Chapter 467: A Chance to Try

Why does this seam glow?

Only then did they see that at the center of the stone table's base there was a thin crack; in the dim light, the crack clearly emitted a faint white glow.

Tuan Tuan curiously stretched out her little finger and poked into the crack.

A faint white emanated from her fingertip and flowed along the narrow crack into it.

In the next moment, the thin crack silently split open to either side, revealing a palm-sized depression.

Inside the depression, a soft stack of something and a yellowed sheet of paper fell silently to the ground.

Tuan Tuan blinked and wondered, 'Is this the treasure?'

Never mind whether it is or not! What I found is mine!

She quickly picked it up, shoved it all into her bosom, gripped the white jade die tightly, and carefully retreated from under the table.

I found it, Uncle Yang Huzi!" she exclaimed, holding up the die and handing it to the goat-bearded man.

Yang Huzi took the die, wiped it with his sleeve, and said with a smile, 'Thank you, little brother.'

Xiao Ningyuan had already looked around the room thoroughly, rose to take his leave, and said, 'It's getting late; my younger brother is utterly exhausted—let's visit another day.'

The goat-bearded man didn't press them to stay, personally seeing them to the door and bidding them farewell with clasped hands.

Having finally emerged safe and sound, Xiao Ningyuan let out a breath, led Tuan Tuan into a quiet side alley, while Xiao Er and Lu Qi followed silently behind.

The three exchanged glances, all feeling a bit disappointed; after a night of fruitless searching, their steps grew heavier.

Only Tuan Tuan, excited, began to recount her exploits from tonight.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi listened, stunned, finally realizing that their young lady had actually been wreaking havoc on such a scale.

Returning to the inn, they entered the guest room, sat down, and Xiao Ningyuan let out a long sigh: 'It's fine; we've done all we can—let's think of another way.'

Xiao Er remained silent, while Lu Qi shook his head and rose: 'Let's go, Brother Xiao; the young lady is also tired—what does it matter if we don't find anything? We've only just arrived here.'

'If we don't find it today, we'll just keep looking tomorrow.'

'Why aren't you all happy?' Tuan Tuan tilted her little head, looking at the three dejected adults, 'I found something good!'

The room suddenly fell silent.

Xiao Ningyuan asked, 'Tuan Tuan, what did you find? Where did you find it? I've been with you all night—how could I not know?'

Tuan Tuan carefully pulled out the soft stack and the yellowed paper from her bosom, piling them on the table: 'Here, these are they—I don't even know what they are.'

The three of them looked together at the unimpressive pile.

Listening to Tuan Tuan chatter on about how she found them, she said, 'Big brother, hurry and take a look—are these treasures?'

Xiao Ningyuan picked up the soft stack; it felt slightly cool, smooth as the finest silk, and thin enough to be nearly transparent.

He carefully pinched a corner and gently unfolded it—it was a human face!

Looking at the second, third, and so on—each was the same.

These faces had blurred features, uniform skin tone, and were as thin as a cicada's wing.

Examining them by candlelight, the material seemed like skin yet not skin, like glue yet not glue, and faintly revealed an exquisitely fine grain.

'This is…' Lu Qi's throat bobbed as he swallowed.

Xiao Ningyuan unfolded the yellowed paper and read aloud: 'Essentials of Thousand Faces.'

'This item is called Thousand Faces; it is made from the soft under-skin of East Sea merfolk, mixed with Tianshan snow silkworm silk and infant hair less than a month old, processed with secret glue through nine steaming and nine sunning cycles.'

'One draws a likeness upon it; after it air-dries, covering the face with it instantly transforms the appearance. This substance is living flesh, able to move at will, with a complexion as if natural—even those close cannot tell the difference.'

'There are thirty-six sheets, each usable only once. Soak it in water and it will peel off on its own. Do not exceed six double-hours; if forcibly left on, it will bind to the skin and cannot be removed.'

Tuan Tuan looked at his astonished expression and said, 'Big brother, is this Thousand Faces thing really powerful?'

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: 'Powerful, not just somewhat powerful.'

Lu Qi swallowed and said, 'Even the best human-skin masks on the jianghu can only achieve a seventy‑to‑eighty percent resemblance, and being like wood or clay, they might fool strangers but anyone close will see through them at a glance.'

Xiao Er nodded: 'If it truly gives a complexion as if innate, then it is absolutely a holy grail of disguise.'

Xiao Ningyuan said slowly: 'With this, in the vast world, where could we not go? Who could we not impersonate?'

'Father once said, "The essence of espionage lies first in hiding one's form. If there existed an object that could completely change a person's appearance, then even an enemy camp could be strolled through as leisurely as a garden."'

He lowered his gaze to the table: 'And now this object has actually fallen into our hands.'

'Big brother,' Tuan Tuan poked the Thousand Faces with her little finger, 'Is this fun? Can I turn into Uncle Yang Huzi?'

Xiao Ningyuan swept her into his arms, his eyes heating: 'Not only can you become Uncle Yang Huzi—you can become anyone you wish! Tuan Tuan, what you've found is far more than a treasure; it's practically a weapon.'

He lifted his head to look at Xiao Er and Lu Qi: 'This item arrives just in time! Do you know where the final treasure is located?'

The two exchanged a glance and shook their heads.

Xiao Ningyuan gave a wry smile: 'The reason we first came to Yuzhou was precisely because the seventh treasure is located… in Jingcheng.'

Lu Qi and Xiao Er exclaimed in unison, 'Jingcheng?'

'Exactly. I originally thought that Yuzhou's treasure was the key to the secret passage into the capital, which is why I decided to come here first.'

I never imagined it would actually be this Thousand Faces.

'For this I have been worried for many days, but now that we have this Thousand Faces, our chances of reaching the capital have more than doubled!'

Tuan Tuan cheered: 'Great! I can return to Jingcheng!'

'Yes,' Xiao Ningyuan pinched her cheek, 'but we still need to test it—we must know just how far this Thousand Faces can go before we can arrange our return to the capital.'

'Sure, sure! Big brother, could you turn into Father?'

'Uh…' Xiao Ningyuan choked.

Lu Qi and Xiao Er lowered their heads, chuckling, 'Miss, you really can think of such things!'

But Tuan Tuan, wearing a serious expression, looked at her brother and said, 'Can't I? Didn't you say anyone can become anyone? I miss Father! If I can't become Father, then Mother will do!'

Upon hearing that, Lu Qi and Xiao Er couldn't help but burst out laughing.

'The young master turning into the Princess Consort's likeness? That would amuse everyone for half a year.'

Xiao Ningyuan's eyes widened: "Tuan Tuan, this really won't do."

Tuan Tuan's little head drooped: "Hmph, just now you said anyone could do..."

Xiao Ningyuan let out a soft sigh, rubbing the little cowlick on her head: "Good girl, it's not that big brother doesn't want to."

"But the Thousand Faces only have thirty-six sheets in total, each can be used only once; the matter hasn't been accomplished, it's really not something to play with."

"Brother promises you that if we someday return to the Prince's Mansion and this Thousand Faces still has unused sheets, brother will let you turn into Mother's likeness, alright?"

Tuan Tuan thought for a moment, then reluctantly nodded: "Alright."

Xiao Ningyuan's expression turned serious: "Right now, there happens to be an opportunity to try it out."