After My Faked Death Failed, My Ex-Wife Came Chasing After Me - Chapter 9

Lu Ting’an: Why does it feel like I’m about to lose my little life?

Upon hearing the proposal, Lin Zheng immediately shook her head in refusal. “Impossible.”

Lu Ting’an curled her lip. She had known the other woman wouldn’t agree, but it didn’t matter; she had plenty of ways to handle her.

“Sigh, I was just saying it in passing. Don’t get so worked up. Let’s eat first.”

Lu Ting’an rested her chin on her hand, her gaze flickering toward Lin Zheng’s meal tray. It was all soups and watery dishes, dominated by vegetables. She couldn’t help but ask, “Are you being this frugal at the White Cloud Deer Reflection Sect because you don’t even have money for food?”

Lin Zheng remained silent, merely taking small sips of her soup with a spoon.

Lu Ting’an couldn’t stand the sight of it. She took the shrimp Zhao Jingyi had peeled and the sweet and sour ribs Zhang Yunming had deboned, placing them both in front of Lin Zheng. She said, “Eat some meat with your meal. Don’t go fainting before you’ve even taught me swordplay.”

Lin Zheng decisively pushed the two small plates back, elegantly taking out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth. “No need. Eat them yourself.”

Seeing her kindness treated as “donkey liver and lungs,” Lu Ting’an was so annoyed her teeth itched. She muttered a low “biting the hand that feeds you” under her breath, then picked up her chopsticks and began shoveling rice, intentionally making the bowl clatter loudly.

Lin Zheng watched her quietly before suddenly saying out of the blue, “Thank you for today.”

Lu Ting’an didn’t process it immediately. With sweet and sour sauce staining the corner of her mouth, she asked blankly, “Huh? What did you say?”

Lin Zheng sighed softly. She had been at the White Cloud Deer Reflection Sect for over a decade and had long grown used to the cold mockery of the disciples. In the past, Lu Ting’an had always watched the fire from across the river, happy to see her as a laughingstock. Yet today, Lu Ting’an had gone out of her way to make her stay.

“It’s nothing. Finish your meal.”

Lu Ting’an gave her an unhappy glare and crunched down on a shrimp loudly.

After lunch, the disciples left the hall in groups of twos and threes. Since Elder Luo was to hold a sparring match at noon to test everyone’s swordsmanship, most headed toward the Martial Arts Arena.

Lin Zheng looked up at the sky and said to Lu Ting’an behind her, “It is still early. Shall I take you through a review of the material for today’s quiz?”

As soon as Lu Ting’an heard this, she waved her hands frantically. Not only was her head spinning after a whole morning of lessons, but she also had “serious business” to attend to. She slipped away as if her feet were greased, throwing back the words “Wait until tonight!” before instantly disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Lin Zheng shook her head helplessly. After a moment of contemplation, she summoned her sword, Suiyue, mounted it, and headed straight for the Cloud-Viewing Terrace at the mountain peak.

The Cloud-Viewing Terrace was situated at the summit of a sheer cliff in the deepest part of White Deer Snow Peak. The mist there never dissipated. It was the place of secluded cultivation for the world’s foremost master of arrays—Yan Shuce. A hundred years ago, during the fierce war between humans and demons, he had used his miraculous Qimen Dunjia techniques to break through the demon race’s forbidden lands, assisting the Immortal Leader of that time in slaying the Demon King, thereby making a name for himself. However, Yan Shuce was indifferent by nature and did not wish to be bound by the great cultivation sects; thus, he had declined many invitations to serve as an Honored Guest. It wasn’t until Lu Qingchen personally visited three times that he was invited to the White Cloud Deer Reflection Sect, residing at the Cloud-Viewing Terrace as a wandering immortal. Since then, aside from occasionally offering guidance on the Way of Arrays to disciples, he no longer involved himself in worldly conflicts.

Lin Zheng landed on a curved green stone bridge outside the Cloud-Viewing Terrace. Before her was a small house with white walls and gray tiles, wind chimes hanging from the eaves and tinkling crisply. Hidden array patterns were carved into every wall, emitting faint glimmers of light as the sea of clouds shifted.

Lin Zheng performed a solemn salute toward the small house and spoke up. “Senior, Junior Lin Zheng requests an audience.”

The sky was high and the clouds vast. As the wind echoed, her voice was carried deep into the sea of clouds, yet the interior of the house remained silent.

Lin Zheng’s fingertips tightened. She took a deep breath, knelt again before the steps, and bowed. “Senior Yan, three years have passed. Are you still unwilling to see me?”

The house remained silent. Only the wind swept over the mountain peak, howling like crashing waves.

Lin Zheng lowered her eyes slightly and sighed softly, turning as if to leave.

“—Wait.”

A thick, steady voice, like a Great Bell striking a wall, suddenly rang out. Lin Zheng’s footsteps stopped abruptly. She turned back sharply, nearly weeping with joy. “Senior Yan! Are you finally willing to see me?”

After a moment of silence, the man replied indifferently, “The karmic tie between us has not yet arrived; it is not suitable for us to meet.”

The voice echoed across the terrace for a long time before dropping a cold finality: “From now on, you need not come every day.”

It was as if a bucket of freezing snow had been poured over her head. Lin Zheng’s face turned deathly pale, her voice panicked. “Why is this? Senior Yan, this disciple swears upon her Dao heart that I only seek your guidance on arrays. As for the rest…”

“Your mother is suppressed beneath the Demon-Locking Tower. It cannot be resolved by ordinary arrays, and I am powerless to help.” The voice interrupted her without hesitation, the tone indifferent yet hiding a faint, irrepressible sigh. “Go now, go…”

The voice seemed to dissipate with the wind, fading from her ears. Lin Zheng’s heart tightened suddenly, feeling the hope she had clung to for years collapse into ash in an instant. Her feet instinctively hurried forward two steps as her voice choked up. “Senior, you are this disciple’s last hope…”

After returning from the Cloud-Viewing Terrace, Lin Zheng was despondent, sitting blankly on the steps at the southeast corner of the Martial Arts Arena.

“Hey.”

Someone suddenly called her. Lin Zheng looked up slightly to see Chen Yunxiao with a dark expression, looking extremely impatient. “Where have you been? The Master is calling for you at the Immortal-Welcoming Pavilion.”

Lin Zheng composed herself slightly, returning to her calm and unruffled expression. “Fine, I will go now.”

When Lin Zheng stepped into the Immortal-Welcoming Pavilion, Sun Youqing was standing by the railing, using a jade spoon to scoop fish feed and toss it to the koi in the pond. Seeing her enter, he spoke tonelessly, “Where did you go? I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

Lin Zheng stepped forward and gave him a deep bow. “This disciple has done wrong. I just went to the Cloud-Viewing Terrace to seek an audience with Senior Yan.”

Hearing this, Sun Youqing let out a soft chuckle. A hint of playfulness appeared in his eyes behind the deer-horn mask. “I thought as much. Lin Zheng, oh Lin Zheng, why must you be so stubborn? Master Yan is naturally casual and free-spirited. Aren’t you afraid your daily disturbances will have the opposite effect?”

Lin Zheng’s heart felt as if it were being lightly crushed again by the phrase “You need not come again.” It ached faintly, and her fingertips trembled, but she still restrained her emotions and whispered, “This disciple was too impatient.”

Sun Youqing smiled and stepped forward to pat her shoulder. “Lin Zheng, when you first entered the White Cloud Deer Reflection Sect, the sect elders disliked your demon-race origin, and not one was willing to take you as a disciple. In the end, it was I who bore the pressure to make you the Eldest Senior Disciple. Do you know why?”

Lin Zheng shook her head. “I do not.”

Sun Youqing gave her a meaningful look. “It is because I felt your natural talent was excellent and that you were diligent. One day, you will surely prove your Dao and ascend to immortality. When that time comes, the things you seek in your heart will naturally be resolved.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Zheng was stunned for a moment, her face full of disbelief. “Master, are you saying…”

Sun Youqing lightly brushed his folding fan against the nine-tailed mark on her forehead. “Exactly. Legend has it that the Demon-Locking Tower is an ancient sealing technique left behind after Gonggong crashed into Mount Buzhou. It was specifically designed to trap the most wicked of demon beasts. If one has not attained immortality, how could a mortal know the solution?”

Lin Zheng’s shoulders trembled. It was as if a drowning person had caught a life-saving straw. Her eyes reddened as she gave Sun Youqing a solemn bow. “Thank you, Master. This disciple will surely cultivate diligently to prove my Dao and ascend as soon as possible.”

Sun Youqing nodded slightly, his eyes showing a bit of appreciation. “Excellent, excellent. That is for the best.”

He paused, his tone shifting as he added, “However, there is one more thing I hope you can agree to.”

Lin Zheng cupped her hands. “What are your instructions, Master?”

Sun Youqing pointed to Lu Ting’an, who had been eavesdropping sneakily outside the door for a long time. He laughed, “There, that little fellow. An’an is young and playful; she has never taken cultivation seriously. Yet these past few days, she seems to have suddenly seen the light and wants to strive to improve her cultivation—surely she was influenced by you. So, for the time being, you shall move into the Yingyue Pavilion to stay and guide An’an, so she may successfully pass the Sect’s Grand Examination.”

Lin Zheng frowned slightly, immediately understanding what was happening. That Lu Ting’an—seeing that she wouldn’t agree, she had gone to complain to the Master.

Thinking of Lu Ting’an’s arrogant and unruly temperament, Lin Zheng felt a headache coming on. She could only say helplessly, “Master, though I can accept this, how could Junior Sister ever listen to my discipline?”

Sun Youqing coughed twice. “Well, about that, I have already discussed it with the Sect Leader. An’an is used to being free and easy. If she is unwilling to cultivate properly, you may feel free to discipline her. We shall not interfere.”

A barely perceptible curve appeared at the corner of Lin Zheng’s mouth. “Yes. This disciple will not fail your trust, Master.”

Lu Ting’an was leaning against the doorframe, secretly observing the two inside. Because her cultivation was too shallow, she couldn’t hear a word they were saying. But seeing the smile on Sun Youqing’s face, she figured Lin Zheng had likely agreed and couldn’t help but feel happy.

Haha, you kept refusing me, but now that Master has stepped in, you have no excuses left, right?

Seeing Lin Zheng and Sun Youqing about to walk out together, Lu Ting’an hurriedly straightened her clothes, pretending she had just happened to pass by. She said with a tone of surprise, “Senior Sister, Master, why are you two here?”

“Alright, stop acting. I saw you long ago.” Sun Youqing rubbed her small head, saying dotingly, “Wasn’t it a certain someone who begged me to send Eldest Senior Sister over? How is it you’re now afraid to admit it?”

Having been caught red-handed, Lu Ting’an’s cheeks flushed crimson. She looked up and met Lin Zheng’s calm eyes, feeling even more embarrassed for some reason. She quickly lowered her head, wishing she could find a crack in the floor to crawl into.

“I never begged her to come over… Master, you just love teasing me…”

“Lu Ting’an, Master has already left.”

Lin Zheng’s voice sounded from above her. Lu Ting’an awkwardly turned her face away to avoid looking at her. Lin Zheng felt a bit amused, but her face remained indifferent. “Forget it. Having the desire to improve is a good thing. From now on, I will supervise your studies and sword practice every night.”

“If I find you slacking off again, I will punish your palms according to the sect rules.”

Hearing this, Lu Ting’an was dumbfounded. She jumped three feet in the air and yelled, “You dare hit me? Careful, or I’ll tell my father and Master—”

“Master said I have full authority over your discipline,” Lin Zheng interrupted her mercilessly.

Lu Ting’an felt as though the sky had suddenly fallen.

Damn, why is this plot moving in a different direction than I thought? She had originally wanted to create more time to spend with Lin Zheng and sneakily give her some secret manuals or spiritual pills to raise her favorability—so why did it now feel like she was about to lose her little life?