A strange sight unfolded as Meng Gui donned the mask.
As the mask covered his face, a surge of green light enveloped him. The ghostly figure that had appeared earlier flickered within the green radiance. In just a short time, the mask seemed to melt away, becoming translucent and gradually turning into liquid, flowing into Meng Gui's skin.
The green light swelled as the mask completely vanished, quickly solidifying into a tangible form. The light shrank and transformed into a layer of greenish skin that covered Meng Gui's body.
At the moment the green light touched Meng Gui, he felt a sharp, intense pain as if every inch of his skin, every piece of flesh, every organ was being scorched by fire. The pain surged like a tidal wave, overwhelming him.
His eyes widened in agony, the sound of bone scraping echoed as his exposed flesh trembled with veins bulging, clearly bearing the brunt of endless suffering.
As he endured the pain, strange tendrils seemed to sprout from the green light, thrusting into his bones. It felt as though something was flowing through them, constantly stabbing into his flesh and bones.
Ji Xia, standing nearby, noticed Meng Gui's suffering. He was about to channel his spiritual energy to help alleviate the pain but stopped when he saw Meng Gui's expression ease. To his surprise, the following transformation occurred.
Meng Gui's remaining flesh slowly receded, replaced by the characteristic brown skin of the Zhou Qing people. Within a few breaths, his bones and yellow skin had completely disappeared, replaced by the brown skin typical of the Zhou Qing.
But this wasn't the end. After the brown skin had fully formed, dark brown hair sprouted all over his body, growing thick and dense, though his face, hands, and feet remained clear of the hair.
After a long while, the hair growth stopped, and his features distorted and reshaped, eventually becoming the exact image of the Zhou Qing hunter who had been consumed by the ghostly figure earlier.
Now entirely transformed into a Zhou Qing person, Meng Gui opened his eyes and met Ji Xia's gaze. Ji Xia was stunned; if he hadn't witnessed the transformation himself, he would never have believed that this person before him was Meng Gui.
This was clearly a native Zhou Qing person. Apart from the foul stench emanating from him, there was no difference from any other Zhou Qing citizen.
Seeing Ji Xia's astonishment, Meng Gui raised his hand to summon a strand of spiritual energy. The translucent energy reflected his current face.
"The ruler's treasure is truly wondrous. I never imagined such a thing existed in the world," he said with some excitement. "I'm not just impersonating a Zhou Qing person; I've completely become one!"
Ji Xia nodded. "I never imagined that the foul-smelling ghost mask could have such miraculous effects."
Meng Gui knelt and bowed. "Ruler, now that I look like this, I'm no longer fit to stay in Tai City. If General Ji or Lord Po were to see me, it would certainly cause a stir and rumors might spread. I must leave Tai City today and head straight for Crimson Flame Mountain."
Ji Xia's heart stirred with a hint of emotion. Meng Gui was not a human, yet he was willing to make such a sacrifice for Tai Cang. It made Ji Xia feel unsettled.
"Perhaps Tai Cang has some strange power that makes people willing to shed blood for this land," he thought.
He stepped forward to help Meng Gui up, pausing for a moment before saying, "Try to avoid unnecessary killings. Use the mask to escape when the time comes, but once you're safe, return immediately."
Meng Gui nodded, but then hesitated, pulling out a letter. There was a hint of bashfulness on his face as he lowered his head and spoke. "Ruler, on the tenth day after I leave, please deliver this letter to the address written on the envelope."
Ji Xia frowned. "Why on the tenth day?"
Meng Gui smiled. "I'm too shy to deliver it myself. By the tenth day, I'll be on my way back, so there's no need to worry."
Ji Xia's expression softened, and he gave a knowing nod. "Don't worry. On the tenth day, I'll deliver the letter and see who the person is who can melt the heart of the immovable Ice Mountain that is Meng Dasi."
Meng Gui was about to thank Ji Xia, but the latter stopped him. Ji Xia helped Meng Gui rise, stepped back a few paces, spread his arms wide, and then crossed his hands in a deep bow toward Meng Gui.
Meng Gui quickly moved to support Ji Xia.
Ji Xia said, "This plan is of the utmost importance to Tai Cang. Meng Dasi has generously agreed to this sacrifice for Tai Cang. He has given so much for Tai Cang. I must show my respect."
"Ruler, there is no need," Meng Gui said. "I've said this before. Though I'm not born a human, I've spent most of my life in Tai Cang. To me, Tai Cang is my home. Now that Tai Cang is in danger, I, as a part of Tai Cang, would sacrifice myself without hesitation."
Meng Gui paused, then sighed deeply. "Ruler, you treat me as an outsider."
Ji Xia quickly shook his head, but Meng Gui's voice lowered as he continued, "The reason I wear a mask and hide my true face is because of this. Tai Cang is the land of humans. No matter how much we may love Tai Cang, other races can never truly become part of Tai Cang."
His expression darkened even further. "For instance, if this plan were to be executed by a human from Tai Cang, I'm sure the ruler wouldn't feel so guilty."
Ji Xia was stunned and couldn't help but ask himself, Is that really true?
Meng Gui's words were not wrong. If the one to sacrifice were a human, Ji Xia might still feel sorrow, but he would understand that the human was dying for their homeland and their race, dying with purpose.
But Meng Gui—a member of the Half-bone tribe—was willing to go through fire for Tai Cang, willing to die without regret. This caused Ji Xia to feel an overwhelming sense of guilt whenever he looked at Meng Gui.
Seeing Ji Xia's silence, Meng Gui's expression grew even more despondent. He wrapped himself in black cloth again, bowed, and began to leave the prison, to leave Tai City, and journey toward Crimson Flame Mountain.
Just as he was about to exit the prison door, Ji Xia suddenly spoke.
"Meng Gui, do you want to know why you are not truly accepted?"
Meng Gui stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Ji Xia.
Ji Xia's gaze was intense, full of certainty. "It's because the human race is too weak!"
Meng Gui was puzzled. "Too weak?"
"Exactly! In this vast, terrifying wilderness, the human race is far too weak. Every other kingdom is larger than a human kingdom, every other race stronger than the human race. For thousands of years, humans have been enslaved by other races, treated like cattle or dogs, tortured, slaughtered at will."
"For thousands of years, the human race has grown smaller and weaker. When beings much stronger than humans offer them friendship, the first thing they think is not how to accept it—they are wondering: Will they eat us?"
Ji Xia paused and took a deep breath, his voice full of conviction. "In this situation, how can humans accept other races?"
"But that doesn't mean humans will never accept other races. If the people of Tai Cang knew what you've done for us, they wouldn't just accept you—they would build statues in your honor and forever worship you. That's the simple nature of the human race."
"You should not blame Tai Cang, nor grow cold toward it."
Meng Gui was lost in thought, his gaze deepening as he asked seriously, "When will humans be able to easily accept other races?"
Ji Xia's eyes gleamed with light, his spirit invigorated. He smiled and answered, "When the human race becomes stronger, when they no longer fear being enslaved, abused, or eaten by other races, when they no longer live in the shadow of their own weakness, then you will see the true strength of the human race's tolerance."
"Only then will you know just how strong the human race's capacity for acceptance truly is."