My lord, spare his life!

Fan You said, "We're not friends, but we're fellow disciples."

Students at Ming Tak College can be roughly divided into two categories.

One type of student studied at the academy long-term, while the other came for short-term study tours. The former were mostly from small, impoverished families or commoners, while the latter were mostly from prominent families. Scholars from aristocratic families had their own family schools, so there was no need for them to travel far to private schools. At most, they would go to private schools in more complex environments to broaden their horizons after they had completed their studies.

The painted-skin ghost that the two of them were thinking of was the latter.

Fan You: "In terms of how close they are, the senior is closer to her."

Du Guan nodded: "The last time we communicated was half a year ago."

Six months ago?

Zhang Yang: "You two haven't been in touch for so long?"

"The two places are far apart, and communication is often inconvenient."

"Even if we're far apart, it shouldn't be every six months, right?"

Two survivor bases separated by zombies, monsters, and plants can still communicate instantly. Even if the communication devices break down, it doesn't take long for friends to exchange messages. If all else fails, they can always grab a passing player to run errands.

If NPCs are like this, then players are even more so.

According to Zhang Yang's observations, those in close relationships would immediately start chatting as soon as they logged on, practically wanting to team up and do daily tasks hand in hand, with endless things to talk about every day. Their daily chatting and messaging would activate different levels of interaction markers. Some of these inseparable friends could maintain these interaction markers for years.

Contacting each other only once every six months?

The relationship has become very cold.

The two men gave a wry smile to Zhang Yang's matter-of-fact question. Judging from the words uttered by their lord/master, a contact frequency of once every six months seemed very low to her. In other words, her preferred methods of communication were far more efficient than they realized!

"Have you not heard that when war rages for three months, a letter from home is worth a fortune?" It's normal to receive a letter every few months, and the recipient is lucky if they receive it at all. Most letters end up disappearing without a trace. "It's just that she has suffered too much, and her temperament may be different from when she was studying. If Your Excellency accepts her, I can write a letter to her and sound her out."

As long as this fake skin is usable, there's no need to sound them out.

They were 90% certain that the other party would come.

"Then I'll have to trouble Yuan Yi." It's quite a good deal to hire a capable person with just one character creation tool.

"only……"

He was somewhat hesitant and stammering.

Zhang Yang asked her, "Just what?"

"Your Excellency should be prepared for her temperament."

Few of the painted-skin ghosts have normal personalities.

Especially the painted-skin ghost that Du Guan and the other two knew.

Before the appearance of the celestial beings descending from the heavens, she was the object of adoration and pursuit by countless scions of noble families, not only for her talent and family background, but also for her beauty. Her celestial appearance could probably only be described to eight or nine tenths of its extent by Cao Zhi's "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River."

Her life has always been smooth sailing.

However, fate is unpredictable, and her destined calamity turned out to be a demon in disguise. Even though she always believed that her appearance was merely an insignificant one among her many virtues, and that even plainness wouldn't diminish her radiance, she forgot that her confidence in saying this stemmed from her accustomed possession of it. What if, once lost, all the adulation turned into a fear to be avoided at all costs?

Every day when I get up and look in the mirror, I see various ailments on my skin. An undeniable stench seeps from my skin from the inside out, and all my attempts to cover it up are just a temporary fix.

Du Guan had shared a dormitory with her.

For months on end, I was awakened by the screams of the other person during their nightmares.

I...I dreamt about Yuan Yi...

[...I dreamt that the stars descended in two great calamities...]

[...my hair, my hands, my skin...]

As soon as she closed her eyes, the horrifying image flashed through her mind: her skin was like wet plaster on a wall, peeling off in large patches until she became a bloody, skinless person in the mirror, with oil dripping down with every step she took.

Unable to bear the strange looks from others, she left Mingde.

Before long, the stars descended in two layers of wrath.

The original human skin melted like wax.

But this wasn't the most despairing thing for the painted-skin ghosts—if they could live in seclusion and not interact with the outside world, they would at most feel lonely. But the calamity of the stars was not so simple. The painted-skin ghosts who lost their human skin were not only ugly and terrifying, but also very fragile. The foul air and filth of the outside world came into direct contact with their flesh and blood, and they couldn't live for long. They had to put on new human skin.

However, this new human skin cannot be a permanent solution.

It needs to be replaced every once in a while.

Even the most normal person would be driven crazy by such experiences.

but--

It is precisely these kinds of people who are the easiest to manipulate.

A knife is the best knife if used properly.

"The fake human skin in the Lord's possession can buy her loyalty." Du Guan put it euphemistically, "To put it bluntly, the Lord can gain a vicious dog that won't bite back!"

Zhang Yang: "Are you really friends?"

Is the friendship between NPCs somewhat unhealthy? Zhang Yang genuinely believes that the friendships among the observed samples are healthier. Although there are some dramatic, gossipy, and love triangles, they are, after all, a minority.

Du Guan: "Without a doubt."

If we weren't friends, I wouldn't think of her first.

Zhang Yang: "..."

Thinking about Fan Shuyan and Yuan Youzheng, they seem to share the same sentiment?

I don't quite understand your cyber friendship.

No, I mean the illness.

To save time, Du Guan planned to send a fake human skin and a portrait of the man from his school days along with the letter. In a hurry, she wrote the letter, and Fan You drew the portrait.

"She looks like this? She's actually quite pretty."

She just didn't really appreciate this art style.

When Du Guan learned that the appearance of the dummy could be customized, she made a request. Zhang Yang said, "Sculpted from a portrait?"

How can I show the other person what I look like when my appearance is undamaged?

Du Guan shook his head: "No, I want to be ordinary and mediocre."

Fan You added, "It's okay if it's a little ugly."

Zhang Yang: "...Ugly?"

"If the fake skin is made to resemble her in her youth, it will be like a fish trying to eat bait but breaking free of the hook. How could it possibly be hooked?" It has to look ordinary. Only if the other party gets the fake skin will they be willing to take the bait. Otherwise, it's like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone forever.

Zhang Yang: "..."

To be honest, she has sculpted very few ugly faces.

The grotesquely ugly face-pinching is an eyesore and a desecration of her aesthetic sense.

Zhang Yang spent a lot of time sculpting a face so striking it would blend into a crowd, with a touch of masculine ruggedness. He turned to Fan You and the other man for their approval: "Look, how's this face sculpting?"

Du Guan clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Excellent!"

What's more painful than never having had it is having it! With this fake persona keeping that person in suspense, even if Qin Huang has already won over her family's power, she will still head straight for Lord Zhang.

No one believed that she wouldn't be tempted. Even if it wasn't to restore her former appearance, but to return to a normal life and interact with people normally, this big fish would still take the bait.

Fan You gave Du Guan a meaningful look.

He gestured to Du Guan, indicating that Zhang Yang was still there and that she should compose herself. Du Guan realized what he meant, smiled at Zhang Yang, who was momentarily stunned, and then politely gave her a stiff, formulaic smile.

Du Guan: "..."

Zhang Yang enjoyed a good day, but Guan Si was not. When he returned with two face-sculpting tools, Yuan Xie was busy carving something with his head down. There was a pile of sawdust next to him, and many oddly shaped parts were placed on the low table.

The burly man was surprised to see Guan Si, who had disappeared all morning, reappear. He quickly put down his lunch and asked Guan Si if he wanted to eat.

The kitchen prepared a single serving of Yuan Xie.

Guan Sidao said, "I'll eat his."

The large, muscular man was in a difficult position.

"This is a nourishing product specially prepared for parents."

"What does he need to 'nourish'?" Guan Si had frequented brothels with his mother since childhood and had seen a lot. Upon hearing the fat, burly man mention "nourishment," his expression turned strange as he thought of something. "He doesn't even have a woman; what's the point of nourishing his kidneys?"

The burly man said sheepishly, "It's for improving complexion and replenishing energy."

Guan Si doubted his ears: "Supplement what?"

The burly man repeated it again.

Yuan Xie had already noticed the disturbance caused by the two men's presence, but due to the angle of their conversation, he couldn't decipher what they were saying. It wasn't until the burly man left after lunch—presumably to prepare Guan Si's meal—that Guan Si sat down.

The other person's gaze was still fixed on the lunch on the table.

"Why are you repairing these?"

"I adorn myself for those who appreciate me..." Yuan Xie gently stroked his still haggard face, a look of sorrow creeping into his brow. "Such vulgar things are unbearable to look at, even I find them displeasing, let alone others."

Guan Si blurted out, "Are you out of your mind?"

If you're sick, go get your brain checked.

Yuan Xie's childish behavior gave Guan Si goosebumps all over, as if a million fleas were dancing around him.

"Someone like you wouldn't understand."

"How could I not understand? Isn't this just lovesickness?" Guan Si's words were quite sarcastic. He propped himself up with one hand, leaned back, and used the other hand to take out the somewhat cumbersome human skin and casually put it aside. "I've seen plenty of cases like yours."

Those prostitutes and courtesans mistakenly identified their survival instincts as love, projecting them onto their heartless patrons, seeing them as a lifeline. They longed day and night, dreaming that the other party would lend them a hand, allowing them to escape their quagmire and live a loving and harmonious life together.

Little did they know that the human heart is more prone to decay than food.

Once you contract this disease, your brain is not far from being damaged.

Guan Si frowned.

Can a strategist with a broken brain still be used?

Yuan Xie sneered: "You know what I mean—"

His voice abruptly stopped.

His gaze was fixed on the object that resembled human skin.

"What is this?!"

Yuan Xie suddenly lost his composure, taking a step forward to close the distance to Guan Si, his left hand gripping the other's neck as he questioned him from above. Guan Si, in this position, made no move to retaliate. Despite being the one being looked down upon, his eyes held the scrutiny of a superior.

Why are you behaving so erratically?

Yuan Xie: "Where did this human skin come from?"

As he spoke, he paused for a moment, recalling Guan Si's motive for appearing here, and his already pale face turned completely white.

"The human skin you mentioned wanting to collect belongs to Lord Zhang?"

Guan Si noticed the faint killing intent, narrowed his eyes, and easily brushed Yuan Xie's hand away. He was angry when he thought of Zhang Yang: "Don't mention that person, he is really too hateful."

Yuan Xie calmed down a bit and sat back down in his original spot.

"What happened?"

Guan Si: "..."

He didn't really want to talk about something so embarrassing.

But he also knew that even if he didn't say anything, Yuan Xie, with his ruthless and powerful nature, would easily find out. So, with a hint of frustration, he recounted his recent experience, covering his face with one hand: "Damn it, where did she get all these human skins?"

Yuan Xie's lips twitched slightly.

His cold expression turned into an irrepressible smile.

"...I never knew the Prefect had such a mischievous side." Not only that, but she managed to outwit Guan Si and escape unscathed, which was quite remarkable. You see, offending Guan Si is basically like being targeted by the King of Hell. "Are you confident you can obtain the trade route?"

Guan Si sensed something was wrong.

Why does your tone seem to favor that person?

etc--

Guan Si suddenly sat up straight.

His eyes narrowed dangerously: "Yuan Youzheng, you said yesterday you wanted to leave the profession, could it be that you're leaving for this person? Leaving the profession for her?"

Yuan Xie retorted, "Otherwise, why would I be here?"

Isn't this obvious? I just didn't expect things to be so coincidental; the owner of the human skin that Guan Si wanted was none other than Lord Zhang.

Guan Si: "..."

"The trade routes are controlled by those people. It won't be easy for you to take them back in a month." This was Yuan Xie's biggest worry. He was afraid that Guan Si would mess things up and delay Zhang Yang's overall plan. "General, you still need to pay attention to this matter."

Guan Si: "..."

He was so angry at Yuan Xie's words that he laughed.

When did it become Yuan Xie's turn to urge him?

It's completely upside down!

"If there's anything I can do to help you, please let me know."

Guan Si's lips twitched.

"I don't need your pretense."

Who was it that insisted on turning over a new leaf yesterday?

Now you've changed your tune, haven't you?

snort!

Those useless bastards in the Eastern Fan Mountains were no match for him; he'd spared their lives all these years only to slowly kill them. He enjoyed the thrill of keeping his prey confined to a certain area and hunting them out every few days, but that didn't mean his prey had the chance to defy him and kill him. Yuan Xie's concern was essentially a questioning of his strength.

What angered Guan Si even more was—

"If the general doesn't like this fake human skin, could you give it to me?"

Guan Si grabbed the human skin and stuffed it into his arms.

"dream!"

Yuan Xie took both of the fake human skins, so wasn't he at a huge loss? He returned empty-handed and inexplicably ended up with an extra errand.

The burly man brought over lunch but didn't see anyone.

"Parents, why did that general leave?"

Yuan Xie gestured for the other person to put down this portion as well, and said with a teasing smile, "Him? He doesn't need to eat; he's already full from being angry."

The burly, overweight man: "..."

He visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Guan Si was too unpredictable, and even being in the same room with him put him under immense mental pressure. The more this happened, the more he admired his parents for being able to get along so well with such a treacherous son.

Fifteen minutes later—

Yuan Xie assembled the new spinning wheel.

This spinning wheel is vastly different from the single-spindle spinning wheels on the market. It can basically meet Zhang Yang's requirements, but it's unclear if it's the type she wants. Yuan Xie stood up and said, "Take it with us; let's go to the prefectural government to see Lord Zhang."

To claim credit, one must do so in a positive way.

There can be no middlemen.

It also makes it easier to get guidance from Lord Zhang and facilitates communication.

??(*^▽^*)

I noticed a new adorable user in the backend today.

Thank you so much for your support, Li Feng Yue Ling! (′???`) Sending love!