Book 2: Chapter 75: Report |
Amidst the endless thunder, Zheng Fa and the other two stood facing each other.
Chen Ting’s treasured mirror trembled slightly from the impact of the seal, buzzing softly as it returned to his embrace. The light on its surface dimmed considerably—just like the light in Chen Ting’s eyes.
He looked at Master Pang, who stood beside Zheng Fa, his lips moving slightly as if hesitating over how to address him.
Master Pang also looked at him, his gaze complicated.
Zheng Fa, standing quietly to the side, even held his breath—this kind of dramatic master-disciple reunion, filled with love, hatred, and intense emotions…
Should he just quietly disappear from the scene?
After a brief silence—
Chen Ting raised both hands.
His sudden movement startled Master Pang, who instinctively stepped in front of Zheng Fa, clearly guarding against a sneak attack.
It was the kind of look someone would give when they got NTR’d right in front of them—the way someone looks at a smug blonde homewrecker...
Chen Ting pressed his hands together and bowed toward Master Pang, his voice calm.
“Master, do you truly not trust me anymore?”
Master Pang immediately realized his mistake. His facial muscles stiffened for a moment, but his tone remained as cold as ever.
“I once did.”
“……”
“You said you never killed a single disciple of Jiushan Sect. I believed you,” Master Pang said as he stared at Chen Ting. “So I let you go. But now?”
Zheng Fa glanced at the treasured mirror in Chen Ting’s hands.
He didn’t know its exact power, but one thing was certain—it wasn’t meant for exchanging friendly greetings.
Chen Ting pursed his lips and fell silent.
Zheng Fa couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—
Master Pang was the one who cared most about his disciples among Jiushan Sect’s three Nascent Soul cultivators.
Chen Ting had been highly valued in the past.
Hiding in the shadows earlier, Master Pang might have just wanted to see how Chen Ting was doing these days.
But now…
“Master Pang, fate often leaves us with no choice.” Chen Ting changed the way he addressed him, now calling him “Master Pang” instead of “Master.” “From the moment I left Jiushan Sect, I no longer had the luxury of mercy.”
“……”
Master Pang said nothing, but the seal hovering above his head glowed faintly in the air, as if answering on his behalf.
“Master Pang, are you really going to make a move against me?” Chen Ting smiled slightly as he watched him.
Still, Master Pang remained silent.
“You should think carefully,” Chen Ting continued. “You may be a Nascent Soul cultivator, but in this Thunder Pool, you don’t have much of an advantage over me.” His tone carried an implicit threat. “Not to mention, you still have to protect Zheng Shidi and the other Jiushan Sect disciples… hmm?”
As he turned his head, he finally noticed—while he and Master Pang had been locked in a tense standoff, Zheng Fa had somehow already boarded the Du’e Boat, bringing a group of Jiushan Sect disciples along with him as they frantically fled.
Sensing Chen Ting’s gaze, Zheng Fa even turned around, cupped his hands in farewell, and smiled considerately—
As if he didn’t want to interrupt this heartfelt master-disciple reunion.
“Master Pang… this Zheng Fa…” Chen Ting recalled the two times he had encountered Zheng Fa—both times, the man was running away. His expression turned complicated. “Is he really fit to be the next Sect Master? Aren’t you afraid he’ll ruin Jiushan Sect?”
Master Pang also watched the rapidly departing Du’e Boat in silence.
Though this had all been planned in advance, Zheng Fa’s execution was just a little too efficient… and somehow, that felt a bit embarrassing.
Wait a minute.
You’re a member of the Nine Nether Demonic Sect now—your allegiances are completely shifted.
Why the hell are you worrying about Jiushan Sect?
And why does it sound like you’re actually concerned?!
When Zheng Fa saw Master Pang return, he immediately asked, “Shishu, what happened to Chen Ting?”
“He ran.”
Zheng Fa was momentarily stunned. Damn, Chen Ting’s survival skills were next level.
Anyone else in his situation would already be preparing for reincarnation.
“This kid has inherited the strengths of three different factions—he’s not to be underestimated,” Master Pang explained. “And in the Thunder Pool, I also had to be cautious.”
Zheng Fa thought about it and realized it made sense—
Master Pang was the type to actually teach his disciples.
Chen Ting even used to have an old master guiding him.
Later, he sacrificed that old master and gained the favor of the Nine Nether Demonic Ancestor.
“But why didn’t anyone from the Nine Nether Demonic Sect come to help him?”
Zheng Fa was puzzled.
Jiushan Sect was after Chen Ting mainly to find out about Senior Sister Zhang’s whereabouts.
But the Great Freedom Demonic Sect? They wanted him dead for revenge.
With Chen Ting in such a dire situation, wouldn’t he try to seek their aid?
“If demonic cultivators actually practiced unity and mutual aid, would they still be called a Demonic Sect?” Master Pang snorted. “If you ever run into Chen Ting again, don’t underestimate him.”
“Yes, Shishu.”
Zheng Fa understood Master Pang’s point—
When Chen Ting had first left Jiushan Sect, he might have still held some attachment to it.
But now? That attachment was likely long gone.
“There are few in this world who can stay true to themselves,” Master Pang said, his tone a mix of regret and wariness. “And after his betrayal… I fear he’s suffered quite a bit.”
Today was the day Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu registered at Jingcheng University.
Tang Lingwu had been picked up by her mother a few days earlier, and rumor had it that her father had also come to the capital to personally send her off to college.
Zheng Fa, on the other hand, didn’t ask Old Bai to drive him.
He took a taxi alone to the university entrance.
The place was bustling with students and parents.
Compared to his high school classmates, the new students at Jingcheng University felt both similar and different—
Similar in that they were all the same age. In this internet era, fashion and hairstyles were pretty much uniform across the country.
Different in a way that was hard to pin down—
Even though their outfits weren’t too distinct, these young people radiated an unmistakable confidence.
Another observation, though unconfirmed—many of them seemed to come from wealthy backgrounds.
After observing for a bit, Zheng Fa followed the crowd to the gymnasium, where registration was taking place. Afterward, there would be an opening ceremony.
At the entrance, multiple tents were set up with department names displayed on top. Behind long tables sat several older students—probably counselors or upperclassmen.
Zheng Fa took out his acceptance letter and found the tent for the Physics Department.
Inside were three guys and two girls.
When Zheng Fa approached, the three guys remained seated. But both girls stood up at the same time.
They exchanged glances.
One of them, a girl with glasses, seemed a bit shy—after hesitating for a moment, she slowly sat back down.
The other girl, however, greeted Zheng Fa.
She had delicate features, a slender waist, and a friendly smile.
Of course, with Zheng Fa’s keen eyes, he could tell that at least twenty percent of her beauty was thanks to expert makeup skills.
But judging by the hostile stares from the three senior guys behind her—
The remaining eighty percent was more than enough to stand out in the Physics Department.
Which was kind of tragic, if you thought about it.
“Junior, did you come alone?”
“Yeah.”
“Give me your acceptance letter.” She took a look. “Zheng Fa? Physics Department. Here, take these.”
She efficiently handed him several folders.
“This contains the freshman handbook, a campus map—the Second Cafeteria has the best food.”
“This one’s a letter for your parents. Not important.”
“This small bag is the most important—it has your student ID, dorm key, and room number. Don’t lose it.”
Zheng Fa pinched the small bag and nodded. “Thanks, Senior.”
“Here, add me on WeChat.”
“……”
Zheng Fa was momentarily stunned. He glanced at the senior, who looked completely serious.
“The department requires it,” she said. “If you have any questions, just ask me.”
After a brief pause, Zheng Fa took out his phone and scanned her QR code.
As he walked away, he faintly overheard her conversation with the next freshman.
“This is your stuff. Take it. Don’t lose it.”
After a moment—
“Do you need anything else?”
The new student, a guy, hesitated. “Didn’t you say we had to add you on WeChat?”
“I don’t recall hearing about that rule.”
“……But what if I have questions?”
“That’s why I gave you the freshman handbook.”
Zheng Fa took out his phone and checked her profile picture.
She looked pure and friendly in the photo.
Certainly didn’t seem like someone so… full of tricks.
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