Chapter 144: Disguise Mask

After hearing Bai Feiyu’s explanation, the Fourth Princess sent another message, simply saying, "Alright."

Then, she suddenly added, "How about I come over to visit you?"

Bai Feiyu: "..."

*Little Princess, seriously, the only reason I’m not going out right now is to avoid you! Qian Shuang is currently overjoyed about her gambling winnings; if I invite a strange girl over at this moment...*

However, Bai Feiyu did not dare to refuse the Fourth Princess like that. At the same time, he felt there was no need to be overly secretive since nothing had happened between them—they were just friends.

He eventually found Qian Shuang and informed her of the situation, explaining everything that had transpired with the Fourth Princess. Seeing that Bai Feiyu was indeed innocent, Qian Shuang agreed to let the Fourth Princess come over to meet. Most importantly, Qian Shuang had witnessed Bai Feiyu’s selfless devotion to her back at the Yunling Sect, which gave her a sense of security she wouldn't have felt with anyone else.

Relieved that Qian Shuang didn't see an issue, Bai Feiyu sent their location to the Fourth Princess via his communication jade slip. He figured that since everyone from the Guixu Sect was still inside, they would likely have departed by the time she arrived.

He hadn't expected the Fourth Princess to be so fast. Within the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, she had arrived at the inn. Bai Feiyu had no choice but to go out and welcome her, bringing her inside.

"Bai Feiyu, who is this...?" Yang Fan was puzzled to see Bai Feiyu bring back a strange young girl. He had thought Bai Feiyu was a modest and upright person; how did he know such a girl? Moreover, with Qian Shuang right there, how could he dare bring her in? However, when Yang Fan saw Qian Shuang smiling as she welcomed the Fourth Princess, he was stunned. *This situation is getting complicated...*

Yang Fan wanted to pretend he hadn't seen anything, but Bai Feiyu spotted him and decided to pull him in to help entertain the guest. After all, he couldn't be the only one keeping the Fourth Princess company, or trouble would surely follow.

Once inside, the Fourth Princess met Bai Feiyu’s partner for the first time. She immediately looked at Qian Shuang with newfound respect; anyone who could capture the heart of such an exceptional young man must be someone extraordinary. Bai Feiyu introduced everyone—specifically Yang Fan and Shi Yuan, as they were not from the Guixu Sect.

The Fourth Princess beamed at Bai Feiyu and asked, "Guess what I brought for you?"

"What is it?" Bai Feiyu wondered, surprised, as he had already received his tournament rewards. Was she giving him something in private?

The Fourth Princess produced what looked like a face mask. Bai Feiyu was baffled; he wasn't a young girl, so he had no use for such things. But her next words left everyone in shock.

"Don't underestimate this thin sheet. If you apply it to your face, it will change your appearance. And if you want to return to normal, you just peel it off. I asked my father for a few of these; I thought I’d give you one. After all, it's quite pitiful that you can't even go out and explore the capital."

Bai Feiyu realized then that such things existed in this world. It was a thoughtful gesture, and a perfect solution: it would allow him to go out without burdening Qian Shuang, who might feel uncomfortable if he wandered around with the princess.

"Wait a moment, I need to change," Bai Feiyu said, suddenly feeling industrious. He headed to his room to change his clothes. He couldn't wear the same outfit he had worn during the tournament, or he’d likely be beaten to death by the people who had lost money betting against him.

He felt a pang of sadness. Usually, people lost money because others bet on them and they failed. In his case, he kept winning, causing others to lose their fortunes. They must hate him to death.

After changing, he applied the mask and looked in the mirror. His facial features shifted entirely.

Except, he had become... utterly hideous! He was the type of person who would turn heads for all the wrong reasons just by walking down the street. Bai Feiyu sighed. His handsome face was so perfect that he had to go to such lengths to hide it.

When he emerged, the others gasped. He looked completely different from his original self, so much so that they couldn't help but feel a sudden wave of pity for him. Bai Feiyu felt like crying, but he was relieved that Qian Shuang didn't immediately distance herself from him.

"By the way," the Fourth Princess said, "once you all return, you’ll likely be heading to the battlefield soon."

"The battlefield?" Bai Feiyu was stunned. He hadn't heard anything about this. Had the Zhao Kingdom started a war? Qian Shuang, Shi Yuan, and Yang Fan were equally confused.

The Fourth Princess explained, "The Zhou Kingdom, our neighbor, has been encroaching on our borders. My father is furious and plans to strike back directly. The Zhou Kingdom has been causing the deaths of many of our border citizens for years. I’ve even heard their soldiers use our people for wicked rituals—it’s intolerable. This Grand Tournament was held to show that the Zhao Kingdom is full of young heroes. We are going to strike hard and engage in a decisive, long-term war to wipe out the Zhou Kingdom once and for all. As young heroes, you will all be called to serve, and we will surely meet on the battlefield."