Xu Qing had long since put on the Ghost Mask, changing his appearance into someone else's. On top of that, he wore an ordinary ram-horn mask, concealing even his altered face.
This way.
It became even harder for others to know or discover Xu Qing's true identity.
"Young master, young master, this young master..."
Xu Qing had only taken a few steps when he heard a stall owner by the roadside. The stall owner was dressed in rags and looked like a beggar, yet his qi and blood were robust. He wore a monkey-face mask and warmly beckoned to Xu Qing. "Just now, I saw that you were imposing and extraordinary, young master. Your fortune soared into the heavens above your head, and your talent filled eight bushels. You are certainly no thing to be trapped in a shallow pond. My stall carries all manner of antiques, even treasures unearthed from ancient tombs."
"As the saying goes."
"Treasure goes to those fated for it. With your fortune and talent, young master, you will surely find something earthshaking at my stall. A hidden dragon lies in the abyss, and its moment is now."
"Heh."
Xu Qing chuckled and stopped. His gaze swept across the stall owner's wares. There truly were all sorts of "antiques" on display, including a rusty broken iron sword, a jade seal nearly cracked in half, and books with a corner burned away...
"My fortune is unmatched, rare in all the world. I am the Heavenly Literary Star descended to earth, destined to become a 'great Confucian scholar of my generation.' Everything here is beneath me."
Xu Qing said in a grave voice, "You actually told me to pick something from your stall just now. What did you mean by that? Are you looking down on me?"
"This...