Chapter 19: 19. All beginnings are difficult Rustle~~ A strange beast skin was spread out in front of Song Yan. This place was exclusively for Official Disciples of South Bamboo Peak to make skins. Compared to the chores room, the environment here was vastly improved. Besides the pleasant atmosphere from being located atop the residual Profound Vein, the lighting and ventilation were also quite good. Transparent crystals were inlaid in the irregular holes of the dome, and the golden sunlight shone down on the nearly transparent jade tables. But unlike the long tables in the chores room that seated dozens, these tables were exquisite and small, only accommodating two to three people. This skin was Demon Beast Skin. But it was different from the few Demon Beast Skins Song Yan had seen in the chores room. "The ones in the chores room are just old, damaged Demon Beast Skins for the servants to practice on, but ours here are undamaged low-level Demon Beast Skins." Zhang Yin smoothed out the skin and added, "At least this piece here is unbroken. So, we must be extra careful when crafting it. If successfully made into a Shadow Puppet, it would earn ten Contribution Points. But if it failed, you’d have to compensate. Three Contribution Points." "Understood, Senior Brother Zhang." Song Yan nodded solemnly. Then, Zhang Yin began instructing him in the basic crafting techniques for Demon Beast Skin. The process was similar to ordinary beast skin, but to avoid damage, the requirements for handling and carving were much more delicate. "Junior Brother, pay attention, these are four basic carving techniques." Zhang Yin focused intently, lightly scraping with a carving knife, "Snowflake." Changed the scraping to the blade, the blade didn’t move, fingers exerted force, the skin spun in reverse. "Filament." The carving knife lifted slightly, tapped down gently, then he picked up a hammer and tapped "thud thud" twice. "Chisel." The blade held flat, angled to the skin surface, pushed by hand force. "Push and Cut." Song Yan watched carefully, and then Zhang Yin handed him a damaged beast skin to try his hand, saying, "Junior Brother, give it a try. In a few days, you’ll handle the Demon Beast Skin. Before, in the tannery, you could make one or two Shadow Puppets a day, but with this Demon Beast Skin, if you make one in three days, that’s quite good." After speaking, Zhang Yin brought over a drawing, saying, "This is the Blood Blade Deer, you try this first." "Thank you, Senior Brother." Song Yan began trying on the damaged beast skin. This attempt immediately gave him a different experience than working in the tannery. The resistance on the Demon Beast Skin was substantial, and when pressed down with the palm, a distinct stinging sensation occurred; the more force applied, the stronger the sting, as if countless needles hid within the dead demon beast’s skin. He recalled Zhang Yin’s previous movements. The palm almost suspended, with the five fingers taut and tense. It could be said he was practically using only his fingers to craft the skin. The required strength and effort were evident. Song Yan asked, "Senior Brother Zhang, what kind of demon beast is this?" Zhang Yin replied, "The most common low-level demon beast, the White Thorn Deer. They can be seen everywhere on the outskirts of demon beast gathering areas, but they aren’t something ordinary disciples like you, who haven’t even mastered magic, should encounter." Song Yan nodded, suddenly asking, "Then what level are the demons from the Mountain and Sea Kingdom?" The question was asked naturally. After asking, Song Yan even added in a casual tone, "The furnace in the room told me that the Multi-tailed Fox Race is just one of the clans in the Mountain and Sea Kingdom." But the air suddenly grew silent. Zhang Yin glanced at him and cautiously said, "That’s not demon beasts, that’s... demons. Demon beasts are at least beasts, but demons have already transformed into a different existence... Don’t ask the rest; someone like me, an ordinary disciple, wouldn’t know. However, Junior Brother needn’t worry. To Great Wei, the Mountain and Sea Demon Country is insignificant, and the Multi-tailed Fox Race might not even know it has such a descendant, so they won’t invade." Song Yan nodded, continuing to focus as he practiced his skin crafting skills. He heeded the advice well; since Zhang Yin told him to practice more with damaged demon beast skin, he decided to practice a few more days. Once he was familiar with the techniques and wouldn’t make mistakes, he would then use the "liable for compensation if damaged" demon beast skin. ... ... Seven days later. [You extracted the remaining lifespan of a White Thorn Deer: 22 years] Song Yan looked somewhat speechlessly at the finished "Blood Blade Deer" Shadow Puppet. In seven days, if luck was on his side, he could have extracted 140 years of lifespan. This...even if he discounted the first four days of adjusting, he only extracted 22 years in three days. However, despite extracting less lifespan, in three days he could earn 10 Contribution Points, which was many times more than before. ’It has its advantages and disadvantages.’ Song Yan was not discouraged. Starting was always tough, and this was his first time crafting Demon Beast Skins. This kind of crafting was evidently challenging, but if skill improves with practice and if he could eventually craft with stronger demon beast skins, he could reap both lifespan and benefits. Moreover, he had a keen interest in becoming a "Skin Master" too. To him, in any world, "technical roles" were safer than "warriors." "Warriors" had to go to battlefields, whereas "technicians developing and researching weapons" stayed in "research labs." Even if disaster struck, organizations would first evacuate "technicians"; if encountering enemies, they’d send "warriors" to protect "technicians"; if "technicians" were accidentally trapped, they’d even dispatch "warriors" to rescue; if truly unable to rescue, "technicians" wouldn’t be killed, they might be recruited by the enemy, and if they didn’t surrender, they’d most likely be treated well... How wonderful. He wanted to be this "technician." Song Yan’s thoughts were drifting when Zhang Yin had already come to inspect the beast skin he made. Senior Brother Zhang held the shadow puppet made from beast skin, examining it in the sunlight, clicked his tongue in wonder: "Not bad, not bad. For the first time making it like this, truly talented." Song Yan smiled. He had already reached the Profound Second Layer, with better control over both perception and power, naturally able to make excellent skins, but he still acknowledged, "It’s because Senior Brother taught well." Zhang Yin patted his shoulder and said, "Keep up the good work. If you really do well, I’ll keep my word and recommend you." In the evening, Song Yan sat in the tannery, focused on processing the next beast skin. A fragrant breeze suddenly blew in from afar. He did not lift his head. Wang Susu sat across from him, smiled, and said, "Junior Brother, can I sit here tomorrow?" She did not show any seductive demeanor but rather sincerity. Seductive tactics were her means for killing and previously deceiving the furnace, not for seeking partners or allies. Song Yan replied, "You can." Wang Susu covered her mouth and laughed, "Junior Brother sat opposite me on the first day you came to South Bamboo Peak. Today, we’re sitting together again. It’s fate indeed. This time, Senior Sister will certainly be sincere. I hope Junior Brother won’t let me down." Her voice grew softer and softer. Song Yan nodded gently. Wang Susu was indeed useful and clever, full of ideas, and with just a few words, helped him avoid a big pitfall. Without her reminder, he might have avoided the pit himself, but it was still good karma. Wang Susu smiled radiantly, moved her beast skin and tools over, then sat across from Song Yan, bent over the table crafting skin, and said no more. ... ... More than a month passed in the blink of an eye. Qingxi Market. The South Bamboo Peak team, having completed their beast skin procurement, planned to rest for a night at the inn in the small town by the market and return at dawn. In the dead of night, a slender, masked figure quietly left the inn, swiftly heading towards another residence. She knocked on the door. Entered. Inside, a man wearing a silver-white sword robe looked at the masked figure before him in surprise, cautiously saying, "Coming so late, what might be your business?" The shadow said, "Are you a brother from the Sword Sect?" The man paused, then nodded, after all, the sword robe he wore was the disciple attire of Nanwu Sword Sect, then asked puzzledly, "Which Junior Sister might you be?" The shadow reached into her chest and pulled out a palm-sized map, swiftly handing it to the man, saying, "Senior Brother, this is a map of part of Shadow Puppet Peak’s terrain, a place rich in Evil Qi, differing between night and day. Give it to the sect. Also... Xu Changjun Senior Brother is missing, possibly already sacrificed." The man unfolded it, looked carefully, then nodded solemnly, "Don’t worry, I will relay it." The shadow said, "Then, I’ll take my leave." The man said, "Junior Sister, surrounded by foes, be very careful." "Thank you, Senior Brother," the shadow replied and turned around. Behind her, the man in the sword robe suddenly grew cold, flicked his finger, and the flying sword silently unsheathed, with his finger sword technique, shot forth, about to hit the shadow’s back. The shadow, realizing too late, turned around, her beautiful eyes filled with shock, confusion, fear... But there was no time to react. And just then, a male figure leaped down from the nearby wall, gripping a sword, standing behind her. Clink! The sound of sword rang crisply. Clang!! A sword flew out in reverse. The figure that appeared was pinned to the ground by the flying sword. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦 Blood splattered, spraying the shadow’s face. "Quick... go..." the figure shouted shakily, "Quickly go! He is a spy of the Demon Sect..." The sword-robed man smiled, strode forward, fingers moved again, with the sword technique, the talking figure’s head was already severed. The blood-stained flying sword suspended in mid-air. And just then, not far away, several figures in sword robes flew over. The sword-robed man was stunned, could not afford to kill the shadow anymore, turned to control his sword and flee. The shadow stood in place like a fool, the black cloth slipped from her face, revealing a charming oval face, yet the heroism on it turned into extremely complex emotions. She wiped the blood on her face, the blood on the ground, dumbstruck. And just then, one figure among those chasing flew back, landed, looked at the shadow, paused upon recognition, then softly sighed, "Lady Qi Yao, being a spy isn’t easy, the battle between good and evil is more intrigue than the straightforward revenge you expect... go home." Qi Yao looked at the blood in her palm, lips trembling. She looked at the disciple who died for her, tremblingly asked, "Who is he?" "Does it matter?" "It matters, he saved me... he used his life to save me..." "But many such disciples are dying." Qi Yao took a deep breath, wiped the blood off her face, turned, and ran away quickly. She closed her eyes tightly, holding back tears. In the distance, the sword-robed figure sighed lightly but shook his head, did not pursue.