The Guide to Capturing a Black Lotus

63

"Do you remember us having tea together with Madam Shi a few days ago?" Mu Yao turned to Miaomiao, "She told us how she met Li Zhun and at the time, I thought that there was something off but I couldn't put my finger on exactly what was wrong. Now I understand."

Miaomiao was somewhat lost, "What was off?"

"Her gaze was problematic." Mu Yao was certain. "Her narration of how she and Li Zhun 'met' only contained Li Zhun and his wife. She didn't mention herself. She was just like a tree, flower or some animal in their courtyard, watching their lives without actually joining in herself."

"She had said that she was Li Zhun's friend but as a friend, how could you possibly not even share a single exchange of words?"

Miaomiao's head was full of the image of Madam Shi with her finger pressed against her lips that day. She had told her that in order for someone to love you in absolute, that you had to also give out the same amount of love.

Painted skin demons, as their name suggested, put on their 'skin' to enchant the masses, using a hollow face to bewitch people.

Madam Shi... who had repeatedly said she loved Li Zhun the most... was truly a demon that absorbed his vitality. She was a painted skin demon that controlled, manipulated and bewitched him? Her 'use love to exchange for love' was simply a terrible joke. In the end, all she was using was just the 'skin' of a beauty that could topple nations?

There was a bundle of confusion within Miaomiao's heart as she sunk into a long silence before continuing, "Then what do we do?"

"I have already set up a Seven Killing Array outside her door." Mu Yao softly replied, "If she really is a great demon, she will be trapped as soon as she exits her room. However, it's not easy for us to enter her room so we'll still need Chuchu's help."

Liu Fuyi stooped down, cusping the little girl's shoulder, "Chuchu, do you still remember everything Brother Liu told you just now?"

Chuchu nodded and slowly extended her hand, exposing half of a yellow talisman concealed in her sleeves.

As a talisman that Liu Fuyi had drawn with his own blood, it could greatly weaken a great demon's strength, restrict its movement and send it into a confused state. Basically, it would leave them in a state ripe for the picking: To be captured. Its effectiveness was up to par to the Peachwood Sword of the Taoists. 1

"When Madam Shi coaxes you to sleep tonight, find an opportunity to stick this on the door. You can't let her discover you, can you do it?"

Chuchu looked at him, not entirely understanding what he was saying but still slowly stuffed the talisman into her sleeves. After a few moments, she raised her little face and her black gem-like irises sparkled as she nodded with absolute seriousness.

"Good child." Liu Fuyi patted her back and woke up the wet nurse thundering away at the side with her snores.

The wet nurse carried the little girl by her shoulder and when they were about to go behind the screens, she bit her lip and waved her little hand towards Liu Fuyi.

The main leads also all waved at her, she was probably the smallest participant in the entirety of the novel.

"Whether or not she's a great demon, we'll discover in the morning." Mu Yao injuncted, "Tomorrow night, we'll make another trip to the incense factory. Let's see if there is still anything fishy hidden in the factory when the demon is not there to control things."

From the beginning till the end, Mu Sheng maintained his absolute silence. He was like a wandering ghost as he listened to Mu Yao's explanations, then turned to head back to his room with a mind laden with thoughts. The whole time, Mu Yao shot him several glances but he always avoided her gaze.