The Notorious Bandit

Lu Chang’an would never have believed it if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes—just a touch of decorative makeup could transform a person so completely that their original appearance was nearly unrecognizable.

“This is no simple decoration,” Lu Yuesheng explained, happy to satisfy his curiosity.

“It’s a form of visual misdirection and suggestion.”

“The information our eyes can receive is limited; even experts at the Xiantian realm cannot notice every detail in their field of vision.”

“My makeup works the same way—the eye shadow and beauty mark draw attention, diminishing focus on my other features to some extent.”

“In that case, wouldn’t it fail against masters of higher realms?” Lu Chang’an asked with concern.

Liantian Manor had many experts above the Xiantian realm, and at that level, identification went beyond mere appearance.

“Mm, if it were just makeup, it would indeed be ineffective against such experts.”

“But combined with techniques that alter one’s aura and internal energy circulation, everything changes.”

Lu Yuesheng flashed a mischievous smile that made Lu Chang’an’s heart skip a beat.

“Ahem, let’s turn in early tonight.”

“We have an early start tomorrow.”

Unable to withstand the allure radiating from her, Lu Chang’an quickly changed the subject and urged her to rest.

“As you wish, my lord.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With a smile in her eyes, Lu Yuesheng bowed demurely and left the room.

Watching her figure disappear into the adjacent door, Lu Chang’an could only wryly smile.

It seemed that with her changed appearance, her personality had shifted as well—she couldn’t resist teasing him even as she left.

This was… too wonderful.

Nothing happened that night.

Early the next morning, the three of them rose and resumed their journey without lingering in the town.

After half a day’s travel, the carriage finally arrived at the nearest county seat—Hua County.

Compared to the two small towns Lu Chang’an had seen before, Hua County was undoubtedly more prosperous.

But that was only relative; for someone who had witnessed modern metropolises in his past life, a small county held no novelty.

Upon entering the city, Lu Chang’an noticed a posted notice.

He didn’t read it carefully, only catching the bold headline: “WANTED: Demon Sect Witch Lu Yuesheng.”

A portrait accompanied the notice, bearing a fifty to sixty percent resemblance to Lu Yuesheng before her makeup.

Beside her wanted poster were several others, all for notorious criminals.

A quick glance registered only one: “WANTED: Notorious Bandit Liu Yang.”

“Notorious Bandit Liu Yang?” Lu Chang’an was slightly surprised.

Such posters usually targeted heinous criminals—how had a mere bandit earned such attention?

“Liu Yang is an interesting fellow,” Wen Qingying spoke up unexpectedly, having been silent most of the journey.

She explained why he was wanted and added her own observations: “He claims to rob the rich to help the poor, never stealing from the impoverished.”

“Not long ago, he stole a treasure from Lotus Temple, which is likely why he’s now wanted.”

“He’s skilled in qinggong and uses a sleeping incense that can incapacitate even those at the beginning of the Xiantian realm.”

“Usually, he gets away easily, but this time he must have encountered an expert from Lotus Temple who saw his face and figure.”

Lu Chang’an found this odd.

Wen Qingying wasn’t one for unnecessary talk.

His eyes narrowed as he stroked his chin, lost in thought.

The carriage stopped at an inn.

A stable boy led the horses to the rear.

Lu Yuesheng consulted a map.

“We’re not far from Liantian Manor—only a hundred li.”

“We’ll arrive soon.”

Lu Chang’an frowned, still pondering something, and didn’t reply immediately.

Suddenly, the street grew noisy.

Pedestrians parted to both sides, as if avoiding something.

Lu Chang’an turned to look.

A carriage was passing by, its body adorned with elegant blue cloud patterns.

As it passed near them, a breeze lifted the curtain, revealing a glimpse of the interior.

He caught sight of a woman inside—a young matron with her hair styled in a married woman’s bun.

She sat regally within.

She was pretty enough, but that wasn’t what caught his attention.

What struck him was a strange sense of familiarity—he felt he had seen those eyes somewhere before.

“That’s the cloud pattern of Liantian Manor.”

“The woman inside must be the wife of the Second Manor Lord,” Lu Yuesheng said, her voice heavy.

Liantian Manor held too many painful memories for her; she had no goodwill toward anyone associated with it.

“The Second Manor Lord’s wife?” Lu Chang’an fell silent.

He dismissed the feeling as a mistake.

How could he possibly have seen the wife of Liantian Manor’s Second Manor Lord anywhere else?

After all, he had been to so few places.

There was no reason for her to look familiar.

Shaking his head, he turned to Lu Yuesheng and whispered, “Let’s book rooms first.”

“The Witch-Slaying Assembly is still a while away.”

“This is our last chance to investigate.”

“Mm.”

Lu Yuesheng’s spirits were clearly low, still affected by the encounter with someone from Liantian Manor.

Lu Chang’an felt it better not to console her—after all, she had originally come to settle scores physically, but his plan forced her to hold back.

From his position, any words of comfort would ring hollow.

With Lu Yuesheng in low spirits and his own trust in Wen Qingying limited, Lu Chang’an abandoned the plan to scout the area upon arrival.

Instead, he spent most of the day meditating in his room before going to sleep.

Come night, in the dead silence.

A figure slipped silently to Lu Chang’an’s window.

A thin bamboo tube pierced the paper, releasing wisps of white smoke into the room.

After a moment, the window was carefully pushed open, and a figure in black climbed inside.

The intruder glanced at Lu Chang’an, who appeared to be sleeping soundly, and chuckled quietly before moving toward the luggage on the table.

As the intruder opened the bag, a sudden numbness seized their body—they couldn’t move.

“Notorious bandit Liu Yang.”

A candle flickered to life, and a resigned voice sounded from behind the figure.

“I was wondering why Fairy Wen spoke as she did during the day.”

“Now I understand.”

“But I’m curious—do I really look like a man of wealth?”

“Why would a bandit who robs the rich to help the poor target me?”

In the candlelight, Lu Chang’an, who should have been unconscious from the incense, sat alert on his bed.

A moment ago, he had silently pointed from a distance, using his released true qi to seal Liu Yang’s acupoints.

At this moment, the roles of hunter and prey had been reversed.