Master is Also Running Away from Marriage Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 47

For a moment, Mu Ling felt as if she were dreaming.

But the problem was, this wasn’t a dream.

Lin Qingge’s features were clear before her eyes, her gaze warm and fervent as she looked at Mu Ling. An expression Mu Ling had never seen in Lin Qingge’s eyes before.

Mu Ling wasn’t even sure how she made it back to her room.

She knew she should have refused. After all, she would soon have to leave this world to return to the modern era and save her grandfather. Yet perhaps it was the sincerity in Lin Qingge’s eyes, or perhaps it was her own shock, but by the time Mu Ling regained her senses, she was already back in her room, holding that rabbit lantern in her hand.

And Lin Qingge’s words at the door still echoed endlessly in her ears.

“Mu Ling.” It was the first time Lin Qingge had ever called her by name. She had boldly taken Mu Ling’s hand, her ears burning red, yet she stubbornly met Mu Ling’s gaze. “I truly adore you not as a disciple’s reverence for her master.”

“I’ll become the person you like. I don’t ask that you feel the same for me now, but I want you to know how I feel.”

Lin Qingge had cut off all of Mu Ling’s escape routes.

Mu Ling couldn’t even deceive herself into thinking Lin Qingge had mistaken her feelings for a disciple’s admiration.

Moreover, Mu Ling knew Lin Qingge was unyieldingly stubborn. She always planned meticulously before acting. If she had confessed today, she had likely been preparing for it in secret for a long time.

Mu Ling buried her head under the blanket in frustration, her heart burning as if set aflame, her face flushing hot once more. Recalling how Lin Qingge had been doting on her all this time, she wished she could go back and beat some sense into her past self. The one who had smugly basked in her disciple’s filial devotion.

Looking back now, Lin Qingge’s behavior had been unmistakable: That wasn’t a disciple’s reverence for her master at all, it was the attentiveness of someone courting the person they loved!

…

But she couldn’t return these feelings.

Mu Ling took a deep breath, the fire in her chest suddenly cooling:

She had never imagined being with Lin Qingge before. Having accompanied her all these years, Mu Ling understood better than anyone just how extraordinary Lin Qingge was. If not for the chance encounter in their childhood where Mu Ling had saved her, she doubted she would ever have been worthy of even touching the hem of Lin Qingge’s robes.

Mu Ling had never dared to entertain romantic thoughts about Lin Qingge before. And now, on the verge of leaving, it was even more impossible.

It must be because Qingge is still young and hasn’t met enough people yet. That’s why she’s developed these misplaced feelings for me. Once I’m gone and she meets more people, she’ll naturally find someone better.

Though she told herself this, Mu Ling only grew more sorrowful. She truly couldn’t bear to part with Lin Qingge or the members of Qingyi Sect. But her grandfather was suffering at the hands of his caretaker.If she didn’t return, she knew she would regret it for the rest of her life.

With the day of departure drawing nearer, any further entanglement would only deepen Lin Qingge’s attachment. Mu Ling’s resolve to leave grew firmer.

Soon!

Biting the corner of the blanket, Mu Ling sniffled, tears finally spilling over:

In less than a month, Qingge would face the Demon King in their final battle. Then, a few days later, the Immortal Realm would storm the Demon Palace; that would be the moment of her departure.

Yan Qi knew nothing of Mu Ling’s plans.

Just as Mu Ling knew nothing of the determination hidden within Yan Qi’s confession.

Yan Qi did not miss the changes in Mu Ling’s gaze towards her during this time.

Under Yan Qi’s deliberate efforts to please her, perhaps Mu Ling herself hadn’t noticed, but Yan Qi could be certain: Mu Ling had also developed feelings for her. Though Mu Ling’s flicker of emotion was but a drop in the ocean compared to Yan Qi’s own, it was enough to make Yan Qi’s heart leap with joy.

Mu Ling would never accept the notorious Demon King.

So, Yan Qi made a decision: from now on, she would completely “kill” the Demon King and live only as Lin Qingge in this world.

She had already begun quietly arranging everything. Soon, the “Demon King” would emerge for a decisive battle against the immortal realm, and during that battle, she would “slay” the Demon King.

After all, having consumed three Heart-Erosion Lotus Seeds, the restraints on Yan Qi’s cultivation had been brought under control. As long as she continued to conceal her true identity, Mu Ling would never know that Yan Qi was the Demon King.

Thus, when Mu Ling excused herself the next day, claiming she was unwell and needed rest, Yan Qi considerately did not press her further.

She would give Mu Ling enough time to process everything, to realize that Yan Qi had long harbored improper intentions toward her. As long as she remained Lin Qingge, Mu Ling would one day willingly accept her as a cultivation partner…

Moreover, Yan Qi had been incredibly busy during this period: on one hand, she had to relocate the true forces of the Demon Palace, and on the other, she had to prepare for the “slaying” of the Demon King.

So, Yan Qi failed to notice the occasional sorrow and reluctance in Mu Ling’s eyes when she looked at the members of the Qingyi Sect.

The immortal realm had been winning frequent victories, and Mu Ling’s southern contingent was the first to arrive near the Demon Capital. The other three forces attacking the demonic territory arrived one after another. When the Bai Xu Sect’s faction arrived, they brought exhilarating news: the rumors of the Demon King’s injuries over the years were true! She had not been in the Demon Palace but had been hiding on a high mountain nearby to recuperate, her mind had even become addled.

The demonic forces’ rapid collapse along the way further confirmed the truth of this claim.

Instantly, morale among the immortal realm’s cultivators soared. They hastily convened a meeting overnight to select the team that would confront the Demon King.

Mu Ling did not participate in this meeting. Her spiritual roots leaned toward support, making her the best safeguard for injured comrades, but she was not suited for frontline combat.

Even so, though Mu Ling did not attend, she could guess how the meeting unfolded: the cowardly elders of various factions lavished praise on Qingge’s youthful brilliance, then hypocritically claimed they were unworthy of the task, pushing Qingge to the forefront. Their plan was to let others weaken the Demon King first, then swoop in to claim the glory.

Unfortunately for them, they never imagined Lin Qingge would slay the Demon King right before their eyes.

As expected, the meeting’s outcome was just as Mu Ling had predicted. Qingge became the main force in the assault against the Demon King. However, to Mu Ling’s surprise, Bai Fengqing also defied his sect’s orders and stood at the forefront of the attack.

Upon reflection, Mu Ling understood: Bai Fengqing was a rare pure swordsman, likely seeking to challenge the Demon King to break through his limits, willing to risk death for the sake of advancement.

The news of who would attack the Demon King quickly spread throughout the entire camp. Soon after, the elders from various sects delivered impassioned and righteous speeches. Even though there were usually conflicts between the sects, the thought of the benefits they could reap after conquering the demon realm had everyone fired up, their spirits soaring high in the camp.

Amidst this fervor, the Qingyi Sect also held an internal lecture from their elders. Mu Ling laid out the situation clearly for all the disciples:

Zhao Yunshi was a reasonable person. Although she had lost her child due to the machinations of the demonic sect in the past, that was the sin of the previous Demon King. The fact that Zhao Yunshi hadn’t come in person this time showed she had let go of the past or perhaps she didn’t want personal grievances to involve the entire sect. She feared she might lose control of her hatred while attacking the demonic sect, which was why she had sent Mu Ling instead.

Aside from Zhao Yunshi’s past, the Qingyi Sect’s conflicts with the demon race weren’t particularly severe.

Mu Ling earnestly advised the disciples to be mindful of their own strength and not foolishly charge to the front lines. Most of the disciples she had brought this time were of modest cultivation and hailed from the mortal world. Having witnessed the suffering of their kind and the conduct of other immortal sects in the mortal realm, they felt little enthusiasm for the campaign against the Demon King. Except for a few elite disciples who wore expressions of defiance, the rest assured Mu Ling they wouldn’t act recklessly.

Hearing their promises, Mu Ling felt half of her worries ease but the other half remained.

After the meeting, she found Lin Qingge blocking her path. Mu Ling kept her gaze fixed on the ground beneath Lin Qingge’s feet, not daring to meet her eyes. “Qingge, is… is there something you need?”

“Mu Ling,” Lin Qingge said, watching her evasive expression, her lips pressed tightly together before she laughed in frustration. “Aren’t you worried about me? Tomorrow, I’ll be facing the Demon King head-on.”

Just hearing Lin Qingge call her name made Mu Ling’s scalp tingle. Fortunately, she had prepared for this. Biting her lip, she handed Lin Qingge a protective talisman she had personally crafted.

It was a mortal-world method of making protective charms. Mu Ling didn’t know why she remembered it so clearly. Once, while traveling the mortal realm with Lin Qingge, she had noticed Lin Qingge thoughtfully eyeing the protective talismans worn by the locals and had secretly resolved to make one for her.

She never imagined she’d be giving it to Lin Qingge under such circumstances.

True to form, Lin Qingge was easily appeased. The moment she saw the talisman, her eyes lit up with joy. Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, she seized the moment to pull Mu Ling into a tight embrace.

“You’ll be safe,” Mu Ling murmured, lowering her head to suppress the ache in her heart. Knowing she would soon leave, she didn’t resist, quietly nestling against Lin Qingge as she carefully tied the talisman to her waist. “Qingge will be blessed with long-lasting fortune, achieve godhood in this battle, and slay the Demon King once and for all.

It’s just a shame I might not live to see that moment.

It would be a battle as spectacular as described in the books.

Lin Qingge and the Demon King would duel atop the mountain peak, locked in combat for hundreds of rounds. Bai Fengqing, caught in the Demon King’s attacks, would fall unconscious, leaving Lin Qingge to struggle alone. The frenzied Demon King, thoroughly enraged by Lin Qingge, would focus all his fury on her.

The battle raged on, turning the skies dark and blotting out the sun and moon. It was only then that people realized, with trembling fear, that the Demon King was far more powerful than anyone had imagined. Yet what shocked them even more was that Lin Qingge seemed to be gaining the upper hand in the fight against the Demon King.

The celestial realm might soon undergo a complete reshuffling.

This was the thought crossing the minds of most immortal sect disciples after witnessing Lin Qingge’s strength.

But Lin Qingge paid no heed to their thoughts. The false Demon King was a fierce general under the previous Demon King’s command, drugged into madness yet still able to recognize Lin Qingge’s aura. Driven to insanity, the general’s spiritual power had surged dramatically, making the fight a strenuous one for Lin Qingge.

Still, it was about time to end this.

Under the gaze of the onlookers, Lin Qingge thrust her sword into the ‘Demon King’s’ spiritual core.

The ‘Demon King’ staggered back, lashing out with brute force to wound Lin Qingge’s arm. Gritting her teeth, she countered with a swift slash of her sword, sending the ‘Demon King’ stumbling backward until he plummeted off the infamous Bone-Cliff, a place from which none returned.

The Demon King was dead?!

The distant crowd fell into stunned silence before erupting into clamor, their eyes burning with fervor as they stared at Lin Qingge, the foremost sword cultivator who had slain the Demon King.

Lin Qingge, with her breathtaking beauty and icy demeanor, wielded her sword with an ethereal grace. From this day onward, she would undoubtedly become the most enchanting vision in countless people’s midnight dreams.

Standing at the cliff’s edge, Lin Qingge exhaled deeply, her fingers brushing over the protective talisman tucked into her robes as a faint smile touched her lips. From now on, she would truly be Lin Qingge no longer the Demon King Yan Qi. She would stand by Mu Ling’s side, slowly purging the celestial realm of its corruption, reshaping this world into something new.

Once, she had sought only to destroy this world. But for Mu Ling, she was willing to embrace it.

The memory of Mu Ling tying the protective talisman around her yesterday, her demeanor so tender and devoted, deepened Lin Qingge’s smile. Her gaze swept through the crowd, searching for that beloved figure.

Then, in an instant, her eyes darkened. A chilling ferocity flashed across her pitch-black pupils.

Mu Ling, who had promised to come watch the battle, was nowhere to be seen among the spectators.

Her blood roared in her veins as her divine sense swept frantically through the camp. Abruptly, she bent forward, causing the crowd to gasp in alarm. Just as they moved to assist her, Lin Qingge straightened, stepping onto her flying sword without a backward glance.

No one saw the lifeless void in her eyes, now stained a sudden, violent red.

Mu Ling’s presence was nowhere in the camp.

Despite all her scheming, all her desperate efforts to please Mu Ling had abandoned her once again.