Urban Martial Saint

Seeing Old Wang Ba laughing strangely, Ye Qing was a bit surprised. Isn’t this old guy always eager to join the fun? Why isn’t he going this time? Could it be that he has a grudge against someone inside and doesn’t dare to go?

Thinking about it, it’s indeed possible. This guy, Old Wang Ba, has enemies all over the world. Even when eating by the street, he cautiously keeps his back to the road, just to avoid bumping into someone he once scammed who might come back to scratch him. He runs everywhere in the world; maybe he really has some past conflict with Helian Tiehua and Prince Nalan’s people, so it’s normal for him to dare not go in.

”Then you wait for us here. Once we’re done, we’ll return to Shenchuan City tomorrow,” Ye Qing instructed.

”No problem!” Old Wang Ba beamed with joy, seemingly very satisfied with not having to enter that hotel.

Meanwhile, Ye Qing and the other two, following the monk, did not head straight to the hotel but walked along the alley in the opposite direction, completely diverging from the hotel’s direction.

”Master, aren’t we going to the hotel?” Ye Qing asked curiously, ”Where are we headed?”

”Over there at the hotel, that’s not a place you go in just by saying so!” The monk replied, ”To get into the hotel, first some preparations are needed. Don’t worry about it; just follow me!”

Ye Qing and the other two exchanged a glance. Seeing the monk seemed confident, they did not ask more and followed him through the alley.

On the other side of the alley was a beauty store, and the monk went straight there. As soon as the door opened, the staff rushed him out.

”Shoo shoo, go away! This is a place for girls to put on makeup, why is a monk here?” The store attendant exclaimed while ushering the monk outside.

”We have a girl here too,” the monk pointed at Huangfu Ziyu behind him, ”Doesn’t she count as a girl?”

The attendant froze for a moment, for she had never seen a girl as beautiful as Huangfu Ziyu.

”Does she... does she even need makeup?” The attendant mumbled under her breath but still warmly invited Huangfu Ziyu inside. As for Ye Qing and the other two, the staff wasn’t planning to let them in. Ye Qing and Liu Mubai were fine, but the monk looked too filthy; the attendant worried his presence might affect business.

However, after the monk had Ye Qing take out some money to buy a few sets of cosmetics, the attendant immediately let him in. Buying seven or eight thousand worth of cosmetics at once, this was big business!

Inside the store, Huangfu Ziyu had already sat in front of the mirror. Several makeup artists stood around her but couldn’t figure out where to start. Huangfu Ziyu’s face was already perfect; they didn’t know where to apply any makeup. It seemed that with any touch, they would ruin the beauty and make the perfect imperfect.

”Master, what are we doing exactly?” Huangfu Ziyu sat there feeling uncomfortable, turned her head, and asked, ”To enter the hotel, we need makeup first? Are you pulling one over on us?”

”How could that be?” The monk waved his hand and said to the attendant, ”Do you have a private makeup room? We’ll handle it ourselves.”

”Yes!” The attendant quickly led the four of them to a private makeup room. With Ye Qing spending so much, they were sure to cater to the customer’s needs.

The four entered the private makeup room and immediately closed the door. Huangfu Ziyu walked to the mirror, just about to sit down, when the monk suddenly said, ”Don’t sit, that’s my spot.”

”Huh?” Ye Qing and the others simultaneously looked at the monk, who swaggered over and sat in front of the makeup mirror, then turned to Ye Qing and asked, ”By the way, where are those cosmetics you just grabbed?”

”They’re... they’re here...” Ye Qing lifted the bag and looked at the monk, with an expression of astonishment.

”Hand them over, give them to me!” The monk took the bag from Ye Qing, laid out all the items from it on the makeup table.

”Master, what are you going to do?” Ye Qing couldn’t help but ask.

”Makeup!” The monk opened a bottle, scooped out a large dollop of white paste, and rubbed it on his face. Goodness, his face was originally covered in grease and dirt. With the white paste applied, the tang could only be felt by Ye Qing and the other two present.

Yet, the monk seemed to mind it not at all, opening various bottles and tubs, applying one product after another all over his face. Soon, his face had a distinctly white appearance. From afar, it was clear that layers of makeup were caked there, seemingly ready to slide off at any moment.

Huangfu Ziyu watched the monk’s actions, almost gagging. This guy, truly gross without consulting anyone.

Ye Qing and Liu Mubai were both dumbfounded, unable to decipher what the monk intended. But the monk seemed to be enjoying himself, picking up blush and lipstick to continue applying them. He fiddled for quite a while, making his face look like a ghost, unbearable to gaze upon.

”Master, shouldn’t... shouldn’t we stop playing?” Ye Qing couldn’t resist saying, ”Is this really part of the preparation for entering the hotel?”

”You don’t understand!” The monk waved his hand and said, ”Right, go find me some women’s clothes that match my style. Also, get me a wig that’s long, with long bangs.”

Ye Qing and Liu Mubai exchanged glances and helplessly turned around to help the monk find these items.

Thankfully, this was a makeup store, and these things were in abundance. As long as you paid, you could get them all. They brought in a long dress for women and several wigs, allowing the monk to try them on one by one.

The monk was straightforward as he took the dress and put it directly over his monk’s robe, making it balloon out. As for the wig, he tried two and took the one with the longest bangs, covering most of his face.

Like this, it was much better than before. After all, his face was truly unbearable to look at!

The monk stood up, spun around, and said, ”How is it, does my outfit look good?”

”It’s good, it’s good.” The three replied in unison, scared to say otherwise, lest the monk pull another stunt beyond their limits.

”Good is good!” The monk nodded with satisfaction and said, ”Alright, now let’s go to the hotel.”

”You’re... you’re going like this?” Ye Qing’s eyes widened. The monk’s outfit was just too eye-catching!

”Of course!” The monk said, ”Too many people know me here, I need to disguise myself or they’ll recognize me, and then what?”

Ye Qing suddenly understood; the monk was doing all this just to avoid being recognized. This old guy sure knows how to make a fuss! It seems he’s likely acquainted with Helian Tiehua and Prince Nalan and is afraid they’ll recognize him.

After tidying up, the four of them left the makeup room. Outside, the staff was whispering to each other, discussing Huangfu Ziyu’s beauty and wondering how stunning she would look after makeup. Instead, the door opened, and a round, heavily powdered face with evenly applied blush circles on both cheeks and blood-red lips covered by long hair and bangs walked out.

Everyone was instantly dumbfounded; this person was so visually striking! In this outfit, with Qing Dynasty official robes, he would be a female zombie!

Ye Qing and the other two lowered their heads as they walked out behind, not daring to look up; following the monk took immense courage!

At that moment, Ye Qing realized he misjudged Old Wang Ba. He had always felt it was a risk being pointed fingers at when following him. Now he understood why Old Wang Ba didn’t come; walking with the monk was humiliating beyond belief!

Yet the monk was pleased with his look, turning to Ye Qing and the others and said, ”Can’t you go faster? If we go any later, all the good dishes will be gone!”

Ye Qing almost vomited blood; he really wanted to pretend not to know the monk, but it was impossible. The trio hurriedly walked out of the makeup store, unwilling to stay and lose face.

The people in the makeup store watched them walk back into the alley, still not recovered for quite some time. After a while, someone finally snapped back to reality, turned surprised to their companions, and said, ”Did I... did I imagine that? Did any of you see... see someone walk past us here?”

The person next to him was more straightforward, pinching his thigh, inhaling sharply, and exclaimed, ”Gosh, it’s not an illusion?”

”Probably not.” A girl whispered, ”I heard them say they’re going to a banquet!”

”Oh, come on, heading to a banquet in that outfit, isn’t it crashing the event?”

The staff was astonished; the monk’s appearance was visually shocking. Even when he walked away, he was still visually striking, leaving everyone he passed bewildered for a while. This guy, everyone is normal, who’s seen anything like this before?

Ye Qing and the other two followed behind head lowered, pretending not to know the monk. If it wasn’t for accompanying him into the hotel, the three would have probably bolted long ago; this was too darn embarrassing!

The monk walked confidently, seemingly oblivious to the awkwardness, heading straight to the hotel.

Seeing the monk stride ahead so boldly, Ye Qing couldn’t hold back, ignoring the embarrassment, rushed forward and said urgently, ”Master, we’re... we’re just going to walk in like this?”

”Yes, how else would we get in?” The monk asked in return.

”This... can we really enter?” Ye Qing said, ”The Nalan Family has sealed the hotel; apart from people from the Helian Family and the Nalan Family, no one else can enter!”

The monk patted his chest and said, ”That’s where you’re wrong, just follow me, I guarantee you’ll get in. Don’t worry, young man, a monk never tells lies!”