Ah!
Pink?
Ji Mo felt his scalp tingle. Had he inadvertently created a pink tough guy, a cross-dressing idol?
As the saying goes, there's no turning back once you start cross-dressing.
Nangong Chou, who had been hesitant before, was now actively choosing his favorite color.
However, seeing the joy on Nangong Chou's face and the little spark in his eyes, Ji Mo decided to let him be.
That rough old man surely had a maiden heart hidden within.
And so, the manly Nangong Chou embarked on a path of no return.
When Nangong Manyin discovered her younger brother wearing women's clothing, she was initially quite excited, happily helping him with makeup and styling, finding it all very amusing.
But gradually, she realized something was amiss.
Nangong Chou wasn't just playing around; he was becoming addicted. He'd change into several sets of women's clothes a day, looking more alluring each time. He even started speaking with a falsetto, his every gesture and smile exuding a feminine charm that surpassed her own.
"Heavens, my brother is turning into my sister."
Nangong Manyin knew that Nangong Chou wouldn't act this way without a reason.
She probed subtly and quickly extracted the truth from Nangong Chou.
"That scumbag who deserves to be struck by lightning, that freeloader who preys on everyone, regardless of gender or preference, has set his sights on my Nangong family. I won't let him get away with this."
Nangong Manyin was filled with rage, believing this was all Ji Mo's cunning scheme, a malicious plot.
"Sister, don't make baseless accusations and blame my brother. I decided to do this myself. As long as you wear women's clothes again and act like a girl, I'll switch back to men's clothes."
Nangong Chou seized the opportunity to blackmail her, setting his terms.
Nangong Manyin, however, was stubborn and refused to compromise: "You want me to wear women's clothes? That's impossible unless this ship sinks or the sun rises from the west."
Nangong Chou hardened his heart and stood his ground: "Then you'll never get me to switch back to men's clothes. I'm going to learn about fashion, makeup, and even draw my eyebrows. I'll drive you crazy."
As he spoke, he placed his left hand on his hip, flicked his right hand into a delicate orchid gesture, and tossed his hair, rolling his eyes triumphantly at Nangong Manyin.
Nangong Manyin snorted coldly, choosing to ignore Nangong Chou. She figured he was just going through a phase and would surely revert to men's clothing once he faced criticism from others. He wouldn't be able to keep this up for long.
She left to find Guan Shan, hoping for an opportunity to obtain the secret manual from him.
In Nangong Manyin's eyes, that secret manual was a priceless treasure, something she had to acquire, no matter the cost.
But Guan Shan refused all visitors. How could he possibly part with it before Ji Mo translated its contents?
"This notorious forger, has he also realized the extraordinary nature of this secret manual? Otherwise, why would someone so driven by profit avoid me, knowing I'm here to be at his mercy?"
Nangong Manyin couldn't fathom the reason.
Afterward, she went to find Bonny, hoping she might have similar books, to try her luck.
To outsiders, Bonny, transformed into that siren, seemed to have vanished into thin air, impossible to find. They assumed she had jumped ship and fled.
But Nangong Manyin, with her golden eyes, had already seen through Bonny's true form and found her cabin without much effort.
She paid a visit and upon entering, saw Ji Mo. Her eyes immediately turned crimson.
"The good cabbage has finally been gobbled up by the pig. This freeloader must have succeeded, gaining both wealth and beauty."
Nangong Manyin's attitude towards Ji Mo was one of utter disgust.
She detested such men who preyed on women.
She looked at Bonny with great sympathy, thinking the pure little mermaid was too pitiful. Her race had suffered a great upheaval, she was all alone, and now she was being toyed with by a scumbag. How tragic.
Nangong Manyin exchanged pleasantries with Bonny, then stepped forward, wanting to whisper to her, to urge her to open her eyes and not be deceived.
"Hey, maintain a three-meter distance when you speak. Don't touch her. Our Bonny is innocent and pure; you can't corrupt her."
Ji Hanhan guarded Nangong Manyin as if she were a thief.
Because Nangong Chou had mentioned his sister was acting strangely, and Ji Mo noticed Nangong Manyin's peculiar expressions and glittering eyes whenever she looked at Bonny, he suspected her intentions were impure.
He didn't want little Bonny to be led astray by Nangong Manyin.
"Don't slander me! You're the big bad wolf. And what do you mean 'our Bonny'? How shameless!" Nangong Manyin retorted, finding Ji Mo utterly brazen.
Ji Mo remained silent, but Bonny spoke up, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons as she said happily, "That's right, I belong to him. I do in this life, and I will in the next, and the one after that too."
Ji Hanhan curled his lips, feeling comforted. He hadn't doted on little Bonny in vain; she was such a thoughtful little angel!
Nangong Manyin pressed her forehead, unable to comprehend why Bonny was so devoted to Ji Mo. Was his charm truly that potent?
A strange impulse surged within her, a desire to experience being wooed by Ji Mo herself, to see what tricks this scumbag employed.
Nangong Manyin believed Bonny had already fallen, trapped in a sweet illusion, beyond saving. She no longer bothered to worry and directly stated her purpose.
"You want that secret manual?"
Bonny blinked her eyes, then turned to look at Ji Mo. Only this simpleton could make decisions about such matters.
"Just one old book? That's easy. As long as you stop bothering my Bonny from now on, I'll write you an even better and more complete one."
Ji Mo said dismissively.
The secret manual that outsiders considered priceless, he thought, was just so-so.
Moreover, out of consideration for his little brother Nangong Chou, he felt it wouldn't be right to charge money and decided to give it away for free.
Instead of being overjoyed, Nangong Manyin felt mocked.
That was the genuine work of the Great Immortal Kongxu, unique and unparalleled in the world.
You freeloader, how shamelessly audacious! Could you possibly write such a treasure?
"Even better and more complete," she scoffed.
Bonny kindly reminded her, "Sister Nangong, why are you just standing there? Hurry up and thank him!"
Something worth tens of millions of immortal crystals was being given away for free. Bonny thought it was only fitting to express her gratitude.
"I don't want anything you write. I wouldn't take it even if you paid me."
Nangong Manyin made the decision she would regret most in her life, her intestines turning green with remorse soon after.
Ji Mo shrugged, thinking Nangong Manyin was too foolish. If she refused now, he wouldn't write anything for this tomboy even if she begged him later.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Guan Shan had sent someone to invite Ji Mo for an appointment to decipher the secret manual.
"The fish has taken the bait."
Ji Mo smiled knowingly. Perhaps he would soon find information about the notes of the Great Immortal Kongxu.
As he was about to set off, the ground beneath him suddenly shook.
Bang...
Simultaneously, a loud noise echoed, as if the ship had collided with something.
"Oh no, there's been an accident! The ship is going to sink!"
Outside, panicked shouts could be heard.