I Am a Rune Engraver, Carrying a Knife Makes Perfect Sense-Chapter 47 - Codename: Ming

—

The next day, at the rear mountain of the Xinhuo Guard base in Yuan City, a solemn gathering took place.

Many Xinhuo Guards, all dressed in formal black attire, stood silently. Among them were familiar faces: Jiang Youyi, Wu Yun, Wang Bing, Li Li, and other Flame Mastery experts who had been stationed at the Changbai Mountain frontline.

Xu Shen was also present, similarly dressed in black formal wear, his hair tied neatly behind him. Standing nearby were Yang Dian, Zhang Zhuangshi, Xu Guang, and even Xu Dong and Xu Xia. All wore solemn expressions, not daring to act out of place.

For Xu Guang and Zhang Zhuangshi, it was especially nerve-wracking. They had never seen so many Xinhuo Guards gathered in one place before. Their palms were slick with sweat.

Even Xu Dong and Xu Xia—Xu Shen’s younger siblings—had come.

Before them stood a towering mountain filled with countless gravestones. Though it was a mountain of graves, it didn’t feel oppressive. Instead, it exuded an air of solemnity and reverence, a lingering aura of valor and sacrifice.

—

In Xu Shen’s hands was a small square box. On its lid was a black-and-white photo of Xu Wei, smiling warmly and kindly.

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The box itself contained no personal belongings—only a small handful of soil taken from the spot where Xu Wei had made his final stand. He had left nothing else behind.

—

DONG…

A deep bell tolled, its sound like a long sigh, mourning the lives of the fallen.

As the bell’s echo faded, Jiang Youyi stepped forward and began to speak. His voice, amplified by spiritual energy, carried across the entire gathering.

—

“The events at the Changbai Mountain frontline exceeded all our expectations,” Jiang Youyi began.

“Some fought bravely and fell. Others were transformed…”

“Those who were partially transformed have willingly entered deep underground confinement, awaiting the day a solution can be found.”

“Those fully transformed into ghouls… some chose to end their own lives while they still retained fragments of their sanity.”

“For us in Xinhuo Guard, death is normal. In the end, we all return here to become a gravestone.”

“But today, we gather here of our own accord to send off these honorable souls on their final journey!”

—

“Xinhuo Guard!!” Jiang Youyi roared, his face stern and resolute.

“Present!!” the crowd responded in unison.

“With Xinhuo as our guide, let us bid farewell to these honorable comrades… May they rest well!!!”

—

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

In an instant, every Xinhuo Guard raised their fists and struck their chests heavily.

Flames of various colors erupted from their bodies, soaring into the sky and burning brightly.

“Rest well!!” they shouted together. Their voices echoed across the heavens, lingering for what felt like an eternity.

—

As the flames dissipated, Jiang Youyi continued.

“Now comes the part you all know.”

“Xu Wei—a veteran who dedicated his entire life to Xinhuo Guard. A man with wood-based talent who chose to explore combat rather than healing. In the moment when everyone else faced transformation…”

“…he burned his Xinhuo flame to buy time for reinforcements to arrive.”

“And he succeeded. He proved that wood-based talent can unleash incredible power.”

“He also used his life to show us that support talents can protect others just as well!”

“Now… let us lay Old Man Xu to rest.”

—

All eyes turned toward Xu Shen and the small box in his hands.

Expressionless, Xu Shen stepped forward past Jiang Youyi to a prepared burial site. He gently placed the box into the ground and began covering it with soil by hand.

—

Nearby, Li Li held the hand of a porcelain doll-like little girl whose eyes were red from crying. The girl sobbed uncontrollably.

Her name was Xu Miaomiao.

From now on… she had no family left.

“Grandpa… why don’t you want Miaomiao anymore?!” her cries echoed through the crowd.

Many Xinhuo Guards’ eyes turned red as they struggled to hold back their tears.

This era was cruel—so cruel it made people want to scream in rage.

But nothing could change the reality of it.

—

After smoothing out the grave, Xu Shen stood up and walked over to Xu Miaomiao. He crouched down before her with a gentle expression and wiped the dirt from his hands onto his clothes before drying her tears.

“Miaomiao, is it? Your grandpa always talked about you,” Xu Shen said softly. “He said you’re very strong and don’t cry easily. When you cry, it makes him sad too.”

Of course, Xu Shen was lying. He hadn’t shared much with Xu Wei beyond their final battle against the corpse apes. But in those last moments… in that one glance from the old man…

He had seen a plea—a desperate request.

—

Xu Miaomiao sniffled and tried her best to stop crying. Her red eyes looked up at Xu Shen earnestly.

“Big brother… Miaomiao won’t cry anymore. Miaomiao doesn’t want Grandpa to be sad,” she said determinedly.

Hearing her words made Xu Shen’s heart ache as if it were being sliced apart.

Nearby, Xu Dong and Xu Xia’s eyes were also red. At 14 years old, they were only four years younger than Xu Shen. They too remembered saying similar words to him when they were younger.

—

Xu Shen forced a smile and patted Miaomiao’s head gently.

“My name is Xu Shen,” he said warmly. “See over there? That’s Xu Dong and Xu Xia. From now on, we’re your family.”

“I’ll be your big brother.”

—

Yang Dian, Zhang Zhuangshi, and Xu Guang crowded over as well, each trying to put on their kindest smiles.

“We’re your brothers too,” they said cheerfully.

But when Miaomiao saw Xu Guang’s bald head shining under the sun like a menacing lightbulb, she nearly burst into tears again.

—

Li Li eventually took Miaomiao home. She now had a new family—one that doted on her endlessly.

Xu Dong and Xu Xia experienced what it felt like to be an older brother and sister for the first time. They spoiled Miaomiao so much that they even gave her their favorite snacks without hesitation.

—

Yang Dian and Zhang Zhuangshi returned home to share stories of recent events with their families. Meanwhile, Xu Guang disappeared mysteriously without explaining where he was going or what he was doing.

After dropping everyone off at their homes and comforting Miaomiao for a while longer, Xu Shen stepped out again.

Wu Yun had been waiting outside his apartment complex for half a day already.

—

“Let’s go,” Wu Yun said as soon as he saw Xu Shen approach. Grabbing him by the arm, Wu Yun shot into the sky with incredible speed.

When they landed again moments later, they were at Xinhuo Pavilion in the city center.

“This place has a back door?” Xu Shen asked incredulously as Wu Yun pushed open a hidden door in the corner of the building’s exterior wall.

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed there was even a door there—it blended perfectly into its surroundings.

“It’s not just any door,” Wu Yun replied with a smirk. “The Guide himself wants you here—that’s why this door exists for you.”

“Now hurry up! The Guide is waiting,” Wu Yun added with mock impatience before shoving Xu Shen inside.

—

As soon as Xu Shen stepped through the door, he found himself once again in that starry void-like space where Jiang Ruyue awaited him with a serene smile.

“It seems you’ve made your decision,” he said knowingly.

“I didn’t have much choice,” Xu Shen replied with a shrug. “Without your help, things would’ve been even more troublesome.”

“This world is too cruel.”

Jiang Ruyue laughed heartily at his candid response—it seemed to amuse him greatly.

—

“Ye Xiaoxin already told you everything he could,” he said after his laughter subsided. “Some of those conditions were added by me—they’re already at their limit.”

“If not for your breakthrough into Awakening Extreme Realm and breaking certain barriers again afterward, those terms would’ve been impossible to grant.”

Hearing this made Xu Shen glance at Jiang Ruyue suspiciously. No wonder those conditions had seemed so favorable—he’d almost thought Ye Xiaoxin was his long-lost father!

It turned out Jiang Ruyue had been pulling strings behind the scenes.

—

“So why did you call me here?” Xu Shen asked bluntly.

“You young people are always so impatient,” Jiang Ruyue said with an amused shake of his head before summoning something into his hand—a pitch-black mask shaped like a human face.

“What’s this?” Xu Shen asked curiously as he examined the object.

“It’s called the Mask of Shadows (Zhe Shen Mian). It can conceal all traces of your aura—even your soul cannot be detected while wearing it,” Jiang Ruyue explained with a smile. “Once you put it on, no one can remove it—not even with a blade—unless you willingly take it off.”

“It will hide your true identity completely.”

—

“So you want me to become some kind of masked vigilante?” Xu Shen asked skeptically.

“Yesterday we decided to delete all footage of you using your black longsword,” Jiang Ruyue explained calmly. “The title of hero will go to Xu Wei instead—do you have any objections?”

“None,” Xu Shen replied without hesitation. In his mind, Old Man Xu deserved such recognition more than anyone else.

—

“Good,” Jiang Ruyue said approvingly. “With this mask and your longsword, you can create an entirely new identity for yourself.”

“The choice is yours.”

Xu Shen’s eyes lit up at the idea—it was perfect! No one had seen his black blade transform into a longsword during the battle. With all footage erased or altered, only a select few insiders knew about it.

Wearing this mask would make him untraceable—a perfect tool for both killing and evasion.

—

“With this mask,” Jiang Ruyue continued, “you can run your engraving shop or carry out missions for Xinhuo Guard without fear of being recognized—so long as you don’t expose your golden aura or unique rune patterns too blatantly.”

“In combat situations,” he added meaningfully, “you’ll need to rely on that strange longsword of yours.”

Xu Shen understood his implication clearly: if anyone witnessed something they shouldn’t… they couldn’t be allowed to live.

—

Taking the mask from Jiang Ruyue’s outstretched hand marked his official induction into Xinhuo Guard. All that remained was for him to undergo Xinhuo’s Trial of Tempering (Xinhuo Lianxin).

After hesitating briefly, Xu Shen accepted the mask and placed it over his face.

It felt cool against his skin—perfectly fitted without any discomfort or foreign sensation.

As soon as he put it on, the mask began to change shape. Its once-black surface turned gray while symmetrical gold-and-red patterns extended outward from its eye sockets like veins of fire until they formed an intricate design resembling…

“A simplified version of my Weapon Rune?” Xu Shen murmured in surprise as he sensed its transformation instinctively.

“The Mask of Shadows adapts based on its wearer’s mindset,” Jiang Ruyue explained calmly. “This is what your mask looks like.”

—

“Now that you’re masked,” he continued, “you’ll need a new name—or codename—for this identity.”

After a moment of silence, Xu Shen spoke softly:

“Ming.”