After My Faked Death Failed, My Ex-Wife Came Chasing After Me - Chapter 39

Lin Zheng: Heart is fluttering wildly for my wife

Hearing those words, Lu Ting’an grew anxious, her mind racing for a solution. Before she could devise a plan, two figures emerged from the Yingxian Pavilion. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately rushed forward to grab Lu Qingchen’s arm.

“Father! You are wise and discerning—this matter is full of suspicious points. You cannot make a definitive judgment so hastily!”

Lu Qingchen did not respond immediately. He simply reached out and patted her head, his expression stern. “An’an, this has nothing to do with you. Return to the Yingyue Pavilion first.”

Lu Ting’an stamped her feet in frustration, defying him for a rare moment. “Father! These are all one-sided accounts! Where is the evidence? Can you really convict Lin Zheng based on mere speculation?”

As soon as she spoke, Sun Youqing, standing to the side, glanced over with a hint of surprise in her tone. “An’an, didn’t you have a lot of grievances against Lin Zheng before? Now that so many senior brothers have witnessed it with their own eyes and both human and material evidence are present, you’re defending her instead?”

Lu Ting’an was momentarily speechless. She turned her head away and mumbled, “Anyway… I just feel Lin Zheng wouldn’t do such a thing. As the eldest disciple of the Baiyun Luying Gate, she has always strictly followed the rules. How could she turn to such demonic paths just for a momentary boost in cultivation?”

The corners of Sun Youqing’s mouth lifted slightly, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. She pulled Lu Ting’an into a motherly embrace, her voice gentle: “An’an, you are young and don’t understand the world’s wickedness. I stated clearly before that if Lin Zheng failed to win first place at the Heroic Assembly, it would bring shame to our sect. To satisfy me, it is only natural she might harbor other intentions.”

Lu Ting’an’s heart tightened, and she retorted sharply, “But she is of the demon race! If she truly had such a method, she would have known about it from the start. Why wait until now to use it?”

Guo Jingchen, seemingly unable to restrain himself any longer, interjected loudly: “Junior Sister, you are still too easily deceived by that demon! How do you know she hasn’t been using it in secret? Otherwise, with her talent, how could she have formed a Golden Core within just a year of joining the sect?”

Lu Ting’an turned and shot him a fierce glare. Guo Jingchen lowered his head guiltily, his gaze flickering, not daring to meet her eyes.

Lu Qingchen pondered for a long while, his brow furrowed. Finally, he looked up at the crowd and said, “Bring Lin Zheng here.”

“No need. I am already here.”

A cold, clear voice rang out from behind the crowd. Lu Ting’an’s heart skipped a beat as she looked up. Lin Zheng walked forward with steady steps, her white robes stained with blood, but her expression was calm. Her spiritual energy was surging; she looked radiant and revitalized.

In an instant, the crowd was dumbstruck.

Zhang Yunming pointed at her, his voice trembling with disbelief: “You… you actually… actually succeeded in breaking through the realm?”

Chen Yunxiao’s face darkened instantly. Ever since returning from the Night Moon Pool at the Stone Cliff, he had been practicing in secret, hoping to catch up. Not only did he lose to Lin Zheng in the sect’s written exam, but now this “demon” had broken through to the next realm before him. From now on, he feared he would be overshadowed by her at every turn.

Lin Zheng stepped forward and bowed to Sun Youqing and Lu Qingchen. Her eyes were clear and her demeanor composed as she said neither humbly nor arrogantly: “Master, Sect Leader, I have come from Liuyun Peak and heard of the matter on the way. I understand that no matter how I explain, you may not believe me.”

She paused, then looked up at everyone. “Therefore, I have brought a witness.”

As she spoke, a gaunt old woman slowly stepped out from behind Lin Zheng, trembling and leaning on a cane, looking as though a gust of wind might knock her over.

Zhao Jingyi, who had been watching the drama from the sidelines, almost laughed out loud. “Lin Zheng, have you gone mad? Where did you find this old hag? What kind of testimony can she provide?”

Before he could finish, Guo Jingchen hurriedly gave him a look. Zhao Jingyi blinked, confused.

Sun Youqing’s expression was equally grim. Her eyes narrowed behind her deer-horn mask as she said in a low voice, “Su Jingyao?”

Lu Ting’an froze. she tugged on Ye Yunlan’s sleeve and whispered, “Who is Su Jingyao?”

Ye Yunlan looked at her in shock. “Junior Sister, you really have a short memory. That is your Fifth Senior Sister!”

“Fifth Senior Sister?” Lu Ting’an’s jaw nearly dropped. She looked at the ugly, frail old woman before her in disbelief. She couldn’t reconcile this figure with the description of the talented young genius in the book. She wondered, How did she end up like this?

Su Jingyao slowly approached the crowd, hunched over. She clasped her hands toward Sun Youqing and Lu Qingchen and said in a hoarse voice: “Master, Sect Leader, I have been in seclusion in the Hall of Longevity. I can testify for Eldest Senior Sister. Before she arrived at Liuyun Peak, Liyin’s demon core and the Soul-Purifying Restoration Lamp were already in the hall. Though I do not know who placed them there, Eldest Senior Sister came there to escape evil spirits and was severely injured at the time.”

The disciples began to whisper among themselves. Someone asked defiantly, “Why should we believe you? How do we know you and Lin Zheng didn’t conspire to make up this story?”

Su Jingyao did not defend herself; she simply looked intently at Lu Qingchen.

Lu Qingchen cleared his throat, lowered his eyes, and sighed heavily. “In that case, we will discuss this further after a thorough investigation. Everyone, disperse.”

“Sect Leader, wait!”

Chen Yunxiao suddenly interrupted, staring coldly at Lin Zheng. He sneered, “If Eldest Senior Sister didn’t use that demon core, I am curious—how did you break through to the Nascent Soul realm in such a short time? Could it be that an immortal helped you, or did you obtain some secret technique?”

Lin Zheng glanced at him indifferently. “I did use a demon core, but not Liyin’s. I was on the brink of death. To save me, Fifth Senior Sister transferred a Nine-Tailed Fox demon core from the Hall of Longevity into my body. That core shares my bloodline; it not only cleansed my meridians but helped me break through.”

Hearing this, Lu Ting’an was stunned. She shot a complex look at Su Jingyao, but soon felt relieved. As long as it helped Lin Zheng, she didn’t mind Su Jingyao taking the credit for the core.

Chen Yunxiao barked, “How can you prove it?”

Su Jingyao spoke up at the right moment: “I can prove it. If Master and the Sect Leader do not believe it, they can check Lin Zheng’s pulse.”

Sun Youqing stepped forward quickly and grabbed Lin Zheng’s wrist. After a moment, she said softly, “It is indeed the aura of a Nine-Tailed Fox core.”

Chen Yunxiao froze on the spot, his face turning iron-blue. He whirled around to glare at Guo Jingchen.

Lu Ting’an almost laughed. It seemed Guo Jingchen hadn’t dared to admit he stole the core; he had only claimed Lin Zheng was practicing forbidden arts. Chen Yunxiao, unaware of the details, had tried to crush Lin Zheng entirely, only to have it backfire.

In a great mood, she crossed her arms and suddenly asked with feigned nonchalance, “Oh, I’m curious about something. Fifth Senior Sister, you’re in seclusion all year, so your daily needs are brought by disciples, right? Besides Lin Zheng, who else has entered the Hall of Longevity in the last two days?”

Lin Zheng cast a subtle glance at her, the corners of her lips tugging into a very faint smile.

Su Jingyao thought for a moment, then raised her cane and pointed tremulously at Guo Jingchen, who was standing behind Chen Yunxiao. “Besides Eldest Senior Sister, only Junior Brother Guo has come to deliver food to me.”

As soon as she spoke, dozens of gazes landed squarely on Guo Jingchen.

Guo Jingchen turned pale instantly, his body shaking uncontrollably. He shouted with false bravado, “You’re framing me! I left the food at the door and left! I never entered the hall! I… how could I…”

“Whether you did or not can be found with a search,” Lin Zheng interrupted ruthlessly. She bowed to Lu Qingchen. “Sect Leader, please give the order.”

Lu Qingchen’s eyes were sharp as they swept over Guo Jingchen’s face. The latter’s legs went weak, and he collapsed to his knees, wailing, “Sect Leader, have mercy! I have been diligent and dutiful all these years; I could never do such a thing…”

“Silence!” Sun Youqing barked, her eyes full of disappointment. She signaled several disciples to search the Guiyi Hall. Lu Ting’an immediately volunteered, “I’ll go too!”

Sun Youqing gave her a strange look but didn’t stop her. Before long, the disciples returned holding a crimson, translucent demon core.

“Elder Sun, we found it! This kid hid it quite well in a hidden wall compartment. If it weren’t for the Young Miss’s sharp eyes, we wouldn’t have found it.”

Guo Jingchen turned as white as a sheet. He swallowed hard and reached out to grab Sun Youqing’s hem, but she slapped him away in a rage. She laughed out of pure anger: “To think I have such a shameless disciple! Go to the Hall of Discipline and take fifty strikes, then be confined to the Guiyi Hall for reflection! You are banned from next month’s Heroic Assembly!”

Guo Jingchen kowtowed repeatedly, sobbing hysterically. Seeing Sun Youqing’s genuine fury, the crowd fell silent. Finally, Lu Qingchen patted his junior brother’s shoulder and said softly, “Alright, Junior Brother. You’ve been traveling for days; don’t let anger ruin your health.”

Seeing Lu Qingchen provide a way out, the other disciples began to plead for Guo Jingchen as well. “Yes, Elder Sun, perhaps Junior Brother Guo was just momentarily confused…”

Sun Youqing took a deep breath and pointed her folding fan at him. “If there is a next time, you will be expelled.”

Guo Jingchen, as if granted a divine pardon, thanked her profusely and promised never to do it again.

Lu Ting’an felt immensely satisfied. She shifted her gaze to see Lin Zheng’s reaction, only to lock eyes with those clear, deep pools. She quickly looked away, pretending to be unbothered.

After the crowd dispersed, Chen Yunxiao hesitated, wanting to speak to Lu Ting’an. However, she didn’t even give him a glance and walked straight toward Lin Zheng, leaving him standing there awkwardly.

Nearby, Lin Zheng gave a solemn bow to Su Jingyao, who returned it. After a brief, quiet conversation, Su Jingyao nodded and hobbled away toward Liuyun Peak.

Lu Ting’an walked up to Lin Zheng, sounding slightly annoyed. “Guo Jingchen is such a shameless person. He was greedy and caused trouble, then tried to frame his own sect member. He really shames the Baiyun Luying Gate. He deserves to suffer.”

Lin Zheng looked down at her and said calmly, “Fortunately, Fifth Senior Sister was willing to testify for me, otherwise this wouldn’t have ended well today.”

Recalling the hypocritical faces of the other senior brothers, Lu Ting’an felt a wave of disgust. “Yeah, without Fifth Senior Sister, you’d probably have lost a layer of skin today. Rumors are dangerous… Master would have likely believed Chen Yunxiao over you.”

As she spoke, Lu Ting’an noticed the aura around Lin Zheng grow colder. Lin Zheng’s fingers tightened at her side as she said icily, “It’s not the first time. But I didn’t expect their methods to be so vile this time—releasing the evil spirits to kill me and then trying to pin the theft on me.”

Lu Ting’an shrunk her neck guiltily, thinking to herself: Well, you’ve got the wrong person there—I was the one who lured out the spirits.

Just as she was about to offer some comfort, a system notification rang in her head: [Congratulations, Host! You have completed the fourth and fifth plot nodes! Female Lead’s Blackening Value +10. Current Blackening Value: 50%. Favorability toward Host: 40%.]

Lu Ting’an was startled, but then felt a secret joy. Setting aside why Lin Zheng’s favorability was rising, she had successfully pushed the blackening progress. More importantly, Lin Zheng didn’t even suspect her of being the culprit. It was a win-win.

While she was lost in her happy thoughts, Lin Zheng waved a hand in front of her eyes. “What’s wrong? Why are you grinning like an idiot?”

“Ah? Oh, nothing.” Lu Ting’an rubbed her nose awkwardly. Remembering Su Jingyao’s aged appearance, she asked, “By the way, I wanted to ask—they say Fifth Senior Sister was extremely talented and formed a core at a young age, specializing in medicine. How did she end up looking like that?”

Lin Zheng remained silent, her gaze heavy.

When she had woken up in the Hall of Longevity, Su Jingyao was by her side. That old, strange appearance had startled her so much she nearly drew her Suiyue blade. After the woman explained her identity, Lin Zheng lowered her guard and asked, “Fifth Junior Sister? How did you…”

Su Jingyao had stared blankly for a moment, as if remembering something painful, and shook her head dully. “Eldest Senior Sister, I will tell you the details when there is a chance. For now, you are about to be in trouble.”

Confused, Lin Zheng placed a hand on her dantian, feeling the surging spiritual power. She was stunned. “How? I actually broke through?”

Su Jingyao struggled to stand and pointed to an empty rack behind a pillar. “It was the Little Junior Sister who used Master’s precious Nine-Tailed Fox core to save you. I assume the Soul-Purifying Lamp was also her doing. She hid in the shadows and only appeared after you fainted. She stayed by your side until your breathing stabilized, then left the peak before I arrived.”

Lin Zheng froze. Her fingertips trembled uncontrollably, and her eyes grew misty. She murmured softly, “So that’s how it was.”

Su Jingyao watched her reaction and smiled faintly. “However, Eldest Senior Sister, observing Lu Ting’an’s actions, she is quite different from the willful girl she used to be. To save you, she even cut her own wrist to give you blood.”

Lin Zheng coughed twice, her earlobes turning a soft pink. She shifted the subject. “Fifth Junior Sister, you said I was in trouble. What did you mean?”

Su Jingyao then detailed what she had seen. Hiding in the inner room, she had watched Guo Jingchen sneakily pocket the demon core. Shortly after, the Hall’s barriers began to alert them—evil spirits were approaching but suddenly veered off toward the martial arts grounds.

She realized immediately that the stolen core was the cause. Given Lin Zheng’s demon identity and her presence there, she would be implicated if things got out of hand.

Lin Zheng’s shoulders shook with anger. “I thought they just wanted me dead, but to use such a despicable trap to frame me…”

Su Jingyao patted her shoulder. “No matter. Eldest Senior Sister, I will go down the mountain with you and testify.”

Lin Zheng’s eyes reddened slightly. She bowed deeply. “Thank you, Junior Sister.”

Seeing that Lin Zheng wasn’t answering her, Lu Ting’an poked her arm. “What are you thinking about? I’m talking to you.”

Lin Zheng shook her head and sighed. “I don’t know either. Perhaps she encountered some great misfortune.”

Lu Ting’an huffed. “Whatever. I thought you two were close since you got a recluse like her to come out for you, but you don’t even know.”

Lin Zheng looked at her pouting face. Her gaze involuntarily fell on the girl’s wrist, where a faint crimson stain peeked through the thick bandages. Her heart tightened, and something began to melt like spring snow.

“Lu Ting’an.”

Lin Zheng suddenly called her name.

Lu Ting’an jumped. “What? Why are you saying my name so suddenly?”

Lin Zheng’s eyelashes fluttered. She looked at her with total sincerity. “Thank you for standing up for me today.”

Lu Ting’an swallowed hard, her cheeks flushing. It was strange—every time Lin Zheng looked at her like that, her heart raced. She waved her hands dismissively. “It’s nothing, really! I just couldn’t stand him lying to Father and Master. If you really want to thank me, give me a few days off so I don’t have to wake up at dawn to practice, or just treat me to a meal in Jinling City.”

“Okay,” Lin Zheng replied without hesitation.

Lu Ting’an blinked, thinking she had misheard. “Huh?”

Lin Zheng looked at her, her expression as calm as water but her voice warm. “I’ll give you the next two days off.”

She paused, then added, “And tonight, I’ll take you to dinner in Jinling City.”