You Thought Changing Your Appearance Would Work (Two-in-One)

You Thought Changing Your Appearance Would Work... (Two-in-One)

Half a month later, dawn had just broken, and the morning glow bathed the tranquil little village.

Blade and Tang San's first meeting took place on an ancient stone-paved road, led by Old Village Chief Jack, whose head was full of white hair and whose face bore the marks of time. Today, they would set off together for Nuoding City and begin a new chapter in their lives.

At this moment, Jack led Blade slowly along the uneven path. Around them were the busy figures of villagers who had risen early, along with the occasional crow of a rooster and bark of a dog.

Blade silently followed beside Jack, his gaze firm and deep, as though he were contemplating something. The carriage they would be taking waited quietly at the village entrance, while the coachman leisurely smoked dry tobacco and watched the pair approach at an unhurried pace.

"Haha, ah, that drunk Tang Hao always thought this old man was easy to fool. He found some excuse to brush me off, saying you weren't coming back. But look at that—you came back, and I went straight to your door." Jack spoke as he walked, his tone carrying a measure of satisfaction and tolerance.

"It's good that you're back, good that you're back!" As Jack spoke, he stroked his beard with his callused hand, his eyes gleaming with relief. Blade still stood with his arms folded, expressionless, but a faint respect for the old man showed in his eyes.

Yesterday, with some regret in his heart, Old Jack had habitually made his way to the small house where Blade had once lived. To his surprise, the moment he reached the door, he saw Blade's familiar back. The sight had left Old Jack so excited that he had nearly been unable to speak. He had never expected this extraordinarily talented child to truly return.

Originally, three months ago, Old Jack had planned to send both children to Nuoding City together today, setting them upon their Cultivation Path. But who could have known that Blade would suddenly leave without saying goodbye before departure, vanishing without a trace?

When Jack asked him about it, Blade merely replied indifferently that he had some Private Matters to handle and did not elaborate. But Old Jack did not care about such details. As long as Blade was safe and sound, and as long as his unparalleled Talents could be put to use, that was enough for him.

Jack's heart was filled with fantasies. He imagined the day Blade completed his studies and became famous, yet never forgot his roots or that he had come from a small place like Holy Spirit Village.

Then, he would be able to boast before the village's Older Generation that he had once witnessed the growth of a Hero. Perhaps Blade's future achievements might even surpass the Spirit Saint who had once appeared in the village. When that time came, it would not merely be Blade's personal glory—Holy Spirit Village itself might be renamed because of him and become a Legendary Place.

Before long, Old Jack led Blade inside. At this point, he still did not know that Tang Hao had already left Holy Spirit Village. He simply wanted to bring Blade in and thoroughly slap that drunkard in the face!

Naturally, Blade did not know Tang Hao had left either. He was still looking forward to Tang Hao's wonderfully terrified expression when he saw that Blade had suddenly returned!! It would definitely be terror mixed with disbelief. Just imagining that scene was enough to make him wildly excited!

And surely, it would earn him quite a bit of Portrayal Progress!

Blade gently drew out Shizun's Sword, which had accompanied him for many years. A cold glint faintly radiated from its blade as he held it tightly against his chest, as though it were the source of his strength. The corners of his lips curled up slightly, anticipation gleaming in his eyes as he followed behind Old Jack.

The two crossed the courtyard, sunlight filtering through the treetops and falling over them in mottled patches of Light and Shadow. The flowers and grass in the yard seemed to sway gently, as though cheering on the scene about to unfold. When they pushed open that familiar door, the silence inside formed a sharp contrast with the bustle outside.

"Xiao San, Grandpa has come to pick you up." The instant he stepped into the house, Jack's voice brimmed with joy. His booming voice echoed through the empty room, carrying a pride that could not be ignored.

At the same time, he did not forget to turn toward the depths of the house and call out, "Tang Hao, I'm taking Xiao San to Nuoding City. Just letting you know—aren't you coming out to see Xiao San off?" Jack's words held a trace of provocation. He knew Tang Hao's temperament; this seemingly ordinary question was actually meant to needle the former drunkard.

As Jack spoke, he walked farther into the house, and his gaze quickly settled on Tang San, who was practicing hammer techniques. At first, Tang San smiled happily upon seeing Jack, but his eyes swiftly moved past him and landed on the figure he could not ignore. When he saw Blade holding that familiar sword, Tang San's smile instantly froze, as though ice had sealed it in place.

His eyes widened on the spot, and the hammer in his hand nearly slipped from his grasp in shock! Stormy Waves surged through Tang San's heart. He had clearly been looking forward to seeing Blade again—so why, when he truly faced him now, did an indescribable fear rise within him?!

Tang San took a deep breath and quickly steadied himself. Deep down, he warned himself that he was the Protagonist. Blade was merely a whetstone on his path to growth—there was nothing to fear! He tried hard to restore calm to his expression, attempting to display the composure and grandeur a Protagonist ought to possess.

"Haha, Blade came too." Tang San forced himself to remain calm as he spoke with a smile, though a trace of trembling still leaked into his voice.

Blade did not acknowledge him at all. He merely stared coldly at him, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

At that very moment, as Blade's gaze met Tang San's, the System's voice immediately rang out in his mind.

Ding! The Protagonist was terrified and panicking inside the moment he saw the host! Portrayal Progress increased: 0.01%!

Current Portrayal Progress: 17.79%!

Hearing this, a flash of madness passed through Blade's eyes. He stared intently at Tang San, his blood-red eyes seeming capable of piercing the soul. Tang San could not help but feel a chill, goosebumps rising all over his body in an instant.

Tang San could not endure Blade's oppressive gaze. The experience of being brutally beaten by Blade surged back into his memories like a raging flood.

At this moment, all the memories of Tang San, who had never admitted that he was arrogant and conceited, came flooding back. The terror of being dominated by Blade the Trisolaran once more shrouded his heart.

He remembered. He remembered everything!

Tang San's heart raced, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead. He could no longer meet Blade's suffocating gaze and hurriedly shifted his eyes away, trying to escape that invisible pressure.

Jack did not notice the subtle tension between them. Still smiling warmly, he spoke with an elder's affection, "Ah, both of you are good children. Xiao San, you're doing great—you're still Iron Forging. Oh, right, where's your father?"

Tang San seized upon Jack's topic, his voice carrying a nearly imperceptible tremble as he tried his best to sound natural. "Ahaha, Grandpa Jack, my father had something to do and left early. He isn't here. I'll get ready right away, then leave with you!"

"Huh? Tang Hao left? He left you alone again, Xiao San? Him... honestly, I don't even know what to say about him! He has not fulfilled a father's responsibilities at all!!" Upon hearing this, Jack's brows furrowed involuntarily. The wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen at that moment, revealing his dissatisfaction and concern over Tang Hao's actions.

"Sigh, Xiao San is still the sensible one. Come on, Grandpa will take you both to Nuoding City!" Jack's words carried a trace of a sigh, but he quickly adjusted his mood, unwilling to make Tang San uneasy because of his father.

After saying that, Jack stepped forward and gently patted Tang San's head. Those callused hands conveyed warmth and comfort. A smile returned to his face, bright as sunlight, illuminating the haze in Tang San's heart. Jack's eyes were filled with encouragement and expectation, as though telling Tang San that no matter what happened, he had the ability to face the challenges ahead.

Tang San behaved very obediently. He lowered his head and let Grandpa Jack's palm gently rub his hair, but from the corner of his eye, he secretly glanced at Blade standing beside the door.

Blade merely wore a teasing smile, seeming to mock him silently and imply that he could only accept his fate of having his head patted.

Feeling Blade's provocative gaze, a nameless anger rose within Tang San. He did not know what exactly Blade's attitude meant, but whenever he saw that contemptuous look, he felt as though someone had poked at his sore spot again. He gritted his teeth and unconsciously clenched his fists until his knuckles turned pale.

At this moment, Blade, as a transmigrator, naturally took in all of this. He sneered, though he felt a little regretful. This Kid simply did not understand the rules of the Naruto Game World. If he knew what head-patting meant, he would probably already be so angry that his face and neck had turned red.

He'd become super Red-Hot!

Blade thought that if Tang San understood these things, then when Blade beat him up in the future, he could deliberately pat his head after knocking him down, provoking him further and earning even more Portrayal Progress.

After all, the angrier this Kid became and the more intense his reaction was, the greater the Portrayal Progress bonus the system would naturally grant. Blade felt he could play this game with ease.

"Come on, children, we're setting off for Nuoding City!" Jack's voice was full of energy as he gently patted Tang San's head, affection for the child showing in his eyes. With that, Jack turned around and gestured for the two of them to follow him outside.

Tang San nodded and slowly followed, his steps somewhat heavy.

However, Blade remained where he was. His eyes were like two sharp blades, fixed firmly on Tang San. That gaze seemed to carry tangible pressure, making Tang San feel as though he were dragging a thousand-pound weight with every step forward—and the weight seemed to increase exponentially as the distance between them shrank.

When Tang San reached Blade's side, he gritted his teeth. Recalling his father's former instructions, he decided to avoid Blade's Sharp Edge for now. He carefully said, "Blade, I hope you've been well. From now on, as classmates, let's work hard together."

"And I, Tang San, will keep treating you as a friend, just as I said before!" The theatrical Tang San spoke with a hint of sincerity, as well as a hint of naivety, doing his best to make his voice sound calm.

Hearing this, a mocking smile curved across Blade's lips. Blade only felt like Konjac Jelly was about to strike! Be friends with that Little Scoundrel? Every word he said made Blade feel like laughing himself to death!

Sure enough, at his side, the other shore truly was close!

"Heh, I only wish to be friends with death. Can you do that?" Brother Blade's voice carried a trace of coldness. Blood-red light flickered in his eyes, and his excitement was plain to see. The mere mention of death seemed to give him an inexplicable pleasure.

At those words, Tang San gritted his teeth until they creaked, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails nearly dug into his flesh. His heart churned like stormy seas. Who knew how many times he had cursed Brother Blade inwardly? The mixture of rage and helplessness made his expression exceptionally ugly.

But what could he do? His father's words still echoed in his ears. He did not yet have the power to resist, and he did not even dare show the slightest hint of defiance. All he could do was keep reminding himself not to be swayed by Brother Blade and to adapt to this situation as quickly as possible! After all, a gentleman could take revenge even ten years later. Once he mastered this world's power, it would be his word alone that counted!!

After struggling internally for a while, Tang San steadied his emotions. He put on an aggrieved, innocent expression, his tone carrying a touch of sincerity and reverence. "I'm sorry, Brother Blade. If Tang San has offended you in any way, Brother Blade, please just tell me! Tang San knows he's still young, just a child, and there are indeed things he hasn't done well enough. I'll definitely correct them!"

Tang San lowered himself greatly, his eyes showing just the right amount of reverence and submission, as though he truly were nothing more than a humble child seeking instruction. Yet beneath that humility, he was secretly gritting his teeth, waiting for the day he could hold his head high and repay today's humiliation a hundredfold.

Ding! The Protagonist was actually furious beyond measure. Portrayal Progress increased by 0.01%!

Current Portrayal Progress: 17.80%!

Ding! Hint: The Protagonist followed his father's advice, played the obedient grandson, and is gradually adapting to being humiliated. This will affect the extent to which Portrayal Progress increases!

Hearing the system's cold prompt, Brother Blade's brow furrowed slightly. A mocking smile curled across his lips as he found the whole thing utterly ridiculous.

"Tang Hao told his son to play the obedient grandson? Then doesn't that make me his grandpa? And Tang Hao becomes my son?" Brother Blade mocked inwardly. To him, this family's relationships were simply absurd.

However, after recalling the system's second prompt, Brother Blade's expression gradually turned grave. He realized that if Tang San was merely putting on an act in front of him, the Portrayal Progress he earned would be greatly reduced.

What he needed was Tang San's most genuine, most direct reaction to getting humiliated. This fake performance—damn it, if Tang San was playing along with him, how was he supposed to earn more Portrayal Progress?

A ruthless glint flashed through Brother Blade's eyes. Suddenly, he recalled Tang San's earlier claim that he was still young—a little brat??

A mid-level transmigrator, yet so shameless. What a waste of thirty-six years of life!!

An inexplicable fury rose within him. A cold gleam suddenly flashed in Brother Blade's eyes, like a blade in the North Wind—frigid and sharp.

In an instant, he flicked his wrist. With a clear metallic ring, Shizun's Sword was already in his hand. The blade reflected dazzling sunlight, like a river of stars falling from the heavens. Its tip pointed straight at Tang San's throat, sword energy flickering unstably as though ready to slice open that fragile skin at any moment.

Tang San's pupils contracted sharply. His expression froze between shock and disbelief. His mouth opened slightly, yet no sound emerged. That sudden flash of sword light made him feel an unprecedented threat of death.

"B-Brother Blade, what are you doing?" Tang San's voice trembled like a candle flame wavering in the wind, liable to go out at any moment.

The corners of Brother Blade's lips lifted slightly, revealing a playful smile. His gaze was full of madness and mockery. Those blood-red pupils were like an abyss, filling anyone who looked into them with endless chill.

A playful smile remained on Brother Blade's lips as his blood-red eyes stared fixedly at Tang San. That gaze was mad and mocking, as though it wanted to see through Tang San's very soul.

This made Tang San even more terrified. He had the distinct feeling that something incredibly terrible was about to happen!

Soon, just as Tang San had expected, Brother Blade, wearing that playful, cold smile, suddenly spoke word by word, his tone as heavy as iron and stone:

"Tang San."

"Did you think that by putting on another face and taking another identity, the sins of your past could simply be wiped away?"

"Heh heh." Brother Blade's laughter echoed through the air, carrying a chilling undertone.

As soon as the words fell, the room sank into deathly silence!

Tang San was utterly stunned!

This was his deepest secret!!!

Brother Blade's words were like sharp blades, precisely cutting through Tang San's defenses. The color drained from Tang San's face, and his pupils shrank violently!

Tang San involuntarily took a step back. The fear and unease buried deep in his bones were laid bare at that moment.

Brother Blade's words were like another sharp sword, piercing straight into Tang San's heart. Tang San's face turned pale in an instant, as though he had seen his deepest fear!

When his secret was exposed, it was like a heavy mountain crushing down on Tang San, nearly leaving him unable to breathe!!