Xu Yuehuai decided to "completely" unveil her disguise at this moment. She gently raised her hand, her fingertips tracing the exquisite mask covering her true face, a masterpiece she had meticulously crafted countless times to conceal her identity.
As the fingers slowly slid, the edge of the mask gradually loosened, and finally, with a soft "snap," it gently landed on the bluestone by the hot spring, splashing up delicate ripples.
Moonlight filtered through the sparse clouds, casting its glow on her face, revealing a natural, unadorned beauty that possessed a pure and refined charm.
Without elaborate makeup or deliberate embellishment, this face appears exceptionally real and pure, like a mountain spring that has washed away all the dust.
The fake doctor's gaze shifted from initial surprise to deep scrutiny. He had never expected that beneath these layers of disguise lay such an innocent and naive face.
He spoke slowly, his tone slightly disappointed: "So ordinary, why hide it?"
Xu Yuehuai secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled slightly, saying, "Hiding is merely for survival; not hiding is another way to make money. Although I am not a beauty that could topple cities, I do have my own unique qualities, don't I?"
At this moment, the fake ghost doctor re-evaluated the person in front of him, his gaze sweeping over Xu Yuehuai, feeling that she possessed a resilience and wisdom that did not belong to ordinary women.
“Indeed, everyone has something unique that cannot be replicated. You are one of them.” The fake doctor’s voice was deep and magnetic, carrying a strange certainty. He seemed willing to believe her and accept everything about her.
Xu Yuehuai knew that this fake ghost doctor was unfathomably cunning, and she still had to remain vigilant.
She lowered her eyes, concealing the complex emotions within them. "Thank you for your understanding, Master."
The fake doctor didn't say anything more, turned around and left, leaving behind only a lonely figure and a meaningful sentence: "Stay by my side, I only hope you won't be too clever for your own good. Go change your clothes."
Then, Xu Yuehuai changed into a clean set of women's clothing. Although it had no fancy decorations, it had a fresh and refined air about it.
She stood by the hot spring, gazing at the rising sun in the distance.
In the gentle light of dawn, Xu Yuehuai and the fake ghost doctor walked side by side out of the misty hot spring and onto the bluestone path back to their mansion.
She remained remarkably quiet in the carriage throughout the journey, though her mind was filled with a multitude of thoughts.
Back at the mansion, passing through long corridors with carved beams and painted rafters, until finally stepping into my long-missed courtyard, the scene before me felt both familiar and strange.
The servants were busy with the morning cleaning when they saw Xu Yuehuai. They were stunned for a moment, then their faces showed surprise, as if they had witnessed an incredible miracle.
"Who are you?" one of them blurted out, his tone full of disbelief.
"I am the same person as before, Daidai." Xu Yuehuai's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
"How could this be?" The servants looked at each other, their shock evident.
"I disguised myself as a man before, for the sake of convenience," Xu Yuehuai explained softly, her eyes revealing a calmness born of experience.
"I see!"
Upon hearing this, the servants suddenly understood, nodded in agreement, and showed smiles of admiration and understanding on their faces.
The fake ghost doctor sent someone to summon Xu Yuehuai, but she didn't know why he wanted to see her. Upon arriving at the mansion gate, a sudden commotion erupted outside.
"Help! Something's happened!"
"Someone, please help us!"
"This is going to kill us!"
It turned out that a murder had occurred outside the mansion, and a crowd surged in like a tide, surrounding the mansion, with discussions and exclamations rising and falling.
Just as the fake doctor and Xu Yuehuai were preparing to leave by carriage to avoid unnecessary trouble, a group of government officials rushed over and blocked their way. Suddenly, one person collapsed in the crowd, pale-faced and on the verge of death.
"Master Ghost Doctor, can you save him?" The officials were extremely anxious, their eyes pleading as they looked at the fake Ghost Doctor.
The fake doctor frowned, inwardly groaning. He knew he had no medical skills whatsoever. Just as he was about to decline, he caught sight of Xu Yuehuai. A thought struck him, and he said to the officials with feigned profundity, "Let my assistant do it. Although she is young, she has mastered my skills."
Although Xu Yuehuai was extremely unwilling, she had no choice but to step forward since things had come to this point. She pretended to hesitate, but quickly took out a crystal-clear pill from her sleeve and gently fed it into the person's mouth.
A moment later, a miracle happened. The man slowly opened his eyes, his breathing gradually stabilized, and he was clearly out of danger.
"The Ghost Doctor is truly amazing! Even your assistant is so capable!" the officials praised repeatedly.
In the bustling market, the fake ghost doctor and Xu Yuehuai instantly attracted countless curious eyes.
They leisurely stepped into the quaintly decorated carriage, the doors slamming shut behind them, leaving behind a series of unsolved mysteries and the astonished discussions of the common people, which continued like a relentless tide.
Inside the carriage, a delicate aroma of tea wafted gently. The fake ghost doctor took a sip, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
"Have you ever considered how our names will spread throughout the land after today?"
Xu Yuehuai sat to the side and said calmly, "I only wish to get through this calamity safely. As for reputation, it is nothing but fleeting smoke to me."
Her gaze occasionally drifted to the fleeting scenery outside the window, but she was searching for a familiar figure.
The carriage slowly drove along the bluestone path on the outskirts of the city, and finally stopped in front of a simple and quiet courtyard, hidden in a lush bamboo forest.
The fake doctor lifted the carriage curtain, leaped lightly off the carriage, and strode firmly toward the half-closed wooden door.
Inside the courtyard, a middle-aged scholar sat upright at a stone table, holding a purple clay teapot, leisurely sipping fragrant tea. Occasionally, he would look up into the distance, his eyes revealing a detached and indifferent demeanor.
The fake doctor entered the courtyard, nodded slightly, and spoke in an unquestionable tone: "Mr. Wen, it's been a long time."
The scholar smiled slightly, put down his teacup, and said, "Master Ghost Doctor, your visit so late at night must mean you have something important to discuss."
“Exactly, it’s about that unresolved grudge, and…” The fake doctor slowly approached as he spoke, and the atmosphere between the two instantly became tense.
"And that legendary treasure?" the scholar chimed in.
The fake doctor said, "That's right, but before that, I need a reliable helper."
At this moment, Xu Yuehuai, who was left outside, cautiously approached, trying to catch more information, but could only hear intermittent conversations. The doubts and unease in her heart grew wildly like weeds.
As night deepened, the conversation between the fake doctor and the scholar came to an end. He turned and walked towards Xu Yuehuai, "Come with me."
Inside the casino, the air was thick with the scent of money and desire.
The fake ghost doctor led Xu Yuehuai through the crowd with ease.
He stood in front of the gambling table, casually glancing around at his surroundings. His bets were also casual, yet they seemed meticulously calculated, and each one was accurate.
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