The man’s eyes flicked — too quickly — and darted away.

Qing Yan (thinking, eyes narrowing):
Huh—? That reaction…

The man (forcing a smile):
“Yeah, yeah. Hand it over, I’ll check it.”

Qing Yan handed over the token and a sack of body parts, sealed tightly.

The man opened it, then froze. His eyes scanned the bounty token again.

The man (thinking, breaking into a cold sweat):
Li Heiye?! This guy… he actually killed him?! He was at peak of Beast-Ascendant Realm!

He looked up again, this time making strange, prolonged eye contact.

The man (politely):
“I’ve confirmed your task is complete, sir. Would you like the reward in cash, or deposited into your account?”

Qing Yan:
“Instant.”
(thinking) Look at him. He noticed I used Qi Sense. And now he’s pretending like nothing happened. But this… this energy I just felt from him—

Qing Yan’s mind raced as he scanned the man subtly.

(thinking) Vile… it’s a murderous aura, hundreds of deaths on his hands at the very least. But there’s more. Something familiar… almost like Li Heiye’s… Could he have the same tattoos? Looking at his energy, he stepped into Void-Step Realm, why is somone as strong as him is working as a manager?

No doubt, he sensed my Qi too. Something is definitely strange here.

The man (nervously chuckling):
“Y-Yeah, sure sir. Here’s your reward—forty silver coins.”

Qing Yan pocketed the coins, eyes still fixed on the man.

Qing Yan:
“Alright then. I’ll come back if I need more tasks.”
(thinking) I’ll have to keep an eye on him.

The man (grinning awkwardly):
“Y-Yes sir, we’ll be waiting... hah… haha...”

Qing Yan turned and left the bounty guild.

The second the door closed behind him, the man’s expression changed. Cold. Serious.

He tapped a crystal shard beneath the counter and activated telepathy.

The man (telepathically):
To the one in the bar, black robe, far-left corner—
“The guy who just left. Keep an eye on him for a day or two. Capture him alive if you see anything unusual.”

Across the guild plaza, inside a dimly-lit tavern, a black-robed man sipped from a flask. He nodded slightly, eyes narrowing as he watched Qing Yan vanish into the street crowd.

Scene Change – Streets of the City

Qing Yan strolled along the dim stone path, lamplight flickering on the walls.

Qing Yan (grinning to himself):
“Finally! Let’s go to the best inn in the city!”

He chuckled, looking unusually excited.

Qing Yan (thinking):
Thanks to that bar manager’s memories, I not only found the bounty guild... but I even know where to find the best food and bed! That bastard wasn’t totally useless after all!

His stomach growled loudly.

Qing Yan:
“Before the inn... clothes. I think there was a shop nearby…”

He scanned the street. His eyes lit up.

Qing Yan:
“There it is!”

Scene – Inside the Clothing Store

As he pushed open the door, a sharp voice snapped at him.

Shopkeeper (a middle-aged woman):
“Hey hey! Beggars aren’t allowed in here!”

Qing Yan’s eyes twitched.

Qing Yan (furious):
“I. AM. NOT. A. BEGGAR!”

He whipped out his coin pouch dramatically.

Qing Yan:
“I’m here to buy clothes! See this?!”

The silver clinked in his palm.

Shopkeeper (nervously):
“O-Oh my bad, sir! What kind of clothes would you like…?”

Scene – After Shopping, Outside the Store

Qing Yan stepped out wearing a new outfit — deep indigo robes with silver trim and a black belt, a far cry from the worn clothes he'd entered in.

Qing Yan (grinning, admiring himself):
“Hu-hu~! These fine clothes suit me way too well!”

He glanced at the shop window’s reflection.

Qing Yan (calculating):
“Cost me 15 silver out of 40. That leaves 25. More than enough!”

He adjusted his collar confidently.

The black-robed man stood silently atop a roof overlooking the store. Moonlight glinted faintly off the edge of his blade.

He touched a small stone embedded in his ear, activating telepathy.

Black-Robed Man (telepathically):
“He’s left the shop. Heading toward the inn district, east side. I’ll keep observing.”

A low chuckle echoed in the void of his mind.

Unknown Voice (responding):
“Good. Don’t let him out of your sight. If he gets too close to the truth... you know what to do.”

The black-robed figure said nothing — but his eyes glinted with intent.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

Author Note – Chapter 8: “Unseen Eyes”

Sometimes the deadliest threats don’t come from the loudest enemies…
But from the quiet ones behind a counter. Smiling. Watching.

Qing Yan might’ve walked out of the guild with silver in hand — but he just stepped deeper into a web he hasn’t noticed yet. Or has he?

This chapter was all about subtle tension — the kind that sits in the back of your throat and says, “Something’s wrong, but you can’t quite prove it.”

We also got to see a different side of Qing Yan:

• Hungry and sassy 

• Proud of his drip 

• Ready to curse out shopkeepers 

Meanwhile, the shadows grow deeper.

Let me know what you thought about the mysterious guild manager, the spy in the bar, and whether Qing Yan’s new outfit deserves a fan sketch! 
Big things are coming.
Stay sharp.

— NamelessQuill ✒️
#DevourTheDivine
#VillainRising #MysteryArcBegin