Chapter 4: Rescue

At last, Zhang Pu strode out of the rather upscale Hong family suite, not sparing a backward glance. In his heart, he even felt a twinge of pity for that man, Hong Guishan—imagine living in such an atmosphere.

Just moments ago, Xu Huiping had put on a bit of an act, insisting on seeing him to the door. Zhang Pu, however, had half a mind to shove her roughly back into the suite, to make that false mask of hers slip away. If not for memories of his previous life, he might have been fooled by her facade, thinking she was just as kind as his own mother—a truly good-hearted woman.

Stepping out onto the street, Zhang Pu realized he was already quite familiar with this city. Of course—he had lived here in his past life.

Finding a place to rent would be simple enough. But now, Zhang Pu had other considerations: he needed to find a place conducive to cultivating immortality, ideally somewhere with a denser concentration of spiritual energy.

Finding a place to live was easy; finding one rich in spiritual energy was another matter entirely. After all, Earth was far from a paradise for cultivators—the spiritual energy here was thin to the point of being almost nonexistent.

Though Zhang Pu lamented that he might be the only cultivator on Earth, he soon steadied his resolve. He possessed the most advanced cultivation techniques! Among the many skills he had collected in the world of cultivation, there was one that not only absorbed spiritual energy but could also draw upon other forms—yin energy, demonic energy, and so on—to aid his advancement. He had obtained it after defeating a formidable enemy at the Nascent Soul stage.

He would begin cultivating with this technique, supplement it with local herbs, and in a short time, not only would he enter the first stage of Qi Refinement, but he could quickly reach an intermediate level as well.

Even the early stage of Qi Refinement would allow him to transcend ordinary human limitations, condensing a bit of true energy and wielding minor spells from the cultivation world to deal with mortals.

As he walked, Zhang Pu’s thoughts drifted toward South Lake Park—he had a hunch that the spiritual energy there was thicker than in the average city street.

He was making his way in that direction when suddenly, the blare of a horn sounded from an angle. Zhang Pu instantly saw a little girl about to be struck by a car. Without thinking, he dashed forward like lightning—just as he had so often in moments of crisis back in the cultivation world.

But in that split second, Zhang Pu seemed to forget something: he was no longer the same as he had been in the cultivation world. He hadn’t even begun cultivating; he hadn’t entered Qi Refinement at all.

It was easy to imagine what happened next. He managed to push the little girl out of harm’s way, but in doing so, he lost consciousness.

When he awoke, all he saw was white: pristine sheets, a white bed, white walls—everyone in the room dressed in white as well.

Nurses.

So he was in a hospital?

Zhang Pu felt his mind was still clear; he remembered what had happened—he’d simply fainted at the moment. Discreetly checking his own body, he was relieved to find no serious injuries.

“Young man, don’t move!” a pretty nurse exclaimed when she saw him inspecting himself.

Zhang Pu gave her an obedient smile. He had already realized that his injuries were minor. In the cultivation world, he’d learned countless techniques of wood, water, and light—energies renowned for their healing properties—some could even be used before one entered Qi Refinement.

He figured he’d be discharged soon enough. He still needed to find a place to live so he could get started on his “work.”

In his previous life, Zhang Pu had been hesitant and timid, but after a thousand years of hardening in the world of cultivation, he was now decisive to a degree unmatched on Earth.

He rose from the hospital bed at once, startling the pretty nurse, who rushed over, anxious, to hold him down. At the same time, she glanced nervously toward the door.

Just then, the door swung open, and his attending physician, Dr. Li, entered, accompanied by a beautiful, elegant woman.

The woman was so striking that, even as a high school boy at the age when infatuation comes easily, Zhang Pu couldn’t help but look at her.

If the pretty nurse by his bed was a pure white lotus, then the woman entering the room was a passionate, blooming rose.

“Dr. Li, this student insists on being discharged…” the pretty nurse reported at once.

The elegant woman spoke, her voice gentle yet tinged with concern, “Young man, your injuries aren’t healed yet. Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

She was none other than the mother of the little girl Zhang Pu had saved. Her name was Zeng Baoying, a wealthy woman in Qingwu City. Today, due to the carelessness of the nanny, her child had nearly been lost. After sternly disciplining the nanny, she had rushed straight to the hospital. No matter how lofty her status, she still felt obliged to check on her daughter’s rescuer, even if he looked like a poor student.

As for gratitude, Zeng Baoying intended to settle it with a sum of money—she had no desire to have any further dealings with someone of his station.

“I need to find a place to stay. I’m transferring schools to study here,” Zhang Pu replied honestly, withdrawing his gaze from the elegant woman.

“Oh, you’re from the countryside?” she asked. “Just focus on recovering here. I’ll have someone find you a good place to rent, and as for school—I’ll get you into the best one in Qingwu City. Also, I must give you a reward for saving my daughter.”

She spoke in the manner of a benefactor dispensing charity. For a moment, Zhang Pu felt as if he could see through to her very soul—and it was not as beautiful as her appearance.

He smiled to himself. Without a thousand years in the cultivation world, if he were still that naïve boy from before, he would have been utterly bewitched by this woman—and who knows how far he might have fallen under her spell.

But now, Zhang Pu stood on ground that allowed him to look down upon women like her.

In the cultivation world, he had seen women more beautiful than this one—countless times.