Chapter 183: Cross-Dressing to Get a Computer? Doesn't Exist! (3/4)

The Cloud Ocean Daoist Palace.

At the very hour when Fenghua and Yuexin, trembling in fear, returned to the Heavenly Pivot Hall and found themselves utterly unable to sleep in the dead of night.

Xiao Yulv, at this moment, was trimming the wick of his lamp to read late into the night.

Truth be told, over the past few days, Xiao Yulv had spent no more than six hours a day at the internet cafe; after all, he never had to queue, coming and going as he pleased without a single worry about finding a seat.

This state of affairs had begun the very day Dong Qingli first arrived at the cafe.

And for the past two days, Xiao Yulv had not set foot in the internet cafe at all, because...

Within his grasp, he held an exquisite jade slip inscribed with four seal-script characters: Shape-Shifting Star-Swapping!

"Haha! The spells of our Cloud Ocean Daoist Palace are truly ever-changing and unfathomably profound!" standing before a bronze mirror, he formed hand seals and muttered to himself, "This young master refuses to believe you can see through me this time!"

For this very moment, Xiao Yulv had practiced bitterly day and night, expending vast amounts of time and energy, and now, he was finally on the verge of minor mastery!

Shape-Shifting Star-Swapping was a high-tier spell of the Cloud Ocean Daoist Palace, capable of altering one's form, transforming one's face, and even concealing one's internal aura completely!

As he cast the incantation, a brilliant light flashed in Xiao Yulv's eyes: "This time, this young master must watch the fifth and sixth episodes of Jade Dynasty! And then, I shall feast upon instant noodles and cola to my heart's content!"

The moment he recalled the rich, savory aroma of noodles wafting through the internet cafe, a sound arose: "Grumble..."

A peculiar sound echoed from his stomach; though he had not eaten all day, the sheer thought of savoring such a delicacy as instant noodles soon filled Xiao Yulv with boundless excitement!

Soon, under the influence of the spell, his entire countenance shifted! Not only that, but the original temperament and aura of the eldest young master Xiao vanished entirely, as if he had truly become a completely different person at this moment!

...

The next morning, at the Heavenly Pivot Hall.

"Your disciples, Fenghua and Yuexin, pay respects to Master..." The two appeared thoroughly exhausted, evidently having slept poorly the previous night.

Although cultivators of their realm had little need for sleep, no one could endure a whole night of paranoia, constantly fearing that something might creep out from some dark corner.

Thus, after paying their respects, the two stepped out of the Cloud Ocean Daoist Palace.

"Junior Sister Yuexin... why don't we go back and catch up on some sleep..." Fenghua suggested as they walked toward the disciples' quarters.

"Are we not accompanying Master to Jiuhua City today...?" Yuexin pondered for a moment, "True, since Boss Fang's shop doesn't require queuing anymore... let's head over a bit later."

At that precise moment, they happened to cross paths with Xiao Yulv walking toward the front of the hall.

Xiao Yulv instantly shot a swift glance at the two: "Not going to Jiuhua City right now...?"

His eyes rolled with schemes as he recalled his prior observations in Fang Qi's shop—how the establishment always treated female patrons with a touch more leniency...

"They will certainly be even less on guard against a familiar female customer!" Xiao Yulv slapped his thigh, having just been fretting over whom to disguise himself as; this was truly a timely pillow for a drowsy man!

After some time passed...

A grand sect like the Cloud Ocean Daoist Palace naturally possessed dedicated dharma boats traveling to major nearby cities; at this moment, upon a massive platform, before a large dharma boat on the verge of departure:

A woman dressed in the attire of a high-ranked disciple of the Cloud Ocean Daoist Palace emerged from a secluded corner, walking over with a graceful, leisurely gait.

"Senior Sister Fenghua?" Several disciples guarding the area grew puzzled, "Doesn't she follow Elder Su every day? Why is she alone today...?"

"Going to Jiuhua alone?" Seeing that she had approached, the disciples dared not be presumptuous and hastily bowed in greeting.

A certain someone grinned triumphantly to himself: "As expected, no one can recognize me!"

"Rules aside, this newly acquired female disciple's uniform fits rather well... Mmm, not bad!"

...

Shortly thereafter.

Fenghua and Yuexin were still somewhat bleary-eyed with sleep.

Yet by now, their spirits had improved considerably. As they walked toward the dharma boat, they conversed, "Senior Sister Fenghua, how do you feel?"

"I feel much better!" Fenghua replied, "And for some reason, I don't feel as frightened anymore..."

"Me too." Yuexin knitted her brows in confusion, "Clearly, I was terrified to the core earlier... but once that peak of terror passed, I found myself much less afraid..."

Fenghua covered her mouth in astonishment, "That game itself is meant to temper one's state of mind, and yesterday we did progress through a brief segment of the plot..."

In unison, the two exclaimed with delight, "Could it be that our mental cultivation has grown?!"

"Come to think of it, I didn't kill any monsters yesterday..." Fenghua noted, "I was just running around blindly in the game!"

"But Master didn't level up after killing monsters either..." The two exchanged glances, as if discovering a brand new continent, and cried out, "Could it be that improving one's mind in this game doesn't strictly require killing monsters?!"

"Yes, exactly! Look at the boss, he hardly kills any monsters either!"

Chattering away, the two walked toward the dharma boat.

"Feng..." The guarding disciples, having just finished their salutations, watched Fenghua and Yuexin walk toward the vessel, completely dumbfounded. "How does that person's silhouette look so much like Senior Sister Fenghua?!"

"Didn't she already depart for Jiuhua earlier...?"

"Could we have seen wrongly...?" The two looked at each other, "All disciples boarding our palace's dharma boats must have their identities verified by Deacon Yang... Since he saw no issue, we must surely be mistaken..."

Deacon Yang: This deacon has just inspected Young Master Xiao, Fenghua, and Yuexin. No issues found!

...

As for the opening of Fang Qi's shop today... it was indeed rather late.

Half past eight.

Fortunately, after yesterday's interior renovation, the players knew they did not need to queue, so there was no need to rush over in a frantic hurry at the break of dawn.

Opening the door sluggishly, he saw only two or three particularly familiar faces, among whom was Fenghua, who had been frightened into a trembling ball the previous day.

"Arriving so early today?" Fang Qi greeted casually, "Where is your master? Not together today?"

"Hahaha!" A certain someone roared with laughter internally. One must remember that during the last failed disguise, Fang Qi had exposed his true name on the spot and promptly thrown him out, causing him to lose face completely!

To think that this time, standing right before Fang Qi, he went unrecognized!

"The spells of my Cloud Ocean Daoist Palace are truly ever-changing! It was not in vain that I practiced so bitterly for days!"

Fang Qi rubbed his eyes. The smile on the Fenghua before him seemed a bit chilly. Was it his imagination?

"Boss! Activate the fifth and sixth episodes of Jade Dynasty for me!" Having reached the most thrilling part of the fourth episode, he had never expected it to cut off abruptly; oh, how he resented that!

"Today, this young master refuses to believe anyone can stop me from watching the drama!"

"Huh? You haven't watched episodes five and six yet?" Fang Qi accepted the money, casting a puzzled glance at him, then suddenly blinked, utterly bewildered. "Where did she go?"

"Forget it, Xiaoyue, collect the money!"

Jiang Xiaoyue stepped forward, gazing at a figure swiftly darting into the computer area. "Isn't that Sister Fenghua? Why did she come alone today?"

Fang Qi: "How should I know?"

"Hahaha!" Xiao Yulv plopped himself onto the computer chair, reclining lazily as he double-clicked the Super Cinema, crossing his legs in absolute triumph. "Even you, the boss, couldn't see through me. This time, this young master shall see who can possibly stop me!"

The computer screen:

You are on this shop's blacklist. Please proceed to the counter for a refund and log off.

"Ah—?!" In an instant, he shrieked like a heartbroken marmot.

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PS: The fourth watch shall arrive after the eleventh hour; my hand moves but slowly today, and for this, I pray your forgiveness.

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