Chapter 174: Flexible

Modern era.

The more time passed, the closer it got to the one-month deadline, and the more Zheng Fa could sense the old man's anxiety.

But the old man, as if afraid of affecting Zheng Fa, never uttered a single word of pressure.

This past month, the old man spent less time at the nursing home and more days at Teacher Tian's house.

This weekend, the old man wasn't at the nursing home.

"Grandpa Bai is worried Aunt Wu can't manage alone, so he goes over every day to help," Tang Lingwumin whispered to Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa nodded slightly, pulled out his phone, and sent a text to the old man: "I have a way to cure Teacher Tian."

Less than three seconds later, his phone vibrated violently.

"Really?"

The moment the call connected, the old man asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"Yeah, I've condensed the Taiyi Talisman—it should work."

The Taiyi Talisman was among the most famous medical spiritual talismans in the Xuwei Realm—extremely complex, even ordinary Xian-grade talisman artists struggled to draw it.

Zheng Fa had failed once before finally condensing it in his dantian.

But the Taiyi Talisman's effect was unmatched—saying it could cure all illnesses wasn't an exaggeration.

Thus, such talismans sold for exorbitant prices in the marketplace.

The old man on the other end fell silent, as if suppressing some deep emotion.

"Teacher Bai, shall Tang Lingwumin and I go to Teacher Tian's house to meet you?"

"Yes," the old man said softly.

Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwumin took a ride-hailing car and arrived at Teacher Tian's house over half an hour later.

As soon as they entered, they understood why the old man's mood had been unusual.

Teacher Tian could no longer get out of bed.

She lay on the bed, her eyes still bright, but her face had grown withered.

She looked far worse than she had a month ago.

Seeing them enter, Teacher Tian smiled, her gaze carrying an inexplicable expression.

A mix of unease and doubt.

Zheng Fa froze, glancing at the old man beside him.

The old man nodded, signaling they should step outside.

"You told her everything, didn't you?" Tang Lingwumin asked before Zheng Fa could speak.

This girl was sharp.

"I told her…" the old man replied, dejected: "She refused to believe anything—I had no choice but to tell her everything."

"…"

Zheng Fa didn't mind much—he'd gained some self-preservation power by now—but the old man was just too unreliable.

Even Tang Lingwumin had managed to hide her own mother's secret.

"I thought… if I couldn't cure her, she'd just think it was a joke, no big deal… by the time she… by the time she passed, it wouldn't matter anymore."

The old man explained his reasoning.

Zheng Fa nodded.

"If I do cure her, she'll be my wife—I'll have to tell her everything eventually… whether I tell her now or later makes no difference."

Zheng Fa shook his head.

That was sophistry.

The old man snapped: "If you don't believe me, test her with the Great Dream Talisman!"

"…Will Teacher Tian agree to that?" Zheng Fa was speechless: "I just want to cure her directly—whether she joins the nursing home can come later…"

Frankly, the Great Dream Talisman was meant to guard against enemies.

Not to be used on those close to you.

It bordered on violating privacy.

"But if I don't explain clearly, she won't let you treat her!" the old man sighed helplessly: "I've seen too many scientists like this—they need to understand everything. Death is fine, but living in ignorance? Impossible."

"…"

After a few more words, they reentered the room.

Teacher Tian, as if knowing what they'd been discussing, spoke weakly but still smiled: "Don't blame Old Bai—it was me who asked."

"I don't blame Teacher Bai," Zheng Fa said sincerely, glancing at the embarrassed old man before turning to Teacher Tian: "Do you believe me now?"

"I do."

"Huh?"

"Didn't you notice something missing from the courtyard when you came in?"

Zheng Fa turned around and saw the stone table was gone.

Not gone—shattered into pieces, meekly piled in a corner of the courtyard.

Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwumin exchanged glances, both thinking of the same possibility…

"You guessed right—it was Old Bai," Teacher Tian groaned: "He punched it into pieces. Luckily, my mom was out buying groceries…"

"…"

"I still haven't figured out how to explain it to my mom."

The old man beside her looked equally aggrieved: "You didn't believe me—I had to prove I wasn't… that table was just in the perfect spot!"

Wait, you're the oldest person in this courtyard now…

How could you be so reckless?

Zheng Fa thought for a moment—this was no longer just about curing her.

"Then… Teacher Tian, would you be willing to join our nursing home?" he asked.

"Yes."

Teacher Tian answered with crisp decisiveness.

"Huh?"

Zheng Fa hadn't expected her to agree so quickly.

"I can live!" Teacher Tian smiled: "Old Bai said that herb was modified by spiritual energy? I'm curious too."

"Besides… isn't there a saying: marry a rooster, follow the rooster; marry a dog, follow the dog?"

"Huh?"

Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwumin both gasped, stunned by the sudden dog food dump.

What was going on with these two?

Beside them, the old man grinned proudly: "I got a certificate two days ago."

"Teacher Tian, you're awfully decisive," Tang Lingwumin's eyes sparkled with gossiping delight: "Didn't you say you'd agree only after being cured?"

"He comes every day, every day—my mom was moved," Teacher Tian sighed: "Besides, a dying person can't afford to wait."

She looked at the old man.

He smiled back.

Zheng Fa heard Teacher Tian whisper: "I'm glad I didn't know you were cultivators before—I didn't want Old Bai to think I married him because he cured me."

Old Bai's eyes gleamed brightly.

"…"

Zheng Fa looked at the two elderly people and felt unexpectedly moved.

After saying that, Teacher Tian seemed slightly embarrassed and added: "Old Bai told me you have some test to join the nursing home—you know they're cultivators, right?"

Zheng Fa nodded: "Let me treat you first."

"Rules must be upheld," Teacher Tian insisted firmly: "I already know too much—I still need to pass the test."

Zheng Fa glanced at the old man, who gave a slight nod and murmured: "That's just her nature."

Zheng Fa sighed, then shot a Great Dream Talisman into Teacher Tian's forehead.

Teacher Tian fell into a deep sleep.

Above her head, black vapor slowly formed a vortex.

Zheng Fa didn't want to leave her with a bad impression—he focused on her deepest desire.

Within the vortex appeared a laboratory.

Teacher Tian stood in a white lab coat before a device Zheng Fa didn't recognize, surrounded by several younger men and women.

Like her students.

The words they spoke were half-gibberish to Zheng Fa.

He'd only studied high school biology and had little interest in the field—understanding what Teacher Tian was doing was difficult—but he could see her face was filled with focus and excitement.

She operated the device, her mouth never stopping as she chattered to the students beside her.

"Is this… Teacher Tian's deepest desire?"

Tang Lingwumin didn't understand either.

She asked, puzzled.

"Heh…" the old man shook his head: "This woman's been obsessed with labs since she was young—said it felt comfortable, and if she didn't do this, she'd never have gotten married."

Zheng Fa nodded slightly, gaining a deeper understanding of Teacher Tian.

"She is purer than I am."

Yes, at least the old white man had a wish to win an award and show off—but Teacher Tian dreams of nothing but the lab.

Just as they thought this was the full extent of Teacher Tian's wish.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door outside the lab: "Professor Tian, your beloved has come to pick you up after work!"

Beloved?

Zheng Fa and the others froze—wasn't Teacher Tian unmarried?

But in the dream, Teacher Tian muttered softly: "Is Lao Bai here?"

At this, the old white man couldn't help but flash a smug smile.

"Look! Look! This is what it means to have you in my heart!" the old white man said to Zheng Fa and the others; "Now even in her dreams, it's me coming to pick her up after work!"

Tang Lingwumin thought for a moment, then said: "To spend your whole life doing what you love, with someone coming to pick you up after work—that's wonderful."

Her tone was full of envy.

The group watched as Teacher Tian stepped out of the lab, changed clothes, and went downstairs.

Someone was waiting there…

"Grandpa Bai…" Tang Lingwumin stared at the person waiting for Teacher Tian, stunned: "Who is this? Why does he look familiar?"

The person waiting for Teacher Tian had the height of the old white man, his clothes, even his curly hair and his expression—

But he did not have the old white man's face.

It was a face Zheng Fa also recognized, but somehow, placed on the old white man, he hadn't realized it at first.

"... our namesake."

"Ah?" Tang Lingwumin recognized him: "Isn't this..."

"Yes, hold a feather fan and you'll know," the old white man said with a sigh. "Decades ago, he was famous—everyone called him Little Handsome."

In the scene, Teacher Tian smiled and walked over, saying: "Lao Bai, didn't I tell you not to come pick me up?"

"..."

The three outside the dream fell silent.

Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwumin exchanged a glance, cautiously glancing at the old white man's expression.

This dream... was a little hurtful.

The old white man frowned, lost in thought, seemingly a little angry.

"... heng Fa."

He suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?"

"Do you know any spell that can change one's appearance?"

"Huh?"

"Teach it to me."

"..." Zheng Fa paused a moment, then said: "Aren't you angry?"

"Why be angry? You don't get it... who wouldn't want to date a handsome man?" the old white man waved his hand. "Does she not like me? She does—but she doesn't like my face... so I'll just change it, won't I?"

Zheng Fa couldn't help but admire him.

No wonder he was the old white man—his emotional control was flawless, and he always grasped the core issue.

"Besides, she can learn it too, later."

"Huh?"

The old white man glanced at him, his eyes tinged with disdain: "I used to be a fanboy too, you know."

Zheng Fa admired him even more.

He really knew how to play it!

Teacher Tian slowly woke from her bed, still half-dazed.

She looked around, her gaze landing on the old white man's face, as if remembering something: "Lao Bai, did I just dream about you?"

"Yes, we saw it too."

"But something felt off..."

"Nothing's off. That was me," the old white man said firmly.