Strongest Scammer: Scamming The World, One Death At A Time-Chapter 650: Shopping For Robes

Han Yu stepped out of the inn and let the crisp mountain wind wash over him.

Harrow Edge Town sat at the base of the looming Harrow Mountains, a jagged range that seemed to claw at the sky like a slumbering beast. Dark peaks vanished into mist. The sunlight was cold, the air thin and biting.

Even before entering the mountains, the chill was enough to make mortal bones ache.

Han Yu exhaled slowly.

He had two goals here. First, prepare himself properly for the journey. Second, gather every scrap of information he could about the mountains.

He had heard many things. The mountains shifted unpredictably. Paths appeared and vanished. Blizzards formed without warning. Rogue cultivators stalked the foothills. Spirit beasts roamed freely, unrestrained by any sect.

This was not a place to wander into without preparation.

Han Yu tugged his plain traveling cloak around his shoulders. It was modest enough to avoid attracting unnecessary attention. He still carried the air of a cultivator, but not the kind who showed off.

Blending in was important.

He moved into the bustling market street. Merchants shouted about their wares, while hunters bartered loudly, boasting about the spirit beasts they had slain. Herb gatherers compared their satchels. Government guards stood on corners, fully armed and armored, watching over everything with stern expressions.

The presence of government forces here was stronger than in White Peacock Town. It made sense. This place was far more dangerous.

Han Yu walked past several fur clothing stalls where mortal level winter garments were piled high. Jackets made of goat hide, wolf pelts, deer fur, and thick sheep wool were stacked in bundles. Hunters and travelers were eagerly buying them.

But Han Yu knew these would be almost useless for the deeper regions of the Harrow Mountains.

He continued forward until he found what he needed.

A proper spirit robe shop.

It was marked by a banner woven with silver thread, fluttering from the roof. The moment Han Yu stepped inside, he sensed warmth. Shelves lined with animal hides, enchanted fibers, spirit beast furs, and rune stitched garments filled the shop.

A merchant in a warm brown robe greeted him.

"Sir cultivator, welcome. Are you preparing for an expedition into the mountains?"

Han Yu nodded. "I need robes that can withstand severe cold."

The merchant's eyes lit up and he immediately brought out two sets of Spirit Yak fur robes.

When Han Yu touched the fabric, he felt a gentle flow of heat pushing back against the cold. He infused a wisp of Qi through the material. The runes glowed faintly, confirming the presence of a warming formation as well as a moisture repelling one.

"These are Mid Grade spirit robes," the merchant explained proudly. "Made from the hide of High Mountain Spirit Yaks. They are durable and can last through mild blizzards. If you channel qi through them, they can even protect you from strong blizzards. The formations will keep you dry and warm even if you fall through snow or into cold rivers."

"How much?" Han Yu asked.

"Three thousand mid grade spirit stones each."

A steep price, but Han Yu did not hesitate. After the Birch Leaf Merchant Clan, he was no longer short on money.

"I will take both sets."

The merchant almost dropped the robes in shock, then bowed deeply several times. Han Yu paid, stored the robes in his spatial pouch, and stepped back onto the street.

His next goal was to gather maps and emergency supplies. He purchased Cloud Pocket talismans for avalanche protection, Mist repelling Talismans for avoiding miasma and strange gases, and also some fire starting talismans that could burn without needing fuel for an hour.

He also bought a few freeze resistant rations and compressed dried soup blocks that could be heated with Qi.

His preparations complete, he began heading back toward the inn.

That was when something caught his eye.

A small roadside stall. Old, unremarkable and barely earning attention from passersby.

The vendor was an elderly man with a weather worn face and half closed eyes, as if he had seen too many winters. His stall displayed random trinkets.

A few pieces of jewelry. A rusty metal cup. An old comb. A faded hairpin. A carved wooden toy horse. A broken bracelet.

Han Yu almost ignored it completely.

Until he noticed the mask.

A wooden mask lying at the very edge of the stall.

It was plain, unpainted, smooth and featureless except for two almond shaped eye holes and a thin slit for a mouth.

There was nothing special about it, yet Han Yu stopped walking.

An instinct tugged at him. A subtle whisper in his mind. A pressure that he could not describe.

Something about that mask demanded attention.

He approached slowly. The old vendor barely noticed him at first, only looking up when Han Yu's shadow fell over the stall.

"You want something, young master?" he croaked.

Han Yu pointed at the mask. "Where did this come from?"

The vendor rubbed his beard. "Picked it up in the mountains. Somewhere in the middle ring, I think."

Han Yu narrowed his eyes and extended his spirit sense toward the mask.

Nothing. No Qi. No aura. No hidden formation.

Completely ordinary.

Except it did not feel ordinary.

Han Yu reached out and lifted it. The wood felt warm. Warmer than it should. Almost alive. He infused a tiny wisp of Qi into it.

The mask absorbed it.

Not resisted, not reflected. Absorbed. As if it had swallowed the Qi whole.

Han Yu's heart tightened slightly.

This was no ordinary mask.

He asked, "How much?"

The vendor yawned. "Two silvers."

Han Yu pulled out ten silvers and placed them on the table. The vendor's eyes went round.

"Young master, that is far too much."

"Consider it a lucky day."

Han Yu slipped the mask into his pouch and walked away.

As he reached the corner of the street, he muttered under his breath.

"That thing is not simple."

He pressed a hand lightly against the pouch. His Qi brushed against the mask again. It drank it in silently.

He frowned.

'What are you?'

He pushed aside the thought for now. He would examine it later when he was alone.

For the moment, the tavern called to him. A good meal, warm tea, and updated information were far more important before entering the mountains.

He stabled his horse, tossed a silver to the boy attending it, and entered the bustling tavern. The smell of hot broth, fried meat, spirit herbs, and warm wine filled the air. Laughter, arguments, and clanking bowls echoed through the hall.

Perfect for gathering information.

Han Yu sat at a corner table, ordered more pork noodle soup, and listened carefully.