Chapter 8: Chapter 8: disguised as a man

Yin Luan observed the person before them.

Given her rudimentary understanding of cosmetic techniques, she surmised that this individual was, in fact, a woman disguised as a man.

Could this person truly believe that neutral clothing, a gender-neutral hairstyle, and a change in catchphrases would be enough to fool everyone?

In this day and age, how preposterous would the circumstances need to be for something like ‘Having journeyed together for twelve years, I never knew Mulan was a girl’ to occur?

Setting aside other points, there was a significant difference in scent between females and males, a distinction that a snake could easily discern with a flick of its tongue.

Yet…

‘Alas, with such a flat chest, perhaps they truly could pass for real.’

“You aren’t trying to deceive me, are you?” Yin Luan asked. “I’ve heard people say that everyone from the Demon Suppression Bureau is fierce and terrifying. How could there be a pale-faced scholar like you among them?”

“You misunderstand, young lady,” the “scholar” in disguise explained, tucking away their token. “Those crude… those formidable-looking individuals belong to the Exorcism Hall within the Demon Suppression Bureau. Their primary duty is to cleanse malevolent spirits and subdue demons and monsters.”

“Beyond them, there are also the Covert Investigation Hall and the General Affairs Hall. The former is responsible for investigating cases related to malevolent spirits, while the latter oversees and directs operations from headquarters.”

“And you are?”

“The Covert Investigation Hall,” the scholar replied, cupping their hands in a respectful gesture. “My name is Du Xuan. I was merely passing through when I was caught in this heavy rain. I hope you will bear with me, young lady.”

Outside the city, rain poured down, and not a soul was in sight.

A snake demon had set its sights on a flat-chested young woman disguised as a scholar.

*Hiss.*

Yin Luan couldn’t help but flick her tongue out.

‘To think I’d stumble upon this without searching far and wide! This demon shall feast on this tender, delicate young lady today!’

‘Ugh, as a good demon, merely thinking about such things is enough. Eating them wouldn’t yield any useful information anyway…’

“So, the Covert Investigation Hall, then,” Yin Luan probed. “Aren’t you afraid of encountering demons or monsters out here in the desolate wilderness, all alone?”

“There’s no need to worry,” Du Xuan confidently declared, drawing the sword from her back with a ringing *clang*. “It would be the demons and monsters who suffer truly ill fortune if they were to cross paths with me!”

The blade of the longsword was intricately engraved with complex patterns, faintly shimmering with a strange luminescence under the firelight.

‘It certainly possesses unusual power… If it were the hungry ghost from Green Mountain Village, a single strike would likely send it straight to the heavens.’

‘However, this fellow doesn’t seem to have discovered my true identity…’

‘Is it because little snake-snake’s martial arts are too formidable, or is the flat-chested girl simply lacking in skill?’

“Ahem,” Yin Luan continued to probe. “I’ve heard that some demons can transform into human form. Even with formidable martial arts, if one is deceived, there’s nothing to be done, right?”

“It seems, young lady, that you have some knowledge in this area?”

This question seemed to have aroused the other party’s suspicion.

“I…”

The little snake demon blinked, bit her lip, and after a long moment of deliberation, adopted a tearful expression before speaking.

“If you wish to hear it, I can tell you. I grew up in a wealthy environment, free from worry about food or clothing, spending my days adorned beautifully, simply dreaming of marrying a good man. But then, that day, we—my loved ones, he, they… *sniffle*… right before my very eyes… *wipes tears*… were…”

“My apologies, I spoke out of turn!”

Du Xuan waved her hands repeatedly, appearing to say, ‘I understand, please don’t say anything more.’

Only then did she truly observe the woman by the campfire.

Her captivating appearance, devoid of any makeup, and her willow-branch-like slender waist, contrasted with the coarse cloth bundle on her back, clearly painted the picture of a ‘young lady in distress.’

This immediately stirred compassion in her, having always upheld principles of justice since childhood.

“Everyone in the Demon Suppression Bureau cultivates a special technique of qi observation,” Du Xuan explained. “At my level, unless it’s a Greater Demon, they simply cannot conceal their aura from beneath my very nose.”

“Greater Demon?”

“Those capable of devouring the heavens and earth, moving mountains and oceans—those are Greater Demons. A single one can bring utter ruin to an entire nation.”

“How terrifying…”

“There’s no need to worry, young lady. Within the borders of the Great Zhou Kingdom, there hasn’t been a trace of a Greater Demon for decades. Even if one dared to appear, our Demon Suppression Bureau would be there to protect everyone!”

After a few more exchanges, Yin Luan felt she could largely ascertain the kind of person the young woman before her was.

Naive, inexperienced in the ways of the world, possessing some skill, well-educated, and quite self-assured… she was most likely a rebellious young lady from a distinguished background, who resented the constraints imposed by her family.

‘If she were a man, she’d be precisely the type of character demons in supernatural tales love to devour.’

Yin Luan swallowed.

It wasn’t the lovely young woman who had stirred her appetite, but rather the flatbread baking by the fire, now cooked through.

Although she had initially intended to avoid the Demon Suppression Bureau, fate, it seemed, had other plans, allowing her to encounter a lone individual.

‘This person seems to know a great deal. If I stay by her side, could I perhaps glean more knowledge?’

‘To understand this extraordinary world, surely there’s no more direct path than through the Demon Suppression Bureau, right?’

“Alright,” Yin Luan nodded towards the other party. “Let’s shelter from the rain together… but you mustn’t try anything untoward with me!”

“Please rest assured,” Du Xuan said, doing her best to offer a gentle smile, as she pointed to the wall. “I’ll simply rest over there.”

*Grumble—*

No sooner had the words left her lips than a rumbling sound echoed through the small temple.

It wasn’t the little snake’s.

“Th-that…”

Du Xuan’s face instantly flushed crimson, and she stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Dressed in such plain clothes, she likely hadn’t brought any travel rations with her. The aroma of the baking flatbread had, it seemed, become too much to resist.

Yin Luan gazed at the large flatbread in her hand, falling into contemplation.

After a moment.

“Would you like some flatbread?”

“Ah, no, how could I…”

“I could split it with you?”

“…Thank you.”

After repeatedly cupping her hands in thanks, Du Xuan also sat down by the campfire.

Having run through the rain moments before, her clothes were largely soaked, and raindrops traced paths down her face and neck, causing a sudden chill as the wind blew.

Yin Luan tore the flatbread in half, took a large bite, and then offered the remainder to her.

“You are truly a kind person, young lady.”

Seeing the teeth marks on the flatbread, Du Xuan hesitated for a moment before taking it.

‘She knew this gesture meant ‘the flatbread isn’t poisoned,’ but this fellow truly doesn’t care, does she? A proper young lady from a good family would surely mind offering something she’d bitten to a man…’

“My name is Yin Luan, and I’m a pure young girl,” the little snake demon introduced herself. “I’m currently wandering. By the way, where are you headed?”

“Hmm… to Huaicheng…”

Du Xuan replied, swallowing the flatbread with effort.

“Is there something going on?”

Yin Luan felt that devouring half the flatbread in one go might startle her, so she mimicked the other’s mannerisms, eating in small bites.

“Well…”

A hint of difficulty appeared on the other party’s face.

“Official business?” The little snake demon’s interest piqued. “If it’s confidential, then don’t say anything. Don’t worry about it; it’s just half a flatbread, no need to return it…”

“It’s not that I can’t say,” Du Xuan said awkwardly. “I’m just afraid it might frighten you.”

“There’s been a series of murders recently in Huaicheng. All the victims are beautiful young women, and the most horrifying part is… their faces…”

“They were all taken!”