At night, the bamboo grove outside the window swayed gently, casting a rustling shadow upon the carved window frame.
With a sweep of her delicate hand, Feng Hanyu extinguished the lamplight. “The night is late, you might as well sleep here.”
To her surprise, the moment she turned around, the person on the couch grabbed the corner of her robe.
“Is there something else?” Feng Hanyu turned her head and asked. “Don’t tell me you are afraid of the dark and dare not sleep alone.”
“How could that be?” Yi Qinglan replied with an air of absolute gravity. “Being afraid of the dark is for children. Disciples of our Jingyun Sect stop sharing communal quarters from the age of fifteen and choose their own rooms to dwell in. I merely wanted to ask you, this manor is so vast, where will you be sleeping? Otherwise, if I happen to wake up, how am I supposed to find you?”
“Follow the corridor in front of the door, pass through two moon gates, and then walk forward along the white sand path. That is my residence.” Feng Hanyu gave a gentle tug, and the corner of her robe slid softly from the other’s grasp with her movement.
Unexpectedly, she failed to leave this time either. The corner of her robe was tugged once again. Turning back, Feng Hanyu asked, “What is it now?”
“Well… I was thinking,” Yi Qinglan said, “regarding the lure the enemy strategy you mentioned just now, there are still a few key points I haven’t quite figured out. Why don’t you stay behind so we can discuss it further?”
“That was never a difficult matter to begin with. However, it is late now. You should rest early, and I will explain it to you in detail tomorrow.”
As Feng Hanyu spoke, she had barely taken two steps when the pulling force from behind returned once more.
“You…”
Feng Hanyu turned around, her words catching in her throat. Beneath the cascading silver moonlight, Yi Qinglan lay half-reclined on the couch, draped in the celestial glow with a smile dancing at the corners of her eyes, willfully holding onto her without letting go.
An uncontrollable flutter stirred in Feng Hanyu’s heart. Leaning down slightly, she gently pinched Yi Qinglan’s chin with two fingers.
Early the next morning, Yi Qinglan woke up in a haze. Turning over, she felt an intensely bright ray of sunlight piercing through her eyelids. She shielded her eyes with her hand and opened them, only to find Feng Hanyu already up and fully dressed. She had changed into a remarkably vibrant, luxurious, yet dignified outfit and stood with her back turned.
Yi Qinglan was so startled she nearly leaped out of bed. “My goodness, from which noble house does this grand lady hail? For a moment, I thought a celestial immortal had descended to the mortal realm!”
Yet, Feng Hanyu maintained her usual air of aristocratic aloofness and composure. She turned around unhurriedly. “You are awake? Change into this garment.” As she spoke, she gestured toward a neatly folded set of clothes beside her.
“This…” Yi Qinglan took it. This dress was indeed just like the one Feng Hanyu wore, magnificent and exquisite, instantly recognizable as the attire of a wealthy young lady.
Feng Hanyu pressed her hands against Yi Qinglan’s shoulders, guiding her to sit before the dressing table, and drew a cicada wing thin, circular object from the cosmetic box.
Curious, Yi Qinglan reached out to touch it, but Feng Hanyu gently dodged her hand. “Touch it after it is applied to your face.”
She then traced the contours of Yi Qinglan’s face, section by section, gently pressing the circular skin mask onto her face until it fit seamlessly without a single gap.
Yi Qinglan felt only a faint itch on her face, but the sensation seemed to tug at her very heartbeat, throwing her emotions into a subtle swirl.
Peering into the mirror, she saw that the reflection was still that of a young maiden with smoky eyebrows and shimmering, expressive eyes, yet her appearance was entirely different from her original self.
“This… is the art of disguise?”
Looking at Yi Qinglan’s astonished expression, Feng Hanyu chuckled softly. “Indeed. This mask is crafted from the skin of a shark person. Why, did you think it was human skin?”
Yi Qinglan smiled. “This mask is so exquisite, it is indistinguishable from a real face.”
With that, Feng Hanyu applied one to herself as well. Yi Qinglan turned to look at her, only to find that the person before her had also changed. Somehow, her figure appeared a bit more voluptuous, her skin remained flawless and smooth, yet it now exuded a mature and enchanting allure.
Stepping into the morning sun, the two followed the familiar road to the Red Dust Clinic.
The one greeting guests at the front was still the same smiling servant. When he saw the duo’s attire, his eyes practically lit up like a pair of stars, and he eagerly stepped forward to welcome them.
Before he could speak, Feng Hanyu said, “I have long heard that Doctor Cui of this establishment possesses the skill to bring the dying back to life and holds profound insights into rare and complicated illnesses. I heard he previously diagnosed my young daughter, so I have specifically brought her here today to express our gratitude and, while we are at it, purchase some medicine to take back.”
Daughter? Yi Qinglan could not help but steal a glance at Feng Hanyu, only to see her expression calm and unruffled, appearing thoroughly accustomed to this newly fabricated identity.
“This…” The servant’s full blown smile suddenly turned into a somber expression. “The two honorable guests might not know, but Doctor Cui has recently fallen ill and is currently resting to recover. I am afraid he cannot receive you.”
Yi Qinglan and Feng Hanyu exchanged a look. Yi Qinglan asked, “How could Doctor Cui, with such superb medical skills, fall ill himself?”
“The two guests are unaware,” the servant replied with utter calm. “Doctor Cui usually takes excellent care of his health. However, he is advanced in years and constantly exhausted by the clinic’s administrative matters, large and small. Consequently, he caught a sudden chill. At present, he is focusing on taking his medicine and resting. I expect he will emerge to resume consultations in a matter of days.”
The servant’s face was a picture of serene composure, leaving Yi Qinglan somewhat at a loss for how to counter.
With a half-smile, Feng Hanyu said, “In that case, please assign us a regular doctor.”
Led by the servant, the two entered the main hall of the clinic. The servant brought them into a quiet, secluded room and smiled. “Honorable guests, please wait a moment. Doctor Nian will be here shortly.” He then withdrew.
The two waited for half the morning. Sitting there, Yi Qinglan could not help but lean her head toward Feng Hanyu. “Is this method of yours truly viable?” She looked down, surveying their outfits, and muttered with slight dissatisfaction, “Did we really have to disguise ourselves as mother and daughter… You aren’t even that much older than me.”
Hearing this, Feng Hanyu gave her a slight glare. “What of it? Is it not all for the sake of our plan? Besides, how do you know I am not…”
She cut herself off just in time, then frowned. “This man named Cui is truly a shrinking turtle. After last night’s disturbance, I imagine he has already grown wary.”
“Last night, did you truly see Doctor Cui plotting in that place?” A look of suspicion crossed Yi Qinglan’s face, finding it incredibly bizarre. “Could Doctor Cui be that demon dragon?”
“No, he is a mere mortal,” Feng Hanyu said. “The business this clinic operates is highly peculiar. It must be utilizing some magic treasure or spiritual artifact. In my view, whatever the Shan Xiao monster desires is hidden right on that demon dragon.” Her eyes gleamed intensely. “Based on what I know of the Shan Xiao, it must be hiding in the shadows right now, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. We must break the deadlock before it does; we absolutely cannot let it succeed.”
“Do you not wish to save your junior sister?” Feng Hanyu added. “Right now, the fastest way is to find the person directly connected to the matter and pull on the vine until we find the root.”
“Yes, you are right,” Yi Qinglan agreed. “But now that we cannot see Doctor Cui, the clue is broken. What should we do next?”
Just as she finished speaking, the curtain at the doorway was lifted. The person at the door took a look inside, saw that the room was occupied, and said, “Apologies! We have taken a wrong turn.”
However, the moment Yi Qinglan caught sight of the figure, it felt remarkably familiar. Before the curtain could fall, she lunged forward, grabbed the person’s arm, scrutinized her closely, and blurted out, “Lu’e?”
Inside a private booth at a restaurant, Lu’e curiously touched Yi Qinglan’s face and said, “My lady hero, I was just thinking before, you are already so beautiful, why would you ever need to see a doctor? I never expected that after you went to see the doctor, you would change to become…” She tilted her head slightly. “…so uniquely charming!”
Yi Qinglan did not know whether to laugh or cry. Finding it inconvenient to tell the truth, she could only play along. “Thank you. You look very beautiful now as well.”
Yi Qinglan was not lying. When she first ran into Lu’e earlier, she had almost failed to recognize her, only managing to identify her by her voice through a stroke of inspiration.
Although the faint outlines of her former self could still be discerned from Lu’e’s face, her skin was now fair and plump, her eyes bright and spirited, and even her hair looked as though it had been completely reforged in the womb. She had virtually transformed into a completely different person overnight. Yi Qinglan could not help but stare and observe her for several moments.
Hearing the compliment, Lu’e smiled triumphantly. “Didn’t I say so? The doctors at the Red Dust Clinic are truly miraculous.”
“How did the doctor reshape your appearance? Could you tell us about it?” Feng Hanyu inquired.
Lu’e tilted her head, trying to recall. “I only remember that at the time, Doctor Zhao gave me an injection in my hand, and after that, I knew nothing else. I only remember feeling warm and cozy in my sleep. When I woke up, I had become like this!” Recalling the moment she first saw her own stunning transformation in the mirror, she was still brimming with excitement.
Yi Qinglan could not help but exchange a knowing glance with Feng Hanyu, understanding written all over their eyes.
It turned out that for the women whose countenances were transformed, the process was completely painless and occurred entirely without their knowledge. No wonder the Red Dust Clinic had been in business for so many years without a single soul exposing them.
“Apologies, I am late.” As they were speaking, the door suddenly opened. The three people sitting in the room turned their heads toward the doorway almost simultaneously.
The newcomer walked in with an elegant, measured stride, her left foot stepping across the threshold first to reveal a shoe made of embroidered brocade. She was twirling a jade ring on her hand, and while the colors of her attire were low-key, they exuded an unmistakable, boundless nobility. Her face was smooth and exceedingly well-maintained, though a few distinct wrinkles appeared beneath her eyes when she smiled genially.
It turned out to be a noblewoman in her forties or fifties.
The moment Lu’e saw her enter, she stood up affectionately to welcome her, taking hold of one of her hands and half-coaxingly, half-reproachfully saying, “What took you so long?”
Yet, the woman gently released her hand from Lu’e’s grasp. “With guests present, how can you be so ill-mannered?”
Lü’e pouted, but could not help curling her lips into a smile again as she re-clasped the woman’s arm. “They are my friends. This one even saved my life!”
“Very well, let us sit first.” Despite arriving late halfway through, the woman sat down as though she were the host of the place. “Please do not mind her, you two. Lu’e is a very good girl at heart, it is just that her temperament can be a bit impatient at times.” As she spoke, she cast a tender glance at Lu’e.
Lu’e happened to be looking back at her with a beaming smile as well. The two of them actually gazed at each other silently in this manner for a brief moment.
Feeling a bit awkward, Yi Qinglan spoke up to break the silence. “May I ask how to address you, madam?”
Before the woman could speak, Lu’e chimed in eagerly, “Her surname is Ruan. She is the proprietor of a highly renowned jewelry business around here. You may just call her Madame Ruan.” When introducing her, Lu’e’s expression carried a great deal of pride.
Yi Qinglan thus addressed her as “Madame Ruan.” The woman nodded and smiled at her, saying, “The gemstone on your wrist appears to be of excellent quality.”
Yi Qinglan looked down. It turned out to be the Tiantong Sacrificial Treasure that Feng Hanyu had tied to her wrist last night. Thinking that she had run into someone with the same appreciation as Feng Hanyu, she exchanged a few polite, modest remarks.
“And this lady is?” The woman asked with a look of inquiry, turning her gaze toward Feng Hanyu.
“Oh, her? Her surname is Feng, she is my…” Yi Qinglan’s tongue pressed against her teeth as she hesitated for a long while, utterly unable to force the word “mother” out of her mouth.
“She is my daughter, surnamed Yi,” Feng Hanyu offered with a polite smile. “I am…”
“She is my godmother!” Yi Qinglan blurted out, her hand hidden beneath the table unable to resist pinching Feng Hanyu’s thigh.
Madame Ruan took in all their subtle movements. Seeing Feng Hanyu’s extraordinary aura and having lived to this age, how could she not understand the actual relationship between these two? A look of realization dawned upon her face.
To her surprise, the relationship between these two was identical to the one between herself and Lu’e.
Noticing the meaningful glance Madame Ruan cast her way, Yi Qinglan felt so embarrassed she wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.