"Evil Ghost Mask" Upgrade

I always thought people grew old gradually, but no—it happens in an instant.

An Yi recited slowly.

Jiang Cheng found the words familiar. He flipped through his phone to check the works of Murakami Natsuki and confirmed it was indeed the author's original line.

"Don't dwell too much on the present, nor worry excessively about the future. Once you’ve experienced certain things, the scenery before you will never be the same again."

"Everyone has their own forest, and Miss Nako’s is exceptionally lush."

While reminiscing about Ito Jiro’s past, An Yi recounted unfamiliar memories to Jiang Cheng.

After a long while, Jiang Cheng’s hand ached from taking notes. He glanced at An Yi and said, "Enough with the literary quotes. Got anything else?"

An Yi shrugged. "I’ve got Miss Nako’s personal experiences. Want me to share those?"

"Tsk!"

Jiang Cheng sucked in a sharp breath as he reviewed his notes.

Ten fourth-tier spirit cores—just for this measly content!

Boss Nie would beat him to death for this!

By the time An Yi strolled leisurely out of the Law Enforcement Bureau with Hongtian in tow, night had already fallen.

Hongtian kept shaking his dog head, ambling along as faint flickers of light pulsed across his body.

"What’s up? Indigestion?" An Yi asked skeptically.

"Pfft. As if! Back in my prime, I devoured half a human clan without so much as a hiccup."

Suddenly, Hongtian’s fur bristled. Dark flames erupted from his body, swirling violently.

"I... I can’t hold back anymore!"

With a deafening roar—

Boom!

In an instant, Hongtian transformed into a majestic beast, towering ten feet tall. The writhing black flames only amplified his ferocity.

Hummm!

A streak of dark fire streaked across the sky.

In an ordinary residential district of the capital...

Long Aoyun, who had been walking with his wife, abruptly tensed and looked up, his expression grave.

"A-Yun, what’s wrong?" Ting Ting asked curiously.

Long Aoyun gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Nothing. Let’s keep going."

Meanwhile, in Yunzhou City, Southeast Province...

Boss Nie was meticulously trimming a potted plant with a pair of scissors.

He paused, lifting his gaze to the sky. His calm demeanor shattered, replaced by icy hostility.

"How the hell did that thing break free?!"

He set the scissors down slowly.

The once-lush greenery now lay in tatters, shredded beyond recognition.

"Hey, big guy—you good?" An Yi asked warily.

Hongtian bared his fangs in a wild grin. "Good? I’ve never been better! This is fantastic!"

He turned to An Yi, fangs glinting.

Today, the slave would become the master!

He’d make this brat understand—just how untouchable a legendary Three Great Calamity Beast like the Heavenly Hound truly was!

"If you’re fine, let’s head back. No time for nonsense—I’ve got stuff to do."

An Yi tugged the dog chain, its surface shimmering with a faint violet glow.

Instantly, Hongtian’s body stiffened. He couldn’t resist as An Yi effortlessly dragged him along.

"What the—?! What kind of leash is this?!"

Hongtian thrashed, but to his horror, the chain held firm.

"Damn it! Am I really gonna be stuck under this punk’s thumb forever?!"

"System—upgrade the Evil Ghost Mask!" An Yi commanded.

Ding! [Evil Ghost Mask] upgrading... 1%... 2%... 99%... 100%!

Ding! Upgrade complete!

The mask in An Yi’s hand now gleamed faintly, intricate golden patterns etched across its surface, lending it an air of regal menace.

"Not bad."

An Yi smirked—until he checked his Evil Power Value.

"Zero?! Just twenty left?!"

He nearly cursed aloud.

After subduing Bai Xiu, he’d been rewarded with 350 Evil Power Value—and now, a single upgrade had drained 200 of it!

An Yi slipped on the mask and activated its invisibility.

He glanced at his hand.

Hmm. His arm vanished—but his clothes remained visible.

"F!"

Grumbling, he stripped completely. Sure enough, now he was fully invisible.

"Useless piece of junk!"

So to go invisible, he had to be naked?

As if! He was the leader of the Asura Faction now—no way in hell was he running around bare-assed!

Fuming, he switched to the mask’s other ability: Shapeshift.

Channeling his memory, An Yi morphed into the likeness of a burly, bearded middle-aged man.

The mirror reflected a bald, mustachioed figure.

"Perfect."

His grin widened. Thanks to the man’s memories, he knew the locations of several assassin strongholds across the country.

Time for a hunt.

Just then, the door swung open.

Lin Chen stepped inside, froze at the sight of the disguised An Yi—then narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"Me! It’s An Yi!"

An Yi yanked off the mask before Lin Chen could strike.

"What the hell are you doing?" Lin Chen frowned.

"Heh. Time to kick off the plan."

An Yi leaned in, whispering words the readers wouldn’t hear.

Lin Chen’s brows shot up. "You’re serious?"

Wiping out the entire Paradise Organization?

This guy’s schemes were ruthless.

"Dead serious."

An Yi’s smirk was razor-sharp.

"Xue and I are heading to Hong Kong."

After a pause, Lin Chen added, "No—take Bai Xiu, Qin Shan, and Liu Dachao too."

He had unfinished business there.

16K was a global syndicate—not something he could handle alone.

"Got it."

An Yi’s eyes glinted. Right now, the Asura Faction was in every assassin’s crosshairs.

His priority was keeping his people safe.

"Be good. Wait for me."

Outside an upscale café in the capital, An Yi ruffled Ziyue’s hair.

Tears welled in her eyes. "Y-You’re abandoning me?"

"Not abandoning. Just handling some business."

He chuckled.

Her sister was the most beautiful woman in the Ancient Continent—not that it mattered to a righteous guy like him!

(Okay, maybe it did. But mostly because Ziyue was the Third Princess of the Ten Thousand Beasts Kingdom. A solid ally.)

Ziyue sniffled, clinging to his sleeve. "But where will I go? I don’t even understand the language here..."

Creak.

The café door opened.

Xiao Ye, dressed in a waiter’s uniform, peered out. "Boss? You called—?"

"Ah, right. Wasn’t sure where to put Ziyue, but you’re from the same world. Easier to communicate."

Lin Chen, Bai Xiu, and the others were all on missions.

Qin Yao was in the Underworld.

The Law Enforcement Bureau couldn’t take her—not with her identity.

Sending her back to Aunt Zhou in Jiangbei? Too risky.

Lan Ruoxi and Nie Qinglan needed protection themselves.

Hongtian was free, but "let the dog babysit" wasn’t a viable plan.

Xiao Ye was the only option.

Strong. Composed.

And most importantly—had nothing better to do.

Ziyue bashfully sidled up to Xiao Ye, waving at An Yi. "Stay safe! I’ll miss you!"

An Yi: "..."

As An Yi walked away, Xiao Ye sighed and gestured inside. "Let’s go."

"Okay!"

Ziyue curled her lips into a faint smile and quickly followed, lowering her voice as she said, "So your name is Xiao Ye? I remember there was a legendary swordmaster by the same name in the Tongtian Tower—what a funny coincidence!"

"Is that so? How amusing."

Xiao Ye replied with an air of effortless calm, his tone light and indifferent.

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