185. Red Leaves Tea

Li Wen noticed the sun rising as he continued walking along the official road. 

This area was filled with farmlands, leaving no wild terrain to traverse unnoticed. With no alternative paths, he had chosen to use the official road to reach Moon River and cross to the other side. 

His original plan was simple—travel at night when human activity dwindled and hide during the day. 

But now, he faced a dilemma. 

Everywhere around him were open fields, with no forests or hills to provide cover. He glanced back, considering returning to the small forest he passed earlier, but that would only waste precious time. 

As he hesitated, undecided, he suddenly heard the thunderous sound of galloping horses approaching from behind. 

His expression darkened. 

"Cavalry." 

Nowhere to run. 

If they saw him, it would cause trouble. He wasn't afraid of them, but drawing attention was the last thing he wanted. 

Then, a thought struck him—Source Demons don't have true physical bodies. 

His current human form was simply the body he had shaped at birth, but he could theoretically alter his appearance at will—as long as he understood the structure of the new form. 

A commanding voice called out. 

"Warrior, stop!" 

Li Wen turned around—and froze in shock. 

At the head of a fifty-man Demon Suppression Troop, he saw Wan Cai and Zhen Li Si, his wife's elder sister. 

His mind quickly steadied. They hadn't recognized him. 

He was in luck. 

At the last moment, he had altered his appearance, transforming into Yun Ting's face—another clone of his main body. 

He exhaled slowly, keeping his composure as he assessed the situation. 

The troops' uniforms were unmistakable—they were elite demon hunters, highly trained and well-equipped. 

Wan Cai rode forward, his sharp eyes scanning Li Wen with suspicion. 

"Warrior, what's your name?" 

Without hesitation, Li Wen replied, "Yun Ting." 

Immediately, Wan Cai and several soldiers frowned. 

Li Wen had no idea why. 

A soldier suddenly snapped, "Do you not know to bow before a member of a noble family?" 

Understanding dawned on him. 

The Wei Dynasty's rules. 

In this kingdom, commoners were required to bow when meeting a noble—a custom he had just violated. 

But Li Wen had already prepared for such situations. 

He reached into his satchel, pulled out a bronze token, and held it up. 

"I am not from Wei, but from the Jin Dynasty," Li Wen said, holding up the official insignia for them to see. 

Wan Cai narrowed his eyes. "Then why are you here?" 

Li Wen replied smoothly, "I wanted to visit Moon River." 

It was a perfectly reasonable excuse. 

Moon River was one of the most famous sights in the Wei Dynasty. A massive basin had formed in the river, said to be the result of a fallen piece of the moon crashing into the land. The basin was known for its rare herbs and unique fish, attracting travelers and scholars from all over. 

Wan Cai was about to say something when Zhen Li Si interrupted. 

"You are a warrior. What realm are you?" 

Li Wen remained calm. "Innate Realm." 

Zhen Li Si's gaze sharpened. "Can you show your internal energy?" 

Li Wen's frown deepened, and he chose silence. 

It was the most appropriate response in this situation—a warrior's internal energy was considered a private matter, as revealing it could expose their weaknesses to an enemy. 

Zhen Li Si continued, her tone softer. "I apologize for the request, but we are searching for a Great Demon." 

Li Wen feigned skepticism. "Really?" 

A man wearing a commander's uniform, similar to Wan Cai's, spoke up. "She is a divine warrior, chosen by the Goddess of the Lake. Do you think she would lie to you?" 

Li Wen raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh? Lady, I truly apologize." 

Though he did not have to bow to a noble, he was required to bow to a divine warrior, as they represented the gods who bestowed them with power. 

With a respectful nod, he lowered his head in acknowledgment and then released his internal energy—a carefully simulated aura, mimicking that of an Innate Warrior. 

Zhen Li Si observed him for a moment before nodding. "Thank you, warrior." 

With a sharp pull on the reins, she turned her horse, and the entire team galloped ahead, leaving a trail of dust in their wake. 

Li Wen stood still, watching them disappear around the bend. 

"They didn't recognize me," he thought. 

Now, he could move ahead and enter the town without any worry. 

He recalled the town's name—Red Leaves Town, named after the famous Red Leaf Trees that grow near the town. 

With his destination clear, he began walking forward.

-----

Time moved forward—from the break of dawn to the heat of noon.

Li Wen sat on the first floor of a tea shop, positioned by the window, his gaze fixed on the street below.

A crowd had gathered, murmuring among themselves as they stared at his wanted poster.

Though the hand-drawn portrait lacked detail, it was still 90% accurate to his true face.

From his vantage point, he also observed Demon Hunters patrolling the streets, searching every alley and corner.

Yet, despite their relentless efforts, not even a divine warrior had recognized him as a demon while he wore Yun Ting's face.

This realization meant one thing—he no longer needed to hide in the Ancient Mountain Range.

However, he couldn't keep Yun Ting's face for long. The longer he used it, the greater the risk.

Sooner or later, people would start investigating him, and when they discovered that no such Yun Ting existed in the Jin Dynasty, trouble would follow.

He needed a new identity—one that wouldn't attract suspicion.

The best choice would be a young nobleman in his early twenties, preferably from a fallen or downtrodden noble family.

A disgraced noble lineage would shield him from unnecessary attention, as such families often faded into obscurity, overlooked by powerful clans.

But before assuming a new identity, he had to deal with the Demon Hunters first.

If they failed to find him soon, the gods themselves might take notice—and that was something he had to avoid at all costs.

He needed to give them a trail to follow—one that would lead them away from him.

His plan was simple: He would make it appear as though he had crossed the Moon River and entered the Ancient Mountain Range.

With his strategy set, Li Wen took one last sip of his tea, leaving coins on the table as payment.

Then, without hesitation, he stood up and left, ready to set his plan into motion.