...
The two walked side by side on the streets of the Moon Rhinoceros Lake Market, and only then did Li Qiuyun put away her playful demeanor from earlier, her expression becoming serious.
"Uncle Chen, let’s go to the Listening Wind Pavilion now to prepare for infiltrating Divine Mist Valley."
She lowered her voice,
"We’ve received news from the Listening Wind Pavilion that the Mao Family will send someone out of the valley to purchase some supplies today, which is the best opportunity for us to swap identities."
Chen Ye nodded and asked, "Is this Disguise Skill reliable? The Mao Family likely has many experts, if we are seen through..."
"Don’t worry, Uncle Chen."
Li Qiuyun explained,
"The Listening Wind Pavilion’s disguise technique is exceptional. They don’t use ordinary Blinding Technique, but special spiritual materials to make human skin masks. Once worn, these masks not only change appearance but also simulate bone structure and aura to a significant degree. Furthermore, this is just an ordinary maid; there won’t be contact with Foundation Establishment True Men. Uncle Chen, you just need to enter the valley and seek out Mao Qingzhu."
While speaking, the two had arrived again at the antique shop named Elegant Gathering Pavilion.
Inside, the same lean middle-aged man was present. Upon seeing Chen Ye behind Li Qiuyun, he merely nodded slightly, stood up, and led them through the shop to a dimly lit secret room.
In the secret room, a black-robed man wearing a ghost face mask was already waiting. He said nothing but took a mask as thin as a cicada’s wing from a wooden box and handed it to Chen Ye.
"This is a Transformation Hide. Once you wear it, not only your appearance but even your physique will change. But remember, the Mao Family is particularly adept with Divine Sense, try to avoid contact with high-tier cultivators."
The middle-aged man advised.
Chen Ye took the mask, feeling its cool, slick touch. As soon as it adhered to his face, it began to merge and fit snugly with his skin.
He could feel subtle changes occurring to his facial features and bone structure.
A moment later, he looked at the bronze mirror beside him. Reflected in it was the face of an ordinary, somewhat timid young maid, with no resemblance to his previous appearance.
Chen Ye expressed astonishment: "In the world, there truly exists such a magical artifact."
"The Transformation Hide comes from Formless True Man, and it’s indeed divine. Formless True Man is called ’formless’ because his Disguise Technique is unmatched."
Li Qiuyun suppressed her laughter, looking at this unfamiliar maid before her, and explained.
Uncle Chen, a man of grandeur... one day turned into a woman’s form.
If not for the rules of the Listening Wind Pavilion, Li Qiuyun would surely use the Memory Stone to capture this moment.
After Chen Ye changed into a simple maid’s outfit, the middle-aged man spoke again, his tone flat: "At the eastern entrance of the market by Yingchun Tea House, the Mao Family’s convoy is taking a break there. Go to the tea house’s back door. No need to ask further; everything will be arranged for you."
To describe it, the Listening Wind Pavilion’s plan is almost foolproof, hardly requiring effort.
Chen Ye felt relieved. After entrusting Li Qiuyun to take care of his disciple, he headed alone to Yingchun Tea House.
At the back door of the tea house, a simple carriage matching the Mao Family’s convoy style quietly stood at the alley entrance.
The coachman, a simple-faced man, upon seeing Chen Ye, asked no questions but merely lifted the car curtain, signaling him to board.
Without hesitation, Chen Ye swiftly entered the carriage.
The carriage then slowly moved, silently merging into the street traffic, heading steadily towards Divine Mist Valley.
The entire process flowed smoothly and naturally, without attracting any attention.
"The Listening Wind Pavilion is truly unfathomable..."
Chen Ye caressed his current face, feeling amazed.
Inside the carriage, another maid lay dozing. She rubbed her eyes and stretched lazily:
"Ah, how did I sleep until now? Sister Tao, are we headed back to Divine Mist Valley?"
The maid appeared young, with a captivatingly sweet oval face.
She was not affiliated with the Listening Wind Pavilion, but a maid traveling with the identity, named Xiaoli.
The maid Chen Ye was replacing was named Xiaotao, who was mute, thus requiring no words from Chen Ye to avoid exposure.
He silently nodded to Xiaoli.
The carriage continued eastward, gradually leaving the bustling Moon Rhinoceros Lake Market behind.
The scenes on both sides of the road changed from dense shopfronts to rolling fields and verdant woods.
Inside the carriage, the maid named Xiaoli was evidently unable to tolerate silence for long. Noticing Chen Ye’s persistent silence, she opened the floodgates:
"Sister Tao, why do you suppose the lady sent us to purchase only fabric this time? Since returning home, the lady rarely goes out, only staying in her courtyard, meeting no one, and is now so bored she makes clothes every day!"
Chen Ye simply listened quietly, pondering to himself.
It seems that Mao Qingzhu hasn’t had a smooth time lately.
Speaking of Mao Qingzhu, Chen Ye couldn’t help but recall some of the intelligence provided by Listening Wind Pavilion.
It’s said that when Mao Qingzhu first married Xu Buhui, it was actually out of helplessness.
The old Family Head Xu had once saved Mao Gaoyuan, Mao Qingzhu’s father, and pressed him to repay the favor by marrying his daughter to Xu Buhui.
Mao Gaoyuan, bound by the favor, had to agree, although he was not willing in his heart.
Who would have thought, Mao Qingzhu went to Xu Family for just a year, and gave birth to Qing Jun.
Originally, the relationship between the two families seemed to be getting closer, with Qing Jun as the bond...
But unexpectedly, Qing Jun turned out to be an illegitimate child!
After the incident, Mao Gaoyuan used this as an excuse to confine Mao Qingzhu in Divine Mist Valley.
Of course, calling it confinement might also be protection for Mao Qingzhu.
"Alas, it’s still better outside."
Xiaoli rested her chin, gazing at the rapidly retreating scenery outside, and sighed softly.
"Everything in Divine Mist Valley is good, except it’s too deserted and has too many rules. It’s not as lively as the Market, where you can eat and play anything."
Xiaoli seemed young, yet she was a complete chatterbox, her small mouth never stopped even with a mute next to her, talking all the way.
Another two-hour period passed,
the road ahead gradually became shrouded in thick grey-white mist.
The carriage entered it, the surroundings became blurry instantly, even the light dimmed, as if entering another world.
"Sister Tao, we’ve arrived at Divine Mist Valley." Xiaoli was long accustomed to it, speaking calmly.
As the wheels rolled over, Chen Ye felt the surrounding scene slightly shake, as if passing through an invisible curtain of water.
In the next moment, the dense mist dispersed suddenly, revealing a valley as if it were a celestial realm.
Warm as spring inside the valley, with exotic flowers and rare herbs everywhere, and the air filled with the refreshing scent of medicine.
Several elegant pavilions were built along the mountains, arranged intricately, with flying eaves and carved beams, appearing even more serene and ethereal amidst the clouds and mist.
This is Divine Mist Valley, Mao Family!
The carriage stopped in front of a mansion, several guards in uniform approached, checked briefly, and let them pass.
These guards were all Female Cultivators.
It was because the Mao Family had few men and passed down through one line.
Currently, there is only one male, Mao Gaoyuan!
And back then, although saved by the old Family Head Xu, Mao Gaoyuan was injured in his vitality and lost his senses.
He felt he had severed the Mao Family lineage, became disheartened, and forcibly closed up, hoping someday to break through to Golden Core and regain his vigor.
And this meant that all cultivators active in Divine Mist Valley were Female Cultivators!
Xiaoli led Chen Ye, carrying purchased items, through several corridors towards a particularly secluded courtyard deep within the valley.
"Oh, again we’re going to Madam’s Mind-calming Garden, it’s as desolate as who knows what, not even a bird to be seen." Xiaoli couldn’t help but complain again.
Chen Ye followed behind her, and his heart stirred slightly, his pace quickening a bit.
The two soon arrived at a separate maid’s courtyard, simply furnished with only a few side rooms and a well.
Xiaoli placed down the purchased items, stretched lazily, and her sweet youthful face showed weariness, leaning innocently against Chen Ye’s shoulder, letting out a delicate yawn.
Chen Ye’s body stiffened, instinctively wanting to avoid, but was embraced by Xiaoli instead.
"Sister Tao, your shoulder... seems harder?" Xiaoli pinched curiously, her face filled with admiration,
"They say men’s bodies are hard too! But there’s not a single man in Divine Mist Valley... cough cough, except the Family Head. There are plenty outside... but if you contact them privately, you’d be beaten to death by family rules!"
Chen Ye’s heart skipped a beat, but his face had to pretend to be clueless, shaking his head repeatedly.
Xiaoli continued her enthusiastic probing, seeing Chen Ye visibly uncomfortable, feeling even more triumphant, she leaned closer to Chen Ye’s ear, lowered her voice and said:
"Hehe, just teasing you! Every sister at Mind-calming Garden has been teased by Xiaoli!"