Chapter 140
At that time, the old man Bai was acting alone—after all, Zheng Fa didn’t know the person, and given that the individual was gravely ill, they probably didn’t want to be disturbed. It wouldn’t be appropriate for them to just show up unannounced.
“I didn’t see her,” Bai said, his tone a bit strange. “I even missed the funeral she organized for herself.”
“... Her own funeral?”
Zheng Fa felt as if he couldn’t understand Chinese characters anymore.
“Yeah, that person said she wanted to hold her own funeral while she was still alive. I heard it was a real tearjerker…”
“…”
“And now?”
Bai pulled out his phone, opened a short video app, and selected a video blogger from his list.
“Here.”
Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu leaned in closer, and on the screen, they saw an elderly lady in a military-green jacket, wearing sunglasses, her hair flying in the wind, grinning broadly as she rode a black motorcycle, roaring across the open fields.
“What is this...?”
“Traveling the world, of course.”
Zheng Fa finally understood why Bai said he hadn’t seen her.
“Professor Bai, what does she do?”
Tang Lingwu’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the lady on the screen, a hint of envy in her gaze—this was probably how she imagined herself in the future.
“Didn’t Zheng Fa say he needed an agricultural expert?” Bai explained. “This lady has dedicated her life to agricultural research, never married, no kids, just tending to the land.”
“... But she doesn’t seem like it?”
Zheng Fa glanced at the screen again, feeling a bit skeptical.
“She said she’s been so down-to-earth her whole life, and now that she’s nearing the end, she wants to be a bit more fashionable,” Bai sighed. “Old rebels, I tell you.”
“…”
“Professor Bai, what’s your relationship with her?”
Considering their ages and looking at the spirited lady on the screen, Zheng Fa couldn’t help but entertain some ambiguous thoughts. “We met at a senior matchmaking event in the capital,” Bai admitted, a bit shyly. “I ran into her there.”
“Did you like her?”
“... A little.”
“She turned you down?” Zheng Fa asked again.
“…” Bai sighed, “She wasn’t even there for matchmaking! She said she didn’t want to get married; her mother forced her to go—saying she’d be alone when she got old and would need someone to take care of her.”
“How old was she back then?”
“Fifty-eight.”
Zheng Fa fell silent. At fifty-eight, she was still being pressured to marry; no wonder she rebelled in her old age.
“She even said, ‘Well, if I die early, my mom won’t have to worry anymore,’” Bai lamented, sounding as if he still had lingering feelings for her.
“You two…”
“Can’t be old partners, but can’t we be old friends? I’ve been in touch with her these past few days, but she’s on the road and replies slowly.” Bai opened the chat list on the app. “Oh? She replied?”
He glanced at the message, then looked up at Zheng Fa. “She’s coming to the provincial city next month.”
He didn’t say the rest, but Zheng Fa understood the plea in his eyes.
He looked at the notebook in his hand and said, “If I can help, I’ll give it a try.”
…
In the Xuanwei Realm, today was the day Sister Zhang was leaving the sect.
She wasn’t going alone.
This time to Taiyang County, she would bring a group of her disciples along.
If Sister Zhang were traveling alone, she would naturally go as fast as she could.
But with these disciples in tow, for safety’s sake, she chose the sect’s flying shuttle—this was a type of vessel commonly used by cultivators, shuttle-shaped, five to six times faster than a guiding boat, but it could carry far fewer people.
A group of people stood at the dock, with Sister Zhang at the front.
The departure time had already passed.
Yet Sister Zhang didn’t move, only lightly furrowing her brow, as if waiting for something.
Some disciples felt it was a bit strange but didn’t dare to speak, merely exchanging glances with their companions:
“Who is Sister Zhang waiting for?”
You see, Sister Zhang was known for her decisiveness; she was the type to leave as soon as she said so.
Who could, or rather, who would dare to make her wait?
At that moment, she stood at the dock for quite a while, seemingly willing to wait a few more hours.
One disciple turned his gaze toward the distance and pointed.
Dust was rising, and Zheng Fa’s figure hurriedly approached from afar.
With a talisman for speed affixed to his leg, he rushed to the dock and, upon seeing Sister Zhang and the others, finally felt relieved. “Sister!”
He called out to her.
Behind Zheng Fa were the seven young masters and their siblings, who were also familiar with Sister Zhang. Hearing that she was heading to Taiyang County, they had come to see her off.
Sister Zhang looked at him, disheveled as he was, and couldn’t help but smile.
The disciples behind exchanged knowing glances, their eyes filled with understanding.
“I’m late…”
Zheng Fa said, a bit embarrassed, and opened his mouth to explain.
Sister Zhang waved her hand, cutting him off. “I know you.”
Zheng Fa was taken aback, then suddenly smiled, handing her a book he was holding.
“‘The Three Sons’ Law? For me?”
Sister Zhang looked down at the title, then back up at Zheng Fa.
“Yeah, it’s not perfect yet, but it might help you a bit,” Zheng Fa said. “I was so busy copying this book that I almost missed seeing you off.”
Behind them, the seven young masters and their siblings watched the two talk, not daring to step forward.
Sister Zhang had ties to the Zhao family, but ultimately, it was a relationship from the previous generation—Sister Zhang herself wasn’t particularly close to them.
They both witnessed as Sister Zhang’s brow relaxed, and the brilliance in her eyes made them feel as if this was not the Sister Zhang they knew.
“Are you also going to Taiyang County?”
Sister Zhang suddenly asked Zhao Jinglan.
“... Yes!”
“Are you living at Zheng Fa’s place now?”
“... Yes!”
“Then you should get on the boat too.” Sister Zhang nodded at Zhao Jinglan, who seemed to be in shock, standing there for a long time before finally saying:
“Is that... convenient?”
“We’re old friends; there’s nothing inconvenient about it.”
Sister Zhang shot a glance at Zheng Fa and spoke with righteous authority.
“... Yes!”
Zhao Jinglan turned to look at Zheng Fa, her gaze thoughtful.
Going with Sister Zhang was certainly better; after all, it guaranteed a certain level of safety and provided a layer of protection.
As they watched the flying shuttle gradually disappear, the seven young masters stroked their chin, looking at Zheng Fa with suspicion. “Did Sister Zhang really take my sister along just because of our families’ relationship?”
“... Sister Zhang is just a warm-hearted person!” Zheng Fa said, trying to maintain a serious expression.
“... I just saw how happy she was when you handed her that book!” the seven young master scoffed. “What’s in that book? Love poems?”
“…”
Zheng Fa realized that the seven young master thought the book was a love letter.
But…
The first author was the old man Bai, who struggled to pursue a rebellious old lady.
That didn’t seem to match.
The second author, well, that was Tang Lingwu…
…
By the river next to the dock, a young man stood on a small boat, dressed in a scholar’s long robe, watching the departing flying shuttle. He quietly said to the two beside him, “Zhang Wuyi has left; let’s investigate this Zheng Fa’s background.”
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 145: Different (4K)
Chapter 145: Different 4K
The three of them looked like a master and his servants.
The one in front resembled a young gentleman from a noble family, with clear features that showed no hint of malice.
The other two were more ordinary, one middle-aged and one young, dressed like servants, but their expressions didn’t seem typical.
Hearing the scholar’s words, the younger man on the left asked, “Young master, this Zheng Fa has just gained some fame in Jiushan Sect; he’s merely a Qi Refining cultivator. Why should we care so much?”
The young master shot him a glance but didn’t respond.
“... You talk too much!” The older man slapped the questioner across the face, scolding him, “If the young master is interested in this person, we’ll investigate. Do we need to explain it to you?”
“... I know my mistake.”
The young man who was slapped didn’t dare to show anger; he just lowered his head, acknowledging his fault.
Hearing this, the young master looked at the two for a while before speaking, “It’s not just Zheng Fa; we won’t let any genius from the Hundred Immortals Alliance or even the Xuanwei Realm slip by.”
The other two exchanged glances, seemingly puzzled.
“Last time, when Lingji was weak, a peerless talent emerged from the Tianhe Sect. Our Holy Sect didn’t pay attention at first, but in the end, he nearly unified the Xuanwei Realm.” The young master’s face showed a mix of fear and longing as he continued, “That time, our Holy Sect was almost wiped out.”
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