After My Faked Death Failed, My Ex-Wife Came Chasing After Me - Chapter 36.1

Lu Ting’an: My wife is still the most thoughtful after all (crying)

Upon returning to Yingyue Pavilion, Lu Ting’an plopped down beside the small table, picked up the teapot, and gulped down several mouthfuls of tea. Feeling her exhaustion ease slightly, she grinned. “Not bad. This is exactly how days without morning lessons should feel—pure bliss.”

Before her voice had even faded, Lu Ting’an suddenly remembered Lin Zheng mentioning she needed to wake up at the Hour of the Rabbit (5:00 AM) to practice her swordplay. Her heart tightened. She stole a glance at Lin Zheng, but seeing no reaction, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Zheng stood with her hands behind her back, quietly watching Lu Ting’an’s little display of cleverness. She said indifferently, “Finish the homework I assigned you first, then go to the pond in the backyard to practice your sword. I will check your progress tonight.”

“Ah.” Lu Ting’an’s beautiful dream shattered instantly. She wilted, slumped dejectedly over the table. If she had rabbit ears, they would have surely flopped down by now.

Lin Zheng sighed softly. “Cultivation is a matter of ‘Heaven rewards the diligent.’ There is no logic in fishing for three days and drying the nets for two. No acting spoiled.”

Lu Ting’an gave a helpless “Oh.” Seeing Lin Zheng turn to step out of the hall, she panicked and hurriedly called out, “Where are you going? You’re not watching me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll slack off?”

Lin Zheng looked back at her and said, “Going to the Hall of Discipline to receive punishment.”

“Huh? What?” Before Lu Ting’an could process this, Lin Zheng summoned her sword, Shattered Moon, and flew off, leaving Lu Ting’an shouting at the empty air: “Hey! What did you do wrong?”

But the person was already far away. Lu Ting’an stamped her feet in frustration. After thinking for two seconds, she ignored the pile of messy assignments and sprinted toward the Hall of Discipline.

The Hall of Discipline was located on Qingzhu Peak of the White Cloud Deer Reflection Sect. The terrain was steep and rarely visited. Any disciple who committed a fault was to be punished with a flogging by the Hall Elder according to sect rules and then forced to kneel before the hall in reflection. Legend had it that at night, the screams of wild beasts and evil spirits echoed through the forest, making it a terrifying, gloomy place.

As Lu Ting’an ran, a sense of guilt welled up within her. Because of the “Junior Sister” character in the original novel, Lin Zheng had spent plenty of time being punished here. But today was different. Although she didn’t know why Lin Zheng was being punished this time, she guessed it most likely had something to do with her. Since that was the case, how could she just stand by and watch?

Unfortunately, her cultivation was too low to fly a sword, and she didn’t dare say she was going to find Lin Zheng. She had to rely on sheer stubbornness to climb Qingzhu Peak on foot. By the time she finally reached the hall, the sun was sinking in the west. Her legs were trembling with fatigue as she leaned against a pine tree, gasping for breath.

She swore indignantly in her heart: When I get back, I must cultivate properly and strive to form my Core soon. From then on, I won’t walk a single step—I’ll fly my sword every day!

Regardless of grace or poise, Lu Ting’an raised her fist and “thump-thumped” against the tightly closed doors of the Hall of Discipline, shouting at the top of her lungs, “Open up!”

Creak—

The two doors carved from white jade slowly opened. Lu Ting’an steeled herself and rolled up her sleeves, preparing to act like her usual overbearing self. She barked, “Why were you so slow? This Eldest Young Lady…”

The words died in her throat.

Sun Youqing was standing before the hall, folding fan in hand, looking at her expressionlessly.

Lu Ting’an froze for a moment, then sheepishly scratched her head and hurriedly stepped forward to bow. “Master… why is it you? Where is the Elder of the Hall of Discipline?”

Sun Youqing glanced at her with displeasure and said coldly, “I was about to ask you the same. An’an, instead of preparing for the sect’s written examination at Yingyue Pavilion, why have you run all the way to the Hall of Discipline?”

Lu Ting’an looked up at the sky, her brain working at high speed to conjure an excuse. However, Sun Youqing waved a hand and said bluntly, “Never mind. Even if you don’t say it, I know. You’re here to see Lin Zheng, aren’t you?”

Lu Ting’an immediately lost her spirit and mumbled, “Yes. Master, what happened to Senior Sister? Why punish her?”

Sun Youqing snorted coldly. Beneath the deer-horn mask, her expression showed a hint of impatience and disgust. “She ignored my teachings and repeatedly placed you in danger. Does she not deserve punishment?”

Lu Ting’an was stunned. Her fingers tightened instinctively. She wanted to defend Lin Zheng, but before she could speak, a long-lost mechanical voice rang in her mind.

[OOC Warning! The “Lu Ting’an” of the original work would never plead for Lin Zheng in front of Sun Youqing!]

Lu Ting’an instantly flared up with rage, screaming in her mind: I’ve seriously had enough of you! You hadn’t shown up for a while, so I thought you’d finally let me go. Why do you keep popping up like a haunting ghost?!

The system was uncharacteristically silent for a moment. Lu Ting’an actually detected a rare hint of embarrassment in its mechanical tone: [I was on vacation for a while. I am back at work now.]

Lu Ting’an’s vision went dark; she nearly fainted on the spot.

What kind of genius invented this brain-dead system? The host is being tortured to death, and it can just go on vacation? Where is the professional ethics?

Seeing her vacant gaze and dazed expression—as if she were fighting the air—Sun Youqing frowned slightly. “An’an, what is wrong?”

“Ah, ah?” Lu Ting’an snapped back to reality and cleared her throat, echoing in a stiff voice, “That… Master is right. Lin Zheng is indeed too much. You have no idea; she didn’t take care of me at all when we went down the mountain.”

Sun Youqing snorted. “I thought as much. Since that’s the case, you shall take my place tonight and supervise her punishment.”

Lu Ting’an froze, pointing at herself. “Me?”

Sun Youqing nodded, stepped forward, and patted her shoulder appreciatively. She suddenly leaned in and whispered in her ear, “An’an, although Lin Zheng is the eldest disciple of our White Cloud Deer Reflection Sect, you and I both know: those not of our kind will surely have a different heart. In the future, you must be extra careful when dealing with her.”

Hearing this, Lu Ting’an opened her mouth to say something, but upon meeting Sun Youqing’s gaze, she swallowed her words and nodded silently.

There weren’t many disciples in the Hall of Discipline. It was nearly the Hour of the Dog (7:00 PM), and the Elders had already finished their shifts, leaving only a few disciples to sweep the hall.

Lu Ting’an stood in the hall, her gaze complicated as she watched Lin Zheng, who was kneeling perfectly straight not far away. Her snow-white disciple robes had already been torn by the whip, the shredded fabric hanging down to reveal hideous, terrifying bloody welts crisscrossing her thin back. Her figure looked even more fragile in the cold wind.

Lu Ting’an’s heart wrenched. she desperately wanted to go forward and help her up, but with so many eyes around, Lin Zheng would likely suffer more if Sun Youqing found out.

Lin Zheng knelt all night, and Lu Ting’an watched her from behind all night.

At dawn the next day, in order to prevent Lin Zheng from discovering her, Lu Ting’an quietly followed the original path back down Qingzhu Peak, having made up her mind.

From this day forward, she, Lu Ting’an, would turn over a new leaf. She would earnestly cultivate and practice the sword to protect herself, so that Lin Zheng would never have to risk her life to save her again.

With a surge of determination, Lu Ting’an returned to Yingyue Pavilion. Her eyes fell on the scattered scrolls on the floor, and she immediately bent down to pick them up one by one, stacking them neatly on the desk. She sat down properly, took a deep breath, and began to seriously review the lessons Lin Zheng had assigned her.

Thus, when Lin Zheng pushed open the door and entered, the sight that met her eyes was Lu Ting’an scribbling furiously at her desk. She was momentarily stunned. Her footsteps instinctively softened as she walked over and sat beside Lu Ting’an. Noticing the bloodshot streaks in her eyes, Lin Zheng couldn’t help but advise, “Did you not sleep all night? There is no need to force yourself so much. Combining work with rest is the only way to achieve more with less effort.”

Hearing this, Lu Ting’an looked up, but her eyes uncontrollably fell on Lin Zheng’s pale face and her stiff, awkward shoulders. For some reason, her eyes stung. She pursed her lips and asked in a low voice, “Where did you go? Why are you only back now?”

Lin Zheng lowered her gaze. She had already treated her wounds and changed into clean disciple robes. Her white clothes were as pure as snow, embroidered with silver thread depicting a majestic galloping deer among clouds. Upon closer inspection, the clouds seemed to flow slowly across the fabric, looking elegant and beautiful.

But with just one look, Lu Ting’an’s mind uncontrollably filled with the image of the torn clothes from the night before and the terrifying whip marks on her back. She turned her face away slightly and said with a nasal tone, “You’re always like this—keeping everything bottled up and never saying a word.”

Lin Zheng sighed softly, her tone flat. “It was just a small matter, not worth mentioning. Have you had breakfast? I will go boil some porridge for you.”

Lu Ting’an suddenly spoke: “No need. I am fasting (Bigu).”

Lin Zheng: “…Hmm?”

Thinking she hadn’t heard clearly, Lu Ting’an raised her head to look her in the eye and said firmly, word by word, “I’ve decided. I will abstain from the five grains, sever worldly ties, and purify my thoughts so that I can form my Core faster.”

Lin Zheng froze, looking at her in disbelief. “Have you truly made up your mind?”

Lu Ting’an put down her scroll, took a deep breath, and her voice suddenly rose: “Yes! I am the Eldest Young Lady of the White Cloud Deer Reflection Sect; I can’t be a useless waste forever, can I? Every time something happens, I have to rely on you to save me. Where would my dignity go?”

Lin Zheng stared at her silently for two seconds, then nodded slightly, showing a very relieved expression. “I admire your ambition.”

Flustered by the praise, Lu Ting’an scratched her head. “Of course. Am I the type of person who doesn’t seek progress? From now on, you will supervise me. If I dare to slack off, you just give me a big slap across the face!”

A trace of a smile, almost imperceptible, flickered at the corner of Lin Zheng’s mouth. “That won’t be necessary. I trust you.”

Lu Ting’an was stunned by that smile, which was like moonlight hitting snow. Her cheeks heated up. She lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers, whispering, “But… there has to be some kind of punishment, right? Otherwise, I’m afraid I won’t have the heart to stick with it. What if I give up halfway?”

Lin Zheng nodded, her tone gentle. “What do you propose?”

Lu Ting’an looked around Yingyue Pavilion and suddenly remembered something. She immediately ran happily into the smithing room, rummaged for a long time, and finally brought out a very heavy small box, handing it solemnly to Lin Zheng.

Lin Zheng weighed it and asked in confusion, “What is this?”

Lu Ting’an laughed. “The private savings I’ve hoarded over the years, plus a bunch of spiritual pills and treasures. How else did you think I lived so luxuriously every month on the allowance my father gave me?”

Lin Zheng nodded thoughtfully. “Then I shall keep it for you. If you fail to keep your word, you won’t get this ‘little treasury’ back. Do you regret it?”

Lu Ting’an immediately swore to the heavens: “I will never regret it.”

Lin Zheng gave her an appreciative look. “Good. We start tomorrow. I will do my utmost to help you form your Core as soon as possible.”

Of course, no matter how good the words sounded, they ultimately couldn’t beat the truth that “man is made of iron and food is his steel.” Before the next afternoon even arrived, Lu Ting’an was so hungry she was seeing stars. Her stomach was churning, and she slumped over the desk, feeling as though all her strength had been drained.

“Lin Zheng… does this fasting have to be so absolute? Even an apple or two cabbage leaves would be fine—just treat it like feeding a rabbit.”