Collecting Disciples for a Hundred Years [Transmigration] - Chapter 3

Song Junyu’s eyes widened slightly.

Although she had been living in seclusion deep in the mountains, she had interacted with many girls over the years. Her junior sister, Lin Ying, would rather have her spine broken than shed a tear. Her former first disciple was cold-natured, rarely showing any emotion on her face. And her second disciple had been stubborn. If someone hurt her, she would retaliate a hundredfold and would never cry…

After spending so much time with these girls, Song Junyu had almost come to assume that all young women were this strong-willed. Especially since Ji Chan bore some resemblance to her first and second disciples—her brows and eyes were similar, and she even had a tiny red mole at the corner of her eye…

But the Ji Chan before her was clearly different in temperament.

Then again, it made sense. Ji Chan had likely been a pampered young lady of noble birth before being sold into that wretched place by her stepmother. Even if she had mustered the courage to escape, she was still just a young girl—timid and delicate, which was understandable.

Tears welled up in Ji Chan’s pale, delicate face, her nose red from crying. She looked utterly heartbroken, her tears falling like broken pearls. Her fragile, pitiable appearance made it impossible not to feel compassion for her.

“Xiao Chan, are you afraid of me?”

Only when she noticed the fear mixed with sorrow in Ji Chan’s eyes did Song Junyu belatedly recall the act she had put on the night she rescued her. Ji Chan had fainted back then and probably didn’t know what happened afterward.

“That night, I was just trying to scare them.”

Not wanting to upset Ji Chan further, Song Junyu released her hand and took a step back, softening her voice as she explained, “It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but I didn’t have the spirit stones to buy your freedom. I was afraid that if you stayed in that brothel any longer, they’d keep beating you, so I pretended to be a ruthless person to snatch you away.”

“I’m really not a bad person.” Song Junyu met Ji Chan’s gaze, trying to make her eyes as sincere and trustworthy as possible.

Hearing this explanation, Ji Chan finally stopped crying, though she remained curled up behind the vase. Her misty eyes stared blankly at Song Junyu, clearly weighing the truth of her words.

Given the girl’s tragic experiences, she looked like nothing more than a frightened kitten. Song Junyu didn’t mind indulging her a little. Meeting Ji Chan’s gaze, she thought for a moment, then took out the girl’s deed of servitude from her qiankun pouch and handed it over.

“Here’s your contract. I got it back for you. Tear it up.”

As if stunned by the offer, Ji Chan trembled, her eyes widening in shock.

She seemed too dazed to take the deed, so Song Junyu sighed and simply pressed it into her hands.

Only then did Ji Chan snap out of her daze. She looked down at the contract in her hands, then up at Song Junyu, tears streaming down her face once more. After a long pause, she lowered her head and slowly tore the deed to pieces.

“Xiao Chan, now you believe me, don’t you?”

Seeing Ji Chan destroy the contract and hesitantly step out from behind the vase, Song Junyu’s smile grew even warmer. She took the girl’s cold hand, pretending not to notice her stiff posture, and led her outside.

“My name is Song Junyu. This is Qing Ping Sect. For now, you’ll stay here. If there’s anywhere you’d like to go, just ask one of the little puppets to accompany you.”

“First, let me show you around.”

Song Junyu strolled leisurely with Ji Chan while subtly probing into her background.

After Song Junyu tore up the deed of sale, Ji Chan became remarkably docile, quietly following behind her. Though unable to speak, she responded to Song Junyu’s questions in various ways. Through a mix of guesswork and deduction, Song Junyu pieced together Ji Chan’s tragic story.

Ji Chan was the daughter of the wealthy Ji family in the city. She took her mother’s surname, while her father had been a live-in son-in-law. After her mother passed away from illness, her father quickly remarried. Over the years, her stepmother relentlessly mistreated Ji Chan. Poisoning her voice, seizing her room, and ultimately, in an act of sheer cruelty, selling her to a brothel.

Ji Chan’s mother had misjudged her father. She had left behind a substantial fortune, believing her husband—a seemingly upright and moral scholar—would care for their daughter. Yet after her death, the scholar allowed his new wife to torment Ji Chan in every possible way.

Outwardly, Song Junyu remained composed, guiding Ji Chan through the courtyard and occasionally plucking small fruits to feed her. But inwardly, she was troubled.

She had rescued Ji Chan on a whim, without any real plan for her future. Yet now that she had intervened, she couldn’t simply abandon her. Song Junyu had initially hoped Ji Chan might have other relatives to turn to, but it turned out the girl had no one left in the world.

Pursing her lips, Song Junyu discreetly assessed Ji Chan’s bone structure. Though small in stature, Ji Chan had excellent skeletal proportions—ideal for sword training! Song Junyu’s eyes lit up with excitement. But when she attempted to channel a trace of spiritual energy into Ji Chan’s body, her heart sank instantly.

Ji Chan was a “Body Without Apertures”!

It was common knowledge that cultivation required spiritual energy to flow through fixed meridians. Most people possessed these pathways, but a rare few were born with blocked meridians, unable to channel or convert spiritual energy—this was the legendary “Body Without Apertures.”

What a waste of such exceptional bone structure!

Song Junyu felt deeply regretful, but the fact remained: Ji Chan couldn’t cultivate. Elder Wan Qing, who oversaw foundational training for disciples in Qing Ping Sect, was notoriously strict and would never accept someone with a Body Without Apertures. Song Junyu had to consider alternatives—perhaps finding a decent family to take Ji Chan in, ensuring she could live safely in these turbulent times.

The farthest place Song Junyu had ever been was Li Family Village, the only place she trusted enough for this task.

So, in the following days, the usually reclusive Song Junyu began making daily trips to Li Family Village, searching for a suitable household. Eventually, she found one. A couple who had recently lost their daughter in an accident. Heartbroken and well-respected in the village, they were financially stable and unlikely to mistreat Ji Chan.

But this was merely Song Junyu’s arrangement. She wanted Ji Chan to have options. Everything depended on the girl’s own wishes. If Ji Chan preferred to stay in Qing Ping Sect, Song Junyu would find a way.

“Xiao Chan, what do you want to do next?”

After identifying the family, Song Junyu spoke openly with Ji Chan, omitting the fact that she couldn’t cultivate. She asked whether Ji Chan wished to remain in Qing Ping Sect, be adopted by the villagers, or had other plans.

If it were someone else, Song Junyu might not have been so attentive. But after these past few days of interaction, she found herself growing increasingly fond of this well-behaved and beautiful young girl. Ji Chan was very obedient—whatever Song Junyu said, she would do without question. Yet whenever Song Junyu left, Ji Chan would spend entire days staring blankly at the corner of the wall. This silent demeanor was nothing like that of a lively girl in the bloom of youth.

Song Junyu wished for Ji Chan to find some happiness, especially since Li Family Village had many children around her age to play with.

After listening to Song Junyu’s introduction about the elderly couple in Li Family Village who had lost their daughter, Ji Chan remained silent for a while. Then she looked up at Song Junyu and chose to go to the village.

–

Just as Song Junyu had anticipated, the elderly couple in Li Family Village warmly welcomed Ji Chan. They prepared a clean room just for her and treated her with great kindness.

Knowing that Ji Chan came from a wealthy family and might struggle to adapt to rural life, Song Junyu discreetly gave the elderly couple many supplies, urging them to take good care of Ji Chan. She also asked Li Xuan to gather a few friends to play with Ji Chan.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Song Junyu visited Ji Chan twice during this time. All of Ji Chan’s injuries had healed, and she had begun going outside to spend time with the other children. She seemed to have grown a little taller, her features becoming more refined. Even dressed in coarse linen, she stood out as the most radiant among the children, captivating anyone who laid eyes on her.

Seeing Ji Chan gradually emerge from her shell filled Song Junyu with immense relief.

Around this time, Lin Ying, who had gone down the mountain for training, sent back news that the two swords she had taken to sell had fetched an impressive amount of spirit stones.

Greatly encouraged, Song Junyu waited for Lin Ying to return with the spirit stones before immediately heading down the mountain to purchase a large batch of materials, ready to put her skills to full use.

For the first time, Song Junyu experienced the thrill of spending spirit stones lavishly. While buying materials, she remembered Ji Chan’s ill-fitting clothes and picked out a few beautiful outfits for her as well.

Knowing she would soon be going into seclusion and might not have time to deliver the clothes later, Song Junyu detoured to Li Family Village on her way back. She planned to leave the clothes on Ji Chan’s windowsill and leave without a word. But before she even reached the elderly couple’s courtyard, the sound of barking dogs made her heart skip a beat…

–

Ji Chan had been in a daze for most of this time.

When she woke up, she found herself lying in a room, her neck aching terribly, with a distinct sense of suffocation. It took several deep breaths before she could steady herself.

Outside the door, someone seemed to be arguing excitedly—

“What rotten luck! We finally found such a promising girl, and she goes and kills herself.”

In an instant, Ji Chan’s mind was flooded with memories—the complete life story of this girl named Ji Chan.

Her head throbbed painfully. Though her body told her she was Ji Chan, for some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t the same Ji Chan who had tried to end her life.

If she wasn’t Ji Chan, then who was she?

…

But her current circumstances left her little room for contemplation. Acting on instinct, she seized the moment when her captors were dozing to escape. Yet her weakened body couldn’t keep up, and the brothel’s enforcers soon caught up with her.

In her hazy state, she was slapped into a corner by the madam. Amidst the ensuing argument between the madam and another person, she lost consciousness, sinking into a chaotic whirl of dreams.

Most likely, having heard the words “medicine test subject” before losing consciousness, she ended up dreaming that she had truly become one.

In the dream, a cruel old Daoist experimented with various medicinal herbs on her body. Watching her writhe in pain on the ground, the old man clapped his hands and laughed heartily, exclaiming, “What a flawless vessel!”

For a medicine test subject, death was a release.

But her constitution was special—her body, devoid of meridians, retained the effects of the medicines far longer. The old Daoist couldn’t bear to let her die and repeatedly revived her from the brink of death.

……

The horrors of the dream were like a living hell, vivid and agonizing. By the time she woke, she found herself in an unfamiliar place.

Recalling the scene before she lost consciousness and the crumpled Cloud Silkworm Robe still clutched in her hand, Ji Chan immediately understood her current predicament.

Her entire body tensed, unsure what medicinal trials the seemingly domineering woman had in store for her. Yet, for the first few days, she didn’t even see the woman—only a crude little puppet kept her company.

At first glance, the entire mechanical schematic of the puppet’s body flashed through Ji Chan’s mind, revealing exactly how to disable it in an instant.

If she were merely a wealthy mortal from the city, she would never have possessed such knowledge.

Just who was she?

In the following days, Ji Chan obediently followed the puppet’s instructions. Taking medicine on time, soaking in hot springs to heal, and spending her free time pondering her origins until one day, footsteps echoed from outside, growing steadily closer.

Ji Chan’s eyes turned cold. Before she even realized it, she had hidden behind a vase, tears welling in her eyes.

It was an instinctive act of feigned weakness.

In her dream, she had endured the drug trials with apparent submission, appearing timid and cowardly until the old Daoist let his guard down. Then, seizing the moment, she struck without warning and killed him in a single, decisive move.

The woman named Song Junyu had a striking face. Though her features weren’t the most exquisite, her smile was radiant, her eyes lively enough to make anyone who saw her feel an involuntary sense of joy.

Those beautiful, deceitful eyes gazed at her with feigned sincerity as the woman promised not to use her for drug trials and urged her not to be afraid.

What hypocritical kindness!

Outwardly timid, Ji Chan inwardly scoffed, convinced the woman was merely pretending to be benevolent. To cultivators, mortal lives were as insignificant as ants. Just like the old Daoist in her dream—despite having killed countless test subjects, he was praised in the immortal sects as kind-hearted and benevolent.

Yet she never expected Song Junyu to return her deed of servitude to her.

Assuming it was some cruel trick, Ji Chan remained wary, refusing to take the offered document.

But the woman pressed it into her hand and told her to tear it up…

Watching the woman’s reaction carefully, Ji Chan slowly shredded the deed—yet the woman simply continued to smile at her.

For the first time, Ji Chan felt a flicker of confusion. What was this woman really after?

Then, as if completely unbothered by her mortal status, the woman took her hand and led her outside for a walk. Along the way, she began asking about her background. Feigning ignorance, Ji Chan answered based on the fragmented memories in her mind.

Suddenly, the woman channeled a trace of spiritual energy into her body.

Most people wouldn’t detect such a faint fluctuation, but Ji Chan was innately sensitive to spiritual power. Though the woman’s input was minimal, she noticed it immediately.

The spiritual energy did not enter her dantian but instead gradually dissipated within her body. This sensation was all too familiar. Ji Chan’s eyes widened slightly as her heart instantly turned cold: she hadn’t expected that she was still a body without spiritual apertures at this time!

The woman carried a faint, pleasant medicinal fragrance. Ji Chan had observed the woman’s room, which housed an alchemy furnace—clearly, she was well-versed in pharmacology.

In the current cultivation world, it was common practice to test medicines on mortals. Ji Chan knew all too well the temptation a body without apertures held for alchemists and cultivators.

Watching the woman’s demeanor, she concluded that the woman wouldn’t let her—a body without apertures—slip away. She steeled herself for the worst.

Sure enough, over the next few days, the woman treated her with apparent kindness, even condescending to personally comb her hair and cook meals for her. Admittedly, the woman’s cooking was delicious and comforting in appearance, but Ji Chan also noticed her making frequent trips outside the mountain.

Was she planning to sell her off?

Of course. This sect was so impoverished that selling her would likely fetch a considerable amount of spirit stones.

Ji Chan observed coldly. As expected, after a few days, the woman began speaking openly with her.

Though the woman framed it as a choice, Ji Chan knew she likely had none. The so-called adoptive family in Li Village was probably the next buyer.

Ji Chan chose to go to Li Village: agreeing voluntarily would at least spare her some suffering and allow her to bide her time more effectively.

But Ji Chan never expected: the family in Li Village turned out to be genuine farmers! The elderly couple had no trace of spiritual energy and cared for her diligently. Even under Song Junyu’s instructions, a few snot-nosed children insisted on coming to play with her every day.

What exactly was Song Junyu planning?

Ji Chan refused to believe her earlier judgment was entirely wrong. Over the next half-month, she complied with Song Junyu’s arrangements, only to discover in the end: Song Junyu had truly handed her over to this farming family for adoption, wanting her to live a stable and peaceful life.

Li Xuan, the girl who often came to play with her, revered Song Junyu immensely, praising her as if she were a celestial being. Watching Li Xuan’s starry-eyed admiration whenever she mentioned Song Junyu, Ji Chan finally began to believe: perhaps Song Junyu truly was the so-called benevolent soul she appeared to be.

But could she really live the stable, peaceful life Song Junyu wished for her?

During her time in the village, more than one man had eyed her with lewd and disgusting gazes.

She could sense that the elderly couple who adopted her didn’t genuinely like her. They only feigned warmth when Song Junyu visited. After all, with Ji Chan there, they could also benefit from Song Junyu’s patronage, ensuring their comfortable retirement.

It made sense. A mute girl who couldn’t carry heavy loads or do manual labor—what farming family would truly welcome her?

She didn’t want to live a life dependent on others’ whims, where her survival was at their mercy. At the very least, before she remembered who she truly was, she needed the ability to protect herself.

She knew her body without apertures couldn’t cultivate spiritual energy. But in her dreams, she had secretly learned many pharmaceutical techniques from the old Daoist who had tormented her provided she could obtain the materials…

Ji Chan hadn’t yet figured out her next steps when unforeseen turmoil struck.

The men who had often leered at her with vile intent finally made their move.

Under the cover of night, they drugged the elderly couple with crude concoctions and attempted to do the same to her, planning to carry her away.

Ji Chan pressed a damp towel over her mouth and nose, then pulled the silver hairpin from her head and jabbed it into her arm several times, barely managing to stay conscious.

Her door had been reinforced with special materials by Song Junyu and originally warded with a protective array, making it impossible for ordinary people to break in. However, just the day before, the elderly couple had given the array stones to the village’s wealthy family.

Even with the reinforcements, the door wouldn’t hold much longer.

The relentless pounding at the door continued. Ji Chan’s gaze fell on the hairpin in her hand, and she slowly pressed it against her face.

This was all because of her face. If she just destroyed it…

She knew ruining her face would eliminate many of her troubles. Though she didn’t particularly care about her appearance, a voice deep inside kept whispering: Don’t destroy it…

Why couldn’t she?

Ji Chan bit her lower lip, her head throbbing with pain. Countless scenes fluttered like butterflies before her eyes, but before she could react, the battering at the door suddenly stopped.

With a loud bang, the door swung open, and she saw Song Junyu, whom she hadn’t seen in days.

Perhaps the moonlight outside was too bright, but in that moment, Song Junyu seemed even more dazzling than usual.

Song Junyu’s eyes burned with anger, making them especially vivid. And when she saw the hairpin pressed against Ji Chan’s face, something else flickered in her gaze…

“Xiao Chan!”

She closed her eyes briefly, then slowly walked over and crouched down to meet Ji Chan’s gaze.

“In this world, the innocent are often blamed for their treasures. You must be able to protect yourself.”

Ji Chan froze, lowering her eyes slightly. She ignored the faint, almost imperceptible pang of disappointment in her heart and inwardly scoffed: A weak, powerless mute who can’t cultivate—how could she possibly protect herself?

Song Junyu must be tired of this too. She had just picked up a stray out of kindness, never expecting it to be so troublesome.

“Your constitution is special. You can’t channel spiritual energy.” Song Junyu continued, exposing Ji Chan’s condition.

What did she mean by this?

“If you want to stay here, I’ll do my best to protect you.”

“But if you want to cultivate… because of your constitution, the path will be much harder for you. You’ll suffer more, take many detours, and even after a lifetime of effort, you might not match what others achieve in half a year.”

“Still, at the very least you’ll be able to defend yourself against ordinary people.”

Meeting Ji Chan’s widened eyes, Song Junyu spoke softly—

“Xiao Chan, would you like to become my disciple?”