Fourth District.

In a shabby shack, Bubai hunched over his servant’s crafting table, skillfully applying a grim mixture of greasy fat and ash to his hands.

His ragged outfit, tattered and worn, added to the disheveled appearance he was crafting while thoughtfully-placed black smudges from crushed plant powder completed the look.

This was a rather complex disguise indeed.

Bubai knew it was much easier—and cheaper—to adopt a mysterious persona like his doll, but sometimes, he had to look the part to do the right job.

“My king, Jali is ready.”

Glancing over his shoulder, Bubai saw his doll, An Jali, now hugged by a coarse brown robe and donning another weimao.

This was one of the reasons he came out in person: to rendezvous with her and change her outfit for her covert activities.

After all, it’ll be difficult to not attract stalkers if she went to sell in every district in the same exact outfit.

Seeing that there wasn’t anything missing from her image, Bubai handed a wooden box to her.

"Here are a few more. Try to find the targets I've listed, and release some where I told you to."

An Jali saluted him with a curtsy, “As you wish, my king.”

Seeing her turn to leave, Bubai reminded, “Don’t forget, do your best to stay out of the patrol’s sight."

The doll didn’t answer, but he knew she had heard and would obey.

Turning away from the door, Bubai glanced down at the small basin of water on the table.

Staring back at him was his almost-unrecognizable XiongBa face - partially hidden behind the shaggy hair of a greasy wig and now decked out with heavy scars crafted with a variety of knife strokes.

Too bad he can’t put this mask on his doll, or it would be a whole lot more fun...

For some odd reason, these masks could only react and bind to his face. Perhaps it had something to do with his own drop of blood used in the formula to make them.

"Hey, some things look so simple on the surface, but in reality… heh."

Not dwelling on the matter any longer, Bubai moved to clean up all his disguise supplies.

Once everything was in his storage space, Bubai’s divine sense gave the place another check before heading towards the exit.

“Well, let’s go mix in some more sand.”

Third District.

Squatting by the roadside, a dirty man in a tattered outfit chewed on a piece of straw while scanning the grand archway where many disciples passed in and out.

Suddenly, he spotted someone who seemed out of place—a beggar like himself, but filthier, if that was even possible.

This beggar was skulking in the shadows, eyes darting around as if he were searching for someone.

When their eyes met, the beggar acknowledged him with a nod before scurrying toward him like an ape.

Seeing the other party scooting into his comfort zone, the dirty man squinted and raised his hand, signaling the beggar to stop, "Name!”

The dirty beggar paused, looking up, allowing the older man to see the mess of scars veiled beneath the greasy strands hanging over his face. “Xiao Baibu.”

Hearing the unfamiliar voice, hoarse like gravel, the older beggar frowned.

Unable to draw any clues on his identity, the older beggar hissed, “Where you from? I don't remember seeing you around here."

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Xiao Baibu grinned, revealing rows of yellowed and blackened teeth. "From the Eighth District."

The older beggar studied the beggar’s attire, eventually finding the red petal insignia on his torn sleeve, barely recognizable through the grime. He squinted at it, unsure if it was genuine or a cheap imitation.

“The Flower Picking Gang? I heard you guys almost got disbanded after offending a big shot. What are you doing here?"

Xiao Baibu leaked a low, raspy chuckle. “Kekeke, we’re still here. We got lucky. The big shot gave us another chance, a chance to do... big business.”

"Big business, ey?” The older beggar raised a brow, scratching his stubble chin. “Mind telling me about it?"

Xiao Baibu’s scarred face twisted into a grin. After glancing around as if to make sure no one else was listening, he scooted closer. "It's not any unspeakable secret.”

From his inner robe, Xiao Baibu took out a small pill vial, pulling off the cork and letting the other man peek in, “Take a look.”

The older beggar eyed it with suspicion, squinting to let his eyes adjust. Then he saw it—a small, black creature with a curved stinger, tinted subtly with a forest green. “Death scorpion?”

"Yeah, keke... but not just any death scorpion.”

Xiao Baibu plugged the cork back on, his grin morphing into a sly smile, “You heard about that popular scorpion all those big shots are looking for, right?"

The older beggar frowned, a deep crease forming on his forehead. Shortly after, his eyes narrowed and snapped back to the vial. "You mean..."

Xiao Baibu nodded again, tapping the vial lightly with his dirty fingernail. "Interested? It's not much. Just one spirit stone."

Hearing the price, the older beggar grew more cautious, “So cheap?”

“That’s because there’s conditions attached.” A wide, creepy grin distorted Xiao Baibu’s scarred visage further.

A “I thought so” look appeared on the older beggar’s face. “So, what’s the catch?”

“Kekeke…” Xiao Baibu let out another rough, raspy chuckle before replying, "Isn't it obvious? Our gang doesn't want to be in the spotlight.”

The older beggar scratched his chin, pretending to think it over. "It's not easy to answer to those big shots..."

Xiao Baibu rolled his eyes, his expression sly. "Isn't it fine if you find a good reason? Or just push it onto another gang, like the Collectors from the Fourth District.”

The older beggar gave the other a flat look, sizing him up. "Your mind is really... flexible."

Xiao Baibu winked back, tapping his temple with one grimy finger. "Boss says our two sides have an old grudge.”

He then held up the vial, giving it a shake, “How? You in or out?”

The older beggar’s eyes darted around. No one seemed to be paying them any mind.

So, he slipped a spirit stone over, taking the vial and quickly tucking it into his own inner pockets.

Seeing the other party similarly stowing away the spirit stone with familiarity, the older beggar grinned, "If you've got more, I've got a couple of brothers who can help..."

The two exchanged a knowing look, shaking hands behind their backs.

"Watch your six, I'll be back in a week at most." With that, the scarred-face Xiao Baibu scurried away, mixing into the crowd and slipping away into an alley.

The older beggar watched him go, his “friendly” grin slowly twisting into a sneer.

"Push it onto the Collectors' gang? Isn't that finding trouble for my own boss? Pei! Flower Picking Gang, wishful thinking!"

Second District.

"So, what do you want me to do? Just saying, I'm not breaking any rules. "

A man with toned muscles folded his arms across his broad chest, eyeing the sketchy man in front of him.

The black robe and weimao—a broad-brimmed bamboo hat with a curtain of black gauze hanging down—did little to reveal the man’s identity.

What was clear, however, was his pale, fair-skinned hand and a voice that had a high, almost squeaky pitch.

"Heh, don’t worry. I’m an upright demonic sect disciple. I won’t need you to break any rules. I only need you to... spread some words around."

The toned man raised an eyebrow. "What message?"

"Just tell others that a mysterious old eunuch sold you this.” The mysterious man raised up the death scorpion with its stinger clamped between his fingers.

It was bound in thin threads, but there was no mistaking the strange green streak taking root in its little body.

But the toned man’s interest instead fell onto the spot between the robed man’s legs.

Seeming to catch the drift, the mysterious man adjusted his weimao and stated in a snappish tone, "Just so you know, I’m not a eunuch.”

The “eunuch” then let his scorpion-holding hand theatrically insert itself to block the man’s line of sight, his voice turning more business-like. "So, one spirit stone?”

First District.

“Easy does it.”

In a dark sandstone shack, a black-robed man casually lifted a limp leg onto the stone bed.

After straightening out the leg, the man knelt down by the side of the bed, his gloved fingers pulling a stone slab free from its setting on the stone bed, revealing a crudely carved hole that held a small sack.

Taking out the sack, the robed man examined the contents.

A meager collection of rations, a few strings of copper coins, and some unknown pill bottles.

Merlin’s beard, this bloke was poor.

Bubai glanced at the unconscious young disciple on the bed, "Well, let your fairy godfather help you out."

With a simple thought, the sack of goodies vanished, replaced by a small wooden box. After tucking the wooden box into the hole, Bubai refitted the stone slab in place.

Seeing everything looked as it had before, Bubai stood up, dusting off his gloves. “Hope you like my gift.”

Bubai snickered behind his mask. “Now, where to go incognito next-”

Suddenly, Bubai sensed a faint urge from one of his established connections, like a vibration along a taut thread connected to his soul.

Bubai’s grin turned upside down, his narrowed eyes looking out toward the direction of his unseen compass. "She's in trouble?"

Not dilly dallying any longer, Bubai’s figure blurred, leaving only an afterimage that raced out the door.