Volume 1, Chapter 46 – Dare to Impersonate Me? I’ll Definitely Catch Her (Part 2)

“H-how could that be?”

Jiang Linian’s hands froze mid-motion. To bolster her claim, she added, “It wasn’t just me! Your master and all your martial sisters saw her too!”

“But I truly just arrived home. So who appeared here an hour ago?”

Cheng Hongling’s expression darkened as she paced the room, stroking her smooth chin. Now she understood why everyone had spoken so strangely—someone had impersonated her first.

“That’s impossible! She looked exactly like you, carried the Golden Fate Flower’s scent, and—as your mother—how could I mistake my own daughter?”

Jiang Linian stood abruptly, her vegetables forgotten. The bond between mother and daughter was unshakable; that girl had undeniably evoked a blood-deep connection.

“I fear you truly were deceived. That was an impostor.”

Hongling’s delicate eyes narrowed to slits.

“Little Ling, don’t frighten me like this!”

The vegetables slipped from Jiang Linian’s grasp as she clutched her chest.

“Don’t worry, Mother. I guarantee she won’t get a second chance.”

Soothing her mother, a sudden dread gripped Hongling. “What did she do here? Did she take anything?”

“‘She’ went to your room, examined the Tongming Comb, changed clothes, and left.”

“The Tongming Comb!”

Hongling’s face paled. She rushed inside—only to find an empty box.

“Well? Is anything missing?” Jiang Linian fretted behind her.

“She stole the comb.”

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Hongling lifted the vacant box calmly. Retrieving it would be trivial for someone of her abilities.

“What?!”

Jiang Linian swayed on her feet. “This is all my fault! Failing to recognize a fake… That comb was your master’s gift! How will we explain this?”

“Mother, you said she changed clothes before leaving—into that green feathered dress?”

A realization struck Hongling.

“Yes, that very one!”

“Heh. So it’s her.”

With a cold laugh, Hongling vanished from the room. Never had she imagined the “female disciple” she’d encountered downhill was the impostor.

Meanwhile, Huang Qi fled desperately along the highway. Even if death came, he’d first register that damn identity tablet! Dying in this half-male, half-female state would leave him a nameless ghost—who’d connect “Huang Qi” to this body?

After hours of running, unease prickled his neck. As a mere Spirit Gathering cultivator, once Fairy Hongling gave chase, capture was inevitable.

Veering onto a side path, he barely dodged a blue blur streaking down the main road—ghostly, untraceable.

The rugged trail posed no obstacle to his cultivated physique. By the second hour, he reached the prefectural city, planning his next move.

“I don’t know this city. No time for reconnaissance—I need a guide.”

The obvious choice? His “father”, Cheng Yuan.

But where was the Cheng residence?

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Scouring dream memories yielded nothing.

“Forget it. Just ask. Everyone knows where the famous Fairy Hongling lives.”

Buying buns from a vendor, he inquired casually. As predicted:

“The Cheng estate? Number 19, Ruyi Street, east district.”

The vendor answered without thought.

Huang Qi raced to the address. The risk of exposure paled against his urgency.

The Cheng residence appeared unchanged from his dreams—a modest quadrangle courtyard. Clearly, Cheng Yuan hadn’t succumbed to vanity.

Taking a steadying breath, Huang Qi knocked on the vermilion gate, removing his veil for recognition.

A crack opened, revealing a plainly dressed servant in his twenties.

Huang Qi’s mind blanked—no name came to mind.

Luckily, servants initiated greetings.

“Young Mistress! You’ve returned!”

The servant jolted upright, swinging the gate wide.

“Where’s Father?”

Huang Qi feigned familiarity.

“The Master is in his study.”

The servant bowed deeply, not daring another glance.

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“Study?”

No such location existed in dream memories.

“Take me there.”

No time for subtlety.

Puzzled but obedient, the servant led him through a quaint garden to a side building.

“Master, the Young Mistress has returned.”

“What? My daughter?”

Cheng Yuan’s excited voice preceded his appearance.

Huang Qi’s stomach knotted. Seeing the real Hongling had revealed his shortcomings—especially in bearing. Facing her father, exposure loomed large.

The man who emerged had aged markedly—a weathered complexion, coarse beard, and calloused hands betraying years of hardship.

No surprise there. A father like Cheng Yuan would move mountains for his daughter’s cultivation needs.

“Ah! My precious girl!”

Cheng Yuan beamed, ushering him inside. “Come in! Come in! So long apart—your father missed you dearly.”

Exhaling discreetly, Huang Qi entered with measured, “ladylike” steps.

“Fugui, prepare food for the Young Mistress!”

The servant scurried off before Huang Qi could refuse. Sitting carefully, he arranged his skirt to conceal any masculine posture.

“Your mother said you went to the Changhe Sect. How was it?”

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Cheng Yuan poured tea as he probed.

Huang Qi stayed silent—let assumptions fill the gaps.

“Well? Are you going or not?”

Persistent. Damn.

Remembering Jiang Linian’s certainty that Hongling wouldn’t defect, Huang Qi gambled: “I’m not going.”

“Hah! Just as I thought.”

Cheng Yuan chuckled knowingly. “That icy face fools outsiders into thinking you’re cold-hearted. Only we parents see the warmth beneath.”

Huang Qi exhaled internally. So far, so good.

“No matter. The Honghua Sect treats you well. As for resources, your father will provide.”

Now for the critical play.

“Mother mentioned… the Prefect’s son visited again?”

“That brat!” Cheng Yuan snorted. “Wants to forge your identity tablet, add a year—like we’d fall for that!”

“Actually… let him make one.”

Huang Qi tread carefully.

“WHAT? You’d marry him?!”

Cheng Yuan shot to his feet.