HPLFK 06

Chapter – 06

Oh No, Your Wife Is in Trouble!

Every year in early autumn, the Immortal Sect held a trial. If an outer disciple secured a place in the top three during the trial and caught the favor of a certain elder, they would have the opportunity to become an inner disciple through apprenticeship.

In her previous life, after being schemed into becoming Xie Hengyu’s wife, A Shang, who was already unpopular among the disciples, became even more the subject of gossip.

She had heard from somewhere that Xie Hengyu did not like his Dao companion to show herself in public, so her cultivation gradually fell by the wayside.

Recalling the events of her past life, A Shang truly felt she had been foolish. Saying that Xie Hengyu didn’t like his wife appearing in public was utter nonsense.

Wasn’t Shen Yueqing, the Sect Leader’s daughter, always fond of being in the limelight?

Why did Xie Hengyu still love her?

It wasn’t that he disliked his wife showing her face—he simply disliked *her*.

Although A Shang had no good impressions of anyone in the Immortal Sect, it was nonetheless the foremost of the four great sects. Moreover, it was the only one among them that accepted half-demon cultivators.

In her previous life, she had neglected her cultivation because of her infatuation with Xie Hengyu. This time, she would never let him affect her future again.

Half-demons can’t cultivate the Dao, is that so?

Then she would prove to all of them that she would not only cultivate but also ascend the path to immortality.

—

A wooden token engraved with the mark of an outer disciple was placed before the disciple in charge of registration.

The disciple, who had been writing down names, instinctively looked up. When he saw the girl who had handed over the token, his writing hand paused, and a look of astonishment flashed in his eyes.

A Shang: “Hello, I’d like to sign up.”

The girl’s cool, clear voice reached his ears.

Yuan Bai, holding his brush, stared at the girl for a moment, momentarily entranced. It wasn’t until a fellow disciple patted him that he snapped out of it. He glanced at the name on the token, wrote it on the registration form, and then handed her a red participation badge.

“H-here you are.”

“Thank you.” A Shang took the red badge and thanked him.

Even as A Shang turned and walked away, Yuan Bai’s gaze remained fixed on her retreating figure. He couldn’t help murmuring, “She’s really beautiful.”

Hearing this, the disciple beside him scoffed. “Are you crazy? Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to that half-demon A Shang.”

Yuan Bai had thought the name A Shang sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere but couldn’t quite recall. It wasn’t until his fellow disciple mentioned the words “half-demon” that it suddenly clicked.

Half-demon A Shang!

Wasn’t she the one who drugged Senior Brother Xie Hengyu to force him into becoming her Dao companion?

Yuan Bai was shocked. He hadn’t expected such a beautiful girl to be so scheming.

A Shang carried half the bloodline of the fox clan, and her hearing was exceptionally sharp. Naturally, she heard the two disciples behind her gossiping about her.

Compared to all the slander she had endured in her previous life, she was completely unfazed by such trivial chatter now.

After signing up, A Shang went to find the steward in charge of the outer disciples to ask for some work.

As the foremost of the four great sects, although the outer disciples had no master to teach them the Dao, the Immortal Sect’s demands on them were extremely stringent.

***

If one failed to complete the assigned tasks each month, in severe cases, they could also be expelled from the sect.

A Shang had only recently arrived at the sect, and the missions to subdue demons outside had not yet fallen to her. So she basically took on rough, menial chores that required physical labor.

The steward in charge of the outer disciples was a short, plump old man with a white beard. He glanced at the spiritual ledger in his hand and said to A Shang, “You’ve come too late. The only task left now is gathering herbs at Ten Thousand Spirits Valley. The valley is rather remote, so it’s best to go with a partner. Ask around and see if anyone will go with you.”

Ten Thousand Spirits Valley was located at the northernmost edge of the sect. Because of its remote location and several past incidents where spirit beasts had turned demonic and attacked people, no disciples wanted to go there. However, since it was close to a spiritual vein, it nurtured many spiritual herbs, making it an excellent place for gathering medicine.

As soon as the steward said this, the disciples still present exchanged uneasy glances. Setting aside the fact that frenzied spirit beasts often appeared in Ten Thousand Spirits Valley, A Shang’s half-demon status alone was enough to keep anyone from partnering with her.

A Shang was used to this. Just as she was about to take on the task alone, a disciple suddenly spoke up: “I will!”

He stepped forward, stopping in front of A Shang, and said to the steward, “I’m willing to go with Junior Sister A Shang.”

A Shang turned to look at the man—a disciple with a square, honest face. She did not recognize him.

The steward said, “Very well, then the two of you shall go together. This is the herb registry.”

“Alright!” The disciple took the registry handed over by the steward with delight, then turned to A Shang and said, “Junior Sister, let’s go. My name is He Zong. You can call me Senior Brother He.”

He made a “please” gesture toward her, a perfectly normal smile on his face.

He Zong. The name sounded somewhat familiar—probably a name she had heard in her previous life, though she couldn’t recall clearly.

Ten Thousand Spirits Valley was quite far from the sect, so the two took a mount spirit beast designated for outer disciples’ travel.

Compared to A Shang’s reticence, He Zong was quite talkative. He took the initiative to steer the beast and chatted with A Shang attentively.

“I’d heard from fellow disciples that Junior Sister A Shang was very beautiful. Now that I see you today, it’s truly the case,” He Zong said with a smile as he pulled the reins to control their direction.

A Shang didn’t really want to engage with his chatter, so she closed her eyes and pretended to rest.

Just then, her shoulder was nudged. She frowned and opened her eyes to see He Zong staring at her face with a grin. “Junior Sister, are you asleep?”

Suppressing her impatience, A Shang said coldly, “Senior Brother, please focus on driving.”

Hearing the reluctance in the girl’s voice, He Zong wore a carefree smile and said, “Alright, Junior Sister. You rest for now.”

But as he turned his head, the moment A Shang couldn’t see his face, a cold sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.

Just a mere half-demon, and she dared to brush him off like this. She’d get what was coming to her soon enough.

The mount spirit beast came to a stop on a patch of grassland. Sensing the carriage halt, A Shang opened her eyes.

“Junior Sister, we’re here.”

A Shang glanced at He Zong, who was smiling at her, then looked past him to see two other disciples dressed in the same Immortal Sect robes standing behind him.

One of them fixed a lecherous gaze on her and said to He Zong, “This one’s really pretty this time. Where did you find such a fine piece?”

“A new female disciple? How come I’ve never seen her around the sect before?” the other chimed in.

Hearing their filthy remarks, A Shang furrowed her brow. “What are you trying to do?”

“What are we trying to do?” He Zong laughed. “We just want Junior Sister A Shang to help out us three senior brothers. We’re in great need of you right now.”