Chapter 18

The Beautiful Woman’s Scheme

The Prime Minister we were seeking was Dong Zhuo, who was said to be a notorious traitor, manipulating power and doing great harm across the Nine Provinces.

We followed a few guards into his residence, where we found a large, white, fat man sitting on the ground. He had a leopard-like head and ringed eyes, his complexion gray and lifeless, holding a Seven-Star Sword and absentmindedly polishing it.

The God of Lingyin mentioned that he was born near the Beast Mountain, which explained why he looked so beastly. In front of him were cold, leftover meals, fallen teapots, and scattered arrows, suggesting that he had just hosted a banquet and was left with a chaotic aftermath—probably the work of Cao Cao.

Without hesitation, Yinze walked up and bowed to Dong Zhuo: “Greetings, Prime Minister Dong.”

Dong Zhuo casually glanced at us, his eyes flicking over me, then over the God of Lingyin, but never meeting Yinze’s gaze.

Yinze said, “Ma Teng is my uncle.”

Dong Zhuo responded: “So, what business do you have with me?”

Yinze replied: “I have come on my uncle’s behalf to visit Prime Minister Dong and discuss the strategy of forming distant alliances while attacking nearby ones.”

“Hmph, Ma Teng and I have nothing to do with each other. Are you here to curry favor because you fear me?” After waiting a moment and seeing that Yinze only smiled without speaking, Dong Zhuo added, “You’re here to talk about diplomatic matters, but you’ve brought two women with you. How can I trust you?”

Yinze chuckled lightly: “Prime Minister Dong, you’re mistaken. This young lady is my personal concubine, barely fifteen years old. As for this beauty...” He glanced at the God of Lingyin, “I must confess, I met her on my way to the capital. Prime Minister Dong, you and I are somewhat from the same region, so you should understand—women from Xiliang are always bold and heroic. Though they are beautiful, they can’t compare to the soft, gentle charm of Jiangnan women.”

“You came from Xiliang to Luoyang, and even detoured to Jiangnan?” Dong Zhuo asked.

“Life is like water—full of regret for fleeting joy. How could I pass up a smile for gold?” Yinze replied.

Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo stared at me and the God of Lingyin for a while.

It was clear that the God of Lingyin was starting to lose his composure. His face was full of charm, but his hands behind the fan were nearly tearing it apart. Though Xuan Yue could understand human speech, it clearly didn’t grasp the meaning behind Yinze’s words, just swiveling its little head to follow the conversation.

Finally, Dong Zhuo stroked his chin and said: “This beauty has some allure, especially those eyes—captivating. But unfortunately, she’s a bit too old. As for your concubine... she’s youthful and cute, a little more lovable. If you could combine the two, it would be perfect.”

The God of Lingyin’s forehead veins were about to burst. It seemed that his and Dong Zhuo’s tastes in women were vastly different. The God of Lingyin favored seductive young women, while Dong Zhuo preferred innocent girls. The God of Lingyin had carefully transformed into his ideal form, yet Dong Zhuo had been attracted to my natural eyes.

Afterward, Yinze and Dong Zhuo discussed many political matters, while the God of Lingyin seemed to have heard nothing. By nightfall, after being thoroughly scrutinized by Dong Zhuo’s “green bean” eyes, we finally left his residence.

Once outside, the God of Lingyin swayed his waist like a willow, turning into a corner where no one was around. He smoothly rolled up his sleeves, neatly breaking his fan into two with a sharp motion: “This is more disgusting than a cockroach falling into a rice bowl! I’d rather kill him outright!”

“Keep your disgust for later. We can savor it after the job is done,” Yinze said casually, while walking toward him. “Turn around.”

“What’s going on...?” Ling Yin Shenjun turned around.

Yin Ze transformed back into his original divine form, tapped his head, and then reverted to Ma Xiao’s appearance. Ling Yin Shenjun touched his head, then his face, his expression turning pale: “What have you turned me into?”

Yin Ze did not respond, turning and getting into the carriage they had prepared in advance. What surprised me the most was that, despite Ling Yin Shenjun’s current state, Yin Ze could simply leave without hesitation.

At that moment, the beauty turned around, looking at me with a somewhat innocent gaze, her delicate robes covered in catkins.

For a moment, I was stunned and almost forgot that this person was a man in disguise. Then I realized, I wasn’t the only one who was dazed. Xuan Yue, who was on my shoulder, seemed to melt into a soft, sugary state, lazily calling out, “Meow... meow meow...”

I almost forgot, Xuan Yue is a male. Now, he truly looked like a tomcat in heat.

But I couldn’t blame Xuan Yue. Ling Yin Shenjun was too beautiful. His features still resembled his original self to some extent, but he appeared much younger, around seventeen or eighteen, with eyes and lips that even had some resemblance to mine. Of course, he was much more beautiful than I.

Just look at him—his eyes as wide as a clear river, his eyebrows as majestic as the green hills. If you asked where the soul-stealing charm was, it could be found in his gaze. He was truly captivating, so captivating that even I, a girl, couldn’t help but keep staring at him.

When we got into the carriage, I suddenly understood Yin Ze’s plan, but I didn’t ask any more questions.

Ling Yin Shenjun, seeing that both Xuan Yue and I were lost in a daze, took out a bronze mirror and looked at himself. Then, like willow catkins, he collapsed onto Yin Ze’s shoulder, his face filled with spring sadness: “God Sovereign, I told you before, I never wanted to marry, and thus never met someone I fancied. But now I’ve changed my mind: can I marry myself?”

Yin Ze slowly turned his head, casting a faint glance at the stunningly beautiful face, then raised his chin slightly.

Ling Yin Shenjun touched his face, his long lashes fluttering like black feathers, and said: “You... you don’t want to... have a little fun first?”

Yin Ze still did not answer, merely stretched out his arm and pushed him into the corner: “Don’t come over, I’ll puke.”

Ling Yin Shenjun pointed at his face: “Seeing this face, you want to puke? And this!” He grabbed his chest and once again collapsed in an exaggerated manner, like someone under the influence of aphrodisiac.

Seeing Ling Yin Shenjun’s series of performances, both Xuan Yue and I were stunned, unable to laugh, yet unable to speak.

But Yin Ze remained unflinching, throwing out only one sentence: “Ling Yin, this body is for you to pretend to be a seventeen-year-old girl, not to play the role of a brothel madam. When you meet the people you need to meet in a few days, don’t show off your charms.”

Ling Yin Shenjun suddenly sat up straight: “...Ah? Again, me?!”

However, Ling Yin Shenjun had been thoroughly charmed by this new form and was completely unguarded against Yin Ze. By the next day, when we met again, he was still in the garden, staring into the mirror, touching his body, which made me feel extremely uncomfortable.

Xuan Yue still quite liked this scene. Every time I passed through the garden while holding him, he would meow loudly.

Yin Ze paid no attention to Ling Yin Shenjun, instead transforming me into his servant, taking on the guise of Cao Cao, and heading to Wang Situ’s home. Before entering, I said: “Master Tai Shi, I have a request...”

“Speak,” he said decisively.

“Please, Master Tai Shi, accept me as your disciple!” There were people around, so I couldn’t kneel, but I bowed deeply. “If you refuse, I will kneel here and not rise.”

“I won’t agree. You can kneel,” he replied firmly and turned to leave.

This... couldn’t he at least offer some polite words? I wavered for a moment but still straightened up and followed him into Wang Situ’s residence.

Before we even entered the hall, a thin, elderly man in official robes came out to greet us, looking like Wang Yun. He said anxiously: “Meng De, why have you come out?”

It seemed that Cao Cao was currently at Wang Yun’s house.

“Wang Situ, Cao has a plan, but is unsure whether to speak or not.”

As he said this, Yin Ze’s expression had completely changed, his eyes narrowed with suspicion, yet his smile was broad and easy-going. Though I only saw Cao Cao once, I could tell he had copied him perfectly. Truly, he was worthy of being Tai Shi’s disciple.

“Quick, come in and speak.”

Wang Yun invited us inside. I saw that when Yin Ze sat down, he hid the wine cup with his sleeve and placed a golden pill inside before lifting his eyes and saying: “I’ve been thinking, Dong Zhuo is proud, extravagant, and lecherous. If we use the beauty trap, I wonder if it could subdue him.”

Wang Yun replied: “That’s not a bad idea, but... where can we find such a beauty?”

“There’s one in Wang Situ’s house.”

“You mean...?” Wang Yun asked, puzzled.

“Your adopted daughter.”

“Do you mean my daughter Diao Yue?” Wang Yun stroked his chin, hesitating. “If this could truly eliminate Dong, perhaps we could use Diao Yue. But, Diao Yue is a lady who never leaves the house, and she is far from what you would call ‘beautiful’...”

“Master Wang, with your foresight, our Han dynasty is fortunate. I toast to you.” Yin Ze raised his cup.

“You’re too kind.” Wang Yun slowly drank the wine but seemed a bit dizzy, supporting his forehead with the back of his hand.

Yin Ze said: “Master Wang is truly humble. If Diao Yue isn’t considered beautiful, perhaps we should consider your second daughter, Diao Chan.”

It seemed that the medicinal wine had taken effect. Wang Yun shook his head, clapped his hands, and said: “Yes, my second daughter, Diao Chan, is truly beautiful as a flower. This plan is worth trying!”

After this day, Ling Yin Shenjun, inexplicably, was tricked by his superior. He was given the name “Diao Chan,” becoming Wang Yun’s younger daughter. About ten days later, Yin Ze and I sat on the roof of a house next to Fengyi Pavilion. We witnessed him meeting a handsome general named Lü at the pavilion, from playful tugging to reluctant acceptance, to passionate entanglements, to vows of eternal love. Afterward, we saw him in front of Dong Zhuo, transitioning from alluring and graceful to reluctant, then to entangled again, crying and pleading...

During these days, Ling Yin Shenjun would leave Wang Situ’s house every night and run to Yin Ze to protest. But Yin Ze would always reply with a single sentence: “Don’t tell me you want me to do it?”

It wasn’t until Dong Zhuo touched him that Ling Yin Shenjun finally broke down, roaring: “Boss, are you trying to kill me?! Why can’t you just kill him directly? Why does Lü Bu have to do it? Do I have enough charm to make Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo fight each other?!”

Yin Ze said confidently, “Yes.”

In the flickering candlelight, I could see Ling Yin Shen Jun—oh no, Diao Chan—his smooth face, covered with shimmering goosebumps. He suddenly became unusually calm. “I don’t understand. Why not send Xiao Shui Ling? After all, she’s a girl. Isn’t it easier for her to handle? Don’t say you pity her, you’ve never been soft on women.”

Yin Ze shifted his gaze to me, as if contemplating the question. I seemed to have no reaction, but when I met those beautiful eyes, my heart raced, and my whole body tensed.

However, he just casually said, “She’s still just a child.”

This answer made me feel inexplicably ashamed, and I turned my gaze away. I was such a weirdo, why was I so nervous? This was the Master, though he could be a bit hard to handle, he would certainly see me as a junior.

Ling Yin Shen Jun was relentless: “Be honest, when will this end?”

Yin Ze replied, “When Lü Bu kills Dong Zhuo. Once Dong Zhuo is dead, the warlords will rise up, and you will go down in history, your name will be remembered for generations.”

Ling Yin Shen Jun, with tears in his eyes, said, “It’s Diao Chan who will go down in history, not me! Diao Chan is the name you gave! Boss, stop playing with me! I can’t bear for Dong Zhuo to touch my hand again. If he tries to kiss me, I’d rather commit suicide!”

Of course, he failed to persuade the God. After some days, when Yin Ze saw that the matter was nearly settled, he took me away from the residence, heading to the outskirts, intending to find a deserted place to revert to his original form and return to the Immortal Realm.

Outside the city, the cold mist rose, the withered grass turned green, and a merchant woman was playing the pipa, filling the air with a melancholy tune of a fallen country’s beauty. I asked, “Master, when will Ling Yin Shen Jun return?”

“Not long now.” With that, Yin Ze first transformed Xuan Yue back to his original form.

I let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, that’s good. Every time I see the God coming to find us, he always looks so pained.”

“Painful at first, but he will get used to it quickly.” Yin Ze then turned my hair back to its original form.

“Then Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu shouldn’t really try to kiss him, right?”

“Ling Yin’s eternal merit, let the history of the Nine Provinces decide.” Yin Ze answered vaguely, his expression impassive, yet there was an undertone of sadness in his voice.

Just as I saw he was about to transform back into himself, suddenly the ground beneath us loosened, and we both fell into a bottomless pit. As we fell, I could already sense the overwhelming demonic energy, and I wanted to say to Yin Ze: Master, one should be kind. The heavens are watching. If you don’t believe it, look up and see, who does the sky spare? The retribution has come!!