Liam stood before Zhou and the elderly man, his eagle-sharp eyes catching every subtle shift in their expressions.
Zhou was slightly winded from travel and the elder in blue robes carried himself, with a piercing gaze and his long white beard swayed faintly in the breeze.
"Senior," Zhou said hurriedly, clasping his fists and bowing low. His voice trembled with a mix of respect and relief. "This is my master, Elder Han of the Nine Heavens Thousand Blades Sect. Master, this is the expert I told you about — the one who saved us from the Ironblood Bear."
Liam gave a small nod and offered a smile. For a moment, he considered giving them a made-up name, something that would blend in with their world. A fabricated identity might make it easier to navigate this society unnoticed. But he dismissed the idea just as quickly.
Why hide? Why pretend?
