By the time Old Hou and You An returned to the inn, night had fallen completely. Li Chen was eating meat soup in the main hall when they brought him a piece of news.
"Old Huang and Old Lou left this afternoon. They probably won't be coming back."
Li Chen said in surprise, "Wilderness Rogue Cultivators come and go as they please. They really are free and unfettered."
Old Hou, however, seemed rather dispirited. It was hard to tell whether he was mourning old friendships or worrying about his own future.
Li Chen changed the subject. "Never mind all that. Let's discuss what we should do next."
Old Hou smiled faintly and affected an air of nonchalance. "Keep hunting demons, of course."
Li Chen asked with concern, "Brother Hou, are you feeling all right? Should you rest a while longer?"
He still remembered how Old Hou had braved those claws and fangs that day, forcing his Mechanism Right Arm into the tiger's jaws.
The Divine Fire Flying Crow's point-blank blast had dealt the tiger demon leader a fatal wound, but it had also injured Old Hou himself with the shock.
Old Hou waved a hand. "We Wilderness Rogue Cultivators aren't that delicate. I've already taken spirit medicine. I'm fine."
But he added, "My puppet is still being modified by someone I hired, though. That beast snapped two of its legs last time, so they need replacing. The mechanism arm's forearm casing and fingers need to be fitted anew as well."
Old Hou's puppet was neither a Wooden Soldier nor an Armored Warrior, but a Steel-Legged Patrol Spider resembling a giant spider. The tiger demon leader had snapped two of its steel legs last time.
Li Chen said, "Then let's wait until they're fully repaired. We've only just returned to the Commandery Seat. There's no need to rush."
Old Hou said, "That's true, but after all my years roaming about, I do have spare Wooden Soldiers. Old Huang also gave me an intact one before he left. So we can head out of the city to hunt demons tomorrow. There won't be much danger if we stay within thirty to fifty li of the Commandery Seat."
With Old Hou so eager, what else could Li Chen say? He agreed.
"Perfect. I modified my Fang Tiger Mechanism Beast today. I need to test the results in an actual demon hunt."
As he considered this, Old Hou added, "Oh, right. We bought these little things at the Market Fair. You're new to this life and probably haven't gathered everything you need yet, so take them all."
As he spoke, he pulled a whole heap of sundries from his Storage Bag: an Image-Recording Jade Slip, a Message-Transmitting Ring, Locust Needles, a Hand Crossbow, a Smoke Emitter, a Grappling Hook, steel wire rope, a hunting knife, Beast Traps, a fishing net, a shovel, a spade, heavenfire stones, and more.
Li Chen stared, dumbfounded. Compared with these seasoned wanderers, he really did have a long way to go. He hurriedly asked, "Brother, how much did all this cost?"
Old Hou said, "Just a little token. Nothing worth mentioning. Consider it a gift from your older brother."
Li Chen said sheepishly, "Brother Hou, I'm actually a Craftsman-rank Puppet Master. If anyone's Mechanism Puppets break in the future, you can leave the repairs to me."
Old Hou waved a hand. "We'll talk about that later."
Li Chen's heart tightened. It seemed he needed to buy some commonly used spirit materials and parts to keep on hand.
He had to demonstrate the value a Craftsman-rank Puppet Master ought to offer. He could not let this veteran demon hunter keep underestimating him.
Early the next morning, Li Chen, Old Hou, and You An gathered at the inn's entrance, ready to leave the city to hunt demons.
Since they only intended to hunt on the outskirts and might not even encounter any true demonic beasts, everyone looked relaxed when they met, with no sign of pressure.
But Li Chen understood that this outing was less about stealing a little leisure while the Mechanism Puppets were being repaired and more about Old Hou testing his and You An's abilities!
This was not because Old Hou was mercenary. Rogue cultivators ventured into the world precisely to earn a living and advance their cultivation.
Without bringing each other benefits, they could not stay together for long.
Out of consideration for their feelings, he might heed Huang Yuan'an's advice and look after Li Chen and You An for a while, but that would not make him stay indefinitely.
Unless both Li Chen and You An had something valuable enough to keep him around.
Li Chen glanced at You An, who was chatting idly beside him. He did not know whether You An had realized this, but he certainly had.
Always treating me like some youngster, some novice-don't I, Li Chen, have any dignity?
Li Chen smiled inwardly, but his face remained expressionless as he gently brushed his Storage Ring and summoned the Fang Tiger Mechanism Beast he had secretly modified the previous afternoon and evening.
"Ready to set off."
"Huh? Brother Li, how did your Mechanism Beast end up looking like that?" You An's face immediately filled with surprise at the sight.
"That's a hide fitted over it using the Skin-Painting Art, isn't it? Is this why you wanted that tiger demon's hide?" Old Hou was startled as well.
"Exactly. What do you think?" Li Chen openly displayed his masterpiece.
Although he possessed a secret art inheritance bestowed by the Creation Sect, he was not afraid of others prying into it. A true disciple's inheritance was wealth outsiders could scarcely steal in the first place, and above it all stood the Creation Sect, keeping watch.
Besides, given Old Hou and You An's limited perspective as Wilderness Rogue Cultivators, they might not connect this thing with Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting at all. At most, they would think it was one of the techniques used by Skin-Painters offering their services on the market.
"Amazing, absolutely amazing! That tiger demon was so huge, yet you managed to resize its hide to fit your Mechanism Beast perfectly!" You An's focus was clearly a little off. The moment those words left his mouth, he exposed himself as a complete outsider to the craft.
Old Hou, however, circled the dramatically transformed Fang Tiger Mechanism Beast, clicking his tongue in wonder. "This craftsmanship is truly superb. I can't spot a single flaw! Brother, you've really been hiding your light. Your true profession must be Skin-Painter, right?"
Li Chen laughed. "You could say that."
He had not deceived Old Hou. Having obtained this Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting secret art from the Creation Sect, who would dare deny him if he called himself a Skin-Painter?
From the moment he received the true intent inheritance of Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting, he had become a professional Skin-Painter.
Old Hou was instantly filled with respect, and the way he looked at Li Chen changed considerably. "Then you're a genuine artisan."
The Eastern Victory Continent esteemed the hundred crafts and the pursuit of knowledge through investigating things. Skilled trades often commanded greater respect than demon hunting, merchant work, or exploring secluded places and uncovering mysteries.
The result was exactly as Li Chen had expected. Merely bringing out this Mechanism Beast he had modified himself had already transformed Old Hou's impression of him.
Still, something like this ultimately seemed to have little connection to demon hunting.
After praising it for a while, Old Hou said no more, instead summoning his own Mechanism Beast and leaving the inn.
Yet soon, something happened that left both him and You An astonished once again.
After they passed through the city gates, left the Imperial Road, and entered the mountain woods in pursuit of prey, both men watched with their own eyes as the Fang Tiger Mechanism Beast beneath Li Chen gradually faded.
A spiritual glow seemed to ripple softly around it. Before long, it blended into the grass, becoming almost impossible to see!
"This... this is the tiger demon's stealth talent!"