After My Faked Death Failed, My Ex-Wife Came Chasing After Me - Chapter 6

“So, I’m rewarding you with this spiritual pet (and you’re taking it whether you want it or not).”

As she was lost in thought, something suddenly flew toward her. Her reactions were lightning-fast as she caught it, and upon closer inspection, she saw it was a thick layer of bedding.

“This is all there is,” Lu Ting’an said irritably, leaning against the doorframe. “The other thin one was dirtied by you, so just make do with this.”

Lin Zheng nodded. She had lost her parents at a young age and was treated poorly within her clan; she had never had a stable place to stay since childhood. What kind of place had she not slept in? Even this bedding Lu Ting’an had tossed her, made of mediocre material, was considered a rare luxury in her eyes.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Lu Ting’an said stiffly, pointing a finger toward the screen in the inner room. “If you want to bathe, the water is already heated. Your disciple uniform has also been washed and delivered; don’t wear mine tomorrow.”

“…” Lin Zheng had not expected Lu Ting’an to be so meticulous; it was a far cry from her usual behavior. She began to wonder if Lu Ting’an was secretly plotting something or if this was some new method of playing a trick on her.

As if seeing through her doubts, Lu Ting’an felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. The original host’s credibility was truly too low, making it so that she didn’t dare be too nice to the female lead now; otherwise, she would cause an OOC (Out Of Character) moment. She had to find a way to force her to accept it.

“Why are you so unaccustomed to me being slightly nice to you? As the Great Senior Sister of the Baiyun Luying Sect, are you just a glutton for punishment?” Lu Ting’an rolled her eyes at her, her tone mocking.

Sure enough, Lin Zheng’s expression darkened slightly as she said indifferently, “No, I just feel it isn’t necessary.”

Lu Ting’an gave a cold snort, turned around, and went upstairs with a “thump, thump, thump” on the wooden ladder.

Lin Zheng carefully spread the bedding, sat down cross-legged, and began to meditate. Only after her spiritual power had circulated for one cycle and settled into her dantian did she heave a sigh of relief. She picked up the small porcelain bottle and walked behind the screen in the inner room.

As the only daughter of the Sect Leader, Lu Tingan’s lifestyle had always been of the highest quality within the Baiyun Luying Sect. Even the bathtub used for bathing was carved from a single piece of green jade, which helped one concentrate and calm the mind. Steam billowed from the tub; Lin Zheng reached out to test it and found the temperature to be just right, clearly prepared well in advance.

Lin Zheng frowned slightly, her suspicions deepening.

What exactly was Lu Ting’an up to?

She sighed. A stinging pain came from her shoulder, and it was clear she could no longer delay. Lin Zheng removed her inner garment and submerged herself in the water. She took the small porcelain bottle, poured in some medicinal powder, and gently stirred it with her hand; the powder quickly dissolved into the water. Before long, the hideous whip marks on her shoulder stopped bleeding, and even the pain subsided significantly.

It was indeed top-tier wound medicine. Lin Zheng remembered that this was a spiritual medicine the Master had specifically sought from rare materials across the land, fearing Lu Ting’an might accidentally injure herself while practicing with the whip; its healing effects were instantaneous.

At this thought, Lin Zheng’s eyes dimmed, and she lowered her head somewhat desolately.

Although they were both disciples of the same Master, Lu Ting’an was ultimately different from her.

“Are you finished yet?”

Lu Tingan’s voice suddenly rang out from outside, abruptly interrupting Lin Zheng’s thoughts. She instinctively covered her chest and said in a deep voice, “Not yet.”

“Ah, why are you so slow?” Lu Ting’an was clearly a bit unhappy. “I have something I need you to look at for me.”

Lin Zheng sighed helplessly. “Wait a moment, I am bathing.”

“Oh.” Lu Ting’an sat down outside with a displeased tone, picked up an apple from the table, took a bite, and asked, “Lin Zheng, are you going to study your books tonight?”

Lin Zheng said, “Yes.”

Lu Ting’an clicked her tongue twice and took another “crunching” bite of the apple. “You really are hardworking. You’re injured like this and still refuse to rest? Why are you pushing yourself so hard?”

Lin Zheng remained silent for a long while before saying, “There are unfinished matters in my heart; naturally, I dare not slacken in the slightest.”

Lu Ting’an naturally knew what she was referring to, but she deliberately pretended to be ignorant and asked, “What unfinished matter is more important than your life?”

The person behind the screen fell silent.

Lu Ting’an was suffering internally. To be honest, picking at someone’s scars was somewhat unethical, but to achieve her goal, she had to continue questioning: “What’s wrong? You don’t want to tell me?”

This time, Lin Zheng spoke. It was a very calm tone, yet Lu Ting’an detected a trace of an imperceptible tremor: “For my mother.”

“Your mother? What happened to your mother? Did she force you to make a name for yourself at the Baiyun Luying Sect?” Lu Ting’an pretended to casually munch on her apple while frantically criticizing her own low emotional intelligence in her mind.

Lin Zheng seemed finally unable to hold back. Lu Ting’an heard a “splash” of water and knew she had emerged from the bath. Lin Zheng quickly put on her clothes, her damp hair still somewhat disheveled. She stepped forward two paces and handed the porcelain bottle back to her, her expression grim and her face pale: “No. What did you want me to look at?”

“I was just asking casually, why are you being so serious?” Lu Ting’an smiled, tossed the apple core onto the table, and placed an ancient nanmu box into Lin Zheng’s hands. “Take a look at what this is. I found it by accident while looking for the medicine.”

Lin Zheng looked at it closely for a few moments. The box was tightly fastened by a small gilded lock, clearly requiring a key to open. She looked up and asked, “Didn’t you see a key when you found the box?”

Lu Ting’an spread her hands with a helpless look. “No. Why don’t you just use your internal strength to split it open? Anyway, it shouldn’t be anything valuable inside.”

Lin Zheng nodded and focused her energy. With a crisp “bang,” the gilded lock shattered instantly. The nanmu lid slowly lifted, revealing a snow-white egg lying quietly inside, its surface emitting a faint blue light.

Lu Ting’an feigned surprise and asked, “What is this?”

Lin Zheng said, “It should be the egg of some kind of spiritual pet; it looks like it’s about to hatch.”

“Really?” Lu Ting’an was extremely excited and urged, “Then hurry and help me hatch it. I want to see what kind of spiritual pet it is.”

Lin Zheng hesitated for a moment and said, “A spiritual pet will only recognize one master after birth, until death. Are you sure you want to hatch it?”

Lu Ting’an nodded nonchalantly. “I know. Isn’t it good to have an extra spiritual pet to help me cultivate?”

Lin Zheng frowned. “My point is, once a contract is signed, you absolutely cannot discard the spiritual pet at will. Otherwise, it cannot recognize a second master and will only face death.”

Lu Ting’an “tsked” and said unhappily, “What do you mean? Do you think I’m that kind of person?”

Lin Zheng nodded with deep conviction.

Lu Ting’an almost laughed out of anger. She put her hands on her hips and shouted at her in annoyance, “Stop talking nonsense! Are you going to help me or not?”

Lin Zheng sighed helplessly. She extended two fingers, gathered spiritual power at her fingertips, and silently recited an incantation. A wisp of warm spiritual energy slowly flowed into the egg. Before long, several light “cracks” were heard as the eggshell peeled away layer by layer. The fragments turned into shimmering light and dissipated, revealing the little fellow curled up inside.

Curious, Lu Ting’an reached out, carefully picked it up, and examined it closely. It was clearly a small snake, translucent throughout, with two small light-blue horns on its head. It was chubby and sleeping very sweetly in her palm.

Lin Zheng looked at it for a few moments and praised, “This quality… it is a rare healing-type spiritual beast. It just so happens the sect’s grand examination is next month; with it around, your cultivation can progress even faster.”

Lu Ting’an laughed inwardly. Silly girl, you’re still thinking of me; this was prepared for you. She immediately swapped to a look of great disgust, tossed the small snake into Lin Zheng’s hands, and shouted, “Why does it have to be a snake? I hate snakes; I don’t want it.”

Lin Zheng frowned, looking down at the round little fellow, her eyes filled with disbelief. “Even if it is a snake, how can it be compared to those mundane things outside? A spiritual pet of this quality is one in ten thousand. Don’t act willfully.”

Lu Ting’an glared at her defiantly and tilted her chin up arrogantly. “So what if it’s this quality? This young miss can have as many as she wants. I’m giving it to you; I’ll go ask Master for a better one!”

Lin Zheng reached the end of her patience and gritted her teeth. “Lu Tingan! How did you just promise me?”

Seeing that she was indeed angry, Lu Ting’an struck while the iron was hot, blatantly threatening her: “Promise what? I haven’t signed a contract with it yet, so of course it doesn’t count. Anyway, I just don’t like snakes. If you don’t want it, I’ll take it outside and throw it away.”

Lin Zheng’s shoulders trembled slightly with rage. She was utterly disappointed in Lu Tingan’s actions, yet she worried that if she acted on her whim, she truly would throw the little spiritual snake away, pointlessly taking a life.

“Fine.” She took a deep breath, forcing down the anger in her heart. “But in the future, if you don’t truly want a spiritual pet, do not hatch one so easily, lest you create unnecessary slaughter.”

Lu Ting’an covered her ears, pretending she couldn’t stand her lecturing, and said impatiently, “Alright, alright, stop nagging! Who knew it was a snake before it hatched? You’ve known since we were kids that I’m most afraid of snakes.”

Lin Zheng paused, wanting to say more, but Lu Ting’an wouldn’t give her the chance. Fearing this “great aunt” would regret it if she slowed down, she immediately ran upstairs three steps at a time, leaving behind the words: “I’m going to sleep, don’t disturb me!”

She left Lin Zheng standing there in a daze, holding the small snake.

Startled awake by Lu Tingan’s shout, the little fellow opened its eyes dazedly and gave a small yawn, revealing two tiny, sharp baby teeth. Its bright eyes looked at Lin Zheng, and it gave a soft cry.

Lin Zheng stroked its little head. The little fellow wrapped its tail around her finger and rubbed its two small blue horns against her palm, appearing very happy.

It was quite a clingy little thing. The corners of Lin Zheng’s mouth curled up slightly, revealing a hint of a smile. She had been at the Baiyun Luying Sect for many years and had always been solitary, never truly making friends. Now, suddenly having such a small thing depending on her caused a long-lost sense of fulfillment to arise in her heart.

“You are so round; why don’t I call you Tuanzi (Dumpling)? I will take care of you from now on,” Lin Zheng said softly, poking its little face with her fingertip.

The little snake happily rolled over in her hand.

Lin Zheng raised her hand and lightly sliced her index finger. A drop of fresh blood fell, landing on the small snake’s forehead. In an instant, a red light flashed, and a nine-tailed mark appeared on the little fellow’s forehead. Its aura stirred, gradually blending and merging with Lin Zheng’s spiritual power.

The contract was successfully signed.