The Master’s Mask Unveiled Again
Chapter 978 - 977: If You Want to Be Good to Lu Mian, You Have to Line Up and Take a Number

Chapter 978: Chapter 977: If You Want to Be Good to Lu Mian, You Have to Line Up and Take a Number

Lu Mian had studied the maps and detailed architectural plans of Chixia Sect beforehand. Even though it was her first time here, she navigated like an expert.

The Chixia Sect was vast, about the same size as Qing University. In addition to various training grounds, a mysterious Underground Palace had been excavated behind the sect’s ancestral hall.

According to the information she’d uncovered, the Underground Palace was designed by a true disciple of Master Lu Ban, with countless hidden mechanisms and unfathomable depths. Only the current Sect Master and his wife could enter—the rest who tried either couldn’t get in or never came out. No one knew what was inside.

The current Sect Master of Chixia Sect was Jing Heng, the son of Jing Pei.

Lu Mian decided to find a chance to explore the Underground Palace.

However, her current destination wasn’t the Underground Palace; she was headed to find Mo Fan.

On the way, she received a text from Mo Fan, stating he was at the entrance of Training Ground No. 1.

Lu Mian wasn’t surprised to find Mo Fan here, as he was a member of Chixia Sect. After a few twists and turns, she quickly reached him.

He was still the same—expressionless, cold, and as ruthless as ever, exuding the aura of a deadly assassin.

Arms crossed, he stared indifferently into the distance.

"Mo Fan," Lu Mian called out to him.

The deadly assassin, who was initially brimming with menace, instantly broke into a smile. "Miss Lu, why’d you come straight to me? I was planning to pick you up in a bit!"

Lu Mian simply responded with a calm "Mm," appearing unfazed. Compared to Mo Fan, she seemed more like the seasoned and elite assassin.

"I memorized the map last night."

Mo Fan wondered why she’d studied the map—she didn’t need to explore. With him here, how could she possibly get lost?

He quickly offered a thoughtful reminder: "Miss Lu, I’ll be staying at Chixia Sect for the foreseeable future. If you need anything, just call me. While I can’t speak for other places, here in Chixia Sect, my words carry weight!"

Mo Fan was someone Xiao Qimo had sent to Chixia Sect for special training. A hardworking and enduring figure, Mo Fan had slowly risen to become the most formidable presence in the sect—a role model to its disciples and the benchmark they all aspired to surpass.

Naturally, Mo Fan wouldn’t boast about his accolades in front of Lu Mian. He simply felt proud that he finally had the chance to prove himself, making his life feel full of hope.

Lu Mian remained stoic. "That works. It saves trouble for Old Jing."

Old Jing...

Upon hearing this, Mo Fan’s poker face immediately crumbled.

Life felt despairingly unfair.

How could he forget? Miss Lu and Old Jing were close friends—practically inseparable!

He wanted to shine in front of her, but it seemed he couldn’t even get in line!

Mo Fan clutched his fragile heart in anguish, crouching down in an exaggerated sulk and doodling circles on the ground. Before he could spiral further, Lu Mian grabbed him by the collar, leaned in, and gave him a sly wink.

Mo Fan’s hairs stood on end.

"I want to ask you something..." Lu Mian said, gripping Mo Fan’s shirt. "Did you guys lock the leader of the Mercenary Alliance in the Underground Palace?"

"!!!"

Mo Fan couldn’t comprehend why Lu Mian was suddenly curious about this topic. He nearly jumped in protest, filled with grievances.

"Miss Lu, we absolutely didn’t! If their leader really were in Chixia Sect, I’d be the first to ruin his martial arts achievements myself!"

Chixia Sect and the Mercenary Alliance were rivals, both competing internationally to complete missions. Taking down the opposing leader and throwing their organization into chaos would be a feat worthy of bragging about for decades.

For instance, now that the Mercenary Alliance had lost its leader, internal conflicts raged on, external threats loomed, and the entire organization was a chaotic mess.

This upheaval was why, back in Shencheng, lower-ranked mercenaries with B-level skills were seen attempting to undertake high-difficulty missions above their grade.

Mo Fan and Chixia Sect initially enjoyed sitting back, observing the drama unfold. However, one day, the Alliance unexpectedly came knocking, claiming they’d traced their leader’s disappearance to the vicinity of Chixia Sect.

Mo Fan reluctantly explained the whole affair to Lu Mian, almost desperate enough to swear on his life for innocence.

"Honestly, if we had captured their leader, that would’ve been perfect. Chixia Sect could’ve coerced them into submission instead of dragging this mess on for so long..."

Lu Mian was inclined to believe Mo Fan. To her, Mo Fan was Xiao Qimo’s man, and thus one of her own.

She patted Mo Fan on the shoulder in a reassuring gesture.

Inwardly, she contemplated how to resolve this matter.

The Underground Palace in Chixia Sect... she couldn’t shake the urge to set foot inside, no matter the cost...

Mo Fan noticed her slight distraction and only then realized, "Miss Lu, why did you suddenly bring this up?"

Lu Mian furrowed her brows and answered earnestly, "Wasn’t it you who sought my advice on this matter a while back?"

"..."

Mo Fan quickly recalled that he had indeed consulted Miss Lu about it before. At the time, she’d suggested a few new techniques to help him defeat everyone involved.

Thinking it unrealistic, he hadn’t taken it to heart.

Unexpectedly, Miss Lu had genuinely remembered and cared enough about this issue.

Mo Fan felt both guilty and touched. Rubbing his teary eyes, he muttered, "Miss Lu, I’m ashamed to say it—you treat me better than Mo Ye does..."

Mo "Fragile Heart" Fan pulled out a mask from his pocket and put it on, concealing the embarrassment now etched across his face.

"But Miss Lu, you’d better steer clear of this matter. Mo Ye definitely won’t let you get involved." Especially anything involving combat.

"Don’t worry. He won’t find out."

Lu Mian calmly patted him a few times before leaving with ease.

"Miss Lu, love you!" Mo Fan formed a small heart shape with his fingers and respectfully watched her depart.

Soon, a group of young men dressed in training uniforms approached from behind Mo Fan in perfect formation.

The leading man, Jiu Ping, greeted Mo Fan humbly.

"Greetings, senior!"

Mo Fan immediately composed himself, snapping back into his assassin persona and coolly turning around with hands folded behind his back.

While unmasked, he could still pass for a normal person. But with his black mask on, he exuded an overwhelming sense of danger and unyielding force, like an arrow ready to be loosed.

Jiu Ping bowed courteously. "Senior, why are you standing here? Training Ground No. 1 has been temporarily designated for student military training—it’s quite chaotic here..."

Mo Fan raised a hand slightly. "You’re serving as the instructors for the military training, aren’t you?"

The line of men behind Jiu Ping responded in unison, "Yes, sir."

These were disciples who’d joined Chixia Sect within the last two years. Though young and relatively inexperienced, they were more than capable of training university students.

Mo Fan nodded. "Treat them well."

Faced with a row of disciples’ confused expressions, Mo Fan added, "I mean exactly what I said! Especially take care of the physics department. Got it?"

Mo Fan didn’t know Lu Mian’s exact major, only that she belonged to the physics department. He decided to offer blanket instructions accordingly.

Jiu Ping was perplexed but didn’t dare ask questions.

Before this, the previous Sect Master had given similar orders.

Jiu Ping himself was in charge of training the applied physics department and made a mental note of Mo Fan’s emphasis.

——

As Lu Mian returned to the training grounds, the instructors lined up neatly in front of their respective student groups.

The students shivered in fear, internally lamenting their fate.

The devilish and hellish training was about to begin!