Infiltration

A white handkerchief with blood-red patterns appeared in Qin Gou’s hand. The system promptly displayed its effects, surprising Qin Gou, who had initially dismissed it.

Oddity: Dizzying Handkerchief
Effect: Cover someone’s nose and mouth for a certain duration to render them unconscious. For those at the same cultivation level as the host, it takes five seconds; for those one major realm higher, ten seconds; and for those two major realms higher, twenty seconds. Using this item is inherently risky and dangerous, making it the pinnacle of unconventional tools.

“So, from now on, I won’t need to rely on crude items like Sleeping Pills or knockout incense that lack the grace of a gentleman. Just cover their mouth with this—straightforward and dignified. That’s what a true man does,” Qin Gou said, instantly enamored with the handkerchief.

He glanced mischievously at Yi Chengying, who was piloting the spirit boat. She was at least two major realms higher than him, likely in the Dao Nourishing Realm, making her the perfect test subject.

Yi Chengying shivered under Qin Gou’s intense gaze. Her survival instincts kicked in, and she quickly said, “Heavenly Master, Little Chair is still piloting the spirit boat. Please don’t do anything rash!”

“Fair enough,” Qin Gou nodded. “I’ll test it another time.”

“What are you planning to do, Heavenly Master?” Yi Chengying asked, her voice trembling with unease. She cursed herself for speaking up—sometimes, the fear of the unknown was the worst.

—

Tian Kun Dynasty – Imperial Capital

The bustling marketplace was alive with the sounds of music and the chatter of countless people. Qin Gou and Yi Chengying, disguised as a mortal couple, blended seamlessly into the crowd.

“Master, what’s your plan? Why am I also in disguise? I’m here as an honored guest of the Tian Kun Dynasty, so I can’t participate in the martial arts marriage contest,” Yi Chengying asked, her tone filled with confusion.

“Relax. I just need your help with something small—it won’t take long,” Qin Gou replied with a calm smile. Using his spiritual energy, he carefully monitored their surroundings. “You might not know this, but the winner of the contest has already been predetermined by the Tian Kun Dynasty. The other male disciples will face countless obstacles trying to infiltrate or win. We need to take a different approach.”

“Master, you must already have a plan, then. Alright, as long as it doesn’t break the rules and risk the Palace Master finding out, Little Chair will follow your lead,” Yi Chengying said, nodding obediently.

“Good. You’re learning,” Qin Gou said with a grin. “Look, our target has appeared.” He gestured subtly toward a man dressed as a servant, busy buying fresh produce in the marketplace.

“Him? A mere Qi-Gathering Realm cultivator? Are you planning to take his identity?” Yi Chengying asked, puzzled.

“Yesterday, when we first arrived in the capital, I spent the day in taverns and tea houses, gathering information. After hours of listening to everything from the emperor’s harem gossip to complaints about rising barber fees, I finally learned about this man. He may be a lowly Qi-Gathering Realm cultivator, but he has another identity—one that’s perfect for our needs.”

Qin Gou and Yi Chengying approached the servant, who was inspecting vegetables. Leaning in, Qin Gou whispered, “He’s a procurement servant for the Marshal’s household. He can come and go freely from the estate.”

Patting the servant on the shoulder, Qin Gou smiled warmly. “Excuse me, friend. May I have a word with you?”

The servant, seeing the unfamiliar faces of Qin Gou and Yi Chengying, frowned impatiently and shook his head.

Qin Gou pulled out a spirit stone, its aura shimmering faintly. Smiling meaningfully, he said, “It won’t take long. I just need you to deliver a message.”

The servant’s demeanor changed instantly. Deliver a message? Easy enough—once he got the spirit stone, whether or not he actually delivered the message was up to him.

He led Qin Gou and Yi Chengying to a secluded spot, but as soon as they were alone, he turned hostile. “You should know I work for the Marshal’s household. Don’t even think about trying anything funny! The Marshal has declared that anyone who dares harm his people will face a fate worse than death.”

“Of course, we wouldn’t dare,” Qin Gou said with a friendly smile—before knocking the servant out with a single punch.

Using the Dizzying Handkerchief for such a low-level opponent would’ve been overkill.

Qin Gou immediately used his Faceless Hermit ability to store the servant’s appearance, replacing his previous disguise as Yi Chengying. In an instant, he transformed into the servant’s exact likeness.

Turning to Yi Chengying, he said, “Take care of this guy. Don’t harm him—he might be useful later. Someone else might need a servant to look after them.”

After giving Yi Chengying a few more instructions, Qin Gou picked up the basket of fresh produce and casually walked into the Marshal’s heavily guarded estate.

—

Inside the estate, chaos erupted from one of the bedrooms.

“Get out! All of you, get out!”

“You all think I’m a worthless cripple, don’t you? You think I’m only here because I was lucky enough to be born the Marshal’s son!”

“But do any of you know how hard I’ve worked? With just a sliver of spiritual energy, I’ve nearly broken through to the Artifact Refining Realm! Even the Grandmaster called it a miracle! Can any of you do that? If it weren’t for this cursed congenital defect, I’d be as brilliant as my brother. My parents would finally respect me!”

“Get out! Why are you still standing there?”

Servants and maids fled the room, their faces pale. They were used to the young master’s temper tantrums, knowing his words came from years of pent-up frustration. By tomorrow, he’d likely calm down.

Qin Gou, however, knew exactly who the bedroom’s occupant was. This was the Marshal’s third son, born with a congenital defect. Originally, he was supposed to marry Mu Man’er under the emperor’s orders. But plans had changed, and the emperor had decided to marry her to the eldest son instead.

With a gentle smile, Qin Gou entered the room as if he belonged there.

“What’s this? Someone dares come in while I’m angry? Do you think I’m a joke? Are you here to die?” The pale, bedridden youth roared, his face twisted with fury.

“I can cure your congenital defect,” Qin Gou said calmly. “But only if you agree to one condition.”