3041 Transformation (2)

“Very well.” The group promptly dispersed, fanning out in all directions.

Ling pursued the path along the river and passed by a child of about five or six years old.

She halted for a moment, glancing back at the mud-streaked, disheveled child before continuing on her way.

The child, wrapped in a worn and tattered cloak, squatted beneath a tree root, engrossed in playing with mud. Once Ling had distanced herself, the child lifted their head slightly, observing the direction she had departed.

With a nonchalant shrug, she patted her dingy clothes.

However, the act of dispersing dust proved less than favorable. The child coughed twice, quickly covering their mouth with a petite hand.

Her Excellency Lady Qiaoqiao sighed inwardly, straightening her body and taking a few unsteady steps forward.

The highly spiritual earth-level demonstration talisman she employed was a transformation talisman. As its name suggested, it altered the appearance of the body. Qiaoqiao possessed only one such talisman and was unaware of the specific transformation it would induce.

She had presumed it might turn her into a small animal or something of the sort. To her surprise, the extent of this transformation reduced her from a sixteen-year-old girl to a five-year-old child.

The transformation consumed more than seven days, a duration she found rather deceptive.

Being an ordinary child from a peasant family, she had to play the part convincingly. There was no need to walk with an air of grace; the little lady swayed and moved forward with deliberate unsteadiness. As expected, Ling turned back, scrutinizing her with a deep gaze.

Qiaoqiao chuckled ironically. She wasn’t oblivious; even if she didn’t know Ling had flown past, she remained concealed in the shadows, attentively observing.

She had conveniently acquired this dirty and worn cotton jacket from someone else’s drying rack. Surprisingly, it fit her quite well!

Her disguise was so flawless that even Ling, who had encountered her a few times in her life, would be unlikely to recognize her. In fact, even her own parents might not discern her in this altered appearance.

Qiaoqiao chuckled ironically, thinking, “You think you can identify Her Excellency Lady Qiaoqiao with that oblivious expression of yours? Oh, please!”

Ling privately chuckled at her own paranoia, then turned around and swiftly crossed the river.

Qiao Mu breathed a sigh of relief, though her delicate brows knit in thought.

Despite Ling’s interference, sneaking to the side of the Spring River remained a risky venture.

Forget it, I’ll find a secure place to hide first.

Second Young Sir Qin and his group combed the village surroundings. Upon regrouping, a hint of uncertainty flickered in their eyes.

“She couldn’t have run so quickly.”

“Did she leap into the river again?” inquired the short, stout man, swinging his purple-gold hammer.

Considering the girl’s fiery temperament, he speculated that she might prefer leaping into the river rather than being captured by them.

“No sign of her aura by the river,” Ling replied with an alluring glance, causing the short man to shudder and fall silent.

“Did you encounter anyone on your way here?”

“Now that I think about it, there weren’t many people. You all saw it—there was a little imp playing in the mud under that tree. I…” Ling suddenly halted, staring at Second Young Sir Qin in astonishment. “Wait a minute! When we used our divine senses to scan this area earlier, there was no trace of that imp’s aura?”

“Find him,” Second Young Sir Qin ordered, leading his men back to the village.

He chuckled ironically. How many times could a group of His Excellency be deceived by a half-grown little trickster?

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