Master is Also Running Away from Marriage Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 16

Many people heard Mu Ling’s words.

Most assumed Mu Ling was momentarily carried away by joy, which was understandable. Any peak master would be proud to have a disciple who could sweep the competition. Mu Ling’s emotional outburst was actually quite restrained by comparison.

Unfortunately, the path of cultivation was littered with examples of prodigies who shone brightly in youth but failed to live up to expectations. Moreover, it was known that Mu Ling had entrusted her disciple to the sect leader’s guidance. Given the sect leader’s renowned abilities, perhaps he had taught Lin Qingge some winning techniques that led to her victory today hardly something attributable to Lin Qingge herself.

After all, Lin Qingge was a mixed spiritual root.

Could someone with a mixed spiritual root really sustain such extraordinary luck?

The crowd didn’t take Mu Ling’s words seriously but didn’t want to dampen her spirits either, so they offered a few polite words of agreement before moving on with smiles.

Only Zhao Yunshi gave Lin Qingge a peculiar look. She knew exactly what she had taught Lin Qingge. The very sword techniques Lin Qingge had used to win. Yet, the righteous and majestic sword forms Zhao Yunshi had imparted had transformed in Lin Qingge’s hands, becoming unpredictable and tinged with a sinister edge.

Normally, the emergence of such a talented disciple should have been cause for celebration. But for some reason, Zhao Yunshi felt an inexplicable unease.

Yet Mu Ling had even ventured into the forbidden mountains for this disciple. At a time like this.

Fate would have to decide.

Zhao Yunshi glanced at Mu Ling, whose smile reached her eyes, then at Lin Qingge standing victorious on the arena. With a quiet sigh, she thought: Each generation brings forth its own talents. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Regardless of what others thought, Lin Qingge’s name was now etched into the sect’s consciousness.

No longer was she referred to as “that mixed spiritual root who got lucky becoming Mu Ling’s disciple.” Instead, people called her “that mixed spiritual root who fluked her way to winning the new disciple tournament.” Ironically, her victory inspired many mixed spiritual root outer disciples to train harder, leading to several breakthroughs among them.

Watching these disciples rejoice over their progress, Zhao Yunshi grew pensive. Learning that many had received pointers from Lin Qingge, she fell into deep thought. The next day, for the first time ever, Zhao Yunshi stayed after teaching Lin Qingge swordplay and demonstrated the forms a second time.

Amidst the swirling opinions and shifting attitudes around her, Lin Qingge remained unchanged; dignified, courteous, and composed. Even the most etiquette-strict peak masters praised her, saying, “This girl is exceptional!”

And so, over the following decades, Lin Qingge continued to weave her legend:

Five years later, during a mission with fellow disciples, she slew a millennium-old serpent demon plaguing the land, exposing its secret ties to a revered elder of a prominent righteous sect.

Ten years later, with Zhao Yunshi in seclusion and no longer guiding her, Lin Qingge still claimed first place in the Immortal Sect Grand Competition. A tournament gathering the finest pre-Golden Core disciples from all sects. She became the first female disciple in history to achieve this honor.

Twenty years later, Lin Qingge successfully advanced to the Golden Core stage, becoming the youngest Golden Core disciple in history. The name Lin Qingge spread throughout the immortal realm.

Everything was gradually aligning with the original trajectory of the story. The genius female disciple Lin Qingge, as time passed, began to reveal her dazzling brilliance, capturing the attention of the entire immortal realm.

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“Peak Master, Little Qingge is back!”

When Xiao Qi came to report, Mu Ling was fervently writing The True Record of a Genius Girl’s Growth.

Mu Ling had already filled a thick volume, most of which documented her daily interactions with Lin Qingge over the years:

“Little Qingge works too hard, and I fear she might become cold and unfeeling. So, I’ve ordered her to cook once every half month. At first, she seemed reluctant, but later she seemed to enjoy it. Not to boast, but Little Qingge’s culinary skills are truly unparalleled, worthy of an exceptional sword cultivator. Even the meat she slices is perfectly uniform, not a hair’s breadth off.”

“Ding Xin requested leave to return to her homeland for her hundredth birthday celebration. It suddenly occurred to me that Little Qingge had never celebrated a birthday in all these years. So, I decided to mark the day I found her as her birthday and prepared a feast to celebrate with her. I couldn’t tell if she was happy or not, she’s gotten better at hiding her emotions. But I noticed she drank a rare bowl of plum wine. I’d added extra sugar to it, and since she usually dislikes sweets, I think she must have been in good spirits that day.”

“After Qingge returned from slaying the serpent demon, she was covered in blood and barely clinging to life. I was so frantic I nearly cried, but the child just smiled and handed me the serpent’s gall, saying it could be used as medicine. Right then, I made up my mind. I would treat Qingge as my own daughter for the rest of my life!”

“Qingge has grown up and started receiving love poems from talented young disciples. A few of the handsome, promising youths trailing after her are quite dashing and skilled. But alas, their flirtations are wasted on her. Little Qingge doesn’t even glance at their peach-blossom letters, and she usually tosses their gifts without a second look. What a waste of treasures and spirit fruits! It’s left to these old bones. Who’s lived frugally all her life to pick up the discarded items. Honestly, it wouldn’t hurt for Little Qingge to experience romance. It might bring out some youthful vitality in her, instead of her current demeanor, which is as stern as an old woman. But she’s so icy, it’s like she’s completely oblivious.”

Hearing Xiao Qi’s voice, Mu Ling hastily scribbled the last line, tossed the booklet into her spiritual repository, and happily munched on a spirit fruit she’d “picked up after her disciple discarded it” before pushing open the door.

The original bamboo hut had been expanded to more than twice its size. The interior was no longer the chaotic mess it once was. Everything was neatly arranged, and the furnishings were far more refined than before. The hot spring at the back had been rebuilt with white marble, and all the spirit stones and magical artifacts were treasures Lin Qingge had brought back from her expeditions into secret realms.

Mu Ling felt she’d grown increasingly useless over the years.

In the beginning, she had been the one supporting Qingge. But once Qingge reached the age to venture out and train, aside from a monthly bowl of spirit spring water, Qingge never asked Mu Ling for anything again.

The eldest disciple, Ding Xin, handled affairs meticulously, while the second disciple, Lin Qingge, possessed astonishing talent. Under their care, Mu Ling felt as though she had already stepped into a leisurely retirement life in the cultivation world. Far from resisting such an existence, she reveled in it. This idle, indulgent lifestyle was simply too delightful. Mu Ling couldn’t imagine ever growing tired of it, even after ten thousand years!

A young girl stood in the hall.

Her skin was like ice and jade, with a single red mole gracing the center of her forehead. The moment their eyes met, Mu Ling couldn’t help but recall the words of a certain pedantic scholar upon seeing Lin Qingge: “With the spirit of autumn waters and bones of jade, her beauty outshines all under heaven.” Truly, no phrase could have suited Lin Qingge better.

“Master! I’m back!” The girl looked up. “This time, I went to the southeast. The miasma in the villages was quite severe, and many people were trapped within it, so I was delayed for some time.”

“You! How many times have I told you not to push yourself so hard? Yet you never listen.” Mu Ling’s gaze habitually swept over Lin Qingge, checking for any injuries. Only after confirming there were none did she inwardly relax. Just as she steeled herself to maintain a stern expression, Lin Qingge curved her lips slightly and produced a Qiankun pouch from behind, offering it to her. “I collected these along the way for Master’s leisure.”

Well, well!

Mu Ling peeked inside the pouch to find it brimming with all sorts of snacks, treats, and the latest storybooks. Any pretense of sternness instantly crumbled. Suppressing the urge to grin, she coughed lightly and said, “Don’t do this again! But since you’re back in time, hurry and sit down to eat.”

As she spoke, she swiftly tucked the Qiankun pouch into her robes.

A few small puppets filed in, carrying dishes of food. Watching Lin Qingge sit with perfect posture, adhering to the rule of “no speaking during meals or rest,” Mu Ling once again regretted her past decisions: I never should have sent Qingge to study under Zhao Yunshi for those few years. Such a fine girl, molded into this rigid demeanor!

Sighing inwardly, Mu Ling pulled out another Qiankun pouch from behind and handed it to Lin Qingge, forcing a bright smile onto her face. “Your birthday gift!”

Lin Qingge’s gaze flickered over Mu Ling’s eager expression before she pressed her lips together.

At times, Lin Qingge couldn’t help but doubt the accuracy of the rumors about Mu Ling. According to legend, Mu Ling was an extremely diligent cultivator, spending her days in seclusion, detached from worldly affairs. It was said that her relentless dedication had allowed her to reach the Nascent Soul stage at such a young age. Moreover, it was Mu Ling’s strict guidance that had enabled Lin Qingge herself to achieve such remarkable cultivation progress early in life.

It was true that Mu Ling was a Nascent Soul cultivator, but the Mu Ling Lin Qingge knew bore no resemblance to the one in the rumors! The Mu Ling she knew was lazy, playful, and idle. Far from urging her to cultivate, in Lin Qingge’s eyes, Mu Ling was practically the biggest obstacle on her path to cultivation! Whether it was demanding meals, picking flowers, or tending to spirit beasts. Mu Ling always found ways to distract her. Recently, Mu Ling had even developed an obsession with handicrafts, constantly devising new accessories and clothes for her.

Having witnessed Mu Ling’s frantic efforts to craft these garments and trinkets, Lin Qingge had unwittingly become more cautious during battles, ensuring her clothes remained intact. She had to suppress her temper and avoid unnecessary conflicts. What an inconvenient habit!

Yet, even though she could guess what lay inside the Qiankun pouch, Lin Qingge still accepted it, curving her lips slightly in response. “Thank you, Master.”

“Your senior sister Ding Xin has left the mountain. This is the congratulatory gift she asked me to give you!” Mu Ling waved her hand and handed Lin Qingge a Qiankun pouch. After drinking two cups of plum wine, Mu Ling became a bit exhilarated. She cupped her face in her hands and asked Lin Qingge with a smile, “Do you have any other wishes? Don’t worry, even if you want the moon from the sky, your master and senior sister will pluck it down for you.”

“My life now is already wonderful!”

Lin Qingge looked at the faint flush on Mu Ling’s face, her gaze unconsciously softening with warmth as she poured herself a cup of plum wine.

Over the past twenty years, the ‘her’ inside her body seemed to have never awakened. Life on Qingbo Peak had been simple and peaceful, yet it felt unexpectedly good.

But if she had to name a wish.

“I heard some rumors while I was out,” Lin Qingge recalled the news she had gathered about the Demon King’s long absence from the demon palace. She lowered her head slightly, her grip on the wine cup tightening unconsciously. “Master, what do you think of the Demon King of the demon realm?”

“Demon King?”

Hearing those two words, Mu Ling’s tipsy haze instantly evaporated in fright!

“My dear Qingge, you mustn’t even think about confronting the Demon King now!”

“Rumors say the Demon King possesses immense power, with a ghastly face and fangs. Not only does she slaughter without mercy, devouring children in one bite, but she is also licentious, particularly fond of beautiful young girls.” Mu Ling patted her chest with lingering fear. “None of us are a match for her now. If you see the Demon King, you must run far away. Never overestimate your strength and charge at her, especially someone as lovely as you.”

“Qingge?”

“I understand, Master!” The wine in her throat seemed to have turned bitter and astringent. Lin Qingge concealed the cracked wine cup in her sleeve, her gaze profound as she poured Mu Ling another drink. “Let’s not talk about the Demon King.”

As the moonlight deepened, Mu Ling finally succumbed to drunkenness.

Amidst the shimmering light on the ground, Lin Qingge stood up and gently lifted Mu Ling, who was muttering, “Go away, ugly Demon King, don’t touch me.” and laid her softly on the bed.

So afraid of the Demon King, are you?

Lin Qingge cast a deep glance at Mu Ling before turning away expressionlessly.

The moonlight stretched her solitary shadow long behind her, the warmth from her earlier embrace now feeling like a fleeting illusion…

What a pity!

My wish is right before my eyes, yet it seems it can never be fulfilled, after all!