Chapter 0: 75. Young and Cute
“This saying…” Zhao Xinting exclaimed, “I’m familiar with that! Old Qin used to comfort me like that every day.”
Qin Gou suddenly grabbed Zhao Xinting by the scruff of his neck and interrupted him, “I bet the person who said that is very handsome.”
“Indeed. They must be a gentleman as elegant as an orchid, with noble aspirations,” Lin Youqing chuckled, her eyes dimming slightly. “Alas, this humble scholar can no longer recall his specific appearance… However, I believe his words will also apply to the choice you are making, Brother Qin.”
“That is indeed a good saying! Look at how this wise man’s mind works. What enlightened and thought-provoking awareness!” Qin Gou said with a dry laugh. “However, Youqing, you’ve been tricked by this scoundrel. She just wanted to see me make a fool of myself.”
“Is that so?” Lin Youqing looked at Zhao Xinting.
Little Zhao, with a pained expression, nodded desperately.
Seeing this, Lin Youqing fell silent for a moment, placing the ornate dress in her hand on the table. “This humble scholar understands. I will not force Brother Qin. But Brother Qin, you must surely understand our feelings! This humble scholar… I’ll go change.”
With that, before leaving, Lin Youqing cast a sympathetic glance at Zhao Xinting, giving him an encouraging look that said, ‘The great cause is not yet accomplished, comrades must continue to strive.’
Looking at Lin Youqing’s retreating back, Qin Gou furrowed his brows. “How do I feel that my image in Youqing’s heart—that of a master who privately enjoys cross-dressing but is powerless to do so—has become deeply entrenched and set in stone?”
“You don’t have to feel it,” Zhao Xinting said with a dry laugh. “It’s a fact!”
“Ungrateful disciple! How dare you say that?” Qin Gou laughed angrily, already rubbing his fists.
Zhao Xinting quickly dodged backward, completely forgetting that he was already a Realm Lord and the head of a sect, and stammered, “Master, please calm down! Xinting’s actions before were absolutely unintentional! Besides, helping you successfully guide Youqing now should count as making amends, right?”
“Do you know the principle that a scholar can be killed but not insulted?” Qin Gou was extremely depressed. Although he had transformed into a woman several times using the Faceless Hermit’s innate abilities, the thought of appearing in women’s clothing in front of others in his true form sent a shiver down his spine, even when he imagined it by himself! Except for the pleasures within his boudoir.
“Then why did you ask Xinting to wear it back then?”
“It’s perfectly normal for a woman to wear a skirt.”
“I wasn’t one back then.”
“Nonsense. You always were. You just fell under the influence of the Fate-Changing Soul and didn’t realize it.”
“Master, you’re just quibbling!” Zhao Xinting said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Qin Gou pursed his lips and said righteously, “Don’t ask. If you ask, it’s just that Xinting is too suitable for wearing skirts. It’s convenient for deceiving people back then and pleasing my eyes, killing two birds with one stone. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Hearing this, Zhao Xinting was stunned for a moment, a smile already uncontrollable at the corner of his mouth. “Is that true?”
“Absolutely true,” Qin Gou sighed. Little Zhao was too easy to fool. See, he could fob him off with just a few words. He was so young.
Zhao Xinting’s face immediately bloomed into a radiant smile, beautiful and moving. His master still valued him. He had been easily distracted by a few words. He was too cute.
…
“Lord Qin, I just received a report from a Deacon Disciple. A Demon Race Man wishes to temporarily stay and seek refuge within the sect.” Due to the proximity, Yi Chengying’s sound transmission reached Qin Gou’s ears clearly.
“A Demon Race man coming to the Purple Extreme Demonic Sect for refuge?” Qin Gou was bewildered.
“Yes, and he claims to be the Second Prince of the Abyss, Mo Yu! Little Chair met Young Master Mo Yu before when we were at the Abyss Palace with you, Lord Qin. However, due to some matters just now, Little Chair has not yet truly met him.”
“Mo Yu? Where is he now?”
Qin Gou was even more confused. What was this Second Prince up to now? Although this kid was a bit dense, he held a very high position within the Abyss. Why was he suddenly coming to the Purple Extreme Demonic Sect to seek refuge? Had Xiao Ling’er not beaten him up for too long, making him run away from home in anger?
A moment later, Qin Gou successfully met the extremely familiar Demon Race man in black robes. This young man’s appearance and noble bloodline attracted countless little demon girls. Unfortunately, it was absolutely impossible to get to know him intimately.
“Little Brother Qin, what a coincidence, you’re here too?” Mo Yu exclaimed with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
“How many times have you run away from home this time, kid?” Qin Gou asked with a playful scolding.
“This time it’s really not… This young master is genuinely here to seek refuge. By the way, let my elder sister explain to Little Brother Qin personally.” Mo Yu gave a helpless wry smile and took out a delicate small wooden box from his embrace. Upon opening it, it contained a small porcelain doll no bigger than his palm.
“Mo Ning is here too?”
“Elder sister, wake up,” Mo Yu called out. The little dot sleeping in the wooden box immediately opened her clear and limpid eyes. After looking around, she suddenly sensed the familiar aura she had been longing for. She couldn’t wait, and rose into the air, flying into Qin Gou’s embrace like a little cannonball.
“Master!”
Qin Gou held the little dot with both hands, asking in confusion, “Mo Ning, why do you call me…” But as he looked closely, the horns that originally looked like devilish ones on the little dot’s head were nowhere to be seen. He was astonished, “Are you Kong Ling?”
“Yes. Your unworthy disciple, Kong Ling, greets Master.” Kong Ling, now only the size of a doll, clasped her fists in salutation in the palm of Qin Gou’s hand, her limpid eyes filled with deep reverence and dependence.
“Xiao Ling’er, did you and Mo Ning switch bodies?” Qin Gou pressed, although he knew in his heart that this was certainly not a switch. Kong Ling and Mo Ning were merely two segments of memory from the same person, not two souls crammed into one body. It was just that the Kong wench had split off a part of her soul and infused it into this Spirit Treasure, and then used the “Illusory Sea Tide” to deeply hypnotize herself, making herself believe that the two had been forcibly separated. However, Qin Gou could not expose this now.
Kong Ling nodded, about to speak.
“Little Dot? Long time no see!”
Li Yuanzhen walked over gracefully, her phoenix eyes flashing with surprise. She suddenly noticed the bewildered expression on Kong Ling’s little face and stopped. “What? You don’t remember this humble Daoist, do you?” With that, Li Yuanzhen placed two fair fingers to her lips and let out a loud whistle.
As soon as the whistle sounded, Kong Ling was horrified to find her body suddenly flying uncontrollably towards Li Yuanzhen. She fell into her palm in an instant and affectionately rubbed her fingers. Everything felt so natural, as if it were meant to be.
“Who are you? I’ve never met you before!” The Kong wench exclaimed in disbelief. She could even clearly feel a sense of inner joy and happiness emanating from herself as Li Yuanzhen gently stroked her, like a little dog that hadn’t seen its master for a long time… Mo Ning, what did you go through back then?!
