Chapter 37: Disguise Pill

The night was as if an ink bottle had been overturned, thick and profound, pouring itself over every inch of the small town without reservation.

The inn where Nangong Yan, the King of Zhennan, was staying stood like an island in the pitch-black night, emanating a faint yet striking light.

Inside the inn room, candlelight flickered gently, as if struggling against the encroaching darkness outside, yet it seemed somewhat powerless.

King Nangong Yan, dressed in a black robe, sat upright in an intricately carved chair by the window. The chair’s exquisite beauty contrasted starkly with the cold aura he exuded.

He held a translucent wine glass in his hand, the amber liquid inside gently swaying with his movements, reflecting the flickering candlelight like flowing flames.

“My Lord, there is still no more information on the Miraculous Doctor. Those merchants haven’t revealed anything useful either.” An Yi, a tall and stern-looking, knelt on one knee, his voice low and filled with helplessness, breaking the oppressive silence in the room. His eyes remained downcast, not daring to meet King Nangong Yan’s piercing gaze, which seemed to see through everything.

Upon hearing this, King Nangong Yan let out a cold snort, displeasure and anger evident in his tone. He slammed the wine glass down heavily on the table, producing a loud crash that echoed painfully in the quiet room. The wine splashed out of the glass, spilling onto the table like a pool of fresh blood, shocking to behold.

“A mere woman, yet she can be so mysterious. I refuse to believe I can’t uncover her background.” His voice was deep and powerful, each word carrying the weight of his frustration, as if squeezed out from between clenched teeth.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the town, Bai Linglong found herself in her medical hall. Even though it is not large, the hall was filled with a faint aroma of medicinal herbs.

Various herb specimens hung on the walls, and shelves were packed with jars and vials containing the precious medicinal materials she had collected over the years.

At this moment, Bai Linglong stood before a copper mirror, reflecting her slightly pale face, her eyes filled with anxiety and conflict.

In her palm, she tightly held a glowing disguise pill that seemed to tremble slightly, as if sensing her inner turmoil.

“Sister, will this disguise pill really fool the King of Zhennan? His thoughts are so meticulous.” Xiaocui, stood beside her with a worried expression. She is petite and delicate, with her black hair simply tied back, a few loose strands falling by her cheeks, accentuating her frailty and helplessness.

Bai Linglong took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, as if engaged in a final psychological battle.

“At this point, there’s no other choice. Since he’s investigating me everywhere, if I don’t take the initiative to respond, I’ll be discovered sooner or later. This disguise pill is something I carefully concocted; I can only gamble on it now.” Her voice trembled slightly, but her words carried a determination.

After finishing her thoughts, she gritted her teeth and swallowed the disguise pill. Moments later, a miraculous transformation took place.

Bai Linglong’s originally bright and lively eyes gradually became narrower, losing their former sparkle; the high and delicate bridge of her nose slowly flattened, losing its three-dimensional quality; her rounded and fair cheeks thinned slightly, and her entire demeanor changed drastically from before.

She scrutinized herself in the mirror, her gaze filled with both satisfaction at the disguise effect and fear of the unknown. Gently, she touched her face, as if confirming whether all of this was real.

“My disguise pill is impressive. The King of Zhennan definitely won’t recognize me now.” Bai Linglong said as she felt a surge of pride within her, but as she thought of facing King Nangong Yan, the joy that had just begun to rise was quickly replaced by tension.

The veil hung around her face like mist, revealing only her eyes, obscuring her true expression from view. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she turned and headed toward the inn.

Each step was cautious, her heart racing wildly in her chest, her mind swirling with possible scenarios of what might happen when she confronted King Nangong Yan.

The moment Bai Linglong stepped into the inn, King Nangong Yan, like a keen leopard, instantly sensed her presence. His gaze was sharp as a hawk’s, fixating on Bai Linglong as she walked toward him. That gaze seemed to penetrate everything, making Bai Linglong feel as if she were stripped bare, exposed before him.

“Miraculous Doctor, you finally deigned to meet me.” He’s voice was low and icy, as if it had emerged from a cold cellar, carrying a barely perceptible hint of anger. His words echoed in the inn’s lobby, drawing curious glances from the surrounding patrons. However, upon meeting King Nangong Yan’s icy gaze, they quickly lowered their heads, unwilling to look any longer.

Bai Linglong slightly bowed, trying her best to keep her voice steady. “How could I dare not come when Your Highness summons me? It’s just that I don’t know what Your Highness wishes of me.” Her voice was soft yet slightly trembling, like a leaf swaying in the wind.

In her heart, she was fervently praying, Please, don’t let him see through my disguise. Just let me get through this.

King Nangong Yan stood up and slowly walked toward Bai Linglong. His steps were steady and powerful, each one like a footfall on her heart. He looked Bai Linglong up and down, his gaze seemingly piercing through her.

“You truly think I will easily forget what happened in the inn six months ago You’d better give me a reasonable explanation.” His voice was low and authoritative, carrying an undeniable air of pressure.

Bai Linglong’s heart skipped a beat, feeling as if it would jump out of her throat. But she maintained a facade of composure, trying to keep her expression calm.

“Your Highness, I truly don’t understand what you mean. Six months ago, I was solely focused on practicing medicine, and I haven’t had any special experiences related to you.” She said

Meanwhile, she was thinking to herself, I can’t slip up; I absolutely cannot let him know I’m that woman.

King Nangong Yan let out a cold laugh, filled with mockery and disdain.

“Humph, still pretending. Take off your veil and let me take a good look at your face. Is it exactly the same as the woman who shared a close encounter with me that night six months ago?” His voice held a hint of anger, and his eyes reflected a touch of urgency, as if he wanted to unravel this mystery immediately.

Bai Linglong’s hand trembled slightly, a mix of tension and fear. But she slowly raised her hand and began to remove the veil, revealing her disguised face. Her heart pounded rapidly, as if it would burst out of her chest. She could even hear her heartbeat echoing in her ears.

What do you think? You can’t recognize me, can you? My disguise pill isn’t just for show. Bai Linglong secretly rejoiced in her heart but maintained her innocent expression.

King Nangong Yan saw Bai Linglong’s face, and a flicker of surprise and disappointment crossed his eyes. His brows furrowed tightly, forming a deep curved shape, his gaze filled with confusion and frustration.

“You’re not her? Impossible! You are Bai Linglong. You think you can fool me by changing your face.” His voice rose slightly, laced with anger and bewilderment, as if questioning why the world was like this.

Bai Linglong secretly rejoiced, thankful for the effects of the disguise pill. She feigned a look of distress. Her eyes welled up slightly, as if she had suffered a terrible injustice.

“Your Highness, I am really Bai Linglong. I don’t know why you’re so convinced that I’m the woman you’re searching for. I dedicate my life to studying medicine and have never done anything out of line.” Her voice trembled with a hint of crying, evoking pity in those who heard her.

Meanwhile, she silently added in her heart, See what you can do to me; I just won’t admit it.

Nangong Yan stared at Bai Linglong, attempting to find a flaw in her expression. His eyes were as sharp as knives, as if dissecting every nuance of her facial expressions.

“Then tell me, why have you been so elusive these past six months, and why are the medicinal herbs you use so peculiar?” His voice was low and icy, carrying a hint of undeniable pressure.

Bai Linglong, having prepared her response, took a deep breath and slowly replied, “Your Highness, you don’t know this, but my master has lived in seclusion in the mountains all his life. His medical skills are extraordinary, yet he dislikes the world. Everything I learned comes from my master, and those herbs were also passed down from him. They grow in places difficult for ordinary people to reach. As for my elusive nature, it’s simply because I dislike interacting with people too much and just want to practice medicine peacefully.” Her voice was soft yet firm, each word clear and flowing, as if narrating a true story.

King Nangong Yan remained silent for a moment, his eyes revealing a hint of hesitation. The doubts in his mind hadn’t vanished, but the woman before him was indeed different from the one he remembered.

“l will believe you this time, but you better not play any more tricks. I will return to the capital tomorrow. If you truly have nothing to hide, you can come to the capital to see me in the future.” His voice was low and icy, laced with a warning.

Bai Linglong breathed a sigh of relief, bowing slightly. “Thank you, Your Highness. I will definitely uphold my duty. May your journey be safe.” With that, she turned and hastily left the inn.

Her steps were hurried and flustered, as if something terrifying were chasing her.

She thought to herself, I escaped by the skin of my teeth, but I can’t let my guard down.

Upon her return to the medical hall, Bai Linglong collapsed onto a chair as soon as she entered.

Her forehead was covered in beads of sweat, and her face was pale as paper.

“Xiaocui, I finally got away with it. The King of Zhennan didn’t recognize me.” Her voice was weak and weary, as if she had just experienced a life-or-death struggle.

Xiaocui also let out a sigh of relief, a relieved smile spreading across her face and said. “That’s great, Sister. But the King of Zhennan is so suspicious; we still need to be careful.” There was joy in her voice, but she didn’t forget to remind Bai Linglong.

Bai Linglong nodded and replied. “Yes, we need to be even more cautious in the days ahead. I can’t let him discover my true identity or even about the baby.” Her gaze held a glimmer of determination, as if preparing for the challenges ahead.

Meanwhile, at the inn, King Nangong Yan remained seated, a hint of frustration and confusion in his eyes.

“Bai Linglong, how many more secrets do you have? I will eventually uncover everything about you.” He murmured to himself, his curiosity about this mysterious woman growing stronger. His eyes reflected a resolute determination, as if declaring war on this unknown puzzle.