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

"return!"

The scene before him was as if swept away by a raging wind, and Song Beiyou once again experienced the strange feeling of being torn to pieces.

When he regained consciousness, Song Beiyou was astonished to find himself sitting behind a wooden table, with a tiny lamp flame floating on an oil lamp, its green light like a small, still flying insect, illuminating only the area around the table.

The desk is old and cracked, with patterns that twist and turn like mysterious ancient seal script; a book is spread out on the desk, with a wolf-hair brush leaning at an angle; another ebony box lies quietly, its surface engraved with patterns that resemble a simplified human face.

With their minds in sync, he understood that this was a safe house for returning after completing the mission, and he could stay here for a quarter of an hour.

Following his will, the Book of Impermanence, spread out on the table, shimmered with a mysterious light, and on its mirror-like surface, rusty characters were written with a wolf-hair brush:

Robber: Song Beiyou

Lifespan: Four years

Current Accessory: Qianyuan Eightfold Insight - First Insight, Emptiness

Mask Collection: Qianyuan's Eight Awakenings - First Awakening

A quick glance reveals the striking red "four years" in the "Lifespan" column, outlined in vermilion, resembling the King of Hell's red seal on the Book of Life and Death, coldly determining the time limit.

Song Beiyou looked nonchalant. Four years is four years, at least he won't have to use a wheelchair anymore. Besides, completing the mission will reward him with lifespan; the interval between missions can't possibly be longer than four years.

Wait a minute. Song Beiyou's heart skipped a beat when he saw the "Mask" section. This inherited mask would continuously deplete his lifespan. It seemed to only require pressing the button once a day, but if he wore it continuously, wouldn't his lifespan be halved, reduced to two years?

Moreover, he could wear another mask. If the second one also shortened his lifespan... Song Beiyou's forehead began to sweat, and his heart tightened.

A thought flashed through his mind, and he decided to remove the mask. The mask, as thin as a cicada's wing, indeed fell off, but along with it, the 20% bonus to his physique disappeared.

Song Beiyou felt like a deflated balloon, his whole body feeling weak and empty.

As the mask fell back into the pages of the book, he silently recited, "Wear the mask." The ancient mask instantly transformed into a beam of light, perfectly fitting his face before disappearing, and the powerful aura returned.

Song Beiyou felt slightly relieved. It seemed that it could be worn in an emergency and was flexible in its configuration.

There is also a "Hundred-Faced Box". As soon as Song Beiyou thought about it, a wooden box appeared in his hand. Its shape was similar to the previous "Thousand-Faced Treasure Box", but the quality seemed to be a level lower. It should be a box that can open "Hundred Skills" or ordinary martial arts skills.

Without further ado, Song Beiyou reached out and opened the box.

A burst of colorful light flew out, swirling rapidly in front of him, before finally fading away, leaving only a mask with a faint purple halo floating in the air.

The lines on this face are rounded, seemingly depicting a fat face with a large head and ears.

"Purple? That seems nice. Could it be that my bad luck has turned into good fortune, and I've become the chosen one?" Song Beiyou was somewhat surprised. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a "cook" mask.

Simply pick it up and put it on your face, and the relevant information will naturally appear:

Having worn the "Hundred Trades: Master Butcher's Skill" set, the following effects have been achieved:

·The Butcher's Twenty Years of Experience and Insights in Butchering Oxen.

• Retribution: You bear the karma of the butcher's slaughter, and all livestock and poultry are naturally hostile to you.

A vast and complex stream of information instantly flooded his mind. Song Beiyou subconsciously rotated his wrists, and his hands developed a profound muscle memory for it.

In a daze, I found myself holding a handy meat cleaver, with a large piece of beef in front of me. Using my hand as a knife, I sliced, guided, and cut the meat with fluid, effortless movements.

Song Beiyou suddenly realized that a current of electricity had surged through his spine and spread throughout his shoulders and back. This was by no means a simple skill of cutting flesh and removing bones, but a different kind of "subtle" wonder—a state of "the senses knowing when to stop, but the spirit wanting to move," a transcendent realm of "entering the space between things with nothingness."

He raised his hands and examined them with the eyes of a master butcher. Every line on his hands and every joint seemed to become a "gap" that could be easily dissected, and the whole exquisite process of peeling skin, removing bones, and separating tendons naturally appeared in his mind.

"Is this telling me... to enter the Dao through cooking?" Song Beiyou was taken aback. In his previous life, he had seen scenes of chefs killing people with their knife skills in some movies and novels.

At that moment, a two-inch-wide, yellowish talisman floated down. Song Beiyou caught it—[Martial Arts Mask Enhancement Talisman - Mastery]. If he could obtain an external martial arts mask later, he could directly use this talisman to upgrade.

Song Beiyou understood that his core strength from now on lay in these masks. To become stronger, upgrading the masks was paramount. Besides upgrade runes, were there any other ways to improve them?

Qianyuan's Eight Awakenings: First Awakening

• The cicadas are the first to sense autumn: (omitted)

• Qian Gang Zhi Yang: Omitted.

Initial progress: 3% (+).

Focusing your mind on the plus sign immediately displays the following information:

[It can be improved through use, and the awakening progress can also be increased by absorbing corresponding inherited bloodlines.]

"One is to use it more. Indeed, it started at 1%, but now it has increased to 3%. Another way is to absorb and inherit the bloodline? Where do we get that?"

"Combat is the best application! As for the other method, we'll study it later." Song Beiyou took out the only two "Butcher's Skill" masks he had, rubbing his fingers on the cool mask as he pondered, "How should you level up?"

The mask covering the fat-headed man suddenly shook, and several lines of prompts appeared on his face:

[Imbue lifespan and elevate rank.]

[By investing twenty years of lifespan, one can reach the pinnacle of mastery. However, due to limitations in innate talent and comprehension, breaking through to the Grandmaster level requires an additional investment of lifespan.]

Song Beiyou already had a clear understanding of his path to becoming stronger. But there were still two key issues: how to increase his lifespan, and how to obtain the various masks?

Song Beiyou turned a page of the Book of Impermanence, and the second page was covered by a dark red blood mist.

As he focused his attention, the blood mist churned slightly, receding a bit to reveal a burly figure in the water mirror, weaving through the crowd. Beside the mirror lay several small, blood-red characters: The Tribulation Bearer – Ding…

Reflecting on his recent ordeal, Song Beiyou had a sudden realization: "Could it be... that next time, it will be my turn to help others overcome their ordeals?"

Just then, the dim light, the dim lamplight, the ancient case and other scenes crumbled inch by inch, and the scene before us had changed drastically.

……

In the narrow alley, the wooden buckets collecting water under the eaves made a crackling sound, like popping beans.

Song Beiyou smelled the familiar odors of soot and swill, and looked around. Inside the second-floor window, the light was still dim, but the song had changed melody: "Rose, rose, most beautiful, rose, most gorgeous..."

The water that had spread across the bluestone slab was almost submerging the soles of his shoes. His legs had fully recovered, and as he took a step, water splashed and sprayed across the soles of his shoes.

The wheelchair is gone, and so is Fang Ming's body? Did Zhao Xiaoliu take it?

Song Beiyou's cold brows furrowed as his eyes swept across the surroundings. Under the rain, everything became hazy, and the unlit alleyway was pitch black.

Water splashed onto his trousers, raindrops drenched his head and face, a chilling sensation, yet Song Beiyou's heart burned with passion. With a healthy body and an external advantage, this chaotic world was sure to offer him a chance to prove himself.

Lost in thought, he walked for a while, and just as he stepped out of the alley, he bumped into a dark figure. His brows furrowed, his eyes narrowed, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.