"You claim to be a Skin Weaver?"
Long Feicheng grabbed Principal Zhong by his collar, scrutinizing him at close range.
Principal Zhong nodded innocently, "Genuine article."
Long Feicheng cursed, "You're pulling my leg! Aren't Skin Weavers all beautiful young ladies? Look at you, the oil on your face could fry a dish!"
Principal Zhong: "...You can dislike me, but please don't hurt me."
Yan Shouyi blocked Long Feicheng, signaling him to release Principal Zhong. Long Feicheng dug his fingernails into the skin behind Principal Zhong's ear, then, with disappointment, let him go.
Principal Zhong breathed a sigh of relief, wiped away cold sweat, and said, "Captain Yan, I really owe you this time. Otherwise, I would have been dead just now."
Principal Zhong still considered Yan Shouyi the captain of the security team at Shanghang Art School. However, Principal Zhong's timid and fearful nature hadn't changed.
But Yan Shouyi wasn't buying it. He maintained his distance from Principal Zhong, pointed at the shackles on Principal Zhong's feet, and asked, "What's going on here?"
Principal Zhong stammered, "I am a Skin Weaver."
"You've already said that."
"Ahem, let me continue," Principal Zhong said with a pained expression. "To put it plainly, we Skin Weavers are tricksters. We use advanced disguise techniques to alter our appearance, and our bone-shrinking techniques can change our physical features, even mimicking voices almost perfectly. Besides that, we have no other way to survive."
"Since inheriting my master's legacy, I thought I could finally make a name for myself. But the reality is that I can only continue to be a traveling charlatan, impersonating others, living with their faces, and swindling everywhere..."
Wang Jiucha interjected, "For money or for pleasure?"
"Uh... both," Principal Zhong replied sheepishly.
Long Feicheng's expression shifted. He suddenly leaned close to Principal Zhong, brushed the dust off his clothes, and said with a fawning expression, "How did you trick them for pleasure? Tell me in detail."
"Xiao Long!" Yan Shouyi shouted.
Long Feicheng realized he had overstepped and quickly distanced himself from Principal Zhong, "Am I that familiar with you?"
Principal Zhong: "..."
Yan Shouyi signaled Principal Zhong to continue.
"I was in Rongcheng before, and I managed to become the principal of Shanghang Art School. I planned to live a peaceful life for a while, but I accidentally let word slip. Then I ran into disciples from Longhu Mountain who had heard the news, and I was captured. Since the offenses weren't major, they didn't do much to me, only locking me in the dungeon for half a year to reflect before letting me go."
Only then did everyone understand why Principal Zhong was here and why he had shackles on his feet.
Principal Zhong continued, "This isn't my first time in Longhu Mountain's dungeon, so coming back here felt like returning home. All the old fellows here are talents, and they speak so nicely..."
"Why does this sound so familiar?" Long Feicheng said guiltily.
"I was being honest originally. I thought I'd retire after half a year. Who would have thought that just now, a group of people suddenly broke into the dungeon, pried open all the cell locks, and threatened us to join them in sweeping through the Longhu Mountain disciples in the dungeon. Honestly, although I was captured and brought here, the Longhu Mountain disciples didn't harm me, so I refused to join them. As a result, those people sent a bunch of evil spirits to chase me..."
"Fortunately, I met you in the end, or my life would have ended here!"
Principal Zhong's explanation was logical and had no loopholes. Yan Shouyi was starting to believe him.
However, there were still some doubts about Principal Zhong.
Previously, the soul of Tong Jingcheng, a criminal from the Lushan Sect, had gone missing, and Tong Jiuhua was killed. Principal Zhong had disappeared afterward, and Yan Shouyi suspected Principal Zhong of the misdeed at the time.
But now, it didn't seem to be the case.
While Principal Zhong was a person of special identity, he didn't have the ability to kill Tong Jiuhua, and his disappearance was only because he was captured by Longhu Mountain disciples, not an escape.
Luo Ning also had doubts. She frowned and asked, "What is your real name?"
Principal Zhong honestly replied, "Weng Qianxiang."
Yan Shouyi nodded slightly. It was true that among the Skin Weaver lineage, Weng was a common surname.
Luo Ning continued, "Where did you get this appearance and the name you impersonated?"
Weng Qianxiang hesitated, "You mean my identity as Zhong Qi?"
"Yes."
Weng Qianxiang said guiltily, "I just... picked someone random by the roadside. I remembered his appearance and name, and then borrowed his identity..."
"He's lying." Even Liu Yiren, who wasn't very astute, felt that Weng Qianxiang wasn't telling the truth.
Luo Ning said coldly, "I don't care what your identity is. If you conceal any more information from me, I will kill you."
Yan Shouyi coughed twice, spread his hands, "What she said is true. She always keeps her word. Even Jesus couldn't stop her."
"I can see that..."
Weng Qianxiang carefully explained, "My master once gave me a roster that recorded information about inheritors of various folk sects. I needed an identity urgently at the time, so I casually picked one from the list and disguised myself to look like him."
Luo Ning listened but said nothing, merely contemplating whether Weng Qianxiang was lying.
Weng Qianxiang asked, "May I ask... who was Zhong Qi to you?"
Long Feicheng helped answer from the side, "Zhong Qi is dead. Luo Ning killed him herself."
"Well killed!" Weng Qianxiang quickly applauded. "Zhong Qi was a corpse herder, surely wicked and unforgivable. Miss Luo is acting on behalf of heaven!"
Long Feicheng: "By the way, there's one more thing I forgot to mention. Zhong Qi was Luo Ning's master, and also her uncle who raised her."
Weng Qianxiang: "..."
His eyelids twitched wildly, his lips contorted, and he glared resentfully at Long Feicheng.
You little brat, are you playing with me?!
Weng Qianxiang quickly put on a fawning smile, "Miss Luo, I misspoke just now. I deserve to die. I'll slap myself. Please don't take it to heart!"
As he spoke, Weng Qianxiang actually slapped himself a few times, as if the slaps weren't on his own face.
Luo Ning gazed at Weng Qianxiang for a long time, making Weng Qianxiang's heart pound. Fortunately, Luo Ning finally sighed gently and said,
"When you have time, take off that skin disguise. Never use it again, or I will definitely kill you."
"Yes, yes!"
Weng Qianxiang breathed a sigh of relief and immediately went to a corner, turning his back to everyone, and began rubbing his face.
Yan Shouyi patted Luo Ning's shoulder, comforting her, "Let it go."
Luo Ning sighed, "I admit that when I killed my uncle, I was angry. Now, looking back, my uncle at least raised me. Seeing Weng Qianxiang just now, I truly thought my uncle had come back to life."
"The moon waxes and wanes. Nothing is perfect. Just try not to have any regrets."
"Okay, I'm fine."
After Zhong Qi's death, Luo Ning had also grown a lot and quickly returned to her usual state.
Meanwhile, Weng Qianxiang had removed the fake face, revealing his true appearance.