A blue jeep sped alone along a road across the desolate land.
Calling it a road was generous. In truth, it was merely a haphazard layer of gravel and asphalt, nowhere near smooth and barely fit for a car to drive on.
An occasional tree flashed past on either side, but withered yellow shrubs were far more common.
Inside the jeep, Wang Yu was busy with something as well.
A yellow map had been unfolded and affixed to the side window.
A phone lying horizontally played the latest news from South La Province, periodically broadcasting the practiced commentary of a woman from the British Commonwealth.
On the passenger seat beside him, a flour sack and a honey jar stood open. A large lump of dough made from the two rested in one of Wang Yu's palms.
As his five fingers moved deftly, wisps of black miasma seeped continuously into it, gradually turning the dough waxy yellow and glossy while flattening it slightly.
Smack.
Wang Yu kept his eyes fixed on the phone playing the news, but moved his arm to slap the entire lump of dough onto his face. His other hand left the steering wheel, and all ten fingers began kneading his face at once.
In the blink of an eye, a waxy yellow face with deep-set eyes and a high nose covered his original features.
Then he murmured an incantation, formed hand seals with both hands, and uttered, "Set."
Several pale white phantoms of talisman inscriptions flashed across the new face and vanished. The seemingly wooden, rigid features suddenly became lifelike, capable of natural expressions.
This was the Face-Molding Technique, one of the Parlor Trick Arts among the many low-level spells the Yin Household had collected for him. It could mold a face directly from simple materials, allowing