Weng Qianxiang turned around, revealing his true face.
Compared to the middle-aged uncle appearance of Zhong Qi before, Weng Qianxiang’s true face was far more pleasing to the eye. He was still wearing the same rustic clothes, but his face had indeed become that of a fair-skinned young man!
Weng Qianxiang’s true face possessed a kind of delicate, feminine beauty. He had a small face, thin lips, and sharp eyes with sword-like eyebrows. If he were to act in a drama, he would undoubtedly be a prime candidate for the male lead in a romance series!
Not only had his appearance changed, but Weng Qianxiang’s physique had also transformed from being chubby and unkempt to slender and tall. His previous height, at most one meter seventy, now reached a full one meter eighty!
Even Yan Shouyi, upon seeing him, couldn’t help but marvel.
“Damn, is this your real look?”
Long Feicheng circled Weng Qianxiang several times in disbelief.
Weng Qianxiang lowered his head and replied, “Yes.”
His voice had also become much more youthful.
“Judging by this, you should be around our age,” Wang Jiwang remarked.
“I’ve just turned twenty this year.”
The others exchanged glances and couldn’t help but shake their heads.
No one believed him!
The main reason was that the change in Weng Qianxiang was too drastic, too unbelievable.
But this also reflected the superb skill of the skin-changer, which surpassed mere imitation.
To replace an identity was not as simple as just changing a piece of skin. Weng Qianxiang’s previous movements, voice, and accent were all completely different from his current ones. Learning the art of skin-changing and face-swapping was just the basics; truly acting as another person convincingly and flawlessly was the genuinely difficult part.
“Don’t you believe me? I usually don’t dare to show my true face. It’s only because we are all inheritors of folk sects that I’ve shed my disguise,” Weng Qianxiang explained.
Long Feicheng stepped forward and rubbed Weng Qianxiang’s face vigorously, stopping only when his face turned red and warm.
“This time it seems like real skin,” Long Feicheng said, looking at the dead skin in his hand.
Weng Qianxiang covered his face, feeling wronged, “I told you, and you still don’t believe me…”
Yan Shouyi said solemnly, “I don’t care what your true appearance is. I only have three questions for you now. If you answer them truthfully, we will help you unlock your shackles and take you out of the dungeon.”
Hearing such a good offer, Weng Qianxiang was naturally more than willing.
Yan Shouyi asked:
“First, how did you know we were from folk sects? It seems that except for Luo Ning, no one else revealed their identity just now, right?”
Weng Qianxiang quickly explained, “I already knew you were an inheritor of the Lu Ban lineage. There’s nothing for me to hide now. I went to Shanghang Art School back then precisely to get close to you, thinking there might be a chance to steal the Lu Ban book from you. Before I could make a move, I was captured by the Longhu Mountain Taoists and brought here… As for the others, like this young man here, the cleaver in his hand is clearly a cleaver from a赊刀人 (selling knives with a promise of future purchase). I have some discernment.”
Yan Shouyi felt a chill of fear, never expecting that Weng Qianxiang had once harbored intentions towards the Lu Ban book.
Fortunately, the Longhu Mountain Taoists had intervened.
He nodded slightly and continued asking:
“You mentioned earlier that you had a register containing information about inheritors of folk sects. Is this true? Where is the register now?”
This question was quite sensitive. Weng Qianxiang’s expression flickered between pleased and displeased. He pondered for a long time before replying, “The register is real. My master painstakingly collected that register with the aim of capturing the weaknesses of these folk sect inheritors, which might be useful in the future. As for where the register is, I cannot say.”
Yan Shouyi sized up Weng Qianxiang and smiled, “Something as important as the register, you must carry it with you, right?”
“Heh heh, how could that be!” Weng Qianxiang laughed guiltily.
But his laughter quickly faded, as Wang Jiwang and Luo Ning had positioned themselves on either side, sandwiching him.
Judging by their stance, if he refused to produce it willingly, they would resort to snatching it.
Weng Qianxiang hurriedly said, “What are you doing? We are all from the same root, why must we attack each other so fiercely!”
“Old Wang, Luo Ning, hold on for a moment. We haven’t reached the point of snatching yet!”
Fortunately, Yan Shouyi stopped them in time. He stepped forward and smiled at Weng Qianxiang, “Let’s make a deal. We’ll ensure your safety, and you give us the register. The original isn’t necessary, a copy will suffice. How about it?”
Weng Qianxiang asked weakly, “What if I don’t agree?”
“Then we’ll have no choice but to snatch it,” Yan Shouyi sighed, looking at Luo Ning and Wang Jiwang.
Luo Ning and Wang Jiwang had no qualms about taking what they wanted, and both flashed sinister smiles at Weng Qianxiang.
Weng Qianxiang closed his eyes, swallowed, as if making a decision that went against his ancestors. In the end, for the sake of survival, he agreed:
“Ensure my safety, escort me down the mountain, and from then on, we’ll be even. You won’t trouble me in the future either!”
“It’s a deal,” Yan Shouyi extended his hand.
Weng Qianxiang sighed and could only shake hands with Yan Shouyi.
The deal was thus struck, and Weng Qianxiang had joined Yan Shouyi’s group.
As the New Xuan Mountain Sect’s influence grew stronger, Yan Shouyi realized that if he intended to contend with the New Xuan Mountain Sect, his current group of companions would be far from enough.
He needed to unite more inheritors of folk sects, just as his father, Yan Chou, had united the members of the Old Xuan Mountain Sect.
Only by uniting together could the folk sects have a future and continue to exist!
Therefore, the register in Weng Qianxiang’s possession was extremely important to Yan Shouyi.
Following that, Yan Shouyi asked the third question, “My last question is, in which direction are the people who were trying to kill you just now?”
Weng Qianxiang pointed in a direction, then nervously said, “Why are you asking this? You’re not thinking of going to trouble them, are you? It’s not that I look down on you, you are indeed very powerful, but you are absolutely no match for that group!”
“Whether to advance or retreat is our own plan. As long as we live, you will live. If we die, you will most likely die too,” Yan Shouyi said.
Weng Qianxiang was momentarily speechless, realizing he had truly boarded a pirate ship.
But then he thought of something and quickly said, “When I was escaping, those people seemed to have encountered opponents as well. Although I was flustered while escaping, I vaguely saw that they had lost some men.”
Kang Jinlong and his group had lost men in the dungeon?
This was excellent news!
Yan Shouyi quickly pressed further, “The men they lost were those imprisoned in the dungeon, or the group of people they brought with them, wearing robes and masks?”
“Yes, yes, yes, it was precisely the masked people!” Weng Qianxiang nodded repeatedly, “They looked formidable, so seeing them lose someone made me feel so relieved. I figured that even if I died here today, at least I’d have taken a few down with me!”
Yan Shouyi turned back and exchanged glances with Liu Yiren and the others. Everyone had a plan in mind.
So Yan Shouyi said, “Weng Qianxiang, you lead the way. Take us back to see!”
Weng Qianxiang’s expression changed, his face full of dismay, “No way! You’re really going back?!”
“Just say whether you’ll lead the way or not.”
“What will happen if I don’t lead?”
“You’ll get a very, very severe beating.”
“…Follow me, this way.”