Volume 1, Chapter 3 – Oh No, the Human Skin Mask Won’t Come Off

“What the hell is going on? If I can’t take this off, what am I supposed to do if I run into someone who recognizes this face?”

Huang Qi realized the severity of the situation.

“Maybe I should just hide in some godforsaken place, never step outside again, and live like a coward.”

His first instinct was to flee, but he immediately dismissed the thought. “No, that won’t work. First of all, who knows if keeping this mask on will have side effects? Second, Ruan Lingyu has already seen me. If she goes back and talks to the real owner of this face, the truth will come out. With the Honghua Sect’s methods, even if I burrow underground, they’ll drag me out.”

“I absolutely can’t rely on luck—this Human Skin Mask has to come off, no matter what!”

Steeling his resolve, Huang Qi grabbed the gleaming scissors from the table and brought them toward his face. If I can’t peel it off, I’ll just cut it to pieces!

But after hesitating for a long time, he still couldn’t bring himself to do it. The mask was too thin, almost as if it wasn’t even there. Who knew if one wrong cut would leave him disfigured?

Pacing back and forth, Huang Qi suddenly had an idea. “Right! Maybe a doctor at the clinic can help!”

Feeling as though he had grasped a lifeline, he hastily began stripping off his clothes to change back into his original male attire. He planned to cover his face with a cloth before heading out—after all, the women’s clothing was far too conspicuous.

“Wait… What if the doctor recognizes this face? This county might be remote, but it’s not completely devoid of people who’ve seen the world.”

His hands froze mid-motion as this realization struck him, and he wavered again.

“Screw it. Sitting around waiting for death is worse than taking a gamble.”

Gritting his teeth, Huang Qi made his decision. He hurriedly changed into men’s clothing, cut a piece of coarse black fabric to cover his face, and rushed out of the inn.

Having lived in this county for years, Huang Qi knew the area well. He quickly arrived at a clinic. Afraid of being seen by others during the consultation, he decided to wait until no one was around before entering.

Half an hour later, once he confirmed the clinic was empty, Huang Qi sneaked in like a thief.

“Young man, what seems to be the trouble?”

An elderly doctor with graying hair asked from behind the counter.

“Doctor Zhou! Can we speak in private?”

Huang Qi fidgeted awkwardly. He had been here twice before and knew the doctor’s surname was Zhou.

“Heh…”

Doctor Zhou chuckled knowingly, assuming Huang Qi had some embarrassing ailment. He led the way into the back room, closing the door behind them while his apprentice minded the front.

“Doctor Zhou… Doctor Zhou… Please, look at my face!”

The moment they were inside, Huang Qi tore off the face covering and stammered.

“You—”

Doctor Zhou’s jaw dropped, his body stiffening like an old tree taking root.

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‘Does he recognize this face?’

Huang Qi’s entire body went numb with tension, his muscles coiled, ready to bolt at any second.

“You… Are you a man or a woman?”

After a long pause, Doctor Zhou finally managed to stutter out the question.

Huang Qi let out a long sigh of relief before replying in a dejected tone, “Doctor Zhou, I’ve had the worst luck. A while ago, I found a Human Skin Mask, and today, out of curiosity, I tried it on. But now I can’t take it off!”

“That shouldn’t be possible. Did you use glue? There’s a special adhesive for these masks.”

Doctor Zhou stroked his beard, looking somewhat knowledgeable.

“What glue? This mask sticks on its own! I didn’t use anything, but now it’s fused to my skin. I’ve tried everything, but it won’t budge!”

Huang Qi’s voice cracked as he pointed to his cheek. “Look! I’ve torn my skin trying to peel it off, and it’s bleeding!”

Doctor Zhou leaned in and saw blood seeping from the edges of the mask. He barely suppressed a laugh before coughing twice and saying with professional composure, “Don’t panic. With me here, I’ll make sure this mask comes off without harming a single hair on your head.”

“Doctor Zhou! You’re a miracle worker!”

Seeing the man’s confident demeanor, Huang Qi was moved to tears of gratitude.

Doctor Zhou had Huang Qi lie on the examination bed, then gathered an assortment of tools and began his work.

Huang Qi trusted Doctor Zhou completely, so even as sharp pains shot across his face, he clenched his teeth and endured.

“Doctor Zhou! Is it done yet?”

As time passed, the pain only worsened. Finally sensing something was wrong, Huang Qi couldn’t help but ask.

“Not quite! Hang in there, young man. As the saying goes, ‘Persevere, and the clouds will part to reveal the moon’.”

Doctor Zhou had transitioned from physician to motivational speaker, his smile warm and reassuring.

“Forget it, forget it! I don’t want it off anymore!”

Huang Qi chickened out and tried to sit up.

“Don’t move! Do you doubt my skills?”

The self-proclaimed “miracle doctor” refused to let his patient leave. If Huang Qi ran out now, his hard-earned reputation would be ruined!

Huang Qi panicked. He shoved Doctor Zhou’s skeletal hands away, grabbed his face covering, and fled in terror.

After this ordeal, Huang Qi no longer dared to seek help from quack doctors. He could only slink back to the inn in disgrace.

Lying on the bed, his heart still pounding, Huang Qi waited for his nerves to settle. But the more he calmed down, the more the pain on his face flared.

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“That damn fraud!”

Cursing under his breath, Huang Qi got up and examined himself in the bronze mirror. His face was now a horrific mess—covered in wounds and blood, the Human Skin Mask hacked into tatters, revealing the mangled skin beneath.

“That damned quack! Thank heavens I ran when I did, or he’d have disfigured me for life!”

Huang Qi wanted to cry but had no tears left. He pondered his next move. “What do I do now? Should I go to a major city and find a real expert? But I don’t have the money for that.”

Resigned, he abandoned the unrealistic idea. For now, he had no choice but to accept his fate. He decided to visit his grandfather tomorrow. Even though the mask was ruined, at least he no longer had to fear being discovered by the immortal sects. Compared to his life, what did a ruined face matter? Maybe this was a blessing in disguise.

“But what identity should I use when I go back?”

Lost in thought, Huang Qi studied his reflection for a long time before gritting his teeth and deciding to stick with his original plan—pretending to be his fiancée. Even if his face was damaged, it still looked like a woman’s, didn’t it?

“In this world, finding a wife is hard enough. My parents won’t be picky.”

He comforted himself with this thought.

With his decision made and the sky outside darkening, Huang Qi lay down to sleep. But the stinging pain on his face kept him restless. Eventually, a faint itch overtook the pain, lulling him into a hazy slumber.

Soon, Huang Qi began to dream.

He found himself inexplicably inside a room filled with the scent of rouge and powder. The surroundings were indistinct, but the pink dress he wore—clearly meant for a little girl—stood out vividly.

Beneath him sat a woman in her twenties, dressed in a white ruqun that hugged her waist, her curvaceous figure impossible to hide. She exuded a maternal aura, and her face bore a striking resemblance to Huang Qi’s Human Skin Mask—about fifty to sixty percent similar, even down to the dimples on her cheeks. The only flaw was a bean-sized red birthmark on her face, marring her beauty.

Huang Qi had never seen this woman before, yet for some reason, she filled him with an indescribable sense of familiarity, so much so that he forgot to be afraid.

“Ling’er, your father said he’d be back today. Why isn’t he here yet?”

The woman holding Huang Qi suddenly spoke with a sigh.

Before Huang Qi could think of a response, his body answered on its own.

“Will Daddy bring me sweets?”

The voice was that of a little girl—soft, sweet, and brimming with anticipation.

“You greedy little thing. When has your father ever come back empty-handed?”

The woman teased affectionately.

“Is it candied hawthorns?”

Huang Qi’s dream-body pressed eagerly.

“Wife… Wife…”

Just then, a man’s voice called from outside, brimming with excitement.

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Huang Qi turned to the door and saw a middle-aged man walk in. He had refined, scholarly features but sun-tanned skin, suggesting a life of hardship.

“Husband, you’re back!”

The woman set her daughter down and rushed to greet him.

“Yes, I’ve kept you waiting.”

The man’s eyes were full of love.

“Husband, you’ve gotten so tanned. Was your trip to the prefecture successful?”

The woman asked with concern.

“Very. Once I sell this batch of goods, I’ll make a hefty profit. A few more trips like this, and I’ll have enough to buy a settlement permit from the Honghua Sect. Then I can send you both to live in the immortal sect’s territory.”

The man spoke excitedly.

“Husband, you’re going back to the prefecture for more goods? Please, just give it up. I worry every time you leave.”

The woman pleaded.

“No. My life doesn’t matter, but you two must go to the immortal sect. Only there can you live safely.”

The man’s tone was unshakable.

“But the commandery is safe enough, isn’t it? It’s crowded, full of yang energy. There aren’t even many ghosts or demons here.”

The woman tried to persuade him.

“You know I’m not talking about ghosts or demons—I mean people! With so few women left in this world, our daughter is already so adorable. When she grows up, she’ll attract too much unwanted attention. If suitors come openly, that’s fine, but what about the lawless ones? Kidnapping women is common these days. If I can’t protect her, then sending her to the immortal sect is the only way.”

The man gazed lovingly at Huang Qi’s dream-body.

Even in the dream, Huang Qi felt a surge of emotion. This man was risking his life just to buy his family a place in the immortal sect.

“Is it really that serious?”

The woman clung to a sliver of hope.

“Wife, you don’t understand. Today, Brother Cao approached me again, hoping to arrange a marriage with our family. And he’s not the first. What’ll happen when our daughter grows up?”

The man explained grimly.

“They’re just joking. Ignore them. She’s only three—marriage is the last thing we need to worry about.”

The woman tried to reassure him.

“He seemed serious. And can you blame him? Our daughter really is a beauty.”

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The man turned and pinched his daughter’s cheek affectionately.

“Sigh… Then just send her alone. That’ll lessen the burden.”

The woman relented, offering a compromise.

“No. You’re both going. That’s the only way I’ll rest easy. But starting today, you must keep her hidden. Don’t take her outside, and don’t let guests see her.”

The man insisted.

“Alright, Husband.”

The woman agreed obediently.

“Actually, to be safe, have her wear a veil. She can take it off once you reach the immortal sect.”

After a moment’s thought, the man made his decision.

When Huang Qi woke the next morning, sunlight already streamed through the window. Recalling the dream, he felt a wave of shame.

“A grown man dreaming he’s a little girl? How absurd!”

His cheeks burned with embarrassment, and he instinctively reached up to touch them.

“What the—?”

His expression twisted in horror as he stumbled to the mirror.

The reflection showed a familiar, delicate face.

Overnight, the Human Skin Mask had completely regenerated.

No—it was worse than that.

“How is this possible? Am I hallucinating?”

Terror contorted his features as he pressed his face closer to the mirror. But the image didn’t change.

The mask had grown overnight, now covering his entire face so seamlessly that no one could tell it wasn’t real.

Even more horrifying—Huang Qi couldn’t find the edges of the mask anymore.

It had fused completely with his skin.