Volume One: A Young Man Enters the World Chapter Forty-Nine: Disguise

Looking at the two young women before him—one unconscious, the other covered in wounds—Fang Tian stepped forward and asked, “Miss, how is your companion?”

As the girl lifted her head, Fang Tian saw her face clearly. Her features were delicate and refined, like a lotus emerging from water—truly beautiful. Her lips parted slightly, her expression gentle and smiling, as if she was born with an air of softness. Her clear, luminous eyes rested quietly on Fang Tian.

She spoke softly, “It’s nothing serious. She just fainted; her life is not in danger.”

“That’s good,” Fang Tian replied calmly.

The girl’s beautiful eyes lingered on Fang Tian as she pondered for a moment. Then she said gratefully, “Thank you, sir, for saving us! As long as you make a request, no matter what it is, I will agree.”

After she spoke, her gaze was earnest, as though she was ready to do whatever Fang Tian asked.

“Oh? Let me think,” Fang Tian said, stroking his chin as if deep in thought.

After a while, he seemed to have an idea; lowering his head, his eyes fixed intently on the girl.

“Sir, could it be that you…?” she began timidly, folding her arms across her chest.

“You’re overthinking it, miss,” Fang Tian replied with a light laugh.

Relief washed over the girl’s face—she had feared he would make some improper demand.

“Then, sir, what is it you desire?”

“There’s no need for that. I require no repayment,” Fang Tian shook his head.

The girl looked puzzled.

“If you seek nothing in return, then why did you save us? You could have refused my request just now,” she said, regarding him intently.

Fang Tian continued, “Consider it a case of seeing injustice and stepping in to help.”

“But how do you know we’re not the villains? What if you just rescued the wrong people?”

Fang Tian was momentarily speechless. Why did this girl have so many questions?

“If you were villains, would those men in black have bothered with me?” he replied.

She considered this, nodding thoughtfully. “No wonder you were willing to help us. I see now.”

But then she added, “Still, sir, I don’t understand. If you require no reward, aren’t you at a loss?”

Fang Tian felt a headache coming on. Was this girl a bit simple-minded?

“A rescue is a rescue. No reward means no reward. Why so many questions, miss?”

She smiled awkwardly, apologetic. “Forgive me, sir. I was being rude. You saved us, and it’s only right that we thank you.”

“No need for thanks. Will someone be coming for you soon?”

“I’ve already sent word with a token. They should arrive any moment.”

“Very well. I’ll stay with you until your people come, then I’ll take my leave.”

“You are too kind, sir. I truly don’t know how to repay your kindness.”

“I only lent a hand on a whim.”

“Even so, I must thank you again for your aid.”

“No need for courtesy.”

With that, Fang Tian stood beneath a large tree nearby, arms folded, saying nothing more.

The girl glanced down at the unconscious companion in her arms, relieved to see her color improving, and then looked again at Fang Tian.

“Sir, may I know your name? I would like to invite you to my home for a proper thank you.”

“My name is Fang Tian,” he replied, turning to look at her.

“I am Lin Shuang,” she introduced herself.

After exchanging names, the atmosphere grew quiet. After a while, footsteps sounded from the southern part of the grove—many, by the sound of it.

Fang Tian knew these must be the people she’d mentioned.

As the figures appeared, the girl called out, “We’re over here! Hurry!”

The group heard her and rushed over.

Seeing that her people had arrived, Fang Tian said nothing more. He pressed lightly off the ground, leapt nimbly from the tree, and as he passed the men in black still frozen in ice, waved his hand to lift the enchantment, then strode away.

The men in black, still unconscious, collapsed to the ground.

Lin Shuang watched Fang Tian leave, wanting to call out to him, but he was already gone—there was no chance to speak. She sighed softly. She had hoped to keep him there to thank him properly, but he had left so swiftly and silently that she felt a pang of regret.

“I suppose I’ll have to wait until we meet again,” Lin Shuang murmured.

“Miss, are you all right? Forgive me for arriving so late—it’s an unpardonable offense,” said the middle-aged man in charge, glancing in the direction Fang Tian had gone before addressing Lin Shuang respectfully.

“That’s enough, Lin Li. The princess is still unconscious. Take us into the city at once. Leave one of the men in black alive, dispose of the others,” Lin Shuang ordered, surveying the group.

“Yes, miss!”

Inside Wufeng City, dawn was still some time away.

In a place called the Spirit Tool Pavilion, in a rear room of its courtyard, Lin Shuang sat watching over the girl lying on the bed.

Lin Li, standing at her side, asked, “Miss, is Her Highness the princess unharmed?”

Lin Shuang turned to him. “She’s fine—she just needs rest. By the way, go and investigate who wanted us dead. I sense something major is about to happen in the imperial court.”

“Yes, I’ll wake one of the men in black soon and interrogate him to find out who sent them.”

“And one more thing—find me a young man named Fang Tian, about my age, eighteen or nineteen. If you see him, inform me at once. After all, he saved both me and the princess.”

“Miss, you mean the one who left just now?”

“Yes, he left too quickly for me to ask him to stay. If you can find him, I’d like to thank him in person.”

“If he could save you, Miss, his strength must be considerable.”

“He defeated the leader of the men in black—a cultivator at the fifth level of Spirit Gathering—in a single move. He’s very powerful.”

“Miss, are you saying that Fang Tian killed a fifth-level Spirit Gathering cultivator in one strike? That means his own cultivation is at least at the sixth level!” Lin Li exclaimed, stunned.

“That’s right. It would be wonderful to meet him again. Keep an eye out,” Lin Shuang instructed.

“Yes, as you command.” With that, Lin Li left the room.

Just then, the girl lying in bed awoke.

Seeing this, Lin Shuang hurried to her side to help her up.

“Lin Shuang, where am I?” the girl asked.

“You’re in the Spirit Tool Pavilion, managed by the Lin family in Wufeng City. Don’t worry, Xue’er, the men in black have all been dealt with,” Lin Shuang replied.

“And the one who saved us? I don’t see him. He didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

“Do anything?” Lin Shuang echoed in confusion.

“Lin Shuang, didn’t you promise him you’d do anything he asked? He didn’t take advantage of your beauty, did he?” Xue’er asked seriously.

Lin Shuang understood and laughed. “Master Fang Tian did nothing of the sort. If anything, we owe him a great debt.”

“That’s a relief. If you’d lost your honor because of this, I’d feel guilty for the rest of my life.”

“Xue’er, I should apologize to you. I never imagined that inviting you out for some fun would bring such danger. Without Master Fang Tian, we might not have survived,” Lin Shuang said apologetically.

“Don’t say that, Lin Shuang. No one could have predicted this. When I find out who dared to harm a princess, I’ll have my brother tear them to pieces!” Xue’er said angrily.

“I’ve already sent someone to investigate. Once we find out, we won’t let them go,” Lin Shuang replied, her gaze steely.

Meanwhile, outside Wufeng City, in a mountain cave, Fang Tian was conversing with Elder Tian in his mind.

“Elder Tian, as long as I use this disguise technique, they won’t know who I am, right?”

“Yes, Xiaotian. Once you’ve changed your appearance, you can re-enter Wufeng City.”

“But can cultivators with higher realms see through it?”

“No one below the Spirit Seed realm can see through it.”

“But what if I run into someone from the Spirit Seed realm? Wouldn’t I be exposed immediately?”

“Xiaotian, cultivators at the Spirit Seed realm can see through illusions and disguises. Ordinary disguise techniques are useless against them, unless you possess a technique that uses the energy of heaven and earth to mask your appearance. With such a technique, even those far beyond your level couldn’t see through it.”

“If only I had one.”

“So, Xiaotian, you must still be cautious in Wufeng City.”

“I understand, Elder Tian.” Fang Tian was well aware of his predicament.

With that, he altered his appearance entirely, assuming a new face.