Master is Also Running Away from Marriage Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 10

The child becoming Lin Qingge meant that all the plans Mu Ling had previously laid out for her had to be overturned.

The first to be affected was the child’s cultivation path.

A mixed spiritual root encompassed the characteristics of all five spiritual roots. Originally, Mu Ling had intended for the child to follow her in learning water-based spiritual techniques. However, upon discovering the child was Lin Qingge, the path of becoming a water-based cultivator was no longer viable because in the book, Lin Qingge was a sword cultivator!

Mu Ling decided to find another sword master for Lin Qingge. While there were many sword cultivators within the Qingyi Sect, not just anyone could be Lin Qingge’s master.

After eliminating other candidates, Mu Ling’s gaze finally settled on Zhao Yunshi!

To become the foremost figure in the immortal path, one had to receive the most meticulous training, and Zhao Yunshi was the pinnacle of sword cultivators Mu Ling could think of at the moment.

Zhao Yunshi was one of the top three sword cultivators across the three realms, though she wasn’t particularly fond of taking disciples. The last time she had accepted a disciple was hundreds of years ago.

Mu Ling didn’t plan to have Lin Qingge formally become Zhao Yunshi’s disciple either. After all, switching masters in the cultivation world would leave a blemish on Lin Qingge’s reputation. Moreover, the novel mentioned that the latter half of Lin Qingge’s Heavenly Spirit Sword Art was something she had painstakingly comprehended on her own. Still, giving someone a fish was not as good as teaching them how to fish. Mu Ling wanted someone to impart to Lin Qingge some of the cultivation insights and methods of sword cultivators, and the cultivation maniac Zhao Yunshi ought to have considerable expertise in this regard.

Mu Ling wasted no time. The very next day after making her decision, she went to seek out Zhao Yunshi.

“What brings you here today to share tea with this old bone? I suppose you’ve already prepared the prizes for the disciple evaluation competition.”

So, she had been doing it on purpose before!

Mu Ling’s eyes widened as she gritted her teeth, unable to fathom what she had done to provoke Zhao Yunshi into tormenting her like this. Yet, on the surface, she could only force out a smile. “Sect Leader, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“You’ve come to me for help more times recently than in all the previous years combined! Others at least bring gifts when they seek my assistance, but you—you show up empty-handed with nothing but a shameless face.” Zhao Yunshi shot Mu Ling a sidelong glance, her red lips curving slightly behind the teacup, though her voice remained steady as ever. “Go on, then. What is it this time?”

“Sect Leader, you know I have a young disciple. The child was given the name Lin Qingge by Peak Master Xu,” Mu Ling said with a smile, stepping forward to diligently massage Zhao Yunshi’s shoulders. “Qingge has remarkable talent in sword techniques. Knowing you are one of the greatest sword cultivators of our time, I was hoping you might spare a moment to offer her some guidance.”

The teacup clattered loudly as Zhao Yunshi’s lips curled downward, her gaze turning icy as she stared at Mu Ling. “A mixed spiritual root? And you’re telling me she has remarkable talent in sword techniques?”

Mu Ling was startled by Zhao Yunshi’s frosty glare, but thinking of Lin Qingge’s once-in-a-millennium talent as depicted in the original work, she still tried to persuade her. “Sect Leader, you haven’t seen how this child cultivates. She has a steady temperament and endures hardship without complaint. When she was learning water-based techniques from me, her progress was on par with Ding Xin.”

“Enough!” The more Mu Ling spoke, the darker Zhao Yunshi’s expression became. “There are countless people in this world who wish to enter the immortal path, and who among them doesn’t strive hard? To attain enlightenment, innate talent is indispensable otherwise, why do so many fails to even lay their foundation? The most crucial thing for cultivators is self-awareness. Their hearts must be upright, not deluded by greed for things beyond their reach.”

“But the path of immortal cultivation is inherently defying the heavens. If one doesn’t aspire to the great Dao, what else is there to pursue?” Mu Ling didn’t understand why Zhao Yunshi’s demeanor had suddenly shifted, but she still wanted to fight for the child. “Spiritual roots are innate and cannot be changed, but as the saying goes, ‘human determination can conquer heaven.’ Perhaps there truly will be a miracle.” If Mu Ling didn’t know the later events of the story, she might have let it go. But the truth was, all the single-spiritual-root cultivators combined couldn’t stand against the Demon King. It was Lin Qingge, with her mixed spiritual roots, who stunned the world with her brilliance in youth, turning the tide and slaying the Demon King!

“What do you know?” Zhao Yunshi laughed in anger. “Do you think I haven’t tried?”

“Sect Leader!” A paper crane flew to Zhao Yunshi’s side, interrupting her. “Peak Master Mu is simply deeply concerned for her disciple.”

“I think she’s utterly bewitched!” Zhao Yunshi sneered, though her expression gradually calmed.

Mu Ling bit her lip.

She knew the world held prejudices against mixed spiritual roots, which was why she had come to Zhao Yunshi, a cultivator wholly devoted to training and pushing her disciples to excel. She had hoped Zhao Yunshi might be different, but even she harbored such deep bias against mixed spiritual roots, let alone others.

Under such rigid, hierarchical discrimination, how much suffering must Lin Qingge have endured in the original story to rise to the position of the foremost immortal cultivator?

Since she had taken on the role of master and would later rely on Lin Qingge’s protection, she ought to give something first. If she couldn’t accompany her to the pinnacle, at the very least, she could shield her from unnecessary hardships.

“Sect Leader, can we make a bet?” Mu Ling took a deep breath, a surge of courage suddenly rising in her chest. She lifted her gaze to meet Zhao Yunshi’s icy eyes. “If you agree to take Qingge under your guidance, I wager she will win first place in the upcoming disciple competition!”

“I never knew you had a habit of making wild claims!” Zhao Yunshi’s eyes flickered, but her face remained mocking. “With her mixed spiritual roots?”

“She will win!” Mu Ling declared resolutely.

“And if she loses? What then?”

“What would the Sect Leader demand?”

“Me?” Zhao Yunshi took a step closer, her red lips curving, though her eyes held no warmth. “I can take her in. But if she loses, Peak Master Mu must swear lifelong loyalty to our sect and obey all its commands!”

“Does Peak Master Mu dare?”

Hearing Zhao Yunshi’s terms, Mu Ling instinctively took a step back.

She was grateful to the Qingyi Sect for taking her in during her time of hardship and was willing to spend centuries repaying their kindness through devoted service. But she had never imagined being bound to the sect forever.

She wanted to see the myriad wonders of this world. Compared to the cold isolation of immortal sects, Mu Ling loved the vibrant, bustling mortal realm more.

Did she dare?

For Lin Qingge, to gamble away the carefree, unrestrained future she had envisioned?

But the reason she could dream of such a future was precisely because Lin Qingge existed in this world. Her frail shoulders bearing the weight of a crumbling immortal realm and the mortal world.

…

“I dare!”

Mu Ling heard herself say.

“I believe she can do it!” As if suddenly awakening from a trance, Mu Ling’s voice grew firmer: “But if Qingge wins, I hope the Sect Leader will impart all her knowledge without reservation in the future.”

Zhao Yunshi raised an eyebrow.

A magpie took flight from a branch with a sharp ‘crack,’ interrupting Zhao Yunshi’s momentary daze.

Cultivators of a certain level would inevitably take on disciples. Yet the Great Dao is inherently solitary, and the immortal path is long. No one knows how long a disciple might accompany them. Thus, few cultivators invest genuine emotion in their disciples.

But Mu Ling seemed not only to have invested her heart in her disciple but also placed her trust. She had staked her entire life on this!

“Rest assured,” Zhao Yunshi gazed into Mu Ling’s resolute and earnest eyes, and certain words slipped out almost involuntarily: “As long as I live, my Qingyi Sect will never treat you unfairly. As for the future, it depends on how you conduct yourself.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader.” Yet Mu Ling failed to grasp the weight behind Zhao Yunshi’s words. She stood up and bowed respectfully.

By now, Mu Ling had no other thoughts left in her mind: she had burned her bridges and could only guide the child along the path of Lin Qingge from the book.

“Qingge won’t lose!” Mu Ling murmured softly, as if telling Zhao Yunshi or perhaps herself.

Seeing Mu Ling still preoccupied with Lin Qingge at this moment, Zhao Yunshi lost interest in continuing the conversation. After exchanging a few perfunctory pleasantries, she saw her guest out.

“Sect Leader, it’s rare to see Peak Master Mu still so sincere,” the paper crane alighted beside the weary-faced Zhao Yunshi as Mu Ling left the Qianqiu Pavilion, whispering: “She rather resembles you in your youth.”

“Indeed, much like my younger self. Delusional and ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth!” Zhao Yunshi scoffed lightly.

“The past is past, right and wrong long buried. Sect Leader, don’t dwell on it.” The paper crane sighed and changed the subject: “Does the Sect Leader truly intend to take on that disciple of Peak Master Mu’s and mentor her carefully?”

“‘Carefully’ might be overstating it, but I do want a closer look!” Zhao Yunshi lifted the teacup lid, her eyes chilling slightly behind the rising steam: “I initially thought her an honest child, but who knew she could bewitch Mu Ling so thoroughly in just two months? I underestimated her before.”

“Peak Master Mu is simply kind-hearted.”

“Then I must examine her even more closely!” Zhao Yunshi’s gaze turned cold.

Unaware of the events after her departure, Mu Ling returned to Qingbo Peak by sword flight after agreeing to the wager.

Normally at this time, the child would either be training diligently or in the back mountains. But today, for some reason, the child stood at the entrance as if waiting for her.

Recently, the child had filled out a little, standing gracefully at the door with delicate features and an air of fragile beauty. Who could say what stunning beauty she would blossom into when fully grown?

“Qingge, why are you standing here?” Not wanting the child to learn of the wager and bear its moral burden, Mu Ling smiled and crouched before her: “But I was just about to look for you. I have good news to share.”

“You want to become stronger, don’t you?” Mu Ling patted the child’s head. “Water spiritual roots are too gentle. Sword cultivators are the most formidable fighters among all cultivators!”

“To become a sword cultivator, you must first master their foundational techniques.”

“You have no idea how lucky you are!” Mu Ling exaggeratedly raised her voice in mock drama. “The sect master said you’re diligent, earnest, and striving to improve. She wants to personally instruct you in swordsmanship from now on!”

“The sect master ranks among the top three sword cultivators in the world! Others would go to great lengths just to receive a single pointer from her!”

“Though fair warning, the sect master has exacting standards and a peculiar temperament. If she says anything harsh during your training, don’t take it to heart. That’s just how she is.”

Mu Ling rambled on for quite a while before noticing the child’s tightly pressed lips and unblinking gaze. Those clear black-and-white eyes fixed on her with an expression far less delighted than she’d imagined.

“What’s wrong?” Mu Ling blinked in surprise.

“Nothing. I just don’t believe I could be this fortunate.”

“I’ll listen carefully to the sect master’s teachings and become a powerful sword cultivator.”

The child glanced at Mu Ling, whose eyes shone as brightly as ever like flames that could scald a person’s soul.

“Your luck will only get better.” Mistaking the child’s reluctance as disinterest in sword cultivation, Mu Ling sighed in relief. “Your master will protect you and give you all the best things.”

“Heaven never favored me before,” the child said softly, meeting Mu Ling’s gaze directly for the first time. “But ever since meeting you, Master… my fortune seems to have changed.”

Since my foolish master doesn’t want me to know, I’ll pretend I don’t!

I’ll study hard, strive to win the disciple tournament’s championship because I don’t want to owe you this.

But I have to admit, the greatest luck of my life so far was that day in the grove outside Hong’an City when I met you!