After My Faked Death Failed, My Ex-Wife Came Chasing After Me - Chapter 26

Lu Ting’an (horrified): “Senior Sister, have you been possessed?!”

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, several streaks of sword light suddenly sliced through the sky as several cultivators arrived riding the wind. The two leading the group stepped forward hurriedly. One wore a deer-antler mask and held a folding fan, exuding an air of noble elegance—this was Sun Youqing. The other had hair and a beard as white as snow yet remained vigorous and hearty, looking every bit the immortal sage—this was Cui Runian, the Sect Leader of Shiya Yeyue Pond.

Holding Lu Ting’an, Lin Zheng found it inconvenient to perform a formal salute and instead nodded to them, saying, “Master, Elder Cui.”

The two looked around and saw the tragic state of the disciples’ injuries. Several had faces turned purple-green, clearly showing that poison had already reached their hearts, causing their expressions to shift slightly. Sun Youqing frowned and said, “I was just discussing the details of next month’s Immortal Banquet with Elder Cui when I received your transmission and rushed here immediately. What on earth happened here?”

Lin Zheng briefly described the sequence of events and said in a heavy voice, “There is no time to lose. We must take them back to Shiya Yeyue Pond for treatment immediately.”

Sun Youqing nodded, his gaze falling upon the pale-faced Lu Ting’an in her arms. His tone could not help but take on a hint of anxiety: “How is An’an’s condition?”

Lin Zheng replied, “Master, please rest assured. She is no longer in serious danger.”

Cui Runian searched the area, his eyes suddenly locking onto Cui Daorong, who was leaning against a cliff wall not far away, his breath as thin as silk. He rushed forward to support him, placing two fingers on his neck to check his pulse; his face instantly turned deathly pale. Cui Daorong had taken a direct blow to the chest from Liyin and was now hanging by a thread. Suppressing the terror in his heart, he immediately barked orders to the disciples behind him: “Quickly, carry the injured on your backs! We return to Shiya Yeyue Pond at once!”

Shiya Yeyue Pond was situated among a cluster of precipitous cliffs in Northern Jizhou, where waterfalls cascaded down like ribbons of silver. Beneath the cliffs, which looked as if they were carved by the gods themselves, lay a bottomless emerald pond. The water’s surface was perpetually shrouded in mist. At night, when the moonlight reflected off the water, it looked as though the moon itself had sunk into the pond, its clear light swaying—hence the name “Stone Cliff Night Moon Pond.”

Unlike the typical austerity of most immortal sects, the interior of Shiya Yeyue Pond was sumptuously decorated. Everywhere one looked, there were carved beams and painted rafters of pavilions and towers. The golden animal heads on the flying eaves were lifelike. Along both sides of the corridors hung five-colored night-luminescent pearls, requiring no candlelight to remain radiant day and night. Even the cups and plates used for service in the hall were made of gold, silver, and jade, exuding extravagance at every turn.

Cui Runian ran all the way while carrying his son, instructing his disciples to settle all the injured in guest rooms. He then hurriedly summoned all the medical cultivators in the sect and took out high-grade detoxification pills to treat everyone.

Since both Lin Zheng and Lu Ting’an were women, they were naturally arranged to stay in the same quarters. Lin Zheng gently placed Lu Ting’an on the couch. Though her poison had been neutralized, she had yet to wake up. Her thin lips were slightly pursed, and her fingers tightly gripped the corner of Lin Zheng’s robe as if she were terrified the other would leave.

Lin Zheng froze for a moment, then sat down silently by the couch. Seeing the dense beads of cold sweat on the girl’s forehead, she took out a silk handkerchief from her bosom and patiently, meticulously wiped it away.

Knock, knock.

A knock suddenly sounded at the door. Lin Zheng rose with extremely light movements, afraid of disturbing Lu Ting’an. She slowly pushed the door open to see Sun Youqing standing under the eaves, his expression unreadable. Meeting her gaze, he stepped directly into the room and closed the door behind him.

“Lin Zheng,” Sun Youqing whispered, though his tone simmered with suppressed rage. He gritted his teeth and said, “What audacity you have! Yunxiao just told me that after you provoked the Soul-Eating Ghost, you left An’an alone in the room, causing her to be kidnapped by that snake demon twice! And now you’ve even let her be poisoned. Before leaving the mountain, I repeatedly told you to look after An’an. Did you treat my words as wind passing through your ears?”

Lin Zheng quickly knelt down, cupped her hands in a salute, and said with a face full of guilt, “This disciple was negligent.”

“You!” Sun Youqing pointed his folding fan at Lin Zheng, his shoulders trembling with rage. Unable to restrain himself, he suddenly slapped Lin Zheng.

Slap—

The crisp sound echoed in the room, leaving both of them stunned. Lin Zheng knelt perfectly straight, her body not moving an inch as a crimson mark rose on her cheek. She said in a low voice, “This disciple knows her mistake. Master, please do not be angry.”

Sun Youqing’s chest heaved. He uttered the word “Good” three times in succession before flicking his sleeves and turning away. Before leaving, he threw down a sentence: “After we return to the sect, go to the Hall of Discipline yourself to receive your punishment!”

Lin Zheng bowed low and said, “Yes.”

Only after the door slammed shut with a “bang” did Lin Zheng slowly rise. After a moment of hesitation, she reached out to touch her left cheek.

It was slightly swollen. Although it was nothing compared to the injuries she had suffered before, Lin Zheng felt a strange, burning sting.

Her Master was strict; when he taught her cultivation and swordsmanship as a child, he would often punish her, but it was only ever hitting her palms with a ruler. He had never slapped her face. This was the first time.

Lin Zheng sighed softly and turned around, gazing blankly at the sleeping Lu Ting’an. Just then, the latter let out an unconscious whimper, her breathing suddenly becoming rapid. Lin Zheng hurried forward to grasp her cold hand and channeled some spiritual energy into her.

Lu Ting’an gradually quieted down, turned over, and hugged Lin Zheng’s arm. Afraid of waking her, Lin Zheng could only lie down slightly on her side next to her, letting Lu Ting’an huddle against her chest. She reached out to gently brush away the messy strands of hair from Lu Ting’an’s forehead. When her gaze fell upon the faint, lingering smile at the corner of the girl’s lips, she couldn’t help but be dazed.

As she stared at that tranquil sleeping face, for some reason, all the shadows weighing on her heart dissipated.

On this journey down the mountain, Lu Ting’an had truly grown a lot. Not only could she come up with plans, but she had also unhesitatingly brought out the immortal pill she had kept for her own life since childhood to save Lin Zheng’s life. Compared to the mischievous, trouble-making little sister from before, she was like a completely different person.

In the latter half of the night, Lu Ting’an felt a bout of feverish heat and woke up in a daze. Something soft and warm was in her arms; she subconsciously snuggled closer, but the faint scent of gardenia suddenly drifted into her nose, causing her sleepiness to mostly vanish.

She snapped her eyes open. What greeted her vision was Lin Zheng’s serene profile, her breathing even and her eyelashes trembling slightly.

Lu Ting’an almost cried out in alarm. She quickly covered her mouth, her heart practically leaping out of her chest: Holy crap, what’s going on? Why am I holding Lin Zheng? Why is she sleeping next to me?

Even though her movements were extremely light, Lin Zheng had always been alert. Her brow furrowed slightly as she slowly opened her eyes. She came face-to-face with Lu Ting’an, whose face was so red it looked like it might drip blood. Lin Zheng blinked and said, “You’re awake?”

Lin Zheng raised her hand to Lu Ting’an’s forehead. Her cool knuckles pressed against the girl’s warm brow as she said, “Good, the fever has broken.”

Saying this, she prepared to get up, adding, “I will go brew a bowl of medicinal soup for you.”

“Hey, hey, come back.” Lu Ting’an hurried to stop her, scratching her head as she said, “…I don’t want to drink it for now. Besides, if I’m not mistaken, we’re already at Shiya Yeyue Pond, right? It’s not good to disturb people in the middle of the night.”

Lin Zheng shook her head, her tone calm but brook no argument: “The nighttime is the crucial period for expelling toxins. We must supplement with medicinal soup in a timely manner, otherwise, it may harm your foundation.”

Lu Ting’an couldn’t win against her and could only let her go. After a short while, Lin Zheng returned with a steaming bowl of medicine and placed it by the bedside, saying, “Sit up first. I will help you regulate your breath, and then you can take it.”

Lu Ting’an nodded obediently and sat cross-legged on the couch. Lin Zheng took out several long, thin silver needles and steadily inserted them into several acupuncture points. Her fingertips lightly touched the ends of the needles as she slowly channeled spiritual energy into Lu Ting’an’s dantian. As the spiritual energy circulated, a faint chill dispersed the residual toxins in her body, causing Lu Ting’an to frown repeatedly.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Lin Zheng finished. She swiftly withdrew the silver needles and said in a low voice, “It is done. You may drink now.”

With an expression of tragic sacrifice, Lu Ting’an pinched her nose and tilted her head back to gulp down the bowl of medicine that was bitter enough to kill. After finishing, she spat several times, her features scrunched into a ball as she wailed in a low voice, “My god, is this even something humans are supposed to drink…”

Lin Zheng lowered her eyes. After a moment of contemplation, she flipped her palm over, and as if by magic, a preserved plum appeared in her hand.

Lu Ting’an was stunned and asked, “What is this?”

Lin Zheng’s expression flickered with a momentary awkwardness, but she still reached out to hand the plum over and said, “It’s sweet. You’ll feel better after eating it.”