Volume 1, Chapter 44 – The Return of Fairy Hongling

Twenty-eight minus thirteen equals what? Even someone who’d suffered ten strokes could answer that instantly. Yet Huang Qi counted on his fingers over and over, terrified of making a mistake.

“Fifteen! It’s fifteen! How can this be?!”

No matter how many times he calculated, the answer remained the same. His mind went blank. He had risked life and limb to reach the Honghua Sect—all for this identity tablet. And now, this?

“One year short. Just one damn year! Is the heavens determined to ruin me?!”

Huang Qi wanted to weep but had no tears. The dynasty’s laws decreed adulthood began at sixteen. If he tried registering with this tablet, not only would his application fail—his entire family registry might be voided.

Slumping into a chair, Huang Qi felt utterly lost. “What now? If I miss the deadline, the authorities won’t find me—or my corpse. They’ll assume I’m dodging conscription. Then they’ll drag my father in as a replacement. That’s how these things always go.”

“Little Ling, are you done? Mother needs to talk to you.”

Jiang Linian’s voice drifted in from outside, snapping him out of his spiral.

The boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge. Right now, escaping this den of snakes is priority.

“Almost ready!” he called back.

Moving to the wardrobe in the corner, Huang Qi opened it—and was instantly assaulted by rows of delicate gowns, embroidered outer robes, and even intimate undergarments. A richer, headier fragrance wafted out.

These are Fairy Hongling’s actual clothes.

In the past, such a sight would’ve sent his imagination wild. Now, he felt nothing. Grabbing a plain dress at random, he changed quickly, tucked the Tongming Comb into his robes, and stepped out.

“Sit. There’s something I need to tell you.”

Jiang Linian gestured to a stool.

Huang Qi wanted to bolt, but couldn’t outright refuse his “mother.” He obeyed.

With tender care, Jiang Linian brushed a stray lock from “her daughter’s” forehead. “My Ling’er is so beautiful. At just fifteen, you’re already like this—no wonder men can’t take their eyes off you.”

Who’s eyeing her? Huang Qi wondered.

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“Did you know? Young Master Fu from the Prefect’s residence came to propose again.”

Jiang Linian’s smile was unreadable—neither pleased nor upset.

“Propose? She’s—I’m only fifteen! Doesn’t he know that?” Huang Qi blurted.

“Your father said the same. But he’s persistent. So he ‘generously’ proposed a solution—forge a new identity tablet, adding one year to your age. That would satisfy legal requirements.”

Jiang Linian sighed.

“Wha—what?!”

Huang Qi’s mind blanked. Is this a pillow delivered to someone nodding off?!

“Hmph. Everyone sees through his schemes. He fears you’ll grow beyond his control, so he’s desperate to lock you down now.”

Jiang Linian’s disdain was palpable.

“R-really?” Huang Qi’s heart pounded wildly.

“What do you think? With Prefect Fu’s wealth and connections, Golden Fate Flower seeds are impossible, but he could secure some rare medicinal herbs you need.”

She laid out the facts, leaving the choice to “her daughter”.

“No.”

Huang Qi refused without hesitation—not out of personal bias, but logic. The real Hongling had considered defecting for resources; she wouldn’t sell her future so easily.

“I knew you’d say no. I’ll tell your father to decline.”

Jiang Linian smiled proudly.

“Mother, I need to go. Sect Leader Qin is injured—he put me in charge. Those monsters might still be lurking.”

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Huang Qi stood, itching to leave.

“Alright. I’ll prepare lunch—come back to eat.”

“Mm.”

Nodding absently, Huang Qi hurried out. At the doorway, he glanced back—Jiang Linian stood watching, eyes brimming with love.

His chest tightened. For a moment, he couldn’t move.

She’s Hongling’s mother. Not mine.

Steeling himself, he walked away.

Heading for the sect gates, Huang Qi now had a new destination.

‘Since the Prefect’s son insists on gifting me a forged tablet, who am I to refuse?’

His next stop: the Prefectural Office.

Along the way, disciples bowed respectfully. His “heroic” act as Cheng Hongling had skyrocketed his reputation.

“Junior Sister Hongling! Where are you going?”

“Those monsters ravaged our sect. I’ll exterminate every last one!”

Drawing his sword dramatically, he charged down the mountain.

“Wow! So heroic! Will I ever be that strong?”

“Keep dreaming. She’s a Unity Realm expert. With our talent? Never.”

Envious murmurs followed him.

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Huang Qi maintained his act until safely away from the sect. Only then did he don his veil again—erasing traces of his presence.

“Help… please…”

A trembling, desperate cry pierced the silence.

Huang Qi almost ignored it. But after a few steps, he stopped.

“Ugh. Fine. Blame my ‘kind heart’.”

Following the voice, he crept through brush—and froze.

A figure in tattered official robes, hair wild and matted, pinned a male disciple to the ground. Its fangs were buried in the boy’s neck, claws sunk deep into his flesh.

“The Bronze Zombie! The one that fought Qin Quan!”

Terror iced Huang Qi’s veins.

Then he noticed a female disciple nearby—paralyzed with fear, unable to flee.

“Dammit! Can’t catch a break!”

Gritting his teeth, Huang Qi burst from the foliage, sword raised.

“Since you’re still here—stay forever.”

The Bronze Corpse jerked at his voice. Without even looking, it flung the corpse aside and fled—galloping on all fours like a beast, each leap covering ten meters.

“Stop! Coward!”

Huang Qi gave chase. This monster had to be driven far away, or the sect would never know peace.

Soon, he lost sight of it. At the Gathering Spirit Realm, he stood no chance in speed.

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Just as he was about to turn back—

Whoosh!

A blade of blue light, over thirty meters long, slashed through the forest to his right.

Trees toppled like wheat before a scythe, the shockwave nearly knocking him over.

Before he could steady himself, a familiar black shape came charging back—the Bronze Zombie, now with a gruesome gash across its chest.

‘Did it realize I’m a fake?!’

Too scared to run, Huang Qi braced for death.

But the corpse skidded to a halt, eyes wide.

“Y-you… you’ve cultivated an Avatar Body?!”

“Ava-what?” Huang Qi blinked.

The creature didn’t wait. It scrambled away in a new direction.

Before Huang Qi could process this, a voice rang out—clear as a bell, echoing through the mountains.

“I declared it before: no evil shall linger within thirty li of the Honghua Sect. Since you came, you won’t leave.”

Huang Qi’s pupils shrank.

That voice—it was identical to his current one.

The real Fairy Hongling had returned.