Chapter 122 (Patreon)

When Xie Ling said Bao Si would explain how he’d avoid the Garrison’s detection, Chen Haoran didn’t expect it would involve him sitting in a chair with her on his lap facing him.

“The Human-Skin Mask is a premier method of disguise. To create one requires immense technical skill,” Bao Si said. She held Chen Haoran’s face between her hands and softly rubbed his cheeks. “Each one has to be custom fitted to the wearer in order to seamlessly blend in with the rest of their body. Any defect in the creation process would make the false face obvious to a cultivator’s sense. When made properly, however, the Human-Skin Mask is imperceptible even to those in the same realm of cultivation.”

“Just so we’re clear. It’s not actually made of Human-Skin, right?” Chen Haoran asked.

Bao Si’s hands drew up and caressed his temples. “They were in the beginning. Back then, a Human-Skin Mask was synonymous with murder. The face had to be freshly peeled off the corpse. However, there were some methods that called for taking the face off a still-living person.”

“Lovely,” Chen Haoran dryly said.

“Don’t worry. The art has advanced considerably since then.” Bao Si threaded her fingers through his hair and massaged his scalp. “The Refining Technique we use only needs to mix various herbs and pig skin. It’s more expensive, but we can customize the face however we like and don’t need to worry about it being recognized. There was a famous story about a Crystal Transformation Realm’s son being killed. His killer harvested his face to make a mask and sold it for a quick profit. Needless to say, the unfortunate customer didn’t have a good time when he openly wore the mask in a cultivator gathering the father was attending.”

That story was all well and interesting, but it was what she said earlier that really caught his interest. “I don’t know much about Refining Techniques. Will you tell me about them?”

Bao Si tugged his head back so their eyes met and looked at him with disbelief. “Really? You’ve never heard of them? You?”

Chen Haoran shrugged. “Do I look like someone who’s ever made something for himself?”

Bao Si hummed. “A fair point.” Her hands brushed through his hair and down to the back of his neck. “Well, on the face of it, Refining Techniques are no different than any other techniques. They’re divided into the same ranks, need qi to be cast, and require practice before being mastered. Of course, you can’t just use a Refining Technique as you might the Seven-Colored Steps of the Rainbow Stairs. Whether it’s a pill, artifact, talisman, or formation, you need materials to actually make them and, barring a high level of mastery, the proper tools.”

“So everything has its own Refinement Technique?”

“Yes.”

“Sounds like a pain in the ass.”

“Only if being a craftsman is your life goal.”

“And yet you learned one on top of everything else you’re doing. You’re pretty amazing.”

Bao Si huffed. “Flatterer.” Her fingers trailed across his neck, and he shivered in… excitement? Perhaps. Remembrance was more like it. It wasn’t the rough hand that choked his life away that he remembered, however, but delicate fingers that had settled on his neck like knives.

Bao Si yanked him forward, leaning down as she did. Her hair tickled his face. She smelled like azaleas. “You compliment me when you’re thinking about a different woman.” She smiled, but it was not a smile. “I don’t like men who do that.”

Chen Haoran didn’t bother with excuses or backtracking. Instead, he looked at Bao Si with honest curiosity. “How did you know?”

“You have the same look as Jin when he did it.” She sighed. “You two really are brothers.”

“That’s pretty impressive,” Chen Haoran praised. “I don’t think I could read people like that.”

Bao Si scoffed, but her smile stopped being scary and turned exasperated instead. “You know, Chen Haoran, you ask so many questions of me but do so little explaining yourself. It’s enough to make a girl feel put out.”

Chen Haoran smiled back. “What’s wrong with asking questions? I like hearing your voice.”

“You flirt.” Bao Si traced her thumbs across his lips.

“I really will die if I have to watch any more of this,” a grumpy voice sounded.

Chen Haoran and Bao Si looked over to where an unamused Xie Jin was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

“Be quiet,” Bao Si said. “I’m working.”

Xie Jin sneered. “If that’s what they’re calling molestation now, then yes, you’re working very hard.”

“I’m taking his measurements,” Bao Si said. “It’s very important that I don’t mess this up. I know you were born allergic to patience, but please suffer in silence for all our sakes.”

“You can touch Brother Chen all you want later,” Xie Jin said. “We still need the details on the mission.”

“Oh, that,” Bao Si said, sounding entirely too dismissive for what seemed to be an important mission. “As soon as I’m done with the Human-Skin Mask we’ll go to Daqing and take a boat up the Skyspear to Bendwater. Then go to Reservoir Town from there. There’s really nothing complicated about it.”

Xie Jin snorted. “Brother Chen, pay attention to this. Whenever Si doesn’t want to take about something, she dismisses it.”

Bao Si frowned. “If you know I don’t want to talk about it, then why do you insist?”

“Because it’s always the important things you don’t want to talk about. What’s this message were delivering?”

“You don’t need to know right now”

Xie Jin raised an eyebrow. “There’s no way you’re meeting the Peach River Sword School without us. We’ll find out then, anyway.”

“Let me remind you that you are accompanying me as a guard, not a representative, Jin.” Bao Si’s voice was icy cold. “The message is need-to-know information, and you do not need to know.”

“That’s why I’m saying we’ll find out anyway—”

“No,” Bao Si shut him down. “End of discussion.”

Xie Jin looked sullenly at her but did not ask again. Bao Si nodded in satisfaction and turned back to Chen Haoran. “And what are you so deep in thought about?”

“How I’m going to be sad when you finally get up,” Chen Haoran blithely replied. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the complete truth either. His mind was on Daqing.

Bao Si easily saw through his half-hearted lie and tweaked his nose but didn’t press further. “I’ve got your measurements now. I’ll get started on the Human-Skin Mask right away. Is there any specific look you’d like? Hair? Eyes?”

Chen Haoran fell into thought. If the mask could really be customized to that extent, then he had a face in mind. The only face in mind.

“Yeah. I do.”

————————-

Despite Bao Si’s allusions to Xie Jin’s impatience, he admirably held his grievances back long enough for Chen Haoran to relay his instructions to Bao Si, return home to collect Phelps and change into his New Year’s suit, and go to the training grounds before blowing up.

“Fucking Si,” Xie Jin bitterly cursed. “I’m a shaman too, you know.”

“Easy there, Brother Jin,” Chen Haoran soothed him while he practiced the Seven-Colored Steps of the Rainbow Stairs. “It’s just information security. There’s no need to be so torn up about it. Like you said, we’ll find out when we get there.”

“But don’t you want to know now, Brother Chen? We’re going to the seat of the Empire’s power in Zumulu to meet what should have been an extinguished foe right under their nose. Don’t you want to know how that’s possible? Gramps and Si clearly know more about the Peach River Sword School, but they’re not telling us.”

“Why are you so interested?” Chen Haoran asked. “You were calling them a remnant not too long ago.”

“Because everyone else is taking them seriously,” Xie Jin said. “They at least have a Star Core Realm leading them. No matter what, they’re not weak.”

Chen Haoran stopped his practice. “How do you know they have a Star Core?”

“Because Bao Si is being sent as a messenger,” Xie Jin rushed to explain. He looked eager to share his thoughts. “She’s the apprentice of a Star Core Realm. With the Grand Elder not around, Bao Si is her representative. The Peach River Sword School has to send someone of equal standing to meet with her. It might even be Xi Wangmu.”

Bao Si’s teacher wasn’t in the Basin? That did help explain why he hadn’t seen hide or hair of them after…. getting somewhat close to their student. “What do you mean the Grand Elder isn’t around? Are they on a trip or something?”

Xie Jin’s eager expression collapsed so quickly that Chen Haoran almost regretted asking. Xie Jin realized the bad look he was sporting and waved his hand to reassure Chen Haoran. “Sorry, Brother Chen. It’s not your fault. It’s just… bad history. The Grand Elder left Zumulu for the Splintered Lands after the war as part of the settlement. All of Zumulu’s surviving Star Core Realms did, those that didn’t sell out to the Empire at least. Even the ones that ascended after the war left Zumulu to do it.”

Phelps floated over to Chen Haoran and buried himself in his arms. Chen Haoran patted the sloth while in thought. If the Peach River Sword School just had a Star Core’s apprentice meet Bao Si, then it would make sense for the Black Bone tribes to take them seriously. That would be all, though. If an actual Star Core cultivator met with her, however, when there shouldn’t have been a ny in Zumulu, then that would change things entirely. Chen Haoran frowned. Did Xie Ling think the Peach River Sword School had a Star Core hidden? He couldn’t help but think of the reasons Xie Ling wanted him to travel with Bao Si. A situation full of unknowns, he had called it. Did he have a reason to suspect something?

“That person you just mentioned. Xi Wangmu. Your grandfather mentioned them as well after he met Jiang Lei and Wang Xiao. Who is she?” Chen Haoran asked.

“A living legend,” Xie Jin said. “Xi Wangmu was the Queen Mother of the Peach River Sword School—the Master of Peach Blossom Island. She was the oldest Star Core Realm in Zumulu, one of the oldest in the world, in fact. It was said if you got her blessing, then she would make a pot of Longevity Elixir for you. There were countless experts vying for her favor and joining the Peach River Sword School.”

“Was?”

Xie Jin nodded. “The Empire would never let her go. She and the Sunset Emperor fought a huge battle, and she was never seen again. Most people think she died. Some others say the Sunset Emperor captured her to be his concubine or enslaved to refine medicine for him. There are still the die-hards that think she escaped somehow and went into hiding. No one knows for sure, though.”

“What makes you think she’ll show up to meet Bao Si after being missing for so long? It could just be another Star Core Realm.”

“You’re not wrong,” Xie Jin said. “Honestly, I don’t have any proof. It’s just…” He shrugged. “For as much as I give the old geezer shit, he’s still the strongest Crystal Transformation Realm in the Basin. If his first instinct is Xi Wangmu, then there’s probably a reason for it.”

Chen Haoran couldn’t really refute his logic. Xie Ling had made it sound like he personally knew the head of the Peach River Sword School, too. If anyone would know her fate, wouldn’t it be him? The whole thing started making sense, and the more it did, the uglier Chen Haoran’s expression became. This… didn’t seem like it was going to be so simple.

“I’m beginning to think we’re a bit understaffed for this mission. Aren’t there some Ninth-Layer Liquid Meridians in the Basin who can help? Or even Crystal Transformations? If something goes wrong, I might not be able to handle it.”

“This is meant to be a secret, after all. Sending people who are too strong will inevitably draw eyes.” Xie Jin bitterly smiled. “Plus, if something goes wrong, then if the other party has a Stare Core Realm, it doesn’t matter how many people we send. It shouldn’t come to that point, though. If the Elders weren’t confident, then they would never risk us.” He paused. “They wouldn’t risk Bao Si, at least.”

“Was that correction really necessary?”

“What can I say? I fancy myself a realist.”

“Let’s hope everything you just said turns out to be a fantasy then.”

Privately though, Chen Haoran still couldn’t help but be worried. He felt for his second connection slot.

He would have to prepare some things in Daqing.