Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 100 A Master of Abstinence from Lust? He sounds like a highly respected monk!
"Senior brother, what's wrong with you...?"

Gu Lin entered the monk's room and saw Zhan Zhao sitting at the table, with a bronze mirror and some bottles and jars in front of him.

Without looking up, Zhan Zhao replied directly, "I'm trying out the disguise technique from the Lotus Heart Mirror."

"Oh!"

Gu Lin suddenly realized: "Do you need my help? I can disguise myself anyway."

He was not only the leader of the Seven Clouds, but also had amazing talent. He was proficient in all the miscellaneous skills that his six junior brothers and sisters knew.

And being able to become "Zhong Kui" and abduct renowned figures from local sects, these miscellaneous skills also came in very handy.

Having studied the Lotus Heart Treasure Mirror for the past few days, Gu Lin has also gained some insights. He came to the table and skillfully sorted out the various bottles and jars, then said, "These are not enough. Tomorrow happens to be the day of the Wanxing Trade Fair. I'll go and buy some for my senior brother."

"Please, junior brother!"

Zhan Zhao said earnestly.

Gu Lin felt a little strange and asked, "How far do you plan to disguise yourself, Senior Brother?"

Zhan Zhao immediately said, "I want others to not recognize me at a glance and just think of me as another monk."

"Oh! That's not difficult!"

Gu Lin wondered what was going to happen, but upon hearing this, he immediately said, "Makeup and disguise will suffice."

Disguise techniques are divided into three categories.

The first category is makeup and disguise.

Facial alterations are performed using materials such as pigments, glues, and hair, without changing the bone structure; they rely solely on visual deception.

It is considered one of the four great evil arts of Asia, and some people can even completely transform into another face.

Makeup techniques existed in ancient times. For example, during the early Tang Dynasty, there were instances of elderly women using makeup to impersonate young girls, making it difficult to distinguish the real from the fake.

The makeup and disguise techniques described in the Lotus Heart Treasure Mirror are even more sophisticated.

Using lead white to whiten the skin and cinnabar to tint the sickly appearance are basic methods. They also use human skin glue, fish glue, rouge, face powder, false beards, etc., and special ointments, which are then processed in advance into a thin, cicada-wing-like painted skin to be applied to the face.

This requires an extremely thorough understanding of the muscles in the human face, the ability to mimic wrinkles, scars, and birthmarks, and to alter the three-dimensionality of facial features and the contours of the face.

The limitation of this kind of makeup disguise is that it may come off when exposed to water or sweat, and it cannot change one's body shape or voice.

The second type is disguise masks.

This is the least technically demanding one.

Wearing a pre-made mask allows for quick identity switching, and with a little skill, the disguise can be perfected.

But it is also the most technically advanced.

Because the masks are rare.

It is said that there are skin masks made from real human skin, as thin as a cicada's wing, and almost seamless after being applied.

There are also silicone and resin masks, which are made by mixing resin with medicine; they are lightweight but have poor durability.

The most exquisite masks require custom-made pieces, with edges that seamlessly connect to the neck, and details such as pupils and lips that are imitated with remarkable realism.

However, a mask is still a mask after all; its limitation is that the expression appears slightly stiff, making it difficult to detect.

Even so, the method of making the mask has always been a closely guarded secret. Whenever a disguise mask is leaked out, it is snapped up by people in the martial arts world, who are willing to pay any price for a piece of self-defense.

As for the last method of disguise, it is the most terrifying.

It's like Han Zhaoye, whose martial arts involve disguise.

Using internal energy, bone-shrinking techniques, ventriloquism, and other methods, they completely alter their appearance, physique, and voice, achieving near-perfect disguise.

The Myriad Absolute Transformations passed down by Venerable Wanjue allow me to imitate your face and martial arts, creating a perfect imitation and taking your place.

The only limitation of this approach is that the techniques are difficult to master; not everyone can learn them.

In Gu Lin's view, Zhan Zhao's request was the simplest.

Because Zhan Zhao doesn't want to become like anyone else, but rather to become unlike himself.

That would be easy.

Gu Lin didn't even wait until tomorrow to go to the Wanxing Trading Center to retrieve the materials. After busying himself for half an hour and making several adjustments, he finally pushed the bronze mirror over: "Senior brother, please take a look!"

The mirror reflected a young yet dignified face—

The originally sharp sword-like eyebrows were slightly drawn, becoming long and straight, with the space between the eyebrows naturally relaxed, like still water without ripples;

His once sharp and piercing eyes were now slightly lowered, his gaze clear as an ancient pool reflecting the moon, containing a gentle compassion for all living beings.
Her nose bridge was made to appear slightly rounded, her lips were a pale color like lotus petals, and there was a faint smile at the corners of her lips.
His face remained handsome, without a trace of worldly sharpness, but a dot of cinnabar was placed between his eyebrows, like a Bodhi tree attaining enlightenment.

He was clearly a young man who had suddenly attained enlightenment, a rising star in the Zen school.

Actually, nothing much has changed, but he doesn't look like the original person anymore.

"Disguise is so useful! I have to learn it!"

Zhan Zhao exclaimed sincerely, "Explain it to me again in detail. When I disguise myself and appear as a Buddhist monk, I will maintain this posture."

"A Buddhist monk?"

Gu Lin was taken aback. What kind of address was this? But then he understood: "Senior brother has a Dharma name now? What is it?"

Zhan Zhao calmly evaded the question: "Teach me the specific steps of disguise."

His first reaction to the temporary Buddhist name "Abstinence" was that he did not accept it.

What a shame.

But later he felt that doing so would be succumbing to the precept against killing, which would be detrimental to his spiritual practice in the future.

Moreover, the calamity he had been fearing had come true, which genuinely stirred a rebellious spirit within him. Could I, the mighty Zhan Zhao, be stumped by a mere Buddhist name?

Decided!
I want to learn the disguise technique from the Lotus Heart Precious Mirror.

I want to change my appearance.

Anyway, Zhan Zhao is not abstaining from lust.

Absolutely not.

"it is good!"

Gu Lin, unaware of the intricacies of the situation, simply assumed that the man was in high spirits and was explaining things in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

Zhan Zhao listened attentively, displaying the same focus he had when learning the Six Lines Formless Sword Qi and the Heart Sword Divine Technique. Before long, he had memorized most of it.

After he had applied the disguise technique to himself twice, and although his technique was slightly rusty, he was no longer making any mistakes, he looked left and right, and finally felt at ease.

Abstaining from sex is abstaining from sex.

What does this have to do with me, Zhan Zhao?

The plan has been launched.

You can enter the Pang residence now!

……

Pang Mansion.

Pang Ji was looking through the gift list, his brows furrowed with both satisfaction and resentment.

The satisfying aspect was that, on the occasion of the lady's birthday, all the civil and military officials presented her with gifts.

He was, after all, born into a military family. Although he achieved fame and fortune in his youth and later became the emperor's tutor, it was still quite difficult for him to gain the unanimous recognition of the literati. His past virtues were not in vain.

The point of contention is that, thinking about Zheng Guowei's wife's grand birthday celebration not long ago, the scale of which was extraordinary.

In terms of power, Pang Ji was still a level below the four regents, and even the matriarch of the Yang family was above him.

As for Old Lady She, she was nearly a hundred years old and had lived through the reigns of Emperor Taizu, Emperor Taizong, and Emperor Zhenzong, and was considered an auspicious sign in this dynasty. Pang Ji did not bother with her.

But he wants to get involved with the other four, including the Eighth Prince.

In terms of foundation and reputation, I am no less than you; in terms of power and strategy, I am even stronger than you!

Just as I was trying to cheer myself up, my second son, Pang Xu, and daughter, Pang Lingyi, walked into the study together: "Father! Uncle has sent someone again!"

Pang Ji nodded to his son, then smiled at his daughter, showering her with concern before trying to get her to leave.

"Father, is there something you're hiding from your daughter?"

Pang Lingyi shook his hand, saying, "Your daughter has grown up and wants to share your father's burdens!"

"Good! Good!"

Pang Ji was greatly pleased. With such a virtuous daughter, how could his family not prosper?
Besides, he also felt that his daughter had indeed grown up, and it wouldn't hurt to let her hear about the dangers of the world; she couldn't stay so innocent forever.

Pang Ji left Pang Lingyi behind, first taking the invitation from the Luo family. After glancing at it, his brows twitched slightly, and he said calmly, "It seems your uncle hasn't been discouraged by the birthday banquet and still has the confidence to fight the Six Doors to the end. What do you think the outcome will be?"

Pang Lingyi listened without speaking.

Pang Xu then said, "Didn't they say that the Six Doors were severely weakened, losing a Divine Constable and many people within the sect? They can't defeat Uncle, can they?"

"On the contrary!"

Pang Ji said, "I originally thought that your uncle had been fighting back and forth with the Six Doors for the past two years and was not at a disadvantage, but now, after the 'Zhong Kui Painting' case..."

He paused, then sighed, "With Su Wuqing's methods, how could she possibly be unable to do anything to Luo Shijun?"

Pang Lingyi raised an eyebrow, while Pang Xu was stunned: "Father means that Su Wuqing deliberately let Uncle have his way?"

"They're just keeping a bandit in to enhance their own power!"

Pang Ji said, "If a force like the Six Doors, which is half government and half martial arts, didn't have a rival in the capital, many people would be terrified!"

He was among these people, so Pang Ji said coldly, "Your uncle is just an opponent chosen by Su Wuqing. The two sides seem to be competing back and forth, but in reality, it is to reassure the court that the Six Doors is not a single dominant force, and there are many checks and balances."

Pang Xu gasped, "That Su Wuqing is really wicked!"

My senior brother is no longer a detective in the Six Doors. Pang Lingyi showed no bias, her eyes flashing: "Father, are you planning to expose this matter?"

Pang Ji stroked his beard and smiled: "There's no need for me to take action. This time, many people have seen Su Wuqing's capabilities clearly. Your uncle is no pushover either. The Six Doors want to raise a tiger? But they risk raising a tiger that will turn into a threat!"

"Okay! Okay!"

Pang Xu nodded repeatedly, and Pang Lingyi also began to participate in the discussion.

After finishing the important business, she smoothly steered the conversation to the birthday banquet: "Mother has recently been studying the scriptures and has gained some insights. If there are eminent monks attending the birthday banquet, she will be very happy."

Madam Pang was indeed a Buddhist, and she had been offering incense more often in recent months. Pang Ji immediately agreed, saying, "That's easy. We can just invite a high-ranking monk from the Great Xiangguo Temple."

Pang Lingyi smiled and said, "Thank you, Father!"

The Great Xiangguo Temple quickly responded, and two eminent monks went to the Pang family's birthday banquet.

But when the name was presented, Pang Lingyi stared at the Buddhist name on it and suddenly froze, blinking her eyes repeatedly.

Pang Xu leaned closer for a look and then burst out laughing: "This Buddhist name... Abstinence from Lust... Ha!"

The Heart Sutra says, "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form; form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form." If one can give up "form," one will know the true nature of reality and see through the emptiness of all phenomena!

Pang Ji didn't take it seriously and even glared at his son with a look that said, "You're so uncultured, you should read more books!" He continued, "The fact that he can be given such a Dharma name shows the high expectations of the Great Xiangguo Temple. Now that he's been recommended, he must be a highly accomplished monk! When he enters the manor, you must treat him with utmost respect and not be negligent!"

(End of this chapter)