The moon hangs low as the third watch tolls, and the stars shine bright on the seventh night of the seventh month.
Floating clouds obscured the moon, casting the entire southern district into darkness.
Han Che easily shook off the pursuing lackeys from the Xuanming Sect and found an inn to tend to his wounds.
He then circled around, his bones cracking as his form shifted back to its original appearance. The noise also attracted more Xuanming Sect lackeys to the area.
Han Che, however, flickered and melted into the darkness, brushing past several groups of Xuanming Sect soldiers before returning to the inn.
He slipped in through a pre-arranged window. As soon as he regained his footing, a figure rushed towards him and hugged him tightly.
"You're back!"
The girl's voice was soft, yet filled with joy and excitement.
It was like a wife who had been waiting for her husband's return, unable to hide her elation.
Lu Linxuan was easily fooled when she was just a girl; if it were the Lu Linxuan of the later anime arcs, she wouldn't have been so easily deceived.
Han Che mused inwardly but made no excessive moves. He merely patted Lu Linxuan's back gently in response.
As he lowered his head slightly, the faint fragrance from the girl's dark hair offered him the most perfect solace.
It was worth the painstaking effort he had gone through tonight, waiting for a long time beneath the window for the moment Lu Linxuan would open it.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Just then, a banging sound came from the corridor outside the door, followed by a gruff, threatening voice: "We're searching for a fugitive! Open the door quickly, don't force me to kick it down!"
"Coming, coming, officer, please wait a moment!"
An unresisting reply followed, daring no complaint.
Though it wasn't the room Han Che and Lu Linxuan were in, it was not far, as the inn was not large to begin with.
"They're still searching, what should we do?"
Lu Linxuan released Han Che, her pretty face in the darkness resembling a blooming peach blossom as she looked at him.
Her question was the same as before, but her words lacked the previous anxiety and panic.
The emotional turmoil of moments ago had already earned her Han Che's trust, almost on par with that of Li Xingyun.
"The main force has been drawn away by me. They know your senior brother is afflicted with Corpse Poison. The remaining people are likely here to prevent us from luring the enemy away. Judging by the sounds, there aren't many left. The search won't be quick, giving us time to prepare. "
As Han Che explained and analyzed, he also had a sudden thought, deciding to strike while the iron was hot, seizing this excellent opportunity.
He immediately pulled Lu Linxuan, who nodded in agreement, to the window. He took out several small bottles and jars from his pocket: "My build is very different from yours. I'll apply some makeup to alter your appearance slightly. It should be enough to fool those Xuanming Sect lackeys."
He then took out a fine brush, pushed open a window, and using the moonlight, which had reappeared and brightened after the clouds dispersed, he began to apply makeup to Lu Linxuan.
Lu Linxuan did not resist, cooperating fully.
Her small head tilted back like a swan's, her lips gently pursed, her delicate face flawlessly fair, her bright eyes reflecting Han Che's image.
Lu Linxuan was beautiful in the moonlight, but was Han Che not also handsome and dashing?
From eager curiosity about this new experience to being captivated and engrossed, it only took Lu Linxuan a single glance.
At this moment, Han Che had neither used the Soul-Bewildering Great Technique nor the Charm Arts; Lu Linxuan had fallen into it of her own accord.
Han Che was pleased with Lu Linxuan's reaction, but his hands did not stop.
So-called concealment makeup is makeup that covers the original appearance, a relatively simple form of disguise.
When Han Che was first Shen Tu of the Xuanming Sect, he did not have a host of capable subordinates and had to personally carry out various assassinations. He had mastered simple disguise techniques quite proficiently.
In a short while, Han Che finished his work. He untied the lotus hair tie, and Lu Linxuan's appearance instantly transformed from that of a young girl to a young woman.
Not only that, but he also applied some concealment makeup to himself, masking his handsome features to make him appear more ordinary.
Lu Linxuan also came to her senses and, looking at the lotus hair tie in Han Che's hand, felt a surge of shame and annoyance.
"You! Why did you untie my hair tie casually!"
She chided softly, then quickly snatched the lotus hair tie from Han Che's hand and turned her head away.
"I apologize. This makeup requires letting down your hair."
Han Che apologized sincerely and closed the window.
Upon hearing this, Lu Linxuan became somewhat curious about what kind of makeup required letting down her hair. She really wanted to see how she looked now.
If only there weren't the Xuanming Sect's search, and if only there were a mirror!
Thinking this, her hatred for the Xuanming Sect intensified.
"Come help me."
At that moment, Han Che's soft call came from the direction of the bed, pulling Lu Linxuan's thoughts back once again.
"Oh, okay!"
She replied softly and quickly walked to the bedside.
Han Che pointed to Li Xingyun on the bed: "It won't do for your senior brother to just lie on the bed like this. We'll tie his limbs to the bedposts and then cover him with a sheet. If they don't look up carefully, they shouldn't notice."
"Yes, that's the only way!"
Lu Linxuan looked around the small inn room. There were a few places where one could hide, but places like the closet or under the bed were too obvious.
If those Xuanming Sect lackeys were to stab into them a few times, her senior brother, who had only recently recovered from the Corpse Poison, would suffer again.
She looked up at the head of the bed, feeling that Han Che's idea was excellent.
They immediately agreed. Using the ropes Han Che had prepared, they tied Li Xingyun to the head of the bed and then covered him with a sheet. The head of the bed seemed to sink by two or three fen.
Fortunately, the bed curtain was long enough not to appear conspicuous.
After settling Li Xingyun, the Xuanming Sect's search had already reached the adjacent room. Lu Linxuan looked at Han Che and whispered, lowering her voice, "So we're just going to do this?"
"That won't do. We have to pretend to be a couple resting."
Han Che shook his head and then offered his solution.
"Ah! Cou-couple?"
Lu Linxuan's face immediately flushed red, her voice trembling slightly.
She couldn't help but think, are we already a couple? Isn't this too fast?
As the thought arose, Lu Linxuan quickly shook her head, casting aside the absurd notion.
Han Che explained with a helpless expression: "In the middle of the night like this, if we're both dressed properly, it looks abnormal."
"That's true."
Lu Linxuan thought about it and found it reasonable. Blushing, she asked, "Then how do we pretend to be a couple? Do we have to take off our clothes?"
"Probably not. Let me think!"
Han Che shook his head, then observed Lu Linxuan. After a moment of thought, he said, "Your sleeves need to be removed, and it would be best to cut off your skirt's shoulder straps."
After a moment of silence, Lu Linxuan, though embarrassed and annoyed, trusted Han Che enough to obey. She then lay down in the quilts, exposing her fair arms and collarbones.
Han Che took off his black shirt and put on his white inner garment, awaiting the Xuanming Sect members to knock on the door.