After My Faked Death Failed, My Ex-Wife Came Chasing After Me - Chapter 28

Lu Ting’an: Wait, you mean someone else is playing thief besides me?

Upon hearing the news, Cui Daoyan’s pupils dilated instantly. He seemed to lose all strength, swaying precariously as his knuckles gripped the armrests of his wheelchair with white-knuckled intensity. Two lines of clear tears fell from his gaunt eye sockets, his voice trembling: “Father has always been in good health… how could this be?”

Sun Youqing shook his head regretfully. He made a “please” gesture toward the interior of the room and said in a heavy voice, “Eldest Young Master, misfortune can strike at any moment; who could have predicted this? Please, control your grief.”

Cui Daoyan wiped away his tears and signaled the disciples to push him into the room. But when his gaze fell upon the corpse of Cui Runian—eyes still wide in death and face twisted in agony—he could no longer suppress it. He collapsed over his father’s body and wept aloud. The disciples also knelt one after another, tears falling continuously in a scene of profound sorrow.

Lu Ting’an felt her heart ache at the sight. She quietly tugged on Lin Zheng’s sleeve, and when Lin Zheng leaned in, she whispered, “Lin Zheng, the Eldest Young Master of Shiya Yeyue is so pitiful. His father died under mysterious circumstances, and his younger brother’s fate is still unknown… Sigh.”

Lin Zheng remained silent for a long time, her brow furrowed slightly, yet she ultimately did not speak.

After coming out, Sun Youqing’s expression grew even more solemn. He instructed the two of them: “Since things have reached this point, and Young Master Cui is still unconscious, I fear he would suffer a great blow to his vitality if he were to wake and suddenly hear this nightmare. I must stay by his side day and night to stabilize his heart’s pulse. As for the various affairs of Shiya Yeyue—Old Cui and I were as close as brothers—I should handle the aftermath on his behalf. Once Yunxiao and the others have cleared the remaining poison from their bodies, you two should return to Baiyun Luyingmen first.”

Hearing this, Lu Ting’an and Lin Zheng bowed with cupped hands and said, “Yes, Master.”

Sun Youqing sighed twice and walked away with his hands behind his back. After this ordeal, Lu Ting’an had lost her energy and had no heart to visit Chen Yunxiao and the others. She merely walked slowly with Lin Zheng along the small paths of Shiya Yeyue. As they walked, she remained filled with regret, saying: “I always heard Master and Father mention how kind-hearted Old Cui was. Whenever he heard of demons causing trouble, he would descend the mountain to exorcise them even if he didn’t take a penny. I didn’t even get a chance to formally pay my respects before he… sigh, the world is truly unpredictable.”

Having said that, she thought of Lin Zheng’s unusual silence earlier and couldn’t help but turn slightly, asking, “Why don’t you have any reaction? Didn’t you usually admire Old Cui quite a bit?”

Lin Zheng looked up at her briefly and said flatly, “I was just thinking… that Old Cui’s death might not have been an accident.”

Lu Ting’an was so shocked by these words that her pupils shook, and she froze in place. “What did you say?”

Lin Zheng said, “On the day Old Cui led his disciples to support us at Mount Hanqiao, I saw with my own eyes that his eyes were bright, his spirit was full, and he lifted Cui Daorong with great ease. He showed no signs of someone destined for a short life. How could he suddenly suffer a stroke? It was likely caused by external forces.”

Lu Ting’an immediately grew anxious upon hearing this: “Then why didn’t you tell Master just now? Come on, let’s go back and find him now.”

“Wait.” Lin Zheng reached out to stop her, her thin lips pursed. “It is only a speculation. Moreover, this is an internal matter of Shiya Yeyue. Even if Master knew, it wouldn’t be convenient for him to interfere.”

Lu Ting’an paused, only able to sigh. “That’s true. I guess we can only wait for Madam Cui to return tomorrow to take charge.”

The two of them returned to the guest room. As soon as Lu Ting’an entered, she sprawled out on the couch, grabbed an apple from the side table, and took a bite, mumbling, “By the way, I didn’t finish asking earlier—you said Cui Daoyan’s mother was from the demon race, what’s that about?”

Lin Zheng poured a cup of tea for her and said, “I also only heard rumors. Legend has it that years ago when Old Cui descended the mountain, he accidentally saved a woman. Who would have known that the woman was a rabbit spirit who had failed her tribulation? To repay his kindness, she followed Old Cui constantly. Old Cui rejected her repeatedly, but somehow the woman used some means, and Cui Daoyan followed. People of the cultivation sects have always looked down on such matters, and given that the woman was of the demon race, Cui Daoyan was locked in a secret chamber of Shiya Yeyue since birth and never saw guests.”

“Oh,” Lu Ting’an breathed. “So that’s how it is. Doesn’t the Eldest Young Master complain? Didn’t his mother have any opinion seeing her son like that?”

Lin Zheng said, “According to legend, that woman passed away mysteriously only a year after giving birth to Cui Daoyan, and Old Cui never acknowledged Cui Daoyan as the legitimate bloodline of the Cui family.”

Lu Ting’an realized the truth but suddenly reacted, sitting up abruptly with a serious tone: “Then with Old Cui dead and Cui Daorong heavily injured, wouldn’t the Eldest Young Master be thrilled? Could it be him…”

Lin Zheng shook her head and said, “We must not speculate wildly. Besides, the Eldest Young Master is physically very weak, relies on a wheelchair for movement, and has never practiced immortal arts since childhood. How could he possibly kill Old Cui?”

“Oh, right, I forgot about that.” Lu Ting’an patted her forehead and flopped back down, reaching out to tug at the hem of Lin Zheng’s robe. “Stop thinking about it, let’s sleep first. There’s still the written portion of the Sect Grand Examination back at Baiyun Luying men tomorrow.”

Lin Zheng lowered her eyelids, looking at her quietly, and said, “You sleep first, I will watch over you.”

Lu Ting’an froze, suddenly feeling a bit flustered. “Huh? No… there’s no need, you just sleep your own sleep.”

Lin Zheng softly interrupted her: “I’m afraid your toxicity might flare up again in the middle of the night. It’s fine, sleep peacefully; I will meditate nearby.”

Lu Ting’an stared at her blankly and eventually said nothing, silently turning over, though a sliver of warmth rose in her heart.

How strange, it feels like Lin Zheng has become much more concerned about me for no reason, and her attitude is gentler too. It seems my ‘boiling a frog in warm water’ strategy for her blackening is too effective. Even if I can’t change the Junior Sister’s ultimate fate in the future, considering how much heart I’m putting into her now, I probably won’t die that miserably.

While she was feeling gleeful, a mechanical voice suddenly dropped into her mind, giving Lu Ting’an a fright:

[Ding—The plot node ‘Steal the Demon Core acquired by the Female Lead’ has been loaded. Please prepare yourself, Host. Current Female Lead Blackening Value: 48%.]

Lu Ting’an’s throat instantly choked up, and her happiness vanished with a “pop.”

“Do you have to jump out right when I’m being moved by my own brilliance?” Lu Ting’an raged impotently in her mind, but the system, as usual, played dead.

Helpless, Lu Ting’an quietly turned her head to peek at Lin Zheng. The latter was sitting cross-legged in meditation, her spiritual energy circulating continuously. Sensing the gaze, her eyes opened a sliver, and she said, “What is it?”

Lu Ting’an felt a bit guilty and braced herself to ask, “Oh, nothing. I just wanted to ask… after you subdued Liyin, uh, did you take her demon core or something? I saw in the scrolls you gave me before that using those to assist in cultivation makes one improve very quickly…”

Hearing this, Lin Zheng’s expression noticeably stiffened, and her tone turned a few degrees colder: “Killing demons to take their cores to increase cultivation is the conduct of the unorthodox and demonic paths. It is no different from monsters devouring human souls. You must never walk such an evil path; practicing diligently on your own is the proper way.”

Lu Ting’an was startled by her serious tone and stuck out her tongue, saying, “Is it really that serious?”

Lin Zheng stared at her for a long while before finally sighing softly, saying, “In the past, there were cultivators who attempted to kill demons for their cores seeking a moment of progress, but not a single one failed to fall into madness. Furthermore, humans and demons follow different paths; if a demon core is used slightly incorrectly, it will backfire on the self. Therefore, though it is a shortcut, it is the easiest way to go astray and is far more dangerous than normal cultivation.”

“Oh.” Lu Ting’an shrugged sheepishly and said, “Got it, don’t get excited, I was just asking casually. Then what do you plan to do with that demon core?”

Lin Zheng glanced at her. “I have already gifted the demon core to the medical cultivators of Shiya Yeyue. If it is used in medicine in the future, it can be considered put to good use.”

Lu Ting’an’s heart stirred, and she almost couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from twitching upward. She had thought the demon core was on Lin Zheng’s person and was worrying about how to make a move. After all, Lin Zheng had excellent senses; there was no way she could steal it from her without being noticed. Now, it was perfect—she only needed to “take” it from the pharmacy.

“Alright then, I’m going to sleep first.” She made a move to lie down but suddenly clutched her stomach, her face contorted in pain, let out a few “Ow, ow, ow” cries.

Lin Zheng immediately became tense: “What’s wrong? Is the poison acting up again?”

Lu Ting’an shook her head repeatedly and said, “No, no, I think I have an upset stomach. I’m going to the latrine; you sleep first.”

With that, she nimbly climbed out of bed and slipped out the door under Lin Zheng’s suspicious gaze.

The moonlight was cold and clear. Lu Ting’an’s heart was filled with both excitement and fear as she crept toward the direction of the pharmacy.

During their walk earlier, she had spotted the location of the pharmacy; it wasn’t far from the main hall and was almost unguarded. It was safe to go at this hour. She jogged all the way to the outside of the pharmacy, held up a fire starter and blew it into a flame, and began searching through the medicine hall.

Shiya Yeyue was indeed wealthy; all sorts of rare medicinal ingredients filled several walls of medicine cabinets. Time ticked away second by second, and Lu Ting’an grew increasingly anxious, fearing Lin Zheng would notice something was wrong and follow her, or that she would bump into patrolling disciples. She couldn’t help but speed up her movements.

Fortunately, while rummaging through the third wall of cabinets, she finally found an exquisitely carved nanmu box. Opening it, she saw a crystalline, crimson demon core lying quietly inside—it was exactly the one formed after Liyin’s death.

Lu Ting’an was overjoyed and immediately tucked the small box into her bosom. Just as she was about to step out of the pharmacy, she suddenly heard a burst of hurried footsteps outside. Her heart tightened, and she immediately lunged toward the window and jumped out with a great leap, but in her haste, she stumbled and severely sprained her ankle.

“Ow!” Lu Ting’an hissed in pain, but she couldn’t care about that. She endured the pain to close the window and quickly hid under the base of the wall.

At this moment, the pharmacy door was slowly pushed open with a “creak” that was particularly ear-piercing in the deep night. Lu Ting’an’s heart tightened, yet she couldn’t help but be curious—besides her, a “big sucker” doing a mission, who else would come to the pharmacy at this hour?

Enduring the waves of pain coming from her ankle, she propped up half her body and poked a small hole in the window paper, quietly looking through.

The newcomer was a slender man dressed in black night-traveling clothes, with a mask covering his face. Lu Ting’an felt he looked somewhat familiar, but she truly couldn’t see clearly who it was. She frowned and watched his movements closely; she saw the person rummaging through almost every cabinet, not even sparing the counter where medicinal wine was stored, his expression growing increasingly frantic.

Right then, the distant sound of several patrolling disciples chatting reached them. The man in black stiffened and then floated up to the rafters like a wisp of light smoke, his movements so light they made almost no sound. Once the footsteps of the patrolling disciples faded away, he jumped down noiselessly again.

Lu Ting’an watched with slack-jawed amazement, unable to help but marvel in her heart: Good heavens, this little thief actually has such light-body skills?

After the man landed, he took one more deep look at the pharmacy, his expression seemingly unwilling, but he ultimately held back and left quickly, his figure vanishing hurriedly into the night.