After Crossdressing and Provoking Long AoTian

“The matter involving the female Golden Core cultivators still hasn’t been resolved,” Qingzhu explained before any of them could ask. “If anything, it’s only getting worse.”

Du Heng frowned. “More people have disappeared?”

Qingzhu nodded slowly. “At first, it was only female Golden Core cultivators. But now ordinary cultivators and even mortals have begun vanishing as well. We can’t be certain every disappearance is connected, but the numbers are clearly abnormal.”

He glanced toward Fire Cauldron Sect in the distance.

“Still, the mastermind evidently has a particular preference for female Golden Core cultivators.”

Realization dawned on Yu Qingtang. “So you disguised yourself as one to lure them out!”

Qingzhu glanced at the man lying unconscious on the ground. “The fish had barely taken the bait when you knocked him out.”

“Miaoyin Xian has recently begun taking over the affairs of Heavenly Music Sect. She originally intended to act as bait herself, but no one could feel at ease letting her do it.”

He looked at Yu Qingtang.

“That was when I thought of you.”

Yu Qingtang laughed awkwardly. “So—so that many people saw through my disguise back then...”

“It’s hardly strange.” Qingzhu remained impassive. “Once your cultivation reaches a certain level, most things become obvious at a glance. Unless someone is exceptionally blind.”

“Did you come here because of this matter as well?”

The others exchanged glances. Du Heng cupped his hands respectfully.

“No. We came for the old Pill King.”

Qingzhu gave him a sidelong look. Du Heng maintained his courteous posture.

“However, we were already planning to infiltrate Fire Cauldron Sect. If we uncover any clues, we will inform you, Senior.”

Qingzhu fell into thought.

“You came here to lure out a suspect...” Ye Chenyan raised an eyebrow. “Does that mean you suspect Fire Cauldron Sect?”

Qingzhu lifted his gaze and made no attempt to conceal it. “I do.”

After a moment’s consideration, Du Heng proposed, “In that case... why don’t we cooperate?”

Qingzhu frowned at him.

“Your illusions are extraordinary, Senior. With your help, we could proceed with far greater peace of mind,” Du Heng said frankly. “Fire Cauldron Sect is about to hold the Pillfire Conference and recruit disciples on a large scale. I intend to enter the trials and investigate the sect openly.”

“But aren’t you only allowed to bring one attendant?” Yu Qingtang blinked in confusion. “Our group is already full. Even Girl in the Bamboo can’t get in. How are we supposed to bring Senior Qingzhu along?”

Du Heng laughed. “There are four of us. Naturally, we split into two groups.”

Qingzhu raised his eyes. “I do not know how to refine pills.”

Ye Chenyan shrugged. “You would have said so already if you did.”

Yu Qingtang scratched his head. “Surely no one’s expecting me to do it?”

“We are.” Du Heng’s eyes curved with amusement. “Their spiritual roots are unsuitable. Yours may be a rather mixed set of five spiritual roots, but at least you possess every element you need. You can learn pill refining.”

Yu Qingtang’s eyes widened in horror. To be safe, he asked first, “...How many days are left before the Pillfire Conference?”

Du Heng nodded lightly. “Five.”

Yu Qingtang fell silent.

He opened his mouth and phrased his objection as tactfully as possible.

“You don’t actually think I’m a genius, do you?”

He was already well past the age when anyone would consider him promising pill-refiner material. If he wanted to take part in the trials, his only option was the examination for wandering pill cultivators—but how was he supposed to learn enough in five days to pass himself off as an experienced hand?

Du Heng laughed and bowed to Qingzhu. “All we need is Senior’s assistance.”

Qingzhu swept him a glance and considered the matter briefly. “With illusions?”

“Yes.” Du Heng nodded with certainty. “In five days, he only needs to learn the motions and look as though he is refining a pill. I will prepare the pill he submits for the examination.”

Yu Qingtang clapped his hands in realization. “Oh—I see. Everyone else practices pill refining, while I practice cheating?”

Du Heng smiled and nodded. “Precisely.”

Yu Qingtang hesitantly looked toward Qingzhu. “That still counts as deceiving people, doesn’t it? If I lie, karmic fire will roast my backside. Since someone has to do the deceiving anyway, why not...”

He was about to point at someone else when Ye Chenyan reminded him, “Spiritual roots are difficult to fake.”

Yu Qingtang froze, then quietly withdrew his finger.

“My five spiritual roots aren’t exactly impressive, either. What if they eliminate me the moment they see the results, before I even get to the interview?”

“That is why you need to wear a dress,” Du Heng said with a laugh. “So they will be certain to let you pass the interview.”

Qingzhu tapped his fingers lightly as he considered the arrangement.

“So I will be paired with him, while the two of you form the other group?”

“No. I’m going with him.” Ye Chenyan pointed at Yu Qingtang, then looked up and called over, “Let Miss Bamboo accompany Senior Brother Du.”

Girl in the Bamboo was about to speak, but Ye Chenyan laughed.

“Don’t worry. You only need to show your face. You won’t have to do anything else. If he causes trouble, you can simply stand by and watch him get beaten to death.”

Girl in the Bamboo thought for a moment, then nodded. “All right.”

Du Heng smiled without warmth. “...Ha. What a wonderful junior brother you are, Junior Brother Ye.”

Ye Chenyan’s eyes curved into crescents. “You’re too kind. I’m merely returning the courtesy. I can be rather petty myself.”

Du Heng looked away.

“Since Miss Bamboo will accompany me, and her bearing is already so ethereal and refined, I suppose there is no need for me to disguise myself as—”

“No!” Yu Qingtang lunged forward and grabbed him. “If one of us has to wear it, we all do! We share both blessings and hardships!”

Qingzhu nodded in deep agreement.

Du Heng fell silent.

...

Five days later, at the Pillfire Conference.

Du Heng wore a resplendent, richly embroidered gown, with enough golden hairpins adorning his head to dazzle the eye. His disguise was that of a magnificent gold-edged peony, splendid enough to outshine every flower around him.

Behind him, Girl in the Bamboo looked much as she always did. Dressed in green, she possessed an otherworldly air that made her seem anything but mortal.

Yu Qingtang deliberately kept some distance from them and pretended they were strangers. To distinguish this disguise from his previous appearances in women’s clothing, he had been stuffed into a pale pink jacket and skirt this time, with his hair arranged in twin buns.

He kept his assigned persona firmly in mind, smiling at everyone he passed as he played the part of an innocent, lively young girl.

After smiling all the way there, his face was nearly cramping. He could not help envying Qingzhu, who followed behind him with an aloof expression, dressed in white as pure as snow and playing the part of an untouchable banished immortal.

Qingzhu’s natural bearing was too similar to Girl in the Bamboo’s, so they had deliberately put him in a different color to tell them apart.

At Yu Qingtang’s side walked a Coursing Wolf nearly half a man tall. Its fur was thick, sleek, and glossy, while its tail dragged behind it. Cold light flashed from its claws with every step, creating an intimidating sight. Its sharp wolf eyes met every curious or probing gaze and forced them all away.

It would probably have been even more intimidating without the pink silk ribbon tied around its neck.

The ribbon was meant to conceal the Spirit-Locking Ring.

The fact that it was pink was part of sharing both blessings and hardships.

Yu Qingtang rubbed his nearly frozen cheeks and secretly rose onto his toes to peer ahead.

Du Heng had already passed the inspection and entered the Pillfire Conference grounds with Girl in the Bamboo. As expected, the disciples overseeing registration had looked at the pair several extra times before placing their records in a separate pile.

Yu Qingtang narrowed his eyes, unease flickering across his face.

The line continued moving, and soon it was his turn to be examined.

“Next! Yu Xiaoxian.”

The examiner raised his head and saw a young girl in pink smiling sweetly at him.

“That’s me!” Yu Qingtang nodded.

The examiner’s expression softened despite himself. He pushed the spiritual pearl used to assess spiritual roots across the table.

“Test your spiritual roots first.”

Yu Qingtang cautiously placed his hand upon it.

The examiner had already begun moving his registration record toward the special pile when his hand abruptly stopped. He frowned.

“Five spiritual roots?”

Yu Qingtang’s heart tightened. His eyes widened slightly.

“Isn’t having fire and wood enough?”

The examiner gave him another long look, then noticed Qingzhu standing behind him.

“And she is...?”

“My maid. Her name is White Snow.” Yu Qingtang bent down and laboriously lifted the Coursing Wolf’s upper body. “And this is Flower!”

Ye Chenyan bared his teeth at him.

Yu Qingtang hurriedly clapped a hand over his mouth.

The enormous wolf startled the examiner so badly that he recoiled into his chair and waved his hands.

“Who asked you about all that?”

Despite his words, he looked Yu Qingtang over a few more times.

His maid possessed an extraordinary bearing, and he could even afford to raise such a ferocious spirit pet. He was probably a child of some immortal cultivation family. Even if his spiritual roots were poor, he could still be considered promising material.

At last, the examiner reluctantly nodded.

“Fine. Your aptitude is lacking, so whether you pass will depend on your performance.”

He raised his hand and placed Yu Qingtang’s registration record into the special pile as well.

Qingzhu merely swept his eyes over it once, silently memorizing every name in the pile.

With the first hurdle cleared, Yu Qingtang breathed a sigh of relief. His legs nearly gave way beneath him.

Ye Chenyan brushed gently against his calf, steadying him. Yu Qingtang seized the opportunity to stroke his fur twice.

The fur along his back was not soft at all. It was coarse and stiff enough to prick his palm. But the down beneath his ears, around his throat, and across his belly was exceptionally soft.

As Yu Qingtang’s hands grew increasingly presumptuous, Ye Chenyan nudged him with his head, warning him to restrain himself.

Yu Qingtang found his arms suddenly full of a huge, fluffy head. He hugged it once before finally wrenching himself free of the temptation of all that fur.

He cleared his throat. “I know. I’ll perform properly during the trial.”

He glanced back at Qingzhu.

Qingzhu merely nodded.

Once the interviews concluded, the Pillfire Conference officially began. Yu Qingtang and the others were led to the examination grounds for wandering pill cultivators.

The task was simple. Before three sticks of incense burned out, each candidate had to refine one pill. Whether they passed—and whether they entered the inner or outer sect—would be determined by its quality.

Naturally, everyone threw themselves into the task, displaying their finest skills and challenging the limits of their current abilities.

The pill Du Heng had prepared for Yu Qingtang was a Beast-Illusion Pill, which could transform its user into a spirit beast.

It was certainly good enough to pass the trial, but not impressive enough to stand out. At most, it would earn him a place among the outer disciples.

Du Heng, meanwhile, intended to astonish Fire Cauldron Sect and enter the inner sect in one stroke. Ideally, he would be brought directly beneath the Tianyuan Pill King’s nose, allowing him to charge straight into the tiger’s den.

Yu Qingtang drew a deep breath.

Provided everything went smoothly, they would soon split into two groups. One would investigate from the inside out, the other from the outside in, and each would have to do their part.

The incense before him was lit.

Yu Qingtang wasted no more time and brought out his pill furnace.

While everyone else began refining pills, he began putting on a performance.

With a focused expression, Yu Qingtang arranged an entire table of ingredients before him and moved with convincing precision.

He deliberately sat slightly askew. If he sat too straight and the Lotus Realm appeared, his disguise would be ruined on the spot.

The enormous Coursing Wolf guarded his side, concealing most of Yu Qingtang’s body while blocking many of the curious and intrigued gazes around him.

It bared its teeth, practically displaying the words DO NOT PROVOKE across its face.

Yu Qingtang continued his act, pretending to use spiritual power to extract liquid from the herbs. In reality, he secretly switched it out for the liquid Du Heng had processed in advance.

Anyone else would never dare cheat so blatantly, but he currently had a grandmaster watching over him. With Qingzhu concealing his movements, no one should notice anything amiss unless the Tianyuan Pill King personally oversaw this round.

Just as Yu Qingtang was thinking this, some unlucky soul behind him caused their furnace to explode.

A startled scream rang out as fragments of the metal pill cauldron flew in every direction. The accident triggered a chain reaction, causing several nearby pill cultivators to lose control one after another. Cries of alarm rose throughout the examination grounds.

Yu Qingtang was not spared.

Before he could put away his ingredients, the liquid in his hand spilled onto the ground.

He reacted instantly, grabbing Ye Chenyan’s tail and dragging it over the stain. Then he took out a fresh portion of liquid.

Senior Brother Du had at least left him some margin for error.

Ye Chenyan slowly lowered his head.

He looked at his tail.

Then he looked at Yu Qingtang.

Yu Qingtang blinked at him pitifully, pressed his palms together, and shook them gently in apology. Then he stroked Ye Chenyan’s tail in an attempt to placate him.

Ye Chenyan closed his eyes.

Without a word, he shifted his hindquarters and concealed the stain beneath his backside.

Author’s Note:

Ye Chenyan: In the end, I alone had to carry everything.

Du Heng: Haha, what are you talking about, Junior Brother Ye? You’re not a person right now.

Ye Chenyan: ...

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