A Cunning Pervert in the Cultivation World Chapter 566: The Hidden Truth (4)

"Dummy..."

Peng Jianwei froze slightly behind the mask.

Then Zi Yuanling lifted her head.

Whatever fragility had shown on her face a moment earlier was pushed down beneath a clear, quiet determination.

She shook her head once, firmly, as if driving away hesitation itself.

"If that is the only path that can save this dynasty and destroy the plague that took my parents... then I will walk it."

From that day onward, the atmosphere inside the quiet bamboo house changed.

Neither of them spoke again of the complicated emotions that had briefly surfaced between them.

Peng Jianwei continued to wear his peculiar mask and address her as "Young Miss Zi," while Zi Yuanling still called him "Brother Peng" with the same familiar tone.

On the surface, their relationship remained that of a benefactor and the girl he protected.

Whatever unspoken feelings might have existed were deliberately pushed aside, buried beneath the weight of the path they had chosen.

They began to plan.

In the beginning, it was only discussion.

Peng Jianwei carefully explained the structure of the Fen Dynasty’s imperial court, the hierarchy of the harem, the methods by which women entered the palace, and the countless unspoken rules that governed survival within those walls. Zi Yuanling listened in silence, memorizing every detail despite her frail health, her pale face often lit by the soft glow of an oil lamp late into the night.

Then came the training.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months.

Peng Jianwei began teaching her the etiquette required of a woman who wished to stand near the imperial throne.

He corrected the way she walked, the angle at which she lowered her gaze, the precise manner in which she poured tea, and even the subtle differences in tone when addressing people of different ranks.

What had once been the natural movements of a quiet, sickly girl living in a bamboo forest were slowly reshaped into the refined composure of someone prepared to enter the palace.

Her education did not stop at manners.

He taught her how to read the undercurrents of conversation, how to recognize when a smile was genuine and when it was a blade in disguise, and how to survive among women who would see every new face as a potential rival.

He drilled into her the importance of patience, restraint, and timing... skills far more valuable in the harem than simple beauty or status.

There were days when her illness flared, forcing her to rest for long hours.

On those days, Peng Jianwei would sit nearby and continue speaking in a calm voice, repeating lessons, recounting the structure of the court, or explaining the habits of the current Emperor based on the information he had gathered.

Even when her body was weak, her mind never stopped absorbing what he taught.

_

_

_

Seasons changed around the bamboo house.

The rain of that fateful night gave way to clearer skies, then to colder winds, then to the quiet warmth of another spring.

During that time, Zi Yuanling’s presence gradually transformed.

The frail girl who once sat dazedly on the porch waiting for her benefactor slowly became someone sharper, more composed, and far more prepared for the ruthless world she was about to enter.

Time continued to flow within the memory.

Before long, years went by, and the day of departure arrived.

The frail, sickly girl who had once sat dazedly on the porch had grown into a beautiful young lady.

Though traces of her old illness still lingered in her pale complexion, her presence had completely transformed.

Her posture was upright, her gaze calm and composed, and every movement carried the refined grace of someone carefully prepared for the imperial court.

Dressed in elegant yet modest traveling attire, Zi Yuanling stood before the bamboo house with a quiet readiness that made her seem almost like a different person.

This was the day she would leave to join the selection for the Emperor’s concubines.

Before stepping away, she paused and turned back toward the tall masked figure standing behind her.

"...Brother Peng," she said softly. "Before I go... may I see your face?"

Peng Jianwei remained silent for a moment and couldn’t help but admire her cunning in choosing this important day to ask.

She was cornering him with the same refined cunning he had drilled into her over the years.

In the end, Peng Jianwei could only let out a wry smile beneath the mask.

"...Are you sure?" he asked one last time.

Zi Yuanling nodded without hesitation.

Seeing this,

After a brief pause, Peng Jianwei slowly knelt down in front of her.

His fingers rose to the edge of the peculiar mask, and with a quiet motion, he removed it just enough for her to see the face beneath.

Zi Yuanling’s eyes widened slightly.

For a moment, she simply stared, a dazed look crossing her beautiful face as she took in the features he had hidden for so long.

Then, softly, she laughed... light and clear, carrying both amusement and a trace of genuine emotion.

"...So you didn’t lie at all, Brother Peng."

Her voice was quiet, almost teasing.

"If I had seen you back then maybe... maybe I really would have hopelessly fallen in love with you."

"..."

Peng Jianwei remained silent.

But at that moment, Zi Yuanling leaned down and gently pressed a kiss to his forehead.

When she pulled back, her expression had softened into something calmer and more sincere.

"...Thank you," she said. "For everything."

With that, she turned and began walking away from the bamboo house, her figure gradually disappearing down the forest path that would lead her toward the imperial capital and the fate she had chosen.

At the same time, the original Li Feng and his black-cloaked future self stood behind Peng Jianwei, quietly watching everything unfold in silence.

"..."

"..."

"..."

For some strange reason, all three figures simply remained where they were, staring after the disappearing figure in mutual silence.

Peng Jianwei stayed kneeling with the mask still partially lowered, while the two versions of Li Feng stood behind him, each carrying their own unspoken thoughts as they watched Zi Yuanling walk toward the destiny that would eventually turn her into the woman they both knew.

And in the end, it was the original Li Feng who broke the silence.

He had been planning to step forward and look at the man’s face, but now he had lost all interest.

For some reason, he did not want to see that guy expression at all in this moment.

Still standing with his arms crossed, he clicked his tongue softly and murmured under his breath,

"...Idiot."