Chapter 105
“Not really…” Tang Lingwu sniffled, her voice sounding muffled and nasal. “Teacher, I might not come to class anymore.”
(End of this chapter)
**Chapter 117: Illness**
In the old Bai's house.
The light was dim, and Zheng Fa sat in the living room with two others.
The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
“Your mom doesn’t let you come here anymore?” Old Bai asked softly.
Tang Lingwu nodded gently, then shook her head.
She sniffed again, trying not to worry the two, and forced a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “My mom hasn’t been well lately, so I want to spend more time with her.”
Zheng Fa fixed his gaze on Tang Lingwu’s eyes.
She seemed reluctant to meet his gaze, lowering her head, her hair casting a shadow across her face, hiding her exhaustion and helplessness.
“What’s really going on?” Zheng Fa pressed.
“Because of me.” After a long silence, Tang Lingwu replied softly, “I stayed out too late before, and my mom got a bit angry…”
Zheng Fa recalled that they had all been a bit too excited while searching for the Wu Xing Zi Fu (Five Elements Talismans), returning home later than usual those days.
Tang Lingwu’s phone had rung several times during that period.
“Later, my mom found out I was staying up late. She couldn’t sleep and was tossing and turning all night.”
Zheng Fa’s mind flashed to the notebook filled with talisman drawings—she had discovered the Jin Xing Zi Fu (Gold Element Talisman) during those late nights.
It all seemed to revolve around him.
“That doesn’t mean she can stop you from coming here, does it?” Old Bai frowned slightly. “Has her condition worsened?”
“No… It’s just that we had a fight a couple of days ago, and she couldn’t take it anymore, so she forbade me from coming.” Tang Lingwu’s tone carried a hint of regret.
“Why did you fight?”
“I told her… I’m not going to minor in management anymore. I want to minor in computer science, and she thinks I’m not listening to her, so she won’t let me go out.”
Old Bai shot a glance at Zheng Fa, then turned back to Tang Lingwu, puzzled. “Wait, why did you want to minor in management in the first place?”
Tang Lingwu explained to them, “It was my mom’s idea. She said after I graduate, I could go abroad to study business… and then come back to take over my dad’s company.”
“And computer science…”
Zheng Fa noticed Tang Lingwu’s head tilted slightly toward him, as if she wanted to see him but quickly stopped herself.
“I’ve recently discovered that I really like computer science!”
Tang Lingwu’s voice rose a bit, as if she thought a louder tone would convince them.
He felt a mix of emotions.
This girl probably realized that computer science would be very useful for studying talismans, and knowing that Zheng Fa was wary of outsiders learning about their cultivation practices, she came up with the idea of minoring in computer science.
Tang Lingwu lifted her head, seemingly aware that they didn’t quite believe her, and added, “Actually, I don’t want to study computer science or business at all; I just hadn’t told my mom before!”
“Why not?”
“My mom never let boys get close to me, which is fine, but she’s always following me around. I’ve never had a close friend growing up, so I really lack social skills.”
“With just a couple of familiar faces like us, I can still feel comfortable.”
“But when there are too many people, I just don’t like it. I get impatient talking to them. I’m not cut out for business, and I’m definitely not suited for managing a company.”
Tang Lingwu’s expression was one of helplessness as she explained to them, “I originally planned to study mathematics and do research. If I really have no talent, I could still get by in the math world with L'Hôpital's rule.”
Old Bai was momentarily taken aback, his earlier concern vanishing.
Zheng Fa understood him well—after all, the moment she mentioned L'Hôpital, a name synonymous with academic success, what was there to feel sorry about?
Seeing the two of them at a loss for words, Tang Lingwu’s face broke into a mischievous smile as she stood up. “Now that my mom won’t agree, I guess I’ll just have to go back and inherit my dad’s fortune! You guys don’t need to worry; my mom is still waiting for me. I’ll head out now.”
“I learned a spell recently.”
Zheng Fa suddenly spoke up from behind her.
“Hmm?”
Tang Lingwu paused, slowly turning her head.
“It’s called the Yang Shen Fu (Nourishing Spirit Talisman).”
“Yang… Shen… Fu?”
Tang Lingwu repeated the words, her tone trembling with curiosity. “You mean…?”
“I can’t be sure if it’ll work,” Zheng Fa said cautiously. “I can only say it can strengthen a person’s spirit and nourish their soul, and the effects are gentle—meaning it won’t do any harm, even if it doesn’t help much.”
This was one of the main reasons he chose the Yang Shen Fu—though it wasn’t the most effective for healing the soul, it was the safest option.
While the Xuanwei realm had far surpassed modern understanding of the soul, the two worlds were still different, and Zheng Fa opted for a relatively conservative choice.
Tang Lingwu nodded slowly, the unnatural smile from before fading, but her eyes brightened considerably.
“If you’re worried, we can try it out first,” Zheng Fa suggested.
“Try?” Old Bai blinked, asking, “On whom?”
Zheng Fa looked at him.
“I’m not doing it!” Old Bai quickly waved his hands. “My mind is perfectly fine; I have no issues at all!”
“I’ll do it,” Tang Lingwu said, biting her lip.
Zheng Fa pointed, and the Yang Shen Fu in his dantian trembled slightly.
A surge of spiritual energy burst from his fingertips, forming a golden rune in the air that flew toward Tang Lingwu’s forehead.
Tang Lingwu seemed a bit nervous, instinctively closing her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering. The talisman sank into her forehead, and she suddenly went limp, collapsing toward the ground. Zheng Fa hurriedly caught her and laid her down on the sofa.
“What happened?!”
Old Bai was startled, thinking something had really gone wrong with Tang Lingwu.
But upon closer inspection, both of them relaxed.
The girl was sleeping soundly—she even let out a soft hum due to a slight nasal congestion.
Tang Lingwu didn’t sleep long; she woke up after about fifteen minutes.
The change in her was striking.
When she arrived at Old Bai’s house, Tang Lingwu had looked exhausted, her spirit low, and dark circles under her eyes made it clear she wasn’t well.
Now, she seemed like a different person—her complexion was rosy, her eyes bright, and she radiated energy.
Old Bai leaned in closer, curiously examining her, and asked, “What’s with the big change? How do you feel?”
“Feel?” Tang Lingwu grinned widely.
Zheng Fa felt that she was radiating a bubble of happiness and silliness.
He heard her say in a dreamy voice, “It feels like my head is soaking in a hot spring, and my soul is basking in the sun…”
“I want to try! I want to try!”
Old Bai, listening intently, seemed genuinely tempted and shouted at Zheng Fa.
“Didn’t you say your mind is fine?”
“...What mathematician isn’t a little crazy?” Old Bai replied defiantly. “Let me have a go!”
…
“My mom doesn’t believe me.”
After hanging up the phone, Tang Lingwu said helplessly to the two.
Zheng Fa wasn’t surprised.
After all, he was just a classmate of Tang Lingwu’s; it was normal for her mother not to believe him.
“I’ll do it!”
Old Bai reached out, and Tang Lingwu hesitantly handed her phone to him.
“Hello? Yes, it’s me.”
Old Bai greeted the other party with familiarity.
“Yes, yes, I’m calling to talk about this kid.”
“He really has this ability; he’s amazing!”
“Don’t doubt it! I’ve tried it!” Old Bai insisted. “Oh, right! I have issues too! I’ve been taking medicine!”
The person on the other end seemed to believe him, listening to Old Bai’s ramblings.
“Think about it; I only agreed to tutor Xiao Tang because I got paid. I didn’t charge that kid anything!”
“Exactly! That’s why!”
“Is today good?”
Old Bai looked at Zheng Fa, who shook his head gently.
He had already tried the Yang Shen Fu on Tang Lingwu and Old Bai twice today.
If he did it again, the talisman in his dantian would dissipate.
“Tomorrow! After school tomorrow, I’ll come to your house? Sure, sure!”
After hanging up, Old Bai turned to the two with a triumphant expression.
“...Teacher, how did you…”
Tang Lingwu looked at him with a hint of admiration.
“People with issues see problems everywhere.” Old Bai shook his head. “Do you really think I was joking when I said math majors are crazy?”
“…”
“I’ve seen a lot; I have experience!”
Old Bai’s tone carried a weight of life experience that was both heart-wrenching and profound.
…
As soon as the school bell rang the next day, Tang Lingwu jogged over to Zheng Fa’s desk, her eyes sparkling as if afraid he might change his mind.
Zheng Fa shook his head helplessly, not even having time to pack up his papers and pens before standing up to follow her outside.
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