Chapter 5 - The Girl with Peachy Hair
1855 Words
"Damn you, you piece of shit... Zheng Jin!!!"
Du Zhen shouted as he punched a tree, snapping it in half.
"Big brother Du Zhen, w-what are we going to do?"
Zi Tien trembled as he saw Du Zhen in a frenzy. He thought about what might happen to him if the elders knew about this matter, pushing him further into a state of panic.
Du Zhen then breathed deeply, controlling his anger. For now, he had to figure out what to do. He then looked at his other underling, Wu Tiao. Then he asked:
"Wu Tiao, how do you think that bastard survived last night, his spirit energy has stopped already hasn't it!?"
Wu Tiao is the brains of the group. It was only Wu Tiao that had retained the least bit of calm during this situation. Wu Tiao made most of the plans for the group: extortion, stealing, and murders...he was the one that orchestrated the group's actions. He was also the one behind the previous Zheng Jin's death!
"I don't know, Big Brother Du...No human has ever survived without their spirit energy, let alone recover it all in a short period of time!"
"What do you mean you don't know! Damn you, you were the one that said to attack him because of that damn book...look what trouble you brought to us now!"
Wu Tiao gritted his teeth. If he didn't need this buffoon's strength, he would've poisoned him long ago. But still, he needed his strength...for now. Another thing that is on his mind was Zheng Jin. It wasn't a lie when he said that no one has ever survived when their spirit energy had stopped circulating; not even Heavenly Sovereigns.
"Damn, what did that boy just do?!"
Wu Tiao racked his brains for a solution to this problem. The power he holds within the outer sect is now in jeopardy. He worked hard to earn Du Zhen's trust over the years they were together, and he was now his clueless puppet, unwittingly following every word he said.
With him controlling someone like Du Zhen, who was in the 8th level mortal realm, his dream to finally get out of the outer sect is finally within his grasp. However, he didn't expect that an anonymous tip about Zheng Jin having a spirit art manual will give him this much trouble...
He wasn't going to let someone like Zheng Jin, who was at the very bottom of the trash disciples, to ruin his chance to rise up to the inner sect! First, he needed to make a plan to make the two idiots kill Zheng Jin. As long as he is alive, he is a threat to him!
"Unless of course...hmmm, yes. I've got a hunch that he has a peerless treasure in his hands, maybe even a Divine Artifact!"
"W-what did you just say? A Divine Artifact?"
"Zheng Jin has a Divine Artifact!?"
Just with the mere mention of a Divine Artifact, Du Zhen and Zi Tien's greed showed in their faces. This, of course, is a complete lie. No amount of peerless treasures will save a cultivator's life once his spirit energy has ceased. Not that the two idiots would know that though. He just needed to make them want to kill Zheng Jin, no matter what method he used.
"Yes...as for how he survived that night, that's the only way I can think of. To save him from his near-death state last night, I think that only a treasure like a life-saving Divine Artifact would have the capability to do it!"
Wu Tiao responded with a fake thoughtful look on his face. He, of course, isn't afraid if they killed Zheng Jin and found no "peerless treasure" in his belongings. After all, he could just reaffirm that what he said was "just a guess".
"Hmm, we should see if we can steal it from him then."
Zi Tien, the who relied on thieving, spoke his mind.
"That won't work Brother Zi, I'm afraid that Divine Artifacts are only usable if the previous owner is killed."
Wu Tiao said promptly. This information was true of course, which why he chose the lie of Zheng Jin having a Divine Artifact. The only choice for them was to kill Zheng Jin for the so-called "treasure".
"Heh, that bastard Zheng Jin sure has some luck. A Spirit Art Manual and a Divine Artifact. Just blame yourself for not being strong enough to protect them. We'll need to kill him anyway before he rats out to the elders!"
With that Wu Tiao's true objective was met as he told the other two his plan. A scheme now being made inside his head.
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After spending hours of going around the sect, Zheng Jin finally learned quite a bit about his past self and the Golden Dragon Sect.
It turns out that this Sect is situated inside the Goldenridge City, and is the primary sect of the city. The sect he was currently in, is definitely far from the supreme sects he read about in the book, some of which, are capable to oppose empires; but to him, this starting point isn't really a problem.
What he was worried about, though, is the rumors that he had heard from the other disciples. He had listened to gossips for half of the time he was out, and it isn't really that hard to hear; especially if they're whispering right behind you.
He heard that apparently, Zheng Jin of the past was a p*****t, sneaking inside the girl's bathhouse from time to time. He even heard that he tried to molest a girl once...
"What the hell is this, this can't be right...right?"
Actually, now he that he thought back on it...that girl he talked to before called him a p*****t, didn't she? The heavens really went all out on this one, giving him a body that was not only weak but also a social outcast...
"Tch whatever. People's opinions are fickle anyway."
Zheng Jin thought as he pushed these thoughts aside. With him now changed, improving his own reputation will be slow, but easy work.
What he needed right now, is, of course, more information. And what better way to find information than the sect's library? Fortunately, due to his fairly high intelligence, he already vaguely memorized the whole sect's map, which he had just seen from a disciple that is selling some. He had no spirit crystals to buy some, which is apparently this world's currency.
In the sect's library, Zheng Jin searched for useful books to read. He finally found three books about subjects that weren't included by any of his own books back in his shack. With that, he sat and began to read at one of the wooden tables.
About halfway in his reading, he caught someone looking at him from the corner of his eye.
"It's that girl from before."
Zheng Jin would remember that pink hair of hers from anywhere. He then put on his usual charming smile and waved to the girl.
The girl, as if she just saw a ghost, hurriedly put the book she is reading over her face; obstructing Zheng Jin's view of her.
"Haaah, my reputation is that bad huh."
Zheng Jin thought as he smiled wryly. He then continued to read his book.
"What is he doing here?"
Bai Shuanyang thought as she buried her face in her book. She hadn't seen Zheng Jin in the sect's library for years, just why is he here now?
"Forget it...wait, just why am I acting like this!"
She hurriedly put down her book, afraid that Zheng Jin might have any funny ideas. She, however, saw Zheng Jin's eyes were not on her anymore and now turned his attention back to reading.
"Tch, you dare play with me Zheng Jin!"
She thought as she set her eyes on the book, not really reading anymore. For years now, he wouldn't even dare take a glance at her...but now...what is really going on with him?
After seven hours or so, Zheng Jin was now done reading all three books. He stretched his body for a bit and looked at where the girl with pink hair used to be. She was still in there, with a mountain of books still on her table.
"Wow, she sure likes to read."
This impressed Zheng Jin a bit. He was quite a reader himself to be quite honest, but surely not as much as this girl.
Suddenly, the girl looked at him and coldly said:
"What do you want?"
"Nothing, milady. But I'm quite sure you were looking at me earlier. Why, do I have something on my face?"
Zheng Jin said as he chuckled a bit.
"Go away, I don't have time for this."
The girl then covered her face with her book. This guy was really seeking trouble, talking to her in a public place like this. Not to mention, the way he talks is really strange...
"Haha, no need to be so cold milady. I just want to thank you for what you did last night."
With those words, Bai Shuanyang's face turned a deep red and quickly checked for other people nearby. The last thing she needed was indecent rumors spreading around about her and Zheng Jin.
Thankfully, it was quite late in the evening, and she noticed that only she and Zheng Jin were left in the reading section.
"Watch your mouth, p*****t!"
The girl's reaction startled Zheng Jin.
"What's wrong milady? Did I say something wrong? You did help me find the disciples' residence area, right?"
"I-I know that..."
She sighed. This guy...
"Well, thank you again, milady. May we meet again."
Zheng Jin said as he prepared to leave. Looks like his reputation as a man is really that bad...
"Stop calling me that...whatever it is!"
Just when Zheng Jin was about to turn around, the girl said something that caught his attention. She didn't understand the word "milady"? Haah, that's just great...so he's got to be a bit careful with his words from now on, he thought.
"Well, what should I call you then?"
Zheng Jin waited for her response.
It was then that the girl's facial expression changed as she looked at him. There was a moment of silence, with the girl just looking at him with a strange look. She then whispered:
"Did- did you really..."
Zheng Jin grasped the awkward silence and the girl's strange expression as a sign for something. A thought crossed his mind. He might have slipped up...
"Um, are you alright milady"
Zheng Jin broke the silence, waiting for her response.
The girl, who stared at Zheng Jin for a long time, suddenly nodded.
"Yes...yes, I'm alright."
She responded finally. Her eyes no longer displaying a strange, questioning look towards Zheng Jin. What replaced it, is a small smile from her lips; which she quickly covered with her hand. Then with a small voice, she added:
"Call me Bai Shuanyang."
- Writer
