Chapter 19 - A Mask in the Mist
The sun had barely begun to dip when Lao Xie finished storing the panther's corpse. A soft breeze stirred the mist rising from the waterfall.
He glanced toward the canopy.
"Still too early to return..." he muttered, adjusting his sword at his side.
His Qi circulated steadily, the familiar rhythm pulsing through his veins. His body was still in peak condition for another fight.
"It would be a waste to return now." he mumbled under his breath.
He turned his gaze toward the deeper woods, eyes narrowing slightly. The panther's scent still lingered in the air, but faint trails of other beasts blend into it, older, fainter, but still discernible.
With quiet steps, he vanished into the forest's embrace.
...
Time passed.
The bodies of two more wild beasts, one a clawed tusk boar, the other a vine-horned lizard, were absorbed into his storage ring without much resistance. They hadn't put up much of a fight. Lao Xie didn't complain.
"Spirit stones are spirit stones," he muttered, wiping stray blood from his blade. Their cores were intact, their bodies fresh enough to fetch a decent price.
Eventually, he found a narrow stone ledge halfway up a cliff wall. The sun cast its last orange rays over the horizon, and the forest below glowed with dimming light.
Lao Xie sat there, one leg bent, the other dangling over the edge. A cool breeze drifted through the treetops.
He watched the branches sway, silent.
From up here, the sect felt distant. The chaos. The stares. The whispers. All gone.
Just him, and the dying light.
He closed his eyes briefly.
"Peaceful." He almost said it aloud.
However his peace didn't last long as he heard voices from far below.
He opened his eyes again and narrowed toward a certain direction.
To his view, a small group of outer disciples passed through the woods beneath. They were laughing, one of them dragging a badly wounded beast carcass. Sloppy. Loud.
"...."
His eyes followed them with idle curiosity. Not envy. Just observation. He didn't care for their struggle or effort
He simply watched.
"People like them love to trade loudly at the Pavilion. Showing off...." he muttered.
He reclined slightly against the stone behind him, golden eyes narrowing. The sky darkened, and the first stars began to flicker into view.
".....Time to head back..."
He rose slowly. "It's already too late to go to the Commission Hall now, I'll just report it tomorrow." he thought.
With that in mind, he slowly walked his way out of the forest and head towards the sect.
.....
Half an hour later, he arrived at his familiar, run-down hut.. Without wasting any time, he slowly sat down in a lotus position and absorbing the spirit stones he had received from the system.
Moments later, the same familiar panel slowly materialized in front of him.
[Rewards: Main Techniques' Bonus]
1.Mid-Rank Concealment Talisman (24 Hours)- 1x
2.Low-Rank Artifact Box (Random) - 1x
3.Spirit Stones 20x
"Huh Bonus Rewards? " Lao Xie asked, questioning.
"Yes, Host. These are your bonus rewards for reaching 10% mastery in your techniques," came the familiar, emotionless voice of the system.
Lao Xie looked over the system panel once more. His gaze lingered on the rewards.
His fingers moved without hesitation as he claimed the rewards.
Cling~
[The rewards are being distributed.]
[REWARDS RECEIVED]
1. MID-RANK CONCEALMENT TALISMAN (24 Hours) - 1x
A talisman that conceals your aura upon use. Effective against those below the Foundation Establishment Stage. Duration: 24 hours.
2. LOW-RANK ARTIFACT BOX (RANDOM) - 1x
A box containing a random low-rank artifact.
3. SPIRIT STONES - 20x
"Mid rank concealment talisman... Low rank artifact box.. huh..." he muttered, tilting his head slightly. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Aren't you being too generous here, system?..."
He slipped the mid rank concealment talisman into his ring and shifted his attention towards the glowing panel that has been hovering in front of him.
[Low-Rank Artifact Box (Random)]
A box containing a random low-rank artifact.
[Use] / [Cancel]
Without hesitation, he clicked the [Use] button.
Click--
A faint pulse of energy echoed out of thin air with a box floating on the air.
He reached his hand and saw a sleek, transparent mask made of a strange silicon-like material inside the box. The moment his fingers brushed it, a new prompt appeared.
[Item Acquired: Veil of Silent Mask (Low-Grade Artifact)]
Artifact Type: Mask
Effect: Suppresses facial recognition and masks breath and presence at close range.
Passive trait: Reduces chances of being remembered by people with equal or lower cultivation.
"Huh…" Lao Xie turned the mask over in his fingers. "Let's see what makes you special."
He raised it to his face and placed it on.
The surface clung to his skin without resistance, and in the span of a breath, it fused seamlessly into his features. The mask vanished entirely, no lines, no shimmer and not even a hint of distortion.
Lao Xie blinked and touched his cheek. Smooth skin.
There was no sign of anything being worn at all.
He stood and moved toward the corner of the room where a cracked bronze mirror leaned against the wall. As he stared at his reflection, he could see himself exactly as he always did. Not even a single detail was changed.
Even his own senses struggled to detect anything amiss.
"…Now that's impressive," he muttered. "Not just concealment… it's as if it erased its own presence."
He tapped his cheek again, a faint grin creeping onto his lips.
"This will surely come in handy later," he said, removing the mask and slipping it into his storage ring.
.....
Time passed, Lao Xie rose from the ground, brushing the dust from his sleeves.
The room had grown dim, the lantern's flame flickering gently against the wall.
He glanced at the time crystal resting on the shelf, morning wouldn't be far off.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"There's still the matter of that commission," he muttered.
He reached into his ring and drew out the stamped flyer, the mark of the Commission Hall glowing faintly under the dim light.
After a brief look, he slipped it back in.
"Let's rest for the remaining hours." he thought.