That night, inside Master Zhou’s Residence.
Lu Li and Gong Shangyu were anxiously crouched by the door of the Miss of the Zhou Family’s boudoir.
Suddenly, there was a creak as the boudoir door was pushed open without hesitation.
Following that, under the earnest request of her own Shizun, and using the Secret Method provided by Gong Shangyu to temporarily alter her fate pattern to a Four-Yin fate, Gu Qingying appeared.
She had just changed into an elaborate and exquisite ruqun, awkwardly stepping out of the room.
The pale pink dress only made her already fair skin even more porcelain-like, and the twin buns on her head were tied with a Sichuan brocade ribbon matching the color of her clothes.
At first glance, this appearance truly resembled a delicate and beautiful wealthy young lady.
Of course, that was if one ignored Gu Qingying’s almost murderous glare and the terrifying low-pressure aura radiating from her entire body.
“So, Shizun! Why on earth did you have to make me the bait!”
Gu Qingying lowered her voice and glared at Gong Shangyu, who had just coaxed Lu Li into making her the decoy.
She practically gritted her back teeth as she complained.
Her eyes burned with resentment, and if looks could kill, Gong Shangyu would have long since been reduced to ashes by Gu Qingying’s violet gaze.
Gong Shangyu appraised Gu Qingying from head to toe, a teasing smile almost overflowing in her pink eyes.
She lightly waved her Feather Fan to cover the corner of her lips, feigning surprise as she teased.
“Ah~ Gu Shixiong, don’t be so self-deprecating. You really shouldn’t underestimate your own charm…”
While speaking, she handed over a Bronze Mirror to Gu Qingying with deliberate mockery.
“Hehe… Your current delicate appearance really is pitifully endearing, and you bear a striking nine-tenths resemblance to the Miss of the Zhou Family herself!”
“Oh my~ No wonder the elder selected you~”
As Gong Shangyu spoke, she deliberately glanced at Gu Qingying’s flat chest without any attempt to hide her ridicule and mockery.
Then, pretending not to understand, she deliberately said to Gu Qingying with sarcastic tones.
“Hehe~ It’s unavoidable, really. When it comes to a childlike ‘petite and exquisite’ figure, ‘slender and just right,’ one that those Evil Cultivators find hard to see through…”
“Among all the cultivators in Yangzhou City, it truly is only you, Gu Shixiong, who’s the most ‘suitable.’”
“Hehe~ Especially with your… ‘plain and unremarkable’ figure, it’s perfectly fitting and won’t blow your cover…”
Ahhh…
Gong Shangyu!
You big bully!
Gu Qingying clenched her fists, silently cursing as her heart pounded fiercely, veins twitching on her forehead.
Clearly, if it weren’t for the presence of her Shizun, Gu Qingying would have already lunged forward to rub Gong Shangyu’s gloating face against the ground.
Meanwhile, Lu Li stood with his hands behind his back, completely oblivious to the confrontation between Gu Qingying and Gong Shangyu.
He only vaguely felt that Master Gong’s words to his disciple seemed somewhat frivolous.
He also found it strange—when had these two young ones become so close?
But the matter at hand was serious, so he simply dismissed it as a joke between the two young cultivators.
Then Lu Li looked at Gu Qingying’s aggrieved expression and patiently explained to her with earnestness.
“Qingkong, although Master Gong’s words just now were a bit teasing, there’s truth to them in a way.”
“I know you were born a boy and are not a delicate girl, and children your age care about pride. Having you temporarily dress as a girl must feel unpleasant in your heart.”
“Even if you don’t say it, it must be embarrassing inside. But this isn’t Master’s intention to make things hard for you. The investigation is urgent right now.”
“We cannot find another cultivator who both has the strength to contend with those Evil Cultivators and a physique so fitting for the role.”
“So, for the sake of the children’s safety in the city, Master can only ask you to endure this inconvenience.”
As he spoke, Lu Li carefully examined his disciple’s nearly perfect “young lady” disguise, a faintly strange feeling flickering through his mind.
Hmm?
So strange.
Could it be that Qingkong really suits wearing women’s clothes?
This is almost too fitting.
Hiss… If I didn’t know beforehand, I’d almost take him for a girl…
Lu Li thought this to himself, scrutinizing Gu Qingying even more closely.
The delicately carved girl stood upright, though her face was full of reluctance, it only added to her charming innocence.
Moonlight spilled through the window lattice, casting a soft glow over her figure.
Seeing this, an odd thought suddenly arose in Lu Li’s mind.
Hmm… Qingkong’s frame is slender, and his brows and features are rather delicate.
Wearing a dress, there’s no sense of discord—rather…
Hmm?
Qingkong… could he really be a girl?
As this sudden thought barged into his mind, Lu Li immediately activated the system to check his disciple’s gender.
Fortunately, the system panel showed no change—Gu Qingying’s gender was still male.
Although, in Lu Li’s buggy and error-prone system panel, strange error codes occasionally appeared without meaning.
Seeing that the system still confirmed the disciple as male, Lu Li sighed in relief.
The suspicion was blown away like a gentle breeze, leaving no trace.
Sigh… What nonsense am I thinking?
Qingkong must just be young, not fully developed yet.
Plus, he inherited his mother’s delicate beauty, making him appear somewhat feminine.
And, it’s normal for boys at this age to be a bit refined in looks…
Feeling he’d found a reasonable explanation, Lu Li spoke to Gu Qingying with an authoritative tone.
“We righteous cultivators must eliminate demons, protect the Way, defend the realm, and safeguard all living beings. So, to quickly capture that fiend who harms children and rescue those innocent ones taken by the Evil Cultivators…”
“This time… I’m afraid we must make you endure some hardship. After all, Qingkong, your disguise is truly beautiful—flawless!”
“Not to mention that fiend, even I was almost bewitched by your appearance just now.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingying, whose anger had been stoked by Gong Shangyu, instantly calmed down.
Especially when Lu Li said he was almost captivated by her, a happy smile bloomed on her formerly furious face.
In fact, Lu Li’s praise was like sunlight dispersing the shadow in Gu Qingying’s heart.
His compliment poured like honey into her soul, making her feel as if her body was floating from his words.
“Um~ Shizun… you really think it’s pretty?”
Gu Qingying murmured softly, a mixture of shyness and joy spreading a mysterious blush quickly from her cheeks to her ears.
Even her violet eyes became moist and sparkling.
Seeing her sudden change, Lu Li was momentarily at a loss but continued along the thread, affirming her.
“Of course. When have I ever lied to you? Whether this plan succeeds in luring out the snake depends crucially on you, Qingkong.”
“Yes! Shizun! I understand! Eliminating demons and protecting the Way is the mission of us righteous disciples! For Master… and for those missing children! This little grievance means nothing! I will not fail in my mission!”
Gu Qingying’s voice rang with firm resolve, as if she had just received an immensely honorable duty.
She then treasured the Tracking Jade Talisman handed to her by Lu Li, clutching it tightly in her palm.
She even subconsciously tidied her skirt and hair buns, ensuring her current “perfect” appearance had not a single flaw.
As for Gong Shangyu’s teasing and mockery, she cast it far away, her mind only filled with her Shizun’s praise.
Hehe… Shizun praised me!
Hehe… Guhehe~
Shizun said I look good!
Gu Qingying thought happily to herself, her face flushing an even deeper rosy red.
Then, humming an off-key cheerful tune, she bounced back into the boudoir, happily playing the role of the bait.
Seeing this, Gong Shangyu helplessly rubbed her forehead, sighing and teasing silently.
“Sigh… just a couple of casual compliments from Shizun, and she forgets even her own name. This love-struck girl really has no hope~”
Though Gong Shangyu felt frustrated, in truth she was insanely jealous of her junior sister!
Even she didn’t realize that her teasing words had slipped in a subtle and indescribable tinge of envy.
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