He Transmigrated Into The Body Of A Useless Little Disciple, Whose Innermost Thoughts Were Overheard By Demonic Master! - Chapter 6

Lin Mingsi checked the time and called a halt to the training, his eyes filled with a reassuring smile. “Let us stop here for today, or your arms will not be able to handle it.”

Xie Rong sheathed his sword only to discover that his arms felt as heavy as if they were laden with iron. His expression shifted, and he hissed in pain, his eyes filled with confusion. “Senior Brother, what is happening? Why did I not feel any soreness while I was striking and sheathing the sword?”

Lin Mingsi pulled Xie Rong to sit on a nearby rock and began treating him with spiritual energy. “You were too immersed. Your mind was almost entirely focused on cultivation, reaching a state of deep meditation, which is why you could not feel the damage to your arms. Little Junior Brother, you must not become so deeply immersed in the future; you must always keep a portion of your mind on guard.”

If someone had launched a sneak attack in that state, Xie Rong would have been defenseless. Lin Mingsi was deeply worried. Someone had managed to harm Xie Rong’s sea of consciousness in a way that even their Master could not detect; clearly, Snow Cloud Peak was not necessarily safe for him.

Xie Rong felt a tingling sensation in his arms as Lin Mingsi fed him a medicinal pill. Seeing Xie Rong swallow the pill without asking a single question, Lin Mingsi’s brows furrowed tightly. “Do you know what I just gave you? Why would you swallow it without even asking?”

Xie Rong beamed at Lin Mingsi, his eyes devoid of any wariness. “It is from you, Senior Brother, so it must be something good.”

Xuan Yue, watching from afar, frowned. He felt Xie Rong surely could not be that simple. Practitioners were usually wary even of their own parents, let alone fellow disciples who were in competition with one another. However, he understood the value of putting on a front. Xuan Yue shared Lin Mingsi’s initial sentiment, but his thoughts changed when he heard Xie Rong’s internal voice:

How could Senior Brother possibly harm me? We are fellow disciples, a bond closer than that of blood brothers. Besides, if he wanted to harm me, he could just watch me waste away without hope of breakthrough. Why waste his energy teaching me techniques and swordsmanship? No one can say what the future holds, but as long as he is my Senior Brother, he is someone I can trust. How could someone as handsome as him be a bad person?

Xuan Yue’s brows deepened into a scowl as he scolded Xie Rong in his mind: You witless fool without a shred of caution.

The specific thought that someone handsome could not be a bad person made Xuan Yue want to crack open Xie Rong’s skull to see if it was filled with bean curd dregs. To think there was someone in the cultivation world who judged people by their looks, and to think this idiot was his own true disciple!

Lin Mingsi explained that in the cultivation world, nothing was trustworthy because the human heart was impossible to discern. “There are many artifice techniques in this world, some reaching the point of being indistinguishable to the naked eye. Advanced techniques can even mimic a person’s aura and fluctuations in their consciousness. Since you cannot discern the truth with your divine sense, the best self-protection is to hold a degree of wariness toward everyone.”

Lin Mingsi sighed when he saw Xie Rong nodding earnestly, realizing that none of his words had actually sunk in. “Do you know that there is a forbidden technique in the Demon Realm called Soul Searching? They devour other people’s souls to disguise themselves, and even a Nascent Soul cultivator cannot distinguish the difference.”

Xie Rong saw how worried Lin Mingsi was and agreed verbally, while inwardly thinking, As long as I stay obediently on Snow Cloud Peak, I will surely die of old age. It does not seem very important how others treat me.

Xuan Yue could only shake his head. His foolish disciple was beyond saving.

As the days passed, Xie Rong practiced swordsmanship with Lin Mingsi for three months. He learned basic moves, and the sect became increasingly lively as disciples from other sects arrived. Whenever Xie Rong felt like slacking off, Lin Mingsi’s disapproving gaze would make him grit his teeth and carry on. He could give up on himself, but he did not want to disappoint Lin Mingsi.

When Xie Rong was finally at his breaking point, Lin Mingsi looked at him with satisfaction and let him stop. “You have entered the gate of the sword path; now, what you lack is diligent practice. Do not slack off like you used to. If you do not understand something, you can send me a voice transmission or come find me directly.”

Lin Mingsi felt that Xie Rong had embarked on the right path, and there was little point in watching him every second. He could watch over him for a while, but not for a lifetime. Cultivation ultimately depended on Xie Rong himself.

Back in his cave, Xie Rong felt uneasy. Whenever he lay down to give up, he would remember Lin Mingsi’s disapproving look, and his mood would become uncontrollably restless. “Have I been diligent for so long that I can no longer be lazy?”

The next day, Xie Rong encountered the Second Senior Brother, Gu Xingchen, in the back mountain. Thinking Gu Xingchen wanted to practice, Xie Rong prepared to leave to give him space. Gu Xingchen smiled faintly and stopped him. “Little Junior Brother, I gained some sword path insights while exploring a small secret realm. Would you like me to guide you?”

Xie Rong looked at him with a hint of confusion. He had little contact with Gu Xingchen but sensed he was not as easygoing as he appeared. He seemed gentle, yet he kept people at a distance. Xie Rong hesitated for a moment but agreed: “Second Senior Brother, are you not busy? I am only practicing basic moves, and Senior Brother said there are no shortcuts.”

Gu Xingchen’s eyes brightened when Lin Mingsi’s name was mentioned. “The Senior Brother is right, but even hard work needs technique. If someone feeds you moves, it is easier to master the technique than practicing alone.”

Xie Rong did not think Gu Xingchen would harm him. He could not imagine why someone as busy and highly cultivated as Gu Xingchen would target him. Xie Rong chose to trust him.

Xuan Yue watched as Gu Xingchen used the feeding moves excuse to strike Xie Rong repeatedly with his scabbard. Every time Xie Rong winced in pain, Gu Xingchen apologized with profound sincerity. “I am terribly sorry, Little Junior Brother. I have not sparred in a long time and could not control my strength. You are alright, are you not?”

Xie Rong looked at Gu Xingchen’s apologetic face, and his suspicions vanished. He is a busy man; why would he intentionally target me?

Xuan Yue sighed in frustration, watching Xie Rong thank Gu Xingchen for his help while covered in bruises. He is so stupid he is beyond saving; he cannot even see such obvious malice.

By evening, Lin Mingsi came looking for Xie Rong. When he arrived, he saw Gu Xingchen sparring with Xie Rong, or rather, mocking him. Gu Xingchen stopped his sword upon seeing Lin Mingsi, his eyes cold but his voice gentle. “The Senior Brother truly cannot bear to be away from the Little Junior Brother for even a day. It is one thing to live together, but to come running to the back mountain after being apart for half a day is quite something.”

Xie Rong, rubbing his sore wrists, smiled brightly. “Senior Brother, did you come to the back mountain to find me?”

Lin Mingsi looked at Gu Xingchen’s icy aura, then walked up to Xie Rong and grasped his wrist. Sensing only flesh wounds that could be healed with medicine, he felt a brief sense of relief and handed Xie Rong a pill. Xie Rong took it without asking a word.

“Little Junior Brother, that is enough for today. I have some cultivation matters to discuss with the Second Senior Brother. Go back and rest well.”