Watching Hood Jin, who was in a frantic rush as if being chased by wolves, on the monitor, I sighed. The dignified head of the Hu family was scared away by Chen Yun's few words. If this news got out, it would be no less than a small bomb dropped in Tianhua City.
As the car drove away on the video, Chen Yun's body went limp, and she slowly slid from the chair, falling to the ground. Large beads of sweat rolled down her face, completely devoid of her previous composure.
"What's wrong, are you injured?" I was about to help her up, but remembering my previous experience of being beaten, I didn't reach out directly. Instead, I carefully observed the expression on her face.
Aside from her pale complexion and profuse sweating, there were no other changes. It seemed the pressure from Hood Jin had been too much, and her body couldn't handle the sudden release of tension.
Having made a judgment, I walked to a nearby cabinet, took out a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed it, and handed it to her. Chen Yun took it and gulped down more than half the bottle.
"This old geezer, his strength has only increased over the years, not decreased. It's infuriating..." Chen Yun casually threw the remaining half bottle of water aside and launched into a string of affectionate greetings towards Hood Jin.
However, it was always the same few phrases, either "old geezer" or "dog thing," not like some gossipy women who would curse on the streets.
After her breathing stabilized, I tried to help her sit on the chair. This time, she didn't refuse, but her gaze towards me was strange.
"What's wrong, is there something on my face?" Her stare made me uneasy. I looked myself up and down, then touched my face. There was nothing there.
"Don't you have any questions for me?"
I shook my head and said, "No. Like you said earlier, some things I'm meant to know will be revealed in time. It's better to know things in advance if they're necessary, to avoid unnecessary trouble." While I said this, my heart thought otherwise. I already had enough trouble; was I a fool to get involved further?
"Aren't you curious why Hood Jin didn't recognize me when he saw me?"
"This... I am a little curious."
From their conversation, I could tell that Hood Jin was Chen Yun's uncle. Even if they hadn't seen each other for many years, they wouldn't have met like strangers. Yet, when they met, they acted like strangers, and even her son, Hu Yuan, had flirted with Chen Yun.
Chen Yun didn't explain much. She took out a small bottle she had previously retrieved from the cabinet, poured some powder into her hand, rubbed it lightly, and then applied it to her face, patting it continuously. Then, I witnessed a scene that was hard for me to believe.
As Chen Yun continued to pat, a translucent, thin-as-cicada-wing mask peeled off her face. Seeing Chen Yun, who had transformed, I gaped in astonishment, my mouth wide enough to fit a fist.
"You... you know the art of disguise?"
I had only read about the art of disguise, a lost ancient skill, in books, and even then, it was only mentioned briefly. I never expected to witness the real art of disguise today. Sudan Novel Network.
With the mask removed, Chen Yun looked much younger and more naive, appearing to be around my age. Her fair face was like a delicate eggshell, fragile enough to break with a puff of air.
"What's so surprising? Didn't your master teach you?"
Seeing Chen Yun casually toss the mask onto the ground, I flinched inwardly. Such items were incredibly troublesome to make, and discarding them like trash was a true waste of natural resources.
As if sensing my thoughts, Chen Yun continued, "This is a disposable item. Once it's removed from the face, it's ruined."
Now I understood why Hood Jin hadn't recognized Chen Yun. With the art of disguise, combined with Chen Yun's natural talent for deception, it was normal for Hood Jin not to recognize her.
However, the test of strength was unavoidable. Chen Yun was, after all, a disciple of the "Chu Ma" tradition, and given their shared bloodline, there were bound to be clues. Therefore, recognizing Chen Yun as his niece was only natural.
"Here, this is for you."
Seeing the check in Chen Yun's hand, I didn't reach out to take it, refusing directly, "I'll pass on this hot potato. You dare to extort Hood Jin, but I don't have the guts to spend it. If he comes looking for me, I won't be able to handle it."
Hood Jin could silently plant a witch's worm on me, which indicated he was no gentleman. It seemed he had some past grievance with my master, otherwise, why would he curse my master's disciples as either short-lived or unlucky?
"Coward, why are you afraid if I'm letting you spend it?" Chen Yun pouted and stuffed the check into her pocket. If it's not taken, it's enough for me to buy two face masks.
I inwardly smiled bitterly. It seemed she didn't really intend to give it to me; it was just a polite gesture. Taking advantage of her good mood, I decided to quickly say what I needed to say and leave, heading home.
"Chen Yun, since you are a member of the Hu family, I will convey the message entrusted to me by the old monk of Beishan Mining Town."
Upon hearing "Beishan Mining Town," Chen Yun's expression tightened, and she nodded slightly, urging me to speak quickly.
"The old monk said his time is running out. He has suppressed the Beishan Mining Town for a hundred years, and the sins to be atoned for have been atoned for. The entity trapped inside is something he can no longer suppress. He urges you to arrange for someone to take his place as soon as possible to prevent widespread disaster."
After listening, Chen Yun showed no unusual expression. Instead, she curled her lips dismissively, "Widespread disaster? What a grand accusation. He's foolish for trying to be strong. Now that he's about to be annihilated, he still insists on guarding. What is he trying to achieve?" Although her words were fierce, tears streamed uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes, leaving me stunned.
Just as I was considering whether to offer her the tissues in my pocket, she suddenly spoke, "Can I lean on your shoulder for a moment?"
Before I could say no, Chen Yun hugged me. Her body convulsed, and I felt some wetness on my back. It was clear she had broken down into tears.
My body stiffened, my hands suspended in mid-air. Normally, I should have patted her shoulder to comfort her and told her not to worry, that I was there for her. But thinking of her fickle nature, it was better to abandon that idea. Otherwise, if she started gossiping, it would be more trouble than it was worth.
When I felt like my arms were no longer my own, Chen Yun straightened up, wiped her face haphazardly, and pouted at me, "No wonder you don't have a girlfriend. You're such a big dummy, not knowing how to cherish a woman when you have the chance. You deserve to be single."
"..."