The Demon Cult Leader’s Path to Chasing His Wife [Ancient to Modern] - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Insight and Manifestation (Part 2)

The martial arts instructor came to a realization; he felt that the Master must have come out of seclusion to experience the myriad flavors of life, and his previous comment must have displeased the Master.

Who would have known that Zhang Kuang actually just wanted to earn some money?

“Very well,” Director Li spoke up, his words and actions revealing his satisfaction with Zhang Kuang. “Then, Xiao Zhang, you head home first. We will notify you immediately once there’s a fight scene to film.”

Since Zhang Kuang hadn’t bought a phone yet, Lu Qian happily left his own number. Mindful of picking up her wife from work, Zhang Kuang bid a brief farewell to the crew members and left with Lu Qian.

Ding Lina watched their departing figures, her fingernails digging deep marks into her palms.

No.

NO!!

Zhang Kuang was far too flamboyant and eye-catching. A martial arts double was supposed to be a masked laborer’s role, so why did it turn into something else entirely with her? As long as this double was around, Ding Lina would look like a background prop at all times. This could not be allowed.

Gritting her teeth, she took out her lipstick to touch up her makeup. A smile curled on her lips as she walked toward Director Li with dainty steps.

“Director Li—” Her voice was soft, blowing gently like a silken breeze into his ear. “Let’s not use that double, okay?”

Director Li naturally placed his hand on her waist, his tone indifferent: “It’s just a double’s position.”

Ding Lina’s eyes shimmered with shifting waves. Her slender fingers pushed against his chest, teasing out a bit of restless desire. “Please, I’m begging you.”

“Fine, fine, everything as you wish. We won’t use her.”

When Xia Zhitao returned, she saw two people waiting near the Linshen Law Firm.

A pair of long legs dangled from the large tree nearby. Though tightly encased in black silk, they were still well-proportioned and beautiful. Through the lush foliage, one could vaguely glimpse her ink-black clothes. The person sitting on the branch shifted, playfully shaking down a few leaves.

A boy with a somewhat familiar face crouched beneath the tree, saying with a miserable expression: “Boss, I can’t get up there.”

Lu Qian spotted Xia Zhitao walking over from a distance. After a second of eye contact, he suddenly made an excuse and slipped away like he had oil on the soles of his feet.

Xia Zhitao, carrying her things, walked toward the tree.

She looked up at the leaves and said with a smile: “Why did you run up into a tree?”

The leaves shook violently, and someone “fell” down. It was called a fall, but she adjusted her posture mid-air with extreme speed and landed steadily on the ground, looking perfectly calm and composed.

“The scenery is good in the tree,” Zhang Kuang explained silently.

Xia Zhitao looked at Zhang Kuang and saw her long hair tied up, her clothes neat—if one ignored the few stray leaves clinging to her hem.

“We meet again,” Xia Zhitao looked at her, her tone carrying a hint of inquiry. “Are you waiting for me specifically?”

Zhang Kuang was wearing her black martial arts outfit—crisp and efficient, very different from the formal wear she had worn when delivering coffee yesterday.

Zhang Kuang was momentarily at a loss for words. After leaving the studio, she and Lu Qian had rushed here so quickly she had forgotten to think of an excuse.

Xia Zhitao stood quietly, watching Zhang Kuang struggle to think of a reason for a while. Finally, Zhang Kuang simply admitted it:

“Yes, I am waiting for you.”

When she said this, her gaze was incredibly earnest, as if golden flames were dancing within her eyes.

Zhang Kuang’s beauty was truly a violation of the rules. For a fleeting moment, Xia Zhitao was moved by that gaze, but she quickly adjusted her mindset. She stared at Zhang Kuang and poured out her doubts: “Why are you looking for me?”

She folded her arms and asked word by word:

“The previous misunderstanding is over. From the coffee yesterday to waiting here today—I don’t know you at all, and we’ve never met before. Why are you pursuing me so persistently?”

“I… I just want to get to know you. It has nothing to do with your legal work; it’s the kind of knowing each other as friends.”

Zhang Kuang felt a little aggrieved and added in a tiny voice:

“Really.”

Xia Zhitao had seen many people, but Zhang Kuang was the strangest of them all. She never deigned to feign and held concealment in contempt. She took herself apart and showed herself to you, so candidly that it made one unable to bear refusing her.

Xia Zhitao sighed and took out her phone.

Zhang Kuang got a bit anxious seeing this and hurriedly said: “Yesterday’s coffee was a gift, no money needed!”

Xia Zhitao let out a “pfft” and laughed. She raised her phone and shook it: “Don’t you want to get to know me? Let’s add each other on WeChat.”

Zhang Kuang’s eyes lit up instantly.

It was as if waves were rolling over sand; a bonfire burned fiercely in the dark night, jumping sparks reaching the horizon and igniting all the stars in the sky at once.

But wait—

What is WeChat?

“So, you don’t even have a phone?”

The Great Cult Leader looked at the troubled Xia Zhitao and nodded obediently.

Zhang Kuang explained: “The place where I originally lived didn’t have such a thing as a ‘mobile phone.’ And I only came here a few days ago due to an accident. Currently, I’m staying at a friend’s house.”

Zhang Kuang deliberately kept some details vague, worried that if she told the truth, Xia Zhitao wouldn’t believe her at all.

She carefully observed the other’s expression. “How about you write down that ‘number’ first? I’ll add you once I buy a phone!”

“No need,” Xia Zhitao said.

Zhang ‘Little Flower’ had been high-spirited just a moment ago, but she slumped instantly upon hearing this.

Xia Zhitao said: “Wait for me a moment. I’ll take you to buy a phone and a SIM card.”

Zhang Kuang: “!!!”

“Really?” Her voice was a bit breathless with excitement. “You’re going to take me?”

Watching Xia Zhitao smile and nod, Zhang Kuang felt like she had exploded into a happy firework against the sky.

Heavens! I am too happy! My wife doesn’t just ‘not hate me,’ she’s even taking me shopping!

She crouched at the entrance of the law firm, cupping her face and giggling foolishly. Her eyes curved into crescents, her brows filled with a bright smile like flowers in first bloom, carrying the breeze and warm sun, blossoming layer by layer.

Zhang Kuang attracted quite a lot of attention. Passersby stared at her, dazed by that smile. Many even pulled out their phones to secretly take a photo of her.

Hearing the door open behind her, Zhang Kuang turned around. She saw that Xia Zhitao hadn’t changed her clothes, only swapped her high heels for canvas shoes. Carrying a small bag, she said with a smile:

“Alright, let’s go.”

Zhang Kuang nodded and hopped up from the steps. Xia Zhitao naturally leaned over and took her arm: “My car is parked in the back.”

The Cult Leader was going crazy. Her beloved was within reach; the faint fragrance from her body lingered at the tip of Zhang Kuang’s nose. And such a primitive, intimate gesture…

Xia Zhitao didn’t know that Zhang Kuang’s internal state had tangled into a ball of yarn; she simply viewed her as a good friend—going shopping with a beautiful girl was a happy thing to begin with, wasn’t it?

“Do you want to sit in the front passenger seat or the back?” Zhang Kuang was staring at the “iron box” in front of her, worrying about how to open it, when Xia Zhitao suddenly asked.

Sitting in the “passenger seat” seemed like it would be closer to her beloved? Zhang Kuang said decisively: “The passenger seat.”

Xia Zhitao nodded and pulled open the car door. Zhang Kuang hurriedly followed suit and opened the passenger door.

It feels a bit like a carriage, Zhang Kuang thought. She sat formally in the seat, not daring to move an inch.

Xia Zhitao looked at her: “Fasten your seatbelt—wait, Zhang Kuang, is this your first time in a car?”

Zhang Kuang nodded.

Xia Zhitao suddenly leaned over, her whole body hovering over Zhang Kuang. She lowered her head, her fan-like eyelashes blinking. One or two stray strands of hair brushed against Zhang Kuang’s collarbone, bringing a faint, itchy sensation.

Zhang Kuang’s breathing became shallow. Her hands instinctively gripped the seat, her entire body tensing up. “W-what is it?”

This position was truly delicate. As long as Zhang Kuang lowered her head slightly, she could see the other’s fair, mutton-fat-jade-like neck, and further down…

“Don’t be nervous,” Xia Zhitao pulled the seatbelt over. “This strap is a safety measure; it can protect you in a crisis.”

With a “click,” the seatbelt buckled.

Can this thin little strap really protect a person?

“I will protect you,” Zhang Kuang suddenly spoke. “No matter what.”

Xia Zhitao looked at her with slight surprise but only gave a shallow smile and didn’t answer.

People came and went in the Apple flagship store, many of them testing the new phone models. Children held tablets, their short little fingers swiping across the screens as they played interesting games.

Xia Zhitao politely declined the sales associates who swarmed them, leading Zhang Kuang to the counter to try the devices.

“Actually, these models are all about the same,” Xia Zhitao introduced. “See which one you like.”

Zhang Kuang didn’t know herself. The small iron boxes covered in glass all looked the same to her. She didn’t understand anything about performance or processing speed.

“Then I’ll choose for you,” Xia Zhitao said. She turned to the sales associate. “Could I have one of the latest models, please?”

Zhang Kuang peeked at the price, and the long string of zeros on the tag gave her a fright. She calculated it: based on her “brick hauling” income of three hundred a day, she would have to go without eating or drinking for a month to save enough.

Although she didn’t actually need to eat, the price was still too high.

“Is it too expensive?” The Demonic Cult Leader began to worry about money. She explained very honestly, “I don’t have this much money.”

Xia Zhitao didn’t mind. “I’ll cover it for you first. Just remember to pay me back later.”

Zhang Kuang nodded. She watched as Xia Zhitao pulled out a small card and swiped it casually to make the payment. Xia Zhitao saw the good deed through to the end; the two of them also sorted out a SIM card nearby and even topped up some credit for Zhang Kuang.

Upon returning to the front of the law firm, Zhang Kuang held the phone and said: “Thank you.”

Xia Zhitao smiled. “You’re welcome. Let’s keep in touch.” Having said that, she prepared to head back, but was called out to by Zhang Kuang.

“Wait a moment.” Zhang Kuang lowered her head, seemingly searching for something on her person. Xia Zhitao waited curiously for a while, until she saw a look of slight surprise on Zhang Kuang’s face. “Found it!”

She stretched out her hand; a small piece of jade lay in her palm. The jade’s texture was translucent, its tone delicate and lustrous, vividly carved into a small rabbit. Under the sunlight, the jade carving appeared increasingly emerald and lush, shimmering with a clear watery light. It was obvious at a glance that it was no ordinary item.

“I bought it while shopping earlier,” Zhang Kuang handed the jade to her. “A gift for you.”

Although she said that, this was actually a piece of jade Zhang Kuang had unearthed from the ground, and she had secretly carved the rabbit herself to give to her wife. Even though her wife didn’t remember her, the gift was still delivered to the right person.

Xia Zhitao didn’t know the jade market and thought it was just a glass imitation bought from a roadside stall, so she accepted it.

She placed the little rabbit on her office desk. The rabbit was carved so adorably, its little head tilted to the side, its eyes seemingly darting around to watch people.

“Lu-idiot, what’s wrong with the Boss? She’s been staring at that phone and giggling foolishly for an hour.”

“Shut up. The Boss’s thoughts are profound and unfathomable. How could mere mortals like us hope to catch a glimpse?”

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