How Am I the One Being Pursued? Chapter 41

"Don't be afraid, kid. I'm here."

That gave Bai Jun a small measure of comfort. With a loud bang, he easily kicked the door open.

Although Sushang looked like a brainless little girl with nothing but looks going for her, she was still a proper Cloud Knight who had passed the examinations. On top of that, she had practiced swordsmanship with Su Yi since childhood. Though she could not compare to geniuses like Yan Qing, her skill was exceptionally high among her peers.

Their sparring match that morning had also shown that her foundation was solid. She merely lacked training and real combat experience. That was precisely why Bai Jun had felt at ease locking her in the workshop. His original intention had been to temper her character through games like beast chess and, incidentally, see where her limits lay.

But now, it seemed... he had not found her upper limit. Instead, he appeared to have uncovered her lower limit.

The hulking black automatons were wildly smashing things inside the workshop with the punishment pestle in their left hands. Rather than bravely facing them as imagined, Sushang had somehow hung herself from the rafters like a startled kitten, clinging tightly to a beam and trembling in midair. The moment she saw Bai Jun, it was as though she had seen a cat treat, and she cried out all the grievances bottled up in her chest:

"Waaah, Bai Jun, you finally came! Hurry up and save me!"

"Go on, kid. Don't let me interrupt you."

Bai Jun's expression was indescribable. He turned around, ready to shut the door again, but the rampaging automatons seemed to notice the movement at the entrance. Their intimidating, vicious gaze instantly locked onto Bai Jun and the others.

Bai Jun did not react much, but the people beside him looked as though they were facing a formidable enemy. They hurriedly stood in front of him. "Hundred Refinements Master, this is dangerous. For your safety, you should evacuate first."

"How many times do I have to say it? Don't call me by that title. It feels so embarrassing... Forget it. Move aside, all of you. I'll handle this."

Bai Jun sighed, suddenly tied up his hair, then slipped past the people in front of him and walked to the forefront.

Just as everyone thought he was about to draw the long saber at his waist, his left hand abruptly pulled a black-and-white pistol with a gilded barrel from thin air, aiming it at the charging automaton in the distance.

He pulled the trigger, and savage flames immediately roared from the muzzle.

The next second, a deep gash was blasted into its finely forged steel shell. Its scattered components were completely destroyed as its core was pierced through. With a sizzling crackle of electricity from the core drive, a thunderous boom rang out, and it neatly collapsed onto the ground.

Of all martial arts, this was the Sacred Judgment of Heavenly Fire.

Ever since he had discovered last time that the Sacred Judgment of Heavenly Fire seemed vaguely usable, Bai Jun had spent a full half-night studying it and finally figured out the trick—tie up his hair, then silently call out Sacred Judgment of Heavenly Fire in his heart.

The process and method of use were incredibly abstract, but its power made up for that quite nicely. A casual shot was comparable to one of Yan Qing's flying swords driven with full force.

And that was not all. The Sacred Judgment of Heavenly Fire's power seemed capable of increasing with the user's mental focus. Bai Jun had not tested exactly how much it could increase; he was afraid of blowing up his own home. But its base power was already this great. He could hardly imagine how terrifying it would be after further enhancement.

When he got the chance, Bai Jun absolutely had to fire off a big one.

This casual display stunned everyone watching from behind. They had never imagined that the tall, slender Hundred Refinements Master, who did not look like a fighter at all, could casually unleash such terrifying power.

It was not simply that the weapon was powerful. The Xianzhou Alliance's divine weapons all chose their wielders. Besides, how could someone of ordinary strength possibly control such a formidable weapon?

"Th-That weapon... what was that? So cool! So powerful!"

"As expected of the Hundred Refinements Master! He effortlessly did what we could never do!"

Ignoring the reverent, admiring gazes fixed upon him, Bai Jun put away the Sacred Judgment of Heavenly Fire and walked straight beneath the rafters. He impatiently urged the trembling Sushang above, "How long are you planning to hang up there?"

Sushang stiffened. Through tear-blurred eyes, she glanced down. Once she confirmed that the terrifying automaton had been dealt with, she finally dared to jump down. The moment her feet touched the ground, she swung her little fists at Bai Jun.

"You bastard! You have no humanity at all—!"

Sushang, who had looked like a pitiful little kitten moments ago, now seemed like a completely different person. Bai Jun helplessly pursed his lips at this classic case of bullying the familiar, but Sushang was not using any strength. Her soft little fists felt like a massage, so he let her keep complaining.

Master Gongshu arrived late after the commotion had settled. The moment he entered the workshop, he looked toward Bai Jun first. Only after confirming that Bai Jun was unharmed did he finally relax.

Then he looked over the workshop. The mess, like autumn winds sweeping fallen leaves, made his heart clench, but the losses were still acceptable. However, when he saw the large hole through the core in the chest of the "Rongzhu" he had painstakingly researched, his hanging heart finally died.

"You're here."

Seeing Master Gongshu approach, Bai Jun waved to him from beside the automaton. Upon hearing his voice, Master Gongshu quickly hurried over. "Ah, Hundred Refinements Master, it is good that you are all right."

"This automaton... was your project?"

This time, Bai Jun did not care about how he was addressed. He examined the automaton's black steel body, knocked on its hard shell with his hand, and asked with a frown.

"That is correct. This is this old man's project—the Rongzhu model. I recreated it based on surviving rubbings from the ancient alliance. Though it is only a model, its performance still far surpasses the vast majority of combat automatons currently in circulation."

Master Gongshu struck his usual pose and raised his eyebrows, seemingly hinting for Bai Jun to praise him.

"Not bad. But don't make another one next time. Your project has been rejected."

Master Gongshu had just begun to feel delighted upon hearing the first half, only for the next sentence to send him straight into hell. After his expression underwent drastic changes, he forced a stiff smile and rubbed his hands together, still wanting to argue for another chance. "W-Why, Hundred Refinements Master...?"

"The Artisanship Commission's regulations clearly state that a Master Artisan may not undertake projects far beyond their level. Your Rongzhu is the most typical example. If I had not been here, could you and your disciples truly guarantee that you could subdue Rongzhu? If it had caused casualties within the Artisanship Commission, could you bear the responsibility as a Master Artisan?"

"Also, the Xianzhou Alliance strictly restricted the size of automatons three hundred years ago. If you do not believe me, go look through the old newspapers. Cut your losses early, so you do not waste any more time and effort."

Bai Jun glanced at him, ignored Master Gongshu's life-questioning gaze, and calmly walked into the workshop to find a spot that was barely still usable.

This small workshop was somewhat more cramped inside than it appeared from the outside. A neatly arranged row of scrubbed-clean furnaces stood in the modest courtyard, stacks upon stacks of iron billets lay beside them, and all kinds of sword molds and hammers hung from the walls.

Bai Jun casually picked up a small hammer and weighed it in his hand. Deciding it was suitable enough, he snapped his fingers, and scarlet flames instantly ignited inside the furnace.

"Stop standing there. Come give me a hand. Bring me the iron billets."

"Huh? I-I understand."

While adjusting the flames, Bai Jun suddenly called out to Sushang behind him. She belatedly responded, then hurriedly picked up a stack of iron billets and carried them over.

Bai Jun moved the billets beside a concave water trough. Then, when the flames reached their peak, he tossed them into the furnace for heating. Blazing flames rose up, making the surrounding air exceptionally hot. Once the billets had been heated completely red, Bai Jun picked up the iron hammer and began the next step: hammer forging.

The main purpose of this step was to remove sulfur and excess carbon from the steel, increasing its elasticity and toughness. Bai Jun half-turned his body, planted his feet firmly against the ground, drove power through his legs, and twisted his waist back. The forging hammer had already been drawn back through the air. With a deafening clang, it crashed heavily onto the red-hot pig iron.

The iron block that had been glowing red only moments earlier was smashed so hard that nearly one-third of it caved in, deforming visibly.

Amid flying sparks of iron and fire, the forging hammer struck the iron block again and again. Whenever the block had been hammered down to half its original thickness and began to flatten, the forging hammer in his hand would strike its edge, flipping it over. This way, the iron block received his hammer blows evenly instead of simply being pounded into an iron pancake.

Watching the solemn figure swinging the hammer before the furnace, Sushang gradually became just as speechless with astonishment as everyone else around her. Only Master Gongshu beside her occasionally nodded and let out deeply admiring sounds. "The Hundred Refinements Master's posture while forging is still such a pleasure to behold..."

"Hundred Refinements Master... Oh, right. What exactly is this Hundred Refinements Master thing you keep talking about?" Sushang came back to her senses and asked Master Gongshu.

"Hundred Refinements Master? Naturally, it is the pinnacle of all Xianzhou craftsmen, one who has attained the highest level in the field of creation... Huh? Why are you asking?"

Once Master Gongshu realized the question had come from the girl standing beside Bai Jun, who looked rather dim-witted at first glance, his gaze immediately turned strange. "Wait... Aren't you the Hundred Refinements Master's apprentice?"

"Of course not. I'm his friend."

"I knew it. How could that great man possibly take such an obviously slow-witted fool as an apprentice?" Rather than becoming angry after hearing Sushang's explanation, Master Gongshu was delighted, as though some knot in his heart had suddenly been untied.

The smile Sushang was maintaining nearly collapsed. Suppressing the urge to smack this fellow flying with a sword, she patiently continued asking, "So Bai Jun is really that amazing?"

Master Gongshu raised his eyebrows, annoyance entering his voice. "Naturally! Lord Bai Jun was the chief of the last Hundred Refinements Grand Forge, and he was a craftsman jointly acknowledged by Lord Huai Yan and Lord Yanting. The last person to receive such an honor was Yingxing himself."

As he grew more emotional, Master Gongshu could not help proudly lifting his head, as though he had been the one standing on the ceremonial platform receiving such an honor that day.

Upon hearing about the Hundred Refinements Grand Forge, Sushang finally remembered something. A few years ago, she had heard her mother discussing the Hundred Refinements Grand Forge with several aunties. She remembered them saying that this year's Hundred Refinements Master was a very young, very handsome man... Could they have been talking about Bai Jun!?

While the two chatted, the craftsmen watching nearby suddenly let out sharp breaths of awe, as though they had seen something unbelievable.

Sushang and Master Gongshu turned around to see Bai Jun, his face covered in soot, stepping away from the forge. He brushed the grime from his clothes with the back of his hand and asked, "Cough, cough... Where can I wash my hands? I need to clean up."

"Y-You have already finished forging it? I'll take you there."

After seeing Bai Jun nod, even Master Gongshu could not help swallowing. He hurriedly led Bai Jun toward the washroom.

After Master Gongshu left with Bai Jun, the craftsmen watching could no longer suppress their curiosity. They immediately crowded around the forge, staring at the finished product and swallowing hard.

"My goodness, it is only a pair of bracers, but he completed so many steps in such a short time. And it was all done by hand, without relying on any intelligent machinery. That is unbelievable..."

"He even had the time to polish it after finishing the grinding..."

"So this is a Hundred Refinements Master? He feels like an entirely different species from a different dimension..."

Sushang also curiously stepped forward and stood on tiptoe. She saw a pair of completed bracers lying quietly on the forging table.

Their black surfaces gave off a gleaming metallic luster. Every metal plate had been carefully polished, its edges smooth and even enough to reflect the surrounding light. Their streamlined contours perfectly followed the curves of an arm, making them look both sturdy and flexible.

So beautiful...

That was Sushang's first thought. Although the Great Void Sword Art did not require any protective gear, and she had never been interested in armor before, the sight of those bracers resting quietly on the table still stirred that thought from the depths of her heart.

Just as people instinctively pursued powerful things and beautiful beings, Sushang also felt a faint yearning for them from the bottom of her heart.

At that moment, the freshly cleaned Bai Jun slowly returned. Hearing his footsteps, the craftsmen gathered around the table scattered like startled birds and beasts. Only Sushang remained, staring blankly at the bracers. Seeing this, Bai Jun wore a mischievous smile and quietly walked up beside her.

"What do you think?"

"They're pretty... Wah! When did you get back?!"

Sushang shyly pushed him, then turned her little face away and pretended not to care. "They're only average. I don't think they're that pretty."

"Huh? All right. Looks like I still have a long way to go."

Bai Jun smiled faintly, appearing thoughtful. He placed the bracers into an exquisitely packaged sandalwood box and yawned. "Let's go. We have accomplished our goal for this trip. I'm going back to catch up on sleep."

"Okay, got it."

Sushang muttered, then jogged after him.

"Mask of a Thousand Faces"

Today was surely a good day.

"Noble Moral Acclaim +10"

"100/100"

"You have accumulated 100 points of Noble Moral Acclaim. Begin the draw?"

"Yes/No"

That was right. The ten morality points provided by casually dealing with the rampaging automaton in the Artisanship Commission had successfully allowed the long-dormant system to accumulate enough morality points and enter the much-loved lottery stage once again.

Seeing the unfamiliar yet familiar system screen before him, Bai Jun finally remembered the fact that he had a system. Though the system usually seemed as if it did not exist, learning that he could finally make a draw put him in an exceptionally good mood. It felt as though all his unintentional accumulation had finally yielded a magnificent harvest.

He focused his consciousness on the "Yes" button. Then, a panel filled with countless items and skills began spinning before him, while the roulette-like text changed constantly.

The pointer spun continuously, finally slowing to a stop on a mask in the item category. Its surface was divided into red and white sections, its elegant shape outlined the nimble silhouette of a fox with streamlined design.

"Congratulations. You have obtained the item 'Mask of a Thousand Faces.'"

Opening the system panel, Bai Jun silently said, "Confirm receipt," toward the newly added prompt for the Mask of a Thousand Faces.

The next moment, something seemed to flow into his body. Bai Jun instinctively steadied his mind and carefully experienced the strange sensation, as though something within him had been completed and filled in. A trace of absentmindedness appeared on his face.

But he soon opened his eyes slightly. This item from the system was not as troublesome as the Sacred Judgment of Heavenly Fire. All he needed to do was silently call out Mask of a Thousand Faces in his heart, and the hard touch of an object suddenly appeared in his hand.

Looking down, he saw that a small, exquisite fox mask had already appeared in his hand. Bai Jun did not know this item's effect, but his expression was still extremely strange.

Because on the surface of the mask... why could he feel a faint warmth?

And there was a subtle body fragrance, dangerous yet faintly seductive. It was practically as if the mask had just been taken from some young woman's embrace!

No, it had to be an illusion. How could a proper system possibly give him something stolen from another person?

However, before he could test the mask's exact effects, a puzzled voice sounded behind him.

"Bai Jun, why did you stop?"

Sushang poked Bai Jun, who had suddenly halted while walking ahead of her. She curiously leaned closer and noticed the fox mask in his hand. "Huh? When did you get a mask...?"

She was certain that she had been following closely behind Bai Jun the entire time, her gaze fixed firmly on his back. She definitely had not seen him take a mask from anywhere.

"Mm, I had it on me from the start. Want to take a look?"

Bai Jun showed no panic at all. He calmly tossed the mask to Sushang, whose clear eyes blinked at him.

Sushang barely caught it. Looking at the beautiful, distinctive mask, whose delicate patterns engraved upon its surface seemed to shift slightly with the light and shadows, she merely sighed that it was pretty before handing it back to Bai Jun.

But after Bai Jun took the fox mask back, he noticed something unusual.

The fragrance originally clinging to the mask seemed to have changed. If he had to describe it, it had changed from the seductive yet dangerous scent of roses to the elegant, fresh scent of orchids. And... why did Bai Jun find this fragrance so familiar?

Then, amid Sushang's puzzled expression, Bai Jun suddenly stepped in front of her, bent down, and buried his face in her hair.

"Wah? W-What are you doing?!"

Her scream rose several octaves. Blushing furiously, Sushang shoved Bai Jun away with an embarrassed glare.

"Just as I thought... Cough, it's nothing. Sister, you smell amazing."

After confirming that the mask's scent changed according to the previous holder's fragrance, Bai Jun expressionlessly raised a thumbs-up in praise, his clear eyes making it seem as though he had not been the one who had just done something so bold.

In truth, he had only wanted to verify his guess. It just seemed that his method had been a little too aggressive.

"Sorry."

He bowed solemnly and seriously to Sushang, whose cheeks were red.

As though drawn in, Sushang turned to look at him. Bai Jun wore a disappointed expression, and his face looked somewhat sorrowful. Her chest tightened, and she hurriedly told him, "No!"

"Huh?"

"N-No, I mean, you didn't do anything wrong. It's not your fault..."