It Turns Out The Master's Wife Is Actually Me [GL] - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

When Cheng Fu opened her eyes again, she was still being dragged by the young man through the snow.

However, the scenery was becoming clearer. Residential buildings were coming into view; she had reached a place inhabited by people. Yan Li and the group of youths behind her moved with great speed, and before long, they arrived before a ceremonial archway (pailou) built of white stone.

The archway was entirely white, its depth defined only by exquisite carvings. The pillars and flying eaves were masterfully crafted, standing there as if blending into the wind and snow. Only the four golden characters on the plaque shone brilliantly, catching the eye. Cheng Fu scanned them and read the name in her mind:

Zhiwang Academy.

So, she thought, Yan Li must be a teacher at the academy, leading a group of students on a training exercise in the snowy plains.

As they stepped through the archway, Cheng Fu felt the tension among the students melt away. They began to chat and joke in low voices, and the massive, once-orderly formation of students began to sway and drift. Listening to their laughter, she poked her head out curiously to observe the academy.

The academy was built against a mountain. At a glance, the white slopes and ridges were dotted with student dormitories featuring green tiles and black walls—ancient and simple, yet possessing an indescribable, clever charm. Cheng Fu watched with great interest, and the gloom in her heart dissipated by half.

After climbing several flights of stone steps along the mountain, a student dressed in white led Cheng Fu to a small low-rise house to settle in. The elevation here wasn’t high, almost at the foot of the mountain; from here, she could see many households with curling chimney smoke below.

The student leading her was a clean-looking, handsome youth. He smiled at Cheng Fu and said, You’ll stay here for now. Rest and heal your injuries before we discuss the matter of the snowy plains. Our academy isn’t in a hurry to drive people away, so stay as long as you need. The masters in the academy all have very good temperaments.

A wave of warmth rose in Cheng Fu’s heart, and she returned a bright smile. “Thank you so much.”

The youth gave a bashful laugh and scratched his head. It’s nothing. Someone will bring you some daily necessities later. It’s getting late, so if you’re hungry, just walk toward the mountainside. The path is easy to find; after a few steps, you’ll see a plaque that says ‘Refectory’ you can go straight there for a meal.

Cheng Fu nodded. The youth gave her a few more instructions before bidding her a hurried farewell. I still have to prepare for tomorrow’s lecture, so I’ll be going now!

Once the boy left, Cheng Fu flopped onto the bed in the room and let out a long, comfortable sigh. She was exhausted. Lying there like a boneless heap, her mind was filled with images of the ice plains and Yan Li.

Just then, 068’s cold voice surfaced: “If the Host has a moment, please familiarize yourself with the original body’s experiences to avoid leaving too many flaws in this world. This is detrimental to mission progress.”

Cheng Fu gave an oh and, in a half-dead state, allowed 068 to pour eighteen years of the original body’s life into her head.

This body shared her name Cheng Fu and was the only human disciple of the Shark Immortal of the East Sea. Picked up by the Shark Immortal’s eldest disciple as a child, her extraordinary talent was recognized at a glance. Indeed, Cheng Fu had formed her Core (Jindan) at the age of fourteen. For a cultivator whose lifespan at the Foundation Building stage could reach 300 years, this talent was one in ten thousand.

Every member of the Shark race marveled at her talent, certain she would become a powerful figure capable of summoning winds and rain. In fact, most cultivators who had shown such talent were now the elite of various continents.

But only Cheng Fu knew that from the moment she formed her Core, she could no longer absorb even a speck of spiritual energy. Her meridians seemed completely blocked. She had consulted many medical cultivators, all of whom said her meridians were resilient and smooth. They claimed that while her talent was great, the progression from the Golden Core stage was not easy.

When she told them she couldn’t absorb energy, the medical cultivators shook their heads, believing her talent had made her impatient. They thought she was just hitting a bottleneck. “Those with great talent always have too high expectations for themselves, they would say. “It’s a case of pulling at the sprouts to help them grow.

Anxious and desperate, she finally sought out the Shark Immortal, Bai Hen, who had been in seclusion for years. Bai Hen’s deep blue eyes looked at her intently. There is indeed a restriction on you, but it was not my doing. I have no way to break her restriction.

Thus, ignoring the pleas of the Shark people, she packed her bags and headed alone to the Wintry Snowfields.

The Wintry Snowfields were a holy land for sword cultivators and the location of the world’s number one institution: Zhiwang Academy. The academy’s library was famously vast. Bai Hen once said that the library within Zhiwang Academy was actually a rift in space-time, containing knowledge that didn’t even belong to this world.

Cheng Fu’s arrival was ill-timed; she had transmigrated into the body just as the original Cheng Fu reached the most perilous depths of the snowfields.

The cultivation level left by the original body is at the Golden Core stage, 068 added. It shouldn’t have been so difficult to handle a single white-furred beast. The Host should familiarize yourself with the spell-casting pathways of this body as soon as possible to better facilitate the mission.

Cheng Fu replied listlessly, I know, I know. Can’t you talk about anything other than missions?

“Host, I am a Mission System. I naturally exist only for the mission,” 068’s voice remained flat.

Cheng Fu fell silent, feeling she had nothing to talk about with this AI-like system. She yawned and suddenly remembered something. You’ve been nagging me forever why haven’t you mentioned what the mission actually is?

068 seemed to fall silent for a moment. There’s a bug at headquarters. Host, please wait, I am working to load it.

Remembering that she had ended up here because of some system transaction accident, Cheng Fu grumbled, “If the system is this buggy, don’t take on business. It’s practically a disaster for all living things.

A moment later, 068’s voice rang out again: Mission loaded. Body Number 8197. Assigned mission: Capture the Heart of the Genius Sword Cultivator, Xin Yunze.

Would the Host like to view the basic information of the target, Xin Yunze? You may choose to view it later.

Cheng Fu gave a grunt of affirmation, and the data appeared before her eyes in the form of floating text.

Target Information Sheet

• Name: Xin Yunze

• Gender: Male

• Orientation: Unknown

• Occupation: Student

• Affiliation: Zhiwang Academy

Cheng Fu: …

The fact that the sheet was this sparse was one thing, but what on earth did Orientation: Unknown mean? She closed the useless information sheet with a subtle feeling of annoyance. Out of five lines of information, only the Affiliation was actually useful.

Xin Yunze was a student at Zhiwang Academy, and now, by some twist of fate, she was staying there too. Her next step was to find a way to stay for good.

As her stomach growled, Cheng Fu headed toward the refectory the boy had mentioned.

Brother, may I ask you something?

A student in plain robes turned around to see Cheng Fu holding a food tray. He hesitated for a moment before saying, “Of course. There’s still time before evening study. Please, go ahead.”

I was rescued on the snowfields by students from Zhiwang,” Cheng Fu said with feigned sincerity. Therefore, I deeply admire the spirit of this academy. I’ve heard it’s extremely difficult to gain admission, so I wanted to ask what the requirements are?

Understanding dawned in the student’s eyes, and his expression softened. There are two ways to enter Zhiwang: the entrance examination or a master’s recommendation. The academy holds a large-scale exam once a year. If you pass, you’re in but they only take 50 people each year.

The other path is a recommendation from an academy master. This place is full of hidden legends; every master is a standout expert from the five great spiritual realms. Thus, a recommendation from any master allows for direct entry. However, the masters here do not give recommendations lightly. In the centuries since Zhiwang was founded only a handful of students have entered through recommendation.

Cheng Fu cupped her hands. Thank you

The entrance exam for the world’s top academy would be extraordinary. Even though the original body was gifted, the current her didn’t even know basic spells or control techniques. Furthermore, the exam period was far off, and Cheng Fu wanted to finish the mission as quickly as possible.

While the recommendation path was harder, it didn’t mean the other way was closed. Cheng Fu decided to keep the entrance exam as Plan B. However, the recommendation path seemed even steeper. She had only met Yan Li once why would he bother recommending her?

Just then, the storage pouch at her waist twitched. Simultaneously, 068’s impassive voice rang in her head.

The care package from headquarters has arrived. Please open your inventory to check.

Cheng Fu looked down at the flat embroidered pouch, highly doubting if the tools provided by the system were anything more than a pair of nail clippers.

As she pulled the drawstring, a tingle of electricity ran through her temples. Suddenly, she could clearly see the items stored inside. Her gaze fell upon a bundle of crimson talismans with yellow borders.

068’s voice chimed in: “System Care Tool: [Fate Talisman] x10. Use on a designated person in the Host’s world to create an appropriate karmic connection.

System Care Tool: [Spring Breeze Smile] x2. Effectively helps you create a harmonious atmosphere.

System Care Tool: [Dimension Cutter] x3. Can cut through space-time dimensions. Versatile and instantaneous. Known among soul-transmigrators as the ‘Life-Saving Miracle Tool’.

Cheng Fu pulled out a Fate Talisman, her eyes lighting up.

Over the ice plains, where the wind usually howled and the sky stayed bright, the light was visibly darkening. Inside Zhiwang Academy, even the usually composed top students were whispering, buzzing like a pot of water about to boil.

Outside, the bitter wind blew as usual, but if one looked closely, the snowflakes were mixed with fine droplets of rain. As soon as evening study ended, the lecture hall exploded with noise.

A student with short-cropped hair asked, When was the last time it rained on the Wintry Snowfields? Thousands of years ago?

Don’t exaggerate. It was 900 years ago,” replied a youth with sharp, sword-like brows. He had a playful look in his eyes as he toyed with a short sword in his hand. But this snowy rain doesn’t just happen. If I recall correctly, a snow-rain is a sign of the Purple Heavenly Thunder.

Hiss I remember now! The last time the Purple Thunder struck after a snow-rain, it was when Meng Cangru, the one who slaughtered Qingshan, came into the world! The speaker then nudged the youth next to him. “Yunze, with your talent, were there any omens when you were born?

Xin Yunze gave a short laugh, revealing a canine tooth. No omens. But when my mother gave birth to me, she died.

He lowered his eyelashes and ignored the surrounding chatter, walking straight out. The other student watched his back blankly before jumping back into the heated discussion.

“Purple Thunder a sign that a genius is born, and a catastrophe follows.

Agitated, Xin Yunze threw his decorative short sword onto the bluestone floor and walked toward the back mountain, radiating a cold aura. His talent had always been high, and he excelled in his studies, but the one thing that constantly annoyed him was people mentioning his mother. He was naturally proud and loathed being pitied.

When he was frustrated, he went to the back mountain of Zhiwang. For some reason, it was exceptionally cold there, and consequently, few people ever visited. He liked it that way the extreme cold helped him stay clear-headed and allowed him to better forge his sword intent.

As he walked the familiar path, his heart suddenly skipped a beat. He looked around warily.

He felt a condensed Sword Intent Field.