After the Ghost Mask reached level five, it had already begun to undergo a transformation as profound as shedding its mortal bones. Once worn, it could even alter one's appearance.
Buzz!
The Omni-Codex flickered with fluorescent light. Xu Qing vaguely saw the scene of the Ghost Mask being reforged once more: the same dark, cold, eerie setting; the same shamaness; the same animal flesh, blood, and skin.
The same scene replayed itself.
Only this time—
The shamaness became focused and meticulous as she made the Ghost Mask, putting considerable thought into it rather than slapping it together as crudely as before.
Whoosh!
A flash of white light passed.
The Ghost Mask in Xu Qing's hand changed subtly once again, becoming more refined. Its patterns and carvings also became gentler and more graceful.
Ghost Mask LV6: 242/320 (A mask made by a shamaness who worshipped ghosts and gods, using animal skin, flesh, and blood. It could alter one's appearance and conceal one's aura. Because it had been made with painstaking care, it was less likely to be seen through.)
"Good."
Xu Qing nodded in satisfaction as he examined the Ghost Mask in his hand, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "In just one night, I raised the Ghost Mask by four levels."
"Not bad, not bad."
"I'll wear it for another night today, and it can level up again tomorrow."
Then—
Xu Qing put the Ghost Mask over his face. The mask began to change, flowing across his face like liquid.
Before long—
Xu Qing's appearance changed, and so did his aura. He became fierce and menacing, turning into a rough-featured middle-aged man.
After that—
Xu Qing fetched a basin of water and looked at his reflection. His face had indeed changed beyond recognition, though his body had not changed much.
"It's still a little lacking."
Xu Qing pondered inwardly. "I'm only sixteen this year, and sixteen years of living as a beggar kept my body from fully developing. I'm only one meter sixty-five tall."
"Fortunately."
"Over this period, I cultivated Eight Extremities Fist and even raised it to level six, mastering hidden force. That allowed my muscles and bones to develop further."
"My height has now reached one meter seventy."
"But my body is still rather thin. This rough face paired with my current build is a little mismatched."
"I still need to keep leveling up the Ghost Mask."
Next—
Xu Qing washed his face and brushed his teeth, then pan-fried a piece of Tai Sui Spirit Meat until it was three-tenths cooked and began wolfing it down. In no time at all, he had finished it.
As a pound of Tai Sui Spirit Meat entered his stomach, a faint warm current spread through his abdomen, leaving Xu Qing feeling comfortable. He then began practicing Eight Extremities Fist inside the room.
Experience +1
More than ten minutes later—
Xu Qing had already completed one round of practice.
Knock! Knock!
At that moment—
A knock came from outside the door.
"Who is it?"
Xu Qing stopped.
"Brother Xu Qing, it's me! Yu Chen!"
Yu Chen's voice came from outside. "Brother Zhao is here too."
"Yu Chen, Zhao Jingyuan."
Xu Qing paused for a moment. "Come in."
"Alright."
The door was pushed open.
Yu Chen and Zhao Jingyuan stood outside, but Xu Qing also saw a sturdy-looking young boy with a tigerish head and tigerish brain. He did not seem very old, perhaps twelve or thirteen.
In fact—
In this world—
There was no age limit for practicing martial arts. Even if someone was seventy or eighty years old, they could still train, though they would most likely amount to nothing.
Moreover—
The earlier one began martial arts training, the better. But when children were too young, they could not train directly. They needed to consume large amounts of tonics and Secret Medicine to nourish themselves and cleanse their tendons and marrow.
"Hu Zi, why aren't you hurrying up and greeting Uncle Xu?"
Yu Chen smacked the sturdy-looking boy on the head.
Clearly—
This sturdy-looking boy was Yu Chen's biological son. His real name was Yu Hu, and he was exactly twelve this year, only four years younger than Xu Qing.
"Un... Uncle Xu, hello!"
Yu Hu could only bow and greet Xu Qing.
"Mhm."
Xu Qing nodded and asked, "What is it?"
"Cough, cough..."
Zhao Jingyuan coughed lightly and said, "Well... Brother Xu, it's like this. I heard that you became an official disciple of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School yesterday, so I came especially to congratulate you."
"This is my congratulatory gift for you."
As soon as he finished speaking—
Zhao Jingyuan took a small rosewood box from his robes.
"Brother Zhao, you're being far too courteous."
Xu Qing waved his hand. "It's enough that you came. Why bring a gift? If you keep doing this, your little brother here is really going to get angry."
However—
As he spoke, Xu Qing accepted Zhao Jingyuan's gift.
He secretly opened it for a look.
Whoosh!
A glint of golden light flickered within.
There were at least five gold bars.
"Brother Zhao, sit, sit, sit."
Xu Qing swiftly put away the wooden box, his face full of smiles. He even brought Zhao Jingyuan a stool. "I'm terribly sorry. My home is simple, and there isn't even much place to sit. I can only let Brother Zhao make do."
"It's fine, it's fine."
Zhao Jingyuan waved his hand.
"Brother Zhao, just tell me what you need. I guarantee I'll help you."
Xu Qing patted his chest.
"It's this."
Zhao Jingyuan said directly, "It's about what we discussed last time. The Azure Hawk Martial Arts School has a Secret Medicine called Spirit Cloud Powder. I hope Brother Xu can buy it for me. I will be endlessly grateful."
"That's a small matter."
Xu Qing said, "I specifically asked about it yesterday. The Azure Hawk Martial Arts School really does have a Secret Medicine called Spirit Cloud Powder. I just don't know the exact price yet."
"Don't worry, Brother Zhao. Leave this matter to me."
"Then many thanks, Brother Xu."
Zhao Jingyuan clasped his hands.
"Brother Zhao, see? I told you Brother Xu is surely a man who values loyalty and righteousness."
Yu Chen said.
"Brother Xu, are you still doing that night Patrol Team job?"
Zhao Jingyuan asked.
"I'm not going anymore."
Xu Qing waved his hand. "My master has asked me to manage the Spring Breeze Pavilion on Hongye Street. From now on, I'll be stationed at the Spring Breeze Pavilion."
"Congratulations, Brother Xu. Congratulations indeed."
Zhao Jingyuan clasped his hands again.
"Hahaha..."
Yu Chen laughed and teased, "From now on, Brother Xu will be blessed with happiness every single day."
"How could a martial artist indulge in beauty?"
Xu Qing curled his lip.
"Yu Chen, speak. What do you need?"
Xu Qing asked.
"Of course I came to congratulate you on becoming an official disciple of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School yesterday!"
Yu Chen said.
"Get to the point."
Xu Qing said irritably.
"Actually, it's mainly about my son."
Yu Chen put on a fawning expression and said, "Didn't we discuss it last time? I wanted my son to take you as his master, and you agreed. So I brought him here today."
"Yu Hu, why aren't you kneeling yet?!"
Yu Chen barked.
"..."
Yu Hu was quite afraid of his father. At Yu Chen's shout, he immediately knelt before Xu Qing, leaving Xu Qing rather speechless.
"Where is the apprenticeship fee?"
Xu Qing asked.
"Haha..."
Yu Chen laughed. "I prepared it long ago."
As he spoke—
Yu Chen took out the banknotes from his robes.
Not a penny more, not a penny less.
They were banknotes worth exactly one thousand taels of silver.
"Alright."
Xu Qing accepted the apprenticeship fee, then asked, "Where is that IOU?"
"It's here."
Yu Chen froze for a moment before replying.
"This is one hundred taels of silver."
Xu Qing took out a banknote worth exactly one hundred taels. It had been part of Ye Langtian's gift of five hundred taels, precisely five banknotes worth one hundred taels each.
"This..."
For a moment, Yu Chen did not know whether he should accept it.
Because—
If he gave the IOU to Xu Qing, it meant that the favor from before would be used up. Xu Qing meant that he would accept Yu Hu and teach him Eight Extremities Fist.
But—
From this day onward—
That favor from before would be considered repaid.
To be honest—
This was because Xu Qing was a man who valued loyalty and righteousness. At his lowest point, what he needed was an opportunity. Huo Yi had given Xu Qing that opportunity, while Yu Chen had given him a manual for Eight Extremities Fist, allowing Xu Qing to gain the strength to defeat Pang De.
Therefore—
Xu Qing remembered this favor. Though others might think it did not count as a favor at all, Xu Qing still remembered it.
"Alright."
Yu Chen glanced at Yu Hu, then took out the IOU and handed it to Xu Qing. He did not accept Xu Qing's one hundred taels of silver. "No need for the one hundred taels. Count it as part of the apprenticeship fee."
"That works."
Xu Qing did not force the money on Yu Chen. He simply nodded in agreement and took back the IOU.
Next—
Yu Hu kowtowed three times to Xu Qing and then presented him with a cup of tea.
From this day onward—
Yu Hu became the first disciple Xu Qing had taken in this world.
As for how much weight this disciple held in Xu Qing's heart, at present, it truly was not much. Perhaps if Yu Hu performed well in the future, that weight might increase a little.
"Starting tomorrow, have Yu Hu come before six in the evening."
Xu Qing said, "I need the rest of my time for martial arts training."
"Alright."
Yu Chen nodded. "Yu Hu, why aren't you thanking your master?"
"Thank you, Master."
Yu Hu said.
After Xu Qing and the others chatted for a few more moments, the three of them left. Xu Qing was once again alone in the room, and he resumed practicing Eight Extremities Fist.
Experience +1 ... Experience +1 ... Experience +1 ...
Elsewhere.
"Yu Chen, why didn't you send Yu Hu to a martial arts school?"
Zhao Jingyuan asked, "Although Xu Qing is already a martial artist of the Bright Force Realm, he still falls far short of the instructors at a martial arts school. Besides, Xu Qing can't teach Yu Hu cultivation methods."
"And yet you gave a full thousand taels as the apprenticeship fee."
"Haha..."
Yu Chen laughed a few times. "I just like the idea of having Yu Hu take Xu Qing as his master."
"..."
Zhao Jingyuan said nothing more.
In truth.
Perhaps only Yu Chen knew just how terrifying Xu Qing's talent truly was. Xu Qing had yet to truly rise; he was still lying low and biding his time.
Therefore.
Only at a time like this could Yu Hu be taken under Xu Qing's tutelage.
Perhaps in a few more years.
Yu Chen might not even be qualified to meet Xu Qing.
"Whew..."
Yu Chen drew a deep breath and looked back at Xu Qing. "I truly didn't expect Xu Qing to accept Yu Hu. This man is indeed loyal and righteous. Though he already showed signs of rising to greatness, he had not forgotten that small favor from back then."
Unbidden.
From the bottom of his heart, Yu Chen sincerely admired Xu Qing.
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