Chapter 33: True Face

The Holy Maiden suddenly realized she had made a mistake.

Xu Yuan could not possibly be in that invulnerable state all over his body—yesterday at Plum Blossom Pond, he never demonstrated such ability.

The Holy Maiden silently cursed herself for missing a “good opportunity.”

In the instant the maid died, the Holy Maiden’s rage surged from her heels to the crown of her head; her body tensed and she lunged at Xu Yuan without hesitation.

Right hand: a small knife; left hand: an iron hammer!

Xu Yuan sneered and flicked his wrist, tossing out a small bamboo cage.

“You’re a Craft cultivator too—test your mettle! Can you break this Craft artifact?”

Though he spoke those words, Xu Yuan knew perfectly well the Holy Maiden lacked the ability to break his stepmother’s bamboo cage.

Instantly, the Holy Maiden’s competitive spirit flared; the small knife and iron hammer in her hands were both her “Craft tools,” the very instruments a Craft cultivator uses to forge other artifacts.

Normally, Craft tools are exceedingly precious, kept precise and never brought out for battle.

But the Holy Maiden had nothing else left.

With both Craft tools in hand, her confidence soared, and she charged straight toward the bamboo cage.

The bamboo cage expanded rapidly; her hands flew in blurs, leaving afterimages as she began to dismantle it.

Her Craft talent was truly exceptional—after prolonged struggle, the cage had only enveloped her upper body.

And it had not yet tightened to lock her in.

Yet beads of sweat, as large as soybeans, rolled down her forehead.

After all her efforts, she had inflicted not a single scratch on the bamboo cage.

The Holy Maiden knew she lacked the power—then a mountain breeze swept over her, evaporating her cold sweat, and she instantly calmed:

“Why did I foolishly try to dismantle a Craft artifact?”

“How absurd.”

“Just as absurd as how I was suddenly startled back by him grabbing my crossbow bolt!”

The Holy Maiden sensed something was wrong: I had set up my “booth,” and within its range, I dictated all rules—I was nearly invincible. Why did I rush out to dismantle some Craft artifact?

Somewhere in the unseen, some force had been subtly guiding her toward every wrong choice.

The Holy Maiden regained her clarity and tried to return to her “booth”—but as soon as she moved her foot, she stepped into a trap.

A real trap.

Xu Yuan had secretly laid a noose beneath her feet; when she chose to step with her left or right foot, she made another wrong choice!

Xu Yuan yanked the rope swiftly, binding one of her feet.

The Holy Maiden stood firm, refusing to be dragged away; the rope tightened further—Xu Yuan could not pull her, and she could not return to her booth.

They remained locked in this stalemate, while a short sword whirled ceaselessly around the Holy Maiden; she had to divert part of her focus to guard against Xu Yuan suddenly stabbing her.

After half an incense stick’s time, she lost control of both body and mind.

The bamboo cage descended over her head; Xu Yuan pulled the rope, dragging her far from her booth.

Bamboo skewers pierced her body; her hands were pinned by skewers, rendering her knife and hammer useless.

Xu Yuan eagerly seized the small knife with his gloved hand, wrenching it from the Holy Maiden’s grip.

Xu Yuan had never owned a suitable weapon—this small knife looked exactly like a treasure lost by the Master.

Blood gushed from the Holy Maiden’s wounds; her face turned deathly pale, frail and pitiful.

She gazed at Xu Yuan with a pitiful look, her large eyes glistening, wet as a fawn trapped in a snare.

“Please, don’t kill me.”

“You have rope—you can tie me up. I won’t resist anymore.”

“You can do anything you want.”

“I’ll be obedient. I’ll cooperate completely.”

The only trick left to her was the “Beauty-Deceiving Art.”

She had paid an exorbitant price using her Merchant Law to buy it from another Law cultivator who specialized in it.

Law cultivators typically master only one Law, but Merchant cultivators can acquire multiple Laws through purchase.

Yet after selling the “Beauty-Deceiving Art,” that Law cultivator became an ordinary person, hunted down by countless enemies, his entire family slaughtered.

Xu Yuan scoffed: “If I wanted you, I’d rather go to Yang the widow at the south end of the street.”

The Holy Maiden’s blood boiled with fury—this lowly brat dared say she was worse than a half-open brothel girl!

Unbearable humiliation!

Only I may look down on you—how dare you despise me?

But now she could not rage. Not only must she not rage—she must flatter him. As long as she lived, she would soon devour him whole, skin and bones.

The “Beauty-Deceiving Art” contained the Great Joyful Method of Bone-Eating and Gold-Melting.

“Big brother…” The Holy Maiden’s voice turned sweet and coy; her waist swayed, her shoulder garments brushed off against the bamboo slats; her eyes seemed ready to drip water: “Whatever tricks Yang the widow knows, I can learn them all for you…”

Xu Yuan’s short blade had already pierced her throat.

The rest of her words died in her throat.

Blood gushed into her windpipe; she convulsed in agony, emitting only a string of choked “uh… uh…” sounds, then stared with wide, furious eyes, her body stiffening as she died.

In the instant she breathed her last, some force withdrew; her beautiful, alluring body swelled like a balloon.

Her once-waist-thin figure ballooned to the thickness of a water barrel.

Her slender, long legs became two fat, round elephant trunks.

Her fingers thickened like carrots; her feet resembled pig’s trotters.

Her hair turned dull yellow; her nose flattened, her face broadened, her lips thick and turned outward, her skin covered in brown spots…

Fat and hideous!

All her beauty was the effect of the “Beauty-Deceiving Art.”

She was greedy and lacked self-control—that was her true face, deceiving others and even herself.

…

In Qihetown, at the “Liu’s Village Liquor” distillery, Ah Guang had returned yesterday afternoon and immediately noticed his master and mistress were acting strangely.

From yesterday to today, Master Liu had been relentlessly teaching him the secret recipe for brewing liquor, as if desperate to cram his entire lifetime of experience into Ah Guang’s mind.

Mistress Liu said nothing, but last night she cooked him pure white rice without bran, then sewed him a new set of clothes overnight. This morning, she forced him to try them on, then steamed him rice cakes for breakfast.

Lunch was even more luxurious—it was fermented-rice pork!

Shortly after lunch, Master Liu handed him the final secret, sighed deeply: “Just in time…”

No sooner had Master Liu spoken than two streams of blood shot from his eyes; his eyeballs burst out seven feet away, and he screamed in agony before fainting.

Ah Guang was terrified: “Master!”

Immediately after, a crash came from the inner room; Ah Guang rushed in and found Mistress Liu just like Master Liu—both eyes reduced to two bloody holes!

Ah Guang, terrified and bewildered: “W-what on earth happened?”

(End of Chapter)