Chapter 90 Get Down

Ling Shu had always been tactful in the past when she offended him, and she always knew how to read her expression and attitude; she had never acted like this before.

Rude, tough, and cold.

At this moment, Zhuang Jinfu clearly sensed that the little girl was different from before.

In the past, when she questioned or threw tantrums, Zhuang Jinfu only thought of her as a kitten throwing toys, a minor tantrum that was harmless, so he always indulged her.

Things are different now.

The little girl has grown up.

She had a wonderful figure, with her ample curves accentuated by her beautiful neck. Her face had smooth lines, and she no longer had the fleshy cheeks that one could easily pinch. She wasn't as fair as she was three years ago; she had gotten tanned. Her lips, eyebrows, and nose were perfectly proportioned, and her eyes were bright and clear, radiating youthful brilliance while also possessing a unique composure.

The grip on her wrist was stronger than it had been three years ago, and the hand was now about the same size as hers. Ling Shu's hand enveloped her, and compared to her cold body temperature, it felt scorching hot, as if it would burn her through.

In his astonishment, Zhuang Jinfu took in the overwhelming sense of aggression emanating from Ling Shu.

Seeing Zhuang Jinfu's bewildered expression, Ling Shu chuckled smugly: "Scared?"

"..." Zhuang Jinfu turned his head away.

Ling Shu pinched her chin, turned her back to face him, and made her look at her: "Master, look clearly, I am no longer the same as I was three years ago. I also have a divine position in the heavens; I am also revered on earth. I will no longer fear you or be afraid of you in the slightest. I will only follow my heart more directly and recklessly."

Ling Shu's warm breath brushed against her, making Zhuang Jinfu's face itch. In the past, she knew that Ling Shu could never be stronger than her, so she had a kind of indulgence from an elder to a junior. Now, Ling Shu's straightforward gaze swept over her, and the unspoken meaning was all too clear.

Ling Shu is about defying superiors.

She is capable of defying authority.

Zhuang Jinfu has held a high position for many years, and no one in the world has ever surpassed her. She dislikes being in a weak position.

Ling Shu made her feel a sense of crisis.

"Get off."

Ling Shu straightened up, spread her legs, and knelt beside her. She raised her hands, gave a mischievous smile, revealing two tiger teeth: "Get out, I'll get out." She slowly backed away and stood by the couch.

Zhuang Jinfu propped himself up, stretched out his hands in front of her, and commanded, "Untie me."

Ling Shu raised an eyebrow, her expression flippant and casual, and untied her hair tie. She then fastened the tie back into her hair, restoring it neatly to its original position.

Ling Shu: "Now you know what a scoundrel I am."

Zhuang Jinfu: "Heh."

Ling Shu smiled brightly: "Then I'll take my leave."

Ling Shu obediently withdrew from the room and returned to the Zhang residence.

It was past noon, and Boss Zhang had left her some food. Yao Yao was tired from studying at school early in the morning, so she took a nap after lunch. Her school only required classes in the morning, and only some homework was assigned in the afternoon, which was to be handed in the next day, so the pressure was not high.

Inside the room, Mr. Zhang was fanning his daughter. It was early summer, and the weather was getting warmer. Hearing the door open, he put down the fan and went outside. Seeing Ling Shu return, he felt relieved and went to the kitchen to bring out some fish soup.

She asked if the matter she encountered was difficult and if everything had been resolved, inquiring with concern like a worried old mother. Ling Shu answered each question, adding that she had already met with her master, and now that everything was cleared up, they probably wouldn't see each other again.

After lunch, Ling Shu went out for a stroll and went to Taoyao Village's stronghold in Nanxi City to find a "good place to inquire" about Wang Lifu's whereabouts.

"Haodaoting" is a bird demon that gathers information and has strongholds throughout the Shangqing Realm.

The demons of the demon race all knew Ling Shu, and of course their own demon king did too. Entering the teahouse stronghold was effortless. The informant led her to the inner room, where they served tea and bowed. Ling Shu was not used to it. In the past, everyone in Taoyao Village was approachable. It was only after coming to the human world that she encountered these annoying rules.

"Relax, I'm not going to eat you." Ling Shu picked up her teacup and took a symbolic sip. After all, the other person had poured her tea with great respect, and not drinking it would seem like she was disrespecting them, taking their respect for granted, and putting on airs.

"Yes, yes, I know. What do you want to know?"

Ling Shu cut to the chase and asked, "I'm inquiring about someone, Wang Lifu, the head of the Shangqing Sect. I heard that she has resigned from her position as the leader of all the sects in the Shangqing Realm, and has also given up her position as sect leader. She has also given up the Wang family and gone into seclusion in the mountains. Is this true?"

"have."

Where?

“Our informant last saw her at Zimu Mountain, and then we searched everywhere for her without success.”

Ling Shu understood the implication: "We've searched everywhere, what are you looking for her for?"

The bird demon spoke in a melodious and pleasant voice, and said with a smile, "Elder Taosong sent us to look for him, saying that he would report to you if there was any news in the future."

Aunt Tao really knows her inside and out. "That's thoughtful of her. Do you know who she went to Zimu Mountain to see?"

When asked what she knew, the bird demon puffed out her chest, full of confidence: "Go see the head of the Li family, Li Qiaoyan."

Ling Shu thought it made sense. Wang Lifu and Li Qiaoyan had been married for many years, though they were estranged and had never even shared a bed. But they still had a long-standing bond as husband and wife, so it was normal for him to say goodbye to his wife before retiring.

"Thanks." Ling Shu put down a bag of spirit stones and went out.

Upon receiving the news, she went back and told Boss Zhang about her upcoming journey. Boss Zhang was very reluctant to let her go and said with a smile, "I've moved my home and tavern from Wuyang City to Nanxi City. If you're having a hard time outside, you can come here. Your aunt will take care of you."

Ling Shu thanked him repeatedly and packed his things that very day, planning to set off early the next morning.

Wang Lifu was looking for Ling Shu, who didn't like owing him anything. Three years ago, Ling Shu had a chance to escape because Wang Lifu had blocked the enemy's fire. After this escape, Wang Lifu must have received news of her "death."

Fame, power, and status were Wang Lifu's greatest desires in life, and even Wen Ji could not sway her determination to have them. Why did she give up all of them? She had once knelt down to protect the Shangqing Sect from disaster and calamity. Could she just give them up like that?

Whether she's doing well or badly, we should go and see her, both out of courtesy and reason.

If there are old injuries...

Ling Shu didn't dare to think any further.

Ling Shu gazed at the moon from the window for a long time that night.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, just as she wished.

After washing up, I lay down to sleep. In the middle of the night, half-asleep and half-awake, I felt a little cold. I squinted and reached for the blanket, and vaguely saw a figure by the bed.

Ling Shu suddenly woke up, terrified and breaking out in a cold sweat. Zhong Cheng Sword sensed its master's fear and took the initiative to protect her, flying in front of her to block her, the sword pressed against the intruder's neck.

The person standing by the bed offered no resistance; they simply stood there.

He exuded a chilling aura, his aura was pure and of a high level, and he was upright and righteous. There was only one person like him in the world.

Ling Shu waved her hand at the candlestick, and the candle flame lit up, illuminating the room with a dim yellow light.

"Zhongcheng, go back to your sheath and go to sleep." With a whoosh, Zhongcheng obediently returned to its sheath.

Ling Shu sat up and said impatiently, "Master, don't stand by my bedside like a ghost in the middle of the night, it's scary."

Zhuang Jinfu stepped forward, sat down beside her on the couch, and looked at her.

Ling Shu: "...It's the same whether you're sitting or sitting."

Zhuang Jinfu didn't speak, but pulled the blanket over and carefully wrapped Lingshu up. The two looked at each other awkwardly for a while. Lingshu pulled the blanket away as if disgusted, but Zhuang Jinfu insisted on wrapping her up.

Ling Shu pulled the covers away again, saying impatiently, "Master, it's the middle of the night, Hai Gu will worry about you being home alone. Oh, I won't cover myself!"

Zhuang Jinfu: "I'm cold, you cover yourself with this."

Ling Shu: "..."

Ling Shu rolled up the blanket and went to sleep. Turning over to her, he said, "Go back to where you came from. I won't see you off any further."

After speaking for a long while, there was no rustling sound of anyone getting up, and the air was still just as cold.

A grown man was sitting right next to the bed, his presence was so strong, how could anyone sleep like that? Ling Shu got up in anger: "I told you we were parting ways, what are you trying to do now?"

"You say you're done, so don't even think about it." Zhuang Jinfu stared at her, as domineering as ever. "You were the one who provoked me, inviting me into your life. I did all sorts of things with you, and you say you're done, so don't even think about it. I ask myself, I haven't done anything to wrong you."

Indeed, there was nothing wrong with her. Zhuang Jinfu had always treated her extremely well, even to the point of spoiling her excessively. Whatever she wanted, Zhuang Jinfu would give her. Ling Shu immediately felt guilty and her momentum weakened.

So he had to change the subject, "It's the middle of the night, and I can't sleep well here either. Hai Gu is a demon, living alone at home. It wouldn't be good if she were discovered by cultivators."

Zhuang Jinfu remained silent.

Ling Shu threw back the covers and got out of bed: "I'll take you back." She didn't want to go back by herself, so she would take her back. That should be alright, right?

Zhuang Jinfu seemed to tacitly agree, kneeling down before her and taking her foot to put on her shoes and socks. Ling Shu shook off her foot, saying with disdain, "It's freezing cold."

Zhuang Jinfu silently withdrew his hand, stood up, and stepped aside to wait for her to put on her shoes, socks, and coat.

Ling Shu felt the icy coldness around her suddenly subside and she warm up, then the temperature suddenly dropped and returned to normal.

Zhuang Jinfu looked down at the magical power gathering in her palm, his hand trembled slightly, and he withdrew his hand somewhat helplessly.

As Ling Shu put on her coat, she couldn't help but say, "You can't even control your temperature anymore, Zhuang Jinfu, you're really pathetic."

Zhuang Jinfu said earnestly, "I will intensify my cultivation."

Ling Shu dressed, blew out the candle, and led her out the door. She opened the door quietly and then closed it again.

Zhuang Jin looked down at the wrist that Ling Shu was holding from behind, and the corners of his mouth curved into a smile.

He went straight to the Qing residence after leaving the house.

The two stopped in front of the gate.

"You can go in now."

Zhuang Jinfu stood still.

Ling Shu grabbed her wrist, secretly opened the door and led her out. Once inside, she asked Zhuang Jinfu which room she wanted to stay in, to which Zhuang Jinfu replied, "Any room is fine."

Ling Shu was too lazy to look for a room. She stopped in front of the master bedroom, let go of his hand, and said in a low voice, "I'm too lazy to look for a room. It's your own home anyway, you can stay in whichever room you like."

"Um."

As soon as she finished speaking, the door of the first room on the west side creaked open. Hai Gu got up in the middle of the night, pushed open the door, and vaguely heard voices, "Who is it? Who's there?"

Ling Shu pulled Zhuang Jinfu into the master bedroom. The door to the master bedroom was ajar, and they were able to hide inside. After hiding, Ling Shu wanted to slap her forehead. That was Hai Gu, why was she feeling guilty?

Hai Gu looked around the courtyard. "Nobody's here." She figured she must have misheard, so she yawned and went to relieve herself.

Ling Shu turned around and bumped into Zhuang Jinfu, their faces so close that she couldn't help but hold her breath.

A person who has once stirred your heart will still make your heart flutter at the sight of them again.

The candles inside were still lit, and Zhuang Jinfu had lit an ever-burning lamp there.

Ling Shu stepped to the side, shifting her body to avoid being hit, and turned to walk out. Suddenly, a strong, cold wind blew in from the doorway, slamming the door shut with a click as the latch fell.

Ling Shu hurriedly went up to pull at the door latch and found that the barrier covering the Qing residence had also landed here. This was a kind of protective door magic. All the doors in the courtyard were connected to the main barrier. If a thief bribed the servants to come in and steal, the thief could be locked inside the door.

The barrier set up by a Mahayana cultivator cannot be broken by Ling Shu. For cultivators above the Golden Core stage, it takes at least five years to break through each level. Ling Shu's three-year journey from the early Golden Core stage to the late Golden Core stage is already considered genius.

Zhuang Jinfu bluntly stated that, given the excessive depletion of her cultivation due to the natural disaster, she could no longer even control her temperature. Therefore, it was impossible for her to have set up this barrier. The only Mahayana cultivator she knew was Cang Luo.

Camel, you dead camel! You tried to protect the Immortal Venerable, but you've gotten me into trouble!

After the surgery, Ling realized why she hadn't spoken when Hai Gu was alone at home. She was waiting for Hai Gu to offer to bring her back and come in on her own.

How stupid! When you're in the wrong and feeling guilty, how could you forget about the barrier?

Ling Shu didn't want to argue with her: "Everything between us is in the past. I hope you can let it go."

The candlelight was dim, and Zhuang Jinfu was backlit, her figure completely black, making it impossible to see her expression. She seemed as lonely as the night. She said, "The title you want, I can give you."

“This isn’t about titles or status.” Ling Shu took a deep breath and made up her mind. “I’m just tired of it, I’m fed up, I don’t love you anymore, and I don’t want to continue any of the unfinished business from three years ago.”

"Why?" Her voice trembled like a flickering candle flame. "Is it because my strength is not what it used to be? I'm sorry, I will try my best to be worthy of you."

There's no particular reason.

"No, there must be a reason. You despise me for being utterly defeated after I ruthlessly exposed you."

"I don't love you anymore, that's all. How long are you going to keep clinging to this?"

Ling Shu was also feeling uneasy about her hypocrisy. She should have continued to be her Immortal Venerable on Qingxi Mountain, revered and worshipped by all, instead of following her to face the mixed opinions of people. Moreover, after being harmed by cultivators, only those weak demons remained. If the cultivators discovered this in the future, it would be a huge disaster for them. As the Demon King, of course she should stand with them, turn away from the sunlight, and live in the shadows.

"You don't love me anymore? Ha, I won't allow you not to love me."

Zhuang Jinfu stepped forward, pressed the back of her head, and kissed her fiercely.