Manning in Painted Skin performed the role very well, and she had a warm feeling of being saved by a man and willing to stay with him for life.
If it were a normal young warrior, seeing such a love-struck beauty, he would be somewhat touched, and might even think that this was fate or love.
But Zhou Yuan was different. He didn't even know if he could defeat this level 15 elite monster, so how could he have the energy to play along with it?
Therefore, Painted Skin Manning's infatuated courtship ultimately failed to keep Zhou Yuan.
"My son, there are many talented young men in this county. Since that boy is a fool, let's find a better one."
"Dad, I don't want anyone else but him.
My daughter fell in love with him at first sight and can no longer tolerate those empty talkers. She is willing to wait for Yuanlang to change his mind and will marry him.
“What an evil fate! If my son hadn’t fallen in love with me, how could a little Jing’an even enter my house?
He was still not satisfied and kept refusing. "It's better not to have such a fool. My son, just wait a little longer. After some time, you'll forget about it."
"I can't forget, how dare I forget."
With the respectful farewell of everyone in Zhang's house, Zhou Yuan and his group gradually walked away.
Only one daughter was leaning against the vermilion door frame, looking out into the distance with a look of sorrow and resentment. Her expression was very much like that of a loving girl who was grieving the departure of her lover.
Zhou Yuan looked back and saw someone with ulterior motives and trying to seduce someone with affection, but the soldiers saw the girl's deep affection and pure love.
"Brother, you have such a cruel heart. It's not too late to turn back now. If you regret it after leaving here, it will be difficult for you to enter the Zhang Mansion."
"Brother Cai, do you really believe that one encounter can lead to mutual affection?"
"I don't believe it, but my wife's sister Biyu is kind and good. What can she want from you? What can you want from me?"
"That's hard to say. What if they want my skin?"
"Nonsense! Although you look heroic, there are many good-looking young men from noble families. If Manning judged people by appearance, he would have had a family long ago."
Cai Cheng didn't know that the beautiful and graceful Zhang Manning was actually a ghost with painted skin.
Just as he himself said, his wife's sister Manning is beautiful and is loved by relatives and friends. This beauty can really confuse people and cover up shortcomings.
This led the accompanying soldiers to believe that Zhang Manning liked Zhou Yuan out of love and not out of any ulterior motives, not to mention that Cai Cheng also had a relative filter.
"Zhou Yuan, I used to think you had ambitions, but I didn't know you were so determined.
I am your superior and Manning's brother. As the elder of both of you, I should not interfere with the feelings between you young people.
But I still have to say that you are right to resist temptation. You are in a low position and have been living in the military camp for a long time. If you leave your beautiful wife alone in an empty house, it will be a disaster rather than a blessing. "
"Brother Cai knows me. Beauty is beautiful, but if it does not benefit me, what beauty is there?"
After arriving at Yaowufang, Zhou Yuan parted ways with Cai Cheng and others. They returned to the military Sima Mansion, and Zhou Yuan returned to the inn.
The money and goods promised by the Zhang family would be sent directly to the military Sima Mansion. Cai Cheng said that Zhou Yuan's share should be sent to the military camp to avoid paying interest to the money house.
In this way, the matter was apparently over, but Zhou Yuan did not think that the Painted Skins would let it go.
As long as he remains in this city, the Painted Skins will definitely create some trouble and guide and manipulate his behavior.
Therefore, after returning to the guest room, he used the special prop 【Painted Skin Rogue】 without hesitation.
He wanted to see if the painted skins could still recognize him after he put on this skin, and what they would do after losing their target.
The moment the special item took effect, Zhou Yuan felt like he was covered in a full set of leather armor.
He pulled the skin of the outer mask a few times and found through testing that this prop did not simply change appearance, but also had certain defensive functions.
"The Painted Skin Ghost's abilities mostly lie in its skin. Without it, it's nothing more than a formless ghost."
"Boom."
Zhou Yuan pushed open the window of the guest room and jumped down from the second floor.
After he walked out of the shady alley, he headed straight for the nearest brothel.
The Painted Skins there are the best experimental subjects. If they think Zhou Yuan is of the same clan, the 【Painted Skin Rogue】 item will really have a miraculous effect.
"Uncle, come and play, good brother, look at me..."
"Oh, my fan fell down, sir, please help me to bring it up."
As soon as Zhou Yuan arrived at the door of Xiuzhao Tower, he saw a round fan falling from the sky.
The waiter in the building picked up the round fan and stuffed it into his hand, then pushed him straight to the second floor.
Zhou Yuan followed the advice, stepped onto the wooden stairs, turned a step and went up to the flower bed on the second floor.
A gorgeous and charming 【Level 5 Painted Skin Girl】 trotted towards him, like a young girl in love finally meeting her lover.
"What are you doing here, you rascal? My mother has something to tell me."
"Good sister, mother is fine, I just miss you."
The reaction of Painted Skin Lady made Zhou Yuan certain that they had a way to identify their own kind and regarded him as one of their own kind.
In view of this, he reached out and pinched the Painted Skin Girl, and found that she felt exactly the same as a real person.
"You idiot, if you want it, come to my room at night and I'll feed you a few bites while the guests are resting."
"Good sister, we are a family, why do we need to find an opportunity to feed you? Why not hang a sign for me for a day?"
"Bah, you scoundrels have no money and no energy, what good is it for me to have fun with you?
Go away, don't block my business."
Although Zhou Yuan was driven out, he also collected enough intelligence.
Whether it was the feel of her hands, the strength with which she pushed people, or the charm between her eyebrows, the Painted Skin Lady was no different from an ordinary person.
How can we tell the real from the fake when it is so real? No wonder they can live in seclusion in the city.
After leaving Xiuzhao Tower, he originally planned to go to Chunrongfang to see what the painted skins would do next.
Unexpectedly, before he even walked out of the street, he saw several young masters from wealthy families with twenty or thirty servants rushing towards the inn where he had lived before.
"Where is Zhou Yuan of Jing'an? I am Wang Li, the son of the county chancellor.
You are such an ignorant soldier! You just arrived in the city and didn't even know to greet the commander. You even need us to come and invite you personally."
This was the first time Zhou Yuan saw the arrogance and domineering behavior of the yamen. Cai Cheng did not count as he was a military officer who had fought in bloody battles and could not be considered the yamen of Mengyin.
Wang Li, the son of the county magistrate, was obviously looking for trouble. His father probably didn't know about it, otherwise he wouldn't have allowed his own foolish son to provoke the officers in the camp.
This was probably because the Wei Dynasty was deeply martial, and the chancellor of a county, though he was called a prime minister, was only a fifth-rank civil official.
This rank is the same as Cai Cheng's military Sima. How could he have the confidence to provoke the talented military officer in the military fort?
In addition, Jing'an is a serious seventh-rank military officer. Due to their different affiliations, the county governor cannot be arrogant and send him around, let alone his son.
"Zhou Yuan, don't be timid. Come out and see me."
The innkeeper seemed to be begging desperately, but in fact he didn't dare to take a step forward.
When the guest room door was roughly pushed open, the shopkeeper was even more shocked.
It's really sad that his small shop has caused a dispute between civil and military officials. How could Wang Li, the son of the county magistrate, be such a fool? He might be used as a gun.
Several young masters from noble families who were accompanying them also felt that since they were all people of status, they should sit down and talk first instead of rashly making enemies.
"Brother Wang, it's over. If the commotion continues, I'm afraid the military officers in the camp will be dissatisfied.
After all, they have swords, spears, and armor, so I'm afraid you won't get any advantage with your brocade clothes."
"I don't care, I'll do anything for Manning.
Why would Manning fall for that uninteresting warrior? My heart aches, how can I not be angry?
"What's even more outrageous is that he turned down Manning.
Manning is not worthy of him, how dare he refuse Manning."