Both the Master and the Demon Lord Want to Cuddle - Chapter 8

A strange sight appeared above the Immortal Peaks. If the sky were to darken on one side, it would certainly cause turmoil in the human world!

The Immortal-Binding Rope secured both of them in one go. Ye Qianjue and Bai Xiuzhu were tied up like domestic pigs at the beginning of the year. Bai Fulan, who was at the front of the wide sword, hung her head with a guilty expression, as if she had done something wrong.

“Enough… Bai Xiuzhu, stop moving!” Ye Qianjue lowered his voice, terrified that Wu Hengmu, who was flying his sword alone ahead of them, might hear.

Bai Xiuzhu struggled vigorously, causing the rope to tighten even further.

Ye Qianjue: “…”

“Damn it! My Shizun came earlier; why didn’t you warn me?”

Bai Xiuzhu looked resentful, not a hint of reflection on his arrogant face.

Ye Qianjue thought to himself: Indeed, like teacher, like student. Just like old man Wu, he never looks for the cause within himself.

“Sister and I both signaled to you with our eyes. Who would have guessed you were so immersed in your own act that you didn’t notice the old man had arrived… Who can you blame for that?”

“Oh! You brat, you dare to talk back! Just you wait…”

After speaking, Bai Xiuzhu struggled hard, managed to free one hand from the gaps in the rope, and pinched Ye Qianjue hard in the waist.

Of all places on his body, Ye Qianjue’s waist was the most sensitive. Ordinary people couldn’t even touch it!

That damn Bai Xiuzhu! Always up to no good!

“Bai Xiuzhu! You actually dared to sneak attack me! See how I ram into you!”

Ye Qianjue turned his body and slammed desperately into Bai Xiuzhu. The wide sword, already struggling to bear the weight of three people, began to teeter dangerously in the high altitude.

Bai Fulan, at the front, lost her balance and swayed left and right.

Looking furious, she warned, “Both of you, behave yourselves! Master Wu is right in front!”

“He pinched my flesh first…”

“Forget about my Shizun for a moment! Wait until I punish this brat who doesn’t know his place…”

The two were completely unruly and paid no heed to Bai Fulan’s advice. As she tried to steady the sword in mid-air, she cried out, “Ah! Help!” and tilted to one side.

The two, who had been busy fighting each other, froze instantly.

In a flash of lightning, a pair of rough hands steadied Bai Fulan’s arm.

“Master Wu…” Bai Fulan looked up to see the furious Wu Hengmu. She steadied herself and silently prayed for the two behind her.

Ye Qianjue and Bai Xiuzhu held their breath in unison, looking at Wu Hengmu with trepidation.

“You bastards! Even now you refuse to behave! I must purge your crooked ways today; even if your Shizuns arrive, it won’t matter!”

Wu Hengmu’s voice was filled with rage. Perhaps realizing they were beyond help, he waved his hand and left, for once, without continuing his verbal assault.

Did the old man take the wrong medicine?

The two youths looked at each other.

It seems this is the silence before the storm!

Ye Qianjue closed his eyes silently, praying that his Shizun would arrive to save them before the punishment began. He did not want to taste the sting of Wu Hengmu’s ruler.

Of the three Immortal Peaks, Wu Hengmu’s methods were the harshest. Gu Qingyun was easygoing and rarely set punishments; Su Hanshan was gentle, usually sticking to verbal education or light warnings…

But… Wu Hengmu was different!

He was the strictest and cruelest of the three Immortal Venerables. He was famous for being impartial; he was not only ruthless to evildoers but equally harsh to his own disciples.

Ye Qianjue swallowed hard, nervously looking down at Bai Xiuzhu’s palms, which bore old, permanent scars from exactly this kind of treatment.

He looked at the night sky, where a bright crescent moon hung high.

Shizun… you must come and save Qianjue!

“All of you, kneel in the front hall! Do not rise until I permit you to!”

Wu Hengmu dragged them off the wide sword. The Immortal-Binding Rope vanished, and Ye Qianjue and Bai Xiuzhu hit the ground, falling face-first in a heap.

Bai Fulan reached out to help them, but a stern glare from Wu Hengmu warned her off. She had to stand to the side silently.

Ye Qianjue looked at Bai Xiuzhu’s sorrowful face and couldn’t help but laugh: “Hey~ Shixiong~ you’re so afraid of Old Man Wu~ It seems what you were acting out in the cave was a true reveal of your feelings!”

Bai Xiuzhu looked back at Wu Hengmu, saw him searching for something, and quickly retorted: “You’re the one to talk! Wait until you experience my master’s merciless ruler later, then you’ll shut up! You’d better hope your master arrives before the old man starts the punishment!”

Bai Xiuzhu’s words carried a slight chill, which Ye Qianjue felt.

He looked toward Wu Hengmu and saw, to his horror, a ruler appearing in his hand—it was as long as one of the oars they used for rowing!

“Oh heavens! Old Man Wu really wants to beat us to death…”

“Now you know. My master has always been like this…”

Bai Xiuzhu and Ye Qianjue stared in unison at the giant ruler in Wu Hengmu’s hand.

Wu Hengmu walked up to the three of them, took a look, and ordered Bai Fulan, “You stand aside and wait for your master to collect you. As for you two—”

A terrifying light flashed in Wu Hengmu’s eyes. Ye Qianjue felt a chill run down his spine. If his Shizun didn’t arrive soon, he was truly finished.

“Ha~ Master Wu, I won’t trouble you! I’ll go stand with Shijie!”

Ye Qianjue forced a smile and prepared to stand up to join Bai Fulan.

“Kneel!”

The powerful voice pierced the eardrums of all three present. Bai Fulan covered her ears tightly, Ye Qianjue was so startled he hunched his shoulders, and Bai Xiuzhu was left lopsided by the sheer weight of his master’s presence.

“Hahaha~ I was just joking, Master Wu…”

Ye Qianjue kept the last trace of a smile on his lips, but that smile vanished entirely when Wu Hengmu revealed the ruler.

“Unauthorized departure, skipping class, slandering elders, and improper attire! Every single one is an insult to the sect! Every single one is an act of rebellion! Today, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of Brother Gu!”

The ruler traced an arc in the air, smooth, elegant, and calm—soon to blossom into “vibrant flowers” on the bodies of Ye Qianjue and Bai Xiuzhu.

“Master Wu, please spare them! We didn’t mean it!”

Bai Fulan couldn’t bear to watch. In her desperation, she grabbed the ruler with both hands, blocking it in front of the two.

Both Ye Qianjue and Bai Xiuzhu were stunned, calling out with emotion: “Shijie…”

“Move aside! Don’t think that because I’m not hitting you, you’re off the hook…”

Wu Hengmu pressed two fingers together and pointed at Bai Fulan, fixing her in place where she stood.

“We’re done for…”

Just at that critical moment, a voice as gentle as jade sounded from above: “Brother, please show mercy!”

“Shizun!”

“Master Gu!”

The three spoke in unison, their faces glowing with the joy of surviving a disaster.

Wu Hengmu lowered his raised ruler, looking sternly at Gu Qingyun, who was drifting down with his sleeves fluttering.

“Shizun! You’re finally here! If you were any later, your disciple’s hands would be ruined!” Ye Qianjue didn’t want hands covered in scars like Bai Xiuzhu’s.

Gu Qingyun landed steadily with the breeze. His first look was at his kneeling disciple, his eyes filled with a compassion and tenderness reserved for Ye Qianjue alone.

“Master Gu, you’re finally here. Please, talk to Master Wu. We really didn’t mean to skip class,” Bai Fulan explained from the side.

Gu Qingyun’s cold, otherworldly face held a hint of inquiry. He turned his gaze to the kneeling Ye Qianjue, who was staring back with wide, innocent eyes.

“Brother”

“Brother! Do not plead for them. These sinful disciples dared to skip class, leave without permission, and discuss their elders! It is simply outrageous and unforgivable!”

Wu Hengmu looked at Ye Qianjue, his eyes filled with nearly overflowing malice.

Ye Qianjue hung his head sulkily. This old man has always disliked me. Isn’t it just catching a few fish to roast? Is it really that serious?

Ye Qianjue let out a light snort. He quietly looked up and happened to meet Gu Qingyun’s gaze. Seeing the cold, frosty eyes of his Shizun fixed upon him, Ye Qianjue lowered his head in fear.

Watching the long eyelashes of Ye Qianjue casting a fan-like shadow over his eyes, Gu Qingyun sighed in his heart.

At this moment, a light, gentle female voice came from afar: “Brother.”

Su Hanshan descended, dressed in light blue robes, tapping the tip of her sword. Her first look was at Bai Fulan standing in punishment. Seeing her Shizun’s gaze—without a hint of blame—Bai Fulan felt overwhelming shame, her fair cheeks instantly flushing crimson.

“Is Junior Sister here to plead for them as well?”

Wu Hengmu raised his voice and let out a heavy snort toward Ye Qianjue.

Ye Qianjue felt helpless; this old man was doing it on purpose!

“Brother, these three were raised by us. Ye Qianjue is naturally lively and the youngest; it is inevitable that he acts without thinking. Why not spare them and let us take them back to teach them ourselves?”

As expected of the beautiful and kind Master Su~

Ye Qianjue and Bai Xiuzhu nodded vigorously.

Gu Qingyun looked at his disciple, who appeared as innocent and carefree as a child who hadn’t grown up. He turned to Wu Hengmu, who was stroking his beard and saying sternly, “You are indulging them! The Immortal Alliance Conference is coming, and you two know what that means. If at that time—the whole world of immortal families realizes that our Three Immortal Peaks have no one capable of carrying the burden, it would be a huge joke!”

Wu Hengmu sighed heavily…

“It is merely a game of showing off,” said the laconic Gu Qingyun.

Suddenly, everyone’s eyes turned to him.

He said word by word, “I have long grown tired of these immortal gatherings; it would be better to abolish them.”

“I—I agree too!” Ye Qianjue raised his hand.

“You brat! Shut up!” Wu Hengmu flew into a rage, his voice shaking the others. Bai Xiuzhu felt as if his whole being was falling apart.

Ye Qianjue covered his mouth and then looked at the shining Gu Qingyun. …Why does it feel like starlight is sparkling around Shizun! Is this the charm of my Shizun?!

Wu Hengmu, feeling his disciples were not living up to his expectations, looked at the crowd in the hall, his brows knitting tightly, his temples throbbing, and his eyelids twitching.

Indeed, the Three Peaks are going to be destroyed in his hands…

He steeled his heart, slammed the ruler onto the ground, and declared solemnly: “Fine! I vow today: if you cannot stand out in this Immortal Alliance Conference, get out of the Immortal Peaks! I, Wu Hengmu, do not have such sinful disciples!”

Wu Hengmu turned his back to Su Hanshan and Gu Qingyun, saying, “At that time, no one’s words will be of any use.”

He flicked his sleeves and left.

Seeing Wu Hengmu go, Ye Qianjue stood up and pulled up Bai Xiuzhu, whose legs had gone numb from kneeling.

“Master Wu is gone, what are you still kneeling for? Did you get weak in the legs from fear~” Ye Qianjue mocked him mercilessly.

Su Hanshan sighed and looked at the three youths with a slight frown: “You had better think about how to win the competition. It seems that this time, neither I nor your Master Gu can help.”

“Fulan, let’s go.” Su Hanshan lifted the spell on Bai Fulan.

“Yes, Shizun.”

Bai Fulan bowed to Gu Qingyun and then went to Ye Qianjue and Bai Xiuzhu: “You are on your own. Although Shizun didn’t punish me on the surface, copying music scores when I get back is inevitable.”

Watching his Shijie leave with Master Su, Ye Qianjue put his hands on his hips and asked in confusion, “Is it really that serious?”

Bai Xiuzhu walked away limping. Ye Qianjue turned his head and realized that Gu Qingyun had been looking at him the whole time.

“Shi… Shizun.”

“Follow me back. We will talk about today’s events after we return.”

Gu Qingyun summoned “Lending Winter” (Lin Dong) and grabbed Ye Qianjue onto the wide sword.