Under One Person: Did Zuo Ruotong and I switch bodies?

Bang bang bang bang!

Beside the stream, Lin Huaiyi's fists and feet, enveloped in golden light, slammed heavily against the tree trunk in front of him, shaking off large swaths of leaves, which were then pushed in all directions by the wind generated by his punches and kicks.

It was clear that he didn't want to destroy the tree. Although he struck with great force, he restrained himself each time he touched it. This was also a form of training, allowing him to better control his power.

"Perhaps they didn't want to be discovered by their fellow disciples?"

Zuo Ruotong narrowed her eyes and quietly approached, sensing the cultivation level he displayed: "He's only a teenager, yet his life force has already reached the high level..."

They really hid it well!

Judging from the previous situation, Lin Huaiyi should not have done anything wrong; he is just an ordinary disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion. His current cultivation seems normal, and he has not practiced any evil techniques...

Why hide it then?

With a question in mind, Zuo Ruotong stepped forward: "Young fellow Daoist, it is already late at night, yet you are still cultivating. Although it is diligent, you should also pay attention to resting, otherwise your body will not be able to take it."

"ah?!"

Upon hearing this voice, Lin Huaiyi was startled and turned around abruptly: "Left...Left Sect Leader? What brings you here!"

He quickly put away the golden light.

"Having nothing to do, I wanted to see the night view of Longhu Mountain. I happened to pass by this place and saw you cultivating alone, so I came to take a look." Zuo Ruotong smiled slightly, "You don't need to be nervous."

As he spoke, he walked up to Lin Huaiyi and looked him over carefully: "I saw you during the day. You were quite different. All the other young Taoist priests crowded around, but you were the only one huddled in a corner. Why is that?"

"this……"

Lin Huaiyi lowered his head, his body subconsciously shrinking back: "Master and Sect Leader Zuo's cultivation levels are too high. I was afraid of being affected, so... I didn't dare to go near them."

"Oh?"

  

Zuo Ruotong raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on her face: "Is it that you dare not, or are you intentionally hiding your abilities? You are clearly exceptionally talented, and you are from the Zhengyi Ancestral Temple. You neither steal nor rob, so why are you acting like a rat?"

"?!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Huaiyi's eyes widened: "You...you saw through my cultivation level?"

"You might be able to hide it from others, but you can't hide it from me." Zuo Ruotong nodded. "Tell me, why?"

thump!

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Huaiyi knelt down: "Please, Master Zuo, don't reveal this matter. If Master finds out, he will surely not forgive me!"

"What are you doing?"

Zuo Ruotong frowned slightly: "Since I can see it, your master must be able to see it too. He's a good master; he couldn't possibly be unaware of his disciple's situation, he just hasn't said anything... And you're just practicing normally, what's there to be afraid of?"

He naturally knew the answer to this question. Although it was normal cultivation, if one never revealed it, it would be practicing "private skills," which was no small matter in any sect and was considered "dishonesty" towards the sect.

To put it in the worst-case scenario, if a disciple secretly practices and improves in private, and keeps it a secret, who knows what you're up to? What if you're an enemy or a spy for the Quanxing sect, plotting something...?

That is, when it will be revealed.

That would be a catastrophe!

But what he didn't understand was why Lin Huaiyi would do this. Judging from the fact that he would be granted the surname Zhang in the future, he had no problems at all, yet he still chose to hide it.

In order to avoid being exposed, Lin Huaiyi had no choice but to tell the truth: "Master Zuo, to be honest, I was a rich young master when I was young, but I was too arrogant and caused a great disaster, which led to the slaughter of my whole family..."

"My master appeared at the critical moment, saved me, and even took me up the mountain to teach me cultivation. I can never repay this kindness..."

"But ever since that experience, I haven't dared to show any outstanding qualities again. I'm afraid someone will target me again, so I can only hide them!"

When Lin Huaiyi spoke of his childhood, he burst into tears, his expression filled with anguish, as if the fire he had started that had consumed his entire family was now burning before his eyes again…

But there was nothing I could do.

"So that's how it is..."

Seeing that she was finally being honest, Zuo Ruotong nodded gently, her eyes softening instantly: "Alright, get up. It's nothing serious, you don't need to be like this..."

He helped him up.

"I won't tell the Celestial Master about your situation, but I suggest you be honest with him yourself. Otherwise, the consequences will be serious if he asks about it."

"Like I said, he must have known about this, but he didn't ask, which is giving you a chance. If you're truly grateful to him, don't let him down... What do you think?"

After saying that, Zuo Ruotong smiled slightly, turned around and left, as if she hadn't seen anything and had never been there.

Lin Huaiyi stood there alone, watching his departing figure, his face blank.

"If you are truly grateful to him..."

"Don't let him down."

These words echoed in his mind, lingering there, and suddenly dispelled the fog of confusion.

He suddenly discovered that there was a solution to the problem he had always been unsure how to solve...

And it's that simple!

"Thank you, Master Zuo!"

"I see!"

"Oh……"

Hearing the grateful shouts behind her, Zuo Ruotong's smile widened. She turned her back, waved, and disappeared into the forest.

After learning the situation, he did not offer any guidance to his future master, nor did he intend to do so for the time being, simply because the master was still young and could not even "master" the sect's methods...

There's still plenty of time.

It's not the right time yet.

……

……

Early the next morning.

Lin Huaiyi then knocked on his master's door, carrying a bundle in his hand, and placed it in front of his master: "Master, your disciple was wrong!"

"Oh?"

Zhang Jingqing raised an eyebrow, immediately understanding the situation, and her expression turned serious: "Speak, what did you do?"

Lin Huaiyi knelt down with a thud and said sincerely, "Over the years, when I went down the mountain to visit people, I received gifts from believers, but I hid all the money and pretended to be poor. Not a single penny was used for the sect. This is my first mistake!"

"This disciple conceals his cultivation level, frequently practices private skills, and pretends to be dull and ordinary in front of his fellow disciples and master. This is a great act of dishonesty, and also the second mistake!"

"Yesterday, while I was practicing my private skills, I was fortunate enough to be caught by the Left Sect Leader, who then gave me some pointers, which made me realize my mistake..."

"Although Master Zuo has said he won't expose me, I know I can't continue like this. Today I'm willing to hand over all my savings and beg for Master's punishment!"

"Um……"

Seeing that he was sincere enough, and that he hadn't even hidden the matter of the Left Sect Leader's guidance, Zhang Jingqing nodded in satisfaction: "Then do you know that I discovered you were hiding money and practicing secret martial arts a long time ago, but I just didn't expose you?"

"I didn't know that at first, but fortunately, Master Zuo reminded me," Lin Huaiyi said truthfully.

"Alright, although you had some guidance from others, you figured it out on your own, so at least you didn't disappoint me. This punishment... will be waived."

"As for this money, you don't need to give it to the sect; keep it for yourself, but you must go and get me a new Taoist robe!"

Zhang Jingqing looked at his patched clothes with disdain: "Look at you, you look like a beggar. If someone who doesn't know better saw you, they'd think that even disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion can't afford to wear Taoist robes..."

"After you've changed into your new clothes, I'll invite my fellow disciples and me for a couple of cups of tea..."

"Let's just forget about it!"