Ha, Karma! – Chapter 37

It’s you!

Past ten o’clock, Chu Sining and Cen Zhu finished their morning practice and descended the mountain.

Mountain streams meandered down along the rocks, with a small wooden bridge spanning across.

They would cross this bridge while going down the mountain.

Every time, Cen Zhu would tirelessly remind them to watch their step.

When Chu Sining first heard her reminder, she laughed and said, “We’re crossing over the bridge, not through the water. The bridge surface is completely stable, no need to be extra careful.

“Besides, the stream is shallow. Even if you fall in, you’d just get your pants wet, no big deal.”

Cen Zhu glanced at the bridge then at the stream, nodding calmly.

Afterward, every time they passed by, she would still remind them, as if by instinct, automatically triggered.

Chu Sining had grown used to it, and with nothing else to do at the moment, she started chatting idly.

“Even though the water is so shallow, you always remind me to be careful crossing the bridge. Did you experience something related to this?”

She was just making casual conversation, but unexpectedly, Cen Zhu actually nodded.

Chu Sining froze, suddenly interested.

“Really? Tell me, what happened?”

The corners of Cen Zhu’s lips curved slightly as she replied in a calm tone, “When I was little and mischievous, I went to play by the river with some neighbor kids behind the adults’ backs. I almost didn’t make it.”

Even today, she still remembered the scene from that day.

She remembered the flowing river, the hands she couldn’t reach, the helpless screams of children, and the adults’ desperate cries.

It was a day she would never forget in her lifetime.

The smile on Chu Sining’s face instantly froze.

Coming to her senses, she reached out to pat Cen Zhu’s back, comforting her: “It’s okay now, it’s okay. It’s all in the past. Being alive is what matters most, and your good fortune lies ahead!”

Cen Zhu returned a smile, instead comforting her: “Don’t worry, I’m fine. It’s all in the past.”

Chu Sining nodded, walking much more carefully now: “Let’s walk slowly and watch our step.”

Seeing how considerate she was of her feelings, Cen Zhu raised her hand and patted her shoulder, indicating she should be at ease, she was fine.

Then, Cen Zhu asked: “Is your sister coming tonight?”

Chu Sining smiled playfully: “We’ll see tonight~”

Following that, she paused, suddenly realizing: “Wait, it’s Sunday, aren’t we supposed to return to school this afternoon?”

Cen Zhu heard this and laughed.

“There’s a three-day holiday for the festival, and no classes tomorrow. Did you forget?”

Chu Sining had a sudden realization: “Oh, that’s right!”

She scratched her head in frustration: “I must be sleep-deprived, my brain isn’t working properly!

“Quick, quick, quick, let’s hurry home and catch up on sleep!”

Sleep time was precious – every extra second of sleep made her life one second more beautiful!

In the blink of an eye, it was nine o’clock at night.

Chu Sining and Cen Zhu met at the foot of the mountain as agreed.

Chu Sining got out of the car and cheerfully greeted Cen Zhu.

Cen Zhu clearly saw another person in the back seat—Chu Zhaoqiu.

She sat in the car, leisurely polishing a tasseled hairpin.

With refined features and a composed demeanor, she showed no hurry to get out.

Just as Cen Zhu was about to greet her, Chu Sining stepped forward first, linked arms with her, and led her up the mountain.

“Come on, let’s head up first.”

Seeing this, Cen Zhu said nothing more and turned to follow up the mountain.

This jiejie probably had her own matters to attend to.

They found a well-lit spot to sit down, not venturing deeper into the mountain.

Few people climbed the mountain at this hour, and besides them, there was no one else, so there was no need to be too secretive.

Behind them, Qu Xinru quietly appeared once again.

She couldn’t let go of anything concerning Cen Zhu.

She had to personally confirm whether Cen Zhu truly wanted to become a demon hunter!

While Chu Sining’s jiejie hadn’t arrived yet, she would eavesdrop for a while, it wouldn’t hurt.

However, after waiting for quite some time, the two didn’t get to the main topic. Instead, she watched them seriously practicing meditation.

She suddenly felt like an invisible supervisor.

Her gaze fell once again on Cen Zhu’s back.

Once Cen Zhu entered the meditation state, she remained completely motionless, deeply focused.

The last time she saw her this serious was during the gaokao.

She wanted to get into Zhou University, so she studied hard and earnestly, living up to everyone’s expectations.

This time was probably the same.

She had spirit bones, and she wanted to enter this profession, so she was practicing cultivation earnestly.

Qu Xinru’s mood suddenly sank.

If Cen Zhu became a demon hunter, they would inevitably be opponents.

But if this was what Cen Zhu wanted, she had no right to stop her.

Her Ah Zhu should be free to do whatever she wanted – that’s what would make her happy…

She became lost in her gloomy emotions, wallowing in melancholy.

When she lifted her head again, Cen Zhu and Chu Sining had started chatting.

Chu Sining was asking if Cen Zhu was interested in becoming a demon hunter.

Qu Xinru’s gloomy mood instantly vanished as she perked up her ears, completely focused.

Under the light, Chu Sining spoke in a relaxed posture: “You’re so smart. If you want to become a demon hunter, you can join our Chu family. Our Chu family never turns away talent.”

Cen Zhu smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Chu Sining glanced down the mountain path, then asked: “So, who are these people you mentioned today that you want to protect?

“Your parents?”

Cen Zhu didn’t deny it: “They’re one of the reasons.”

This world had demons and ghosts, and ordinary people’s strength could hardly match against them.

Since she had this potential, she might as well make good use of it. While she might not become powerful enough to protect everyone, at least she could protect her family when such dangers appeared.

“Oh? Are there other reasons? What are they?” Chu Sining fired off three curious questions in succession.

Qu Xinru unconsciously leaned forward in anticipation.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the forest behind them.

Chu Sining’s expression changed as she whipped her head around to look.

—Nothing there.

Layers of tree shadows, the mountain forest returned to silence, there was nothing.

That faint rustling sound seemed like an illusion.

“Is something there?” Cen Zhu asked.

Chu Sining shook her head, neither confirming nor denying, then continued in a relaxed tone: “Even if there is something, we’re not afraid. Let’s continue our chat.

“Where were we? Oh right, what are the other reasons?”

Qu Xinru quietly sighed in relief on her end.

Fortunately, Chu Sining didn’t probe further.

Fortunately, Chu Sining didn’t easily change the subject.

She also wanted to know what Cen Zhu’s “other reasons” were.

Just as she was waiting with utmost anticipation, Cen Zhu shook her head.

“Secret.”

Chu Sining: “…?”

Qu Xinru: “…?”

Why was it a secret!

Qu Xinru was left hanging, internally feeling anxious.

Why couldn’t she say it? She really wanted to know!!!

She desperately wanted to run out and shake Cen Zhu’s shoulders to make her reveal the answer.

She desperately wanted to know if this answer had anything to do with herself, even if just a little bit.

But she couldn’t.

She couldn’t let Cen Zhu see her here.

She couldn’t…

Qu Xinru’s gaze slowly turned toward Chu Sining.

A bold idea gradually surfaced from the depths of her mind—

What if… she possessed Sining?

By possessing Chu Sining, she could use Chu Sining’s voice to ask questions.

She could ask whatever she wanted without worrying about exposing herself.

But in her condition, possession wasn’t appropriate either.

Whether the possession would succeed was one thing, and even if it did succeed, it would harm Chu Sining’s body, which wasn’t right.

After some thought, she decided to give up and not take this risk.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of dried leaves being crushed beside her ear.

Blatant, completely unconcealed.

—Right next to her.

Only then did Qu Xinru notice a woman in white standing beside her.

She didn’t know when she had appeared, and couldn’t make out her features clearly, only seeing that she wore a wooden tassel hairpin in her hair.

The night wind passed through the forest, lifting the white tassels, making them flutter mysteriously.

Chu Sining and Cen Zhu both turned their heads at the sound.

“After eavesdropping for so long, isn’t it time to come out?”

A cool voice fell, followed by an overwhelming pressure.

Qu Xinru knew this was bad.

Just as she was about to flee, she saw the woman remove the tassel from her head.

Cen Zhu watched as Chu Zhaoqiu’s delicate hand turned, and the small wooden hairpin instantly transformed into an elegant horsetail whisk [拂塵 | fú chén | traditional ceremonial whisk used by Daoist priests], which Chu Zhaoqiu firmly gripped in her palm, then forcefully swung!

With a “pa” sound, it struck the tree harshly.

In an instant, wood splinters flew.

A sudden scream of pain pierced the air.

Cen Zhu’s face wrinkled in response.

It looked and sounded painful…

Then she froze.

This voice… why did it sound familiar?

The next second, she and Chu Sining saw something being knocked out of the tree trunk by Chu Zhaoqiu, falling awkwardly to the ground.

She immediately stood up, trying to peer inside.

The branches and leaves crossed chaotically, blocking her view, but she could vaguely make out that it was a girl.

“Demon woman,” Chu Zhaoqiu’s voice was cold, “surrender.”

With that, she swung her long arm, and the pure white horsetail whisk instantly extended, fiercely shooting toward the girl who was either demon or ghost!

Cen Zhu saw the girl slowly raise her head, revealing half of a familiar face.

Her eyes immediately widened.

“—No!”

Her body instinctively rushed forward.

Chu Sining quickly grabbed her: “Don’t go over there!”

Then came a “hong” sound!

A burst of demonic qi suddenly surged forth, blocking in front of Qu Xinru, directly meeting the whisk.

Two powerful forces suddenly collided, the fierce wind stirring the mountain forest, startling countless birds and beasts.

Cen Zhu and Chu Sining couldn’t keep their eyes open against the fierce wind.

Qu Xinru also turned her head away, instinctively shielding her face with her arm.

When they opened their eyes again, both sides had gracefully withdrawn their moves, no longer fighting.

They saw a beautiful woman standing in front of Qu Xinru.

Her clothes floated ethereally, with an ethereal purple qi lingering around her, appearing utterly otherworldly.

Below her alluring eyes was a captivating tear mole.

“My Lady!”

Qu Xinru gratefully and emotionally looked at Fu Lianxue’s back.

At this moment, Fu Lianxue was leisurely withdrawing her hand, her gaze falling on the horsetail whisk resting in Chu Zhaoqiu’s arm.

“Eh?” Fu Lianxue made a puzzled sound.

She looked at Chu Zhaoqiu, clearly confused: “Why aren’t you using your sword anymore?”

Qu Xinru frowned in confusion, following her gaze to look across.

At this moment, she finally clearly saw what the woman who had detected her spirit attachment technique looked like.

Tall figure, striking face.

Perfectly matching someone from her memory.

She couldn’t help but freeze, her expression showing great surprise and joy—

“It’s you!”

As the words fell, question marks appeared above everyone’s heads.

Even Chu Zhaoqiu, who was being greeted, was bewildered.

…Did they know each other?

Fu Lianxue looked at Qu Xinru, then at Chu Zhaoqiu opposite them, finally returning her gaze to Qu Xinru, raising her hand to point at Chu Zhaoqiu.

“Her expression doesn’t look like she knows you at all.”

---

---