Chapter 87: Goodbye, Zhen Zhen

The two left the teaching hall. Linglong curiously asked, “What kind of task is it?”
Su Che was even more eager to know the details of the task. So, he channeled a little of his true energy and sent his mind into the jade talisman. Immediately, he saw some text. As he read it, he also read it aloud to Linglong: “Someone from the court of the Great Xia Kingdom reported that evil ghosts have been harming people in Dongping County. Three people have died in the past ten days, and five others are missing…”
After finishing reading, Su Che put away the jade talisman and added, “All I need to do is go to Dongping County to investigate the cause and report back to the sect in a timely manner. That’s considered completing the task. It’s not necessary to capture ghosts or subdue demons.”
Linglong nodded. “An investigation task shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“It’s all thanks to my senior sister’s influence. Otherwise, even just passing Elder Lin’s evaluation wouldn’t be easy for me,” Su Che said sincerely, thanking her again.
Linglong smiled slightly and asked in a peculiar tone, “Do you know why I’m willing to help you like this?”
Su Che had a few ideas in mind, but wisely shook his head, indicating he couldn’t guess.
Linglong said triumphantly, “When you helped me treat the Flowing Cloud Golden Cup, I must have thanked you dozens of times, right? What do you say?”
“More or less,” Su Che nodded.
Linglong continued, “So, I want you to thank me hundreds of times before I feel balanced. And it has to be sincere thanks.”
Su Che couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s great. No matter how many times I thank you, it’s still a gain for me…”
Just then, Su Che suddenly turned to look to the right, as Lao He had just warned him that an uninvited guest was about to descend from the sky.
Linglong also noticed and followed Su Che’s gaze outside the mountain. There, Zhen Zhen, a direct disciple from Tianwu Peak, was flying through the air like a celestial fairy, her robes fluttering in the wind.
She was already at the middle stage of the Foundation Building phase. Without any rush, she didn’t need to use any flying tools—she could freely soar using her own true energy.
When Zhen Zhen slowly landed on the path ahead, Su Che and Linglong knew she was there to cause trouble. They still had to go up to her first and greet her politely: “Greetings, senior sister.”
After all, she was a direct disciple. If they showed her disrespect, she could even capture someone like Linglong, an inner sect disciple, on the spot and send her to the internal affairs hall for reprimand and humiliation.
“Sister Linglong, it’s been half a year. You’re getting more and more beautiful.”

Zhen Zhen first exchanged polite words with Ling Long, then changed the subject and said to Su Che, “Younger brother Su, I heard that you reached the later stage of Qi Cultivation after just half a year of seclusion. At first, I didn’t believe it, but it turns out to be true. You really manage to surprise me once again.”
Zhen Zhen was quite straightforward. Her words essentially meant that someone in the Spirit Herb Garden on Mysterious Peak had been bribed by her to deliver messages to her at any time. Since Su Che had reached the later stage of Qi Cultivation—less than two hours had passed since he appeared before Ling Long—and Zhen Zhen had already received news so quickly, it was undoubtedly someone from the Spirit Herb Garden who had sent her the message, prompting her to fly to Mysterious Peak right away.
Su Che replied calmly, “I chose to enter seclusion half a year ago to avoid your anger, senior sister. Unexpectedly, things went quite smoothly in my cultivation despite it.”
“Anger?” Zhen Zhen chuckled lightly. “I’m not angry with you; rather, it’s…”
She stopped speaking here.
Ling Long couldn’t help but intercede, “Senior sister, the matter between Senior Sister Zhen Lan and our elder brother was just a misunderstanding. There’s really no need to keep entangling in it, right?”
“Yes,” Zhen Zhen nodded. “I also don’t want to see my younger sister continue to be entangled with Yu Qing. So, I’ve already calmed her down.”
Ling Long was delighted and quickly asked, “Then what about Su Che…”
Zhen Zhen waved her hand sharply to interrupt, “Su Che’s matter is between him and me—it has nothing to do with anyone else!”
At that moment, neither Ling Long nor Su Che, nor even Lao He noticed that Zhen Zhen’s forceful wave wasn’t due to emotion but rather to cover up some action of hers.
With her wave, a thread as thin as spider silk emerged from the soil beneath Su Che’s feet, silently piercing through his shoe soles and into his feet. Since the thread was extremely thin—less intense even than a mosquito bite—it was hard to detect. Coupled with Zhen Zhen’s waving motion and stern expression, which distracted Su Che and Lao He, they didn’t notice anything unusual.
“Senior sister, why go to such extremes?” Ling Long kept pleading. “Su Che is just a minor figure. How could he dare to offend you?”

“He’s just a minor figure now, but not for long.” Zhen Zhen sneered coldly. “As you can see, at the age of sixteen, his bone age already corresponds to the seventh level of Qi cultivation. His achievements are almost on par with mine back then. This junior Su really has an unlimited future ahead of him.”
Her words were already quite harsh; anyone could tell that precisely because Su Che had such a bright future, Zhen Zhen wanted him to die early.
Such blatant threats were meant to make Su Che live in constant fear and mental torment from then on…
Linglong sighed secretly. She had also realized that Zhen Zhen was vengeful and held a deep grudge against Su Che. It was impossible to persuade her with just words. It seemed that at least the old man would need to step in to resolve this conflict.
Meanwhile, Su Che quietly sent a message to Linglong, trying to comfort her. “It’s okay, senior sister. I’m not afraid of her. If necessary, I’ll stay on Xuanji Peak for the next few years, focusing on cultivating spiritual herbs and meditating. Once I surpass her, all problems will be solved.”
Linglong replied via message, “But you still need to complete your mission in Dongping County.”
“No problem. I have a way to leave the mountain unseen by anyone,” Su Che replied confidently.
With that, Linglong didn’t know what else to say.
A few steps away, Zhen Zhen noticed them whispering to each other. She looked at the young couple with interest and suddenly said, “Junior sister Linglong, could it be that you and Su Che are lovers? If that’s the case, I’ll set aside my grudges and let him go.”
“Huh?”
Linglong was stunned and immediately snapped, “Senior sister, how dare you say such nonsense?”
“Oh? Isn’t it?” Zhen Zhen tilted her head with a smile. “Then it’s fine. I hope it isn’t.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she leaped into the air. Her white dress blocked the sunlight, casting a shadow over Su Che. At the same time, she sent a secret message: “Junior Su, if you’re capable, stay on Xuanji Peak for the rest of your life and never come out.”
“That bitch!” Lao He cursed angrily in the Immortal Prison.
After she flew away, Su Che said to Linglong, “Senior sister, thank you for speaking up for me. But Zhen Zhen has gone too far. How can she talk such nonsense… I can’t believe that someone who’s a legitimate disciple of a great cultivation sect can speak in such vicious ways, like a gossipy woman from the streets.”

Linglong nodded slightly and whispered, “You still need to be extra careful. I’m going back first.” With that, she hurried off, clearly unwilling to return to the spirit herb garden with Su Che. Watching her figure fade into the distance, Su Che shook his head helplessly. It was understandable—after all, girls are sensitive; having such a matter brought up and having to walk together would surely make them feel extremely awkward. As for Zhen Zhen’s threatening words, Su Che didn’t take them too seriously. He had already made up his mind to leave the mountain gate the next day to carry out his mission in Dongping County. The Concealment Art was highly effective, so it was impossible for Zhen Zhen to track his whereabouts.