Chapter 2: Permanent Transformation? No Escape!

His whole body felt as if his bones were on fire. 

Qin Yu’s consciousness flickered, his eyes shut, and he blacked out.

When he opened his eyes again, the surrounding sounds were no different than before. 

Qin Yu estimated he had only been unconscious for a split second.

However, Qin Yu’s primary concern was whether the Magic Potion he had drunk had taken effect.

He looked down at his body; his original clothes hung loosely on him, a size too large for his frame.

Qin Yu instinctively touched his skin. 

A smooth, completely different texture met his hand. 

Coupled with the confirmation of his physical characteristics, he was absolutely certain the Magic Potion had worked!

Qin Yu sat up, her long white hair draping onto the bed and brushing against her skin, making her itch. 

Since there was no mirror in the tent, Qin Yu didn’t yet know what she looked like.

Hearing the sounds of fighting and shouting drawing closer, Qin Yu realized time was running out! 

She had to quickly put on clothes that matched her current appearance to hide her identity as the Crown Prince.

Qin Yu quickly stripped off her male attire. 

The sight beneath her undergarments left her dazed for a moment. 

But now was not the time for curiosity. 

Qin Yu searched through the clothes she had pulled out earlier and found some female undergarments.

After a brief three seconds of guesswork, Qin Yu luckily figured out the correct way to put them on. 

She picked up the remaining clothes and unfolded them, seeing it was actually a maid outfit.

Qin Yu had never worn such “shameful” clothes. 

She put on the maid outfit with a look of disdain. 

Wearing a dress for the first time was certainly a unique experience for her.

Fortunately, the hem wasn’t long, ending just above her knees. 

Otherwise, she would have felt like she was wrapped in a thin blanket.

But what broke Qin Yu’s spirit the most wasn’t wearing a maid outfit to hide her identity—it was the fact that the outfit was pink and white!

When had the iron-blooded, tough-guy Qin Yu ever worn pink?

However, to mask her identity, Qin Yu had to treat herself like a girl!

Having adjusted her mindset, she quickly finished dressing. 

There was also a pair of white over-the-knee socks in the pile. 

To maintain her cover, she had to wear them as well.

This was the first time she had ever worn over-the-knee socks, which reminded her of wearing soccer socks in her previous life in the modern world.

She rolled up the top of the sock, slid her foot in, and pulled it up her calf.

Qin Yu couldn’t help but marvel at how thin and white her legs were now. 

But there was no time for admiration; the sounds of battle outside were growing nearer.

Qin Yu pulled the socks up near the base of her thighs and let go. 

The elastic socks snapped against her skin with a “snap”, gently squeezing her thighs.

After putting on the socks, Qin Yu finally took out the maid shoes. 

With the over-the-knee socks, the process was incredibly smooth; her feet slid into the shoes with almost no effort. 

She leaned over to tie the ribbons, then stood up and walked a few steps.

The heels weren’t high, but they were completely different from Qin Yu’s previous footwear. 

She had to change her walking habits, making her steps a bit awkward and unstable.

The contrast between the jet-black leather shoes and the white over-the-knee socks was striking, and even Qin Yu felt slightly entranced by it.

She did a final check of the room. 

After confirming that everything related to her identity as the Crown Prince had been removed, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

However, the key necklace had to be hidden. 

Not only did it contain items proving her identity, but it was also a symbol in its own right.

‘Where should I hide it?’ Qin Yu wondered. 

It had to be somewhere she could reach at any time, yet remain undetected…

The only option was to hide it on her person.

As for the location… 

Qin Yu decided to tie the chain to the strap of her undergarments beneath the maid outfit. 

That way, it wouldn’t be discovered.

Just as Qin Yu finished, the tent flap was slashed open by a halberd, and Luo Shangyu charged in with her soldiers.

Startled by the sudden intrusion, Qin Yu stumbled back and fell onto the bed.

‘Act, just act!’ Qin Yu told herself repeatedly.

She took a deep breath and pretended to be terrified. 

Keeping her head down, she didn’t dare look directly at Luo Shangyu or her men.

Luo Shangyu scanned the tent. 

Aside from a shivering little white-haired maid, there was no one else. 

She found it strange. 

‘The perimeter was secure, and there was no news of Qin Yu escaping. Where could he be?’

For now, the only one she could ask was this little maid.

Luo Shangyu walked to the bed, slammed her halberd into the ground to keep it upright, and crouched down until her gaze was level with the bed.

“What is your identity?” Luo Shangyu asked, putting on a fierce expression.

“I…” Qin Yu was startled by Luo Shangyu’s harsh tone. 

Seizing the moment, she squeezed out a few tears and said with a sob, “I’m Qin Yu’s Personal Maid…”

“Where did Qin Yu go?” Luo Shangyu demanded, hearing that this person was close to him.

“He… he escaped… I don’t know where he went after that…” Qin Yu whimpered, looking completely terrified. 

She let her long white hair fall forward to hide her face.

“…”

Luo Shangyu listened to the answer, looked around the room with a puzzled expression, and fell into deep thought.

Just then, a report came from outside: “Qin Yu’s ambush force had been crushed. Most of the soldiers were wiped out, several hundred others were taken prisoner, but there was no sign of Qin Yu.”

Hearing this, a small curve appeared on Luo Shangyu’s lips, as if the problem that had been bothering her was solved.

She immediately ordered for the prisoners and the bodies of the fallen soldiers to be sent back to Qin Yu’s Army Camp.

Hearing this, Qin Yu felt a chill in her heart. 

This was an attempt to use bloody reality to break her army’s morale! 

At this thought, Qin Yu felt a wave of sorrow—not just for the dead and wounded soldiers, but for her own dire situation.

Luo Shangyu’s ruthless tactic made Qin Yu shudder. 

Luo Shangyu was indeed a formidable opponent!

After giving the order, Luo Shangyu gave Qin Yu a meaningful look, as if her gaze could see through everything.

For a moment, Qin Yu’s heart skipped a beat, thinking Luo Shangyu had discovered her identity. 

The immense psychological pressure almost made her want to confess everything.

But Luo Shangyu said nothing. 

After looking at Qin Yu, she stood up.

“Tie her up!” Luo Shangyu pulled her halberd from the ground and pointed it at Qin Yu, addressing the soldiers nearby.

Rough hemp rope bound Qin Yu’s slender wrists, chafing her skin painfully. 

Despite the feeling of restraint, Qin Yu didn’t resist. 

She realized clearly that she was now a prisoner and no longer the Crown Prince.

“Let’s go!”

“General… they… I’m scared…” Qin Yu glanced at the burly soldiers beside her, a hint of fear showing in her deep blue eyes. 

“Could… could you…”

Hearing her own pitiful voice, Qin Yu was quite satisfied with her performance: ‘It seems I have quite the talent for this!’

“…”

Luo Shangyu hesitated. 

Looking at Qin Yu’s petite frame and then at the brawny soldiers, a look of understanding flashed in her eyes.

“Come here.” She reached out her hand toward Qin Yu, her voice softening slightly.

Qin Yu was delighted and obediently reached out. 

Luo Shangyu grabbed her wrist and led her out of the tent.

Outside the tent, Luo Shangyu’s warhorse was tied to a wooden post.

Looking at Qin Yu’s height of 5 feet 1 inch, Luo Shangyu asked, “Can you get on?”

“Maybe…” Qin Yu approached the horse and realized the stirrup was already higher than her knees.

Luo Shangyu said no more. 

She nimbly flipped onto the horse, then reached down, sliding her arms under Qin Yu’s armpits. 

With just a bit of effort, she lifted Qin Yu directly onto the saddle.

“Sit tight!” Luo Shangyu warned, her hot breath brushing against the tip of Qin Yu’s ear. 

She wrapped her arms around Qin Yu to grab the reins, essentially pulling Qin Yu into her embrace.

As the horse galloped forward, Qin Yu was forced to lean forward to accommodate Luo Shangyu’s riding posture, her head resting right against the hard armor on Luo Shangyu’s chest.

The cold, hard sensation felt like an inescapable confinement, reminding her of her status as a prisoner. 

Yet, the warmth and the sound of Luo Shangyu’s breathing coming from behind gave Qin Yu a contradictory sense of security.

‘Luo Shangyu is the enemy who captured me. How can I feel safe with her?’ Qin Yu questioned herself. 

Right now, she should be thinking of how to escape!

The rough rope on her wrists restricted her hands, but only to a degree. 

The length of the rope between her hands was long enough that it didn’t have a massive impact.

Although her feet weren’t bound, the ground below was uneven and moving backward at high speed. 

Qin Yu felt a bit dizzy and didn’t dare jump off the horse to escape.

‘Fine, I’ll just wait and find an opportunity to escape later,’ Qin Yu sighed.

***

Upon reaching Luo Shangyu’s Army Camp, the soldiers who had returned with her went back to their respective tents. 

Luo Shangyu led Qin Yu to the tent where prisoners of war were held.

Luo Shangyu grabbed Qin Yu’s arm and brought her into the Interrogation Room. 

Seeing the glinting torture devices around her, Qin Yu’s hair stood on end, and her legs went weak. 

The closest thing to her was a long, thin steel needle, which still had dark red, dried blood on it.

Behind her, Luo Shangyu saw Qin Yu’s terrified expression and let out a light laugh. 

She turned to rummage through something, the clanging of metal making Qin Yu’s heart race even faster.

‘Is she… going to torture me here?’ Qin Yu’s legs shook so much she could barely stand.