While the atmosphere inside their room wasn’t oppressive, it was heavy. Wu Jian felt the solemnity within everyone present. Even Shuchang didn’t look ready to joke around right then. Of course, the topic of their conversation was worthy of such seriousness.

“I think the first thing we should do is gather information,” Wu Jian said. “We know nothing of the situation here in the Sui Kingdom.” He looked at Mei Xilan. “It’s been many years since you were last here, which means you don’t know anything about the current state of affairs here.”

Mei Xilan nodded. “You are right, of course. We should learn more about the current state of things here, and we also need to gather more intelligence on our enemies.”

Their enemies were the Undying Sun Sect and Soul Eclipse. The Undying Sun Sect ruled the nation as an oligarchy, which was characterized by its unique power structure--namely, the power to control the nation was concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. The Xia Dynasty was also an oligarchy in some ways. The Phoenix Clan ruled the country and did not allow other clans to gain a foothold in their nation. Even the Zhou Clan, famous for their holdings across the Xaio Continent, did not have much presence in that country.

“We should assume false identities,” Zhou Lihua determined. She crossed her arms and breathed out, causing her veil to flutter. “Each of us should create a persona and backstory that will allow us to travel freely.”

“That would be a good idea normally, but there’s a problem with that,” Mei Xilan said. Everyone looked at her. “We don’t have any documentation to prove who we are. We were able to enter the city only because nobody bothers guarding the city itself since the nation’s borders prevent most people from entering. However, there are a lot of establishments that won’t allow us to enter without documentation. I’m honestly surprised we were able to book a room here.”

“Zhou Wen?” asked Zhou Lihua, turning to her maid.

“I have them right here, Lihua Xiǎo Jiě.”

Zhou Wen produced several sets of documents from her storage ring, which she handed to everyone. Wu Jian took the one she offered him and looked at it.

Jie Wan

Bǐng Yín NiánJǐ Mǎo Yuè Sì Rì

Sui Kingdom Ruan Province

Traveling Merchant

The document he had been given contained an official government header with the signature of an Undying Sun Sect elder by the name Hao Tian. He assumed the name was real. It looked like this was a citizen identification document. Wu Jian used to have a similar one for himself when he was living with his family. All peoples of every nation were required to register their identities at birth and receive one of these documents. His father had kept all such documents for their clan stored within his office. This one looked a little different from the one he used to have, but it was more or less the same.

“Are these official citizen identification documents from the Undying Sun Sect? Where did you get these?” asked Mei Xilan.

Zhou Wen gave the woman a mysterious smile. “Do not underestimate the Zhou Clan.”

Wu Jian felt a slight chill run down his spine at her words. He couldn’t begin to fathom how she had managed to acquire enough official documents for all of them, and he didn’t doubt they were official. The Zhou Clan was known for both their professionalism and sense of perfection. Zhou Wen would not give them false documents because, on the off chance someone realized they were fake, it would destroy any chance they had of creating a plan to deal with the Undying Sun Sect.

According to the documents, Wu Jian was a traveling merchant married to Hou Jingshu, who was going under the alias Jia Xue. Youmei was their daughter. Meanwhile, Zhou Lihua and Zhou Wen were his servants.

Mei Xilan was not a merchant but a scholar who studied under Master Han Ning. Han Ning was an actual person. He was not a cultivator, but someone from the Sui Kingdom who had left to study at the Southern Tang Dynasty’s Institute of Botany. According to Zhou Wen, he was still there, though he had reached the ripe age of ninety and had gone senile, meaning there was no way for someone from the Undying Sun Sect to confirm whether Mei Xilan was really his disciple or not.

The last among their group, Shuchang, was a traveling mercenary going by the name Tao Hong. He had been born in the northern Suong Province of the Sui Kingdom. He had failed to enter the Undying Sun Sect and dedicated himself to studying the sword… Wu Jian just hoped no one would ask to see his sword skills because they would know right away that this man had no talent for swordsmanship. In either event, their identities were all officially registered according to Zhou Wen, meaning no one would think to question them.

There were a few things that Wu Jian needed to do before he could go out. Zhou Wen had told him that he should discard his mask. Wu Jian did not like that idea since it would mean others could see his face, which he still kept hidden because his appearance could disrupt the power of the necklace Wu Meiying had given him. He asked Zhou Lihua to help him change his appearance.

She had given him a Face Changing Pill, which did exactly what it sounded like. When Wu Jian popped the pill into his mouth, he’d felt like his facial muscles were shifting around, an uncomfortable feeling if there ever was one. He had placed a hand on his face, expecting to feel strange boils rising from the surface. There weren’t. However, it had certainly felt that way.

Once the pill did its work, what appeared before Wu Jian in the mirror was the completely unfamiliar face of a middle aged man with graying sideburns, a distinguished, and a straight nose. He also had a goatee. It was short, clean, and refined, giving him the aura of a well-traveled and worldly man who had seen a lot and done much. Wu Jian couldn’t say he liked this new appearance.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“I think I prefer your original face,” Zhou Lihua said as he studied himself in the mirror. They were the only people present. He hadn’t wanted anyone else to see him with his mask off yet.

“I do too,” Wu Jian confessed.

“I’m not sure I can kiss you when you look like a completely different person.”

“That’s unfortunate, but I understand how you feel.”

“Anyway, you’ll need to be careful. That pill will only last for eight hours. You’ll need to take another one after its effects wear off. Also, don’t take one before its affects wear off. That could cause your face to become stuck halfway between this one and your original.”

“Ugh, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good. Then let’s join up with the others.”

“… All right.”

***

Shuchang laughed when Wu Jian emerged from the room. He teased Wu Jian about how this was his real appearance and Wu Jian was pretending to have taken a Face Changing Pill because he didn’t want others to realize how old he actually was. Of course, Shuchang had actually seen him without his mask before. Back when they first met, Wu Jian had been unconscious and not wearing his mask. His words earned him a smack on the back of the head.

Hou Jingshu had been the one to do it.

Zhou Lihua had also taken a Face Changing Pill and given one to each of them, claiming it would be easier for them to remain undetected if they didn’t look like themselves. The pills made them all less attractive than they were. This was by design. Beauty was coveted by everyone, and cultivators coveted beauty more than most. If a member of the Undying Sun Sect saw one of the women in their group, they would undoubtedly try something. They needed to avoid that since it could put their plans in jeopardy.

Since all of them had different documentation, which granted them different benefits, they were split up. Wu Jian traveled with Hou Jingshu (his wife) and Zhou Wen and Zhou Lihua (his servants). Shuchang and Mei Xilan would travel alone. Since Mei Xilan was a scholar, she had access to several libraries located throughout the Sui Kingdom. Wu Jian now understood why Zhou Wen had different types of documentation prepared even though it would have been easier to make them all part of the same merchant caravan.

Because their goal was to gather information, they were to each travel to different places and make contacts with the locals. Wu Jian and his group were going to look into the Sui Kingdom’s political economy. Governments the world over created economic policies that influenced various aspects of the economy, including taxation, trade, labor, and monetary policies. These in turn would have a significant impact on a country’s economic growth.

Their destination was known as the Jade Bazaar, a bustling marketplace situated in the heart of the Sui Kingdom’s capital. The marketplace itself was an expansive, open-air area surrounded by grand pagodas, adorned with intricate jade ornaments and ornate carvings. Wu Jian once more saw how this land was uninfluenced by other cultures thanks to its isolation. Stalls made of bamboo and thatch offered a somewhat limited array of goods, local spices, fabrics spun from Sui Silk, and handcrafted jewelry. Lanterns of various colors hung overhead to cast a warm glow on the bustling stalls.

Wu Jian and Hou Jingshu walked amid the lively atmosphere, Zhou Wen and Zhou Lihua several paces behind them as servants should be. Several merchants enthusiastically hawked their wares. A few of them called over Wu Jian and his party. Meanwhile, the air was filled with the aromas of street food sizzling in open kitchens, musicians played traditional melodies in the background, and street performers captivated crowds with acrobatic feats and dances.

Most of the people are locals.

It was easy to make this observation. While people across the entire Xaio Continent all looked relatively similar, each nation’s people possessed facial features an experienced person could use to identify what country they came from. A good example was the Xia Dynasty. Even normal citizens possessed the straight nose and strong jawlines the Phoenix Clan was known for. This also explained why Zhou Lihua had made them all take a Face Changing Pill. They would have stood out if they didn’t.

Despite the apparent prosperity being readily displayed, an undercurrent of tension ran through the Jade Bazaar. As Wu Jian bought some street food, he asked about it.

“I can’t believe you’re asking about that,” a rough-looking man selling banh mi muttered in disbelief.

“It’s been a long time since I stepped food in my home country,” Wu Jian confessed. “About eight years all told.”

“Ah. A traveling merchant, are ya? Well, guess that explains it then.” The man sliced a loaf of bread and loaded it up with meats, sauce, and vegetables. He wrapped it in paper, then made three more for Wu Jian’s companions. “That’ll be six silver coins and ten coppers.”

“Kinda steep for banh mi, isn’t it?”

“Friend, you haven’t been here for a long time. This is the standard price now.” Wu Jian went to pay, and as he did, the man leaned over and began whispering. “The Undying Sun Sect has been constantly raising the taxes every year. It was subtle at first. No one thought anything of it. We just assumed it was needed to return the country to its normal stability after the coup d'etat. Boy were we wrong. The taxes now are much higher than what we had under the Sui Family’s rule.”

“Why are the taxes so high?” Wu Jian whispered back.

“Who knows?” The rough man shrugged as they exchanged money. He leaned back and ran a hand through his hair. “I suspect the Undying Sun Sect is just being greedy. There’s always talk of how the sect is siphoning off the people’s wealth in order to make themselves richer.”

“Is there any truth to these rumors?”

“Stick around here long enough, and you’ll see the proof with your own eyes. I won’t say anymore on the subject. Enjoy your banh mi.”

“Thank you. I will.”

Wu Jian returned to his companions and found a place for them all to sit. There were a number of tables lined up just off to the side. As they sat down, he kept his eyes open for the signs of corruption, and he soon found it in the form of Undying Sun Sect disciples. They were easy to recognize. Their outfits were ostentatious, made from luxurious silks and vibrant colors quite unlike the drab clothes of those around them. They walked with a swagger that bespoke of their sense of superiority. Everyone moved out of the way for them as well, and from the way it all happened, the people here were clearly used to it.

“Hey! You! I’d like this bracelet.”

“Oh… that is… yes, of course, honored disciple. Please, feel free to take it.”

“Hmph. Thanks.”

One of the disciples, a young man, went up to a stall and demanded something from the owner, who gave him the bracelet in question for free. While the young man grinned in triumph, his two friends elbowed him.

“Are you planning to give that to Disciple Zhang Wei?”

“Hmph. So what if I am.”

“Heheh. You know Disciple Zhu Fang isn’t going to like that, but good luck, Brother He.”

“Hmph.”

I see what that man meant now. It’s not obvious, but it’s clear the Undying Sun Sect is taking advantage of the people’s inability to go against them to do whatever they want.

This could be good information if they could find people who, discontent with the current injustice, would be willing to help them with their goals, but only time would tell.