After the Demon Lord was Reborn, She Switched to a Master-Disciple Romance Script - Chapter 30

Ning Huaizhu’s face darkened.

Seeing her distress, Xun Juexue offered no comforting words. Instead, she said, “The Malignant Qi is spreading through my spiritual meridians. I’ve already sealed it in one place using my Spiritual Power and am slowly refining it.”

Long ago, during her battle with Wu Hongye, a wisp of Demonic Qi had inadvertently invaded her body. While refining it, Xun Juexue discovered a faint resonance between this Demonic Qi and the Malignant Qi from Kangtuo. She had temporarily suppressed this last strand of Demonic Qi deep within her dantian.

During her recent journey to Kangtuo, the deeper she ventured, the clearer the resonance between the two became.

But Wu Hongye’s soul had long since scattered to ashes, and the Malignant Qi had descended from the heavens, its origins unknown. People simply regarded it as another inexplicable natural disaster, like the shifting sands of the sea.

Few even bothered to guard against it.

Since the sudden surge of Malignant Qi remained confined within the Kangtuo Realm, a desolate wasteland, the solution seemed simple: strictly prohibit entry to prevent harm.

As time passed, Kangtuo gradually faded from public discourse. It was only mentioned in passing, perhaps during lighthearted discussions of Immortal Venerable Qingwu’s past glories.

But now, the situation there had changed dramatically.

Instead of worrying about her Junior Sister’s Spirit Body being corrupted by Malignant Qi, Xun Juexue was thinking about the problem she’d discovered when she left.

She looked at Ning Huaizhu. “Although Spirit Medicine can’t heal this wound, my Spiritual Power is deep and strong. I’ve used it to lock the Malignant Qi in one part of my spiritual meridian and am doing my best to refine it. That should be enough.”

Though the damage was irreversible, Xun Juexue had cultivated for many years, her Spiritual Power vast and profound. The current injury hadn’t yet harmed her foundation.

“But,” Xun Juexue said gravely, “do you know that when I left Kangtuo, I noticed signs of the Malignant Qi spreading outward?”

This was what had been troubling her these past two days.

Clang!

Ning Huaizhu dropped her teacup, shattering it.

Having taken over her Master’s responsibilities and managed the Qingmiao Sect’s affairs flawlessly for years, Ning Huaizhu was no fool. In fact, she was keenly aware of major events in the world.

In that single sentence, a thousand thoughts raced through her mind.

Ning Huaizhu’s voice was heavy. “How far has the Malignant Qi spread?”

Xun Juexue replied, “About half a li.”

Half a li wasn’t much, but if the spread was accelerating, many areas could be consumed within a few years.

Xun Juexue understood her concern. “I’ll go check again in a few days,” she said.

Ning Huaizhu pressed her lips together. Her Senior Sister had returned from her last mission with severe injuries, and she naturally didn’t want her to exert herself again.

“Cheng Ruo once led a team to the Kangtuo border,” Ning Huaizhu said. “She’s well aware of the dangers of the Malignant Qi. Let’s entrust the investigation to her.”

Xun Juexue shook her head. “She doesn’t know how far the Malignant Qi spread last time. I’ll go again. I’ll just observe the spread rate this time, without entering the affected areas.”

Ning Huaizhu felt a flicker of relief at this.

But that relief was quickly overshadowed by the looming threat of the Malignant Qi.

She rose, her heart heavy. “Once we determine the spread rate of the Malignant Qi, I’ll convene a meeting with the other Sects to discuss this matter.”

Xun Juexue also stood up, patted Ning Huaizhu’s shoulder, and said calmly, “Don’t worry too much for now. Perhaps we’ll find a solution.”

Ning Huaizhu gave a bitter smile.

“Let’s hope so.”

Before leaving, she gazed at her Senior Sister, who remained composed even under immense pressure. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke. “Actually, I came here today not just to check on your recovery. There’s also something about Yue Changqiu I need to tell you.”

Xun Juexue’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “What is it?”

“Yue Changqiu said before he died that the Hidden Spirit Secret Art he cast was attacked by Demonic Qi,” Ning Huaizhu replied.

Demonic Qi.

Xun Juexue recalled the towering Demonic Qi she had seen rising from Water Moon City after leaving Kangtuo.

By the time she arrived, the Demonic Qi had already dissipated. Then, due to Yue Changqiu’s matter and her own exhaustion, she hurried back to Qingmiao Sect.

Ning Huaizhu noticed the deep thought in her Senior Sister’s eyes and asked, “Senior Sister, have you discovered something?”

Xun Juexue shook her head, replying calmly, “Nothing.”

Ning Huaizhu sighed again. “Perhaps he died with lingering resentment. Well, whatever malevolent entity it is, it will inevitably reveal its true nature if it dares to show itself.”

With such a major matter weighing on her mind, Ning Huaizhu had little inclination to investigate a mere trace of Demonic Qi, the authenticity of which remained uncertain.

After all, since Wu Hongye’s soul had been scattered, the Demon Realm had remained leaderless and disorganized.

After a brief farewell to her Senior Sister, Ning Huaizhu departed with a troubled expression.

As she left, Xun Juexue’s heart remained unsettled.

She carefully considered the information her Junior Sister had revealed: the Hidden Spirit Secret Art had been attacked by Demonic Qi.

Yet her disciple had also tearfully recounted her accidental discovery.

Most importantly, Xun Juexue had twice encountered Demonic Qi in the Human Realm. On both occasions, she found her little disciple near the Demonic Qi, but no Demon Cultivators.

Combining these clues, a ripple of unease stirred within Xun Juexue’s heart.

Her doubts quickly faded.

If a Demon Cultivator had infiltrated the Qingmiao Sect under a false identity, she, as the Master who spent every day with her disciple, would have noticed something amiss.

After all, no matter how skilled a Demon Cultivator might be at concealing their true nature, they couldn’t truly mimic a Cultivator’s daily practice of meditation and qi circulation without betraying some telltale sign.

Realizing this, Xun Juexue felt a pang of guilt for even briefly suspecting her disciple.

She rubbed her temples, her usually serene expression clouded with rare melancholy.

Just then, Zhu Jiyun arrived, carrying a tray with Ice Soul Snow Lotus Soup. She knocked gently and entered.

Seeing her Master rubbing her temples, she paused. “Master, do you have a headache?”

She set down the tray and knelt behind Xun Juexue, her delicate hands gently massaging her temples.

Before she could continue, Xun Juexue reached up and took her hand, lowering it.

Having just harbored suspicions about her disciple, Xun Juexue now felt a pang of guilt at Zhu Jiyun’s tender care.

“I’m fine,” she said, gazing at the fragrant soup radiating faint spiritual energy. “Did you make this?”

Zhu Jiyun rose and sat beside her, pushing the warm bowl of soup closer to her Master. “Yes,” she replied obediently. “I saw the Ice Soul Snow Lotus in your storage room and remembered its healing properties. I wanted to do something for you. I hope this soup will help you recover.”

The more obedient and considerate Zhu Jiyun was, the more Xun Juexue felt guilty.

“You’ve worked hard,” Xun Juexue said.

Zhu Jiyun shook her head, her eyes fixed on her master. “Doing things for you isn’t hard at all!”

The genuine adoration in her eyes made Xun Juexue’s heart suddenly feel warm.

She quickly looked away, picked up the soup brimming with her disciple’s care, and drank it slowly, mouthful by mouthful, until the bowl was empty. She then set the empty bowl back down.

Seeing her master finish the soup in one go, Zhu Jiyun’s face lit up with satisfaction. “Master, do you feel any better?”

Xun Juexue nodded slightly. “It has some effect.”

But Zhu Jiyun pouted. “You’re lying, Master! How could it work so quickly?”

The body hasn’t even had time to absorb it yet. How could it possibly have any effect?

Xun Juexue paused, then changed her answer. “That was just my imagination. I only felt my spiritual meridian relax and warm up after drinking the Ice Soul Snow Lotus Soup, which was somewhat comforting. I’m sure the soup’s healing properties will become apparent soon.”

But her words still didn’t reassure her little disciple.

Zhu Jiyun blinked, tears welling in her eyes.

“You’re lying again, Master! This soup won’t work now, and it won’t work later either!”

Xun Juexue didn’t even blink. “Nonsense,” she said. “The Ice Soul Snow Lotus is one of the Ten Great Spirit Medicines. It has remarkable healing properties. How could it not work for me?”

As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away her disciple’s tears. “Why have you been crying so much lately?” she asked softly.

After wiping away the tears, Xun Juexue tried to withdraw her hand, but Zhu Jiyun firmly pressed down on her left hand, which still held the handkerchief.

“It’s because you treat me like a child,” Zhu Jiyun said. “You keep everything from me and try to hide your pain while comforting your ignorant disciple. That makes me sad and makes me want to cry.”

Her tear-washed eyes stared up at Xun Juexue as she asked in a muffled voice, “Does my crying annoy you?”

Xun Juexue glanced at her red-tipped nose. “No,” she replied.

It doesn’t annoy me. It only softens my heart.

Zhu Jiyun, still holding her master’s left hand, tilted her head and nuzzled against it. “Master, I know everything now,” she said.

Xun Juexue stared at her for a long moment, her eyes suddenly shifting. She pinched Zhu Jiyun’s soft, pale cheek, her tone even and measured. “So, you’ve learned to eavesdrop on your master’s conversations now?”

Zhu Jiyun showed no fear. “If I hadn’t overheard, how long would you have kept this from me?”

“Even if Master wants to punish me for breaking the rules,” she insisted, “she should wait until I know the truth about her condition. I won’t run away.”

The disciple was stubborn, but her stubbornness was for her Master’s sake.

Xun Juexue gently pulled her hand free and patted the girl’s head. “You little rascal,” she chided, “why do you only listen to half of what people say?”

Still, it was for the best. She had only heard the beginning, not the heavy topics that followed.

That was good.

The girl was young, with endless possibilities ahead of her. This was the age to shine fearlessly, without the burden of dark and oppressive worries weighing on their hearts.

These matters were for their seniors to handle first.

If a great calamity were to strike, affecting every living being, then telling them would be necessary.

But perhaps things hadn’t reached that point yet.

At least, not now.

Let them enjoy their carefree youth while they still could.

Zhu Jiyun’s face lit up. “There’s a solution?”

“Of course,” Xun Juexue replied. “I wasn’t lying when I said I was healing myself yesterday. After years of cultivation, my spiritual power is deep and strong. I can lock the Malignant Qi in one place and slowly refine it away.”

Zhu Jiyun frowned slightly, asking preemptively, “But what if you can’t refine it?”

Xun Juexue glanced at her.

She hadn’t expected her disciple to be so perceptive, cutting straight to the core issue her Junior Sister had overlooked.

“Even if I can’t refine it,” she said calmly, “this trace of Malignant Qi is nothing to fear.”

So there’s still a threat she can’t heal.

The crease between Zhu Jiyun’s brows could have crushed a fly.

Xun Juexue couldn’t bear to see her like this. She stood up and said, “Alright, alright, I’ve told you everything you wanted to know. Come, let me see how your sword practice went today.”

Zhu Jiyun hurried after her. “Wait, Master, just one more question.”

“Speak.”

“Has Elder Yue been executed yet?”

“Yes.”

Xun Juexue turned to look at her. “What are you still standing there for? Come practice your sword.”

Realizing her Master had forgotten about punishing her for eavesdropping, Zhu Jiyun quickly followed, afraid she might remember. Though she wasn’t afraid of punishment, avoiding it was always preferable.

“Coming!”

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