Misty Veil

"That's right," A Zhu pouted. "I've tried many methods, but none can make the fragrance last."

Song Qingshu looked at her soft, smooth, and radiant skin, inhaling the sweet scent emanating from her. He thought she was truly a sweet and beautiful young girl. He was surprised, as his impression from the 97 version of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils had made him hesitant to compliment A Zhu's appearance, but she was actually so sweet and lovely.

"Young Master?" Seeing Song Qingshu staring blankly at her, a blush crept onto A Zhu's delicate face.

"Oh," Song Qingshu snapped back to attention, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Miss A Zhu, I happen to know a method to make fragrances last..." He deliberately paused, looking at her with a half-smile.

A Zhu was a perceptive girl. Seeing his expression, she knew he had a request. Her heart stirred with alarm, fearing he might do something against Murong Fu. However, she smiled radiantly and asked, "How willing are you to share this method with this servant, Young Master?"

"How about I beg Young Master Murong to let him give you to me?" Seeing her charming demeanor, Song Qingshu suddenly had a mischievous thought and teased her.

"Young Master, please don't joke," A Zhu's smile faltered.

"Haha, I'm just teasing you," Song Qingshu laughed heartily. "I can teach you the method for preserving fragrance, but you have to teach me the Disguise Art."

A Zhu was stunned. Song Qingshu thought she was unwilling and secretly regretted being too hasty, thinking he should have brought it up after they were more familiar. However, he might be leaving Yanziwu tomorrow, so he couldn't help but be anxious.

"Oh my, I thought it was something else," A Zhu chuckled. "I've loved pretending to be other people since I was little. The more I learned, the better I became at it, and gradually I developed a set of methods. It's nothing special. Since you like it, Young Master, I'll tell you about it."

As she spoke, A Zhu suddenly exclaimed in surprise, looking curiously at Song Qingshu. "Young Master, how did you know this servant knows the Disguise Art?"

"Didn't A Bi tell you I'm the Jianghu Hundred-Know-All, capable of divination?" Song Qingshu said, raising an eyebrow and pretending to be mysterious.

A Zhu remembered that A Bi had indeed quietly mentioned this to her before. She gave him a half-believing glance.

"As a grown man, I can't let a young lady like you be at a disadvantage," Song Qingshu said directly, knowing that ancient people valued their word. "I'll teach you the Method for Fixing Fragrance first."

"Young Master Song, you're truly a good person," A Zhu said, beaming at him.

Being inexplicably given a "good person" card by a beautiful young girl, Song Qingshu said glumly, "To make the scent of flower dew last, you must add a fixative. This fixative can be Ambergris, Sandalwood, Musk, Orris Root... depending on what's convenient for you, Miss. Different fixative ingredients will yield different scent effects..." As he spoke, Song Qingshu remembered how he had specifically studied up on perfumes when pursuing the woman in his previous life. He never expected it to be useful now.

A Zhu's beautiful eyes lit up with admiration as she listened. "Young Master Song, you are truly learned and talented, understanding even these little things for women."

As they talked, they arrived at a side room. Song Qingshu stopped and asked, "Miss A Zhu, when will you teach me the Disguise Art?"

"How about tomorrow?" A Zhu said with some difficulty. "It's getting late today..."

"But I'm leaving Yanziwu tomorrow..." Song Qingshu's meaning was clear.

A Zhu thought that since he had so openly taught her the method, she couldn't let him look down on her. Gritting her teeth, she pulled Song Qingshu towards the room. "Young Master, it's not convenient out here. It wouldn't be good if family members saw. Let's go inside and talk."

As a single young woman in a man's room late at night, A Zhu felt a bit uneasy. She sat cautiously far from Song Qingshu and began to explain the Disguise Art in detail. "The key to the Disguise Art lies in creating the mold and the material for the human skin mask..."

Initially, A Zhu spoke from a distance, but teaching the Disguise Art required hands-on instruction. She had no choice but to take out a bottle of ointment from her pocket and come over to demonstrate on his face.

He felt the cool sensation of A Zhu's fingers on his face and smelled the sweet fragrance wafting from her. He couldn't help but lament that Murong Fu had two such excellent maids, plus a cousin who was a martial arts grandmaster, yet he was still struggling so much.

Although he admired Murong Fu's fighting spirit, he disdained his intelligence. If he were Murong Fu, wouldn't reviving his kingdom be simple?

The Western Xia Grand Consort was his relative, and he often mingled with the Western Xia First Class Hall. With such advantageous conditions, he failed to win over Princess Yinchuan of Western Xia, ultimately needing to participate in a public marriage contest.

Even if he didn't pursue the Western Xia route, if he treated Wang Yuyan better, wouldn't all the martial arts of the Xiaoyao Sect have been his?

Even if he didn't go the martial arts route, he had A Zhu, a formidable weapon, at home. Honestly, Song Qingshu felt that A Zhu's Disguise Art was more precious than Nine Yin Nine Yang. If used well, its effect would be far beyond what an ordinary martial artist could achieve. If Murong Fu had leveraged it, bribed a few officials and eunuchs, and then disguised himself as an emperor or prince, he could have easily seized the throne, like a cuckoo taking over a nest...

Looking at the lifelike Murong Fu in the mirror, Song Qingshu exclaimed, "Miss A Zhu, your skill is truly divine."

"You flatter me, Young Master," A Zhu said, giving a slight bow, as if facing the real Murong Fu.

"A Zhu, it's so late, warm this young master's bed for me," Song Qingshu's eyes twinkled as a mischievous thought struck him. He commanded in Murong Fu's likeness.

"Pah!" A Zhu spat, her face flushing. "Since Young Master Song has learned enough, this servant will take her leave now." With that, she fled out the door as if escaping.

The next day, Murong Fu led his group to Mantuo Mountain Villa. Initially, Song Qingshu had looked forward to seeing how beautiful the "fairy sister" was. However, as they walked, his anticipation gradually faded. He realized that with his current lack of skills, no matter how beautiful a woman was, it had nothing to do with him. Even if it did, he couldn't protect her. His heart gradually calmed.

"Cousin~" A voice like celestial music drifted from afar. Song Qingshu's heart skipped a beat. No wonder Wang Yuyan's sigh could captivate Duan Yu back then.

"Cousin, you've come to see me, I... I'm so happy." A maidenly blush appeared on Wang Yuyan's fair and tender face, making her look exceptionally beautiful.

Song Qingshu finally had a chance to observe her. She wore a lotus-root colored gauze shirt, her long hair cascading down her back, held loosely by a silver ribbon. She seemed enveloped in a Misty Veil, her features indistinct.

Song Qingshu was startled. When he saw Zhao Min that day, she seemed to radiate with the brilliance of the scorching sun. When he first met Madam Hu, she appeared to be encased in pure glass. Now, seeing Wang Yuyan, she was also surrounded by a Misty Veil. Could this be the natural aura of peerless beauties?