During the Republic of China era, I achieved unparalleled success by returning to the past.

"It was around seven o'clock. We drove around outside for a long time before we finally shook them off," Juan said in a low voice as she approached.

The fruit platter contained apples, oranges, peanuts, and red dates. She walked to the table and asked in a low voice, "Is everything alright?"

Song Beiyou glanced at the makeup bag on the table and smiled, "Of course."

Ah Juan chuckled, "That's good! Now I can hand in my task. Sister, have a taste." With that, she stretched out the fruit plate and placed it on the table.

Murderous intent! A slightly tense back, the grip of fingers on the tray, and rapid breathing!

Song Beiyou's pupils contracted sharply. He stepped onto the wooden floor of the sofa and sprang up like lightning. With a flick of his right hand, a faint light, like a wild goose treading on snow, swept across her snow-white neck before disappearing.

"Liu Xinju-zui!" Ah Juan's eyes widened, and she subconsciously touched her cold neck, where she felt a sticky, warm substance. "You, save...save..." She staggered and fell into the sofa, her eyes filled with terror and pleading, like a dying fawn on a winter night.

Song Beiyou simply looked at her calmly. Qiu Chan had sensed the subtle state of mind first, making him exceptionally sensitive to everything and more confident in his judgment.

Ah Juan's hand fell limply to her side, and a cold dagger slipped from her sleeve.

On the dance floor, Qinghe swayed gently, singing with abandon, while the dancers danced around her.

The drumbeats control the rhythm. Everything remains the same.

Bang! The gunshot wasn't sudden; instead, it was drowned out by other sounds. In Song Beiyou's eyes, a streak of light rapidly approached, the bullet striking him precisely between the eyebrows. A dozen meters away, downstairs, a white figure swiftly disappeared into a blind spot.

On the brink of life and death, he suddenly fell backward, simultaneously drawing his gun with his right hand, flicking his wrist, pulling the trigger, and with a flash of light, the bullet left the chamber.

A crisp sound rang out from the gilded bronze pillar, sparks flew, and the bullet ricocheted instantly, disappearing precisely into the shadows around the corner. A white figure fell to the ground, revealing straight trouser legs and a pair of leather shoes.

Everything was overshadowed by the lively atmosphere of the dance hall, leaving no ripples. This person was none other than his superior, that young master Jie.

The Book of Impermanence opens before your eyes, and blood-red characters appear:

[Having successfully helped Su Xiaowan survive the ordeal, you may stay for a moment or return immediately. Note: Your physical body will serve as the anchor for time-space reversal.]

[Tribulation Assessment: Good.]

Song Beiyou relaxed; the mission was complete.

He quickly got up and left, returning to his suite via the staff entrance.

"Whether Ah Juan and that Young Master Jie wanted to kill you out of personal motives or on orders from higher-ups, it's up to you to investigate. I don't care."

"This evaluation is 'good,' does that mean I didn't completely resolve your troubles? With my current abilities, I can't deal with your godmother and the organization behind her."

Looking at himself in the mirror, Song Beiyou stroked his chin and grinned, "Won't it be a little awkward when we meet in our real forms? With your intelligence, you're not as easily fooled as Ding Qiang."

Recalling Ding Qiang's description, after being brought back to life, the person who was destined for calamity knew what they were doing.

"Then the serum I hid..."

Song Beiyou took out paper and pen, paused for a moment, and wrote a sentence: "I saved your life, the blood serum is mine." He then folded the paper into a piece and put it into the inner pocket of his cheongsam.

"Girl, don't repay kindness with enmity. After I'm injected with the serum and become stronger, maybe we can join forces to help you eliminate the mastermind behind it all."

As for how she was killed on the dance floor in the original timeline, and whether A-Juan's body actually appeared in room 618 of the Grand Fortune Hotel, it's impossible to know. Because everything in the timeline of Su Xiaowan's death has been overwritten.

After glancing around the suite, Song Beiyou silently wished to return.

The Book of Impermanence flew out, turning to the third page, where Su Xiaowan's face appeared in the mirror, with blood-red characters drawn beside her:

Please select one of Su Xiaowan's abilities and condense it into a mask:

• Martial Arts: Willow Heart Iaijutsu - Mastery

Martial Arts Skill: Swallow Skill - Mastered

• Martial Arts: Proficiency in Firearms

• Skill: Stealth and Disguise • Mastery

Physical condition: None

Internal cultivation: None

• Talent: Nightingale's Song (Your singing voice is melodious and pleasant, inspiring affection in people)

Song Beiyou raised an eyebrow slightly. Su Xiaowan really knows a lot. This makes it a bit difficult for me to choose.

Liu Xin's Iaijutsu is an explosive sword technique, especially good at assassination. When combined with the skill of Butcher Ding's Dissection of Ox, it can achieve a synergy greater than the sum of its parts.

Swallow Skill, a lightness skill, overlaps with the Cloud Ascent and Leap Technique, but she has ten years of experience in it.

Gun proficiency, combined with Autumn Cicada's Awareness, is a god-tier skill, but its potential is too low. As for talents, we won't consider them.

With a thought racing through his mind, Song Beiyou's gaze sharpened. He knew that agonizing over it was useless; he would surely have countless ability masks in the future.

The Willow Heart Iaijutsu technique emphasizes controlling the blade with gentleness, flowing like water, making it suitable for a woman's petite and delicate body. While proficiency with firearms doesn't have a high ceiling, it offers the greatest improvement for me right now. I've proven it in actual combat; even a master like Zhang Dabao has to be careful when facing my spear.

It can be said that it has eight arms nearby and a divine spear in the distance.

Upon making the decision, Su Xiaowan's face lost its radiance, abstracting into a mask as thin as a cicada's wing and surrounded by emerald light.

The mask vanished, and the inscription was redrawn: [Press the seal to complete, the soul is restored to life, and true longevity is shared. (Su Xiaowan)]

Song Beiyou extended his thumb and pressed it on the name. A trace of emotion, a melody—it was Su Xiaowan's resentment, sorrow, and longing for family affection.

His soul left Su Xiaowan's delicate body, and the Book of Impermanence infused him with life-giving light, allowing Su Xiaowan to change her fate and be reborn, gaining another 20 years of lifespan.

In the next instant, the scene changed, and he was sitting by the ancient oil lamp.

The reward notifications cascaded down before my eyes like a waterfall:

You have been granted two years of lifespan.

[You have obtained the mask with the skill "Proficiency in Firearms".]

You have received an additional Heavenly Talisman Treasure Box.

The notification vanished abruptly, and new rusty lettering appeared on the homepage:

Robber: Song Beiyou

Lifespan: Forty years

Faceplate: Inheritance · Qianyuan Eight Awakenings · First Awakening, Emptiness

Mask Collection: Qianyuan Eight Awakenings - First Awakening, Butcher Ding's Skill in Carving an Ox - Master, White Ape with Eight Arms - Master, Firearms Proficiency

There was no extra lifespan bonus this time. Originally, there were eighteen years left, but with the bonus of two years, plus the twenty years shared with Su Xiaowan, the total is forty years.

In Song Beiyou's star-like eyes, the Heavenly Talisman Box, shimmering with precious light, flew out.

"Open!"

[Obtain the White Mask Upgrade Talisman - Grandmaster] A warm and smooth golden talisman lands in your hand, which can be used to upgrade "Butcher's Skill". Wearing the mask will make you a Grandmaster-level Butcher.

He immediately pressed the golden talisman onto the fat face of the butcher, and in an instant, golden light shone brightly, flowing and swirling, and the mask changed from purple to gold. (From "Bai Ye: Butcher's Skill in Carving an Ox: The Master")

Song Beiyou put it on his face and experienced it for a while. He learned that the wonderful state of spiritual connection between heaven and man, and the enlightenment he had entered, was even more profound.

With his mind preoccupied with the "Red Shark Serum," he immediately chose to return to his true form. The feeling of sinking returned, and when he opened his eyes again, he was already in room 507.

The chandelier cast a dim light, the mahogany tables and chairs, the beige walls—everything remained the same. His gaze swept over the newspaper that had been spread out on the table before entering the dungeon, and he was immediately captivated—the place that had previously featured a large section reporting on Su Xiaowan's death had been replaced with new content.

In the black and white photograph, a luxurious building is burned beyond recognition, with the shocking words next to it: "Colombia Ballroom on Fire".

His fingertips slowly traced the ink on the newspaper. So, besides me, no one else in this world knows that Su Xiaowan was ever dead.

The first time they saved Ding Qiang, they didn't know each other at all and didn't have such a deep feeling, but Su Xiaowan was different.