Chapter 583: Shattered Masks and Silent Fears

The Dragon Team Leader staggered back several paces from that punch, eventually landing squarely on the ground.

He clutched his face in pain, unable to lift his head for a long time.

The armed personnel nearby suddenly reacted, turning to aim their guns at Lu Xin.

Dozens of submachine guns locked onto one man at close range, yet the target didn’t seem the one to fear.

Those armed soldiers, eyeing Lu Xin who had crushed his cigarette butt, even had their knuckles turn pale. Accustomed to Ability Users, they showed neither curiosity nor surprise at the battle between Lu Xin and the Tang-suited youth. Only deep dread filled them—a fear born of a staggering power gap that left them utterly helpless.

Even now, they could not fathom how such a gruesome, hopeless situation had arisen.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t shoot,” he said.

Having crushed his cigarette butt, Lu Xin spoke softly without looking at them, “Killing never brings any good.”

“You’d be miserable if you died, and if I kill someone, it won’t bring me joy either…”

“So why not put down your guns and talk calmly?”

“…”

Lu Xin’s calm, almost sincere tone left the armed personnel feeling drowned in despair.

A man far stronger than they could lecture them—it was terrifying…

Were all these lifeless bodies really the result of his words?

Meanwhile, as the Tang-suited youth clutched his face in self-reflection, the armed personnel witnessed Lu Xin lowering his gaze toward the Beijing Opera Mask—which seemed almost alive, its translucent tendrils slowly extending.

They resembled wriggling earthworms, coiling around his arm.

At their tip was a fine, nearly imperceptible mouthpiece, as if seeking an opening to burrow into his arm.

Not far away, Sister, the Skinless Dog, and that group of Plastic Children were still locked in battle.

One side attacked ferociously while the other was even more brutal, their snarling mouths locked in a savage struggle.

From time to time, severed plastic calves, little arms, and even half a head were flung out, littering the ruins.

“Aren’t you going to stop?”

Lu Xin looked down at the mask as its tendrils tried—and failed—to burrow into his arm, a hint of surprise crossing his face.

It was clear that those Plastic Children were under the control of this mask.

The mask, as if sensing confusion, had its two eyeholes seem to emit a penetrating gaze.

It scrutinized Lu Xin from head to toe.

“Every parasitic item harbors its own unique spiritual power,”

“And every parasitic item has its own little temper…”

Lu Xin smiled warmly at the mask and said, “But when it comes to dealing with you, I have plenty of experience.”

He crouched down, hurled the mask to the ground, and stomped on it with force.

Crunch.

The mask cracked sharply, yet it did not shatter.

Lu Xin then picked up the mask—now bearing a footprint—tossed it into his bag, and retrieved a Black Rubik’s Cube and a set of Playing Cards. Looking at them as if to a child, he said, “You two, try persuading it properly.”

After speaking, he tossed them in and sealed the bag.

Suddenly, a violent tremor shook the black bag; small hand-shaped bulges began pushing upward from inside.

It was as if something within was locked in combat.

Not far away, the Plastic Children—once laughing and jeering yet now menacing—suddenly froze, every movement halting as they all turned to stare at Lu Xin. The traits of moving and leaping had completely vanished.

Sister and the Skinless Dog curiously circled around, watching these tiny beings.

Lu Xin looked down at the black bag, a gradual smile spreading on his face.

……

……

“You…”

At that moment, the trembling voice of the Tang-suited youth suddenly rang out.

After taking that punch, he crouched on the ground, clutching his face as if in excruciating pain, unable to utter a word.

In truth, it was all an act.

After all, Lu Xin was an ordinary man—a single punch wasn’t that powerful.

Sensing that Lu Xin had snatched his Beijing Opera Mask, he felt a twisted delight, silently waiting for Lu Xin’s scream. Instead, he saw Lu Xin throw the mask down and stomp on it fiercely…

That sight truly sent a shiver down his spine.

And as he stole a glance, he saw Lu Xin place three parasitic items into the black bag.

In that instant, he understood why he had lost—and his anger flared uncontrollably.

Lu Xin was sharp in certain respects.

He sensed that the Tang-suited youth’s fear now was different from before.

Earlier, half of it was genuine fear while the other half was feigned, an attempt to numb himself.

But now, he was truly scared, his eyes staring at him as if he were a monster:

“So… you’re also a follower of the Cangzhang Sect?”

“…”

“Hmm?”

Lu Xin, after a moment of hesitation, looked at him curiously.

The name ‘Cangzhang Sect’ rang a faint bell.

Recalling carefully, he suddenly remembered Mom mentioning it—one of the thirteen ultimate forms of extraordinary spiritual power. Compared to the others, its codename was rather understated.

“You ambushed me just to steal my Six Senses Mask?”

This revelation only enraged the Tang-suited youth further; blue veins bulged on his neck as he roared:

“You broke the rules! The Black Box Organization forbids us from snatching each other’s parasitic items!”

“I, too, count as a follower of the Cangzhang Sect…”

“…”

“Black Box?”

Lu Xin felt even more confused.

Collecting his thoughts, he shot the Tang-suited youth a glance and said, “Let’s not worry about other matters. I didn’t come looking for trouble.”

He truly disliked the Tang-suited youth’s tone.

Being a proper man, he never stirred up trouble nor snatched someone’s belongings.

“You’re clearly just toying with me…”

The Tang-suited youth, burning with anger, shouted fiercely:

“You deliberately waited here, disguised as an ordinary man, just to lure me into using my Six Senses Mask, right?”

“If not, why else would you have prepared a method to control the Six Senses Mask in advance?”

“But you broke the rules! The Black Box forbids followers from seizing a companion’s parasitic items…”

“You can’t win the Cangzhang Sect’s blessings that way…”

“…”

“Cathedral? Blessings?”

Lu Xin was utterly perplexed; he quickly surmised that the youth must have misunderstood something.

Curious, he paused to ponder and simply uttered a quiet “Mm.”

Without much expression, he perked up his ears to continue listening.

“You…”

The Dragon Team Leader in Tang suit appeared regretful yet dared not lose his temper. Seeing Lu Xin’s indifferent demeanor, he suppressed his anger and murmured, “Friend… sir, please trust that every blessing comes with its own rules. When followers bicker over parasitic items, the Black Box’s retribution is inevitable…”

Just as Lu Xin sensed he was getting to the point, he calmly interjected, “Heh.”

“You… you don’t even care about the Black Box?”

Listening to his mockery, the Dragon Team Leader grew anxious, “What about the Flame Company?”

With a hint of feigned weakness, he explained, “The Six Senses Mask isn’t mine—it belongs to the Company. I merely have the right to use it.”

“If you take it away, I won’t survive, and the Company certainly won’t let it go.”

“No matter who you are, the entire Company will hunt you down… you…”

“…you should know just how terrifying the Flame Company is!”

“…”

“I’ve heard as much.”

Lu Xin nodded and said, “Three hours ago.”

The Dragon Team Leader suddenly fell into confusion. It was the first time he met someone so nonchalant about the Black Box and the Flame Company—he couldn’t decipher Lu Xin’s origins and was at a loss for words…

“Maybe you’re overacting a bit?”

Lu Xin reflected before slowly saying, “I can return the mask, but you need to tell me…”

“How should the ceremony be held?”

The Dragon Team Leader instantly snapped to alert, “Which ceremony?”

Lu Xin paused and said, “Why don’t you guess?”

“!”

It seemed the Dragon Team Leader suddenly understood something, a flicker of fear crossing his face.

That expression was somewhat theatrical, as if he wanted Lu Xin to see the fear on his face.

In a trembling voice, he said, “So you’re interested in the Cangzhang Sect’s Spiritual Hall too?”

“Spiritual Hall?”

Lu Xin frowned, shook his head slightly, and replied, “I’m quite interested in the Cangzhang Sect.”

“You…”

The Tang-suited youth was momentarily speechless, detecting a note of desecration in Lu Xin’s tone.

After a brief pause, he said in a low voice, “Stop playing with me…”

“Collect all seven parasitic items and you can hold a ceremony to earn the right to enter the Spiritual Hall. Haven’t you heard?”

“If it weren’t for the desire to access the Cangzhang Sect’s Spiritual Hall, who would carry so many parasitic items around?”

“…”

Lu Xin truly didn’t know; deep down he understood that by parasitic items, he meant the glasses, Rubik’s Cube, and playing cards.

Yet none of those belonged to him…

Some were rewards from higher-ups, some hadn’t been handed over, and some were entrusted by others…

But he remained composed and simply inquired, “What else?”

“There’s more…”

The Tang-suited youth spoke slowly, as if in deep thought, deliberately dragging out his words.

Then, from the North, a chill wind suddenly blew. At an unknown moment, the ambient temperature dropped sharply; every hair on their skin seemed to stand on end like steel needles, accompanied by fragmented, eerie whispers and laughter that abruptly echoed in their minds—like a multitude of voices invading their heads.

And those groups of Plastic Children, once laughing and jeering yet menacing, suddenly froze in mid-action.

Lu Xin sensed something amiss and quickly turned to look north, his expression alarmed.

……

“And you’re out of luck…”

The Tang-suited youth’s expression turned eerily cold and mocking as he said, “You really think I want to tell you all this?”

“The ones I’ve been waiting for have already arrived!”