Yun Shu reached out, her fingertips touching the Formless Mask as she adjusted the facial features like she was kneading clay.
Before long, a handsome mask took shape.
It featured striking, exotic features—deep-set eyes, a bridge of the nose as straight as a mountain peak, and thin lips that carried a hint of coldness when pursed.
She tilted her head to examine it, her lips curving slightly. “I didn’t expect my face-sculpting talent to be so high. It looks quite realistic.”
The next step was the hair.
She set the hair color to black and then chose one of the system’s default hairstyles.
The strands were pulled high and secured with a single red cord, tied into a crisp, high ponytail at the crown of her head.
For the robes, she directly applied the Ranger Set.
A set of black martial attire, cinched at the waist with a slightly worn leather belt, with a black short blade tucked into the right side.
It was sharp and dashing, her brows exuding a heroic aura.
Finally, there was the voice. She adjusted it to be slightly coarser and added a bit of a northern accent.
The new identity settled into place perfectly at that moment.
Li Qinghe, a native of Longyou, born in a small town on the northwestern border. Her father was a retired border soldier who raised her as a son from childhood, teaching her martial arts, spear techniques, horsemanship, and archery.
Longing for the world outside, she left home to travel far and wide, relying on her martial prowess to act as a wandering hero.
Yun Shu checked everything carefully. Finding no flaws in the new identity, she clicked confirm to save.
Then, she equipped the Formless Myriad Set.
A flash of white light passed, and her appearance changed completely, transforming her into an entirely different person.
Looking at her current reflection through the system panel’s mirror function, a trace of nostalgia flashed through Yun Shu’s eyes.
She was all too familiar with this face.
During those years undercover in the Golden Triangle, there were countless times she felt she couldn't go on. It was the original owner of this face who had accompanied her through one painful experience after another.
Back then, she always hoped that if she ever accidentally exposed her identity and died, Li Qinghe would be there to collect her body.
As it turned out, the other woman was even more short-lived, dying before her. Yun Shu never even got the chance to collect her remains.
Thinking about it now, not being able to collect the body might have been a good thing.
Though comparing ways of dying felt like a dark joke, being blown up was certainly more comfortable than being tortured to death.
...
Twilight fell.
The mountain forests on both sides of the official road sank into darkness.
Yun Shu rode her horse slowly, one hand loosely holding the reins while the other was tucked into a hidden pocket of her leather belt.
Her fingertips brushed against the only remaining copper coins inside.
The Ranger Set had originally come with ten taels of silver, but after buying this horse, she only had six copper coins left.
She couldn't afford to stay at an inn.
Just as she was calculating where to get some money to find herself a place to stay—since sleeping in the wild every day wasn't a long-term solution—a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the air ahead.
Immediately after.
The sounds of horses neighing, wheels screeching to a halt, and the metallic ring of blades being unsheathed rang out.
This sound... could it be mountain bandits staging a robbery?
With that thought, Yun Shu lightly squeezed the horse’s flanks. The black horse raised its forehooves and trotted around the mountain bend.
The scene before her was exactly as she expected.
Seven or eight mountain bandits had a carriage surrounded on the mountain path. The driver was slumped over the carriage shaft, shaking like a leaf, lacking even the strength to crawl down.
The bandit leader was a burly man holding a thick-backed machete. He was using the tip of his blade to lift the curtain of the middle carriage.
Once the curtain was pulled back.
It revealed a rather sophisticated interior.
Green silk screens and plain curtains with dark embroidered edges—it wasn't overly luxurious.
But the materials were refined.
It belonged to the kind of wealthy family that didn't flaunt its riches.
Two people sat inside.
One was a young girl of fifteen or sixteen, huddled in the corner of the carriage, shaking so much her features were indistinguishable.
The other was a young scholar.
Dressed in green robes with a bamboo hairpin, he still held a scroll in his hand.
To be sitting there calmly reading a book while being robbed by mountain bandits—this person seemed quite interesting.
Yun Shu narrowed her eyes, her gaze lingering on the green-robed scholar with a hint of appraisal.
The man appeared to be in his early twenties, with a fair and refined face. His features carried a natural scholarly elegance.
The bandit leader’s voice interrupted her observation: “Hand over the gold and silver quietly, and I’ll give you a quick death.”
The scholar didn't speak. He simply closed the scroll in his hand and looked up at the leader.
That look was extremely indifferent and calm.
“The carriage of the Pei Clan of Heluo... do you really dare block it?”
The bandits looked at each other and stepped back half a pace.
“Boss, the Pei Clan of Heluo is a prestigious family. These two have high status. Maybe we should let them go,” one bandit whispered.
The leader slapped him hard and cursed, “We finally caught a fat fish! Why would we let them go?”
“But...”
“The mountains are high and the Emperor is far away. This is Xindu City, not Heluo. What are you so afraid of?”
Seeing this, the scholar’s brow furrowed slightly. “If you kill us, you will certainly be plagued with trouble.”
“Let us leave, and you can take all the gold and silver in this carriage. We will not pursue the matter.”
“Young master, how about you pay me instead, and I’ll help you take care of these bandits?”
The one who spoke wasn't one of the bandits, but a clear and bright female voice coming from behind.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
In the twilight, a black horse came galloping through the dust.
A tall woman sat atop the horse, her black hair tied in a high ponytail at the crown of her head. A few stray strands fell over her forehead, and her obsidian-like eyes shone as bright as stars.
The bandit leader snapped out of it, his face flushing between pale and red.
“Where did this wild brat come from?!” he roared.
Yun Shu didn't look at him; she looked at the scholar.
The scholar looked at her as well.
After a moment of silence.
He spoke. “What is your price, miss?”
Yun Shu held up one finger. “One hundred taels.”
The scholar raised an eyebrow slightly.
“One hundred taels to deal with these eight men?”
“Think it’s too expensive?” Yun Shu tilted her head. “Then I’ll also guarantee your carriage arrives safely in Xindu City. Consider that a bonus.”
Inside the carriage, a head peeked out from behind the scholar, tugging at his sleeve. “Uncle, she’s just a woman. How can she fight off bandits?”
The girl had an oval face, almond eyes, and skin as white as fine mutton-fat jade.
She was clearly a pampered daughter of a noble house.
Before the scholar could speak, Yun Shu said, “Whether I can or not, you’ll know once I try.”
Hearing this answer, the girl was stunned.
“What’s the verdict?” Yun Shu asked.
The bandit leader’s face was now as black as the bottom of a pot.
This woman hadn't looked him in the eye once from start to finish, and now she was actually conducting business right in front of him.
“You brat, you’re looking for death!”
He let out a violent roar and swung his blade toward the horse’s legs.
It was as if Yun Shu had eyes in the back of her head.
Without turning around, she lightly tapped the stirrups, and the black horse lunged forward two steps, narrowly avoiding the blade.
At the same time, she flipped down from the horse’s back.
The moment she landed, her short blade was out of its sheath.
The blade wasn't long, just over two feet, and the body showed signs of wear, but the edge was polished to a brilliant shine.
“Hey, this offer won't last forever,” she asked one last time, her gaze fixed on the scholar’s face.
He nodded slightly. “Deal.”
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