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Translator's note: The author definitely has some obsession with eyeballs. Eight out of 10 Specters in this novel have eyes all over their bodies.
"Let's get straight to the point, Mr. Fang," Yan Changshou began, sounding urgent. "You know why we're here—it's about the Genesis Mask. It's hidden deep within your soul, and without your help, getting it would be nearly impossible. Now that I know you won't cooperate, of course, I—"
His words stopped abruptly as his eyes widened in shock. Fang Xiu had casually placed the Genesis Mask on the table right in front of him.
"You want this? Why didn't you just ask?" Fang Xiu said, tossing the mask to Yan Changshou without a care.
Yan Changshou instinctively caught the mask, his face a blend of confusion and surprise. As he examined it, he realized it was the real Genesis Mask, not a fake.
This threw him off balance; he had planned to use a Specter to control Fang Xiu and take the mask by force. He never expected Fang Xiu would hand it over so easily.
"Is there anything else?" Fang Xiu asked calmly.
Yan Changshou quickly regained his composure. "Mr. Fang, you're quite straightforward. Now that the mask is mine, there's only one thing left—you go to hell."
As he spoke, crimson tentacles slithered out from his sleeves, ready to strike Fang Xiu with deadly force.
But Fang Xiu didn't even flinch. Just as the tentacles were about to pierce him, they suddenly stopped in mid-air.
Yan Changshou's voice came from behind the tentacles, surprised. "You're not afraid of death?"
"You talk too much," Fang Xiu replied.
Yan Changshou's face darkened, but then he chuckled softly, retracting the tentacles. "Mr. Fang, you're the strangest person I've ever met. You intrigue me more and more."
"Is that so? Because I find you incredibly dull," Fang Xiu shot back.
Yan Changshou laughed, seemingly amused. "Mr. Fang, you're quite the character. I'll give you a chance; a way to survive, if you—"
"Who do you think you are? What makes you think you have anything to offer me?" Fang Xiu interrupted, his voice calm but cutting.
His bluntness sparked a fierce anger in Yan Changshou.
As the tension grew, Yan Changshou's human form began to deteriorate. His right side erupted into grotesque tumors and tentacles, and half of his face transformed into a horrifying mass of flesh, bristling with countless eyes.
Yan Changshou's grotesque transformation, which would have terrified most, only drew a mocking laugh from Fang Xiu. "You can't even hold a human form? That's just ugly."
Yan Changshou's laughter turned dark and twisted. "Fang Xiu, no one refuses my offers. You have two choices: join me in taking out the head of the headquarters during the award ceremony, or—"
"I'll go with the first option," Fang Xiu cut him off.
Yan Changshou was taken aback, then angered. "Is that a joke? Are you mocking me?!"
To him, it seemed like Fang Xiu was playing some kind of twisted game.
First, he handed over the Genesis Mask without a struggle, seeming sincere. Then he insulted Yan Changshou, acting tough. And now, just as Yan Changshou was about to lay out a threat, he agreed to cooperate.
But Fang Xiu wasn’t joking. The idea of targeting the head of the headquarters during the ceremony intrigued him. He wanted to hear more about Yan Changshou's plan.
"I'm serious. Tell me how we can work together and what's in it for me," Fang Xiu said casually.
Yan Changshou found himself in a tricky spot; he was both angry and intrigued.
Boiling with rage, he pulled out a parchment covered in strange runes. Just looking at it gave off a feeling of unease, as if it held some dark power.
Yan Changshou sneered, "You want to cooperate? Prove it by dripping your blood on this parchment. It's cursed with Specter magic, and once you—"
"I already did," Fang Xiu interrupted calmly.
Yan Changshou was left speechless once more. He had lost track of how many times Fang Xiu had caught him off guard, especially after agreeing to the plan so quickly.
Yan Changshou couldn’t believe Fang Xiu would act without knowing the full story.
_'Does he know that by doing so will put his life in my hand?'_Now, Yan Changshou was genuinely curious about what Fang Xiu was thinking.
Fang Xiu seemed to be playing along—handing over the Genesis Mask, agreeing to the plan, even offering his blood—yet something felt off.
Yan Changshou felt like things were slipping out of his control. Fang Xiu’s actions made no sense for someone supposedly cooperating, and Yan Changshou found himself both baffled and frustrated. This situation was not unfolding as he had anticipated.
He had planned for two possible outcomes: First plan, Fang Xiu would refuse to cooperate, then Yan Changshou would use a Specter to obtain the Genesis Mask. He'd send a decoy to the award ceremony to assassinate the headquarters director. Second plan, Fang Xiu would reluctantly agree after some intimidation, hand over the mask, and join forces with him.
Fang Xiu's quick agreement to cooperate, despite his defiant attitude, was a complete surprise.
Yan Changshou struggled to keep his anger in check, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths. "Fang Xiu, do you realize that by dripping your blood on the parchment, your life is now—"
"Can you stop with the endless talking? We need to focus on our cooperation," Fang Xiu cut him off, clearly irritated and impatient. He had already handed over the Genesis Mask and given his blood; it was time to get down to business.
"Stop interrupting me!" Yan Changshou shouted, losing his composure. He activated the parchment's power, and a flash of black light shot into Fang Xiu's body.
"You like cutting people off, huh? Now you'll know what it's like to have your life controlled by someone else. Don't worry, I won't kill you. Just enjoy the sensation of a thousand ants gnawing at your heart!"
That was a torture Yan Changshou used to keep his subordinates in line.
But as the simulated pain spread through Fang Xiu's body, he remained calm. Instead of writhing in agony, he absorbed the pain, using it to feed his own Spiritual Energy.
To Fang Xiu, this was just another novel experience, another type of suffering to explore.
Yan Changshou watched, expecting to see Fang Xiu in torment. But as the seconds passed—one, two, three—his cruel smile faltered and then disappeared entirely.
Fang Xiu's expression remained serene, completely unaffected by the supposed torment. Yan Changshou's confidence wavered, realizing that once again, things weren't going according to plan.