Chapter 343 - 43: First Meeting with Dang Rushuang

In the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower, Zhang Deming opened his eyes again, a slight smile touching the corners of his mouth.

Now that he had planted the "nail" that was Xu Weihai, he was actually looking forward to the Outer Realm study group’s exchange meeting!

The pots and pans were all ready. He wondered how much of a meal they would provide, how much wool he could shear.

’I’m really looking forward to it!’

’I really want to take out a notebook and send a message to the so-called Celestial Eye Parasite Nest: "Come on over! I’m all ready for you."’

After a long moment, Zhang Deming shook his head, casting the chaotic thoughts from his mind.

Having taught for the entire morning, Zhang Deming was a little tired.

Instead of continuing to idle on the third floor, he flew up and drifted out to the lake outside the tower. Vines rapidly wove themselves together beneath his feet, and a jade-like raft of vines appeared on the lake.

Zhang Deming immediately lay down on it, leisurely enjoying this rare, idle moment.

The sunlight was a little strong, but for Zhang Deming at his current level of Cultivation, it didn’t bother him much.

The only issue was that the lake was outside the range of the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower’s Array, so the ROARING of the waterfall was somewhat annoying.

So, with a wave of his hand, Zhang Deming enveloped the nearby waterfall in a crude Isolation Array, and the world instantly became much quieter.

Beneath the Haoyang sun, between the cliffs, beside the waterfall, and in the middle of the lake, Zhang Deming lay on the jade-like vine raft with his eyes closed. The raft rocked gently beneath him. It was utter bliss.

So much so, that Zhang Deming simply drifted off to sleep.

...

"Hey, are you Zhang Deming?"

In a daze, Zhang Deming was awakened by a crisp female voice. He sat up and looked around, but he saw no one, and his warning Array hadn’t been triggered.

"What are you looking for? I’m over here!"

Following her words, a woman floated down from the Cloud Pool waterfall. Her long skirt danced and her hair flew in the wind, giving her the air of a member of an Immortal Family.

She looked to be twenty at most, and her beauty was unparalleled in the Human World—a true stunner even in the world of cultivation.

Even though Zhang Deming had seen many Female Cultivators skilled in beauty arts over the years and had grown somewhat immune to beautiful women, he couldn’t help but be a bit dazed the moment he saw her face. ’With a face like that, it’s a shame she’s not on the Extreme Charm Path!’

The thought involuntarily popped into his head.

Judging from her Cultivation fluctuations, she was also a Tai Chi Cultivator.

"Hey, I’m talking to you! What are you staring at?" the Female Cultivator said as she landed lightly on the lake’s surface, walking toward him step by step across the water.

Such a beautiful face, with the waterfall behind her, walking across the water step by step—it was truly a dream-like entrance.

But...

At that moment, Zhang Deming snapped back to his senses. Seeing the woman about to reach him, he immediately shouted, "Stop!!!"

His tone was urgent, laced with deep apprehension.

Hearing this, the woman paused, stopping in confusion.

As soon as Zhang Deming finished speaking, the vine raft beneath him vanished. He floated back to the shore, putting a great distance between them.

The woman stood on the surface of the lake, watching him silently with a puzzled expression.

"Yes, let’s maintain this distance. No matter what you’re here for, we should talk from at least this far apart.

If you get any closer, you’ll have to find another Disciple to relay messages between us!

If you don’t want to look for one, there are plenty of people at the edge of my cliff! I can call one for you!" Zhang Deming said, looking at the woman with a grave expression, as if facing a formidable enemy.

At his words, the woman’s confusion vanished. Her expression stiffened, and she asked, somewhat dumbfounded, "You don’t recognize me? Or are you really like the rumors say—a total pushover, completely ’obedient’ to Ling’er?"

Zhang Deming gave a noncommittal smile and said, "Heh, the great name of the Celestial Spirit Double Beauties has been thundering in my ears ever since I entered the Inner Sect. It would be hard not to know your name, Dang Rushuang.

Are there few Disciples on Spirit Nurturing Peak who secretly keep your portrait on their Array Screens?

It’s precisely because I know who you are that we need to maintain this distance!

My life is pretty good right now, and I’d like to keep it peaceful."

Dang Rushuang paused, then asked, taken aback, "What do you mean by that? Am I that much trouble?"

Zhang Deming nodded earnestly. "Yes. You really are."

Dang Rushuang froze completely, then said with a wronged expression, "How can you be like this?"

Zhang Deming shrugged again. "Alright, cut the sweet and innocent act, or whatever other performance you’re putting on.

If you have something to say, say it. If not, you should go back to your Celestial Spirit Peak and continue being the most beautiful pearl of the Celestial Spirit Sect.

Do you think I don’t know that brat Juan’er? A woman who can be as thick as thieves with her couldn’t possibly have a persona like yours.

If I’m not mistaken..."

Zhang Deming paused, looking at Dang Rushuang with a very serious expression as he continued,

"Senior Sister Rushuang, the small fights on Celestial Spirit Peak every three days, and the ’several-day trips to Wanghui Peak’ every ten days or so... that’s all your deliberate handiwork, isn’t it?

Juan’er’s fierce persona is meant to make her unapproachable. You, on the other hand, are going for the ’sweet and innocent’ act, combined with the ’unattainable goddess’ exterior, right?

You can be your beautiful maiden and have your fun; I’ll be my invisible man. Wouldn’t it be better if we stayed out of each other’s way?

If you’re looking to me for amusement, Senior Sister, I’m afraid you’ve picked the wrong person. My Cultivation Talent may not be much, but I’m the one who trained Juan’er to her current level of skill.

So, Senior Sister, that’s a minefield I have no intention of stepping into!

And you shouldn’t expect to plant any of your traps on me. It’s, hmm, better for everyone that way!"

Dang Rushuang’s dumbfounded expression slowly turned to one of composure, and then to one of amusement.

She looked at Zhang Deming and said, "Interesting. You really are just as Ling’er described—a very special junior brother!"