Chapter 188: Meow
In the middle of the night, a few figures quickly sneaked into Wenshi Hall.
"We're here," Qiao Wan said urgently, slamming on the brakes in front of an inconspicuous house. She turned around and made a gesture. "This is it."
Looking up, they saw a messy room with a rusty knife hanging on the wall. The cabinet door was wide open, with some clothes stuffed inside and a sleeve drooping down.
Having done many errands and housekeeping tasks for Ma Huaizhen, Qiao Wan was certain.
The messy smell of a single middle-aged man filled the air. They had found Hall Master Ma's residence for sure!
Gan Nan felt a bit uneasy and conflicted. "Um...this doesn't seem right."
However, Qiao Wan, Xiao Boyang, and Jun Caiwei were already resolute. Without looking back, they silently entered.
The three young people hesitated for a moment, struggling internally, but ultimately gritted their teeth and followed suit.
Ma Huaizhen sat on the wheelchair steadily. He passed through Wenshi Hall and just before entering the door, he suddenly reached out his hand, gesturing for Yuan Liu, another man, to stop.
There was a commotion inside.
Even Ma Huaizhen couldn't help but feel a slight sinking of his gaze and a bit of astonishment in his heart.
He silently counted.
One, two, three, four - four old mice.
The room of the head of Wenshi Hall was always a place where no thief dared to enter, except for disciples from Kunshan.
Ma Huaizhen smiled slightly.
It seemed that after not returning to Kunshan for so long, the young ones from Kunshan had become bolder, daring enough to sneak into his room.
He raised his hand to signal Yuan Liu to step back, then took out a transformation pill from his sleeve. He bit it open with a slight force of his teeth, and swallowed it.
There are rules from above and countermeasures from below. When the countermeasures change, the rules from above also need to be adjusted accordingly. As the head of Wenshi Hall and the director of the Kunshan Education Department, even though Yuan Liu has been single for many years and is an older man, he has been able to keep up with the fashion trends among the young people, thanks to years of competing with the young boys in Kunshan.
After hearing Ma Huaizhen's instructions, Yuan Liu took a step back and understood the situation. His face turned slightly green, and he immediately felt angry.
If he was able to enter Ma Huaizhen's room, it meant that the secret security disciples hadn't done their job properly, which also meant that his own job hadn't been done well.
Where did this damn idiot come from?
Having made a mistake in front of his boss, Yuan Liu felt a bit annoyed while supporting the wheelchair. He immediately tried to make up for it and lowered his voice, asking, "Boss, should I...?"
Ma Huaizhen, who had already changed his appearance, remained calm and looked up. "No need."
Although half of Ma Huaizhen's face was destroyed, the other half remained handsome. After taking the Face Changing Pill, his lips became sharp and he became a complete person, except that his face was a bit longer and had a scar on his forehead. He was a "hero" with a horse's face.
With a push of the wheelchair and a flick of a switch, he took out a walking stick and entered the room without looking back.
Qiao Wan, who was rummaging through the room, immediately sensed something was wrong, turned around, and drew her sword!
Her dark eyes glistened in the moonlight as she exclaimed, "Who goes there?!"
The faint moonlight revealed a thin man with a long, horse-like face standing at the door.
Qiao Wan gripped her sword and was momentarily stunned.
Who was this?
He didn't look like a disciple on patrol. When did Wenshi Hall have such a character?
Ma Huaizhen was equally shocked.
Qiao Wan?
And who was Ma Huaizhen? He was a ruthless character who had violently fought his way out from the northern battlefield under the command of the "Cold" banner.
After Qiao Wan passed away, he tried his best to search for her, but couldn't find her. He quickly adjusted his emotions and returned to his cold-hearted and unkind demeanor from before.
After being startled by a small earthquake, Ma Huaizhen quickly regained his focus. He wasn't very angry, but his smile became kinder.
His eyes moved slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Just then, a slightly husky male voice came from behind: "This taoist friend looks familiar. Have we met before?"
Ma Huaizhen raised his eyes, his gaze slightly shifting as he stared at the man in front of him.
Hmm? A familiar face?
"It doesn't matter where we've met," Ma Huaizhen replied calmly. "As long as our goals are the same, we are fellow travelers."
His gaze fell on the wine flask at Jun Caiwei's waist.
Jun Caiwei suddenly realized, "Taoist friend, you are here to steal--"
Ma Huaizhen quickly interrupted, not blinking an eye and changing his wording, "To borrow some wine to drink?"
Sure.
Ma Huaizhen raised an eyebrow as he stared at Qiao Wan.
"Wow, you've improved! You smell like alcohol, did someone sneak into your room?"
The man in front of him turned his head and leaned on Ma Huaizhen's shoulder with friendly gestures, saying, "Come on, since we're fellow travelers, we can be companions now."
"Brother, how many times have you been here? Do you know where Hall Master Ma keeps his wine?"
Without blinking an eye, Ma Huaizhen lied without changing his expression and calmly replied, "To be honest, this is my first time here too."
He also took the opportunity to ask shamelessly, "Is this your first time here too? Aren't you afraid of being caught by the night patrol disciples?"
"What's there to be afraid of?" Jun Caiwei patted his chest and pushed Qiao Wan towards Ma Huaizhen, saying, "We have a pill called 'Golden Pill'! With a Golden Pill cultivator here, there's nothing to fear from the night patrol disciples."
Feeling a bit dizzy from the alcohol, Qiao Wan, who realized that the man in front of her meant no harm, reluctantly put down her sword. Then she heard Jun Caiwei pushing her out and praising her.
Though a bit embarrassed, she was already a Golden Pill cultivator!
It was also a special presence that could show off.
Proudly, he puffed out his chest and said, "Brother, don't worry, I've got your back."
The man stared meaningfully at the tipsy and alcohol-scented girl in front of him and smiled, "So, you're a young cultivator who has already reached the level of Golden Core. Impressive indeed, a hero among the youth, my taoist friend."
Qiao Wan, who was a bit confused from the alcohol, was immediately flattered by some flattery, her expression serious. "Don't worry, with me by your side, I'll definitely find out where Ma Huaizhen hides his alcohol!"
Ma Huaizhen smiled, "Oh, so my taoist friend is familiar with Hall Master Ma's residence?"
"Familiar? I know this place like the back of my hand. See?" Qiao Wan casually pointed to the stack of old clothes in the cabinet, "I used to wash the clothes here."
"Let me tell you a secret," Qiao Wan said with utmost seriousness, "Hall Master Ma likes to wear fancy underwear with flowers on them."
Ma Huaizhen had trouble walking, so Qiao Wan held a basin full of clothes for him to wash. It was like taking care of an elderly man. Qiao Wan washed the clothes directly.
Yes, Hall Master Ma of Wenshi Hall in Kunshan was a tough guy. His underwear had flashy patterns.
To impress the disciples in Kunshan, the members of Wenshi Hall wore cool black outfits with narrow sleeves and long black boots. They looked very smart and had a manly aura.
But hidden beneath his neat black outfit, Ma Huaizhen was wearing underwear with flowers. When Qiao Wan saw it in the basin for the first time, she was quite shocked.
Having stayed in Kunshan for so long, Xiao Boyang had never heard that Ma Huaizhen's underwear had flowers on them. He was also surprised and asked, "With flowers?"
The smile on the man's face became even friendlier. He said, "Are you not afraid of being punished by Hall Master Ma for sneaking alcohol here, taoist friend?"
Gan Nan timidly said, "Yes, I heard that Hall Master Ma is really fierce. We should leave, Sister Wan'er."
"Don't worry, don't worry," Jun Caiwei curiously walked around the house. "Hall Master Ma is still down the mountain."
At the entrance, Yuan Liu, who was guarding, became a little uneasy. He peeked inside and was shocked.
There stood a girl, wearing a characteristic pink outfit, with a clear and beautiful face.
It was Qiao Wan!
Just as he looked, a sharp glance flew towards him.
Ma Huaizhen glanced at him calmly.
Having worked for Ma Huaizhen for decades, Yuan Liu's inner alarm bell rang loudly.
Hall Master Ma's gaze was filled with killing intent.
Quietly, Yuan Liu shrank back, crouching against the wall, listening to the sounds inside.
The more he listened, the more scared Yuan Liu became. When he heard about Flower Rogue Pants, he couldn't help but scream.
In a hidden corner of the sect, Hall Master Ma's scandalous underwear was not really a secret. Its pattern was as bold as the peony flowers on an old bedsheet. Many disciples had secretly speculated that it was a gift from Hall Master Ma's former lover.
Yuan Liu's mouth twitched, and his scalp tingled, unable to hold back his anger as he shouted, "Qiao Wan, snap out of it! The Hall Master's secret has been exposed all because of you! He hasn't even come to settle the score with you yet, but you're here seeking trouble?!"
Just then, another cold and deep voice sounded, "Is Yuan Liu here, along with Qiao Wan?"
"L-Lu..." Yuan Liu looked up, stunned by the skinny man in front of him. After a brief moment, he stuttered, "Elder Martial Brother?"
Lu Pihan had joined the sect earlier and held a higher seniority. Most people in Kunshan would respectfully refer to him as Elder Martial Brother when they saw him.
Inside the room, after rummaging through several boxes, Qiao Wan finally found a few jars of liquor placed on top of a cupboard.
"Here it is! Finally found it!"
Jumping lightly onto the top of the cabinet, Qiao Wan carefully brought down a few jars, not forgetting to give one to the taoist friend with the shoe-lifter face in front of her.
"Taoist friend, here you go. I told you I know my way around here."
The face with the long and thin "shoe-lifter" features suddenly twisted into a strange smile, and raised a hand to wipe it away, revealing a disfigured appearance capable of stopping a child from crying at night.
Ma Huaizhen smiled kindly, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, as if his words were twirling around his tongue before being spoken.
"Qiao Wan, it's been a while."
Qiao Wan, Xiao Boyang, and Gan Nan, who had all seen Ma Huaizhen before, were stunned for a moment, sobering up from their alcohol-induced haze.
"Ma...Hall Master Ma?"
"Hmm?" Jun Caiwei, who had just opened the sealed jar and was smelling the fragrance of the wine, looked up and asked, "Hall Master Ma? The one who likes wearing flashy pants?"
So, this was Ma Huaizhen!
Qiao Wan's mouth twitched. This bloody guy is Ma Huaizhen!
After a moment of confusion, Qiao Wan suddenly turned around and ran as fast as she could. She shouted angrily, "Hurry, let's get out of here! Hurry the heck up!"
But before she could take more than a few steps, Ma Huaizhen quickly caught up to her. He lifted the young girl in his arms and spoke with a slight smile in his voice, his eyes filled with dark intent.
"Not bad, little rabbit, you've improved."
"Why are you running?"
Qiao Wan was frightened to the core. The effect of the alcohol wore off, and a sense of dread filled her heart. What had she done?
She quickly composed herself, trying to explain calmly, "Senior, please let me explain!"
"Well, I'm listening, Flower Girl," Ma Huaizhen said, raising an eyebrow.
Qiao Wan shivered and secretly signaled Xiao Boyang and Gan Nan, who were standing dumbfounded nearby. They mouthed the words, "Transformation Pills."
Yes, that's right, there were also Transformation Pills. Gan Nan fumbled through his bag in a panic.
Xiao Boyang felt a twitch in his forehead and couldn't believe what he was thinking: a daring idea was forming in his mind.
Qiao Wan desperately gestured with her eyes, trying to signal something to Xiao Boyang. "You're not... thinking of sneaking out from under Ma Huaizhen's nose, are you?"
This is Ma Huaizhen, for heaven's sake!!
Qiao Wan said, "On the count of three!"
Three...
Qiao Wan quietly twisted her body.
Two...
She lifted her foot.
One...
Get ready!
With all her strength, Qiao Wan pushed herself back forcefully! In an instant, she shot out like a cannonball!
After breaking through the Golden Core stage, the benefits were immense. Not only did her cultivation improve, but her body also became more agile and her reflexes faster. At least when it came to bullying someone with a disability, her physical training was not in vain.
However, it seemed that Ma Huaizhen didn't have much intention of stopping them. He just sat there calmly, as if he was completely confident that they couldn't escape.
Xiao Boyang quickly followed, with sharp eyes and quick hands. They rushed out of the room, without even grabbing the jar of wine.
Qiao Wan took a deep breath and accepted the ceramic bottle Jun Caiwei handed her, which contained a pill. She couldn't help but smile with joy and said, "Did you see that? I successfully transformed! Isn't that amazing?"
Yuan Liu, who was crouching against the wall, silently glanced at Lu Pihan, who showed no expression. He felt a sudden jolt in his eyelids.
"You seem quite good at seeking death," he thought.
But in the next moment, Qiao Wan was sent flying back by someone.
She was truly sent flying back, with a palm strike that echoed through the room. The ceramic bottle in her hand fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
Standing at the door was a man with a sickly appearance. He was aloof, cold, wearing thick fur clothing, and stood with his hands hanging down. He coldly asked, "Strong? How strong are you?"
Qiao Wan stared at the half pill left in her hand, dumbfounded.
It was Elder Martial Brother!
She nearly forgot about him, the infamous Lone Sword Xie Xingzhi.
But nevermind, she decided to eat it first!
After swallowing half of the transformation pill, the girl in front of them suddenly disappeared into thin air. Lu Pihan and Ma Huaizhen, who had just returned to Kunshan, were both taken aback for a moment.
What kind of new species is this?
However, the transformation pill had limited effectiveness. Although her body became invisible, Qiao Wan never expected that she would still reveal a little bit.
In mid-air, a wig appeared and floated gently.
The wig paused for a second, then suddenly turned its head and ran away as fast as it could!
Why is there only a wig left?!
Running desperately in the night breeze, tears streamed down Qiao Wan's face. Is this discrimination against bald people?!
Just as they arrived at the entrance of Wenshi Hall, Qi Feidao was taken aback by the sight of a wig running frantically.
What is this all about?!!
Why would a wig be sprinting for its life in the middle of the night?!
Although Kunshan has a more liberal approach to education, they have just encountered a bat monster with golden hair and blue eyes from the West. But what kind of creature is this wig?
Is this wig a new variety created by the monster race?
In the sky, this wig's tips seemed to step on the legs floating in the air, swiftly swirling like a flaming wheel.
The disciples from Chongde Ancient Garden, including Qi Feidao and Fang Lingqing, couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines.
Kunshan truly lives up to its reputation as the number one sect in the cultivation world. There are hidden talents among its disciples that should not be underestimated. It seems that they must stay alert and handle this situation with determination.
At the same time, at the entrance of Kunshan.
The disciple guarding the gate looked at the two people in front of them with a puzzled expression.
"Who are you, taoist friends?"
One of the young people had pointed, triangular cat ears on their head. The cat ears twitched, and the person smiled before replying, "Oh hello, my taoist friend. This is me and my fellow classmates. We are both cat practitioners. Woof - oh wait, meow."
Xiu Quan, the Demon Emperor who hadn't said a word before, glanced at him and quickly gave him a signal with his eyes.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! We must disguise ourselves to enter Kunshan, or else we will be exposed! Meow, hurry!" Jia Yin said calmly, looking away from the young person next to him. He moved his fingers from within his sleeves and spoke in a cold, icy tone, "Meow."
