The Company

Chapter 18: The Golden Mask

560 AD.

Gao Changgong sat astride a white steed atop a hill, gazing into the distance at the undulating mountain ranges stretching beyond sight.

He heard the approaching hoofbeats behind him but didn't turn, knowing only his personal guard Han Ye would seek him out at this moment.

"Your Highness." Han Ye reined in his horse half a step behind Gao Changgong, not daring to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the prince.

"Is it time?" Gao Changgong sighed.

"Yes." Han Ye answered reluctantly yet firmly. As the fourth prince of Northern Qi, titled Lanling King by the late emperor and elder brother to the current sovereign, His Highness should have been enjoying luxury in the capital. Yet now he was dispatched to the military camp.

Though seemingly incomprehensible, Han Ye knew the emperor secretly wished the prince dead on the battlefield. In Northern Qi's mere decade since founding, five emperors had already ascended the throne through horrifying succession struggles where uncles, nephews, and brothers slaughtered one another. In some ways, Han Ye preferred his lord escaping that devouring imperial city - even on battlefield he'd protect him with his life, better than dying mysteriously in the capital.

Gao Changgong understood Han Ye's concerns well. Being physically weak and poorly versed in military strategy, he doubted soldiers would follow his commands. Even an ordinary enemy soldier could likely strike him down. Tugging the reins awkwardly to turn his horse, he smiled bitterly. "Since it's time, let's return." In few days they'd reach Hangu Pass, where even such leisurely scenery viewing would become impossible.

Han Ye momentarily lost himself staring at Gao Changgong's handsome face. Despite six years serving the prince, he still found himself captivated by that ethereal beauty. If even he reacted thus, how much more would others?

Hesitating briefly, Han Ye finally resolved himself and produced an object from his robe. "Your Highness, for this border campaign, I believe this may assist you."

Gao Changgong looked down at the ferocious yellow mask, narrowing his peach-blossom eyes as his voice cooled. "Han Ye, how did you afford this?"

Heart lifting because the prince questioned the mask's cost rather than scolding the offering, Han Ye hurriedly explained: "Your Highness, this was gifted by an anonymous recluse who claimed it would ensure Your Highness' invincibility in battle."

Gao Changgong shook his head skeptically. If a mere mask could achieve such feats, what need for armies defending the nation?

Yet not wishing to reject his guard's well-intentioned gesture, the softhearted prince accepted the golden mask despite his disbelief.

The mask felt heavy and cold in his hand. Steadying himself, Gao Changgong tucked it into his robe before tugging the reins to lead the way down the hill.

2011 AD.

Xiao Li clutched a box, ignoring her mother's nagging as she rushed impatiently toward her room.He still remembered filling out a beta application for some online game ages ago—this delivery must mean his application was approved, right? Such a small yet significant box!

She knew final exams were approaching, but life’s joys should be seized when they come! What harm was there in playing some games? Xiao Li quickly closed the door, mumbled a few perfunctory words to her mother who had followed her, then rubbed her hands together and carefully opened the sealed package.

On top was a poster. Xiao Li unfolded it casually but was instantly stunned.

The poster didn’t have the usual large titles or sensational slogans popular these days—there wasn’t a single word on it. Instead, there was only a CG image. It depicted an extraordinarily handsome man wearing dark armor, riding a white steed, gazing into the distance from atop a hill. In his hand, he held a ferocious-looking Golden Ghost Mask, which made his jade-like face even more striking, as dazzling as an immortal descended to earth.

“Tsk, the computer-generated imagery these days is really impressive! Photoshop rules all! Who could actually look like this?” Xiao Li mused, stroking her chin, but she couldn’t help feeling even more intrigued by the game.

Holding the poster up was too tiresome, so Xiao Li simply pinned it to the wall. She stared at it for a long while before forcing herself to tear her eyes away from the “virtual” hunk and turning back to the box.

Inside was also a well-packaged wooden box. Xiao Li unlocked the clasp and marveled at the golden mask lying quietly within. This Golden Ghost Mask had a fierce expression—wide-eyed, with a protruding forehead and sharp, menacing teeth. If seen suddenly in the dark, it would likely scare someone half to death. But under the light, its golden sheen glowed softly, its lines smooth and elegant, making it a exquisitely crafted work of art.

Xiao Li hadn’t expected the beta access to come with such a finely made collectible. She wasn’t in a hurry to play with it yet, instead searching the box for a beta CD or an access card. But after scouring every inch of the box, she found nothing else—not even a single slip of paper with writing on it.

Could it be that she still hadn’t gotten the beta access? Was this collectible just a consolation prize? Frustrated, Xiao Li rummaged through the box again but couldn’t even find the name of the game. The shipping label on the outside only had her home address, with the sender’s address left blank. Were they being this secretive? Without even a game name, she couldn’t even search for it!

Xiao Li was extremely annoyed but had to admit the game developers had successfully piqued her curiosity.

But she truly couldn’t remember which game’s beta application she had filled out back then. Restless and agitated, Xiao Li paced around her room a few times before finally closing the wooden box containing the golden mask and stuffing it into a drawer—out of sight, out of mind.

Gao Changgong sat in his tent, reading by the flickering light of a candle.

Life in the military camp was harsher than he had imagined—a world apart from the luxury and bustle of the capital, Ye City. He had been stationed at Hangu Pass, named for its deep, valley-like terrain as treacherous as a box.Although Han Ye had told him that Hangu Pass stretched from Mount Yao in the east to Tongjin in the west, collectively known as Hangu and reputed as a natural fortress, with the pass situated deep in a perilous valley where the narrowest points could only accommodate a single carriage—truly a case of "one man guarding the pass, ten thousand cannot breach it"—and that defending here posed little danger, Lanling King still dared not let down his guard. He set down the scroll in his hand and rubbed his slightly aching temples. Such strategic locations had always been contested by military strategists. With Yuwen Yong of Northern Zhou ascending the throne, eyeing Northern Qi covetously, and troop deployments becoming increasingly frequent in recent days, it was clear the enemy had designs on Luoyang.

If Hangu Pass were breached, Luoyang would be in imminent peril. Luoyang was so close to the capital Ye City—if Northern Zhou pressed them to such an extent, the fall of Northern Qi would be just around the corner.

Lanling King sighed deeply. His imperial younger brother's tyrannical nature was ill-suited for the throne, but he didn't believe he had the capability to seize that position either. His heart wasn't ruthless enough; he still remembered how his late father had assessed him years ago, and those words remained applicable to this day.

So he truly didn't know what he could accomplish in the military camp. He had grown weary of the soldiers' contemptuous and dismissive looks these past few days. His appearance was not by his choice, and his lack of martial training stemmed from being raised deep within palace courtyards since childhood. Had he known he would one day be sent to the battlefield, he would have prepared earlier.

Lanling King reached into his robe, his fingertips brushing against something cold. The Golden Ghost Mask given to him by Han Ye had never left his person, yet he had never worn it.

Invincible in battle, triumphant in every fight? Lanling King smiled bitterly. When had he, the illustrious Lanling King, begun placing his hopes on a mere inanimate object?

Just as he was about to place the mask in a nearby cabinet, Lanling King heard sudden neighing of horses and battle cries erupt outside, tearing through the silent night like a giant's merciless hands. The camp immediately erupted into chaos, with clamoring voices rising one after another. Through the tent flaps, shadowy figures could be seen rushing about everywhere.

"Your Highness! Northern Zhou troops are attacking the camp!" Han Ye burst into Lanling King's tent, his usually composed face unavoidably tinged with panic.

Seeing him like this, Lanling King knew tonight's assault was different from previous ones—Northern Zhou meant business.

"Your Highness, please do not wander about the camp. I will ensure your safety," Han Ye steadied himself, struggling to regain some composure. Though trained as a guard, this was his first time in a military camp, completely unacquainted with the bloodshed of battlefields. Maintaining calm under these circumstances was no small feat.

Remembering the soldiers' scornful and mocking faces from days prior, Lanling King grew restless. He abruptly stood and walked toward the armor in the corner of the tent.

"Your Highness!" Han Ye started at the sight.

"Help me don the armor," Lanling King said calmly. He too was a son of Northern Qi—if others could fight to protect their homeland, why couldn't he?

Having served Lanling King for years, Han Ye knew his lord never went back on his word. Though gentle by nature, once resolved, no persuasion could change his mind. With no alternative, Han Ye stepped forward to help him into the heavy armor.The armor weighed heavily upon him, a sensation Gao Changgong had never experienced before, yet this burden settled deep in his heart, giving rise to an indelible sense of responsibility. He picked up the rather heavy steel sword beside him and, as he approached the table, caught sight of the Golden Ghost Mask reflecting a golden glow under the candlelight. Almost as if possessed, he reached out, took it, and placed it over his face.

Unbeatable in battle, victorious in a hundred fights?

·Two·

Xiao Li had finally managed to finish today's homework, sneaked into the kitchen to grab a cup of honey milk tea, and then began pacing restlessly around the room.

After her mom discovered she had bombed her final exams due to gaming online a few days prior, she had ruthlessly removed the computer from the house once summer break began. Along with it, confiscated were her PSP, Wii, MP3, phone, and all other electronic devices—she wasn't even allowed to use an electronic dictionary anymore, replaced instead with a brick-sized Oxford English-Chinese dictionary.

Are you kidding me? Who still uses a paper dictionary to look up words these days? It seemed her mom was dead set on making her study seriously, but she was so bored she'd even finished her homework dutifully. Was she supposed to voluntarily do another test paper on top of that?

This was pure torture.

Xiao Li bit down on her straw, tired from pacing, and half-collapsed into a chair, staring blankly at the handsome man poster on the wall. What was the name of this game anyway? Back when she had the computer a few days ago, she'd asked all her online friends, but no one knew which online game it was from. One person did guess that the handsome man holding the Golden Ghost Mask was probably the historically famous Lanling King.

Lanling King? Never heard of him. Xiao Li had no interest in the man, only in this poster!

Driven mad by boredom, Xiao Li remembered that along with this poster, a physical mask had been mailed to her a few days ago. She jumped up from the chair, tossed her milk tea aside, and pulled the Golden Ghost Mask out of its wooden box.

It was unexpectedly heavy, almost as if made of real gold. But it had to be a cheap gold-plated knockoff—otherwise, why would it be given away as merchandise?

Playing with the Golden Ghost Mask in her hands, as if bewitched, she brought it closer and closer until, before she knew it, her cheek touched something cold—she had already put the mask on.

Just as she was about to find a mirror to see how it looked, Xiao Li suddenly felt her vision darken. What appeared before her wasn't her familiar room but an ancient battlefield engulfed in war!

What? Could this Golden Ghost Mask actually be the legendary full-immersion game helmet? Xiao Li was beside herself with excitement.

Gao Changgong stepped out of his tent, observing the chaotic military camp. He shouted for the soldiers to calm down, but his voice dissipated in the cold wind, with no one heeding his commands.

"Your Highness, perhaps it's best to head to the command tent first!" Han Ye suggested from the side. He watched as his lord's handsome face was obscured by the Golden Ghost Mask, feeling a strange unease.

Gao Changgong was also startled by the scene of the camp in turmoil. Just as he was at a loss, he suddenly heard a young woman's voice by his ear.

[Huh? Why is there no interface for this game? How do you even play it?]

Gao Changgong froze. How could there be a woman's voice in the middle of a military camp? Puzzled, he scanned his surroundings but found no suspicious figures—the closest person to him was Han Ye.【Tsk, this can't stump me either. Could it be an emulator system like the Wii?】

Before Gao Changgong could process where the woman's voice was coming from, he found his body moving against his will, turning toward the white horse tethered in front of the tent.

"Your Highness?" Han Ye was also startled by Gao Changgong's actions, watching helplessly as his lord swung onto the horse's back with effortless grace, severed the reins with a single slash of his blade, and urged the white steed toward the area with the fiercest battle cries using only pressure from his knees.

Han broke out in a cold sweat and hastily seized another horse to give chase. Gao Changgong's inner turmoil was no less intense than his guard's, especially when he realized his body was completely unresponsive, forcing him to watch himself charge toward the battlefield. As the situation became clear, he saw that Northern Zhou soldiers had breached Hangu Pass during the chaos and were on the verge of capturing this strategically vital fortress.

"We can't lose," Gao Changgong gritted his teeth, muttering to himself. "If Hangu Pass falls, Luoyang will be in imminent danger."

【Oh, I see. This level's objective is to defend the pass.】 The young woman's voice remained cheerful, clearly unfazed by the brutal warfare unfolding before her.

Before Gao Changgong could locate the speaker, Northern Zhou soldiers spotted him and swung their blades toward him. Having never faced such peril, Gao Changgong felt his body stiffen, his soul nearly fleeing in terror.

"Your Highness—"

The desperate cry from Han Ye behind him only fueled the Zhou soldier's excitement—killing a Northern Qi prince would guarantee him a two-rank promotion.

My life ends here.

Just as this thought formed, Gao Changgong, resigned to his fate with closed eyes, saw his right hand casually sweep upward. The gleaming blade caught the torchlight, tracing a brilliant arc as it cleanly sliced through the Zhou soldier's chest, knocking him from his horse. Blood sprayed like rain, speckling Gao Changgong's face and head. Though the Golden Ghost Mask protected his skin from stains, the thick metallic scent assaulted his senses, making him nauseous.

Han Ye's drawn-out "Your Highness—" cut off abruptly, clearly unable to reconcile this effortless killer with his refined and cultured lord.

【The effects aren't great, but the scene feels so real! Whatever—there isn't even a health bar. Must really be a beta version.The woman's tone held a hint of disdain, but more was excitement and eagerness.

"Who... who are you?"However dull Gao Changgong might be, he sensed something was wrong." Ever since he'd put on the mask, events had taken a bizarre turn.

【Me? Huh? This game requires introducing yourself to NPCs? Well, makes sense—there's no interface to input a player name.】

As the woman rambled on with a stream of incomprehensible terms, Gao Changgong had no idea how to respond.

【Alright then, let's chat after I finish this level.】 With that, she fell silent.

A chill ran down Gao Changgong's spine as he watched his body, controlled by another, plunge fearlessly into the heart of the battle, his steel blade reaping lives one after another.It felt as if his body was infused with boundless strength. Having lived nearly twenty years, Gao Changgong had never known he could cut down men with a blade as effortlessly as slicing vegetables.

He must have been possessed by a demon. Recalling the tales from Southern Dynasty folklore, Gao Changgong shuddered with dread.

Yet the Northern Qi soldiers around him, inspired by his ferocious charge, rallied with renewed morale. They managed to repel the Northern Zhou offensive, gradually driving the enemy back beyond Hangu Pass's defenses.

The battle raged until dawn. Seated on his horse, Gao Changgong looked down at the trampled Northern Zhou banners amidst the sea of corpses. His armor was drenched crimson, fresh blood still dripping from his blade to stain the earth with dark, seeping marks.

As the eastern sky brightened, Gao Changgong stared bewildered at the hellscape surrounding him. Had he wrought this devastation? No! It was the demon working through his hands!

"Why treat human life like worthless weeds?" he murmured aloud, giving voice to his torment.

[Huh? Isn't this just a game?] the woman's voice responded.

Gao Changgong shuddered violently. To view killing as mere sport?

The being within this Golden Ghost Mask was truly a demon! Xiao Li twirled her pen, her gaze drifting irresistibly toward the mask resting nearby.

Yesterday's discovery had thrilled her beyond measure - who could have imagined this mask was a terminal for a holographic game? Though it seemed to be a standalone version, with her as the sole player in what appeared to be a trial phase. After completing yesterday's defense mission, that NPC had inexplicably spoken a line before removing the mask, returning her vision to the familiar confines of her room. No matter how many times she'd worn the mask since, exploring every ridge and contour, she couldn't find the restart button.

It must truly be just a trial version with only one level. The thought filled her with regret - had she known it would end after one stage, she'd have deliberately failed to extend gameplay.

Still, the game had been fascinating. Typically player-controlled characters obeyed commands perfectly, but her NPC seemed to possess independent consciousness, delivering that final puzzling line.

Or perhaps her own response had triggered the game's termination?

Today, Xiao Li had specifically visited the library to research the Lanling King. This handsome and valiant Northern Qi prince had merely created a small ripple in China's vast historical currents before being submerged by towering waves. The Northern and Southern Dynasties were chaotic times where heroes emerged, yet during this period of ethnic integration, the Lanling King clearly wasn't the main protagonist.

Historical records showed the Lanling King's father was Gao Cheng, Emperor Wenxiang - eldest son of Northern Qi's founding Emperor Shenwu Gao Huan - but his mother's name went unrecorded. Historians speculated she might have been a low-ranking palace maid. During the Wei-Jin and Northern-Southern Dynasties, when noble lineage held paramount importance, the Lanling King's imperial bloodline remained eternally compromised by his obscure maternal origins.This explains why the Lanling King was demoted to the army. His younger brother, the emperor, certainly would not willingly allow his elder brother to hold military power. More likely, he intended for this unwelcome sibling to perish quietly on the battlefield.

It is said that because the Lanling King’s features were too delicate and lacked the ferocity to intimidate enemies, he wore a fearsome mask in every battle. Undefeated and triumphant, he earned a formidable reputation on the battlefield.

Xiao Li stroked the Golden Ghost Mask on the table, then glanced up at the extraordinarily handsome man on the poster, thinking that even someone as accustomed to slaying bosses as her might soften at the sight of such a face. What a pity—since Lanling King seemed to be the protagonist in the game, she couldn’t view this handsome man from her own perspective. Moreover, the game was still in its trial phase and didn’t even have CG effects.

Even so, she was itching to keep playing! Xiao Li’s restlessness made it impossible for her to focus on her exam papers, so she simply grabbed the Golden Ghost Mask, put it on, and lowered her head to continue her homework. Gao Changgong knew his attitude the previous day had been somewhat biased, but as a young prince raised deep within the palace, unaware of the hardships of common life, suddenly facing a bloody battlefield like a hellish slaughterhouse—where he had personally taken many lives—he deeply admired his own years of cultivated composure and self-control for merely staying upright on his horse.

Yet after uttering those accusatory words and hearing that female devil treat killing as a game, he immediately tore off the mask from his face, disregarding any consequences. Fortunately, he could no longer hear the woman’s voice, nor did he feel his body being controlled anymore.

But was it really over?

Out of the corner of his eye, Gao Changgong noticed the Golden Ghost Mask he had casually placed on the table. Han Ye dared not touch it; the blood congealed on its surface only added to the mask’s ferocious and sinister appearance.

“Your Highness? Are you feeling better?” Han Ye’s voice came from beside him, interrupting Gao Changgong’s contemplation.

Gao Changgong accepted the hot water Han Ye handed him and took a few sips, enduring the aches all over his body. The day before, he had collapsed as soon as he returned to his tent. Having never engaged in such fierce combat before, every muscle and bone silently protested; even after a full day of sleep, he hadn’t fully recovered.

Having served Gao Changgong for years, Han Ye could guess the cause from a single frown. He immediately picked up the medicated wine and began massaging his lord’s legs. When he had helped the prince remove his armor and change clothes, he had already checked: despite the perilous battle the previous night, His Highness had only a few bruises, without even a single broken skin—nothing short of a miracle.

Even the generals who usually looked down on the prince had visited several times. Though Han Ye had rudely turned them away at the tent entrance, they showed no anger and instead personally delivered high-quality medicated wine and healing ointments.

Including Han Ye, none of the soldiers who had witnessed that brutal night could believe that the one wearing the Golden Ghost Mask, reaping lives like a demon risen from hell, was the same gentle and harmless Gao Changgong they knew.

Yet, at dawn that day, they watched as the blood-soaked demon mask was removed, slowly revealing an exceptionally handsome face under the breaking morning light. The stark contrast left everyone present spellbound, unable to regain their senses for a long time.

This scene would surely remain unforgettable for many.

Unlike the soldiers who blindly worshipped their prince, Han Ye knew the truth. His lord’s sudden ferocity was undoubtedly linked to that Golden Ghost Mask. What worried Han Ye now was whether His Highness might suffer any other aftereffects, prompting him to inquire softly.Gao Changgong had long regarded Han Ye as his most trusted confidant, feeling more at ease with him than with his own family. Since the Golden Ghost Mask had originally been a gift from Han Ye, he proceeded to recount everything that had happened the previous night. Upon hearing this, Han Ye turned pale with shock—he never imagined that this supposedly invincible Golden Ghost Mask actually housed an evil spirit, and a female ghost at that!

"Your Highness... I had worn this ghost mask before, fearing something might be amiss, but nothing happened..." Han Ye was filled with regret. Had that evil spirit possessed the prince’s body and taken over, wouldn’t he have been the one to harm His Highness?

"Do not blame yourself," Gao Changgong shook his head with a bitter smile. "It was my own sentimentality. On the battlefield, it’s either you or your enemy who perishes—showing mercy to foes is cruelty to oneself. Had it not been for the Golden Ghost Mask last night, we might all have died here."

Han Ye lowered his head, knowing that at this point, there was nothing more he could say. The man he served was a prince, with his own position and convictions—a world far beyond the reach of someone of his humble status.

Gao Changgong fell silent as well. After Han Ye finished massaging his sore limbs, he fixed his gaze intently on the Golden Ghost Mask. Suddenly, he noticed that the mask, previously stained with blood, was now spotlessly clean, without a trace of blood left.

He assumed Han Ye must have cleaned it before leaving.

Without giving it further thought, Gao Changgong hesitated for a long while before finally reaching out toward the mask.

·Three·

Xiao Li had been exceptionally happy lately.

Her life had always been simple, divided between studying and gaming. And this newly acquired game perfectly matched her ambitions.

Although the game sessions were highly irregular, almost randomly appearing on screen, she was more than content. The gameplay wasn’t limited to battlefield combat—it also included army management, provisions allocation, and military councils, all with intricate details. Moreover, the decision-making power didn’t rest with her; she had to persuade the Lanling King. If her persuasion failed, the game would proceed according to his stance. This challenge ignited Xiao Li’s competitive spirit, prompting her to borrow numerous books on the subject from the library and immerse herself in them day and night. Her mother, thinking she had finally mended her ways, cooked her nutritious meals daily to boost her health, which made Xiao Li rather embarrassed.

But with such an immersive holographic game before her, Xiao Li had no time for distractions. She distilled insightful theories from various military texts and even suggested that the Lanling King select five hundred guards from the camp and train them as special forces. Equipped with the finest armor and horses, after repeated drills, they became the sharpest blade in the Northern Qi army. Xiao Li compiled several areas for improvement, memorized them carefully, and then donned the Golden Ghost Mask to enter the game. To her surprise, the game’s setting had shifted to winter—she distinctly remembered it being summer when she last logged in. Truly, this was a game; time progressed swiftly. "Hey! Where is this?" Xiao Li examined the game screen closely and realized the surroundings were not the familiar military camp she knew so well.

"You’re finally here!" Gao Changgong’s voice came through, unable to conceal his delight. "The Northern Zhou forces, unable to capture Hangu Pass, have detoured to Mount Mang north of Luoyang and have besieged the city for days."Xiao Li didn't feel she had missed much time, because while she had been playing the game for just over a month, four years had already passed in the game world. The irregular intervals between plot developments seemed perfectly reasonable to her—after all, the game would naturally only showcase the interesting parts! The siege of Luoyang must correspond to the historic Battle of Mangshan. Thinking this, Xiao Li declared confidently, "Don't worry, leave it to me. I guarantee we'll lift the siege of Luoyang."

Gao Changgong hadn't heard a voice from the mask for nearly half a year. While such silences had occurred before, this time it happened during a war between two nations. Bearing the soldiers' worship and trust, the pressure was suffocating. He ended up wearing the Golden Ghost Mask day and night—both to conceal his anxious expression and to catch any message from Xiao Li promptly.

After learning recent events from Gao Changgong, Xiao Li obtained a steady stream of intelligence and began dissecting the situation thread by thread.

Though the Northern Zhou claimed to have 100,000 troops besieging Luoyang, the city actually stood north against the treacherous Mangshan Mountains and the southern bank of the Yellow River, with these natural barriers forming a formidable northern defense. With its thick walls, Luoyang was a city no less impressive than the ancient capital Chang'an. For the Northern Zhou to completely encircle Luoyang like a true siege was impossible. They could only have stationed heavy forces in surrounding towns to blockade the city. A large-scale campaign—especially one mobilizing 100,000 troops to besiege Luoyang—was far from easy to execute. From gathering soldiers and training troops to weapon production, grain stockpiling, and supply support from towns along the route, every link was interconnected. One weak link would spell disaster. Moreover, it was the depths of winter with frozen rivers rendering the navy useless—so they only needed to guard against the Northern Zhou forces at Mangshan to the north.

With this straightforward analysis from Xiao Li, Gao Changgong's heart settled.

The Battle of Mangshan unfolded before Xiao Li exactly as history recorded. Wearing the mask, Gao Changgong led just five hundred soldiers like a sharp blade slicing through the Northern Zhou defenses, charging through thousands of troops as if through empty air until he reached Luoyang's gates. The city guards, hesitant to open the gates rashly, demanded he remove his mask to confirm his identity.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, Gao Changgong's fingers touched the mask on his face, hesitating briefly.

"Pfft, don't mind me. There shouldn't be any major issues now anyway," Xiao Li yawned, having stayed up all night for this lightning operation and desperately needing rest. "The defenders inside Luoyang only closed the gates because they lacked external support. Once you reveal your identity, they'll break out to assist you."

"No, this prince—" Gao Changgong wanted to ask when he might hear her voice again. After half a year apart, he realized he depended on her more than he'd thought. But he hesitated, the words lingering on his lips unspoken.

"Your Highness?" Han Ye beside him wiped blood from his face, urging with concern. At this critical moment, every small detail on the battlefield could determine success or failure—they couldn't afford to fail now!

Gao Changgong sighed inwardly, reached up to remove the blood-soaked Golden Ghost Mask, and lifted his face toward the high-hanging sun in the sky.All sounds ceased, as thousands of eyes fixed upon the peerlessly handsome face atop the white steed—a countenance tinged with helplessness and compassion, yet drenched in crimson blood. He resembled both a fierce Asura warrior and a celestial envoy preaching divine will.

"It’s the Lanling King!"

After a suffocating silence, the defenders of Luoyang erupted into thunderous cheers. In recent years, the Lanling King’s fame had soared to its zenith; his banner alone could intimidate Northern Zhou troops, let alone the man himself, who had now broken through a heavy siege with merely five hundred guards and reached Luoyang’s gates. What a heaven-sent miracle!

Gao Changgong slightly curled the corners of his lips, knowing he had won yet another battle.

Invincible and ever-triumphant.

Though these eight words sounded simple, they were built upon mountains of bones. Gao Changgong couldn’t help but stroke the Golden Ghost Mask in his hand, thinking that the vengeful spirits attached to it could likely blot out the sun above him.

For many years, Gao Changgong had never once been separated from this Golden Ghost Mask, keeping it by his side even while asleep. He was intimately familiar with it. Initially, he believed the mask housed a malevolent spirit, but over time, he realized that every suggestion or strategy it offered was astonishingly brilliant, and its attitude toward battlefield slaughter was as casual as a game.

Wasn’t it true? To a deity, human lives were as insignificant as ants.

Throughout countless battles large and small over the years, Gao Changgong found that merely wearing the mask and riding into battle was enough to boost his soldiers’ morale. Yet, at every critical moment, he had to rely on the power of the woman within the mask. Layer upon layer of blood had stained its surface, yet he knew it never needed wiping—the stains would vanish on their own.

As if the ghost mask was drinking the blood.

Gao Changgong held complex feelings toward the Golden Ghost Mask: fear of its existence, yet inability to relinquish the victories it brought.

Truly... invincible and ever-triumphant.

Xiao Li slept soundly in her bed. When she opened her eyes, she saw the Golden Ghost Mask lying quietly on her pillow. She must have passed the test of the great victory at Mount Mang, right? Historical records vividly described the Northern Zhou army’s crushing defeat: abandoned camps and forts, with military supplies and equipment scattered across the thirty li from Mount Mang to the Gushui River, filling the valleys and streams.Lost in thought, Xiao Li suddenly wanted to witness this scene immediately, flipping her hand to put the ghost mask back on. The moment it touched her face, passionate drumbeats echoed in her ears—not the war drums of battle, but something more awe-inspiring, filled with the resonance of clashing weapons and armored steeds. The drumrolls thundered around her like pre-storm lightning, each strike stronger than the last, making her heart jolt and race erratically, oppressed yet burning with fervor. Her eyes seemed to see the shocking spectacle of armies clashing on the battlefield, thick with killing intent. Then the drumbeats quickened abruptly, as if two forces had closed in for fierce, entangled combat. Suddenly, the rhythm shifted, revealing a general breaking through the formation, charging deep into enemy lines to seize the opposing commander’s head as easily as plucking a item from a bag.

The drums ceased abruptly. Only then did Xiao Li realize she was facing a massive war drum, its surface still vibrating from the drummer’s final strike, which had sliced through the air like a blade before fading into silence.

Hearty cheers and applause erupted around her. Observing the patchy snow on the ground, Xiao Li guessed this was likely a victory celebration after the liberation of Luoyang.

“What magnificent drumming,” Xiao Li praised sincerely. She had long stopped treating Lanling King as a mere NPC; he had his own emotions, reacting differently to her words. The game’s realism never failed to impress her.

“You heard it?” Gao Changgong had held a sliver of hope while drumming with his mask on, never expecting her to truly perceive it. He handed the drumsticks to Han Ye beside him, who, accustomed to his lord’s occasional “soliloquies,” turned and left without a second glance.

“That was ‘Lanling King Breaks the Formation,’ wasn’t it? Truly stirring.” Since learning the game’s protagonist was Lanling King, Xiao Li had eagerly anticipated this legendary melody. It did not disappoint—the sheer power of the drums alone was captivating, a testament to the game’s meticulous design. Gao Changgong had drummed on a whim, never imagining she’d name his performance. Repeating the title silently, his spirits lifted briefly before he sobered, troubled by lingering doubts. “Xiao Li,” he asked calmly, “what is it you truly require of me?”

Xiao Li froze. Though she’d told Gao Changgong her name long ago, he seldom used it. Hearing it now felt strangely unsettling.

But how could she explain to a game character that she was merely playing a game? Even if she tried, he’d never believe it. And how would an ancient figure comprehend electronic games? The pressure was overwhelming—seriously!

Xiao Li’s mind spiraled into chaos, taking a long moment to regain composure.

Gao Changgong knew his question was improper, but after four years of her unwavering support in battles and military affairs, it stood to reason she must want something in return.He feared that what the other ultimately sought was something he couldn't provide.

The two fell into silence. After being confused for a long while, Xiao Li finally remembered the branching point in this game. Historical records showed that after Lanling King's great victory at Mang Mountain, he was recalled to the capital Ye City by his own imperial brother, the emperor of Northern Qi, stripped of military power, and soon after, on some trivial pretext, was forced to drink poisoned wine by the emperor. Thus, achieving greater merit than one's sovereign was not necessarily a good thing.

But since this was made into a game, it couldn't possibly give players an unwinnable ending, could it? Could the subsequent development turn into a plot of political coup and palace seizure?

Xiao Li immediately became enthusiastic and began persuading him. She had long memorized Lanling King's background information and quickly came up with several methods to usurp the throne.

Gao Changgong didn't interrupt, merely listening quietly. Only at the very end did he sigh deeply, pressing his mask wearily as he said softly, "I remember when we first met, you kept mentioning the word 'game'."

Xiao Li was startled, never expecting her careless remark from back then to be firmly remembered by him. Subconsciously feeling panicked, she knew she must have said something wrong, but before she could figure out why, she heard Gao Changgong continue calmly.

"Perhaps in your eyes, I or others are merely part of your game, but my life is only in my own hands."

Xiao Li opened her mouth to say something, but her vision had already turned completely blank. She stared blankly at the plain white ceiling above, her mind equally empty, taking a long time to regain her senses. She knew Gao Changgong had removed the Golden Ghost Mask, and she had a premonition that he wouldn't wear it again.

But why did she think this? This was clearly just a game, wasn't it?

Contrary to Xiao Li's expectations, although Gao Changgong didn't wear the Golden Ghost Mask again, she could still see his figure through the mask's perspective.

He had hung the mask on the wall, and Xiao Li watched his life after returning to the capital as if viewing a lengthy TV drama.

She watched him dismiss all five hundred of his personal guards, keeping only Han Ye by his side, closing his doors to visitors. She watched him claim illness to avoid appearing in court, deliberately letting his condition worsen, spending his days in confusion. She watched him often stare blankly in her direction—or more accurately, at the Golden Ghost Mask—reminiscing about his years of battle on the battlefield.

Xiao Li had previously complained about not being able to see Lanling King's handsome face, but now that she saw it daily, they couldn't communicate at all. She would rather return to their previous banter and then offer a sincere apology.

She shouldn't have treated someone else's life as her own game.

Finally, one day, imperial guards surrounded the prince's residence, and a cup of poisoned wine bestowed by the emperor was presented to Gao Changgong.

Han Ye desperately delivered the Golden Ghost Mask to Gao Changgong but was stabbed to death on the spot by guards for resisting the imperial decree.

Xiao Li watched this scene in shock and helplessness. Han Ye, who had spent his life defending his country, didn't die on the battlefield but instead fell by the blades of his own people.

What an ironic ending! Furious, Xiao Li wished she could immediately grab Gao Changgong's hand and make him put on the mask. With her there, he could definitely break through the siege—even if it meant a life of hiding, it would be better than dying here for no clear reason.Yet in the end, Gao Changgong never put on the Golden Ghost Mask in his hand. Xiao Li saw a gaze of utter desolation in his eyes.

"If only... if only I had listened to you back then..." Gao Changgong caressed the ferocious ghost mask, his thin lips curling into a helpless smile.

In truth, it was merely one wrong decision in life. Why... why couldn't one turn back?

Xiao Li watched in shock as Gao Changgong raised the cup of poisoned wine and drank it in one gulp. Dark, poisonous blood trickled from the corner of his lips, dripping onto the ghost mask in his hand, blurring her vision until everything finally turned to darkness.

Everyone said Xiao Li seemed like a completely different person—studying with unprecedented seriousness, her exam scores improving by leaps and bounds.

When her close friend couldn't resist pressing for answers, Xiao Li merely said quietly that she just didn't want to look back years later and feel regret.

It turns out that life isn't a game where you can restart after GAME OVER. Life has no cheats, no save files—all she could do was move forward with unwavering determination.

Her Golden Ghost Mask had fallen completely silent along with Lanling King's death. No matter how many times she wore it now, she would never again see the war-torn battlefields or that antique-style courtyard.

Xiao Li had come to realize that this Golden Ghost Mask in her possession was likely not the holographic game terminal she had imagined it to be.

But what was the point of chasing the truth now? She didn't want her life to become a game that could be casually discarded.

Not long after school started, Xiao Li received a letter requesting her to mail the Golden Ghost Mask to a certain address.

After hesitating all night, Xiao Li decided to follow the letter's instructions and mail the mask away. Since it could no longer connect her to that person, keeping it served no purpose.

Fortunately, she still had that poster.

Doctor carried a takeout box into Dumb Shop, brushing past someone on their way out. Noticing the company logo on the person's shirt, he chuckled: "Boss, you're actually using delivery services? How trendy!"

"No return address—I've no idea who sent it." As he spoke, Boss carefully unwrapped the package to reveal the fierce yet awe-inspiring Golden Ghost Mask inside.

"Whoa, what antique is this now?" Doctor asked around the disposable chopsticks in his mouth, leaning closer curiously.

"This should be Lanling King's golden mask," Boss said hesitantly.

"Eh? There's actually an antique you can't identify? That's unusual!" Doctor raised an eyebrow.

"It's not that I can't identify what it is—I just can't figure out who sent it." Boss lowered his gaze, deep in thought.

Watching from the side, Doctor ultimately couldn't resist the allure of the beautiful gold and reached out to touch the Golden Ghost Mask. Along with the cold sensation against his fingertips came what seemed like a distant call.

[Imperial Brother...]

Doctor snatched his hand back as if electrocuted, startled and uncertain.

"What's wrong?" Boss noticed his unusual reaction.

"Nothing, nothing." Doctor smiled, convincing himself he'd misheard. Pulling an all-nighter for his shift had really worn him out!

Boss stared at the ghost mask in the wooden box for a long time before finally pushing it aside and looking up with a smile: "Let's eat first."

Doctor obligingly handed over a takeout box before quickly switching into his usual grumbling mode. Boss listened with practiced patience, nodding occasionally in agreement.

Neither of them noticed how, under the flickering light of the Changxin Palace Lantern, a bloody aura of resentment briefly swept across the fierce surface of the Golden Ghost Mask before vanishing instantly.

In a dim burial chamber, only an oil lamp in the northeast corner cast a faint glow. A crimson lark fluttered in through the tomb passage, its wingbeats making the oil lamp flicker even more violently.

The crimson bird landed on the edge of a coffin, looking down at the man lying within. He wore a Golden Ghost Mask identical to the one just delivered to Dumb Shop. The mask concealed his features, leaving only his silver-white hair visible outside. The interplay of gold and silver created a spectacle more breathtaking than any rare treasure.The crimson little bird tilted its head, gazing in fascination for a while, before finally unable to resist hopping into the coffin and using its beak to comb through the silvery-white long hair.

"Master, stop sleeping. It's dark now—time to go out and play!"

As if hearing the crimson bird's thoughts, the man lying in the coffin slowly opened his eyes behind the deep black hollow sockets of the Golden Ghost Mask, revealing a pair of crimson pupils.

(End of Chapter)