MTLNOVEL Chapter 781: Dealing with the Thousand-Faced Master (Part 2)
He watched the actions of Luo Chen, Qing Shuang, and Feng Qing, a sly gleam flickering in his eyes.
"It seems it's time for you to taste my true methods," the Thousand Faces Master murmured, then turned and disappeared into the night.
The night was as dark as ink, the lights of the small town gradually dwindling. Luo Chen, Qing Shuang, and Feng Qing sat together at Elder He Tu's residence, discussing the upcoming plan.
Elder He Tu frowned, fully aware of the danger posed by the Thousand Faces Master and the challenges they faced.
"You've done very well," Elder He Tu slowly spoke. "But the Thousand Faces Master's influence is more complex than we imagined. I have sent intelligence to the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, but support from there will take a few days at the fastest. During this period, we must remain vigilant and not let the Thousand Faces Master succeed in his schemes."
Luo Chen pondered for a moment, then said, "We cannot sit still and wait for our doom; we must take the initiative. Perhaps we can use these clues to find the Thousand Faces Master's hideout."
Qing Shuang nodded in agreement, "Luo Chen is right, we cannot give the Thousand Faces Master a chance to breathe. Among the townspeople we rescued, someone might know something useful."
Feng Qing proposed another angle, "We can also spread the word in town to see if anyone has seen similar black-clad people or suspicious activities; that might gather more clues."
Elder He Tu nodded after listening, "Alright, proceed as planned, but remember, safety first. Don't act alone."
Luo Chen, Qing Shuang, and Feng Qing then set off separately.
Luo Chen began inquiring around town, Qing Shuang talked to the rescued townsfolk, and Feng Qing posted notices in hopes of attracting more attention.
Luo Chen asked around town, discovering that the townspeople were terrified of the black-clad people but were afraid to say much due to fear of reprisal.
He patiently reassured each person until finally, an elderly man, encouraged by Luo Chen, revealed that he had seen some black-clad individuals loitering near the abandoned mine outside town.
Qing Shuang learned from the townspeople that recently some families' livestock had mysteriously disappeared, with strange noises heard beforehand.
Realizing this could be related to the Thousand Faces Master's plan, Qing Shuang decided to personally investigate the abandoned mine.
After posting notices in town, Feng Qing sat quietly in a teahouse, observing the passing crowd.
He noticed a simply dressed man standing in front of the notice for a long time, seemingly very interested in its content.
Feng Qing casually approached him, attempting to initiate conversation.
"Brother, are you interested in the notice's content?" Feng Qing asked tentatively.
The man turned his head, a hint of caution in his eyes: "I'm just curious; the town's been unsettled lately."
Feng Qing smiled slightly, "Indeed, which is why we need everyone's help. If you know anything, you might as well tell me; perhaps it could help us solve the trouble."
The man hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Actually, I've seen a few black-clad people near the abandoned mine outside town, they seemed to be digging something."
Feng Qing felt a jolt in his heart, realizing it might corroborate the information Luo Chen got from the elderly man.
He thanked the man, then quickly went to find Luo Chen and Qing Shuang.
The three met again, summarizing the information they had gathered.
They decided to head to the abandoned mine immediately to see if they could find any clues about the Thousand Faces Master.
In the dark of night, they stealthily approached the mine.
The mine entrance was concealed by weeds and vines, giving it an eerie appearance.
Luo Chen led the way, carefully pulling back the camouflage and leading Qing Shuang and Feng Qing into the mine.
Inside, the mine was damp and dark, with only the faint glow from their torches.
As they ventured deeper, they discovered some strange symbols and patterns, seemingly remnants of an ancient ritual.
"These symbols..." Qing Shuang whispered, "I've seen them in the ancient tomes of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion; they're related to summoning evil spirits."
Hearing this, Luo Chen and Feng Qing felt their hearts sink.
If the Thousand Faces Master was indeed summoning evil spirits, the situation was far graver than they had imagined.
They pressed onward into the mine when suddenly, a low chanting echoed from the front.
The three immediately extinguished their torches, silently creeping towards the sound's source.
Deep within the mine, a circle of black-clad figures surrounded an ancient altar laden with various strange artifacts.
The Thousand Faces Master stood before the altar, holding a tattered book, chanting softly.
Luo Chen, Qing Shuang, and Feng Qing exchanged glances—they knew it was time to act.
They must stop the Thousand Faces Master from completing the ritual, or the entire town and beyond would face great disaster.
Luo Chen drew his Longsword, Qing Shuang followed closely, and Feng Qing began preparing talismans.
With tacit understanding, they launched an attack, aiming directly at the Thousand Faces Master.
The Thousand Faces Master sensed their arrival, showing a flicker of panic in his eyes, but he quickly restored his composure.
He waved his hands, and the surrounding black-clad figures rushed at Luo Chen and the others, trying to block their assault.
Battle erupted once more, the mine resounding with the clashing of metal and the explosions of spells.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang were like two sharp blades, piercing straight into the black-clad figures' formation, while Feng Qing continuously cast spells from behind, supporting his companions.
The Thousand Faces Master realized he must complete the ritual quickly.
He sped up his chanting, and the objects on the altar began to emit an eerie glow.
Seeing this, Luo Chen knew he couldn't delay any longer. With a shout, he unleashed a powerful force, slashing at the Thousand Faces Master.
Qing Shuang followed suit, her sword light flowing like water, targeting the Thousand Faces Master's vital spots.
Under their two-pronged attack, the Thousand Faces Master finally exposed a weakness.
Seizing the opportunity, Feng Qing immediately cast a powerful talisman, a wave of formidable energy rushing towards the Thousand Faces Master.
The Thousand Faces Master's figure wavered under the energy wave's impact. He tried to stabilize himself, but Luo Chen and Qing Shuang's attacks shadowed him relentlessly, leaving no room for respite.
The Thousand Faces Master's chanting was interrupted, and the altar's glow gradually dimmed. He knew his situation was hopeless.
"You...you will not succeed!" the Thousand Faces Master howled, yet his voice was filled with despair.
Luo Chen's sword tip pressed against the Thousand Faces Master's throat, Qing Shuang's sword aimed at his heart, and Feng Qing used talismans to block his escape route.
"It's over, Thousand Faces Master," Luo Chen said coldly.
"You think you can stop me just like this? The power behind me is far stronger than you imagine!" Though subdued, a trace of madness still glinted in the Thousand Faces Master's eyes.
"We don't need to know the power behind you, only that you have failed," Qing Shuang replied, her voice firm and calm.
Feng Qing stepped forward and took the tattered book from the Thousand Faces Master's hands.
"What is this?" he asked.
The Thousand Faces Master sneered, "That book contains the secret of summoning evil spirits. You may have thwarted my plan, but someday, others will find it and complete what I could not."
Luo Chen furrowed his brow, realizing this book mustn't fall into others' hands.
"We need to hand this book over to the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion to handle."
The three of them bound the Thousand Faces Master, preparing to take him back to town to Elder He Tu.
On the way back, Luo Chen couldn't help but ponder the Thousand Faces Master's words.
What exactly was the power behind him? Could there be an even greater conspiracy brewing?
Returning to town, Elder He Tu breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing they had successfully subdued the Thousand Faces Master.
"Well done. You've not only saved the town but also prevented a potential disaster."
Luo Chen handed the tattered book to Elder He Tu.
"This book records the secret of summoning evil spirits. We believe it should be handled by the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion."
Elder He Tu took the book and carefully flipped through it.