Chapter 56: The Limit of Bone Shrinking, Disguise at Will

Chapter 56: The Limit of Bone Shrinking, Disguise at Will (Third Update Request)

Lanye Town.

Su Chen strolled down the street, his unease growing with every step. A prickling sensation at his back refused to fade.

This feeling had first surfaced when he entered Lanye Town, subtle at first, but now it gnawed at him relentlessly. His instincts screamed warnings, making his heart race with restless agitation.

"There's something wrong here. I should leave immediately."

Scanning the street, Su Chen studied the passersby with sharp eyes, but nothing seemed amiss. Yet the dread in his gut only deepened. Without hesitation, he turned to leave.

Someone was watching him.

The moment he pivoted, the sensation of unseen eyes bore into his back like icy needles. He quickened his pace.

Before long, Su Chen frowned. The streets had suddenly become crowded, heightening his suspicions. He pushed through the throng into a narrow alley, moving swiftly while glancing behind him.

Though the feeling of being watched lessened slightly in the secluded lane, his unease remained. After a series of twists and turns, he leapt over a wall and took a shortcut out of Lanye Town.

As he reached the outskirts, the oppressive sensation finally lifted.

Glancing back, Su Chen caught several pairs of eyes watching him before they quickly averted their gazes.

"This town is suspicious. Many of these merchants and pedestrians are impostors. If I hadn't mastered the Disguise Arts, I might never have noticed."

Years of practice had honed his ability to detect deception through subtle cues.

"It seems I've been exposed. The Pure Land Sect must have hidden many agents here to track me the moment I arrived."

Standing at the town's edge, Su Chen formulated a plan. Within moments, he vanished into the forest path.

The unseen pursuers scattered, desperate to find his trail.

Soon, a group emerged from the town—Wei Jie leading the way.

"Where is he?" Wei Jie demanded, eyes scanning the area.

"He detected us and left. Our men couldn't follow", a subordinate reported.

"Not surprising. That City Authorities' Sword Bearer deserves his reputation. His sharp instincts helped him kill Chu Ming. But I'm not afraid of him coming—I'm afraid he wouldn't come at all!" Wei Jie sneered coldly.

He turned to his men. "He'll return. Keep watching. When he appears next, don't engage him directly—just find a way to trap him in Lanye Town."

"Yes!"

As Wei Jie departed, a shadow in the forest watched everything unfold.

Spotting Wei Jie, Su Chen's lips curled into a smile. "So it was you all along, Wei Jie."

He'd suspected Wei Jie's hand in this trap, and now his suspicions were confirmed. Fortunately, his sharp instincts had uncovered the scheme early.

Coming to Lanye Town had been a gamble to find Wei Jie. The outdated information from the County Courthouse suggested Wei might have left long ago.

Yet Wei Jie had not only stayed—he'd set a trap, waiting patiently to ensnare his prey.

Thanks to his mastery of Disguise Arts and formidable skills, Su Chen had evaded capture and exposed Wei Jie's plan.

Now that Wei Jie's presence was confirmed, it was Su Chen's turn to hunt.

"If I return as 'One-Armed Yang Guo,' they might recognize me. I don't know how many men Wei has here. Better to change identities completely."

Resolute, Su Chen left the forest. Lanye Town was temporarily off-limits—he needed to change his appearance in another town first.

After walking ten kilometers, he reached a small settlement and altered his disguise.

Initially planning to leave, he hesitated. "I still have funds. Why not push the Bone Shrinking Technique to its limit through Gold-Fueled Enhancement? If it shortens my height, I won't stand out so much in Lanye Town."

The mission's reward of three hundred taels would easily cover the enhancement costs for his Iron Shirt technique.

At the Gold Exchange, he converted his silver to gold and cultivated the Bone Shrinking Technique to its peak.

"Reaching the limit actually reduced my height by twenty centimeters! I can even subtly adjust my facial muscles. Combined with my Disguise Arts, this is like gaining wings!"

Testing the technique, Su Chen's height dropped from 1.88 meters to 1.68. The minor facial muscle control allowed dramatic appearance changes.

Though subtle, these adjustments made him unrecognizable—more effective than traditional disguise arts.

Before: a dashing young gentleman. After: a greasy middle-aged man with a stout build. The transformation was staggering.

With this double layer of disguise, Su Chen re-entered Lanye Town.

Though he felt hidden gazes again, the surveillance was less intense this time.

"Strange. I've become an old man, yet Wei Jie's men still notice me?" he mused.

Testing further by wandering the streets, he confirmed the persistent surveillance.

"I underestimated Wei Jie's control here. No matter my disguise, as long as I'm not a local, they'll notice me."

Only after leaving the town did the feeling disappear completely.

Shaking his head at dusk, Su Chen decided, "I'll rest today. Tomorrow, I'll try again. There are so many people here—Wei Jie can't possibly watch everyone!"

He spent the night in a nearby village.

At dawn, Su Chen transformed again—this time into a farmer carrying homegrown grain with villagers entering the town.

This time, no suspicious gazes met him. He diligently sold his grain on the street.

Afterward, he used the proceeds to buy daily necessities while searching for his target.

His eyes settled on a young man of slightly muscular build—someone he'd previously seen in Wei Jie's group.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end