The personnel were thus decided. Everyone stripped the clothes from the corpses and put them on. Adding the Western Rong soldier that Feiyu had interrogated under torture, a fifteen-person squad appeared again.

They then put on their respective masks. Tie Ci was meticulous, matching each person’s mask accordingly.

She felt these masks should also be one of the identity markers for each person.

Additionally, when undressing, she discovered that everyone had tattoos – mostly strangely shaped animals tattooed in different places. For example, the person Yang Yixiu corresponded to had a tattoo on his shoulder of a three-horned sheep.

The person she corresponded to was the one she had initially captured and failed to extract information from. His tattoo was on his wrist – a pure white leopard.

Colonel Yu frowned: “What about the tattoos? These seem to be the important daily identification marks.”

Indeed, those tattoos were all very special, with bizarre colors and patterns that couldn’t be imitated by those without mastery of this art in a short time.

Tie Ci looked at Dan Shuang, who rummaged through her backpack and pulled out a small box. Opening it revealed various pigments, a stack of white, oil-glossed paper, small bottles of fish glue, and extremely fine brushes.

Dan Shuang picked up those brushes, studied the tattoos, mixed colors on a small palette, painted on the white paper, then brushed glue onto the paper.

The entire process was very meticulous. Everyone watched as the colors Dan Shuang mixed became increasingly similar to those tattoos. When painting the patterns, she even preserved the aged, worn feel of old tattoos, making everyone exclaim in amazement.

But what use was painting on paper? They couldn’t just paste paper on wrists – it would blow away in the wind.

Under everyone’s puzzled gaze, Dan Shuang expressionlessly finished painting the white leopard pattern, then stuck the paper on Tie Ci’s wrist and used fire to heat a cloth towel, wrapping it around the paper.

Half a quarter-hour later, she unwrapped the towel and slowly peeled off that layer of paper. On Tie Ci’s wrist, in the same position, remained a white leopard.

Everyone marveled, and someone asked how this was done. Tie Ci smiled: “This is from a respected relative of mine who always loves researching these things. Seeing that current women’s fashion of applying floral yellow and jade ornaments was troublesome and unattractive, she made this instead. Don’t think it’s simple – the pigments and paper all took countless failures to find the most suitable materials. This thing can last at most seven days, and that’s only if you try not to wash with water or touch it, protecting it carefully.”

Someone laughed: “Captain Ye’s respected relative must have great business acumen. Taking this out to sell would surely fetch a good price.”

Tie Ci said: “This is just a trial version, still being refined. In the future, we’ll definitely make money from women – after all, women’s money is easiest to earn.”

Everyone laughed heartily. Those without families said they needed to save money well since women had too many trinkets. Those with families shook their heads and sighed sympathetically.

Feiyu whispered: “Could this be another gadget from your master? Who exactly is your master? One of the Three Madmen and Five Emperors?”

Tie Ci smiled: “Who says capable people must be one of the Three Madmen and Five Emperors? There are hermit sages in the mountains and wilderness. My master’s reputation isn’t loud in the martial world.”

“Speaking of the Three Madmen and Five Emperors,” Feiyu suddenly remembered something, “I seem to recall one of them lives in seclusion around here.”

Tie Ci immediately thought of the note Shadow had given her. When she asked Shadow to investigate the expert beside the Empress Dowager, Shadow had given her several addresses, one of which mentioned Yongping.

She had encountered the Guihaisheng couple on the sea near Yongping and originally thought that was the expert from Yongping, but apparently it wasn’t?

“Which one?”

“Not clear. But I suspect it’s that Wind and Sand Incarnation. The northern lands have much wind and sand, and this area is close to the Hanli Khan Desert.”

That would probably be the legendary Sand God Chen Tuntian, also called Wind Madman. Whether Chen Tuntian was his real name was unknown, but it was known this person used to frequently appear along the Yongping to Western Rong line. Legend said he could summon wind and sand and control sandstorms. His temperament was violent and obsessive with many taboos, revered as a deity by the natives near the Hanli Khan Desert, having his own totem.

Soon Tie Ci saw that on one corpse’s neck was the only human-like totem – a figure entirely shrouded by swirling wind and sand, with only extremely large, pale gray eyes and bronze-like skin visible, lacking any living person’s vitality. She didn’t know if this image resembled Chen Tuntian himself.

She hoped they wouldn’t encounter these old monsters when entering the desert.

Dan Shuang painted the tattoos one by one for everyone to apply themselves. When it was Feiyu’s turn, they couldn’t find where the tattoo was on that corpse.

That Western Rong soldier was the tallest and most suitable to correspond with Feiyu. Dan Shuang searched for a long time, finally focusing on the undergarments that had never been removed.

Feiyu, who could remain unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, changed expression.

He suddenly stood up, grabbed Tian Wu who was preparing to apply his floral tattoo, and said: “Fat Tiger, want some beef jerky?”

Fat Tiger’s eyes immediately brightened.

Feiyu’s backpack was like a treasure chest, occasionally producing various snacks, but those were exclusively for Tie Ci – others could only watch and drool.

“Then let’s switch people.” Feiyu pulled Fat Tiger over.

Fat Tiger was still confused, instinctively saying: “I’m not as tall as that person, and you’re not as fat as this one…”

Rong Pu suddenly poked his head out: “Fat Tiger, what’s your tattoo?”

“A black eagle.” Fat Tiger casually asked Feiyu, “What’s your tattoo?”

Feiyu didn’t answer, just dragged him: “Come on, switch and I’ll give you beef jerky.”

Fat Tiger realized what was happening and planted his feet firmly: “No, not switching! Everyone chose corpses closest to their own build to impersonate. Switching would expose us, affect the big picture, and get us glared at by Shiba!”

Tie Ci glanced at that corpse, turned it over, and reached out to strip off the guy’s undergarments.

On the lower half, on the skin, a viper with raised head was vividly lifelike.

Everyone: …Hahahahaha.

Feiyu stared at that snake on that butt, apparently very much wanting to dismember this corpse.

Tie Ci suppressed her laughter to comfort him: “It’s still alright. At least it’s not on the front half.”

Feiyu imagined the viper tattooed on the front and his face immediately turned green.

Dan Shuang “very kindly” painted this viper first and handed it to Feiyu.

Feiyu wanted not to accept it, but Tie Ci was watching him.

He knew Tie Ci’s character best – easy to talk to in daily life, but absolutely wouldn’t allow behavior that ignored the bigger picture.

A small sacrifice for this was perfectly acceptable.

Feiyu pitifully took that painted paper and turned to go behind the stone pile. As soon as he left, everyone burst into laughter, with Qi Yuansi laughing most heartily.

It was rare to see this arrogant person suffer, making his whole body feel refreshed.

Tie Ci imagined the scene and couldn’t help but smile, when she saw Feiyu poke his head out from behind the stone pile, calling loudly: “I can’t see the back, need someone to help!”

Colonel Yu started to get up.

Feiyu didn’t even look at him: “Ye Shiba, Ye Ci!”

Colonel Yu said: “Shiba, you go.”

He didn’t think much of it, knowing these two were good friends, all men, nothing inappropriate.

Tie Ci didn’t move: “Colonel, ignore him. Now he’s being picky? What, why won’t you do? Think your hands are too rough?”

Old Yu heard this and thought it made sense – why should men be picky with each other? A mere camp cook being choosy with a colonel?

He turned to shout at Feiyu: “Ye Shiba is busy. What, I’m not good enough?”

“Right, you’re not good enough.”

Men couldn’t stand being told they weren’t good enough. Colonel Yu got serious: “How am I not good enough!”

“Ye Shiba and I are cut-sleeves together. Am I doing that with you? Smelly old man.” Feiyu raised an eyebrow: “Unless you want to substitute? That’s fine, but once you see me, you’re my person. On the bottom, willing or not?”

Colonel Yu: “…”

Tie Ci: …Every word is problematic, can’t even complain!

Colonel Yu was silent for a long while, then tremblingly turned to look at Tie Ci, his eyes full of “Who knew you were this kind of Ye Shiba!”

“Who knew you were the bottom, Ye Shiba!”

“Who knew you were the receiver, Ye Shiba!”

Tie Ci felt blocked by this gaze.

After a long while, he sighed: “Then Captain Ye, you go…”

Tie Ci had no choice but to get up.

She was afraid that if she delayed further, that guy could come up with even more shocking outrageous words.

It wouldn’t be good to frighten Colonel Yu’s innocent heart.

As she walked past Colonel Yu, he looked at her with difficulty. After much hesitation, he finally worked up courage to say: “Captain Ye…”

Tie Ci: “Hm?”

“You’re such an outstanding person.” Colonel Yu said earnestly: “Even if you’re in a cut-sleeve relationship, you shouldn’t put yourself as the bottom one. We men, how can we submit beneath others!”

He felt that Ye Ci had great prospects for the future. For a future general to be beneath a camp cook – what would that look like?

It wasn’t good for military morale either.

Reminding Ye Ci now, there was still time to turn things around.

Tie Ci turned around and said seriously: “Colonel Yu, tell me, would a real top,” she was afraid Colonel Yu wouldn’t understand, so she held up a finger to demonstrate, making Dan Shuang unable to bear watching.

“…would a real top need the bottom to help just to apply a tattoo?!”