for scouting, fortunately, they had obtained two Breath Concealment Gu.
Fang and Bai relied on these Gu to avoid many dangers.
They had no intention of ascending Purple Secluded Mountain. Their current strength was sufficient for traversing ordinary forests and mountains, but they lacked the power to venture deep into famous peaks and great rivers. Exploring such places would demand a heavy price even from the Hundred Families, let alone the current Fang and Bai.
They skirted along the foot of Purple Secluded Mountain and, two days later, discovered a mountain path.
A man-made mountain path was far safer than an ordinary forest. Of course, bad luck could still bring danger.
Following the path, one evening the pair spotted wisps of cooking smoke rising in the distance.
They exchanged a glance. In a mountain hollow, they found a village.
Low stone walls surrounded the settlement. Returning farmers, scattered in twos and threes, carried hoes and other tools on their shoulders as they walked back into the village. Several guards stood at posts around the perimeter.
But these people were all ordinary mortals — hardly a concern.
"Let's go." Fang Yuan walked toward the village first.
"Just like that?" Bai Ningbing said, slightly surprised.
Their appearance quickly drew the curious, suspicious, and wary eyes of the villagers.
Villages in this world were generally xenophobic. Family stockades were even more so — heavily fortified, terrified of spies, thieves, or other infiltrators slipping inside.
"Excuse me, honored guests who have traveled so far — might you be distinguished Gu Masters?" Before they even reached the village gate, two guards with similar features approached them.
Bai Ningbing said nothing, following their prior agreement that Fang Yuan would handle all the talking.
Fang Yuan shook his head. "No, brothers, we're just ordinary folk."
At these words, the two guards visibly relaxed, their expressions easing.
The younger one looked Fang Yuan up and down with disdain, his tone tinged with disgust. "I told you — look at this guy, so ugly. How could he possibly be one of those all-powerful Gu Masters?"
Fang Yuan's body was covered in burn scars and he was missing an ear. His appearance was hideous and off-putting.
As for Bai Ningbing, she had changed into plain clothing. Her long silver hair had been cut short and dyed black. Her skin, naturally pale as snow thanks to her ice physique, had been deliberately smeared with grime. Only her eye color could not be concealed, so she wore a straw hat to cover the upper half of her face.
Together, the two looked like nothing more than ordinary villagers.
"Young brother, watch your tongue." The older guard scolded him, then turned to Fang and Bai with a guarded look. "Where did you come from, and what brings you here?"
"We're from a village over the mountain. We loaded up a cart with herbs and cured meat, hoping to sell them on the road. But — oh lord — we ran into a tiger. Scared us half to death! We ran for our lives, barely made it out alive. We don't dare go back just yet, so we came to your village hoping to sleep here for one night. Just one night — we'll be on our way tomorrow." Fang Yuan rattled off the story without hesitation.
The guard's wary gaze lessened somewhat.
Fang Yuan continued: "Big brother, don't blame your little one for speaking out of turn. These burns came from a fire. Our house caught fire a while back, and I ran in to salvage the rice — that's how I ended up like this."
"Ah, these are hard times for everyone." The older guard sighed. "Go on into the village. If nobody takes you in, just find a spot by the wall and make do for the night."
With that, he stepped aside and let them pass.
As Fang and Bai entered the village, the guard called after his brother: "Go tell the village chief right now. Say two outsiders have arrived. He's seen plenty in his years — have him take a look too."
"Brother, you're way too cautious. Just look at those two — how could they possibly be Gu Masters? And besides, why would a Gu Master bother tricking us mortals? For laughs?"
"I said go! Now!"
"Making me run errands again..." the young man grumbled, but went nonetheless.
The village was peaceful and tranquil.
The faint aroma of food drifted through the air. After a full day's labor, the cheerful laughter of families reuniting for dinner drifted over to Fang and Bai's ears.