Chapter 64: The Master of Disguise in Women's Attire

“You two, basking in broad daylight…”
“You two, sunlight and transformation…”
“Li, what’s that idiom again?”

In the deserted alley, Xiao Qing was straddling Li Changluo, checking his injuries, when Hei Wa suddenly emerged from who knows where…
He stared in shock at the scene before him, all the while fumbling to show off his shaky grasp of idioms.
Xiao Qing and Li Changluo watched his performance in silence; these foreign-sounding idioms were becoming more and more awkward, and increasingly off-color as well.
“He’s hurt. I’m checking his wounds,” Xiao Qing finally explained, embarrassed as she climbed off Li Changluo.
Li Changluo looked down at his tattered clothes, unsure whether to cover himself or just let it be.
“Weren’t you two supposed to be off with Young Master Long Qi on some mission? Why are you here doing… such a forceful act against your own kin?”
Hei Wa struggled to recall an idiom that might fit this situation.
“That’s ‘sacrificing family for the greater good,’ and please, that’s not even appropriate here. Want to learn a new idiom?”
Li Changluo’s clothes, already torn to shreds by Xiao Qing, were beyond saving, so he simply took them off.
“What new idiom?” Hei Wa looked at Li Changluo, full of anticipation.
“Sharing joy and… pants.”
“Pah! It’s ‘sharing joys and sorrows,’ not pants.”
Li Changluo had been led astray by Hei Wa’s idiom, though at this moment he couldn’t help but eye Hei Wa’s trousers with some ideas of his own.
“You mean, we’re supposed to wear the same pair of pants?”
“No, just the same style of pants.”
“Li, I’m not that kind of person…”
“What are you thinking? I just meant, you could conjure up an extra set of clothes for me to wear.”
“….”
Seeing Hei Wa hesitate, Li Changluo quickly pointed at Xiao Qing. “You can’t possibly expect her to conjure something for me, or want me to wear hers?”
What a joke!
Me, in women’s clothes?
Back when Zhuge Liang gifted a dress to Sima Zhongda, he could put up with it.
But I, Li Changluo, will never wear women’s clothes.
Absolutely not…

By the time Li Changluo emerged from the alley wearing Xiao Qing’s clothes, night had already fallen.
Hei Wa’s demon energy wasn’t strong enough to conjure two sets of clothing yet, so the only one who could help was Xiao Qing.
Li Changluo had to choose between going bare-chested or squeezing into a pair of denim shorts and a T-shirt, slightly small for him.
Though a bit tight and short, Xiao Qing’s outfit was at least androgynous enough—certainly better than a skirt.
Li Changluo was a practical little demon and knew how to make the best of things.

Damn, first time in women’s clothes…
He had no idea what he was supposed to pay attention to.
But why didn’t he feel the slightest bit embarrassed?
“Weren’t you off on your mission? Why are you here?”
Xiao Qing and Hei Wa stared at Li Changluo in surprise.
Li Changluo, now dressed identically to Xiao Qing, walked down the street, and to diffuse the awkwardness, he even made his voice sound shrill and high-pitched.
“I’ve already finished my mission. It was just an inkfish demon,” Hei Wa replied, pointing to the burlap sack tied at his waist.
“There are inkfish demons?” Li Changluo asked curiously.
“Yeah, he’s black too. Said he was always teased about his dark skin when he was alive…”
Hei Wa recalled what the inkfish demon inside the sack had told him earlier.
“Must’ve choked on cuttlefish, huh? People get more reckless by the day,” Li Changluo said, imitating Xiao Qing’s gesture and brushing his hair back.
“No, after eating cuttlefish, he spat ink at some diners at the next table who were mocking his complexion. The ink wouldn’t come out, he got beaten up, choked on the cuttlefish, and died. Talk about black on black.”
Hei Wa sighed, glancing at the writhing sack at his waist.
“…”
“So, what about you two? Weren’t you tagging along with the big shot, eating and drinking and soaking up experience? Why are you sneaking around here?” Hei Wa asked.
“Young Master Long Qi is dead. He turned into a puddle of blood,” Xiao Qing replied, saddened, to Hei Wa.
Li Changluo couldn’t help but marvel at this clueless snake spirit. She’d actually believed Young Master Long Qi’s trick, never suspecting that scoundrel Yin would betray his own teammates. She hadn’t even realized she’d been set up…
A perfect example of someone sold off who’d still help count the money.
“Dead?” Hei Wa asked in shock.
After all, in the tavern, Young Master Long Qi had been a godlike figure, powerful beyond measure. Hei Wa couldn’t believe it.
“It’s true. He’s dead—really dead. The bastard didn’t even leave a single piece of clothing behind,” Li Changluo said through gritted teeth.
“What a shame. What a pity.”
Hei Wa shook his head sadly.
“A pity? What’s there to pity?” Li Changluo asked, confused. Hei Wa could be sentimental, but he and Young Master Long Qi barely knew each other.
Could it be…
Hei Wa swings that way too?
“I mean his clothes. That pure white outfit… If I wore it, do you think I’d look paler and more beautiful?”
Hei Wa was only coveting Young Master Long Qi’s clothes.

“Should we head back to the tavern now?”
Xiao Qing frowned, glancing at Li Changluo.
A kind-hearted girl, Xiao Qing still believed Young Master Long Qi was truly dead. That meant their D-rank mission couldn’t possibly be completed, and thus, neither she nor Li Changluo would receive any reward.
No reward… Even someone as naive as Xiao Qing understood what that could mean.
“How could we give up now? It’s just a comic monster…”
Li Changluo’s gaze turned steely, filled with confidence. His whole presence changed, radiating the aura of an unstoppable king.
The airheaded snake spirit, Xiao Qing, was instantly captivated by Li Changluo’s newfound charisma.
She looked at him with adoration.
Indeed, a serious man is always the most handsome.
Indeed, this man who promised to protect her was reliable.
Indeed, he had changed…
“Or we could just forget it and sponge off Hei Wa for some food and drink, and lay low for a bit?”
Li Changluo turned his gaze to Hei Wa, shamelessly awaiting his response.
Taking advantage of his borrowed women’s clothes, he tried to act cute with Hei Wa.
Now this was the Li Changluo he knew.
And yet… just a little disappointing.
Xiao Qing shook her head helplessly.
“Li, you’re hopeless—can’t even prop you up the stairs. Don’t be so quick to act like a coward. At least struggle a bit, get fired up before you start acting shameless, okay?”
Hei Wa sneered.
“All right.”
“I won’t give up. I’ll finish this mission. I will defeat the enemy and overcome every obstacle.”
“And then, Hei Wa, we’ll happily share your food and drink together.”
“But please, the phrase is ‘can’t prop up a pile of rotten mud,’ so try to remember that.”
Li Changluo recited his lines like a script, correcting Hei Wa’s idiom as he went.
So exhausting.
The truth was, Li Changluo was a pragmatist. He knew that all this mission required was for him and Xiao Qing to relax in the hotel and wait for Young Master Long Qi to return, and they’d collect a generous reward without lifting a finger.
But the naive Xiao Qing and the clueless Hei Wa simply didn’t get it, both thinking Li Changluo was being a coward.
Normally, being cowardly was one thing, but when all three monsters’ lives were on the line, could he still be timid?
Hei Wa was furious. Xiao Qing was angry too. Each lost in thought, the two buried their heads and headed back toward the tavern…
But as they walked, Xiao Qing soon realized—
Li Changluo had vanished.