Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 997: A viper and a psycho

As she looked at him standing there and pointing to the mask on his face, she blinked for a few moments.

"Pffts-... pfft... ~ts~ahahaha", she suddenly began laughing, leaving him to stand in that pose.

Although his face wasn’t visible, and he didn’t really move, his whole impression was now a bit dispirited now that she was so openly laughing in his ’face’.

"Ahaha... khem~ sorry pfffts~...", she hurriedly wiped the tears that appeared at the corners of her eyes, "S-so you were bothered by it..."

Meanwhile, Wu Long was a bit shocked by the amount of negativity poured toward his disguise.

The mask he wore today was a slightly more crudely made wooden mask he picked out randomly in a shop today. He obviously didn’t wear the black mask from last time to not attract as much attention from those who knew the Titan Slayer.

This was also the reason Dead Fish didn’t immediately recognize him, only when Wu Long spoke.

In fact, it was the first time he wore a mask he chose personally, all other masks he used for disguises were prepared for him. First by Ye Ling who gave him the first few back when he first departed from the Yin Yang Unity Palace on his journey, then by the Soaring Feather Trading Company or his subordinates Old Yen and Butler Bang.

He just ran out of stock of unique masks they gave him, since it had been a while since he asked for new ones. He didn’t reuse the same masks much unless specifically signifying one identity - like the Talisman Master - he didn’t want to create association between different disguises. But since it was just one simple mask for today, he didn’t think it was such a big deal to go ask others, he just picked one on the way here.

He did remember first a puzzled, and then for some reason very entertained look in Fen Baihu’s eyes as she watched him buy the mask, but he didn’t give it much thought.

What surprised him was the reaction he got as soon as he stepped into this place. He didn’t mind the attendant ladies at the entrance, but when even random people began commenting, he could no longer ignore it.

After all, he didn’t find the mask to be that bad. Yes it was made from widely available cheap wood, yes the woodwork was a bit crude, yes the shape was rather dull, yes the cutouts for eyes weren’t beautifully designed - just simple almost round ovals... But it was just a mask. What did they want from a mask? It did it’s purpose of hiding his face - after all that was everything he sought in a mask, it’s functional purpose.

In fact it was how he looked at all the clothing for his own use. He was only interested in their functional purpose and perhaps sometimes comfort - aesthetics didn’t concern him. Though recently everything he wore was picked out by one of his ladies, and even the more plain clothes for disguises - like for Talisman Master or this Titan Slayer - were prepared by the Soaring Feather Trading Company. Same as with the masks, he didn’t care about choosing them so he easily agreed. In fact it was more convenient.

But the moment he picked up a mask on his own... this happened. Now that even this beauty was laughing at him in this mask he felt a bit hurt.

At the same time, Xiu couldn’t believe this man truly didn’t find anything wrong with the mask that truly did look a bit ridiculously cheap. Its only redeeming quality was that it indeed hid his face.

"Um... I think about a week ago I saw a few masks being sold in some shop not far from here... they’re Spiritual Treasure masks though... I’m not sure if they were already sold, but then again I doubt it, it’s not often people seek masks inside here, I imagine that’s more for the outer territory of the Crow King’s Nest shops... would you like to take a look...?", as she noticed the slightly dejected feeling that came from him, she cleared her throat and offered.

"Hmm, that would be nice. Lead the way", he agreed surprisingly easily which surprised her.

She expected him to mind the time since he was here for the arrival of the important guest, but almost seemed like he no longer cared about that. In fact, there was a bit of enthusiasm in his voice that suggested that he liked the idea.

But they were already not that far from the main plaza, so she thought he trusted her to keep track of time.

She led him to a third floor to the side.

"I haven’t thanked you yet, by the way", she said as they were coming up the narrow, one-person-wide stairs, "For saving me from that man’s attack"

"You were in the situation because of me in the first place, it’s the least I could do", Wu Long chuckled, adding "Besides I only helped out, I’m sure you could’ve handled it"

"Hahaha, as if", she laughed while stopping and turning, which put her face to face with him as he stood on the lower steps, surprising her. She quickly turned back and continued up, "You really saved me, thank you very much"

They reached the shop, and just as she said, there were a few Spiritual Treasure masks there. The functions varied from increasing the range of senses like hearing or sight distance, to amplification of Spiritual Senses or even aiding in Soul Power manipulations and containing unique Soul Attacks.

The shopkeep - an old man with a grumpy expression - only eyed the two, but didn’t say anything, returning his gaze to a scroll he was reading, as if saying ’take a look’.

Most of the masks belonged to famous Righteous Path Sects, clearly identifiable by both designs and insignia, but there were a few that seemed unique.

When Wu Long picked up a mask, Xiu gasped at the choice, and quietly pressing on the mask he picked up with her hand, added, "Ehm... how about I pick one for you?"

She then began picking up masks and putting them against his head over his own mask, to see how it would look. But at some point, as if possessed by an impulse, she picked up the mask he picked first with a playful look, and then trying it on, began giggling.

The shopkeep grumpily looked as they began discussing the masks, trying out more and more ridiculous choices, and her laughter began appearing more and more throughout the conversation.

At some point the old man began making loud rustling sounds with the scroll he was reading, then adding in periodic clearing of his throat with slightly louder "Ehem", and finally grumbling under his nose something involving ’rude youngsters not bying anything’. This made both of them giggle, and as Wu Long paid for the mask they chose relatively early on - a bronze mask resembling a human face but with sharper, almost geometric features - they hurried out laughing.

They resumed walking, but by this time Xiu was much more comfortable talking with Wu Long, and their conversation continued, now veering off into idle chatter about things they saw on the way. Soon, she was first describing, and then outright complaining about her work here.

They reached the main plaza, a circular grotto cut out in the very heart of the mountain. On the far end, opposite the main hall they came from, stood three large palaces cut out from the mountain rock, and on the side of the entrance, the balcony-corridors continued to the sides. There were also many buildings in the open area below, and a large open plaza in the very center.

His token allowed them to enter this area without any problems as he said, and they sat down in a small tea shop on a high floor of the balcony-corridor, with a good view of the plaza.

Wu Long showing his token prompted her to ask him about it, which sent their conversation to the events of the day he received the token.

The female owner of the teashop, seemingly noted something about them as they talked when she brought them their tea and snacks. Without being prompted, the woman placed a wooden partition which gave their table a booth-like privacy.

Xiu widened her eyes at this gesture, "Ah... this... ehm..."

But Wu Long simply continued telling the story, thanking the lady owner, but without acknowledging the meaning behind this partition being placed, which after a bit made her relax again and listen more attentively, eventually joining back to actively participate in the conversation.

She didn’t even remember that her plan involved ditching this client somewhere around here. Rather, she found it enjoyable to talk to him. Although after some time she did feel it was a pity she had to hide her demeanor behind her made-up persona for the disguise.

"By the way, aren’t you going to try out the mask?", she asked, suddenly curious about how he looked, adding, "Or do you not like it?"

"How sly of you", he chuckled, causing her to show him her tongue while smiling as she got caught trying to manipulate his decision.

He took out the bronze mask with one hand, and placed the other on his wooden one, but stopped, looking at her.

"Tsk, cheepskate"

He just chuckled, but didn’t proceed to change the mask.

"Fine, fine", she exaggeratedly sighed, shaking her head, and then turned to the side, placing her hand like a shield next to her face, "Happy now?"

"Sure", Wu Long chuckled, and changed the mask.

Her fingers slid open as her eye peeked through them, but she wasn’t able to see much, just his jawline and part of chin. But this somehow made her even more curious.

"Does it suit me as you said when you picked it?", he asked.

"It does. It looks much better. Give me that", she stretched her hand and yanked away the wooden mask he was seemingly going to stash into his Spatial Ring instead of throwing away.

But once she got her hands on it, she hesitated, and then put it in her own Spatial Ring, "I’m going to throw it out later"

At this point though, a loud gong rang out throughout the entire Inner Palace, distracting them.

Outside, the entire Crow King’s Nest witnessed a flying Treasure Ship arriving from the direction of the Iron Claw City’s World Stone, proudly flying a flag with precious gems forming one larger jewel.

The Main Gate of the Inner Palace loudly opened, the thick and heavy gate doors turning outward with thundering rumbling, sending dust everywhere.

The ship flew smoothly inside without stopping.

By this time, any flags or lantern strings in its path had been cleared and it freely passed through the center of the main hall and eventually to the main plaza at the end.

Wu Long and Xiu followed the ship with their eyes as soon as it appeared in their line of sight at the plaza.

At the same time, the gates of the three palaces located inside the plaza opened as three figures flew out with an entourage following each one - the Crow King and his two guardians.

"So it is the Jewel of the Universe Pavilion huh", Wu Long noted without much emotion in his voice, but she was still able to detect a slight trace of disappointment.

"You know them?", Xiu asked in a surprised voice, belatedly realizing this question exposed her, a supposed newbie attendant girl here in the middle-of-nowhere countryside, knowing about them as well.

’Shit, I got too comfortable around him’, she almost bit her lower lip in frustration, holding back with willpower.

"Of course, one of the Four Pavilions - won’t lie it wasn’t the one that I wanted to see here", he chuckled.

She nodded with understanding while looking down at her tea, slightly absentmindedly as she was still thinking about her slip up, and then froze.

’Four?’, she looked up at Wu Long who spoke as someone used to the old order when saying four was appropriate rather than the new one where only two pavilions reigned supreme. There was also the phrase about his preferences which was rather unusual.

She immediately saw he was no longer looking at the ship and the ceremonial greeting happening in the plaza, but looking at her, "But, in the end this wasn’t a wasted trip. No, I’d even say that I gained an unexpected profit. After all, the one Pavilion I really did want to establish a connection to, is not even the other one remaining of the two. The one I really wanted is the one you represent, one of the ’fallen’ two, the Treasures of the Sun and Moon Pavilion"

Her pupils shrank, as she tensed up, but raised her hand.

The whole space around them was instantly sealed up by someone before she managed to put out this stop signal, and seven vague figures became visible next to them, putting pressure on Wu Long that even he found a bit difficult to resist. However, her gesture managed to stop them in time before they did anything further.

"Seven elite Five Origin Realms cultivators, huh? And three of them are limit breakers, at the very peak of the 2nd Major Realm - the highest tier of fighters possible here. With such protection you’re safe pretty much no matter where you go in the Boundless Profound World", Wu Long made an impressed whistle, withholding the fact he saw them from the beginning.

"Young Miss", a voice spoke hesitatingly, trying to plead with her to let them intervene.

"I need to talk to him more", she said, narrowing her eyes at Wu Long, "How did you know?"

"There’s only three Mythical Beasts known as the Heaven and Earth Unmaking Cobra in the entirety of the Seven Boundless Worlds. One is an old man who never moves for anything, living as a hermit, another one died five thousand years ago - in Boundless Profound World timescale of course - at the hands of the Beast God Sovereign, and the last one is - I am assuming to be your Father - one of the ten Hall Masters of the now-fallen Treasures of the Sun and Moon Pavilion. Although fallen is a strong word that does a lot of heavy-lifting in this context. The Pavilion Master and six of the ten Hall Masters might be dead, along with huge losses across Seven Boundless Worlds, but three Hall Masters are still missing aside from the one held in captivity", Wu Long slowly narrated.

Her eyes showed deep surprise at the start of his words when he revealed her Mythical Beast species, but that changed into a realization by the end.

"So that’s what it was... it wasn’t another Mythical Beast, just a human with a bloodline of one", she smiled, revealing her true personality and mannerisms to him as she leaned a bit forward over the table, placing one elbow on it to support her chin with the relaxed hand.

She didn’t know how he controlled his bloodline so well to hide it from a pure-blooded Mythical Beast like her. Even if she was very young and inexperienced, it was still a heaven-and-earth difference between a real Mythical Beast and a human with a bloodline of one. But now she could subtly feel it, knowing he allowed her to sense it, a great and powerful bloodline of another Mythical Beast rushing through his veins.

She didn’t think he could see through her disguise, it was made by people of higher Boundless Worlds. But his senses powered by the bloodline he somehow obtained allowed him to precisely know her Mythical Beast identity - and that, in combination with surprisingly vast knowledge, led him to her worldly identity.

As soon as the biggest mystery was solved she was no longer on edge - or at the very least not as much as before. She also had some moments to calm down.

"So you knew who I was from the very beginning"

"Yes. Hence my phrase about finding something I didn’t even know I wanted in here"

"Heh, and? Are you happy now?", she leaned even more forward by an inch as her smile became a bit more amused, even slightly seductive.

"Young Miss, this man is dangerous"

"I know he is, that’s why I like him", she replied with a smile, without turning her eyes away from Wu Long, "What’s the fun in a harmless and boring man?"

"He knows too much"

"And who was it that told us about what he knows? Are you assuming he told us just to be silenced?", she finally turned to the one speaking as she raised her eyebrow a bit sarcastically, "Or are you saying that the guy who was able to guess my precise identity, not even my identity within the Pavilion, but true identity - which is a secret even around the Seven Boundless Worlds because my existence itself is a secret - through circumstantial clues alone, didn’t think that showing that he knows this information will get him into trouble when he could have walked away unharmed had he not said anything?"

Not receiving a response, her gaze then turned back to Wu Long, "Well? What is it that you are relying on to come out of this situation safely? I don’t presume you are capable of fighting them, right? You might fight above your realm but..."

"Hahaha, of course not, I am having a slight difficulty just breathing here", Wu Long chuckled, which prompted her to give her guards a look which finally eased the pressure on him.

"Sorry for that, I hope you understand, it is their duty"

"Of course, Miss Yin Xiu"

"So you even know my Father’s full name... you are getting more and more interesting, Mister Wu"

"I also know he cherishes his children very much. At leas that was how it was with his two sons, your older brothers. And it is evident you are not an exception from how much protection he placed around you", Wu Long chuckled, looking around and then returning his gaze to the beauty.

"Heh, of course I’m not... hmm, maybe I am an exception, just in the other way that I am cherished the most", Yin Xiu grinned with a playful look after making a quick pondering face which involved her placing the tip of her index finger next to her lips, "But I get what you’re saying. Don’t worry, I didn’t assume you went into this thinking I wasn’t under any protection. So, what is it you’re counting on? Stop teasing me already, I’m dying..."

She turned a slightly astonished look to her bodyguards who flinched at the word ’dying’, slowly adding by enunciating each word, "...of curiosity here... sheesh"

And after shaking her head in disbelief turned her gaze back to Wu Long.

"I’m counting on making a deal"

"A deal?", she raised her eyebrow.

"Young Miss, this man is clearly out of his mind. What kind of deal can he propose?"

"Can you let me speak with him please? Seriously. I really appreciate your protection. I know you are all loyal, and very diligent. And I rely on you daily. But I can’t have a conversation like this", Yin Xiu sighed, turning to the guard, but not seeing any acknowledgement of her efforts, turned in a different, empty direction with a kin