Chapter 22: Courage? Fox?

Bang!

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Before Xu Ye could confirm whether this was the martial courage Iron Mask had spoken of, he saw six strange golden seals abruptly appear around the glowing orb, one after another, stamping heavily onto its surface.

Six seals in total, imprinted on the orb from front to back.

When Xu Ye looked closely, he suddenly noticed that all six seals were blank—each was an unwritten mark.

Boom...

Just as Xu Ye was lost in confusion, the orb stamped with six seals suddenly burrowed into his body.

Buzz, buzz, buzz...

The next moment, Xu Ye's ears rang. He felt an immensely powerful force wrapping around his blood, bones, skin, and even every cell of his body.

He could distinctly sense that this process repeated six times within him.

"Could this be the refining Iron Mask spoke of?" Xu Ye clenched his fists and knocked his arms together, feeling that his strength and the toughness of his skin and muscles had indeed increased considerably.

"Iron Mask said a single refining would double one's cultivation speed. I've been refined six times—does that mean I have six times the speed of an ordinary person?"

Xu Ye felt a surge of elation in his heart.

"You... you are... the Bearer of Firewood..."

At that moment, the ghostly woman, who had been suffering, suddenly regained the appearance of a young girl. She pointed at Xu Ye in terror.

"Bearer of Firewood? What does that mean?" Xu Ye curiously approached her.

"Ahhh!"

But as he drew near, a blinding aura burst around her. Flames engulfed her body as she wailed in agony, waving her hands desperately for mercy.

"Don't come near me, don't come near!"

"Forget it, there's nothing good to be gained from following a spirit."

Xu Ye shook his head and headed straight for the door.

...

Outside the door.

"This kid Xu Ye, he's been in there so long—could something have happened to him?"

"That shouldn't be. Anyone with a brave heart shouldn't fear the ghostly woman. At most, they'd be startled and need a rest before coming out."

Xu Ye's delay made Iron Mask anxious; he paced back and forth in front of the door.

Creak...

Just then, the door opened. Xu Ye emerged, holding a book.

"Xu Ye, you're finally out. If you'd stayed any longer, I would have gone in after you."

Seeing Xu Ye, Iron Mask was relieved and quickly walked up to him.

"I was just resting inside. Sorry to make you worry, Iron Mask."

Xu Ye bowed to him.

"So, how much did you recite?" Iron Mask waved his hand, curiosity written on his face.

"Six..."

"Six lines?!"

Xu Ye had meant to say he'd finished six chapters, but Iron Mask interrupted him before he could finish.

"Uh... more or less. Is the refining visible to outsiders?"

Xu Ye kept his guard up and didn't deny it.

"The degree of refinement is hard for others to see. If you have doubts, you can go to the Ghost Suppression Bureau and use a sacred item to measure it, like the Righteous Sword used to measure courage."

Iron Mask explained, then patted his shoulder and smiled reassuringly.

If you recited six lines from the first chapter, that's enough—you'd be considered middle-tier among ghost officers.

"Six lines is just middle-tier?" Xu Ye was surprised.

"Ghost officer work is tough. Most talented scholars and martial cultivators have better prospects and don't want to do it."

Iron Mask gave a bitter smile.

Xu Ye understood immediately.

"Still, while the job is hard and dangerous, we're less restricted. We only need to follow the orders of the Ghost Suppression Bureau's Yan Lord; other offices can't meddle with us."

Iron Mask quickly added, perhaps fearing Xu Ye would be discouraged.

Xu Ye nodded. The nature of a ghost officer's work—dealing with spirits every day—meant it was certainly unpopular, so he fully understood Iron Mask's reasoning.

"By the way, Iron Mask, I've awakened martial courage, but I don't feel much different."

Xu Ye scratched his head and sought advice.

"Raise your left hand," Iron Mask said, smiling.

"And then?"

Xu Ye raised his hand.

"Imagine the hot current within your martial courage flowing out and wrapping around your left hand."

Iron Mask continued.

"I'll try."

Xu Ye nodded.

"Huh? My hand seems to be glowing."

To his surprise, with a mere thought, a warm current wrapped his hand, and his palm began to emit a faint golden glow.

"Try striking that bronze post with your hand," Iron Mask pointed to a thick bronze pillar by the door, clearly wanting Xu Ye to feel the difference when his palm was enveloped by the righteous aura.

Xu Ye understood and turned to face the pillar, then struck it with his palm.

Bang!

He didn't use much force, yet his palm left a shallow print on the hard bronze.

"Once you've awakened martial courage, the righteous aura strengthens you, making your body like a sacred object, capable of great power."

Iron Mask smiled at the stunned Xu Ye.

"So the more righteous aura I have, the stronger I'll be?" Xu Ye murmured, gazing at his glowing hand.

He already knew that famous poetry and works increased his aura, and now he could use it physically—wouldn't he be able to slay spirits and gods alike?

"Not exactly."

Iron Mask shook his head.

"Both martial and scholarly cultivators have their own ranks and realms. Now that you've awakened martial courage, you're at the Brave level. At this stage, without sacred items or ghost weapons, the strength you can draw from your aura is limited. You must break through to advance further."

He explained patiently.

"How do I break through?" Xu Ye asked immediately.

"Once you've made enough merit and advance from the lowest rank of ghost officer to the next, you'll be eligible to learn how."

Iron Mask grinned at him.

Xu Ye was at a loss. He had just discussed promotions with Iron Mask—not to mention advancing to the highest rank, even rising from the lowest to the next required capturing or slaying ten minor ghosts and three fierce ones.

"That's a long way off."

He gave an awkward smile and scratched his head.

"Breaking through is still far for you. For now, focus on strengthening yourself."

Iron Mask pointed to the spot where Xu Ye's martial courage resided.

"Strengthen my martial courage?" Xu Ye looked at him with curiosity.

"You've been wrapping your hand in righteous aura for a while—have you noticed any changes?" Iron Mask asked, rather than answering directly.

"Changes?" Xu Ye paused, focused, and realized his martial courage wasn't as warm as before, and he felt a faint fatigue.

"Do you feel your courage cooling and your mind growing tired?"

Seeing Xu Ye lost in thought, Iron Mask pressed the question.

"Yes... yes, exactly!" Xu Ye nodded vigorously.

The changes weren't as pronounced as Iron Mask claimed, but Xu Ye guessed it was related to having recited six chapters and oaths, so he didn't contradict him.

"Even within the same realm, the martial courage can vary in how much aura it holds. Recite the six oaths daily to gradually strengthen it, allowing it to contain more aura. When it stops growing, that's your cue to break through."

Iron Mask explained in detail.

"So the degree of awakening affects how much aura I can ultimately hold?" Xu Ye nodded, then casually asked.

"That's right, but unless you've recited three full chapters or more, the difference isn't significant."

Iron Mask nodded.

Xu Ye understood and thought to himself, "I guessed right after all."

"Come, now that you've awakened courage, I can teach you the Ghost-Slaying Blade techniques and the first stage of courage cultivation."

Iron Mask beckoned him.

"Iron Mask, I started late—will learning the blade technique now be too late?"

Xu Ye asked as they walked.

In his original world, people often said martial arts had to be started young, or it was too late.

"Not at all. The Ghost Suppression Bureau has a transmission ledger. Once your name is entered, you'll immediately master the basics. But further progress depends on your talent and hard work."

Iron Mask glanced back at Xu Ye, and seeing his astonished face, he laughed heartily. "When I first heard that from the ghostly officer, my reaction was just like yours."

"Big Cousin, Big Cousin, wait!"

As Iron Mask led Xu Ye upstairs, a ghost officer in uniform, with a sharp face and monkey-like features, hurried after them.

"Fox?"

Iron Mask turned and instantly recognized him, stopping in his tracks.

"Finally found you, Big Cousin." Fox bent over, gasping for breath. After a moment, he looked up at Iron Mask and grinned, his squinting eyes indeed fox-like.

"You never show up unless you want something. Speak—what do you need me for now?"

"Big Cousin, that's not fair." Fox scratched his head and began to describe animatedly:

"It's like this, Cousin. In Outer City's Willow Alley, a massacre occurred. The merchant Chu family's youngest daughter went mad, grabbed a kitchen knife, and killed dozens at home. When the constables arrived, she was still eating human flesh. Most likely possessed by a minor ghost. My scholar brother and I from the Six Flags struggled to trap her in the Cao family's cellar."

Iron Mask's brows furrowed even deeper, and he asked in a low voice,

"You want me to help deal with that minor ghost?"