Lord, Your Immortal Plant has Slipped Away Again

When he first heard that Chang’an City was haunted by demons, Ye Zi and Gu Yan suspected that someone was playing tricks on them. Now, it seemed that that person was probably Wen Yi.

However, why would that person do that?

Wen Yi had always been dissatisfied with Gu Yan and Ye Zi because of what happened to Commandery Princess Changning and it so happened that Ye Zi had the ability to transform into a plant. Was all this really just a coincidence?

Guangxu Zi was still bragging about how many demons he had taken care of and how capable he was, but Ye Zi hadn’t paid much attention to it. He pondered for a moment before saying: “You don’t have to be polite, Taoist Priest. But if you insist on doing so, can you grant me a request instead?”

Ye Zi paused and said seriously: “I want to get rid of the demons with you.”

Guangxu Zi obviously wasn’t expecting him to say this and hesitated: “This……”

Ye Zi asked: “Can’t I?”

Guangxu Zi said: “It’s not that you can’t, it’s just that it’s a laborious job to get rid of demons and it’s nothing fun.”

Ye Zi sincerely responded: “You might not know, Taoist Priest, but ever since I was a child, I have been very interested in ghosts and gods. Truth is, I admire Taoist Priests like you the most. It really must be fate to be able to meet you so I want to see your heroic posture with my own eyes. I hope that you will fulfill this wish of mine.”

His flattery got to Guangxu Zi’s head as he stroked his beard happily. He pretended to hesitate for a while before replying: “Alright then, this priest will make an exception and allow you to come with me.”

Ye Zi thanked him again and again and then pretended to be distressed: “It’s just that I had some conflicts with Little General Wen Yi not long ago. If he recognizes me, it will definitely cause trouble for you, Taoist Priest. If I go with you, I’m afraid I’ll have to disguise myself.”

Guangxu Zi waved his hand: “There is no need for you to go through that trouble, I am the best at disguises. As long as I help you change your appearance a little, you are guaranteed to be unrecognizable by even your closest relatives.”

His words made Ye Zi a little surprised and he quickly thanked: “Then thank you, Taoist Priest.”

Half a day later, Guangxu Zi arrived at the Duke of Protection’s residence.

Guangxu Zi explained his intention to the guards at the gate and soon two servants came out, happily leading him and the little Taoist boy into the main hall. The servants retreated to look for Wen Yi and only then did Guangxu Zi look back at the little Taoist boy beside him.

Guangxu Zi said smugly: “How about it, I was right wasn’t I? No one will suspect you.”

This little Taoist boy beside him was Ye Zi in disguise.

The face that Guangxu Zi replaced for Ye Zi had relatively ordinary facial features and only the eyes were still clear and bright and beautiful. Guangxu Zi looked him up and down for a moment and said bluntly: “This face is much worse than your own. If you looked like this, I definitely wouldn’t have stopped you this morning.” 

Ye Zi was speechless as he bowed his head and said perfunctorily: “Master, please stop talking.”

Only then did Guangxu Zi shut up.

The two of them didn’t wait long and Wen Yi quickly arrived at the hall with the Duke of Protection, Wen Shuhou. Ye Zi lowered his eyes, not daring to meet their gaze, and focused on serving beside Guangxu Zi, playing his role as a little Taoist boy.

Guangxu Zi got up and performed a Taoist salute toward the duo: “This priest greets the Duke of Protection and Little General Wen.”

Wen Shuhou said: “There’s no need to be polite, please take a seat.”

All of them took their seats in the main hall before Wen Yi laughed: “I had someone deliver a letter to the Taoist Priest half a month ago and you finally arrived. The city of Chang’an has recently been ravaged by demons and people are in a state of panic everywhere. All of them are waiting for you to come to their rescue.”

Guangxu Zi murmured and stroked his beard: “Ever since I entered the city, I have indeed noticed that the demonic aura here is very heavy. Fear not, since I am here, I will try my best to help.”

Wen Shuhou frowned slightly and sipped his tea without moving.

Ye Zi secretly screamed in his heart.

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If what he thought was correct, apart from him and the little gray sparrow, there were no other demons in Chang’an City. The so-called “demons” were all false impressions made by the Wen family. But Guangxu Zi didn’t know this and if he went along with Wen Yi’s words, it would arouse their suspicions.

Ye Zi was worried, and as expected, he heard Wen Shuhou say: “I heard that Taoist Priest Guangxu has superb skills, can you demonstrate some for me?”

Guangxu Zi revealed some hesitation: “This……”

Seeing Guangxu Zi’s hesitation, Wen Yi tried to smooth the situation out: “Taoist Priest Guangxu’s reputation spreads far and wide. My father has admired you for a long time, which is why he wants to see your skills since he finally has the chance to meet you today.”

Wen Yi paused for a moment and then added: “Before Taoist Priest came, I had written to the Emperor, stating that I would invite a high Taoist Priest to drive away the evil spirits in Chang’an City. Tomorrow, Taoist Priest will accompany us to the palace to meet His Holiness and when we arrive in front of His Holiness, it will be inevitable for you to display your Taoist techniques so just consider this as an early practice.”

He said this politely, but there was a hidden threat. Ye Zi clenched the hand hidden in his sleeve lightly and couldn’t help but sweat for the charlatan beside him.

If Guangxu Zi didn’t know any Taoist techniques and said it as early as possible, at most, he would be kicked out of the Duke of Protection’s residence. But if he said no in front of Emperor Jinghe, he might be killed.

However, he didn’t expect Guangxu Zi to stretch out his long sleeves and stand up: “In that case, this priest will respectfully follow the order.”

Ye Zi was stunned and then saw Guangxu Zi’s sleeve shake as a few paper figurines with delicate features and lifelike expressions fell out. The paper figures were cut from ordinary rice paper and their features were drawn with pigments. At first glance, they seemed really similar to real people.

As the small paper figures lightly fell to the ground, they soon stopped moving.

Guangxu Zi wandered around the paper figures twice before reciting a few incantations under his breath. After that, he swept his horsetail whisk and muttered in a low voice: “Rise!”

The paper figures moved as they slowly and leisurely rose from the ground, surrounding Guangxu Zi.

The father and son showed astonishment and Guangxu Zi proudly said: “My paper figures have a very high spirituality and can recognize demons and ghosts. In the past, I relied on them to distinguish demons and catch them. However, they can also do more than that.”

Ye Zi’s palms were clenched tightly in his sleeves, he was so nervous that he didn’t dare let out a single breath.

Who would have thought that this charlatan would really be able to catch demons?!

However, those paper figures simply surrounded Guangxu Zi. Occasionally one or two of them would look over toward Ye Zi, but it seemed that they didn’t notice anything strange.

Wen Shuhou asked: “What else can they do?”

Guangxu Zi pretended to be profound and smiled without answering. Just as a maidservant came in to refill their tea, the paper figures leapt up and jumped directly into the tray, causing the maidservant to let out a cry of surprise and dropped the tray to the ground.

But the teapot on the tray was lifted by a few little paper figurines and hung in the air.

Guangxu Zi scolded and commanded: “And they know how to be troublemakers. Quickly come and pour tea for the two lords.”  

The small paper figures carried the teapot and flew to Wen Yi and Wen Shuhou. They pour water into their teacups before placing the teapot on the table.

Wen Yi looked at the teacup in his hand but didn’t dare to touch it. Instead, he reached out to try and catch a paper figure. 

Only to hear Guangxu Zi sharply commanded: “Disperse!”

The small paper figures immediately scattered, turned into ordinary pieces of paper, and automatically flew back inside Guangxu Zi’s sleeve.

After Guangxu Zi collected the paper figures, he carefully explained: “Your Majesties might not know, but these paper figures are attached with demonic essence that I have refined and cannot be touched by normal people.”

Wen Shuhou asked: “Did Taoist Priest’s paper figures find out where the demon is?”

Guangxu Zi looked like he had prepared for this and replied: “I had asked them just now, but since we have just arrived at the city and the paper figure’s detection range is limited, I’m afraid it will take some time to find out where the demon is.”

Wen Yi jumped in: “But if we can’t find out where the demon is after a long time, what should we do if it runs away?”

Guangxu Zi responded: “Isn’t that what the general wants; for the demon to leave Chang’an City? If it runs away, I will apply a charm to the city gate so that the demon won’t dare to enter through again.”

“No can do.” Wen Yi replied without thinking.

Wen Shuhou gave him a warning glance and asked: “If we know where the demon is, can Taoist Priest directly subdue it?”

Guangxu Zi thought for a moment: “Yes.”

Wen Shuhou said: “That demonic creature is now living in the Prince Rui Manor in Chang’an City.”

Ye Zi’s hand trembled and the lid of the cup hit the rim with a clang.

They……were coming for him.

Only then did Wen Yi notice the little Taoist boy behind Guangxu Zi. Just as he suspiciously looked over towards Ye Zi, he suddenly heard a woman’s voice coming from outside the door: “Young Miss, the Master and Young Master are meeting guests, you can’t go in.”

“I don’t care, I want to see my elder brother, he promised to play chess with me. Elder brother, elder brother!”

Wen Shuhou’s face sank: “What’s wrong with her again?”

Wen Yi looked slightly uncomfortable and hurriedly answered: “Forgive me, Father, I forgot that I made a promise to play chess with her in the afternoon, I’ll let her——”

Before he could finish his sentence, the door was pushed open and a woman rushed in.

The woman was dressed in brocade attire, but her clothes were stained with mud and her hair was disheveled. She ran to Wen Yi’s side and cried: “Brother, do you not want Zhi’er anymore? Why didn’t you come to accompany me, Zhi’er doesn’t want to be locked up alone.”

Ye Zi’s gaze fell on her with a complicated expression.

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This person was Commandery Princess Changning, Wen Zhi. 

Wen Zhi now had a maniacal complexion with wandering eyes, not at all as quiet and pleasant as when Ye Zi first met her.

If he didn’t know that she was pretending, he would have been truly fooled by her.

For a well-behaved beauty to end up into what she was now, Ye Zi lamented but Wen Shuhou slapped the table impatiently: “What are you doing, can’t you see there are guests here? Hurry up and get out!”

Wen Zhi was startled by him and quickly hid behind Wen Yi: “Elder brother I’m afraid, he’s a bad guy.”

“I am your father!” Wen Shuhou angrily shouted before immediately realizing that he had lost his temper. He turned his head to a maidservant: “Quickly, help the Young Miss down.”

“I’m not leaving!” Wen Zhi collapsed towards the ground and said madly: “Why can you guys be outside while I’m locked in my room, I’m staying here!”

Wen Yi went to pull her: “Zhi’er, Father and I are accompanying guests.”

Wen Zhi wouldn’t listen: “I don’t care, I don’t care, I’m not leaving!”

“You——” Wen Shuhou was extremely infuriated that he couldn’t breathe well. Just as he raised his hand to slap Wen Zhi, he was pulled back by Wen Yi.

Wen Yi urgently said: “Father, this matter cannot be blamed on Zhi’er, she was victimized by a demon!”

Wen Shuhou took a deep breath and said quietly: “Forget it, take her down.”

Wen Yi hurriedly nodded and helped Wen Zhi out of the door.

Before leaving, Ye Zi looked up towards Wen Zhi, who happened to look back at him and Guangxu Zi. Wen Zhi’s eyes were clear, but when those eyes met Ye Zi’s gaze, they immediately became foolish and mad again.

Only after Wen Yi led Wen Zhi out did Wen Shuhou turn his head to Guangxu Zi: “Taoist Priest, as you can see, my daughter was precisely victimized by that demon in the Prince Rui Manor. You must catch that demon for me.” 

Ye Zi was silent, thinking clearly that it was the Wen family who had driven Commandery Princess Changning “crazy,” so why did the blame fall on him?

Guangxu Zi sighed and expressed a few words of determination to catch the demon and save the commandery princess.

Wen Shuhou didn’t say anything more and ordered his subordinate to present some silver taels to Guangxu Zi: “Taoist Priest, you should go back to the inn to rest first and tomorrow morning, I will take you to the palace. At that time, you only need to tell His Holiness that the demon is in the Prince Rui Manor and leave the rest to me.”

Guangxu Zi’s eyes brightened at the sight of the money and without any hesitation, he immediately agreed.

Wen Shuhou sent someone to see the two out of the Dukal residence. 

Ye Zi followed Guangxu Zi out of the Duke of Protection’s residence and his heart was still a little uneasy. Originally, he just wanted to follow Guangxu Zi to find out what the Duke of Protection was plotting, but he didn’t expect that their target was actually the Prince Rui Manor.

Had his identity been exposed?

Ye Zi couldn’t understand what went wrong. When Wen Shuhou and Wen Yi tried to get Guangxu Zi to go to the Prince Rui Manor to take care of the demon, they were definitely aiming at him.

Moreover, they most likely wanted to use him to take revenge on Gu Yan for causing Wen Zhi to go “crazy.” 

The two tricks that this Taoist Priest showed in the residence just now seemed to be somewhat genuine. But if he really knew how to catch demons, why didn’t he find out about his identity?

Ye Zi was thinking about finding a reason to get out first to be on the safe side when he suddenly saw something slipping out of Guangxu Zi’s sleeve.

Ye Zi suspiciously went forward and picked up the thing. It turned out to be a silk thread.

Since Guangxu Zi received money, he was naturally in a good mood and didn’t notice what was happening behind him. Ye Zi gently tugged on the silk thread and a small paper figure fell out of Guangxu Zi’s sleeve.

Ye Zi: “……”

Was this how he manipulated the paper figures just now?