I Got Together With the Fake Heiress - Chapter 56

After dealing with the situation at the small wooden cabin, Wen Yunqing called Lu Zhiming to inform her of the situation there.

“I was just about to notify you, too. We have found a similar item here, and inside it, we found the exact same Gu Worm,” Lu Zhiming said, holding the phone in her left hand and continuously making hand seals with her right to deal with the strange insect.

“Can you perform a tracing spell? There should be some lingering aura on the book. Just tell me the approximate range,” Lu Zhiming requested.

“One moment.” Wen Yunqing tucked her phone into her pocket, picked up the book in Fu Liu’s hand, closed her eyes, and applied a spell to it.

“The aura is faint, but the approximate range can be traced. She should be in a place with a very dense human presence, most likely in the urban area, to the east,” Wen Yunqing told Lu Zhiming the result. “Is there anything specific in that area?”

“If it’s the eastern urban area, this person is very likely in the black market there,” Fu Liu supplemented appropriately. “In the black market, there are many rogue cultivators and transformed demon cultivators. If Lu Zhiming is going, she should conceal her official identity, or it might cause conflict.”

Wen Yunqing nodded, then relayed Fu Liu’s suggestion via the phone.

“That place is closer to us. We’ll go check the situation first, and then we’ll meet up,” Lu Zhiming instructed, then added a few more reminders about preserving evidence, and promptly ended the call.

The black market is called the black market for two reasons: first, because anything can be bought and sold there; and second, because there are no rules there. The black market is strictly divided into two areas: a Trading Zone and an Exchange Zone.

In the Trading Zone, your life and goods are protected, but not in the Exchange Zone, where robbery, murder, and seizing goods happen almost every moment.

You might think that if you only trade and don’t go to the Exchange Zone, you can avoid conflict, right?

That is impossible because the Trading Zone is located in the absolute center, and the Exchange Zone is a circular area wrapped around the outside. Probably due to the founder’s dark sense of humor, you must pass through the Exchange Zone to conduct a transaction.

There are two easy ways to pass through: either your strength is great enough that people in the Exchange Zone dare not lay a hand on you, or you pay a massive protection fee and hire two powerful people to escort you as bodyguards.

While on the way, Fu Liu gave a very detailed explanation of the black market rules. “However, those rules mostly apply to rogue cultivators and people without cultivation. For transformed demons like us, unless they have a past grudge with you, no one will come looking for trouble.”

“Is there no manager in the black market?” Wen Yunqing asked. “A place like this shouldn’t be organized spontaneously, right?”

“There should be, but they have never shown their faces. Some people guess it’s a powerful ancient demon who rarely appears, and others guess the association is behind it,” Fu Liu said, looking at the curious Wen Yimeng through the rearview mirror.

“Miss Yimeng, you are an ordinary person. When you go in later, absolutely do not act alone. Otherwise, you might run into unnecessary trouble.”

“Okay, I’ll stick with Yunqing!” Wen Yimeng felt like a novice who had just stepped into a new world, curious about everything.

“Yunqing, if I learn to draw talismans, how powerful can I become?” Wen Yimeng asked in a low voice.

Wen Yunqing thought for a moment and answered honestly. “If you only use the talismans you draw yourself, you probably can’t defeat Fu Liu, but if you use the talismans I draw, you can easily fight Lu Zhiming to a draw.”

Wen Yimeng nodded. “When we go back this time, give me extra lessons. I want to learn earlier.”

“Good,” Wen Yunqing smiled and couldn’t help but kiss her. “We’ll study for four hours a day then.”

Fu Liu silently moved her gaze away from the rearview mirror, focusing on the road ahead. No envy, no envy. I have a partner too; I can kiss a person! Oh, wait, I can kiss a fox!

By the time they reached the urban area, it was already about 5:30 PM. Wen Yunqing did not rush to the black market immediately, choosing a place to eat and drink until they were full before setting off again.

Relying on Fu Liu’s identity there, the group entered the black market very easily. Before they even had time to pass through the Exchange Zone, they were caught in the crossfire of a fight between others, and three or four ice blades radiating cold air flew towards them.

Fu Liu’s pupils changed instantly, and she immediately shattered the incoming ice blades, her tone not very friendly. “When you strike, aim properly first.”

“Oh, isn’t this Sixth Sister Fu? When did you get so friendly with humans?” The perpetrator who released the ice blades smirked and did not take Fu Liu’s words to heart.

“It’s none of your business,” Fu Liu said coolly, letting Wen Yunqing and Wen Yimeng walk on her inside, then continued forward.

“Don’t be like that. We’re from the same area, after all. Don’t be so heartless,” the person said with a playful smile, his gaze sweeping over Wen Yunqing and Wen Yimeng without concealment, finally lingering on Wen Yimeng’s sensitive areas, where he let out a whistle.

“Let’s make a deal. You hand that person…” Halfway through his sentence, he found he couldn’t breathe. His neck seemed to be constricted by someone. He struggled desperately but couldn’t make a sound. His already pale face started turning red from suffocation.

Fu Liu subconsciously looked behind her. Wen Yunqing’s face lacked its usual smile, her cold eyes fixed on the person, as if he were already dead.

“Bai Wu is from the Bai family. His original form is a snake, and he has some influence here,” Fu Liu explained the person’s identity but did not interfere with Wen Yunqing’s decision.

Just as Bai Wu was about to pass out, Wen Yunqing let out a soft snort, dispelling the surrounding spiritual energy. “Tell him: if there’s a next time, I’ll cut off his head.”

Bai Wu collapsed onto the ground, desperately gasping for air, his eyes wide as he stared at Wen Yunqing, seemingly trying to engrave her image firmly into his mind.

Wen Yunqing clicked her tongue, reached out to cover Wen Yimeng’s eyes, and then sent out two streaks of spiritual energy, directly destroying Bai Wu’s eyes.

Ignoring the miserable screams emanating from him, she used her other hand to pull Wen Yimeng, leading her quickly away from the somewhat bloody scene.

It wasn’t until they walked twenty meters away that Wen Yunqing lowered her hand and asked softly, “Were you frightened just now?”

Wen Yimeng nodded, then shook her head. “A little, but it’s okay. It’s just that person’s screams were a bit horrible.”

“That’s just the rule. Bai Wu instigated the provocation. If it were any other powerful person, no one would say anything if they killed Bai Wu directly,” Fu Liu explained.

“The police and official authorities won’t intervene?” Wen Yimeng asked.

Fu Liu nodded. “The black market involves the interests of many people. If the authorities try to intervene, it will be very tricky.”

When they reached the Trading Zone, Wen Yunqing saw Fu Sanqiu and Lu Zhiming, along with a child who looked like a preteen, being held by Lu Zhiming.

“This wouldn’t happen to be the mastermind, would it?” Wen Yunqing was a little surprised. The person being held truly looked like a child, probably only twelve or thirteen years old.

Lu Zhiming’s expression was a bit helpless. “I really want to tell you no, but that’s the truth. This whole thing was orchestrated by this little brat. She’s incredibly talented in the field of Gu Worms.”

“…” Wen Yunqing had actually considered many possibilities, including the mastermind being a man.

“Teacher Lu, she doesn’t look much like the person in the picture,” Wen Yimeng asked in confusion. “Is she really the person we were looking for?”

“I already asked her. The picture she sent to the deceased was processed, apparently with a lot of filters, so she looked a bit more mature and less childish,” Lu Zhiming said. “Because she’s not of legal age, I need to take her back to headquarters and discuss how to proceed.”

“So, the matter ends just like this?” Wen Yunqing raised an eyebrow. The mastermind turned out to be a preteen child. This case felt somewhat anticlimactic.

“I’ll take her back for interrogation. If she wasn’t being directed by anyone, the case should be closed like this,” Lu Zhiming also felt somewhat dumbfounded. She had prepared for a tough battle, but the result was…

Forget it, this is better. The fewer wicked people who disregard human life, the better.

Fu Sanqiu also felt the job was too easy. Thinking of the reward of six Spirit Gathering Talismans for herself and Fu Liu, she enthusiastically offered to accompany Lu Zhiming to ensure the secure detention of the culprit.

With someone volunteering to help, Lu Zhiming naturally wouldn’t refuse. She immediately handed over the task of controlling the young girl to Fu Sanqiu, stating that since she was already here, she needed to walk around the black market before leaving.

“This is the reward I promised you,” Wen Yunqing did not mince words and directly took out six Spirit Gathering Talismans, allocating three to Fu Liu and three to Fu Sanqiu.

Fu Liu took hers and examined it curiously, then placed one in her pocket and handed the remaining two to Fu Sanqiu.

“Your cultivation is a bit lower than mine right now, so you keep these and cultivate well,” Fu Sanqiu didn’t take them. Instead, she took one of hers and put it in Fu Liu’s clothes. “Once your cultivation is about the same level as mine, we will go back and hold the Binding Ritual (Jieqi Yishi).”

“Okay!” Fu Liu’s eyes were much brighter than before, and she looked incredibly determined.

“Sister Fu, what is a Binding Ritual? Is it to establish a contract?” Wen Yimeng asked curiously.

“A Binding Ritual?” Fu Sanqiu smiled as she thought. “A Binding Ritual is similar to marriage for you humans.”

“Ah, so that’s what it is, but…” Wen Yimeng quickly realized. “Sister Fu, you just said you and Fu Liu are going to perform a Binding Ritual. Are you partners?”

“More or less. Once the ritual is officially done, we will be recognized partners with names and status,” Fu Sanqiu did not deny it. “What’s wrong? There’s nothing strange about us being together. You and Wen Yunqing are in the same kind of relationship.”

Being told so directly, Wen Yimeng was a little embarrassed. “I was just surprised, because Sister Fu, you are settled in Anshi, while Fu Liu lives in Dali. If you are together, why do you live apart?”

“That question,” Fu Sanqiu thought for a moment. “Because we are not from the same lineage of foxes, it’s normal for us to live in different places. Before the Binding Ritual, we generally like to live near our own territory.”

“Although we haven’t been together constantly, we meet up often. It’s not really living apart,” Fu Liu emphasized. “Once we complete the Binding Ritual, I will move to Anshi permanently.”

Wen Yimeng nodded, half-understanding. It seemed that because they were different species, their concepts of dating were also different. If it were her and Wen Yunqing, they probably wouldn’t want to be separated, right?

“Although the black market is a bit chaotic, there are quite a few good things inside. You should go look around, too,” Fu Sanqiu said.

Wen Yimeng: “What about you, Sister Fu?”

“The black market isn’t only here. There are places like this near Anshi, too,” Fu Sanqiu said with a smile.

The black market had no formal shops. It was mostly reinforced sheds with a few tables set up to display goods, and the sellers sat on chairs waiting for customers.

“How much for this?” Wen Yimeng soon saw something that interested her: a very beautiful silvery-white chain.

“I only accept bartering. What can you exchange for it?” the seller said.

Seeing that Wen Yimeng had no signs of cultivation, the seller kindly introduced the item. “Don’t be fooled by the simple structure of this chain. I refined it with demon bones for three whole days. If driven by spiritual energy, it can lock invisible things.”

“Invisible things?” Wen Yimeng blinked. “Does that mean things like ghosts?”

“Haha, something like that, but it can lock more than just ghosts,” the seller said with a smile. “Well, what can you offer me in exchange?”

Wen Yimeng naturally didn’t have any good things to offer. After hesitating, she put the chain back. She hadn’t cultivated any spiritual energy yet, so she probably couldn’t use this thing anyway.

“One Spirit Gathering Talisman,” Wen Yunqing held her wrist, encouraging Wen Yimeng to keep holding the chain. “Besides this chain, I’ll also take that jade brush.”

“A Spirit Gathering Talisman?” The seller hesitated. “I need to verify your Spirit Gathering Talisman.”

“You can,” Wen Yunqing readily took out a Spirit Gathering Talisman and dangled it in front of the seller while holding it in her hand.

The seller was instantly attracted by the aura on the Spirit Gathering Talisman and agreed very happily. He shoved the jade brush into Wen Yunqing’s hand and then precious-like took the talisman, carefully placing it against his chest.

“Do you have any more Spirit Gathering Talismans? If you give me one more, you can pick any two items here—no, three!” the seller said excitedly. With the Spirit Gathering Talisman, his cultivation speed could increase many times over!

Wen Yunqing glanced at the items in the stall, then held Wen Yimeng’s hand and walked away, giving her answer through her actions.

The seller was a bit disappointed, but thinking that he had successfully exchanged two not-very-useful artifacts for a Spirit Gathering Talisman, he couldn’t help but smile again, immediately placing the talisman close to his heart.

“Are Spirit Gathering Talismans that useful? Can one be exchanged for two artifacts?” Wen Yimeng asked. The chain and the jade brush were both placed in her hands by Wen Yunqing.

“The value of a Spirit Gathering Talisman lies in its ability to speed up their cultivation. Anyone who practices cultivation needs it,” Wen Yunqing explained. “Plus, very few people know how to make a Spirit Gathering Talisman, and even fewer are willing to sell them, so its value is high.”

“How long will it take me to learn how to draw a Spirit Gathering Talisman?” Wen Yimeng asked.

Wen Yunqing pondered. “Perhaps, it will require a very long period of practice.”

Seeing Wen Yunqing hesitate, Wen Yimeng understood. Her talent was average, and she probably wouldn’t be able to learn to draw a Spirit Gathering Talisman.

After strolling through the black market, Wen Yunqing gave out two more Spirit Gathering Talismans in exchange for things she needed: a piece of Lightning-Struck Peach Wood (Lei Pi Taomu) and a few artifacts of decent quality.

Upon leaving the black market and passing through the Exchange Zone, Wen Yunqing was unsurprisingly targeted by people, and just as unsurprisingly, she easily beat the attackers down.

Wen Yunqing had originally intended to eliminate all of them and end the future threat. But on second thought, Wen Yimeng had just been introduced to this kind of world, so she restrained herself slightly. She only destroyed their cultivation, not taking their lives directly.

Wen Yimeng was initially scared, but when she saw that Wen Yunqing could easily deal with anyone, she stopped worrying entirely. It seemed that these so-called cultivators weren’t very powerful either.

But then again, the gap between people could indeed be vast. Wen Yunqing had only studied with the Old Taoist Priest for a few years and was already so formidable. She herself had been learning intermittently for several months and still hadn’t even mastered the basics.

By the time the moon was hanging high in the sky, Wen Yunqing and Wen Yimeng were back at the guesthouse in Fu Liu’s car. This time, no one was still playing games in the lobby. After washing up, the two lay neatly in bed.

“Wen Yunqing, you won’t leave me, you won’t suddenly abandon me, will you?” After turning off the lights and lying in bed, Wen Yimeng couldn’t help but overthink.

“Of course not. I like you, and I will always be with you,” Wen Yunqing’s promise was as sincere as ever.

“But cultivators can live longer than most people, right? Will it be that in twenty years, I’ll start having wrinkles, but you’ll still look the same?” In the dark, Wen Yimeng’s naturally sensitive emotions returned, bringing up things she had ignored during the day.

“That’s for demon cultivators. I will grow old with you,” Wen Yunqing said. If it really came down to it, she would just go to the underworld with Wen Yimeng. They could be reincarnated and renew their relationship then.

“Really?”

“Mhm, really.”

Wen Yimeng didn’t stop to consider whether Wen Yunqing was telling the truth or a lie; all she wanted was this kind of affirmative answer.

Soon, Wen Yunqing felt the breathing of the person in her arms slowly become steady, and she quickly fell into deep sleep.

Wen Yunqing lightly kissed her girlfriend’s cheek, then stared blankly at the curtains that weren’t fully drawn.

Today, while Wen Yimeng wasn’t paying attention, Wen Yunqing had exchanged a lot of information with Lu Zhiming. Lu Zhiming told her that recently, the number of restless people had been increasing, and the situation was far more severe than she had described to Wen Yimeng.

Lu Zhiming was very clear about the academic results of Wen Yimeng and Wen Yunqing, and she knew they planned to apply to Jing University together. So, when she applied, she specifically asked the headquarters to assign Wen Yunqing’s jurisdiction to Jing City.

“Although the state says it wants more people to join the system, behind this, there is also a cleanup plan. Those who persistently refuse to cooperate with the state will be eliminated,” Lu Zhiming had said privately.

“You were targeted by official personnel a long time ago. The authorities judged your stance to be unclear and your lethality extremely high. If you hadn’t agreed to my previous suggestion, official personnel would likely have come to test your true strength.”

“Also, many ancient tombs have recently had problems, and many things that were suppressed by our ancestors are starting to emerge. If the situation truly cannot be contained, the state will likely directly announce the existence of these things. You had best prepare for it in advance.”

Lu Zhiming did not disclose too much information privately, but she had told Wen Yunqing everything she could. What remained were things concerning specific classified operations.

The issue with the ancient tombs and the suppressed monsters and ghosts breaking free and becoming active again—this scene was actually very familiar to Wen Yunqing.

Why was it so familiar? Naturally, because Wen Yunqing had experienced all of this before.

In her previous life, or rather, in Wen Yunqing’s original world, these similar events were considered omens before the world’s destruction. When these monsters and ghosts re-emerged and became active, the spiritual energy would be further reduced.

However, these things happened when Wen Yunqing was twelve years old. Based on the timeline of her previous life, after the anomaly occurred, the spiritual energy would still exist at a low concentration for at least another hundred years.

But doesn’t this world have a so-called savior chosen by heaven? The Heavenly Dao is benevolent. Although it brings the crisis of destruction, it also grants humanity a chance at survival, leaving a so-called flicker of hope.

Hopefully, the people of this world find the so-called savior early and nurture them well. If they gamble on this, they can potentially extend the vitality of the world for at least a thousand years.

Wen Yunqing had already been a savior once in her original world, so this time, she did not intend to interfere with this world’s progression.

At worst, the spiritual energy of this world would completely disappear, and humanity would gradually lose the power to resist monsters and ghosts. This wouldn’t have much to do with her in a hundred years anyway. By then, she and Yimeng would probably be working in the underworld.

Shaking off these idle thoughts, Wen Yunqing leaned against her girlfriend’s shoulder, listening to the heartbeat emanating from her chest, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

The next day, the sunlight pierced through the gap in the curtains, lying lazily upon the two of them, signaling the arrival of a brand new day.

“Ah~” Wen Yimeng yawned before even opening her eyes. The sunlight that snuck in was very clever, landing exactly on her face, rousing her with its effort to spread light and heat.

“Yunqing, what time is it?” Wen Yimeng rubbed her eyes, trying hard to chase the drowsiness from her head.

“Hmm, let me see.” Wen Yunqing opened one eye, glanced at the phone she had just fetched from the bedside table. “It’s almost eight o’clock. If we get up now, we can eat the free breakfast provided by the guesthouse.”

“What time did we go to sleep last night?” Wen Yimeng asked.

“Before midnight, around 11:30 PM,” Wen Yunqing quickly recovered her full wits and sat up, supporting herself on the bed. “We slept for eight hours. Time to get up.”

“Okay,” Wen Yimeng blinked hard and pulled herself up by Wen Yunqing’s shoulder. “What should we do today? How about we go sightseeing with Su Ning and Zhou Jun? We’re going back tomorrow anyway.”

“If we rush to check off sights, we might as well take our time. It’s not like we’ll never come back to Dali,” Wen Yunqing leaned against the headboard, her expression languid. “If you really want to travel, we can stay a few more days. The scores haven’t come out yet anyway.”

Wen Yimeng nodded. That was true. She should continue to relax… No! She needed to seize the time. “If we don’t go out today, continue teaching me how to draw talismans! I need to practice! I want to become powerful!”

Wen Yunqing smiled, her eyes full of indulgence. “Alright, then let’s find a comfortable tearoom private booth, and I’ll teach you slowly.”

After once again having her worldview refreshed, Wen Yimeng’s enthusiasm for learning returned. After breakfast, she immersed herself in studying, her serious attitude rivaling her preparations for the college entrance exam.

To maintain Wen Yimeng’s passion for learning, Wen Yunqing used the opportunity of holding hands to feed spiritual energy into her meridians little by little, allowing her to successfully activate a Flash Talisman before dark, creating a small ball that emitted white light.

Although the small ball only existed for a short three seconds, and the light was so faint that Wen Yimeng almost didn’t notice it, this did not affect Wen Yimeng’s ecstatic mood.

“How is it? Do I have talent in talismans too?” Wen Yimeng asked excitedly. She was desperately seeking approval now.

“Of course! That’s really amazing! To learn to activate the Flash Talisman so quickly,” Wen Yunqing praised directly. “If you keep this up, Yimeng, you might really be able to draw a Spirit Gathering Talisman.”

“Of course,” Wen Yimeng raised an eyebrow, looking completely confident. “Human potential is limitless. If you don’t work hard, you’ll never know how powerful you are.”

Wen Yunqing’s smile grew wider. “Yes, Yimeng, you are right. Only by truly putting in the effort will you know how powerful you are.”

Wen Yimeng raised her chin. “Maybe one day, I can also become a very powerful master.”