The Demon Cult Leader’s Path to Chasing His Wife [Ancient to Modern] - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Climbing a Tree to Catch a Fish (Part 2)

Zhang Kuang was not in a good mood.

Her two underlings noticed this very clearly.

Previously, no matter how shocked or uncomfortable Zhang Kuang felt regarding modern technology, she had always maintained a calm facade. Despite holding the title of Cult Leader, she was not a reckless person. Influenced by unknown factors, she controlled her emotional expression with calculated moderation; her joys and sorrows were never written on her face.

Only when it touched upon matters involving her wife would Zhang Kuang explode instantly. Her emotions would shift in a flash with no discernable pattern. The two underlings could clearly feel her rising anger, causing the room’s temperature to drop several degrees.

Zhang Kuang was indeed furious.

Her wife talking business with someone else? She endured it. Her wife not remembering her? She endured it. Her wife pushing her away forcefully? She endured it. But her wife saying she liked someone else? She, she, she—

She could not endure it!!!

However, aside from plotting in her mind how to eliminate this “popular little flower” actress without leaving a trace, Zhang Kuang was also angry with herself. Today, not knowing her wife didn’t recognize her, she had rashly rushed up to hug her—a truly discourteous act. Besides offending her wife, she was angry at her own uselessness. As a newcomer who hadn’t even established a foothold, what capital did she have to pursue her lover?

In the past, Zhang Kuang could command a hundred responses with one call; her spiritual power stood above ten thousand people, and she possessed endless rare treasures. Even with those conditions, she felt she didn’t deserve her wife’s excellence, let alone now in modern times where she was penniless and lived within four bare walls.

The more she thought, the more annoyed she became. Better just to kill that ‘Little Flower’ directly 🙂

Lu Qian didn’t follow celebrities, but Song Muzhao knew them like the back of her hand. While cautiously watching the Boss’s expression, she roughly explained the definitions of “celebrities” and “traffic idols.” As for high-level “fandom war” rules, Zhang Kuang didn’t need to know those.

After hearing the explanation, Zhang Kuang’s face softened slightly, and the oppressive aura dissipated significantly. She pondered Song Muzhao’s words and asked: “So celebrities share many similarities with stage actors and dancing girls.”

Song Muzhao: “Hmm… you can’t really say it like that. A celebrity’s social status is quite high, and they have great influence.”

Zhang Kuang nodded, lost in thought for a while.

The two underlings began to exchange secret glances.

Lu Qian whispered: “Hey, I think I’ve seen that woman before. She looks familiar.”

Song Muzhao: “You’ve definitely seen her. The cases she takes are all related to big companies.”

Lu Qian shook his head: “No, a while back, wasn’t my sister’s hotel being extorted? I think the lawyer she hired was her!”

Song Muzhao froze, then pushed him urgently: “Then why aren’t you creating an opportunity for the Boss?”

Lu Qian said helplessly: “Did you forget I was kicked out of the house? By the time I pass my math test and go home, the Boss will probably have waited until the flowers wither.”

While the two were muttering, Zhang Kuang pondered for a long time and suddenly made up her mind.

“Are celebrities powerful?”

The two underlings were stunned by the non-sequitur. Song Muzhao answered carefully: “If you’re famous, many people will like you, and it’s easy to make money.”

Zhang Kuang nodded and asked: “How does one become a celebrity?”

The martial arts attire she wore was meticulously sewn by a seamstress; the hem was pressed with gold thread into a cloud-leaping dragon that looked down on all living things, its terrifying momentum making it seem as if it would leap out from the mist.

Zhang Kuang’s face was calm, making it impossible to guess her thoughts. She spoke softly: “I want a great deal. But since I cannot start over, I shall find another path.”

The two underlings were very inspired, feeling the Boss was wise, divine, and incredibly cool. Moreover, her words seemed to have a deep subtext.

In truth, Zhang Kuang wasn’t thinking much. She had only one thought:

I must become more popular than that trashy traffic idol, and then make my wife repost my photos every day saying I’m beautiful and that she likes me!!

Xia Zhitao took out her keys and unlocked the door.

The heater wasn’t on, and the house was a bit cold. She took off her high heels, placed them in the shoe rack, and threw herself onto the sofa.

After a busy day, she was truly too lazy to cook. Tomorrow, there was a stack of documents to organize and materials to review; the mere thought gave Xia Zhitao a headache. Although the legal profession was dizzyingly busy, at least the salary was substantial. She could afford the medical bills and utilities at home without having to scrimp and save anymore.

Speaking of which, where was that person?

Feeling inexplicably worried, Xia Zhitao checked her phone. To her surprise, the other person had sent her a text first: “Sis, an urgent mission came up suddenly. I won’t be back tonight.”

Xia Zhitao gently rubbed the edge of her phone and replied: “Be careful.”

Of all the professions in the world, he had to be a policeman. Xia Zhitao sighed and added a few more instructions: “Make sure to take care of yourself. Remember to eat something even when you’re on a mission, okay?”

Xia Zhisong replied quickly, in his usual cheerful tone: “I know, Sis! You don’t need to worry!”

With her younger brother not coming home, she was alone again. Xia Zhitao put on her slippers, turned on all the lights in the house, and began to scroll through her phone while cooking instant noodles.

Sinking into the soft sofa with her feet on the fluffy rug, she saw the TV dramas and variety shows she was planning to watch. If there weren’t so many to-do items for tomorrow, life would be quite pleasant, Xia Zhitao thought.

Someone shared a set of photos featuring beautiful latte art. Xia Zhitao liked them and reposted them, leaving a comment: “This looks amazing. I really need coffee right now.”

It was a habit formed during her student days. Although she had become immune to caffeine’s stimulating effects, it didn’t hinder her love for coffee. If it weren’t for the fact that instant coffee tasted too poor and was high in sugar, she would want to drink it every day.

She saw another set of edited influencer photos. Xia Zhitao clicked through them but felt they weren’t particularly good-looking. As she scrolled listlessly, she suddenly thought of the woman she met today.

Like someone walking out of a painting, she had vibrant features, and her eyes held a flowing light and fire. It was a beauty that was assertive to the extreme, yet she had retracted all her aggression, burning quietly and intensely.

That is a top-tier beauty.

A pity, though. They likely wouldn’t meet again.

“Boss! I’ve got it settled!” Lu Qian waved his phone triumphantly. “There’s a studio looking for a martial arts double tomorrow. I’ll take you there to get used to the atmosphere! If you like it, we can join one of those talent shows to build up some popularity.”

“Well done,” Zhang Kuang said. “I’m troubling you.”

Lu Qian said happily: “It’s my honor to be of help to the Boss.”

The two underlings seemed much more excited than Zhang Kuang, starting to discuss how to make her famous and imagining a bright future. Then, they began to argue over who would be her manager.

Zhang Kuang used Song Muzhao’s phone to scroll for a while, then suddenly looked up and asked with focus: “What is coffee?”

The underlings leaned in, saw the Weibo post Xia Zhitao had just made, and immediately understood.

Thus, early the next morning, Zhang Kuang very reluctantly changed out of her black martial arts attire and put on a so-called “professional outfit” prepared temporarily by the underlings. They had discussed making it a grand occasion, and Zhang Kuang had pulled out her long robes from her time as Cult Leader. However, the two underlings turned pale and waved their hands, saying it was too extravagant, vetoing her suggestion.

Zhang Kuang had never worn such clothes before; she felt strangled and uncomfortable all over, finding it hard to breathe. Moreover, with most of her skin exposed, she felt a chilly breeze.

Zhang Kuang held two cups of coffee—freshly ground coffee Lu Qian had specifically gone to a high-end cafe to buy. Not knowing what kind of coffee Xia Zhitao liked, Lu Qian relied on his sister’s friendship with the cafe owner to get two cups of the most expensive coffee for free. Zhang Kuang slightly circulated her spiritual energy, slowly heating the coffee in her hands so that it would still be warm and ready to drink when Xia Zhitao received it.

The three arrived at Linshen Law Firm and crouched suspiciously in a corner. An uninformed observer would have thought they were some sort of suspicious individuals. While waiting for Xia Zhitao to arrive, they began to discuss “Cult Leader’s Wife-Chasing Plan 1.0.”

“It must be natural! Natural, understand?” Song Muzhao held a book titled Overbearing CEO: Don’t Run, My Sweet Wife and spoke seriously to Zhang Kuang. “And you can’t be nervous, you can’t wimp out, and you absolutely cannot flee at the last second!”

Zhang Kuang listened intently, saying nervously: “Mhm.” She added uneasily, “I offended her yesterday… she might still be angry with me.”

Lu Qian said: “Boss, don’t be a wimp!”

Song Muzhao added: “Yes, no wimping out! And you must appropriately display a bit of that ‘Overbearing CEO’ aura. The Madam will definitely be charmed by you and fall in love!”

“What is the meaning of ‘CEO’?” Zhang Kuang asked.

Song Muzhao was speechless: “Ah, don’t worry about that detail! Just be cool and suave.”

“Hurry, hurry!” Lu Qian urged. “Get ready, she’s here!”

Zhang Kuang immediately stood up and flashed a smile.

“Is this okay?” she asked the two.

The two underlings were dazed by the sudden, brilliant smile, failing to react for a moment. After a long while, they said in unison: “Beautiful! Go, quickly!”

Zhang Kuang steadied her nerves and walked toward the figure in the distance.

The person was, of course, Xia Zhitao, who was rushing to the law firm in the morning. She was pondering her case strategy and walking fast, somewhat absent-mindedly.

Someone blocked her path, and Xia Zhitao looked at the person with surprise.

Zhang Kuang could barely hold the coffee steadily, yet her face remained calm: “Hello.”

Song Muzhao wanted to throw her book. The planned line, “What a coincidence, we meet again,” had been eaten by Zhang Kuang, replaced by a stiff “Hello.” How was the other person supposed to respond to that?!!

Xia Zhitao looked at her and said: “Uh… hello?”

Zhang Kuang handed over the coffee and said: “Coffee. I bought it specifically for you.”

Oh, Cult Leader! Song Muzhao was going crazy.

The script they had agreed on was: “First, give a cool smile, then say softly: ‘Coffee. I bought an extra cup; better to give it away than waste it,’ then leave immediately, leaving only a lonely and melancholy silhouette.”

—How had the coffee become “bought specifically for you” in such a short time??

Xia Zhitao hesitated but took the coffee. The warm coffee in her hands sent waves of heat through her palms. The aroma of the coffee drifted up, permeating the cool morning breeze with a familiar scent she loved.

She said: “Thank you.”

Zhang Kuang gave an “Mhm.”

Xia Zhitao said: “I don’t know your name yet.”

Zhang Kuang said: “…Zhang Kuang. My name is Zhang Kuang.”

She hesitated for a moment, then, seeing Xia Zhitao holding the coffee, suddenly said: “Try it first. If you like it, I can bring it to you every day.”

Xia Zhitao smiled: “That would be too much trouble.”

She took out her phone. “How much was the coffee? I’ll transfer the money to you via WeChat.”

“No need for money,” Zhang Kuang said dully.

Xia Zhitao wanted to say more, but in the blink of an eye, Zhang Kuang had already disappeared.

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