The Perfect Disguise

Though Nastasia drew out many blueprint designs and tried many ways to explain with her limited words, she could not get across the concept of "contacts." This was understandable. In this past-like world the idea of something going over your eye like this, as well as how to make such a thing, would be quite a difficult concept to grasp.

No matter, the disguise would work just as well with the wig and the veil thing she had seen before.

Taking her long red hair, she coiled it on top of her head. Holding it in place, she pulled the cap of the wig over the top of her head, tucking in the errant strands of hair that shifted and fell with its placement. Once done and satisfied she twirled around, and as she did so, the long fake black hair twisted about.

"How do I look?"

"Perfect," Paoxiao said with a slight smile, "with a veil to cover your face, you'll be good to go."

Though she did not understand the first word, "dào​jiā," from his expression and the last part of his sentence, it had to mean something good. Happy, Nastasia thanked Paoxiao for his help before excusing herself to go looking for Li Yu Rong.

She wanted to show off her disguise and get his opinion. If he felt that it was good enough then perhaps she would be able to go into town today before evening set in.

Paoxiao watched her run off with a mixed expression. Though a corner of his lip drew up in a semi-smile over her eagerness to find Li Yu Rong in order to visit the town, his golden eyes flickered in uncertainty. Even though Nastasia had run into that man at the palace, it had been a month since that day. There was no telling where was now.

However, everyone in the palace knew that she was with Li Yu Rong. It wouldn't be hard for that man to know it too. There was a very real possibility for that man to be lying in wait, ready and willing to snatch Nastasia up at the slightest show of inattention.

Although he wanted to be the one to protect her and although he was a prideful demon, Paoxiao wouldn't gamble with something so important. While he wasn't entirely sure of Li Yu Rong's intentions toward Nastasia, so far that single crimson-eyed half-demon made no moves to harm her.

Due to this, the moment he could get Li Yu Rong alone, he would be sure to inform him about his relations to the man Nastasia was looking for. Though Paoxiao didn't want to admit it, Li Yu Rong was stronger. If they could find that man first, perhaps they could torture him for both the location of his sister and answers to the location of Nastasia's realm and what connections the man may have to it.

Satisfied with this thought, Paoxiao began to follow behind at a slow pace. Once she finished her business, he would swoop in and have a good chat with Li Yu Rong.

----------------------------

Spotting Li Yu Rong walking out from his study accompanied by a dark cloaked person she had never seen before, Nastasia bit back her intent to call out to him. Slowing her pace, she decided to wait quietly, feeling that it would be quite rude to interrupt whatever they were speaking of so seriously.

As Nastasia walked forward, looking for a good spot to wait, her foot caught something. Rather than getting caught, it more felt like her foot was pulled out from underneath her. With a startled yelp, the ground began to rush up toward her face.

Unable to catch herself, preparing to kiss the dirt, she squeezed her eyes shut as her body tensed for pain.

Her body's forward descent was halted, her lips didn't meet with the ground, and her body was pain-free. Opening her eyes, Nastasia was startled to find Li Yu Rong looking down at her as he held her securely against his chest. His gaze then slid a glare toward the trees to their left before coming back to rest on her with a hint of mischievousness.

The feeling of his warmth around her as she was pressed against his chest, brought Nastasia back to earlier that day when she walked in on Li Yu Rong's bath. Forcing back the innocent schoolgirl reaction that wanted to burst out, Nastasia hoped that she wasn't a blushing mess at the moment.

Being the older one, she had resolved to not allow herself to be bothered by the natural flirtatious antics contained in this demonic man. So even though he looked down at her with glittering eyes as he held her to him with an aura of wanting to remain close, she would not bat an eye.

Instead, Nastasia tried to act unaffected by their closeness as she apologized for her sudden onset of clumsiness. A rare occurrence, to be assured. "Sorry, you talking. Foot got caught and I fell."

"Hn," he acknowledged as he ran his hands through her dark hair with a contemplative frown. "Did you dye it?"

"rǎn​fà," wasn't yet in her vocabulary, but understanding he was speaking about the change to her hair, she shook her head. "Not real hair, can come off." She told him.

Li Yu Rong grabbed her hair from the back, carefully removing it from her head. As he did so, her natural red hair spilled down and about her shoulders. Appreciating the wild look of her messy hair for a moment, he motioned for the black-clothed figure he had been speaking to earlier. Even the man's head and face were covered by a black cloth that only his yellow vertical slit eyes were visible.

"Xiao Feng." Li Yu Rong called as he held out a hand after releasing Asya from his grasp. The black-clothed man took out a dark mask that covered the upper half of the face, handing it out. Taking it, he said. "Xiao Feng, Lu Se Ying has the agreed upon medical supplies. Take them and hurry back to your clan."

Nodding, he cupped his fist and bowed low to express his gratitude before vanishing.

Li Yu Rong had this mask commissioned before he was summoned to palace with the unrealistic hope that it would be completed before they would have to enter the gates. Unfortunately, Draconian Metals were notoriously difficult to forge.

After striking a deal with the Dragon Kin -dragon's that had ascended enough to develop a human shape- for a large sum of silver pieces, he had gotten them to hand over a portion of their precious material. However, after bringing over the completed piece, the son of the clan head came to strike another deal.

Apparently, due to an epidemic and a great need for medical supplies, Xiao Feng asked to switch the deal. Rather than the silver pieces, they would take same worth in the supplies needed to cure the fallen of the epidemic. It was an easy thing to handle, thus Li Yu Rong readily agreed.

Looking over the black half-mask in his hand, the dark surface gleaming with a multitude of colors in the light, he felt satisfied. Draconian Metal easily took to and held enchantments exceedingly well. The arrays, hidden in the shifting colors, were exactly as he hoped them to be.

Brushing back her hair behind her ears, Li Yu Rong placed the mask over her face. The eyes that peeked through suddenly shifted from the color of the sky to dark soulful pools. Coiling the hair upon her head, he took the wig from her hands and helped her to once again place it about her head.

Drawing his finger across the bottom half of her cheek not covered by the mask, the corner of his lip kicked up over the new look of the woman in front of him. Though he preferred her original features, wearing the mask with those dark unfathomable eyes looking out, gave the appearance of a mysterious beauty.

It was rather troubling.

None-the-less, the reason Asya would stand out from the crowd would not be from her demon-like looks. Ah, it worried him to no end to have to let her out to roam around Mencheng. "You can go, but Paoxiao and An Ying must accompany you and you must not take off the mask."

Though it was troubling at least with An Ying accompanying her, he could relax a bit. Should anyone come along to try and harm her, An Yin would have no qualms about silencing the bastard's life.

Excited over the agreement, especially after having been cooped up with her studies of this world's language, she happily hugged Li Yu Rong; as she would her family members in similar moments of excitement. After giving thanks for the mask, she hurriedly left to get ready the things she wanted to take along.

As Li Yu Rong watched her leave, he couldn't help but wonder over what other things he could do for her, that would get her to hug him like that again.