Master is Also Running Away from Marriage Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 13

When Mu Ling saw the single tear at the corner of Xiao Qingge’s eye, she froze in place.

Xiao Qingge had always appeared far too precocious in daily life, and it was only now that Mu Ling belatedly remembered Xiao Qingge was barely over ten years old.

In that instant, Mu Ling felt immensely grateful for her decision to enter the back mountain.

Zhao Yunshi’s words before she entered still echoed in her ears: “The back mountain is the burial ground of the past sect leaders of Qingyi Sect. The tomb-guarding formation was personally set up by the founding matriarch, who was a master of formations. The graveyard is filled with poisonous miasma and fierce beasts. Those who trespass have never returned, and with the ever-shifting maze and countless traps, even I can’t guarantee a safe retreat once trapped. Are you really willing to risk entering the back mountain for a disciple you’ve known for less than a year, whose fate is now uncertain?”

Mu Ling already knew the whole story. Su Yue had been stripped of her cultivation and expelled from the sect according to Qingyi Sect’s rules. If it had been any other disciple, Mu Ling might have hesitated. But this was Lin Qingge, the chosen one from the original story. Mu Ling refused to believe Lin Qingge had already perished in the graveyard.

“I must save her,” Mu Ling bowed deeply to Zhao Yunshi. “Thank you for your care all these years. If I meet an unfortunate end, I ask that you do one last thing for me support Ding Xin as the next peak master…”

Mu Ling had expected Zhao Yunshi to oppose her, and had prepared to be stopped. Yet, after a brief moment of hesitation, Zhao Yunshi not only didn’t prevent her but even provided possible methods to escape the maze.

Mu Ling couldn’t understand why Zhao Yunshi had acted this way. The only explanation she could come up with was that Lin Qingge’s protagonist charm was simply too strong. It had not only melted her own heart but even softened the cold, strict sect leader.

Now, seeing Xiao Qingge alive, the heavy stone in Mu Ling’s chest finally lightened somewhat. But the sight of Xiao Qingge covered in blood, tears glistening in her eyes, shattered her motherly heart into pieces!

Meanwhile, when Lin Qingge realized she had inadvertently cried, she felt utterly mortified.

But that wasn’t the worst of it. The next moment, she found herself being picked up by Mu Ling, her ears filled with the unfamiliar sound of Mu Ling’s comforting words: “Don’t cry, Xiao Qingge! Shizun is here.”

So noisy!

Lin Qingge lowered her head, wiping away her tears expressionlessly, but her crimson earlobes betrayed her current mix of shame and irritation.

This feeling was utterly humiliating!

She, who was likely the once-feared Great Demon Lord Yan Qi, was now being cradled and comforted by someone from the very sect she had once despised most. And the problem was.

She had actually cried!

What was there to cry about?

Lin Qingge was certain that the ‘her’ inside her was mocking her right now.

Yet, as if guided by some unseen force, Lin Qingge made no move to push Mu Ling away.

At this moment, Lin Qingge felt a strange gratitude toward the alpha wolf that had been attacking her earlier. Catching sight of another person, the wolf grew cautious. Perhaps sizing up Mu Ling’s slender frame and finding her unimpressive, the wolf circled for a while before launching another attack.

Mu Ling covered Lin Qingge’s eyes as her mermaid silk flew out, leaving only a field of wolf corpses behind.

Zhao Yunshi had warned Mu Ling that the creatures in these burial grounds, nourished by the spiritual energy here, had long transformed into semi-spiritual beasts. With the graveyard riddled with traps, it was crucial to strike first to prevent them from causing trouble in critical moments.

The howling of the wolves gradually faded away. Mu Ling removed her hand from Lin Qingge’s eyes, and as Lin Qingge’s gaze drifted into the distance, she noticed that Mu Ling hadn’t spotted the dug-up grave obscured by corpses in the distance. A sigh of relief escaped her, and she silently lowered her head, following Mu Ling into the black tower.

No one knew what kind of magical artifact this black tower was made of, but the moment they stepped inside, a bone-chilling wind assaulted them. Mu Ling seemed unfazed, but Lin Qingge couldn’t help but shiver.

Her mind wandered slightly as she recalled a fragment of memory she had seen: After losing her grandfather on that cold, rainy night, Yan Qi had become unusually sensitive to the cold. Even later, when her cultivation had reached heights that surpassed the Three Realms and her body was no longer affected by external temperatures, Lin Qingge would still bundle herself in thick fox fur every winter.

Perhaps it was because the world had made Yan Qi feel the cold before she ever knew warmth. A coldness that seeped deep into her bones and soul, one that could never fade, no matter how much her cultivation grew.

“I’ll carry you.”

Noticing her little disciple’s reaction, Mu Ling glanced at her and, seeing the hesitation in her eyes, simply hoisted Xiao Qingge onto her back without another word.

Warmed by the contact and breathing in Mu Ling’s familiar fragrance, Lin Qingge finally relaxed, resting her head against Mu Ling’s back.

After a night of terror and turmoil, only now did Lin Qingge have a moment to quietly reflect on everything that had happened.

When she had been bullied by the evil cultivators in the East Forest tunnels, she had desperately longed for power. But now, knowing she might very well be the Demon King Yan Qi, she found herself not as exhilarated as she had imagined.

“You’re not so impressive after all!”

Lin Qingge whispered inwardly to the dormant presence within her.

What did it matter if she had become a figure feared by all? She still had her fears, her panic and now, she had even ended up with her cultivation shattered, reduced to a child.

As this thought crossed her mind, Lin Qingge distinctly felt a faint stir within her body. Before she could ponder it further, Mu Ling’s clear voice rang out from ahead:

“Qingge, do you know the history of this graveyard?”

Lin Qingge shook her head. Seeing Mu Ling’s bright, eager eyes and the unspoken “Ask me!” written all over her face, Lin Qingge inwardly sighed at her childishness but played along, asking dutifully, “Master, this graveyard is full of oddities. What exactly is its origin?”

“Well, since you insist, I suppose I can tell you!”

“You’re still new to the sect, so naturally, you wouldn’t know these secretive matters. Now that I’m about to share this with you, you must never speak of it to anyone else.” Watching as Lin Qingge nodded solemnly, Mu Ling cleared her throat and launched excitedly into the fresh gossip she had heard from Zhao Yunshi:

“Back then, our Founding Ancestress possessed the Phoenix Flame Bloodline, coveted by many. Do you know what the Phoenix Flame Bloodline is? Legend says it’s the bloodline left behind by the ancient Phoenix True God, granting the power to command all living beings.”

“The Founding Ancestress rose against all odds, breaking free from her pursuers and ascending to the Mahayana stage in one fell swoop, establishing the Qingyi Sect. Truly, a heroine among women!”

“To prevent her remains from being exploited after death, the Ancestral Matriarch personally designed this burial site, where she would rest eternally.” As she spoke, Mu Ling’s voice gradually grew subdued. “The Ancestral Matriarch was resolute and utterly intolerant of evil. In her eyes, anyone who coveted her remains deserved death. Thus, when designing the tomb, she never intended for anyone to leave alive.”

At this point, Mu Ling cast a thoughtful glance at Lin Qingge. Though the tombstones along the way appeared unchanged, they had subtly shifted with every step. A moment’s inattention could prove fatal. It had taken Mu Ling tremendous effort to locate the black tower, yet the child had somehow stumbled upon it by sheer coincidence.

Perhaps this was the unique fortune befitting the ultimate boss!

With this thought, Mu Ling’s confidence in successfully escaping the formation was renewed.

“The sect leader gave me a tip before I entered,” Mu Ling said earnestly, her eyes fixed on Lin Qingge. “Inside this tower lies a sword left behind by the Ancestral Matriarch one she once wielded. The sect leader didn’t know its current state, but desperate times call for desperate measures. If we can find that sword and channel its sword intent, the residual aura of the Ancestral Matriarch lingering on the blade might just break the formation’s illusions.”

Lin Qingge was momentarily stunned.

Her surprise wasn’t due to Mu Ling’s words. After all, she knew even more about the sword’s condition than Mu Ling did. It was the sudden realization that Mu Ling had been fully aware of the tomb’s dangers, knowing full well this journey could be one of no return.

She’d had ample time to weigh the risks, yet she had still come.

Did she truly have such faith that Lin Qingge could wield the sword intent? Especially when Lin Qingge had barely studied swordplay for half a year.

A warmth spread through Lin Qingge’s chest, and that inexplicable, unsettling feeling returned.

After eliminating all impossibilities, only one explanation remained. This master genuinely cared for her.

Just like Yan Qi’s grandfather in her memories. Despite knowing death awaited, the frail old man had shielded Yan Qi without hesitation, taking the brutal beating from the wealthy landlord’s servants in her stead.

It was the warmth Yan Qi, the Demon King, had yearned for all her life but could never reclaim.

Unaware that her little disciple’s gaze had softened further, Mu Ling pressed on.

The black tower was a pocket dimension. Inside, darkness stretched endlessly, broken only by a narrow passage. Holding a luminous pearl aloft, Mu Ling advanced cautiously, wary of hidden traps. The layout seemed oddly familiar, yet when she realized she’d been ensnared, it was already too late. The world spun violently, and she tumbled into an unknown space.

Mu Ling awoke to blinding sunlight.

She found herself back in the modern world, where a girl in a T-shirt and shorts crouched before her. “Lingling, weren’t you going to visit Grandpa? What happened?”

Mu Ling slowly looked up, taking a long moment to recognize her college roommate.

People bustled around them, yet everything felt veiled in haze.

She shook her head, plagued by the sense of something forgotten or perhaps nothing at all.

“Lingling?”

Mu Ling stared blankly until the girl waved a hand in front of her face again. Only then did she rise as if waking from a dream. “Just a bit dizzy. I’ll go see Grandpa now.”

After Mu Ling’s parents passed away, her grandfather was taken in by her uncle. Since her uncle was often away for work, her aunt was the one who cared for the elderly man. However, her aunt was unhappy about the idea of her grandfather bringing Mu Ling to live with them. Whenever her uncle was away on business, her aunt would make sarcastic remarks, subtly targeting Mu Ling. Not wanting Mu Ling to suffer, her grandfather moved to a nursing home.

Because of a childhood promise she made to her grandfather “When I grow up, I’ll build you a big house” Mu Ling studied civil engineering. She had been away for a two-month internship and only learned about her grandfather’s illness upon her return. She rushed to the nursing home in a panic.

An eerie feeling lingered in her heart the entire way, and it wasn’t until she saw the old man in the hospital room that everything clicked.

The old man looked just as Mu Ling remembered with the kindest eyes in the world, the one who had sheltered her from storms and been her eternal safe harbor.

Uncontrollably, tears streamed down Mu Ling’s face the moment she saw him.

“Why the tears?” The old man’s expression changed, and he struggled to get up from the hospital bed. “Did your aunt say something to you again? I’ll go talk to her.”

“I’m fine, I just missed you so much,” Mu Ling quickly pressed him back onto the bed. “You! At your age, you shouldn’t be so quick-tempered. And don’t worry about me all the time. Just focus on getting better. Once I graduate and find a job, I’ll rent a place near my company and bring you to live with me.”

Mu Ling chattered on about her plans, and gradually, a faint smile appeared on the old man’s face.

She fed him two bowls of rice, watched TV with him, and before long, the sky began to darken.

“Don’t rush to leave,” the old man said as Mu Ling stood up. He grabbed her hand, his face wearing the familiar, affectionate smile. “It’s late. Stay and have dinner with me. I’ll tell the nurse you can spend the night here.”

“I have to go,” Mu Ling closed her eyes, then turned back to look deeply at the “grandfather” whose smile was slowly freezing. “Thank you for giving me an unforgettable dream.”

But a fake was still a fake. In real life, if her grandfather ever fell ill, he would never let Mu Ling near him, afraid of passing his sickness to her.

The “grandfather” widened his eyes in shock!

Then, the surrounding space began to shatter into pieces.

“Master! Where are you?”

When her consciousness returned, the first thing Mu Ling heard was Lin Qingge’s frantic calls.

A sliver of daylight seeped in, and Mu Ling realized she was trapped in a narrow cave likely underground, with only a thin crack above letting in light.

Standing before her was a half-human-tall, hideous nightmare beast. These creatures excelled at crafting illusions, exploiting people’s vulnerabilities by digging into their private memories and devouring their hearts when they were emotionally vulnerable. Mu Ling had thought such creatures were extinct. She never expected to encounter one here.

The thought that she had spent all that time tending to this thing, mistaking it for her grandfather, left her with a complicated mix of emotions.

The nightmare beast was already dead.

Once Mu Ling saw through the illusion, the beast succumbed to its own backlash and perished.

Mu Ling’s gaze fell behind the nightmare beast, where a withered skeleton lay in the dim corner of the wall. The bones bore inscriptions only a Great Adept could etch such markings into their very bones. Mu Ling was stunned that a Great Adept had perished at the hands of such a small nightmare beast, but even more shocking was the skeleton’s attire. A deep purple robe embroidered with phoenix patterns, a garment reserved exclusively for the successive sect leaders of the Qingyi Sect!