After the Demon Lord was Reborn, She Switched to a Master-Disciple Romance Script - Chapter 10

Ning Huaizhu looked puzzled. “What wild chicken? When did I ever raise wild chickens?”

Seeing she genuinely didn’t remember, Xun Juexue lowered her gaze and said quietly, “It’s nothing. If you don’t remember, it doesn’t matter.”

As Xun Juexue turned to leave, Ning Huaizhu quickly stopped her. Gazing at her Senior Sister’s tall, jade-like figure, serene and untouched by worldly concerns, she brought up a matter she had been pondering recently. “Senior Sister, you still haven’t taken a disciple after all these years. Since Master passed away, Wangji Peak has been perpetually silent and lonely, with no one to keep you company. Centuries ago, when I suggested it, you said you were in seclusion and had no time for such matters. Now that you’ve emerged, shouldn’t you consider taking a disciple to care for you?”

Senior Sister is perfect in every way, except she’s terrible at taking care of herself.

When they were young, Senior Sister would still smile at Ning Huaizhu’s jokes. But now, as Ning Huaizhu looked at Xun Juexue, she felt as if her Senior Sister had suppressed and brushed aside all emotions. In her eyes and heart, there remained only the pursuit of the Dao and the welfare of the world.

Seeing Xun Juexue carry the weight of everything on her shoulders, except herself, Ning Huaizhu had been contemplating finding her a clever and adorable disciple to dote on her. Of course, if the disciple were also exceptionally talented, all the better.

Xun Juexue frowned, correcting her. “Taking a disciple is about Master imparting knowledge and the disciple diligently studying and practicing. What does any of this have to do with such mundane matters?”

“I know you’re busy with sect affairs as Sect Leader, and Cheng Ruo usually handles things for you. But since you’ve already chosen her as your successor, I won’t interfere. Still, you must guide the other disciples carefully.”

People in the Cultivation World often said Sect Leader Ning of Clear Mist Sect and Immortal Venerable Qingwu were worthy disciples of the same master, both being disciplined, proper, and respectful of rules. But outsiders didn’t know that Sect Leader Ning had been a playful child. Even after centuries as Sect Leader, her mischievous nature hadn’t changed much; she simply presented a mature and composed facade to the world.

Ning Huaizhu was speechless.

Her suggestion had backfired, and she’d ended up being lectured instead.

Her expression was a bit awkward, but this was common when dealing with her Senior Sister. Ning Huaizhu didn’t take the words to heart and remained determined about her earlier proposal.

“Senior Sister…”

“I understand your point,” Xun Juexue interrupted. “I’ll make my decision during the Outer Sect Disciple Grand Competition.”

Ning Huaizhu’s heart leaped with joy. “Good!”

Watching Xun Juexue’s robes flutter as she departed, Ning Huaizhu immediately felt reassured.

Now that her Senior Sister had shown interest in taking a disciple and had said so explicitly, she would never break her word!

But when she remembered her sect’s top disciple being injured at the Kangtuo border, the joy on her face faded, replaced by a grave and worried expression.

******

Ji Nianyan lay face down on the table, looking miserable.

Beside her, Xia Lianjiao, with her slightly round face, was trying to find the right words to comfort her.

Zhu Jiyun listened for a few moments before realizing what was bothering Ji Nianyan.

They had all joined the Sect as new disciples at the same time and had been training together for nearly two months. Some were naturally gifted, learning everything faster and better than others. Ji Nianyan, burdened by her desire for revenge and realizing her own average talent compared to those with exceptional gifts, felt her resolve wavering.

Zhu Jiyun glanced at the Female Lead, whose face was flushed as she comforted her friend, and sat up in bed.

Now that only the three of them were in the room, she suddenly asked, “Did you practice your sword this morning?”

Before formally becoming disciples, Outer Sect Disciples of the Clear Mist Sect attended the Sect’s standardized courses. However, classes didn’t begin until halfway through Chen Shi, so many disciples would voluntarily wake up at Mao Shi to practice their swordsmanship diligently in the main square.

Ji Nianyan lifted her head, her cheek still bearing the red mark from where it had been pressed against the table. “Yes, I did.”

“What time did you go?” Zhu Jiyun pressed.

Ji Nianyan seemed to understand what she was getting at. “Halfway through Mao Shi.”

Zhu Jiyun hummed in acknowledgment. “And what were you doing at Hai Shi last night?”

Ji Nianyan lowered her head. “R-reading a storybook.”

“You can’t decide how much talent you have, but you can choose how hard you work,” Zhu Jiyun said calmly. “Instead of complaining here, pick up your sword and close the gap between your talent and your effort.”

Ji Nianyan’s face flushed with shame.

She remembered how she’d been neglecting her training, lost in storybooks. She lowered her head, grabbed her sword from beside her, and sprang to her feet. “Sister Zhu, Jiaojiao, I’m going to practice my swordsmanship now!”

With that, she vanished from the room.

Xia Lianjiao sighed in relief. “Zhu Jiyun, you always know what to say.”

Zhu Jiyun shifted into a more comfortable position, her voice lazy. “That’s because no one was pushing her. Before, someone was probably chasing her, so she trained diligently. Now that she’s in a safe environment, she’s unconsciously let her guard down.”

Xia Lianjiao stuck out her tongue and sat curiously on the edge of Zhu Jiyun’s bed. “What about you? Why have you been slacking off?”

For the past two months, Zhu Jiyun had been acting differently from everyone else.

Everyone else was working hard to reach Foundation Establishment, desperate to avoid remaining an Outer Sect Disciple forever or, worse, becoming a useless Laborer Disciple. But Zhu Jiyun seemed unconcerned. While others toiled, she remained perpetually relaxed.

“Me?” Zhu Jiyun said lazily. “Naturally, I’m the one who loves lying there and enjoying myself the most.”

Xia Lianjiao sighed. “I like lying flat too.”

To be honest, Xia Lianjiao was green with envy. She longed to lie down like that too, but she couldn’t. Ah, if only I could reach Foundation Establishment sooner.

After Xia Lianjiao was called away, Zhu Jiyun lifted her gaze, watched her dainty figure disappear, and then rolled over.

I never realized the Female Lead was such a hidden beauty snob.

When the Female Lead had first approached her, Zhu Jiyun had been puzzled, but she quickly figured out the reason.

Not that it mattered. Truth be told, Zhu Jiyun had never had any irreconcilable conflicts with the Female Lead.

After lying around for half the day, Zhu Jiyun thought about tomorrow’s Pill Refinement class, feeling both anticipation and dread.

She decided to go back to her usual spot and catch a fish to comfort herself in advance.

With practiced skill, Zhu Jiyun scaled and gutted the wild fish, then skewered it over the makeshift grill. Just as she was about to sprinkle on the seasoning, she heard footsteps behind her.

Turning around, she saw Ji Chengyu approaching, his expression dark and clearly looking for trouble.

Zhu Jiyun glanced at him briefly, then ignored him.

With perfect composure, she flipped the fish to ensure even cooking, knowing it would taste even better when properly grilled.

Ji Chengyu stared at her, his expression mocking as he saw she still acted as if he were beneath her notice. “Zhu Jiyun, you’re still as arrogant as ever. But what gives you the right to be so proud now?”

The System warned her in her mind not to act impulsively, lest she completely antagonize the Male Lead.

Zhu Jiyun ignored it completely.

“Do you think this is still the mortal realm?” Ji Chengyu sneered.

Back then, he had been penniless and desperate, while Zhu Jiyun could crush his dignity with a casual kick.

But now, the Cultivation World valued strength above all else. He possessed innate talent, while Zhu Jiyun seemed like a lazy, stagnant waste of potential.

The tables had turned, and Ji Chengyu felt a secret satisfaction.

Zhu Jiyun grew impatient. “Stop blathering and get to the point!”

“You!” Ji Chengyu’s face hardened as he drew his sword and pointed it at her. “Today, you’ll pay for your past arrogance!”

Zhu Jiyun glanced at the sword tip. “The Clear Mist Sect forbids disciples from killing each other.”

Ji Chengyu laughed coldly. “This is just a friendly spar. How could it be considered murder?”

So, he had come specifically to challenge her after seeing her spend her days lazing around.

With such a vast difference in skill, there could be no true spar. It would simply be one side getting beaten up.

Zhu Jiyun’s eyebrows twitched slightly, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Yes, just a friendly spar. Don’t back out now,” she said, relishing the thought of the fool who had walked right into her trap.

Ji Chengyu scoffed dismissively, taking her words as mere bravado.

Fifteen minutes later, Zhu Jiyun stood over the unconscious Ji Chengyu, whom she had knocked out with a precise strike. She sneered coldly.

Who’s beating who now?

But as she turned to retrieve her grilled fish, her expression instantly hardened.

In a fair fight, with their Spiritual Power evenly matched, Zhu Jiyun had only managed to defeat Ji Chengyu by drawing on her past life’s experience.

During the battle, she had clearly sensed that Ji Chengyu had undergone a complete transformation in just two months.

Among all the new cultivators, Ji Chengyu was undeniably the most gifted and capable.

Even when facing her, he had unleashed a power far beyond his usual limits.

This is what it means to be favored by the Heavenly Dao.

Her eyes darkened, a storm of emotions churning within her before she ruthlessly suppressed them all.

Carrying the fish, Zhu Jiyun was about to find a quiet spot to enjoy it when she ran into a familiar face just two steps away.

Zhu Jiyun paused, surprised. “Senior?”

The person standing under the tree, watching for who knows how long, was none other than Xun Juexue, whom she had encountered before.

Realizing Xun Juexue might have witnessed their entire sparring match, Zhu Jiyun approached with the fragrant, roasted fish in hand, her expression unchanged. “How long have you been here, Senior?”

Xun Juexue had just returned to the sect from Kangtuo. As she flew over Boundless Cliff’s rear mountain, she caught a sudden whiff of something delicious. After a moment’s thought, she guessed it might be the disciple she had met earlier.

Remembering the incident with the pheasant, she had been about to warn the disciple again when she stumbled upon this scene.

Xun Juexue’s face remained impassive, revealing neither anger nor displeasure. “Fifteen minutes.”

Fifteen minutes.

Just enough time to witness the entire exchange.

Zhu Jiyun’s eyes curved into a smile, her peach blossom eyes sparkling. “Then you’ll vouch for me, Senior? I was truly forced into that sparring match.”

Sly.

Xun Juexue looked at her.

Zhu Jiyun returned the gaze without hesitation.

Rarely did anyone dare meet Xun Juexue’s eyes directly. Xun Juexue was the first to look away, saying calmly, “Mm.”

Zhu Jiyun was slightly surprised. Gazing at Xun Juexue’s robes, which seemed untouched by worldly concerns, she suddenly smiled brightly. “I thought Senior would scold me.”

Xun Juexue replied evenly, “He initiated the spar. Besides, neither of you used overly aggressive sword techniques.”

The smile on Zhu Jiyun’s lips became more genuine.

She chirped, “Exactly! He provoked me first. It’s not my fault he’s not as skilled.”

Unfortunately, the world was full of fools who only saw what was right in front of them, punishing based on outcomes rather than causes.

Zhu Jiyun, still in high spirits, suddenly remembered the freshly grilled fish in her hand. Ji Chengyu, that dog, had delayed her by fifteen minutes, making the fish even more deliciously crispy.

“Senior, would you like to try my cooking?” Zhu Jiyun offered the grilled fish with a cheerful smile, holding it out to both of them.

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