Chapter 96: The True Face of the Ghost-Masked Man

Chapter 96: The True Face of the Ghost-Masked Man

An Ran’s heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained as calm as still water. Her eyes swept across the attic, deep and inscrutable. What exactly was his intention?

If he were indeed the Ghost-Masked Man, the fact that he could neutralize the Gu poison she had planted meant she had to be extremely cautious. Beyond his terrifying martial arts, this man possessed other skills that made him a force not to be underestimated.

"Since you invited me here, why not show yourself? Everyone in the General’s Mansion has long since perished. Are you playing these supernatural tricks because you are a survivor of the mansion?" An Ran asked coldly. She deliberately distanced herself from the General’s Mansion, wanting to force him to reveal his true face.

If the Ghost-Masked Man were the person she held in her heart, that would be one thing. But if not, she could never allow her connection to the mansion to be exposed. Even if others couldn't find evidence, it would only breed suspicion. She had to act with extreme caution to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"Hahaha... You’re just trying to force my hand, aren't you? Why must you link me to the General’s Mansion? How ridiculous!"

A deep voice echoed, and a figure appeared on the attic balcony. Wearing a ghost mask, who else could it be but the man she had seen in the alley? Dressed in black robes, he exuded a sharp, piercing aura. The sheer pressure he exerted made An Ran freeze for a moment.

An Ran now realized that when they first entered the attic, the Ghost-Masked Man had been hiding there all along. His cultivation level far surpassed theirs, allowing him to suppress his presence at will, creating the illusion of a "haunting." It was precisely this illusion that had sent the cowards under Lu Anrong and Qin Ruoyang running in terror, fueling the rumors spreading across Moon City.

Although Jun Dingyue had issued a decree explaining that the crying sounds were merely human trickery, the officials had been scared off, and those who had entered the attic had contracted a chronic virus. Their bodies were slowly rotting, yet the condition was not contagious, leaving the imperial physicians helpless. Jun Dingyue was now at his wit's end and had handed the authority over the matter to Jun Zi’ao.

Fearing that this strange phenomenon would affect public morale, Jun Dingyue had tried every means to suppress the news, even quietly disposing of those whose bodies had rotted beyond recognition and threatening their families into silence. However, while Jun Dingyue thought money could solve everything, An Ran knew that if she spent double or triple that amount, she could buy the truth.

She had secretly examined the rotting corpses with Han Bing and found a tiny, nearly invisible Gu worm inside them. Because of this, when their skin began to rot, people assumed the General’s Mansion was cursed with heavy resentment and that they had been afflicted by a vengeful hex.

Thinking of the rotting flesh, An Ran wondered about Lu Anrong and Qin Ruoyang. They had also entered the attic—what had become of them? She hadn't seen Qin Ruoyang for several days; he hadn't even appeared to welcome Yu Jinglan into the city. Could something have happened to him? Lu Anrong deserved his fate, but An Ran had always been uncertain about Qin Ruoyang’s true nature.

Since he could neutralize her Gu, this skin-rotting Gu was likely only something the Ghost-Masked Man could deploy silently among a crowd.

"Since it’s unrelated, why use the name of the General’s Mansion to oppose the imperial court? Do you know who once lived in that attic?"

The Ghost-Masked Man paused slightly, his icy gaze fixed on An Ran, trying to see through her. Just how much did she know? Without waiting for him to speak, An Ran continued:

"If you only wish to take revenge on this court or Jun Dingyue, please stop hiding behind the General’s Mansion. With your abilities, you could likely kill Jun Dingyue ten times over. Why go through the trouble of 'haunting' the place?"

"My strength is such that not only ten, but a hundred Jun Dingyues would be easy to handle. However, I am not here just for Jun Dingyue. I intend to see the empire of Xuanyue crumble. Without the General’s Mansion and without the God of War, Jun Moli, the downfall of Xuanyue is only a matter of time! Divine Physician An of Night Moon, since our goals align, why not cooperate?"

The Ghost-Masked Man spoke with arrogance, a wicked, charming smile tugging at the corners of his cold lips. His dark, bottomless eyes flashed with a sharp, calculating light.

An Ran stared at him, her own gaze deepening. He had come to destroy the Xuanyue empire. Furthermore, he seemed to know everyone’s identity, capabilities, and even their motives. His tone was arrogant and eccentric, yet beneath his flamboyant behavior lay a firm conviction of victory.

If he wanted to destroy the Xuanyue empire, and he had referred to her as "Divine Physician of Night Moon" rather than just a physician, did that mean he belonged to neither Xuanyue nor Night Moon? If he truly didn't belong to either and possessed knowledge of Gu poison, he likely hailed from the Miao borderlands.

Yu Jinglan was currently at the imperial palace in Moon City. If he were affected by the "haunting" and the two nations failed to reach a consensus on diplomatic relations, war would be inevitable. Xuanyue had capable people, but without the Leng family and the God of War, Jun Moli, they would be losing the battle of morale before it even began.

Once the armies faced off, the Ghost-Masked Man could have his people spread word of how Jun Dingyue’s paranoia had led to the massacre of the General’s Mansion. The public would lose all faith in their monarch, morale would collapse, and Xuanyue would surely fall.

In the end, Xuanyue would be defeated, Jun Dingyue would die or be forced to abdicate, and Yu Jinglan would unite the two nations. The Xuanyue empire would be completely destroyed.

What a deep, calculating mind he had!

However, if Yu Jinglan united the two nations, he would sooner or later invade the Miao borderlands to bring them to their knees. Wasn't the Ghost-Masked Man inviting trouble upon himself by doing this?

Or... was that exactly what he wanted?

"I am merely settling small scores and teaching those who deserve it a lesson. It has nothing to do with your grand ambitions!"

An Ran smiled, a sight to behold, her cold voice ringing out like birdsong, carrying far into the quiet night.

She had braved all sorts of hardships to reach Moon City for the sole purpose of avenging herself against Lu Anrong and Leng Yiyun, determined to make their lives a living hell and ensure they met a miserable end. Yet, she had never placed her personal vendettas above the fate of the entire Xuanyue empire. Jun Dingyue might deserve death for his gullibility, but the common people of Xuanyue were innocent!

"Hahaha... Divine Physician An, having traveled for months to reach Moon City for revenge, why not cooperate with me and quickly end everything here so you can return to your family?"

The Ghost-Masked Man seemed particularly insistent on cooperating with her, patience evident in his repeated offers. An Ran couldn't fathom why; with his abilities and skills, seeking her cooperation seemed entirely unnecessary.

"No need. Since you know my goals, we have no basis for cooperation. Those with different paths cannot walk together. If you only called me here tonight to discuss a partnership, then let's leave it at that. We shall stay out of each other’s way and mind our own business!"

An Ran was used to being on her own. In a partnership—especially with someone more powerful than her in certain areas—the dominant position would likely not be hers. Such a partnership was not worth having.

"So, Divine Physician An, that is a refusal?" The tone of the Ghost-Masked Man shifted abruptly. An Ran was shocked; had the man taken the wrong medicine, and was it now taking effect?

"I have made myself clear. I believe you understood me! I will not repeat myself! Farewell!"

An Ran did not want to continue sparring with him and turned to leave.

"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. You want to leave? Leave your life behind!"

Unexpectedly, the Ghost-Masked Man attacked. After a fierce palm strike, the spot where An Ran had been standing was left with a gaping hole.

An Ran stood on the other side of the pavilion, glancing at the debris. She sighed inwardly, thankful for her speed. Having narrowly dodged his blow, she realized once again just how unfathomable his martial arts were.

"Angry because you couldn't get your way? Trying to kill me to silence me?" An Ran returned his cold glare, sneering inwardly: what a petty, underhanded villain.

The person in her heart would never resort to such despicable tactics. He could not be him!

"Since we cannot cooperate and you happen to know my secret, I fear letting you live will only lead to trouble! Therefore, you must die tonight!"

"My martial arts may not match yours, but that doesn't mean I am inferior in other respects. Don't celebrate too early; who will be the one to die is still an unknown!"

"Hahaha..." The Ghost-Masked Man broke into laughter, a chilling sound that made the hair on one's neck stand up in the silent night. A moment later, he stopped, his voice cold enough to pierce bone. "Today, I will compete with you in the Gu arts you are so proud of, so you can die with no regrets!"

"I am at your service!"

An Ran narrowed her eyes, a sharp light flashing within them. Since it had come to this, she would have to give it her all!

"Good!"

As the Ghost-Masked Man finished speaking, he moved with a blur of shadows, appearing on the roof of a nearby courtyard. An Ran followed without hesitation, standing at the opposite end of the roof.

The night wind rustled, their robes fluttering. Two figures, one black and one white, were cast in long shadows under the faint moonlight. Both radiated powerful, icy auras that collided in the air, sparking with a faint, crackling sound. Their cold gazes locked, neither willing to concede an inch.

"Very well, begin!"

As An Ran spoke, her body was instantly enveloped in a swirling green mist, rotating clockwise. She lifted her right hand, palm upward, and a green, misty substance rose between her slender, white fingers, coalescing in her palm. Suddenly, her eyes darkened, a sharp glint appearing as she flicked her hand. The green mass lunged toward the Ghost-Masked Man.

The Ghost-Masked Man’s eyes narrowed, a smirk tugging at his lips. A white mist rose from thin air, and channeling his internal energy, he pushed it forward. With a leap, he easily dodged her green mist, his lithe, tall figure landing gracefully on the roof.

"Child's play!"

"Is that so?" An Ran, unable to dodge in time, was struck in the arm by the white mist. She immediately sealed the acupoints on her arm and gave a cold, smug smile, her eyes filled with triumph.

"That..." The Ghost-Masked Man didn't finish his sentence before he suddenly groaned. A wave of fury surged through his body, and his eyes turned vicious. "You played dirty! How despicable!"

An Ran was unfazed, sneering, "I am merely following your example; I thank you for the lesson you just imparted!"

"You..."

The Ghost-Masked Man had attempted a sneak attack first, and An Ran was simply paying him back in kind. Though she had a backup plan, she felt no guilt. To deal with a villain, one must use methods even more villainous!

Besides, if she hadn't dodged in time earlier, she would have been dead or at least severely wounded. Her Gu poison would at most force him to endure a night in the cold wind and suffer for ten days or a fortnight. If he could cure it, he would be fine in two or three days!

The Ghost-Masked Man was choked for words, feeling as if a fly were stuck in his throat—unable to swallow it and unable to spit it out. This little girl was actually this formidable! Dammit... he couldn't move!

"What? Can't move?" An Ran asked with a taunting tone, her figure already floating before him.

"What exactly do you want?" The Ghost-Masked Man glared at her with icy eyes. He couldn't move, and if this brat decided to strike him now, he would be in trouble!

The Ghost-Masked Man was overthinking it. Since An Ran had succeeded in her underhanded tactic, she wouldn't play dirty again. Given her vengeful nature, she would take this opportunity to deal with him openly and squarely!

"Nothing much. I just find this creepy ghost mask of yours rather unsettling. I wonder if your true face is just as hideous? To ensure I don't dream of this mask, I just wanted to see your true face!"

"You dare!"

"What is this?" As the Ghost-Masked Man spoke, An Ran had already removed his mask, holding it up with a faint smile.

If Jun Moli was as gentle as jade, Yu Jinglan as cold and charming, Qin Ruoyang as bright and handsome, and Zhan Lun as a perfect blend of strength and softness, then the true face of the Ghost-Masked Man could only be described with one word: beautiful.

An Ran had never seen such a beautiful man. Even though she felt Jun Moli and the others were breathtakingly handsome, the man with the icy gaze before her was beautiful in a feminine way—or perhaps, even more beautiful than any woman. Even a top beauty like Lu Xueqing would be overshadowed in his presence.

He appeared to be in his early twenties, his long, ink-black hair cascading to his waist like silk. His features were delicate and elegant, the soft lines blurring the hardness of his jaw. His skin was fair, not with the pallor of illness, but with the warm, translucent glow of jade, flawless. His arched eyebrows were sharp, elegant yet exuding a sense of heroism. His face was androgynous, intoxicatingly beautiful.

His long, phoenix-like eyes held a sense of nobility, yet the slight upturn at the corners made them enchantingly seductive. His pupils were as dark as crystals, deep as an abyss, yet they now burned with a cold, piercing light that seemed to want to tear An Ran to shreds.

An Ran was so shocked she couldn't regain her composure for a long time. No wonder he wore a ghost mask; if a man like this were exposed to the sunlight, everyone—men, women, and children—would go crazy for him. What kind of monster was he to be so exquisitely beautiful?

The Ghost-Masked Man’s angry gaze slowly calmed, returning to stillness. He hooked his lips into a wicked, seductive smile. "Has the eldest daughter of the An family taken a liking to me? It’s a pity I have no interest in you!"

An Ran nodded nonchalantly, pulling herself together, and laughed. "I just think you look quite unique. As for you... I am merely admiring you. Don't be so arrogant as to think everyone who sees your face will fall for you!"

There was no hidden meaning in An Ran’s eyes; the Ghost-Masked Man could see clearly in her pupils that she truly lacked any obsession or greed!

"You..."

An Ran was the second person to see his face without developing evil intentions, but as he felt a flicker of emotion, he also felt a sense of disappointment. This brat wasn't bewitched by his face—how…

Failure!

"What? Disappointed? You thought you could use a 'handsome man's trap' to bewitch me and trick me into giving you the antidote, and now your plan has failed?"

An Ran glanced at him lightly. Seeing his expression freeze and turn awkward, she knew she had hit the nail on the head!

"Stay here for now. Perhaps by tomorrow morning, someone will see such a monstrously beautiful man and be kind enough to save you! But you still can't move! Hahaha..."

An Ran hung the mask around his neck, leaving his beauty fully exposed, and patted his shoulder. "By the way, why don't you tell me your name? Otherwise, calling you 'Ghost-Masked Man' next time won't sound very pleasant!"

"You..."

"Not saying? That's fine. 'Ghost-Masked Man' actually suits your monstrously beautiful face quite well! Also, I’d better cover your eyes, otherwise, if someone saves you, you might go seeking revenge. Don't go tossing your disgusting Gu worms around randomly!"

An Ran tied a blindfold over his eyes with one hand. She frowned slightly; the tingling in her arm was making her dizzy again, but she maintained a light, breezy expression.

"You are ruthless!"

"Thank you for the compliment! Someone, come here and strip the Ghost-Masked brother of his clothes!"

"Yes, Miss!"

As An Ran spoke, Han Bing immediately emerged from the shadows and followed her instructions, stripping the Ghost-Masked Man until he was left in only his undergarments!

"You witch, just you wait!" The Ghost-Masked Man gritted his teeth, full of hatred but helpless. This was a humiliation worse than being stabbed! This girl’s mind was too strange and unpredictable; how was she any different from a witch? In fact, she was even more formidable than one!

An Ran’s cold fingertips brushed across his face, making him shudder. Was this witch trying to ravish him? He thought she was different from other commoners, but she was just as filthy and unbearable!

"I thought you were him, but unfortunately, you are not! Enjoy the night air and the scenery; I believe someone will find you tomorrow!"

"Let’s go!"

An Ran and Han Bing vanished into the abandoned courtyard. Han Bing was so terrified by An Ran’s unbridled behavior that his heart was trembling. His former master was still lingering in An Ran’s residence; if he found out about tonight’s antics, he would probably tear Han Bing to pieces for not stepping in to stop her.

However, his own self-proclaimed martial arts were like those of a clown before these two, and he dared not show off his meager skills. If he had intervened, he would be the one left out there drinking the night wind!

"Witch, come back! Witch..."

An Ran and Han Bing did not look back, leaving the Ghost-Masked Man to remain frozen in the distance in a desolate and miserable state. What kind of Gu poison had this witch concocted to have such power?

An Ran had intended to check on Qin Ruoyang after the fight, but her left arm was now poisoned with the Ghost-Masked Man’s Gu, and the entire limb felt numb and uncomfortable. She couldn't go to the Qin mansion for the time being. The Ghost-Masked Man’s poison wasn't lethal, and she knew she wouldn't have much trouble curing it!

"Han Bing, go get some rest. Tomorrow, look into whether any new faces have appeared at the new Emperor of Night Moon’s palace."

"Yes, Miss!"

An Ran suspected that the Ghost-Masked Man had already planted spies in the palace. Only by creating trouble for Yu Jinglan in Moon City would the conflict between Xuanyue and Night Moon be ignited, sparking a war. To prevent the common people from suffering due to his schemes, she had to find the person lurking near Yu Jinglan, and the sooner, the better.

Getting close to Yu Jinglan would take time, so she was certain that the spy had not yet succeeded. As long as she stopped them in time, everything could be salvaged.

An Ran entered her medicine room, lit a candle, and used a dagger to slice open the sleeve of her left arm, revealing an arm as white as a lotus root. Above her wrist, a clear red line was visible, like a straightened earthworm.

"Good skills. To be able to use such Gu poison so freely!" An Ran muttered coldly to herself, glancing at her arm with indifference. Fortunately, she had learned this poison five years ago. It truly was as he said: child's play!

However, the symptoms were quite similar to the side effects of her own Gu, leaving the arm numb for two days.

An Ran easily neutralized the poison, extinguished the candle, and returned to her room to sleep. Even if Qin Ruoyang were poisoned, he would suffer for a few days, but he wouldn't die immediately. Thinking of this, An Ran stopped worrying and drifted off, feeling exhausted.

When An Ran returned to her room, she undressed and prepared for bed. To her surprise, a figure was lying on her bed, looking at her with a thousand charms. A sexy, low voice clouded her weary senses: "Ran’er, am I a feast for the eyes?"

Seeing this brooding, black-bellied, and brazen man leaning on her bed, the little flame of anger in An Ran’s heart flared up. "Jun Moli, get out of here right now, or don't blame me for not giving you a chance to regret it!"

An Ran felt a massive headache. This man’s martial arts were far superior to hers, and she hadn't detected his presence at all while he lay on her bed. This was too dangerous for her!

Or had she already lowered her guard?

Jun Moli immediately looked devastated, his face full of grievance and heartache. "Ran’er, are you really going to let me go out and drink the cold night wind? Are you that cruel? I know you wouldn't, right? You wouldn't?"

"What about the room An Yue prepared for you?" She vaguely remembered this. Since he had a room, why was he running to hers?

"Don't mention An Yue, I have a headache, a terrible headache..."

Seeing Jun Moli acting like a spoiled child, An Ran was speechless. She kicked him and stepped back. "Go sleep in the outer room! I don't like sharing a room with anyone!"

If she didn't dislike having maids waiting in the outer room, Jun Moli wouldn't have been so bold as to run into her room in the middle of the night. Damned Jun Moli, it seemed she had been too nice to him these past two days, and he had forgotten his place again!

"Fine!" Seeing that An Ran was truly angry, Jun Moli dared not push further. Reluctantly, he got off the bed, glanced at An Ran, and scurried to the outer room.

Looking at the hard cot intended for the night-watch maid, his mouth twitched. He would rather have gone back to the room An Yue had prepared for him! Although the young couple, Liehuo and Jiaoyang, didn't know the meaning of restraint and made those face-reddening sounds, it was certainly more comfortable than this hard cot.

When Jun Moli had asked An Yue for accommodation, An Yue had been stunned, but after some thought, he had taken Jun Moli to the courtyard where Liehuo, Jiaoyang, and others lived.

Since he didn't treat Liehuo, Jiaoyang, and the Han brothers as mere servants, he had arranged for them to live in the courtyard next to An Ran’s. Since Jun Moli wanted to stay, he had to be placed there. There was only one vacant room, and it happened to be right next to Jiaoyang and Mengdie’s room.

An Yue had someone clean the room and redecorate it. The bed was soft, but after less than an hour of sleep, the sounds of "humming and ah-ing" from next door had made it impossible for him to settle. He was a normal man, too, and he had his own needs...

He wondered how Liehuo had survived living next to them for so long. He had stormed into Liehuo’s room, but it was empty—they had probably been scared off!

Jun Moli was truly helpless. He didn't want to hear those sounds and wanted to sleep. Finally, after searching all the courtyards, he found that An Ran’s daybed was the most comfortable. And the little brat wasn't in her room in the middle of the night, so he could enjoy some peace. But once he lay down and smelled her scent on the silk covers, his mind cleared, and he couldn't sleep!

He had it so hard!

An Ran lay on the bed, back turned to the outer room, her sensitive hearing preventing her from falling asleep. She was so annoyed that she couldn't help but say coldly: "Jun Moli, either go to sleep or get out. Stop pacing around; you're disturbing my rest!"

Jun Moli stopped in his tracks, one foot suspended in mid-air. If someone saw this pose, they would surely laugh their heads off. He didn't care, gently put his foot down, and suppressed his presence as if he had vanished from the room.

"Jun Moli, Jun Moli..."

Hearing no movement, An Ran called out twice. Then, using her spiritual sense, she felt that no one else was in the room. She felt a slight sense of disappointment before closing her eyes to sleep.

Jun Moli stood in An Ran’s bedroom, smiling faintly as he looked at her calm, sleeping face. A wave of tenderness washed over him. Once he resolved everything, such a quiet, peaceful life would not be far off!

Meanwhile, on the roof of the General’s Mansion, the Ghost-Masked Man finally broke free. He stretched his stiff limbs, feeling his entire body ache. Seeing the sky beginning to pale with the approach of dawn, he quickly got dressed and left.

Witch, I will remember this grudge!