Master is Also Running Away from Marriage Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 23

Mu Ling was unaware of the potential dangers in Lufeng Town.

Since Yunhan Kingdom was not a vassal state of the Qingyi Sect, the journey there would pass through territories controlled by various other sects. The Qingyi Sect had always maintained a low profile, existing in a semi-reclusive state, so Mu Ling and Lin Qingge traveled discreetly, disguising themselves as ordinary rogue cultivators.

To seek protection and ensure peace within their borders, human nations often paid substantial tributes to immortal sects in exchange for their guardianship. With the recent demonic invasion, these tributes had grown even more exorbitant.

Yunhan Kingdom, where Lufeng Town was located, was under the protection of the Bai Xu Sect.

Situated at the border between the demonic realm and the immortal world, Yunhan Kingdom occupied a strategically sensitive position. Most sects were incapable of bearing the heavy responsibility of protecting it, so the task naturally fell to the Bai Xu Sect, the foremost of the four great sects.

However, the Bai Xu Sect had a large number of disciples and prided itself on its prestigious reputation, always emphasizing grandeur. The tributes they demanded from their vassal states were a hundred times greater than those of the Qingyi Sect.

Although the Qingyi Sect, to which Mu Ling belonged, also engaged in resource exchanges with human nations, Sect Leader Zhao Yunshi disdained exploiting the common people. The annual tributes they requested were minimal. The Qingyi Sect’s prosperity stemmed from their emphasis on steady, grounded cultivation of their own techniques, unlike other sects that required vast amounts of spirit stones and treasures to nurture a single talented disciple. Additionally, the Qingyi Sect had an entire peak dedicated to managing various businesses and industries among the populace.

This was one of the reasons Mu Ling admired Zhao Yunshi. In the hands of most high-ranking powerholders, the common people were treated as insignificant as ants. Few leaders cared about the suffering of the masses or left them any room to survive as Zhao Yunshi did.

Even without knowing the original plot, Mu Ling felt she would have chosen to join the Qingyi Sect regardless.

Living in this chaotic era, Mu Ling sometimes couldn’t tell whether the demons inflicted greater harm on the human world or if the immortal sects’ oppressive yoke weighed heavier on the people. Coming from a prosperous and egalitarian time, she couldn’t bear to witness such suffering. She despised the current state of affairs but found no way to change it.

In truth, Mu Ling’s years of seclusion on Qingbo Peak were, in a way, an escape. When she fled to the Qingyi Sect, despite Peak Master Xu’s covert protection along the way, she had witnessed the full extent of the people’s suffering. The memory of that helpless sorrow still haunted her, filling her with dread.

Mu Ling had thought she was mentally prepared.

The nations she had visited before were either vassal states or allies of the Qingyi Sect. Though hardship existed, the people still clung to hope, their eyes holding a faint glimmer of light.

But as she traveled through territories controlled by other sects, Mu Ling saw the people struggling in the mud, their faces numb with despair. She saw the coarse grains and wild vegetables they ate, the frozen corpses by the roadside, and the extravagant, wasteful feasts of the wealthy nobles. She saw the so-called “immortals” who turned a blind eye to the suffering of the common folk, their eyes devoid of any compassion. An indescribable sorrow welled up in her heart.

Mu Ling gave away all her wealth.

She was grateful she had saved a considerable sum over the years. At the time, she hadn’t thought much about it, only planning to spend it on Lin Qingge’s cultivation. But Lin Qingge had been so remarkably self-sufficient that Mu Ling’s savings had remained untouched all this while.

At this moment, Mu Ling was immensely grateful she still had this sum of money. Though she knew her actions were like the little boy in the story who threw stranded fish back into the sea saving people in this vast, oppressive society was but a drop in the ocean. Yet for those she rescued, it meant their entire lives.

“This world is truly too cruel!”

The originally planned three-day journey stretched to seven days due to Mu Ling’s acts of kindness along the way. When the two finally neared Lufeng Town, they encountered a group of refugees outside the town. Mu Ling did her best to treat the injured but came across a woman clutching a dead infant. The child was long gone, and Mu Ling couldn’t revive him. She could only watch as the woman, her hair disheveled, cradled the lifeless baby and lunged at her in a frenzied state: “Please, I beg you, save him, you—”

The woman’s blackened nails were inches from Mu Ling’s face when Lin Qingge, though certain Mu Ling could dodge, silently stepped in to shield her, using his sword to block the woman.

Hearing Mu Ling’s lament, Lin Qingge pressed his lips together slightly, his eyes darkening, but he said nothing.

He thought of the ‘her’ in his memories.

‘She’ was mad and peerless in her martial prowess, feared by the world—like a solitary, jagged sword walking a path of no return. Yet everyone needs something to hold onto in life, and even the Demon King ‘she’ was no exception.

Lin Qingge had once believed ‘her’ ambition was to ascend to godhood. Only later did he learn that the cruel and tyrannical Demon King harbored such a fantastical wish.

How laughable the Demon King’s wish was to break the shackles of the people and rebuild a new world!

Unaware of Lin Qingge’s thoughts, Mu Ling felt weighed down by too much. Before she realized it, words spilled out unbidden: “Qingge, do you believe it? That there could be a world where the law is the ultimate authority, whether for nobles or commoners? Where human life is valued above all, where people reap what they sow, and there are no barriers created by immortal arts? The realms of immortals and demons walk their paths of cultivation, while the mortal world lives its own way.”

Lin Qingge remained silent, his head bowed, long lashes casting shadows over his eyes, concealing his expression.

Mu Ling suddenly felt a pang of disappointment.

But she understood. Qingge was a product of this era, after all. She might not grasp these forward-thinking ideas.

What Mu Ling didn’t see was the flicker of light in Lin Qingge’s downcast eyes.

His heart seemed to skip a beat. It took Lin Qingge a long moment to process each word Mu Ling had spoken, his chest burning with an unexpected thrill. The world from his dreams suddenly painted in vivid detail!

He couldn’t tell whether this exhilaration came from ‘her’ or himself.

He knew Mu Ling was compassionate, that she often had peculiar ideas, but he never imagined she shared such similar thoughts with him on this matter.

This filthy world is utterly despairing: the celestial realm is steeped in corruption, the demonic sects are in chaos, and the mortal world is rife with suffering. She clawed her way up from the lowest depths of misery, ascending to great heights, witnessing far too much injustice and pain along the way. The only thing that kept her alive in the end was a single wish to become the sharpest blade, piercing through the age-old afflictions, cutting away the blackened, festering blood of this world, and rebuilding a realm of order across the three domains!

To destroy hell, one must become hell itself.

‘She’ desired so fiercely to create a new order for the three realms! To this end, she did not hesitate to stain her hands with blood, forging the Slaughter Demon Palace. She remembered every face of those who had died unjustly by her hand. Perhaps along this path, she would meet a lonely end, her dao extinguished. But only by doing so could she carve out her own ‘path’ through the layers of despair, under endless oppression, in this cold and revolting world!

Now, Mu Ling had painted a future for her. One so beautiful it could bring tears to her eyes, though she didn’t know if she would live to see it.

“That day will come.” Lin Qingge looked up, her gaze profound as she watched Mu Ling’s retreating figure, murmuring in a voice only she could hear: “Even if it’s not me, someone else will break through this abyss of darkness.”

Upon entering Lufeng Town, the two headed straight for Bai Mufeng’s residence.

According to Zhao Yunshi, Bai Mufeng was a friend she had known since childhood. He belonged to the main branch of the Bai family but had been frail and sickly since birth. After recovering somewhat, he developed a passion for traveling and experiencing the world’s wonders. He had little interest in cultivation, and his skills were mediocre despite his age, he remained at the Golden Core stage. The two had bonded after Zhao Yunshi inadvertently saved Bai Mufeng’s life.

A few years ago, Bai Mufeng had settled in Lufeng Town out of his love for its Qingyun tea.

Every year on Zhao Yunshi’s birthday, Bai Mufeng would personally gift her Qingyun tea he had made himself. But this year, there had been no such gesture, and the letters she sent went unanswered.

Bai Mufeng’s secluded home was located in the southernmost part of Lufeng Town, in a residential area lined with deep alleys.

Though Mu Ling had anticipated that the Bai Xu Sect might send someone, she was momentarily stunned when she saw Bai Junhao and Bai Fengqing. Fortunately, Lin Qingge reacted swiftly, pulling Mu Ling into the shadows of a corner and masking their presence.

Mu Ling wasn’t sure if the brothers had noticed them. Bai Fengqing’s expression had faltered slightly, and his gaze seemed to flicker toward their hiding spot. But aside from a faint frown, he said nothing and resumed his conversation with Bai Junhao.

“Second Brother, in my opinion, Uncle has always been a free spirit. He’s probably off climbing some remote mountain again and will reappear in ten days or so. There’s no need for us to make a fuss.” Bai Junhao’s tone carried a hint of impatience. “We can just leave Father’s letter here. Once Uncle sees it, he’ll naturally return to the sect.”

What a small world!

The brothers had appeared in the very alley where Bai Mufeng lived, clearly here for the same purpose.

“Uncle has always been meticulous in his affairs. It’s rare for him to act this way,” Bai Fengqing disagreed. “I still think we should wait here for him. If anything unexpected happens, we can respond promptly.”

In the end, the two brothers each took a step back and agreed to wait here for Bai Mufeng for half a month. If they couldn’t find him within that time, they would return to their sect.

After the brothers left, Mu Ling and Lin Qingge emerged from the alley. They exchanged glances and, without a word, furrowed their brows in unison.

There was no need to visit Bai Mufeng’s home again. It was likely the brothers had tampered with it. Their words also confirmed that Bai Mufeng was truly no longer in the town!

To ensure Bai Mufeng’s safety, Mu Ling and Lin Qingge had no choice but to stay. However, neither wanted any entanglement with the two brothers, so they silently decided to take Disguise Pills.

Mu Ling tied her hair into a matron’s bun, transforming into an unattractive middle-aged woman. Lin Qingge initially intended to follow suit, but Mu Ling adamantly refused. Under her insistence, Lin Qingge reluctantly took on the appearance of a delicate and pretty young girl.

There was no helping it. Mu Ling could bear her own plain appearance, but she couldn’t stand to see Lin Qingge looking too unflattering.

Posing as a sister-in-law and her young sister-in-law visiting relatives, the two rented a courtyard not far from Bai Mufeng’s residence. They kept an eye on any unusual activity in his home, but for several days, aside from the Bai brothers, no one else came or went.

Determined to gather more information, Mu Ling openly approached Bai Mufeng’s next-door neighbor under the pretense of wanting to move to a larger, brighter house.

The neighbor was a widow surnamed Zhou. Her husband had passed away unexpectedly four years prior. Zhou Sao, as she was called, was around thirty and renowned in town for her exquisite embroidery, which supported her family.

Naturally, Zhou Sao wouldn’t have bothered with strange men, but seeing Mu Ling and Lin Qingge were women and bearing generous gifts her expression softened. She patiently explained, “That house is already occupied. You should give up the idea of moving there. Master Bai is a man of great skill, not someone who can be swayed by mere wealth.”

In Zhou Sao’s words, Bai Mufeng was a dignified and capable man, respected throughout the county. Whenever strange occurrences happened in any household, people sought his help. Kind and unpretentious, Bai Mufeng had aided many families. Some wealthy enough to offer riches or property yet he had never moved from his humble home, inadvertently bringing good fortune to his neighbors as well.

“We’ve been here for a while but haven’t seen Master Bai open his door. Do you know where he went?” Lin Qingge interjected.

“I don’t,” Zhou Sao shook her head. “I was away at the embroidery workshop in the county during that time, but I can ask my—”

“Sister-in-law!” A voice called from inside the house. A pale-faced woman with her hair styled in an unmarried maiden’s bun peeked out from the inner room, her gaze sharp with suspicion and hostility as it landed on Lin Qingge. “Song-ge is crying again. Come quickly.”

Zhou Sao immediately stopped speaking and stood up, her eyes darting anxiously toward the inner room.

Mu Ling and Lin Qingge, with their keen hearing, detected no sound of a child crying. Instead, the aura emanating from the inner room felt strangely unsettling.

However, it was clearly someone else’s secret, and Mu Ling had no intention of prying. She bid farewell to Aunt Zhou decisively and began inquiring at the neighboring households.

From the surrounding homes, the two gathered a few more clues: Bai Mufeng had left about two months ago. Someone had seen him on the road and greeted him. At the time, Bai Mufeng mentioned he was going out, but the person who greeted him didn’t know which household he was heading to.

After that, the two of them found no further leads.

However, after learning that Bai Mufeng’s usual occupation involved handling supernatural incidents within the county, Mu Ling guessed that he had likely left that day to take on a job. Since no other clues were forthcoming, the two began keeping an eye out across the entire county to see if any unusual incidents had occurred in recent months.

During this time, Mu Ling and Lin Qingge ran into the Bai brothers several times.

The Bai brothers were also staying at an inn in the town and would visit Bai Mufeng’s residence once a day. But after taking the Disguise Pill, Mu Ling was confident they wouldn’t recognize her, so she walked past them openly.

Yet, Bai Junhao truly lived up to his reputation as the scumbag male lead. Even in this remote town, he couldn’t resist flirting. The town of Lufeng, being close to the demon realm, had open customs, and Mu Ling had already seen young girls slipping him handkerchiefs and sachets multiple times. Though Bai Junhao clearly looked down on these mortal women, he would still accept their gifts with a smile and offer them gentle words of advice.

Mu Ling also once saw a girl who mustered the courage to hand Bai Fengqing a handkerchief. But Bai Fengqing immediately drew his sword and sliced it into pieces. Bai Junhao, standing nearby, watched the scene with amusement and even took the time to comfort the teary-eyed girl: “My younger brother has always been cold and aloof. Besides, his heart already belongs to someone else. Your efforts, my dear, are wasted on him.”

What surprised Mu Ling was that Bai Fengqing didn’t deny Bai Junhao’s words. His gaze flickered briefly toward the corner where Mu Ling stood, his ears turning slightly red.

Could it be that Bai Fengqing was truly deeply in love with Qingge?

Mu Ling didn’t catch Bai Fengqing’s glance but instinctively turned to look at Lin Qingge.

Lin Qingge’s eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze icy. Mu Ling couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but she sensed that she wasn’t very pleased. Not wanting Qingge to get entangled with that old lecher any further, Mu Ling quickly pulled her along to the next village…

Unbeknownst to Mu Ling, the moment she turned away, Bai Fengqing’s gaze settled on her, while Lin Qingge, standing beside her, lowered her eyes. Her expression dark with palpable hostility…

As before, Mu Ling and Lin Qingge found no particularly powerful demonic cultivators or yaoguai in this village. Most of the disturbances were caused by wandering spirits. It was rather pitiful, many of these ghosts had died unjustly at the hands of nobles and sought revenge in death, only to face slaughter at the hands of cultivators hired by those same nobles. Mu Ling could only do her best to dispel their resentment and guide them back to the cycle of reincarnation.

This time, the two encountered quite a few spirits, and by the time they returned to Lufeng Town, it was already dark.

As they passed Bai Mufeng’s house, Mu Ling suddenly heard faint noises coming from inside!

Exchanging a glance with Lin Qingge, she concealed her aura and hid in the shadows.

A faint light flickered inside the house, gradually drawing closer. Mu Ling saw Aunt Zhou’s sister-in-law emerge from the house, cradling a swaddled bundle in her arms.

The woman appeared gravely ill, her face deathly pale, yet her expression was icy and detached.

When she reached the courtyard, she rolled up her sleeves to reveal arms covered in scars. Seemingly indifferent to the wounds, she took out a dagger and made another cut on her arm.

Blood dripped into a bowl, mixing with the medicinal powder inside. A silvery light shimmered in the bowl, within which something like a guiding thread seemed to sway.

Then, the woman poured the bowl of silvery light onto the swaddling cloth in her arms.

Under the bright moonlight, it was clear that the cloth held a section of wooden roots.

“Puppetry Curse!”

Mu Ling recognized this spell. A technique to transform wood into human form, requiring the caster to burn their own life force to sustain the puppet. No wonder the woman’s complexion was terrifyingly pale.

Mu Ling watched wide-eyed as the silvery light slowly merged into the wood. Before long, the wooden piece in the woman’s arms transformed into a child of three or four years old.

The puppet child looked almost indistinguishable from a real one, though its expression was slightly stiff. It stretched its limbs slowly in the woman’s embrace, then mechanically blinked its eyes before looking up at her and softly calling, “Auntie.”

The woman exhaled in relief, a faint smile appearing as she patted the puppet child’s head. With practiced ease, she closed the courtyard gate and returned to her own home next door.

She knocked lightly on the door. Almost as soon as her knuckles touched the wood, Sister Zhou opened it, her face etched with urgency.

The puppet child piped up crisply, “Mother!”

Sister Zhou’s gaze was vacant and frenzied, a far cry from her usual gentle and composed daytime demeanor. Only after clutching the puppet child tightly did her eyes gradually regain clarity.

“My dear Song’er, you scared me half to death just now.” Sister Zhou hugged the child, examining it carefully before finally relaxing and stroking its head. Then, she looked up gratefully at the younger woman beside her: “Sister Juan, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Zhou Juan smiled warmly at her. “Sister Xin, there’s no need for thanks between us.”

Sister Zhou lowered her head, and Mu Ling couldn’t see her expression. Zhou Juan, however, remained composed as she took the puppet child from Sister Zhou’s arms and carried it inside.

When Sister Zhou lifted her head again, Mu Ling was startled to see her cheeks streaked with tears. Before Mu Ling could react, Sister Zhou quickly wiped them away and pretended nothing had happened as she moved the door plank to shut the entrance.

From inside the house came the soft sound of a woman humming, as though Sister Zhou was singing a lullaby to the puppet child. Mu Ling glanced at Lin Qingge, who stood beside her in deep concentration, and decided not to follow further. After all, Zhou Juan’s creation of the puppet child hadn’t harmed anyone but herself, and without it, who knew what might become of Sister Zhou.

“Wait a little longer,” Lin Qingge murmured softly. The two were standing close, and as the faint scent of Mu Ling’s hair drifted over, Lin Qingge’s gaze flickered unconsciously before she turned her head away. “Zhou Juan is just an ordinary person. The Puppetry Curse technique must have been taught to her by Bai Mufeng. She must have a close connection with him following her might lead us somewhere.”

As if to confirm Lin Qingge’s words, before she could even finish speaking, a sharp cry rang out from inside the house. Sister Zhou let out a stifled gasp, her voice trembling as though suppressing something: “Th-the child is still here.”

“Brother Song has already fallen asleep.” Zhou Juan’s voice was hoarse, as if she was struggling to suppress her emotions. “Sister Xin, you’ve been neglecting me for days now. You have no idea how much I cherish you.”

…

Listening to the sounds from inside the room, Mu Ling felt her entire body burning like a boiled shrimp, from head to toe!

Heaven have mercy, Mu Ling would never have imagined in her wildest dreams that these two had such a relationship! Although the cultivation world was often chaotic, the Qingyi Sect upheld strict moral standards. At most, Mu Ling had only read some romantic novels never had she thought she would one day eavesdrop on such sounds…

She gazed at the lowered, unchanging profile of her young disciple, desperately wanting to flee in panic. Yet, she couldn’t possibly leave her innocent little apprentice alone in such a situation. Stumbling over her words, she managed to say, “Q-Qingge, let’s go back.”

Mu Ling felt like she was on the verge of tears!

Lin Qingge pressed her lips together and turned away, though inwardly she was far from as composed as she appeared.

The sounds from inside had opened the door to a whole new world for Lin Qingge! She had never imagined that women could… like this…

“Juan-jie,” came the voice from inside the room again, Zhou Sao’s tone still trembling slightly, “Isn’t Mr. Bai away from home? How did you save Song-ge’er.”

“Mr. Bai left medicine with me before he left,” Zhou Juan panted, her breath uneven. “Just as he predicted!”

“Where did Mr. Bai go?” Zhou Juan pressed. “He’s been gone so long. Could something has happened?”

“Mr. Bai went to the Liao Family Manor in the neighboring county. It’s a long journey, so of course it’ll take time.” Zhou Juan’s voice grew muffled, as if something was in her mouth. “Xin-jie, if you keep talking about someone else, I’ll get angry.”

…

Almost at the same moment, Mu Ling and Lin Qingge turned and teleported back to their own courtyard in unison, each shutting themselves in their rooms.

It took Mu Ling a long time to process the events of that shocking night. She barely managed to fall asleep, only to be plagued by a series of bizarre dreams. In them, a demon king gripped her by the throat, forcing her to bear a child only for her to give birth to a tree root.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring room, Lin Qingge, ever diligent, usually spent her nights in meditation rather than sleep. But tonight, her mind was restless, unable to settle. Her eyes flickered in the darkness as she listened to the steadying breaths from next door. Eventually, she gave in and dozed off for a short while.

Yet, upon waking, Lin Qingge found herself even more unsettled!

The young woman pressed her lips together, her porcelain-like cheeks tinged with a faint blush, her breath slightly quickened, her gaze flickering with unspoken thoughts:

Why had she dreamed of herself and her master?