Willow Bud's eyes were wide open, her mouth agape, looking as if she had seen a ghost. She pointed at Xiao Qiniang and Zhu Yu, sitting there, and couldn't speak for a long time.
What was wrong with these two? Why had they suddenly become so listless, not only obeying their lady's words but also seeming to be controlled?
Huh?
Controlled!
Willow Bud's mouth opened even wider. Weren't they controlled! Otherwise, why would they be like puppets on strings, doing whatever their lady asked without any resistance, as if their souls had been taken?
"Close your mouth, or you'll let flies in." Li Man'er had already gotten up, preparing to change into her night-clothes.
"What's wrong with them?" Willow Bud finally came to her senses and her intelligence returned. "My lady, you're tricking me. There are no flies in such cold weather."
Just as Li Man'er was about to say something, she heard Willow Bud whisper again, "My lady, did you capture their souls, making them lose their senses and have to obey you?"
Otherwise, how could she explain it? They did whatever their lady asked, even she herself wasn't this obedient.
"Capture souls?" Li Man'er almost burst out laughing. "Forget it, your lady here is neither an immortal nor a ghost messenger. How could I have such skills?"
If she could capture souls, she would capture Cui Shi's first, then Li Shu's, not letting either of them go.
"Then why did they become like this?"
Li Man'er said mysteriously, "This is a secret technique of my sect, called hypnosis, which makes people enter a state of temporary amnesia. During this time, they don't remember what happened and will only act according to your instructions. Once the instruction is lifted, it's as if nothing happened."
Of course, nothing is absolute. The effectiveness of hypnosis is directly related to the hypnotist's skill, the hypnotized person's mind, and willpower.
If the hypnotist's own cultivation is not deep and their skills are not proficient, then the hypnotic effect may be greatly reduced, and the hypnotized person may wake up midway, or one day, images from the hypnosis may suddenly flash in their mind.
If they encounter someone with excellent mental fortitude, willpower, and psychological quality, then the hypnosis might not be successful at all.
Li Man'er's hypnosis skills were originally top-tier. The hypnosis of their Xuan Yi sect was somewhat different from internationally recognized hypnosis. Xuan Yi sect's hypnosis could create illusions, touch the deepest, most hidden, and subconsciously unrecognized layers within the hypnotized person.
At a certain level, the hypnotized person would directly become their puppet. If it reached this point, it would no longer be hypnosis but soul manipulation.
Perhaps the ancestor of the Xuan Yi sect felt that such a domineering secret art violated the laws of heaven, so they listed the final stages of hypnosis as forbidden arts, not something anyone could learn.
Furthermore, Xiao Qiniang and Zhu Yu were not strong-willed individuals, so it was easy to operate.
Willow Bud was full of admiration. "You are truly too humble. This is soul capture technique!" Her lady was truly a divine being, not only skilled in medicine but also in soul capture techniques like immortal arts. It was the most correct choice for the young master to become her disciple.
Li Man'er realized she couldn't explain it to her.
It was understandable. Willow Bud was an ancient person; her thinking was thousands of years apart from hers. How could she possibly explain it clearly?
Never mind, let her think whatever she wanted!
Li Man'er tied her hair up tightly, put on a headscarf, and then whispered to Willow Bud, "I'm going out for a bit. You stay here and watch. Absolutely do not let anyone see I'm gone, and do not let anyone in."
"Your servant understands. But..." She glanced at Xiao Qiniang, who was mechanically eating vegetables, and then at Zhu Yu, who was blankly sitting opposite Xiao Qiniang. "But your servant cannot guarantee that they won't cause trouble. Shall I knock them unconscious?" This would give her more confidence.
"No, I've made arrangements for them. Nothing will go wrong. If those old women come asking, they will send them away themselves, so you don't need to worry." These two were her witnesses. With them present, she had not left this room at all; she had been eating with Xiao Qiniang the whole time.
With Xiao Qiniang and Zhu Yu as witnesses, no one could pin Gong Jun's death on her.
Not even a thought.
"Yes, your servant understands."
Li Man'er then put on her mask and whispered, "I'll be back soon."
Willow Bud nodded, stood by the back window, and opened it a crack. She listened carefully, confirmed there was no one nearby, and then nodded to Li Man'er.
Li Man'er cautiously looked around and then climbed out the window.
Her speed was astonishing. As she landed, she seemed not to have regained her balance before she darted out, like a shadow, instantly merging with the dark night, so much so that Willow Bud hadn't even seen what happened before Li Man'er had disappeared.
This was too fast, almost supernatural.
Willow Bud quietly breathed a sigh of relief, looked around again to confirm there were no problems, then closed the window and returned to Zhu Yu's side.
Xiao Qiniang was still mechanically eating, not quickly, taking a bite, then putting down her chopsticks and sitting there expressionlessly.
Fu Ling was even more peculiar, like a wooden doll, moving occasionally with limited range.
Willow Bud felt proud to be able to observe these two puppet-like people up close. If this were to get out, how many people would flock here!
Well, it might bring trouble to her lady.
Meanwhile, Li Man'er, after leaving the room and not running far, entered her space once she was sure Willow Bud couldn't see her.
It was almost New Year's Eve, and the guards at the yamen were especially vigilant. The patrols almost walked past her face. If she had been any later, she would have been caught.
With the space as her support, Li Man'er's safety was naturally guaranteed. She walked and stopped, ensuring she didn't alarm anyone, and it took her about half an hour to reach the vicinity of Xiao Rudie's room.
There were four or five people guarding the entrance. The room was pitch black, with no light visible.
Li Man'er hid in her space, carefully observing the defense at the entrance and quickly discovered two hidden sentries. One was on the rooftop, looking down, easily spotting intruders; the other was hidden on the beam under the eaves, almost impossible to find without a close look.
This was to guard against assassination attempts on Xiao Rudie! It seemed this person was indeed not very well-liked, with many enemies.
Li Man'er took out her paralyzing powder, capable of felling an elephant, and threw it with the wind.
Half a bag of powder could incapacitate several elephants, let alone people who weighed much less.
A short while later, the guards at the entrance all fainted, and even the one hidden on the beam under the eaves fell down with a considerable thud.