Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Invitation and Speculation
After hearing this, Qin Li couldn’t help but feel a growing fascination for Phoenix Lake. At the same time, however, he suddenly developed a certain "interest" in Leng Yao. It wasn’t a romantic interest, but rather the sudden realization that Leng Yao was a rare and valuable talent!
Having been in this world for half a year and experienced many things, Qin Li had come to realize that one could not rely solely on oneself. Even if his own strength became unparalleled, even if he reached the apex of individual martial might, he would only be a lone wolf. He would never be able to stand at the true summit of power!
Just look at those top-tier experts, those Supreme Powerhouses—which one of them didn’t have their own sect or family? Not to mention, before he transmigrated, Qin Li himself had been the boss of a gang. He naturally understood the advantages of having a large organization at his command better than the average person.
An idea gradually began to take shape in Qin Li’s mind.
So, after a moment’s hesitation, Qin Li lowered his head and wiped a hand across his face. He once again reverted to the appearance of a young man in his twenties, then looked at his three dumbfounded companions and asked, "This little trick of mine... how does it compare to the Disguise Pills you mentioned?"
"You changed your face in an instant! Heavens, if I couldn’t still hear your voice, I’d never believe you were Qin Li. How did you do that? Is... is that a mask?"
Bu Yunyan couldn’t contain her curiosity. Although she knew this was surely a secret technique he wouldn’t share, they had just gone through a life-and-death situation together, and she felt their bond had deepened, so she couldn’t help but ask. At the same time, a greater doubt arose in her heart. ’This illegitimate son of the Qin Family, who for thirteen years had never once left Yellow Sand City... where did he learn all these incredible skills?’
Everyone knew about the Only I am Venerable combat technique, so there was no need to mention it. But what about his other abilities? If anyone still thought Qin Li had only become so formidable by relying on that "Divine Level" technique, they’d be considered a fool. Many Martial Artists had cultivated the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, Only I am Venerable technique, but they all ended up either dead or crippled. Was there anyone else as amazing as Qin Li?
It wasn’t just Bu Yunyan; Hu and Leng Yao had similar thoughts.
Qin Li smiled faintly. "This? It’s just a little trick I figured out when I was bored as a kid. If you want to learn, I can teach you..." ’He could only say that for now. He couldn’t very well tell them he’d learned the art of mask-making from an old Taoist back on Earth, could he?’
Leaving aside the level of trust Hu and the others had in him, if he wanted to win them over, he naturally had to display convincing abilities.
Among the four of them, his own strength was the highest, yet they had offered up the One-leaf Centennial Grass without hesitation... This trust between companions deeply moved Qin Li.
"Ha, learn that? I’d better not. I’m sure it’s difficult."
Bu Yunyan laughed it off. She had an excellent impression of Qin Li and didn’t want to take advantage of him. She then changed the subject, asking, "Since you can use a Disguise, why did you appear as your true self? You know they all hate you to the bone!"
Qin Li smiled faintly. In the moment before he acted, he had hesitated as well, but ultimately decided to reveal his true face. Because even if he had used a disguise to kidnap Mo Feifei and save everyone, they would have suspected him anyway. His appearance and voice could change, but their hatred couldn’t! Besides, the mask he had painstakingly spent half a year gathering materials for would have been wasted. It was better to just show his real face.
This way, in the minds of people like Qin Feng and Mo Feifei, he... would forever have only this one image.
When he later appeared in Yellow Sand City with a new identity, they wouldn’t suspect a thing! For Qin Li, good steel must be used for the blade’s edge!
"An ordinary Disguise Pill could never achieve this. From this close, I can’t see a single flaw in your mask. If you changed your attire a bit, aside from your height, you’d be a completely different person!" Leng Yao’s eyes were fixed on the mask on Qin Li’s face, trying and failing to find any imperfection. She was filled with admiration, as even Qin Li’s gaze now looked like that of a young man.
Qin Li thought, ’I wonder how you’d react if you knew I could even change my height.’
"What are your plans for the future?"
Qin Li glanced at Hu and the other two, asking with a hint of apprehension. ’Although he was the strongest among them, any one of the other three was probably richer than he was! So, what could he possibly use to win them over?’
"I want to go with you to Phoenix Lake," Leng Yao said immediately, without a hint of hesitation. "We’ll figure out the rest later."
"Yeah, we’ve offended the Qin Family now. Looks like we can’t go back to Yellow Sand City," Hu said with a wry smile. He then perked up and laughed heartily. "I guess I’ve been living too comfortably, to think I’d start worrying about gains and losses! A Hunter’s true nature is to call the four seas his home!"
Among the three, only Bu Yunyan seemed to have some inkling of Qin Li’s intentions, though she wasn’t entirely sure. She ventured a probing question, "Little Brother Qin, you’ve also seriously offended two of the great families of Yellow Sand City. Unless you go back with the face you’re wearing now, they won’t let you off the hook either."
Qin Li smiled slightly. "Do you think this face is bad, Bu?"
Bu Yunyan didn’t play along with Qin Li’s joke. Instead, she looked him seriously in the eye and said, "Little Brother Qin, tell me, what do you want to do in the future?"
Hearing this, Qin Li’s smile faded. He glanced at Hu and Leng Yao, then met Bu Yunyan’s eyes with a gaze as clear as water. He said softly, "What if I told you that I want to build a grand foundation, to achieve a renown that will last for ten thousand generations... and that I want to invite you all to join me in realizing this dream? What would you think?"
’Just as I thought!’ Bu Yunyan sighed internally. ’This little rascal is certainly ambitious! He really dares to say such things!’ But precisely because Qin Li had been so frank about his innermost thoughts, Bu Yunyan, Hu, and Leng Yao all fell silent.
If they had agreed readily, that would have been a problem. Although the face Qin Li wore looked much more mature, everyone knew he was only thirteen or fourteen years old. Not only did he currently lack any foundation to speak of, but his enemies were also incredibly powerful.
None of the three believed that the two brothers, Qin Feng and Qin Hu, would ever let go of their mortal enmity with Qin Li. Despite being close blood relatives, that was the most unreliable relationship in the world—the kind with seemingly close kin! Besides, Qin Feng and Qin Hu had never treated Qin Li as family, and Qin Li, naturally, would never consider them his family either!
However, the three of them were also extremely optimistic about Qin Li’s potential. Thirteen years old, and already a High Tier Profound Level martial artist! And with all his mysterious, almost supernatural skills, one could only feel awe. It was impossible to even feel jealous!
An idea suddenly occurred to all three of them. ’How could Qin Li possibly possess so many mysterious abilities on his own? Behind him... could there be... a much more powerful master?’
