It Turns Out The Master's Wife Is Actually Me [GL] - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Yan Li let out a cold snort, then suddenly spun around. With a sweep of her long arm, she pulled Cheng Fu entirely into her embrace.

Ignoring Cheng Fu’s incoherent mumbling against her shoulder, Yan Li gave Chen Qianru a sharp, cold nod. I appreciate you looking after her. I’ll take Xiao Fu from here.

The familiar dim yellow candlelight flickered into view. Even though Cheng Fu’s head was a chaotic mess, she could recognize Yan Li’s uniquely gloomy sleeping quarters.

Drunk and emboldened, she stared fixedly at the cold, dignified Yan Li sitting on the main seat, letting out a silly giggle. Yan… Yan Li, you’re st-still so beautiful.

The frost remained on Yan Li’s brow, but her gaze visibly softened.

She asked, What did you call me?

Cheng Fu stumbled as she grabbed the edge of the desk to pull herself up. Her eyes burned with a bright, focused light as she enunciated every word: I… I call you, Yan Li. Yan Li, you’re very beautiful.

The snow-haired Sword Master sat frozen in the main seat, looking like a masterfully carved jade statue, unmoving. Her eyes were darker than the night outside, heavy and black, as if harboring unknown, surging undercurrents.

The first time we met, you said the same thing.

The yellow candlelight cast shadows under the exquisite bridge of Yan Li’s nose. The low-quality flame flickered unsteadily, causing her expression to dip in and out of the shadows, making it difficult for Cheng Fu to see clearly.

She heard Yan Li’s quiet voice, now as soft as a mosquito’s hum, murmuring something. The voice drifted through her blurred, drunken vision, much like the ambiguous expression on Yan Li’s face.

The last sound Cheng Fu heard before falling into a deep slumber was her Master’s voice slightly cold, yet ethereal.

Sleep.

Cheng Fu felt limp all over, her mind a blur. One moment she was beside Chen Qianru, and the next she was in darkness, a profound sense of confusion rising in her heart. After a long while, her eyelashes finally fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was the familiar ceiling of the Fifth Courtyard. The academic culture of Zhiwang was quite unique; every dormitory had slogans written on the ceiling like Do not sleep, meditate or Low-quality sleep is inferior to high-quality meditation, reminding students not to waste time and to maximize cultivation efficiency.

Cheng Fu closed her eyes numbly, unwilling to look any longer. Exhausted, she lazily shifted positions. Her eyes held a mix of post-sleep grogginess and total bewilderment.

As she lay slumped against the wall at the foot of the bed trying to remember, Shen Wenxun’s crisp voice exploded in her ear: Cheng Fu! Get up! Qianru is already washed up and waiting for you while she packs her medicine pouch.

Glancing at the spiritual sundial, Cheng Fu immediately bolted upright. It was nearly the end of the Mao hour (7:00 AM) morning classes were about to start.

Cheng Fu hurriedly groomed herself and, the moment she stepped over the threshold, grabbed Chen Qianru, who was leisurely reading a medical book at the courtyard gate. Aren’t you worried, Qianru? We’re going to be late! Flying swords are forbidden in the academy, start running!

Chen Qianru had just folded a page to make a mark when she was pulled into a stumble by Cheng Fu, nearly falling.

She helplessly closed the book and said, No need to panic. With the Character Testing Realm approaching, students who have registered no longer follow the regular curriculum. They are to go to the Martial Field on their own to train for team synergy.

Cheng Fu stopped in her tracks and turned back, looking thoughtful. Oh? Is that so? In that case, I still have time to hit the dining hall for breakfast.

Chen Qianru:

When Cheng Fu walked onto the Martial Field carrying several beast-meat buns, she was met with a sea of bobbing heads. Dense crowds stood in various positions across the field. At a glance, it was easy to tell which people were on the same team and which teams were at odds with each other. A few male cultivators from different teams were even shouting at each other across half the field.

This was the students’ most important practice ground. The academy’s Dharma-cultivator handlings cleared the snow daily, even developing a specialized Dust-Clearing Hex for it. With a snap of the fingers, not even a trace of snow remained. The cleanliness and brightness of the Martial Field were legendary.

Cheng Fu chewed on her savory bun, thinking that the dining hall’s meat filling was excellent she’d have to get this again next time. She scanned the field and precisely locked onto Chen Qianru’s signature azure medicine pouch, heading straight for it.

Liao Zilu, who shared the same precise tracking ability, happened to turn in that direction. Seeing Cheng Fu, she waved excitedly: Cheng Fu! We’re over here.

Several nearby disciples heard the shout and looked over curiously. Cheng Fu treated those gazes like thin air, swallowing a mouthful of bun just as she reached the four members of her team.

Xin Yunze and Gu Da were standing with their arms around each other’s shoulders, debating which wine was truly the finest in the world. At Cheng Fu’s gesture, Liao Zilu reached into the breakfast bag, grabbed a bun, and started munching, energetically lecturing Cheng Fu on which spirit-beast meat was the tastiest at the dining hall. Cheng Fu didn’t disappoint, nodding seriously as she listened.

Among the five, only Chen Qianru was intently focused on the “Character Testing Realm Entry Guidelines” that had just been distributed.

After a while, Chen Qianru shook the paper in her hand and finally spoke: Everyone, stop for a moment. The rules for the Testing Realm have changed this year. Listen up.

The chatter and movements of the others ceased, replaced by looks of confusion. Liao Zilu and the others were confused by the sudden change in rules, while Cheng Fu was confused about what the rules were in the first place. Five different stomachs held five different sets of questions, and all eyes landed on Chen Qianru.

Chen Qianru’s face was calm, her tone steady. Xiao Fu is here and doesn’t know the realm well, so I’ll explain the rules in detail.

Cheng Fu nodded silently, folding the empty breakfast paper to throw away later.

Previously, the Testing Realm only had a Team Trial phase a team-based competition where performance against inner demons was the standard for advancement. This time, the Headmaster felt the test wasn’t comprehensive enough and split the event into three distinct rounds.

The first stage is the old Team Trial. Teams face an inner-demon illusion, and those who achieve an ‘Excellent’ rating advance.

“The second stage is Team Duel. Instructors within the illusion will set a matching spell that randomly pairs two advancing teams into the same inner-demon scenario to eliminate each other. If a student’s heart-meridians ‘break,’ they are sent out. The last team remaining in the realm wins.

The final stage is the Ultimate Test. It will use an academy instructor’s inner demon as the background. The specific rules for that will only be announced once the final stage begins.

Xin Yunze listened with a complex expression, growing more dumbfounded by the second. Breaking through one inner-demon realm already takes forever. With all these stages, how long is this whole test supposed to last?

Chen Qianru replied, I don’t know. Also, the rewards for the Testing Realm have changed. They haven’t been announced, only described as something ‘all cultivators covet.

Gu Da looked indifferent, unhooking her jade bottle for two gulps. She tilted her head. Team strength is the only thing that matters. Does the rule change really make a difference?

Cheng Fu couldn’t help but steal another glance at the free-spirited Wine Cultivator.

Xin Yunze’s expression was as arrogant as ever. He clapped his hands twice in agreement with Gu Da. Gu Da is right! This Young Master doesn’t care about rule changes. Individual strength is the only hard truth!

Liao Zilu swallowed her bun whole and grumbled, Sister Da said team strength! What are you shouting about ‘individual’ for? You want to show off alone and ignore your teammates’ lives?

“Hah,” the boy’s brows shot up. Don’t go pinning labels on this Young Master!

Liao Zilu’s pretty almond eyes went wide, fury practically overflowing. Who’s labeling you? If you’re not convinced, let’s fight! Whoever wins is right!

Clang! The sound of metal hitting metal rang out. In the blink of an eye, the two had drawn their swords and were duking it out.

Cheng Fu:

Gu Da’s eyes held a post-alcohol haze, but her expression was one of disdain. She let out a snort through her nose. Bratty kids.

Cheng Fu watched the fierce exchange and the flash of sword shadows, letting out a silent laugh.

In front of the long, chaotic blue-and-azure building, lush green forest leaves swayed freely. Amidst the thick trees, a plain white figure stood.

The person was upright, their beauty surpassing anything in the Five Domains. Her voice was cold: If there is a mistake, I shall take full responsibility alone.

Standing before Yan Li was an old man with a gaunt, sunken face, looking as if he already had one foot in the grave.

The old man sneered, Immortal Yan, I know you possess great powers. But why must you come to the Five Spirit Domains, and specifically target my Mount Zhiwang to proctor this test? This is against the rules.

Yan Li’s tone remained unchanged. An old friend is here. I apologize for the intrusion.

The old man remained silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh, his cloudy eyes unreadable. Immortal, you have traversed the planes for so long. An inner barrier has already formed; it will hinder your Great Dao ascension.

Yan Li said, Ascension is not my wish. I seek nothing from the Great Dao.

The old man’s voice was raspy, but his tone softened into helplessness. You having cultivated to this point, you should understand that a proliferation of delusive thoughts is the greatest taboo for a seeker. You should have ascended long ago, yet you linger in the mortal world due to obsession. Have you never considered that this is the tribulation the Heavenly Dao has brought upon you?

The snow-haired sword cultivator’s gaze was tranquil. Let it be a tribulation. I have endured a hundred lightning strikes; I am willing to cross a Love Tribulation just once.