338: The backlash effect of the magic mask

Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan's efforts over several days were not solely for Fang Nanxi to eliminate the blight of the Fang Family, those beasts who betrayed humanity.

In other words, Shen Bei was not interested in Fang Han's actions at all.

Everyone has their own ambitions; let alone joining the Incarnations, even turning into a dog had nothing to do with Shen Bei.

But the odd object mask on Fang Han's body, that was something he had to act on.

This item was simply too crucial for infiltrating the Incarnations and searching for the Martial Dao Pinnacle.

Where Yun Zhiyi saw the Martial Dao Pinnacle is still an unknown answer.

It is only known to be located within the Xing Sha Dungeon.

And some Martial Artists would not hand over maps to the military for the money to open up new areas.

This is understandable; if Shen Bei discovered a secret treasure trove, he would also be unwilling to share it with others until he had thoroughly plundered it, only then handing it over to the military for a profit.

And last time in the Luan County Earth Cave, that Apocalypse Cult, the huge "Turbellaria" suspended above the sea, Shen Bei couldn't handle it, so he could only hand it over for money.

But if there was any profit to be made, Shen Bei would definitely keep it to himself.

What's more, Yun Zhiyi's team exploring the Martial Dao Pinnacle was left with only him alive; if he refused to speak, no one among humanity would know its location.

But for the Incarnations, it was different; such an important place would surely have some legends or secret stories circulating in the world.

This is like some tomb raiders on the earth's surface who often like to inquire in villages about ancient legends.

As long as there is a large Ancient Tomb nearby, more or less some stories will be passed down.

For example, 'such and such a mountain cannot be visited,' or 'someone found something in such and such a place.'

The speaker has no intention, but the listener takes it to heart; from these rumors, tomb raiders can ascertain whether an Ancient Tomb exists in the nearby mountains.

The same principle applies to the Earth Cave World.

Martial Dao Pinnacle, this signifies where Martial Artists will eventually go and what their ultimate destination is.

Therefore, it is natural to inquire among the Incarnations in the countryside and wilderness.

But humans and Incarnations are naturally antagonistic, and even though Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan both speak the earth's surface Cave language, trying to peacefully and indirectly inquire about the Martial Dao Pinnacle's secrets and legends from Incarnations is absolutely impossible.

Therefore, the odd object mask in Fang Han's hand, which could turn one into an Incarnation, became critically important.

With this item, transforming into an Incarnation and chatting casually with Incarnations would be easy and much more intimate.

Originally, Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan also intended to borrow it, but they figured Fang Han would definitely not agree.

The fact was, after fighting to this extent, if one didn't die, this matter couldn't be settled.

It was equivalent to robbing Fang Han of his lifeblood.

But Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan felt no guilt; in the Martial Artist world, fists do the talking.

Morality is just a fart.

If they don't give it, take it! If they don't let you take it, kill them!

This is what a Martial Artist is!

Especially someone like Shen Bei, who views life and death lightly and will fight if provoked.

At this moment.

Fang Nanxi arrived at Fang Han's side first; she knelt beside the corpse, her expression… indescribable.

There was both regret and pain on her face, but also relief and relaxation.

After all, they were related by blood, and perhaps Fang Han had left Fang Nanxi with some beautiful memories in the past.

Now that he was dead.

All the grudges and resentments had vanished like smoke.

'Have our tasks been completed?' Shen Bei asked her from above, 'This guy was truly difficult to deal with; he can only blame himself for not knowing his place and kicking Old Bi, a solid iron plate. If you hold resentment towards us, our good intentions would have been for nothing.'

Fang Nanxi looked up at Shen Bei, her voice clear: 'When did I ever speak of resentment? This was his inevitable end.'

'That's good.'

Shen Bei squatted down, looking directly at Fang Han: 'You should settle my task reward now.'

'Can we not talk about money yet? Let me be quiet for a while.'

'No, this is crucial for me.'

This was no joke; if he didn't get the task reward, how could he activate the daily settlement panel?

Resisting mental attacks, he was just one step away from that!

Fang Nanxi sighed, pulling out a check and saying, 'You really are a money grubber.'

'That's a small-minded view.' Shen Bei smiled silently, took the check, and flapped it: 'I never look at money; it's just numbers.'

Fang Nanxi: …

Shen Bei's expression suddenly became serious, and he spoke again: 'I want to take something from Fang Han's body. If you are unwilling…'

'Take whatever you want, but the body must be left to me. Help me send it to Spike Camp so I can arrange for someone to transport it back to the earth's surface.'

Fang Nanxi said quickly.

What else could she do?

Would she dare to say no?

Although Fang Nanxi was a woman, she was still self-aware.

She had the foresight to assess the situation.

Shen Bei nodded: 'We don't have a habit of desecrating corpses.'

After speaking, Shen Bei reached out to touch the mask on Fang Han's face.

If Fang Nanxi hadn't been absolutely certain that Fang Han was wearing a mask, even if Shen Bei had brushed past Fang Han, he wouldn't have noticed he was wearing one.

It looked exactly like a real Incarnation's face.

There was no noticeable mask-like appearance at all.

It was quite magical.

At this moment, Zhuang Bifan also tremblingly came behind Shen Bei, staring intently.

He saw.

Shen Bei's large hand clasped Fang Han's face, fingers tightly clenched like a claw, slowly lifting.

The next moment.

The mask separated from Fang Han's face.

The mask's color was an unnameable dark blue, its contours smooth and eerie, with delicate, intricate patterns on its surface, and a ring of unknown small gems embedded along its edges.

However, it was different from what the three had expected.

Most masks could be simply removed.

But this odd object mask made a viscous sound, similar to glue being forcefully stretched into threads.

It was also like flesh detaching, with thick, stringy blood clinging to it.

Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan exchanged glances, both sensing something amiss in each other's eyes.

This mask was very strange!

Finally, Shen Bei lifted the mask about a meter high, and still, threads of blood and mucus clung to Fang Han's face.

It was like stringy maltose.

'Ah~~~!!'

At this moment, Fang Nanxi looked at Fang Han's face and was immediately so terrified that she fell to the ground.

Only then did Shen Bei follow the sound and look.

Upon seeing it, Shen Bei's pupils slightly contracted.

Fang Han's face was no longer human!

The skin of his entire face seemed to have been melted by aqua regia, the color of flesh and blood mixed into a chaotic, indistinct blur.

His features were no longer the exquisite handiwork of God but had been twisted into a horrifying tableau beyond imagination. His eyes seemed to have been violently pulled by an invisible hand.

His nose and mouth had lost their original forms, cruelly reshaped, like misaligned fragments of a sculpture, dripping chilling crimson liquid.

'Hiss~~'

Shen Bei gasped, looking at the stringy blood and flesh on the mask in his hand, then at Fang Han's face, as if realizing something.

He flung the odd object mask to Zhuang Bifan: 'It's yours, you're welcome!'

This toy couldn't be worn.

Just look at Fang Han; it would cause severe backlash!

In the end, it would make one neither human nor ghost, too great a price!

After all, Shen Bei never intended to join the Incarnations and live his whole life wearing a mask.

He still had many good days ahead of him.

And Zhuang Bifan, as if receiving a hot potato, tossed the mask in his hand around twice, then threw it back to Shen Bei.

Zhuang Bifan expressed his extreme disgust: 'I live by this face; you want me to wear it?'

'Nonsense!'

Shen Bei threw the mask to the ground, as if it were something terrifying, his tone resolute and stern: 'I still rely on this face to eat!'

Zhuang Bifan, seeing Shen Bei's attitude, immediately adopted a political commissar's stance and advised: 'You must think about the bigger picture, have ideological awareness, be willing, for the country and its people, your personal sacrifice in exchange for the collective's benefit, this is your glory and honor!'

Shen Bei pointed at Zhuang Bifan's nose, his tone unfriendly: 'I hate this act of yours, always elevating things to a higher level, who are you brainwashing? Special times do require special products, but look at what era this is; can't you change your rhetoric?'

Zhuang Bifan spread his hands, looking innocent: 'Bai Wei told me the same thing.'

Shen Bei rolled his eyes.

It wasn't that Shen Bei was selfish; it was that this thing genuinely couldn't be worn.

Whoever wore it would turn into Fang Han's ghostly appearance, which was completely unbearable.

Just as Shen Bei was about to say something more, the corner of his eye caught sight of a female Incarnation beside him!

'Holy crap!'

Shen Bei drew his long saber with a whoosh: 'Damn it, when did an Incarnation show up!'

Zhuang Bifan was also startled, his stool about to swing.

But the Incarnation reached out, shaking her head: 'It's me, Fang Nanxi!'

Shen Bei's mouth twitched; he saw the odd object mask on the ground was gone, and without needing to think, it must have been Fang Nanxi who curiously put it on.

Shen Bei's face instantly stiffened: 'Are you an idiot?! This thing can't be worn! Take it off!'

Fang Nanxi, however, said: 'Actually, it's not as serious as you imagine; otherwise, how could anyone have recognized Fang Han back then?'

At these words, Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan froze.

They seemed to have discovered a blind spot…

That's right!

If this odd object mask made one look like Fang Han's current ghostly appearance as soon as it was put on, even if Fang Han took off the mask, who would recognize him in that state?

At this moment, Fang Nanxi took off the mask; it seemed to hurt a little to remove, but her face showed no change at all.

Fang Nanxi was still Fang Nanxi!

Shen Bei stroked his chin, analyzing: 'It seems, then, that this mask isn't that it can't be worn, but rather, the longer it's worn, the more it erodes the original appearance.'

Zhuang Bifan nodded, agreeing with Shen Bei's view.

'By the way, I noticed you seemed to be in some pain when you took off the mask just now?' Shen Bei asked Fang Nanxi.

Fang Nanxi rubbed her facial muscles: 'It felt like a mosquito bite; it didn't hurt much.'

Shen Bei said, 'Oh,' 'That's because there was no stringing. For someone like Fang Han, to take off the mask, he would inevitably have to endure immense pain.'

Zhuang Bifan played with the mask, sighing: 'Why bother? Once the mask is lost, in this ghostly state, who could imagine he was human…'

Shen Bei waved his hand: 'Don't think so much; since the mask has this characteristic, we can try using it.'

'Take Fang Han's body.'

'Let's head to Spike Camp!'