Chapter 38: The Mask Earned Its Worth

The members of the Demon Extermination Bureau searched the fortress but found nothing noteworthy or any leads.

Soon, everyone gathered again.

“The altar has been set up. Since there are no other leads, we’ll return tomorrow,” Zhang Minsheng said calmly.

The Demon Extermination Bureau members all sighed in relief and laughed—they all found this place eerie and didn’t want to stay long.

But the hunters from Yulin County weren’t as cheerful.

After thinking for a moment, Bai Liwei walked over and said, “Chief Zhang, since you’ve read our report, you should know that at night, a black mist of resentment gathers here.”

“Of course I know,” Zhang Minsheng smiled. “Don’t worry—we’re prepared.”

He called out to the side: “Zhang Zuoqing, come here!”

Then a gloomy man radiating yin energy walked over.

He gave off an unpleasant feeling.

“It’s almost dark. It’s your turn to show your skill.”

The man named Zhang Zuoqing smiled, walked to the four corners of the fortress, and stuck a yellow talisman on each wall.

The talismans instantly formed a square array, and the surrounding resentment vanished at once.

Su Huafang whispered to Li Lin: “The Four Holy Warriors Array… those four talismans must depict the Four Auspicious Beasts.”

“You know this too?” Li Lin asked curiously.

“When you’ve lived long enough and seen enough, nothing seems extraordinary anymore.”

As they spoke, Zhang Minsheng walked over, stroking his beard and smiling: “Now, my four friends can rest easy, yes?”

Bai Liwei immediately bowed: “We’re reassured, reassured. The Demon Extermination Bureau’s members all possess extraordinary skills—I deeply admire you.”

Zhang Minsheng laughed heartily: “Rest assured, with the Demon Extermination Bureau here, this mission will proceed without a single mishap.”

Bai Liwei and the others naturally offered lavish praise; Zhang Minsheng modestly accepted it with a smug expression, and the two sides appeared harmonious.

Afterwards, Zhang Minsheng returned to his own group, and the hunters sat nearby, eating dried rations.

A silence fell.

After a while, Bai Liwei said: “Though the Demon Extermination Bureau’s response was excellent, and the True Lord is guarding us, I still feel uneasy.”

Su Huafang chuckled: “You’ve been bitten by a snake and now fear even grass ropes. Everyone here is a master—no problem.”

“We had sixteen people before, and none of them were weak.”

This left Su Huafang without a reply.

Zhao Hao slapped his chest: “Rest easy, friends—if anything happens, I’ll hold the rear.”

But Li Lin suddenly remembered something—he reached into his pocket and pulled out a mask.

The mask was silvery-white, very beautiful.

This thing would have to be seen by others eventually; revealing it now was fine—it had a legitimate origin.

Unlike the Shengxi Pills, which were far more valuable than this mask.

The other three stared blankly at the mask in his hand.

“A Guiqi !” Zhao Hao exclaimed in surprise.

The other two also stared fixedly at the mask—something about it felt familiar.

Then Su Huafang asked: “Is this the Mask of the Tree Immortal Lady?”

Li Lin nodded: “Yes. She gave it to me.”

“She gave it to you?”

All three gasped in unison, then exchanged glances.

Li Lin looked at them: “What’s wrong?”

Su Huafang looked at Li Lin with admiration: “I’ve never heard the True Lord show such human warmth.”

Bai Liwei nodded vigorously beside him.

“Don’t you all become friends with your patron True Lords?”

Their expressions made Li Lin seem like a freak.

“Forget it!” Su Huafang sighed helplessly. “Everyone has their own fate—can’t be forced. What’s special about this mask?”

“It lets me see the Huanggui …” Li Lin said, slipping the mask over his face: “Whether it has other uses—I’m still testing.”

That cool sensation flooded his eyes again. Li Lin looked around—due to the protective barrier and the True Lord’s presence, there were no Huanggui nearby; everything was clean.

But then Li Lin’s brows narrowed.

“What is it?” Su Huafang asked.

The other two also stared at him.

Li Lin removed the mask, tucked it back into his clothes, and pointed to the vegetable patch nearby: “Something’s wrong there—something’s buried beneath.”

In his vision, a faint black mist rose from that spot, starkly different from the surroundings.

The three turned to look—it was a vegetable patch, planted with green vegetables. Though untended, the crops grew exceptionally well.

“Vegetable patch?” Zhao Hao laughed. “I trust Li Xunshou—let’s dig together.”

Good!

The hunters from Yulin County were fairly united, despite having turncoats like Xu Saifeng.

The four walked over; beside the patch stood iron shovels and spades.

The people of Daqi naturally loved farming. In a fortress where they were confined for long periods and forbidden to leave, farming became a good pastime—and helped solve part of their food needs. A win-win.

So tools were always kept nearby.

Quickly, the four grabbed the tools and began digging rapidly at the spot Li Lin indicated.

The commotion naturally drew the attention of the Demon Extermination Bureau—they ate their food while watching the hunters work.

Soon, Zhao Hao’s hoe struck the ground with a sharp metallic clang.

The four exchanged glances and dug faster.

Before long, a metal hatch appeared before them.

Zhang Minsheng arrived with his men.

“There’s a secret passage here?” Zhang Minsheng looked at the four. “How did you suddenly find this?”

The other three stared at Li Lin.

Li Lin remained calm: “I’m naturally sensitive to resentment. I’ve felt something off here for a while, so I brought my comrades to dig—and turns out, we actually found something.”

Zhang Minsheng stared at the passage and smiled: “Real hunters are more alert. Step back, all of you. Someone, open it.”

His meaning was clear—he intended to claim all the credit.

After all, discovering a strange secret passage inside a fortress usually meant valuable gains.

Zhao Hao frowned, about to argue—but Li Lin held him back.

Zhao Hao instantly understood and laughed: “Chief Zhang, need any help?”

“No. Just watch.”

Li Lin and the others stepped back as instructed.

They watched the Demon Extermination Bureau members pull open the iron hatch—then immediately scattered.

Stink… unbearable stink.

Even from afar, Li Lin and the others smelled it.

“Something’s wrong in there,” Li Lin whispered to his three comrades. “Stay alert—be ready if anything happens.”

The other three nodded slightly.

After a while, one member of the Demon Extermination Bureau descended with a lantern, then scrambled back up in haste: “Disgusting! It’s revolting down there!”

(End of Chapter)