Chapter 132: Hypnosis

Page 1/3

To her own surprise, Wen Jing’s attempt succeeded; even she found it somewhat incredible, as it was her first time trying to hypnotize someone.

“**, can you hear my voice?” Wen Jing softly asked the person lying on the ground.

“Yes,” ** replied quietly.

Dong Sheng and Ji Changge stared wide-eyed in astonishment at the scene before them. It was their first time witnessing a sleeping person respond to questions; previously, they had only ever seen people talk in their sleep.

“**, why did you come to the Taoist temple?” Wen Jing continued.

“To forget the past,” ** answered clearly once again.

“Does your past cause you pain?”

“Yes, I want to forget that person.”

Ji Changge and Dong Sheng’s eyes lit up. Ming Qing had acknowledged the existence of that person, and they quickly signaled Wen Jing to keep questioning.

“What is that person’s name?”

“I don’t remember,” Ming Qing replied without hesitation.

Ji Changge’s face fell with disappointment—could it be that Ming Qing had truly forgotten that person’s name?

“Do you know Baili Moran?” Wen Jing pressed on.

“No,” came the reply.

“Who do you think killed the temple master?” Wen Jing asked next.

“Ming Qing,” ** answered.

Ji Changge was stunned. Ming Qing was already dead...

“Baili Moran, you’re lying,” Wen Jing said coldly.

Dong Sheng and Ji Changge were taken aback. Baili Moran?

The sleeping **’s lips curved into a faint smile, eyes slowly opening as she looked at Wen Jing with a grin. “You actually figured out it was me. How unfun.”

Ji Changge looked at Baili Moran, who had reappeared. This expression was completely unlike **—confident and arrogant.

“Of course. I’m not so vain as to believe my first attempt at hypnosis would succeed. Besides, you don’t know Ming Qing is already dead, but ** does. One last question: If you were **, you definitely wouldn’t say it was Ming Qing,” Wen Jing stood up, nearly fooled by this Baili Moran.

“Ming Qing, that thieving Taoist nun, is dead?” A flicker of surprise crossed Baili Moran’s face, though she seemed utterly indifferent to Ming Qing’s death.

“Why do you pretend to be ‘**’?” Wen Jing asked with slight anger.

Baili Moran regarded Wen Jing with interest, her gaze filled with appreciation and a sense of camaraderie.

“Because this game is fun. It’s much more interesting than that stern one interrogating me. Too bad you ended it so soon. Life at the temple is just too boring.”

As Baili Moran spoke, she stretched her arms leisurely, seeming utterly relaxed, completely dismissive of the three, as if she were in her own home.

Dong Sheng raised an eyebrow, observing the sudden change in **’s demeanor. The behavior was too strange, and he murmured, “You Taoist nun, don’t put on airs.”

Baili Moran glanced at Dong Sheng and merely smiled faintly, showing no intention to engage.

Page 2/3

Dong Sheng felt as if the words “Your IQ is too low” were clearly written on Baili Moran’s face.

What kind of look is that? Looking down on me?! He hated being called unintelligent more than anything.

Seeing Dong Sheng roll up his sleeves, ready to charge forward, Ji Changge quickly restrained him. “Calm down, she’s just a young lady.”

Looking at Baili Moran, she didn’t seem like a young lady at all—more like a pretentious, arrogant, impoverished scholar. Yet outwardly, she was a little Taoist nun. This bizarre contradiction almost made Dong Sheng want to grab her face, to see if she was wearing a human skin mask.

“You seem very familiar with **, but why does she say she doesn’t know you?” Wen Jing continued questioning.

Baili Moran shrugged. “That silly little Taoist nun wouldn’t know of my existence. Every time, she thinks she just accidentally fell asleep and dreamed a strange dream. But I’m clever enough to sense everything about her. Simply put, I know she exists, but she doesn’t know me.”

“What evidence do you have for saying Ming Qing is the murderer?” Ji Changge asked—this was his main concern now.

Baili Moran sat down and slowly explained, “Once when I woke up bored in the house, I sneaked out to wander around. In a quiet corner, I saw Ming Qing arguing with the temple master. It seemed to be about money. Ming Qing was very angry, saying she had done so much for the master, but he only gave her scraps. It was unfair. If a Taoist nun hadn’t walked by, they probably would have fought.”

“That doesn’t prove Ming Qing killed the master, and now Ming Qing is dead,” Ji Changge remarked.

“Who in the temple dislikes Ming Qing the most?” Baili Moran’s gaze burned as she looked at Ji Changge, then Wen Jing.

“Ruan Qinglian,” both Ji Changge and Wen Jing answered simultaneously.

“Exactly. Ruan Qinglian and Ming Qing share equal status in the temple. They were the master’s right and left hands. The master’s death benefits both, but a temple can only have one new master. With Ming Qing dead, only Ruan Qinglian remains.” Baili Moran said seriously.

Ruan Qinglian? Ji Changge’s expression turned puzzled. If Ruan Qinglian was the culprit, her hiding the roster would make sense. Yet his instinct told him she didn’t seem like the murderer.

“What else do you know?” Ji Changge asked next.

“I also overheard once Ruan Qinglian mention something about a grave to Ming Qing. Ming Qing seemed very nervous. They didn’t know who I was and just thought I was a silly little **, so they weren’t too guarded but didn’t say more.” Baili Moran continued.

A grave? So Ruan Qinglian already knew about the grave. That day at the grave, she had been pretending. Ji Changge’s suspicion deepened—this Ruan Qinglian needed thorough investigation.

Baili Moran turned to Wen Jing. “That’s all I have to say. Nothing else. Also, don’t ever summon me using that stupid method. You think waving a little iron ball in front of me will call me out?”

Wen Jing felt a bit embarrassed seeing Baili Moran’s disdainful expression. Luckily, she hadn’t naively thought her hypnosis truly worked, or Baili Moran would have laughed her to death.

Watching Baili Moran swagger out with her hands behind her back, Ji Changge, Wen Jing, and Dong Sheng were all furious.

“What a narcissist,” Dong Sheng growled.

“Indeed. But she is quite clever,” Wen Jing added.

“No matter how clever, she’s just a figment of someone’s mind,” Ji Changge sighed. If Baili Moran were more than a split personality, she would have accomplished something.

The three fell silent, uncertain when they might see her again.

“Have you found the roster?” Wen Jing asked. If found, they could identify the eight corpses.

“I’ve sent people everywhere; no luck. Ruan Qinglian must have hidden it. She won’t let us find it easily,” Ji Changge said.

“Has Qinglian’s residence been searched?”

“Ruan Qinglian never leaves her home, so no chance to search.”

Dong Sheng slammed the table. “She’s just a little Taoist nun. Just capture her and search her!”

Page 3/3

“No. Ruan Qinglian is tough and stubborn, and her influence in the capital is complicated. If we arrest her, not only will we fail to find the roster, but we’ll also cause unnecessary trouble,” Ji Changge said, giving Dong Sheng a sharp look. Dong Sheng opened his mouth but swallowed his words.

“Then lure her out, and search then,” Wen Jing said, looking meaningfully at Ji Changge.

Ji Changge met Wen Jing’s knowing gaze, realizing she must have a plan.

As Ji Changge and Wen Jing left, Dong Sheng yawned. Not his concern; better to catch up on sleep.

...

At Qinglian’s Residence.

Ruan Qinglian was combing her dark hair when familiar voices drifted outside.

“Seventh Miss, open the door,” Ji Changge’s tone was slightly displeased.

Wen Jing’s cold voice came from behind the door. “Why does the young lord still come? Men and women should keep propriety—please don’t ruin Seventh Miss’s reputation.”

“What nonsense are you talking? Come out first,” Ji Changge said, suppressing his anger.

A faint smile curled Ruan Qinglian’s lips. Quarreling?

“If the young lord doesn’t leave, don’t blame me for calling for help,” Wen Jing called loudly.

“You!” Ji Changge was speechless with anger.

“Oh? Why such fury, young lord? Come in and sit down. There’s fine tea; I just brewed a pot,” Ruan Qinglian smiled and opened the door.

Ji Changge’s face darkened further. “No need for your kindness, Taoist Ruan.”

Ruan Qinglian smiled but didn’t seem offended by his words. Watching Ji Changge storm off angrily, she quietly followed...

Ji Changge sat at the table, tilting his head back to drink the wine. His Adam’s apple moved with each swallow. The slender, pale neck and the skin beneath made Ruan Qinglian somewhat intoxicated. Seeing Ji Changge’s dreamy, drunken gaze, he seemed even more handsome than usual. Even the slender fingers holding the wine cup made her eyes burn. How could such a perfect man exist in this world?

Ji Changge drank cup after cup, eventually lifting the wine jug to pour directly into his mouth until the last drop was gone. His cheeks were flushed—he was drunk.

“Seventh Miss, why don’t you believe me? Ruan Qinglian and I really have nothing. Why don’t you trust me... uh.” Ji Changge’s head fell onto the table.

That strange little girl—except for being younger—how could she compare to her? Besides, a woman at her age was just blooming. In terms of charm and beauty, that little girl was no match. This Ji Changge was blind, rejecting what was offered and chasing that pretentious wretch.

Feeling Ruan Qinglian approach, Ji Changge remained motionless.

“You’re drunk, young lord; let me help you rest,” Ruan Qinglian said softly.

Ji Changge lifted his head, eyes hazy as he looked at her. “Seventh Miss, you finally decided to pay attention to me?”

A pang struck Ruan Qinglian’s heart, but her face stayed smiling. “It’s I who wronged you, young lord. You should go rest.”

“All right.”

Ji Changge stood up, stumbling and nearly falling. Ruan Qinglian hurried to steady him.

(To be continued...)