Chapter 376: Song Ya of the Thousand Illusions Sect, Master of Transformation, Naturally Enchanting, Peerless Beauty of the Mortal Realm

“Since he’s not a disciple of Mount Longhu, what can a young Daoist from a small place possibly accomplish?” the hirsute man sneered.

“My husband is in the late second realm, yet he couldn’t match this young Daoist. Over the past year, many have fallen in Wei City,” the woman said, taking a deep breath.

She was none other than the wife of the Sect Master of the Thousand Illusions Sect, who had come from Jinguang Temple seeking revenge.

The hirsute man and the young Confucian exchanged a glance.

“Could it really be this young man who killed Yang Feng? But Yang Feng was the legitimate Grand Steward!” the hirsute man murmured.

“That’s not the most frightening part. You may not have noticed, but although this young Daoist slays demons and exorcises evil, Qingyun Temple remains desolate. He isn’t particularly famous and can easily be overlooked,” the woman said gravely.

“You mean...” the young Confucian asked.

“Someone is using great spiritual power to conceal the truth, masking this temple... and this young Daoist,” Song Ya said, her words shocking.

“This boy has a Yang Spirit-level master behind him?” the young Confucian exclaimed.

“His master is a wandering Daoist, quite ordinary, not a Yang Spirit-level expert. But this boy carries too many secrets. If he’s not eliminated, he will inevitably interfere with the great matter Madam Bai is planning when the seal is broken,” the woman explained slowly.

Silence filled the cave as both the young Confucian and the hirsute man remained mum. The woman in front of them was too inscrutable; they couldn’t discern her true intentions. Why had she sought them out for cooperation?

After a long pause, the hirsute man asked, “What do you want us to do?”

Killing intent gleamed in the woman’s eyes. “This man is decisive in battle and cold-hearted by nature. Ordinary methods to threaten the Righteous Dao won’t work. But he has a woman in Wei City, the innkeeper of the Taiping Inn across the street. We can capture her, lure him into a trap, and Madam Bai can deal with him herself.”

“Why don’t you take the form of the innkeeper yourself to deceive him? Wouldn’t that be safer?” the hirsute man asked.

The woman frowned. “This young Daoist possesses extraordinary Daoist arts. He would likely notice the ruse. That method isn’t reliable enough.”

“Since you know so much, why not do it yourself and involve us?” the hirsute man said coldly.

Contrary to his rough exterior, every one of his questions hit the mark.

The woman said slowly, “I... I’m afraid of him. You haven’t dealt with this young Daoist before. Only Madam Bai has the ability to handle him.”

The hirsute man and the young Confucian exchanged glances.

“I’ll need to report this to our Sect Master first. The seal is unstable now, so the master can receive our request,” the young Confucian said slowly.

Song Ya suddenly felt a pang of longing for Yang Feng; she only needed to sleep with him. At this time, she sighed quietly.

The young Confucian, named Zhang Jian[1], took out a talisman from his bosom, etched with strange symbols, clearly not orthodox.

The talisman ignited spontaneously, and Zhang Jian pressed his hands together, bowing his head in prayer.

With a Daoist talisman, Confucian attire, and Buddhist gestures, he looked somewhat incongruous. Yet, his aura was thick and weighty, deep and unfathomable. And especially his eyes seemed to possess a soul-seizing, spirit-stealing power. He was unmistakably formidable.

Soon after, the young Confucian slowly opened his eyes.

“Madam says... very well,” he said.

The beautiful woman breathed a sigh of relief.

The young scholar’s gaze was sharp, and he let out a cold smile. “However, that woman must be captured by you personally.”

A slight chill passed through the woman’s heart.

***

At Taiping Inn...

Filled with the bustle of everyday life, laborers, traveling merchants and guards, wandering martial artists, and scholars could be found here. It could be said to gather the full spectrum of society.

The innkeeper was dazzlingly charming, her mature allure intoxicating. At first glance, she appeared over thirty, but upon closer inspection, she seemed barely seventeen or eighteen.

She was a perfect blend of innocence and seductive charm, and her delicate face was flawless. She was so voluptuous that she could not glimpse her feet when she looked down; she was truly a peerless beauty.

A county official came running, out of breath.

“Miss, something’s happened! Daoist Master Li Yanchu and Head Constable Wang went out on a case and haven’t returned. Only Head Constable Wang came back, injured. You should go to the

yamen

immediately.”

“What?” The innkeeper asked in surprise.

She quickly set aside the inn’s business and hurried after the constable. The inn’s staff were also shocked.

Daoist Master Li Yanchu is missing!?

After a short while, Li Yanchu, returning from drinking outside with Head Constable Wang, was just spotted by the inn’s young attendant.

“Daoist Master Li Yanchu, you’re back! That’s great!” the attendant exclaimed happily.

“Huh?” Li Yanchu raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”

The attendant froze for a moment. “Earlier, people from the government office said you and Head Constable Wang went out on a case and were missing. The innkeeper went to the

yamen

to check on you.”

Li Yanchu’s expression changed. “How long has it been?” he asked.

“About half an hour,” the attendant replied.

Then, the attendant suddenly saw Li Yanchu vanish before his eyes.

Whoosh!

He disappeared entirely.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Li Yanchu grew a little anxious. Although the innkeeper was not an ordinary mortal and possessed cultivation, concern made him unsettled.

This was clearly a trap! He had dealt with the Xu family haunting last night and returned directly to Qingyun Temple.

Early this morning, Head Constable Wang had called him again. After the two of them had dispelled the Xu family’s lingering resentment and shared a drink at the tavern, they had just returned. How could a county official suddenly show up reporting him missing?

A chill ran down his spine, someone must be monitoring his every move. Otherwise, the timing wouldn’t be so precise.

“Impossible... with the Dao Dust Bead’s blessings, combined with the Calamity Purge and Sun Veil, nothing should have gone wrong,” he thought.

He activated his internal spiritual power, channeling it into the Dao Dust Bead, and once again performed the Calamity Purge.

He hoped to eliminate any impending misfortune surrounding the innkeeper.

***

At Huangfeng Ridge in Wei City...

A young man dressed as a

yamen

officer, carrying a simple broadsword, strode along the mountain path. Beside him walked a mature and stunningly beautiful woman.

For Song Ya[2], the wife of the Sect Master of the Thousand Illusions Sect, who excelled in transformation techniques and Daoist arts, capturing a simple innkeeper was nothing.

The young officer glanced at the innkeeper, then revealed his true form: a seductive, enchanting woman radiating charm from head to toe. It was Song Ya of the Thousand Illusions Sect.

Yet, compared to the innkeeper’s natural allure, Song Ya seemed somewhat ordinary.

“What a peerless beauty... the more I look, the more captivating she is,” Song Ya said, astonished.

This woman exuded an innate charm, so potent that even Song Ya, herself a woman, felt a stir of desire.

Truly incredible.

“A small inn, yet it hides such a rare beauty,” Song Ya mused.

She had never seen the innkeeper up close until now, when she used transformation art and Bewitchment Technique to bring her to the mountain.

In her arms was an exquisitely carved jade pipa[3], about a chi long, which was one of two magical artifacts left by the Thousand Illusions Sect’s founder.

Thanks to this primordial spiritual artifact, she was immune to Li Yanchu’s Calamity Purge and Sun Veil.

1. 张 Zhang is the third most common surname in China and Taiwan and it is one of the most common surnames in the world. It means “to open,” “to stretch,” or “to expand.” 简 Jian means “simple,” “uncomplicated,” or “frugal.” It can also refer to bamboo slips used for writing in ancient China, suggesting scholarship or literary refinement.

To me, the name could suggest a person who is both capable and unpretentious, perhaps someone wise, calm, and unshowy in their strength. ☜

2. 宋 (Sòng) is a common Chinese surname with deep historical resonance, most famously associated with the Song dynasty (宋朝), an era known for its refinement, literature, and art. 雅 (Yǎ) is beautiful and feminine given name character meaning “elegant,” “graceful,” “refined,” or “cultured.” It often appears in words like 高雅 (graceful) or 文雅 (refined, literary) and has strong associations with poise and inner beauty.

To me, 宋雅 conveys the image of a cultured, graceful woman, someone refined in manner and spirit, perhaps gentle yet dignified. ☜

3. The pipa is a traditional Chinese musical instrument belonging to the plucked category of instruments. Sometimes called the "Chinese lute", the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12 to 31.

Here is a reference

image

, and here is a

video

of the famous pipa piece Ambush on Ten Sides.☜