Chapter 457: Chapter 421: Advancement Requirements
Sang Que pretended to be Nanny Wang, supporting Yao Zhen, who was disguised as Old Madam Meng, as they returned to the Buddhist Hall.
Yao Zhen couldn’t kneel before the Longevity Buddha Statue with a gilded body in the hall, puckering her lips as she looked at Sang Que, who glanced at the Buddha Statue inside and also hesitated.
Immediately, Sang Que drove away all the people cleaning and serving around the hall, claiming that the old madam was frightened and needed some peace.
Sang Que could feel someone watching from the shadows, so she and Yao Zhen tried their best to act normal.
Yao Zhen sat in the Taishi Chair within the Buddhist Hall, twirling prayer beads in her hand, closed her eyes to rest, and murmured words, yet she wasn’t reciting the Buddhist Scripture, but rather the Taoist Scripture.
Wearing someone else’s skin made both Sang Que and Yao Zhen somewhat uncomfortable.
When this layer of skin was applied, there was no physical sensation, yet mentally, Sang Que and Yao Zhen felt controlled, turned into another person by this skin, and without mental defense, they could naturally become that person.
All habits, speech, preferences, and even personality would change.
Sang Que suddenly found the Painted Skin Ghost somewhat terrifying, considering how difficult it must have been for Hua Qianmian to maintain her true self after wielding it for so long.
The Evil Suppression Bureau’s mirror didn’t reveal any problems, yet Sang Que noticed a flaw in Hua Qianmian’s painted skin method during the entire observation and experience.
Hua Qianmian’s skin peeling technique was imperfect; all of them now had an inch-long crack on top of their heads covered by hair and thus unseen.
Sang Que wondered, if Hua Qianmian could solve this flaw, would her Painted Skin Ghost become more perfect and break through from the fourth layer to the Fifth Layer?
Coincidentally, the Skin Peeling Ghost in Sang Que’s hands was an expert in perfectly peeling human skin.
Unfortunately, the situation was urgent today, and Sang Que hadn’t had the chance to discuss it with Hua Qianmian yet.
...
Amid a chaotic afternoon, when supper arrived, the group finally sat together, simultaneously playing their roles and discussing the next steps.
The Ghost Vendor, impersonating Meng Lian, served a bowl of soup, which Cheng Ge, pretending to be Meng Quan the servant, presented to the old madam, Yao Zhen.
"Old Madam, please enjoy." Cheng Ge said.
Yao Zhen reclined, half-squinting, twirling prayer beads without response.
After putting on the skin, they couldn’t reveal each other’s identities; so titles must match their roles, otherwise, if their true identity is called out by others, the disguise fails, and they would die with their skin shed.
The Ghost Vendor Meng Lian eventually spoke, "Mother, I plan to visit the Evil Suppression Bureau tomorrow to apologize to Captain Qiu."
The subtext being, the Ghost Vendor intended to take Cheng Ge along tomorrow to investigate the location where the Old Gu Master was detained in the Evil Suppression Bureau.
Despite being called ’Mother’ at such a young age, Yao Zhen resisted the urge to smirk, continuing to twirl the prayer beads and acknowledged calmly, instructing Nanny Wang Sang Que, who stood nearby, "Tomorrow, accompany me to the Buddhist Temple outside the city; the Meng Family has suffered this disaster, and we must burn incense and pray."
The subtext being, Yao Zhen and Sang Que needed to verify if they could freely leave the city under their current identities, ensuring a clear escape route.
The group nodded, as the first madam, Hua Qianmian, rose to serve the Ghost Vendor food.
"Master, I have confined the concubines in the courtyard to copy the Buddhist Scripture for our Meng Mansion’s blessing. During these days, the master should live in the study; leave the household affairs to me, and rest assured, master, I will keep the servants in check and won’t bring trouble."
"Thank you for your hard work, madam."
The Ghost Vendor nodded, praised Hua Qianmian a few times, then Hua Qianmian even secretly dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, vividly portraying the image of a first madam under great grievance, making Yao Zhen roll her eyes.
Cheng Ge nearby felt relieved to play a mere servant, without having to act the charade, for he couldn’t bring himself to call Yao Zhen ’mother’.
The next day.
The Ghost Vendor accompanied Cheng Ge to the Evil Suppression Bureau seeking Qiu Siming, yet unable to see him, the Ghost Vendor feigned urgency, employing money in various ways to try solutions, circling around the Evil Suppression Bureau.
His actions suited Meng Lian’s usual style, and in the process, ascertain the surrounding terrain of the Evil Suppression Bureau.
Sang Que and Yao Zhen attempted to exit the city but got turned back; not targeted at them specifically, but due to all Shengjing City’s lockdown, allowing entry but not exit.
Sang Que again spotted Qin Ze loitering aimlessly by the city gate.
Also Zhang Junyao’s brother Zhang Junming, originally intending to return to Sanchuan City post-delivery before Spring Festival, got barred from leaving too, even with the Empress Dowager’s mandate.
Asked when the lockdown would be lifted, the city gate guards stated it awaited the Prime Minister’s decision.
Sang Que and Yao Zhen took a carriage, heading to buy supplies near the Prime Minister’s Mansion, seeing the mansion gates shut from afar, even officials’ families delivering New Year’s gifts were blocked outside by the gatekeepers.
Sang Que speculated left Zuo Jin wasn’t in Shengjing City, or was incapacitated by the Blood Curse, recuperating inside the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
At night, Sang Que and their group again gathered around the dinner table, discussing the day’s findings.
The Ghost Vendor also suspected Zuo Jin was absent from the city, but infiltrating the Evil Suppression Bureau was exceedingly difficult, particularly since the Old Gu Master was undoubtedly held inside the Evil Ghost Bureau, making it even harder.
Finished talking, the group tacitly turned their gaze towards Hua Qianmian.
After a day’s busy run, numerous places required verification of the Identity Token; Hua Qianmian’s layer of skin was flawless. To infiltrate the Evil Suppression Bureau for rescue, they still needed Hua Qianmian.
Sang Que signaled to Yao Zhen, who instructed Hua Qianmian, under the guise of the old madam, to come to her room after dinner to copy the Buddhist Scripture, setting rules.
At night, in the old madam’s Buddhist Hall, Sang Que leveraged the scripture copying to inform Hua Qianmian about the Skin Peeling Ghost, causing Hua Qianmian’s eyes to glow, sensing opportunity.
The Yin Walker left behind by the Evil Suppression Bureau still surveilled around the Meng Mansion, making urgency futile; the group could only continue their routine activities.
The Ghost Vendor, acting as Meng Lian, visited the Evil Suppression Bureau to meet Qiu Siming for three consecutive days, repeatedly rebuffed, then started regular patrols in the city’s west from the fourth day onward.
Within the Meng Mansion, the old madam remained reciting scriptures in the Buddhist Hall, while the first madam continued establishing rules daily for the concubines.
A week passed this way before Qiu Siming withdrew the hidden sentinels around the Meng Mansion, although Shengjing City’s lockdown remained.
Finally allowed some return to her own self, Yao Zhen locked herself in the room drawing talismans all day; these days almost made her forget she was a Daoist, often mistaking herself as the Meng Mansion’s old madam, requiring moments of clarity each morning.
Sang Que brought Hua Qianmian into the picture, releasing the Skin Peeling Ghost for Hua Qianmian to see.
The already fourth-layered Skin Peeling Ghost emerged, stirring a reaction in Hua Qianmian’s Painted Skin Ghost; Hua Qianmian’s face began to melt, sprouting fleshy shoots that extended towards the Skin Peeling Ghost.
The Skin Peeling Ghost attempted resistance and escape, pressed firmly in place by Sang Que, still clad in Daomadan skin.
Hua Qianmian retreated, suppressing it until after a while her face returned to normal.
"Your Skin Peeling Ghost can assist my advancement, yet aside from devouring Skin Peeling Ghosts and strengthening the Heart Lamp, I still need to complete a task as an advancement rite; it might not be immediate."
Upon hearing this, Sang Que was delighted; if Hua Qianmian reached the Fifth Layer, she wouldn’t need to peel others’ skin for identity disguise, able to draw her own skin, masquerading as another, even her ghost could impersonate other ghosts.
This was crucial to their forthcoming endeavors.
"I have a method to strengthen the Heart Lamp; tell me your advancement rite first."
"Impersonate a prominent figure, the more influential the better, be recognized by thousands, and avoid exposure for twelve hours; succeed then!"
Visibly excited, Hua Qianmian exchanged a glance with Sang Que, both having thought of the same person.
Zuo Jinye!
