Master is Also Running Away from Marriage Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 33

Half an hour passed quickly.

Mu Ling gathered Ding Xin and the disciples inside the cabin, specifically instructing them to focus on cultivation in their own rooms during this period and avoid unnecessary socializing with others.

Most of the ordinary disciples nodded in agreement. At this grand gathering of elite disciples, they had already witnessed the vast gap in strength and recognized their own limitations. Their cultivation levels were among the lowest. Venturing out to socialize would only invite ridicule, so it was better to concentrate on their training.

However, some of the elite disciples frowned, their expressions displeased. These disciples came from prestigious families and had hoped to find suitable partners for inter-sect alliances. Mu Ling’s directive to focus on cultivation felt like a direct blow to their ambitions, naturally stirring discontent.

This resentment inadvertently extended to Lin Qingge, who stood behind Mu Ling. Some well-informed disciples had already discovered that it was Lin Qingge who had proposed the trip to Mount Huai.

But regardless of their inner thoughts, the disciples outwardly complied with Mu Ling’s instructions respectfully.

Mu Ling instructed Ding Xin to keep a close eye on the disciples. As the appointed time approached, she hurriedly left the ship with Lin Qingge. As they departed, Lin Qingge’s gaze subtly swept over a particular corner.

A female disciple in that corner paled and lowered her head.

Behind her veil, Lin Qingge’s lips curled slightly as she noticed Huang Meng lurking behind the girl, her eyes flickering with unease. Lin Qingge had a rough idea of what Huang Meng was planning.

But so what?

Lin Qingge’s gaze turned cold. She had no intention of intervening. The fool living inside her had been enjoying far too much comfort lately, even indulging in unrealistic fantasies. It was time for her to face the filthy, chaotic reality of this world. And once her past schemes were exposed, would this master—who now believed her to be kind and virtuous, still treat her with the same favor?

Lin Qingge’s lips curled silently.

By the time Mu Ling and her disciple arrived at the meeting point, most of the others had yet to appear. Bai Mufeng greeted them with a warm smile, “Young friends, it’s been a while.”

When not in his usual sarcastic mode, this elder appeared quite amiable.

However, the person standing beside him was far less pleasant.

Mu Ling’s gaze lingered on Bai Junhao with a hint of disdain. During her time in the camp, she had heard plenty of rumors. Bai Junhao seemed to have fully embraced his playboy persona, charming numerous female cultivators. The camp had become a battleground of jealousy and even physical altercations among women vying for his attention.

Bai Junhao, however, maintained his usual refined demeanor. Even though Mu Ling’s courtesy toward him remained perfunctory, his smile never wavered.

Mu Ling couldn’t help but scrutinize him more closely and noticed that Bai Junhao seemed to have encountered some fortuitous opportunity. His old injuries had healed, his spiritual energy brimmed with vitality, and his cultivation appeared to have advanced.

Truly the protagonist of the original story!

Mu Ling could only engage in idle chatter with the two, relieved when the others soon arrived. The group then set off for Mount Huai, each riding their own magical artifacts.

“Legends say that the most powerful cultivators of the realm once laid an inescapable net to challenge that ancestor in a decisive battle at Huai Mountain. Yet, that ancestor’s techniques had reached the pinnacle of perfection. In the end, the mighty cultivators were defeated, and many perished on Huai Mountain. The mountain became littered with vengeful spirits and deadly traps, deterring anyone from venturing there again. Thus, Huai Mountain became known as the barren wasteland among the people.”

“Strangely enough, no one in our world has broken through the void to ascend to divinity for millions of years. Could it be that the Heavenly Dao has truly severed the path to godhood for our generation?”

“Enough of that! We’re at least ten thousand years away from divinity. These are concerns for those at the Great Ascension stage or beyond. We should focus on seizing more opportunities to advance our cultivation. When the time comes, the Heavenly Dao will surely give its answer.”

Along the way, groups of cultivators chatted, shifting from the history of Huai Mountain to the fortunes of cultivation advancement. Mu Ling glanced at Lin Qingge, whose face was hidden beneath a veil, and suddenly felt a surge of anticipation: Qingge is so extraordinary. Just how far will her cultivation reach in the future? I only hope I’ll live to see the day she makes history.

Even concealed beneath the veil, Lin Qingge could sense Mu Ling’s smiling gaze. She instinctively lowered her head, a strange, tingling sensation rising in her chest, making her press her lips tightly together.

This again! She’s always teasing me like this, subtle yet unmistakable, all while looking so innocent and untouchable. No wonder the fool inside me is so easily swayed!

Most of those bold enough to venture to Huai Mountain were cultivators of considerable skill. Traveling by sword flight, they soon arrived at the mountain’s base.

Bai Mufeng divided the group into four teams, each ascending from a different direction—east, south, west, and north. Mu Ling and Lin Qingge were grouped with Bai Mufeng and Bai Junhao, taking the northern path.

Huai Mountain towered thousands of feet high, its ancient trees reaching the heavens. The forest was thick with miasma, capable of clouding the minds of weaker cultivators, while the ground teemed with venomous snakes and insects. In such an environment, everyone remained vigilant, not daring to let their guard down. However, these low-level traps were manageable for elite cultivators with caution. It wasn’t until they reached the mountainside that they encountered their first real challenge.

A swarm of frenzied demon spiders emerged from pitch-black caves. Agile and relentless, their webs were impervious to blades, fire, or water. Like maddened beasts, they charged into the cultivators’ formation, quickly scattering their ranks.

Lin Qingge secretly manipulated two demon spiders to chase her, slipping into the dense forest. Just as she planned to shake off the others and search for the Phoenix Tail Grass alone, she suddenly heard alarmed shouts from outside: “Lady Mu, you—!”

Her escape faltered. Behind the veil, her lips pressed into a thin line as she felt the consciousness within her growing increasingly unrestrained. Cursing under her breath, she turned back toward the group.

Mu Ling was injured. Hovering midair on her mermaid silk, she clutched her arm, where a dark-red wound from a spider’s venomous strike marred her skin.

Lin Qingge’s brow furrowed as she swiftly approached. “What happened?”

I deliberately left my aura on Mu Ling. Why did the spiders still attack her?

A female cultivator nearby gazed at Mu Ling with tear-filled eyes, her face full of gratitude: “That venomous spider was about to kill me just now. If it weren’t for Fairy Mu blocking it for me at the critical moment, I would probably already be buried in the spider’s belly.”

Mu Ling glanced helplessly at the girl, swallowed a few pills to detoxify, sighed, and couldn’t help but add: “In the future, never let your guard down when facing enemies. You won’t always have someone to rescue you!”

“Mhm, mhm,” the girl nodded vigorously, her expression obedient. “I’ll listen to Fairy Mu.”

The girl had the face of a moe character, and with her cheeks puffed out as she nodded eagerly, she looked like a little hamster utterly adorable.

Seeing her like this, Mu Ling couldn’t help but laugh.

Meanwhile, Lin Qingge’s expression had darkened completely.

Her heavy gaze swept over the dense swarm of spiders on the ground, locking onto one in particular. The moment their eyes met, the spider’s crimson pupils immediately glazed over, and it mindlessly hurled itself toward a weapon unleashed by another cultivator.

Yet even after killing the spider that had injured Mu Ling, the hostility radiating from Lin Qingge did not lessen in the slightest.

She glared coldly at the blushing girl who was scratching her head while staring at Mu Ling, and at the gentle smile Mu Ling directed at her. The sight was unbearably irritating!

She should have left earlier. Shouldn’t have stayed like some lovesick fool, sparing herself this grating spectacle!

“See? She’s always like this, attracting admirers left and right,” Lin Qingge deliberately mocked the other consciousness in her mind. “She likes people like this girl—simple, pure. Someone as filthy and terrifying as us, a madwoman through and through, could never win her heart unless we pretend forever.”

“Are you willing to pretend forever?” Lin Qingge lifted her eyes to Mu Ling, the red at the corners deepening. “I, for one, refuse.”

A sharp, stabbing pain suddenly flared in her chest. Lin Qingge knew she had struck a nerve with the other consciousness, but she ignored it, standing coldly by Mu Ling’s side. The suffocating weight in her chest transformed into ruthless sword intent, slashing down every demonic spider that dared attack!

Unaware of Lin Qingge’s thoughts, Mu Ling found the rescued girl’s enthusiastic gratitude a bit overwhelming. She could only tactfully suggest, “I’m fine now. Shouldn’t you go fight the demonic spiders?”

The girl puffed out her chest, her gaze fixed on Mu Ling with unwavering determination. “Fairy Mu got hurt saving me. I must stay and protect you!”

Mu Ling’s eyes subtly flickered toward Lin Qingge. Her flying sword had split into five or six phantoms, and for some reason, Lin Qingge seemed exceptionally fierce today. The blades fell like rain, cutting through the spiders as effortlessly as chopping vegetables.

“Ahem, well…” Mu Ling coughed dryly, carefully choosing her words. “I have Qingge protecting me. You should go fight alongside your sect!”

The girl’s gaze also shifted to Lin Qingge. For some reason, she felt as though Lin Qingge’s sword intent was directed at her just looking at it made her legs go weak.

After a moment’s thought, she realized she probably wouldn’t last ten moves against Lin Qingge.

Yet this was also a stubborn girl. She didn’t want to leave Mu Ling, the beautiful sister who had shielded her from the attack. Blinking her eyes, she pulled out another bottle of medicine from her sleeve. “This is my sect’s sacred healing elixir. A few years ago, I won it from my master as a reward for topping the sect’s competition. I—”

“I’m really fine,” Mu Ling said. Specializing in healing herself, she naturally wouldn’t take a young girl’s hard-earned prize. She deliberately manipulated the mermaid silk to circle around, proving she was unharmed. But she forgot that the spider’s venom had paralyzing effects. As the silk moved too quickly, Mu Ling suddenly felt dizzy and tumbled straight off it.

She fell into a cold embrace. Lin Qingge’s voice, laced with icy shards, rang out coldly above her: “My master has me to protect her. There’s no need for your concern!”

With Lin Qingge speaking so bluntly, the female cultivator had no choice but to reluctantly return to her own group, casting longing glances back at Mu Ling.

Mu Ling let out a sigh of relief, only then realizing how intimate their position was. Her arms wrapped around Lin Qingge’s soft, cotton-like waist, the veil fluttering up to reveal Lin Qingge’s delicate jawline and tightly pressed crimson lips.

Lin Qingge’s gaze seemed to linger on her lips.

“Qingge—” Mu Ling’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat. Flustered, she quickly adjusted her robes and returned to the mermaid silk. It took her a long while before her erratic heartbeat finally settled.

Several moments later, Lin Qingge finally lowered her head, withdrawing her gaze and tightening her grip on the hilt of her sword.

Ever since becoming the Demon King, she had loathed being touched by others. She hadn’t expected to catch Mu Ling on instinct, much less find her soft pink lips so alluring…

It must be because the other consciousness inside her was about to awaken!

Lin Qingge narrowed her eyes darkly. She would never be as foolishly devoted to Mu Ling as that idiot was!

A sudden anticipation rose within her. Once Mu Ling learned she was the Demon King, what kind of expression would she wear?

She’d probably cry, wouldn’t she?

And when that happened, she certainly wouldn’t grovel for her favor like that fool!

Lin Qingge curled her lips. The harder Mu Ling cried, the better! She had nurtured the other version of herself into a useless wretch who secretly yearned for her, to the point where even she was often influenced by that weakling. Why should she be the one tormented by uncertainty while Mu Ling walked away unscathed?