Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Not being able to see was honestly a real nuisance.

I could no longer follow my senior brother around, so I had no choice but to stay for the time being in the abandoned thatched hut where he had set up a barrier.

During the day, I mostly slept or practiced a few simple moves. At night, I waited for Senior Brother to return with news and food.

More than ten days passed like that.

That night, when Senior Brother came in, I caught a faint, almost imperceptible smell of rust and blood.

He lit a lamp beneath the window, then fell unusually silent. I spoke first.

“Senior Brother, are you hurt?”

“Mm.”

Senior Brother answered indifferently and told me to keep my distance.

By now, my vision had recovered about thirty percent. I could make out things within five paces.

Since Senior Brother would not let me near, I could not tell how badly he was injured. I could only watch from a distance as his indistinct figure moved in the lamplight, bandaging himself on his own.

I could sense that his wounds were serious this time.

“Senior Brother, did you run into Blessed Cultivators who hate you again?”

Over these days, Senior Brother had come back wounded more than once. Each time, it had happened after Blessed Cultivators recognized him.

Those people blamed the tragedy caused by the Abandoned Blessings going berserk on all of Xiangwu Mountain. The moment they saw Senior Brother, they attacked without a word.

“Dongze still hasn’t reached a verdict on Master’s trial. What they’re doing is too much!

“Senior Brother, you should fight back!”

I could not help smacking the table twice. At last, it drew a response from him.

But compared to my indignation, he was as calm as an outsider.

“Among the dead, there may have been their family or friends. The pain of losing loved ones heals far less easily than wounds of the flesh.

“All right, let’s not talk about that. Come help me choose a style.”

Senior Brother tied the final knot around his wrist. As he spoke, he picked up the candlestick and walked over.

In the wavering halo of light, his blurred silhouette gradually took on clear contours.

Successfully distracted, I pointed at his face and asked, “Senior Brother, why are you suddenly wearing a mask?”

“To avoid being recognized so easily again.” He sat down in front of me and explained, “It originally belonged to my master.”

The mask had always hung at Senior Brother’s waist. I had always thought it was just an ornament. Only now did I learn it was actually a magical artifact.

“You only need to tap the center of the forehead with the pad of your finger, and it will change form.”

Senior Brother did as instructed and changed it into a green-faced, fang-toothed ghost mask.

“How about this one?”

I stared at it for quite a while, then shook my head.

“It’s too fierce. If I look at it too long, I’ll have nightmares.”

“Troublesome.” Senior Brother raised his hand and changed it into a mask with a black base and white ink-like markings.

I declined tactfully. “Too ugly.”

“This one?”

“Not imposing enough.”

“…”

“It just doesn’t suit my taste.”

“I’ll give you one more chance. Think carefully before you speak.” Senior Brother warned me coldly.

Those eyes of his were pitch-black, and beneath the mask, they were glaring with a surprising roundness. I could not hold back a laugh.

“All right, then I’ll look more carefully.”

I leaned closer, cupped Senior Brother’s face, and imitated what he had done earlier, tapping the center of the mask’s forehead again and again. Only after a long while did I finally settle on one.

“Let’s pick this one.” I smiled with ill intent. “Senior Brother, your face is so hot.”

“Shut up.”

He swatted my hand away and suspiciously removed the mask. When he saw the two rabbit ears, the corners of his usually steady mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

I seized the chance to coax him.

“The first time I saw you, Senior Brother, it was because I saw that cute, harmless Rabbit Mask that I dared to follow you.

“It feels very familiar to me, as if I’ve seen it long ago.”

“Oh, really?”

Senior Brother was not buying it. After a scoff, he slanted a glance at me, his expression clearly telling me not to dream.

In the end, he switched back to the first ghost mask.

Then, as if in revenge, he held the mask in place with one hand while using the other to ruffle the loose hair over my forehead.

“If you’re afraid of nightmares, then stop staring at me all the time.”

For a moment, I had no comeback.

How did Senior Brother know I often stole glances at him?

I wanted to ask, but could not bring myself to say it. Just as I fell speechless, a sharp sword cry suddenly shattered the atmosphere.

Shanting began to tremble violently at Senior Brother’s waist. Gorgeous radiance flowed along the blade, illuminating the four walls of the thatched hut until they glittered brightly.

Shanting was excited.

The sound stabbed painfully at my ears, but I still could not suppress the joy in my heart. I grabbed Senior Brother’s hand.

“Senior Brother! Did you find your junior brother?!”