“Ring of Bloodline?” Several people in the room exclaimed in shock.
Because Monkeywave himself didn’t even know what kind of special paper it was that he had spoken of…
So Yang Zicang naturally gave up on the idea of getting the type of card paper here that could be used to craft Ether Beacons.
“Ring of Bloodline…” Mr. Ge pondered for a moment, then raised his head. “Hero, if that’s the case, I’m afraid I can’t help you.“
The two foreigners also looked somewhat troubled.
This person’s ability before them was far too useful, but if he was the same figure who had stirred up a massive uproar across the entire continent in the newspapers…
At the seats, upon hearing Yang Zicang’s words, Xue Qi and Hua Mi finally realized what Yang Zicang had truly come for this time. Hua Mi merely listened with a hint of envy, but Xue Qi was different. She listened intently now, her heart clenching, because she herself indeed possessed a Bloodline Statue that she could not yet use.
“Apologies, Mr. Buchen, for other things we might still find a way, ” the two said, becoming somewhat reserved. “But such high-end items are things that would make you a target of the Fogfolk the moment you hold them. Even if we had actually encountered one, we wouldn’t dare keep it. “
Xue Qi felt a deep sense of regret.
Yang Zicang turned his head and suddenly saw a blurry figure walking past the glass window of the wooden door, holding a wooden staff.
“In that case… I’ll just take a walk outside and look around then. “
As he spoke, Yang Zicang immediately stood up and strode quickly toward the door.
“Ah! Sir! ” The few people in the room called out nervously. How could Mr. Ge dare to let this man from the Fog world wander around here alone?
As he rushed over, his mind raced for some pretext that might temporarily detain him, but Yang Zicang was fast. In just two or three strides, he reached the door, yanked it open, revealing an ordinary worker who was carrying a wooden stick, and was now placing it by the nearby wall along with some tools.
“Brother Buchen! Sir! ” Ge rushed to Yang Zicang’s side, eyeing him nervously, then turned his gaze to the man outside carrying the wooden stick.
The man turned his head, looking somewhat bewildered that this guest from the Bonded Faction was staring at him.
“Excuse me… where did you get that wooden stick from? “
The man scratched his head and said, “This mast here? Uh, it was left behind by a guest a long time ago. He’s no longer here. “
Mr. Ge glanced at the oddly familiar mast, then back at Yang Zicang. “Mr. Yang, do you find something wrong with this thing? “
“Not really, ” Yang Zicang said, turning around. “I misjudged it. It just looks very similar to a certain friend’s possession. “
With that, the man, realizing the guest was someone important, took the initiative to carry over this short mast used to prop up the awning.
Yang Zicang examined it closely. It was about two meters tall, with some faded, blurry patterns worn off along its surface. Apart from the material which looked remarkably like the wooden staff Joshua held, its shape was quite different.
“Too bad. It doesn’t look like my friend’s thing at all. I was mistaken. Still, the wood is quite unique though. “
Seeing Yang Zicang’s attitude, the standing man smiled and said, “Since you are Master Ge’s distinguished guest, if you so desire, I can give you a bit of a discount. “
To appease this Fogfolk who had only appeared within two months yet had already gained considerable fame, Mr. Ge quickly said, “Forget about the discount, I’ll just give it to you. Please, come over and have a seat, sir. “
“Ah, sir… ” The worker stammered for a moment, but when he saw Yang Zicang reach into his pocket to pull out some money, his eyes immediately lit up with surprise.
The slightly open entrance drew the attention of some people with the commotion it caused.
In the distance, “Shegui, ” who was examining the goods in his hands at a small table, saw this Fogfolk, whose body was covered in burns, rush out of the room with a hint of noticeable urgency, his gaze fixed unashamedly on that aged mast. Shegui immediately turned his attention to watch him.
“Is there something wrong with that pole? ” Shegui, wearing a hood, looked up and asked the boss who often came here for gatherings and business.
The man in the dirty, stiff canvas apron wiped his hands and said, “Many people have taken a look at it; you should have noticed it too. How could it possibly be anything good? “
The hooded guest hesitated for a moment, nodded, and looked over at the newcomer Fogfolk, who had stirred up some trouble tonight.
Seeing that the other party wasn’t very interested and had dropped two silver coins to the worker into the treasure chest, he stood up, picked up his bag, and walked over.
……
“Can you tell what this thing is? “
“It’s fine. ” Yang Zicang compared the polished mast in the room, noting the lingering wood-grain aura on it. He felt as though this object had existed for years in the Mist Sea.
“Do you know what kind of wood this is? ” Yang Zicang turned to ask. The group shook their heads.
“It’s precisely because this wood is so unique—even botanists can’t identify it—that we haven’t casually sold it, ” Mr. Ge explained.
Suddenly, Sailuo chimed in, “But some of us speculate that it might originate from the land of a previous era. “
“Previous era? ” Yang Zicang mused.
“It’s just a possibility, ” Sailuo was saying when suddenly a knock came at the door. Since they were regulars, the guard let Shegui approach.
Seeing the man who had caught his attention earlier come to him voluntarily, Yang Zicang knew without a doubt that his actions had piqued his interest.
Hmm… in a place like this, it’s quite convenient. Just by showing a hint of being out of the ordinary, all kinds of people would willingly fall into step with me and stage a farce.
After exchanging introductions, Shegui stated his purpose.
“You’re the one who saved the city, right? “
Clearly, much like Mr. Ge, this man already knew the details of that night. Yang Zicang was certain he refrained from using the word “hero ” out loud because of the others in the room.
Yang Zicang fixed his deep eyes on Shegui, waiting for him to continue. For a Fogfolk person, this kind of silence instead served as an implicit admission.
With a vaguely sinister voice, Shegui chuckled, “I see you’ve come into some good fortune… “
“Now that Hero Mr. has graced us with his presence, I suppose ordinary things won’t catch your eye. That mast… in fact, everyone here has studied it, and basically no one knows what it could be used for. “
“Yes, some say it’s an antique from the last epoch. “
Xue Qi, already looking somewhat exhausted, walked over and said, “Sigh… sir, what kind of business are you in? Can I buy a… um, Blood-line Circuit here? “
Just about to blurt out the name of the bloodline from her Bloodline Statue, Xue Qi caught herself, realizing she shouldn’t casually divulge such things, which only added to her inner frustration.
Hua Mi sat quietly by the side like an obedient girl, having gone from initial tension to calmness, she had come to regard this night of acquiring Radiance as a vacation trip to see the sights.
“Gentlemen, pardon my interruption. ” Shegui entered the room, closed the door, and said, “Here, I happen to have something that might be more fitting for you, sir… given your current special predicament. “
“Suitable for a hero? ” The two foreigners also came over, looking at the thing he was carrying in his hand.
But the cloaked man before them just smiled, took off his own hood, placed his hand under his cheek, and said, “It’s this. “
With that, he gave a hard pull, and a few of them felt their hearts stir as they watched him tear off a wriggling, deforming piece of skin from his own face.
He had been wearing a fake face all along, but…
Hua Mi stared wide-eyed at the man beneath the hood. This face… it couldn’t be said to be exactly the same as the one on the mask—it was practically molded from the same stamp, differing only in some fine details.
After a moment’s thought, Hua Mi finally remembered where the difference lay.
It was age!
She looked at this man, who appeared to be slightly more mature.
Yang Zicang looked at the human skin mask in Shegui’s hand. Slightly surprised, he said, “You want to sell me your appearance? “
“Hahaha, no way. ” The few people around, especially the two foreigners, watched the scene with great curiosity. Even the disheartened Ju·Roland looked up to see.
“Heh, I wouldn’t stoop to selling my own face like that. ” Shegui shook the mask bearing his own likeness. It rapidly contorted, transforming into a translucent mask with no distinct features.
“As a Fog Dweller, sir, you must surely be familiar with ‘Mold Devices.’ “
Shegui turned to the onlookers and introduced with a smile:
“This is a mask capable of recording a person’s face. However… its requirements for the user are a bit strict. For me, it’s not very practical. “
Everyone in the room pricked up their ears.
Items that could change one’s appearance were not exceedingly rare, but upon close inspection at close range, they often looked somewhat abnormal. Yet the expression on this man’s face just moments ago was remarkably vivid and lifelike.
“What requirements? ” Yang Zicang asked, his heart already stirred with interest.
“It requires recording a ‘true’ face, and it… can only record the wearer’s own. “
Yang Zicang’s eyes lit up.
The man who had just spoken let out a bitter smile himself.
“Because its limitations are great, keeping it in my hands would only let me take it out and reminisce when I get old, finding no other practical use. So I might as well give it to you, sir. “
The people around, especially Yang Zicang, immediately understood Shegui’s meaning.
Shegui’s gaze fell on Yang Zicang’s scar-covered face, hinting at something: “But I think, for a hero who can save a city from the Nightmare, willpower and mental fortitude are hardly an issue. And your current face… is undoubtedly the most ‘true’ there is. Perhaps it has been… waiting for a master like you. “
Xue Qi and Hua Mi both looked nervously at Yang Zicang.
As Fogfolk who can alter their age, having this mask is just the icing on the cake, unless someone was genuinely planning on having plastic surgery.
Mr. Ge and Sairo exchanged glances; they had both heard that Shegui owned many items with dubious origins and bizarre effects, so it seemed this mask was one of them.
Yang Zicang was silent for a moment.
The effect of the mask described by Shegui struck a chord with his needs precisely.
For Yang Zicang, appearing before others with his current look was an unintentional act that actually had a somewhat positive effect. Being able to ‘copy’ this appearance before his wounds healed was indeed an excellent choice.
“Sounds interesting. ” Yang Zicang finally spoke, his tone revealing little emotion. “Unfortunately, that would have to be a secret. So, sir, how do you intend to conduct this transaction? “
I didn’t bring that much money on me…he wondered inwardly, feeling a twinge of worry.
Dark and muted, the mask was made of an ashen-gray material with subtle fine textures. It was cold to the touch, crafted with austere simplicity. The spaces for the eyes were hollow, devoid of any engraved decoration. Yet, it naturally exuded an eerie, archaic aura.
｛I have touched the “Lost Nameless Face. “｝
Yang Zicang reached out a finger and gently stroked the mask’s surface.
In that moment of contact, the essence of the “Sacred Origin Source” within him seemed to tremble slightly, vibrating with an exquisitely faint resonance with the mask.
｛I have touched the “Mask Fit to Bear a Name. “｝
Under the others’ gaze, the mask in the “Hero’s ” hands abruptly became as limpid and transparent as flowing water undulating soundlessly.
｛As one who already possesses the Bloodline Resonance Statue, I can synchronize with the identity-of-the-‘Mask Fit to Bear a Name.’｝
｛Still, I, the Great Quadrilateral, know that I am not its true master yet.｝
The uncanny skin mask on his hand reverted to its previous shape. Shegui paused, startled. “Your power… is simply incredible.“
｛This is it.｝
A certainty settled within Yang Zicang’s heart: this mask was exactly what he needed. It would not only solve his current appearance issue, but the object itself seemed to harbor deeper secrets.
“What’s the price? ” he asked directly.
Shegui glanced apologetically at the others in the room, then gestured for him to step aside and spoke in a low voice: “Sorry, I thought everyone here was on the same side. Hmm, money has lost its meaning in this world. What I want now are just two possibilities. First, if you, Hero, could help me leave this continent and head to the Next Era Land, then this item is yours. “
Yang Zicang’s face twitched slightly as he said, “You’re not one of the Fogfolk? “
“Hmm. I know this might be a difficult request. If you find it too challenging, sir, I… I’d like to head to the Mist Sea, or… “
He hesitated for a moment, then, as if taking a gamble, said: “How did you manage that move you pulled off a few nights ago—when you suddenly appeared at the core of the Nightmare Fiend? “
There was little doubt in this man’s eyes, only anticipation for an answer.
“Ah, that piece of information. “
The information about the Ether Beacon—Yang Zicang thought for a moment. He really did need the paper for business cards, and this man before him seemed quite knowledgeable about such strange materials. From the way he asked, it seemed he already knew about the Ether Beacon!
“I’ll tell you. If you have time, come to the Fogfolk Rental District. It should be safer for both of us to trade there, don’t you think? “
His straightforwardness stunned Shegui, who tightened his grip on the bag in his hand. He gave Yang Zicang a long, hard look, as if he wanted to reassess this “Hero. “
“Alright. Then take this box as well. It can block the mental probes of some Fogfolk. “
Yang Zicang picked up the small box Snake Gui had taken out of his bag; there were two more of the same inside.
His fingers gently rubbed its surface, sensing its strange texture. Channeling a trace of the power of “Musing Night, ” it slowly radiated around him. Indeed… the contents inside this box were completely imperceptible.
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