Dreaming with My Aloof Master - Chapter 2

“Master, you’re so late. Why are you only just coming to get me?”

By the time Lu Qinghuai slowly awakened, it was already afternoon. He was alone in the vast room.

Feeling a slight coolness on his forehead, Lu Qinghuai reached up and removed a damp cloth.

He stared at the cloth in his hand for a moment, lost in thought, before tossing it aside. “It seems Xiao Xuanqing heard my final words after all. This body’s spiritual energy wasn’t exhausted in vain.”

The shock of the previous events had been too great; only now could Lu Qinghuai barely gather his thoughts. He scanned his surroundings. Ink wash paintings of landscapes hung on the walls. On a high table made of golden nanmu wood sat a celadon-glazed paper-beater vase, with a few magnolia branches leaning inside.

The room was simple and austere, fitting the original owner’s cultivation of the Heartless Dao, but it also happened to suit his own tastes.

[Congratulations, Host, for binding the Disciple-Raising System.]

[Main Quest: Please replace the missing villainous master and complete the finale of Arrogant Immortal Venerable.]

[Quest Reward: Return to your original world with a healthy body.]

[Quest 1: Frame the protagonist and throw him into the Myriad Snake Cave for punishment.]

[Current Host Life Limit: Three Hours.

Warning! If the Host fails to complete the task in time, they will be automatically eliminated after three hours.]

Taking in the ancient-style decor around him, and combining it with his previous experiences and the memories that had appeared out of nowhere, Lu Qinghuai could no longer deny the fact that he had transmigrated into a book.

Having lived for over twenty years, he had spent most of his time in hospitals, with only a magnolia tree by the window for company. Even his parents, after donating his heart to his older brother, had not seen him in nearly ten years, only sending money regularly to soothe their “guilt.”

—To have a healthy body.

The most ordinary of wishes was like a mirage to Lu Qinghuai.

Hearing the reward, he murmured, “I just want to live properly, not be anyone’s spare part.”

Bruised fingerprints were visible on his white jade-like neck. Lu Qinghuai reached out to touch them, paused, and then pressed down hard.

The sharp pain cleared his mind. Lu Qinghuai sneered faintly:

“Xiao Xuanqing, it seems my life in this world is held in your hands.”

*****

Wisps of cloud and mist drifted by as a massive spirit stone floated in mid-air. White feathers fluttered past as the Idle Cloud Crane spread its wings, refusing to alight on the Cloud-Gazing Platform, a place notorious for its punishments.

At the center of the platform, a slender youth knelt on the ground.

A middle-aged man with a full, noble countenance stood at the highest point. He spoke, “Xiao Xuanqing, you have been accused of stealing a spiritual item. Zhao Hao, testify now to everything you saw.”

“Yes.” Zhao Hao stepped out from the crowd, his thin shoulders hunching first before his rat-like eyes narrowed into slits. He looked up at the presiding elder with a fawning smile. “Elder Li, I saw this useless… mortal sneak into Sect Master Qinghuai’s residence with my own eyes. After he left, I followed him inside and discovered that the Immortal Herb from Taiyu Mountain had vanished from the room.”

He pointed at Xiao Xuanqing and sneered loudly, “Who would have thought that the Cultivation World’s greatest sect would harbor a rat from the gutters?”

Elder Li frowned slightly. “Zhao Hao, your word alone is not enough to prove anything. You cannot insult a fellow disciple without evidence.”

“Elder Li, this disciple has an Image-Recording Pearl as proof.”

Zhao Hao had long anticipated that Elder Li, known for his impartiality, would not believe him on his word alone, so he had come prepared. He shot a sideways glance at Xiao Xuanqing and presented a crystal-clear pearl, his face twisted into a smug, villainous grin.

A clear image materialized in mid-air.

Just as Zhao Hao had claimed, Xiao Xuanqing was seen entering Sect Master Qinghuai’s residence and emerging with an Immortal Herb in his hand.

The surrounding disciples erupted in a clamor, their voices filled with hushed accusations. “Isn’t Xiao Xuanqing already Sect Master Qinghuai’s disciple? How could he still engage in such filthy theft from his own sect?”

“What can you expect from a mortal who started as a beggar? His hands were never clean to begin with.”

*****

Countless rumors and insults were hurled at him. Xiao Xuanqing calmly glanced around, then suddenly smiled with a dazzling brilliance. Though the young man was kneeling in a humiliating position, the clamorous crowd instantly fell silent. Their hearts hammered like drums, and for a moment, no one dared to utter another word of mockery.

With the evidence being irrefutable, Elder Li wasted no time. He threw an Immortal-Binding Rope, tightly restraining Xiao Xuanqing. “How dare you, Xiao Xuanqing, covet Sect Master Qinghuai’s possessions! Hand over the stolen item at once!”

“What is all this commotion about?”

The voice, as clear and cool as shattered jade, alone was enough to make the crowd instinctively part and stand in two orderly lines.

Upon seeing Lu Qinghuai, Elder Li recounted the entire incident from the beginning. He concluded by asking, “Senior Brother Sect Leader, is Zhao Hao’s claim true? Has a spiritual item gone missing?”

At the sight of Lu Qinghuai, Zhao Hao’s legs trembled. Sect Master Qinghuai never interferes in sect affairs. Why would he show up today?

Xiao Xuanqing was Sect Master Qinghuai’s disciple. To save face, the Sect Master would surely take Xiao Xuanqing’s side.

But Lu Qinghuai paid no mind to Zhao Hao’s thoughts. He merely glanced down at the young man on the ground before averting his gaze.

At that moment, Xiao Xuanqing, kneeling below, kept his back straight. He looked up at Lu Qinghuai, a faint, inscrutable amusement dancing in his eyes.

He stood tall and elegant, his three thousand strands of raven hair tied back with a single jade ribbon. His expression was utterly ruthless. “Within Yuqing Residence, this Venerable One has lost an Immortal Herb from Taiyu Mountain.”

The exact same words.

Xiao Xuanqing lowered his head, a mocking smile curling his lips as his shoulders trembled with laughter. To the other disciples, however, it appeared he was shaking with fear, and they couldn’t help but reveal looks of disdain.

Truly a waste who grew up in the mortal realm. The panic I felt just now was nothing but an illusion. I don’t know why the Sect Leader even took him as a disciple.

Only Xiao Xuanqing understood why he was laughing. He had actually held out hope for this life’s Master, wishing he would say something different.

Utterly foolish!

Having received confirmation, Elder Li turned to Lu Qinghuai and asked respectfully, “Since that is the case, how shall Senior Brother Sect Leader judge him?”

In the original novel, Xiao Xuanqing had given the pair of Tanlian Fruits he had painstakingly found to the original host. Zhao Hao, seeing this, maliciously reported it to Elder Li.

The original host had even gone along with it to crush the protagonist’s spirit, adding false accusations and slander, which made Xiao Xuanqing’s subsequent life in the sect extremely difficult.

Lu Qinghuai’s voice was cold and devoid of any emotion: “Throw this wretched disciple into the Myriad Snake Cave. Do not let him out until a full shichen has passed.”

The disciples all gasped in unison. The Myriad Snake Cave was home to countless spirit snakes. Once thrown inside, one would likely lose half their life. It was typically used to punish disciples who had committed heinous crimes or to imprison captured demons.

Xiao Xuanqing, however, was merely a new disciple who had yet to introduce spiritual energy into his body. Even if he had stolen the Sect Leader’s spiritual artifact, his crime did not warrant such a severe punishment.

Even the ever-strict Elder Li spoke up to plead for him. “Senior Brother Sect Leader, isn’t this punishment too severe?”

Wuyu’s eyes lowered slightly. “He is this Venerable One’s disciple. Therefore, his crime should be considered even more severe.”

“Master…”

Xiao Xuanqing’s mouth parted slightly, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to say any words of defense. He rose obediently and headed toward the Myriad Snake Cave.

Just as described in the original story, he was unwilling to make his Master lose face in front of the other disciples and chose to endure it alone.

But Lu Qinghuai knew that if he wanted to survive in the future, he couldn’t simply frame Xiao Xuanqing as the System had suggested.

If he were to show Xiao Xuanqing leniency in front of everyone, he would only be accused of favoritism.

Only by letting the framer expose themselves could Xiao Xuanqing be truly cleared of all charges.

With the matter settled, the crowd remained, waiting for Lu Qinghuai’s next move.

Lu Qinghuai spoke, addressing Zhao Hao, “What is your name?”

Zhao Hao hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and stepping forward. “Reporting to the Sect Leader, this disciple is named Zhao Hao.”

“Are you not afraid that this Venerable One will favor my disciple, falsely accuse you, and punish you for framing a fellow disciple?” Lu Qinghuai lowered his chin slightly, his voice deep. “I could expel you from the Yunqiong Sect and let the entire Cultivation World know of your crime. I ask you again: Did you act alone in all of this?”

Zhao Hao’s face turned pale as he fell to his knees with a thud.

“This Venerable One despises thieves and scoundrels above all else.”

Zhao Hao instinctively glanced into the crowd. Lu Qinghuai followed his gaze to a disciple dressed in opulent attire. Even though he wore the same sect uniform, the hem of his robes was embroidered with subtle gold thread.

Zhao Hao was clearly terrified of the other man, his head bowed deeply.

Lu Qinghuai understood the situation. As expected, the original text cannot be fully trusted. With Zhao Hao’s cultivation level, he couldn’t have fooled Elder Li with a forged Image-Recording Pearl. There must be someone behind him.

Since Zhao Hao refused to name his accomplice, Lu Qinghuai would take the opposite approach and force the mastermind to reveal themselves.

“Zhao Hao, you have done well.” Lu Qinghuai gently lifted him with his spiritual energy. “In one incense stick’s time, come to the Yuqing Residence. This Venerable One will bestow upon you the items belonging to Xiao Xuanqing’s disciple.”

With these words, he was offering to take Zhao Hao as his disciple.

“I acted alone in this matter. Thank you, Sect Leader,” Zhao Hao replied without hesitation, eagerly accepting. With Sect Master Qinghuai’s protection, how could he still care about the meager benefits he’d been offered?

Lu Qinghuai swept his gaze across the crowd, his peripheral vision landing on the opulent disciple. The other man’s expression darkened, but he made no move.

******

Knock, knock—

Lu Qinghuai glanced at the sky outside the window. Not even a single stick of incense had burned down. It seemed the person he was truly waiting for had arrived.

The newcomer swept his robes aside and knelt on the ground. He had clearly been raised with the etiquette of a noble family, speaking with a composed yet humble demeanor. “Sect Master Qinghuai, this disciple is named Shangguan Yi.”

Lu Qinghuai had expected this. He turned around. “What is your business?”

“The Image-Recording Pearl in Zhao Hao’s possession belongs to this disciple,” Shangguan Yi said. “If the Sect Master does not believe me, infuse it with my spiritual energy, and the pearl will reveal the character ‘Yi.’ I discovered everything and intended to inform the Sect Master, but I foolishly trusted Zhao Hao, and he stole it from me beforehand.”

“This disciple initially wished to protect our fellow disciple’s reputation and did not want to expose him. However, the Sect Master previously stated his abhorrence for those who engage in petty theft. Therefore, even if the Sect Master is unwilling to accept me as a disciple, I cannot bear to see him deceived by Zhao Hao.”

Shangguan Yi’s words were so earnest and sincere that Lu Qinghuai almost laughed. If he hadn’t known for certain that Xiao Xuanqing was being framed, he might have been fooled by this “retreat-to-advance” tactic and taken Shangguan Yi as a “good disciple.”

“Words alone are not proof. Do you have any evidence of Zhao Hao’s theft?”

Lu Qinghuai flicked his sleeve, his expression already cold, as if he had no desire to hear another word.

Shangguan Yi clenched his fist beneath his sleeve. “Sect Master Qinghuai, this disciple previously forgot to leave another Image-Recording Pearl in the room. By sheer chance, it recorded our entire conversation and Zhao Hao’s subsequent theft.”

He respectfully presented the Image-Recording Pearl, and the events unfolded before them.

“As an Inner Disciple, you may not know, but today I ordered Kong Xuexiu to summon all Outer Disciples to the Cloud Refining Ground for an assessment.”

The translucent pearl cracked and crumbled into powder in Lu Qinghuai’s pale hand. His expression turned abruptly frigid.

“At this hour, was Zhao Hao with you? Then how much of the claim that Xiao Xuanqing committed the theft is true?”

“This disciple knows his mistake. I used a Secret Technique to alter the contents of the Image-Recording Pearl.” Shangguan Yi bowed and knelt. “Xiao Xuanqing is unworthy of the position of Disciple of the Sect Leader. This disciple truly admired the Sect Leader, which is why I was swayed by Zhao Hao’s instigation to conspire with him, steal the Immortal Herb, and frame Xiao Xuanqing.”

“It is ‘Lu Qinghuai’ who is unworthy.”

Shangguan Yi looked up, momentarily unable to process the words.

Only Lu Qinghuai knew what he was saying. Xiao Xuanqing was a once-in-a-million cultivation genius. In the original novel, if not for the original owner’s repeated interference, he would have long ago reached a state nearly godlike.

Lu Qinghuai walked out of the room, leaving behind a single sentence: “None of you dare even dream of comparing yourselves to him.”

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing Task One. Your life limit has been extended by three days.]

Hearing the notification, Lu Qinghuai immediately pushed his spiritual energy to its absolute limit, his moon-white sleeves fluttering in the wind. He soared to the entrance of a stone cave, his breathing involuntarily growing heavy.

It was utterly silent, save for the drip-drop of water trickling down the rocks.

Lu Qinghuai’s heart skipped a beat. Could I be too late? If the protagonist died, he himself would soon be erased from existence.

He leaped into the stone cave, but the scene before him defied all expectations.

The ground was littered with the corpses of venomous snakes—disemboweled and eviscerated, their innards strewn everywhere. Their scales shimmered with a bizarre, dazzling, and demonic brilliance.

The demon cores of the beasts had all been stripped clean. Xiao Xuanqing’s lips were still stained with blood, and between his crimson-stained teeth, the round shape of a demon core could be faintly seen, resembling a sugar-coated candy a child might love.

Smeared in sticky snake blood, his eyes were nonetheless filled with utter innocence: “Master, you’re so late. Why did you only just come to get me?”

Support