Master is Also Running Away from Marriage Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 5

Soon, the two arrived at the edge of the forest where the secret realm was located.

This forest lay on the border between the realms of immortals, demons, and mortals. A lawless no-man’s-land where rogue cultivators and demons often roamed. If Mu Ling had been alone, she could have slipped into the mountains unnoticed. But now, with a child in tow, she had to think carefully.

Mu Ling wasn’t particularly concerned about appearances. Since she rarely showed her face and few would recognize her, she simply cast a spell to transform herself into a middle-aged herb-gathering woman dressed in coarse linen. After feeding the child a bowl of spiritual spring water, she put on a stern expression and earnestly instructed him, “If we meet anyone else, you must call me ‘Mother’…”

The child: “…”

Unaware of the silent resistance in the way the child buried his face against her back, Mu Ling frowned as she surveyed the forest, her gaze unconsciously growing solemn. This time, she sensed several unfamiliar and powerful auras within the woods likely demons.

In the past, Mu Ling would have avoided demons at all costs. But now, having reached the Divine Transformation stage and carrying a child who might very well be her future disciple, she no longer wanted to hide like a coward.

“Kid, things might get a bit tricky this time.”

The forest was often frequented by human herb gatherers, and Mu Ling believed her disguise was flawless. Yet, for some reason, she soon noticed several tails following her after entering the woods. After finally shaking them off and reaching the entrance to the secret realm, she discovered traces of the surrounding formations being tampered with, along with scattered drops of blood on the ground. Clear signs that many had already entered.

The formations in this world operated on principles similar to modern mathematics, and Mu Ling was exceptionally skilled in this art. She could even boast without modesty that she was one of the world’s top formation masters. Without her breaking the original formation, no one should have been able to enter the secret realm.

After dismantling the original formation, Mu Ling had only set up a few illusionary barriers to prevent mortals from stumbling in. She never expected cultivators to beat her to it. Let alone destroy her carefully laid traps.

“Remember to stay focused later. Leave everything to me.”

Having worked so hard, Mu Ling wasn’t about to let someone else reap the rewards. Putting on the airs of a master, she solemnly lectured the child before preparing to enter the secret realm. But just then, the child tugged secretly at her sleeve.

“What’s that?”

Following his gaze, Mu Ling spotted a bloodstained white sleeve caught on a tree branch. The fabric was exquisite, with ancient auspicious cloud patterns embroidered at the cuffs.

The moment she recognized those patterns, her pupils trembled violently.

This was the insignia of the Bai Xu Sect. She’d recognize it even if it were burned to ashes!

The Bai Xu Sect was the faction of Bai Junhao, the scumbag male lead from the original novel. To avoid the plot, Mu Ling had once meticulously studied the sect’s history. Judging by the quality of the fabric, this disciple’s status must have been quite high. These major sects placed great emphasis on decorum for even a sleeve to be left behind like this.

Recalling the demonic auras she had sensed earlier, as well as the seemingly deliberately sabotaged barriers, Mu Ling’s heart clenched. Carefully, she set up several new formations outside the secret realm and reinforced the illusions before finally stepping inside with the child on her back.

Almost the moment Mu Ling stepped into the secret realm, the narrow path beneath her feet suddenly transformed, and in an instant, she found herself in a vast expanse of yellow sand. Before she could even take in her surroundings, a cold, sharp blade was pressed against her neck!

“Another one has arrived!” The speaker was a woman shrouded entirely in black gauze, revealing only her face. Her features were strikingly beautiful, her voice carrying an eerie cadence, and three tiny black snake scales adorned the corners of her eyes.

This face reminded Mu Ling of someone.

According to the novel’s plot, the original host was already pregnant with her first child by the scumbag Bai Junhao at this point. The scumbag, having somehow received news that the Demon King was gravely ill, abandoned his wife and infiltrated the Demon Palace once more. Little did he know, he had fallen right into the Demon King’s trap. This time, Bai Junhao was severely injured, lost his memory, and was rescued by a demoness.

That demoness was named Chisu, a black snake demon known for her violent temperament and serving as one of the Demon King’s top generals. The amnesiac Bai Junhao, teaming up with Chisu, committed numerous atrocities. Later, when Bai Junhao regained his memory, he manipulated Chisu into defecting to the immortal realm and ambushing the Demon King. After Chisu allowed the immortal sects into the Demon Palace, Bai Junhao betrayed and killed her, ultimately using her corpse to cleanse his own reputation and earn the original host’s forgiveness.

Mu Ling’s gaze involuntarily drifted behind Chisu.

Standing behind Chisu were several other demons clad in black robes. At the forefront was a man with a handsome face—fair skin like jade, a high nose bridge, and a pair of amorous peach-blossom eyes standing so close to Chisu they were practically touching.

This must be the scumbag Bai Junhao!

“I told you, you’ve got the wrong person!” Chisu noticed Mu Ling’s scrutiny of Bai Junhao, her eyes flashing with murderous intent. “You sanctimonious immortals resort to such despicable tricks to drive a wedge between me and my husband.”

“Brother! Don’t listen to the demon’s lies! You are my elder brother, Bai Junhao, not her husband.” A male voice rang out from behind. Finally, Mu Ling caught sight of the disheveled Bai Xu Sect disciple with the torn sleeve. The man also had a righteous and upright appearance, bearing some resemblance to Bai Junhao. Unfortunately, before he could finish speaking, Chisu’s eyes narrowed, and her whip lashed out with a sharp crack, leaving a bloody gash across his chest.

The man groaned, his chest torn open and bleeding instantly. Yet Bai Junhao lowered his eyes, not sparing him a single glance.

Mu Ling now remembered who this unfortunate soul was.

Bai Junhao had a younger brother named Bai Fengqing. Unlike Bai Junhao’s smooth-talking ways, Bai Fengqing was a renowned genius swordsman who had devoted himself to cultivation under a famous master, staying aloof from worldly affairs. In the original story, upon hearing of his brother’s disappearance, Bai Fengqing rushed to the demon realm to search for him. Along the way, he encountered the original host, who was also searching for her husband. The two found Bai Junhao in a secret realm, gathering herbs. Bai Junhao, suffering from amnesia, didn’t recognize them and, under Chisu’s instigation, even attacked them. Bai Fengqing, kind-hearted and unwilling to strike his brother with full force, repeatedly shielded the pregnant original host and suffered many injuries. Tragically, the original host lost her child, and Bai Fengqing ultimately met his end at Chisu’s hands.

Later, Bai Junhao seemed to be deeply affected by Bai Fengqing’s death, which stirred his soul and gradually restored his memories.

After hiding for so many years, she had finally encountered Bai Junhao.

Mu Ling had initially considered retreating upon encountering this troublesome group, but after recalling the original plot, she decided to stay.

Lin Qingge had subdued the Demon King by relying on an advanced sword technique called Heavenly Spirit Sword. This technique could conjure an inescapable net of countless blades, and it was under this very technique that the Demon King had met his end.

Everyone believed the Heavenly Spirit Sword was an inherited technique of the Qingyi Sect. Only Mu Ling, who had read the original story, knew the truth. It was a half-complete manual the original protagonist had stumbled upon in this very secret realm. Dismissed as worthless, it was later sold to a pawnshop after leaving the realm. No one could have guessed that this sword manual would eventually fall into Lin Qingge’s hands and unleash its devastating power to slay the Demon King!

I must obtain this sword technique!

Meanwhile, after dealing with Bai Fengqing, Chisu’s gaze returned to Mu Ling.

This middle-aged herb-gathering woman was unremarkable in appearance, exuding a clean aura with a faint medicinal scent. She carried a seemingly sickly child on her back, presenting no obvious flaws. Yet, Chisu felt an inexplicable dislike for her perhaps because the woman’s eyes were too clear and bright. And things that shone too brightly often stirred the deep-seated brutality in demons who could only lurk in darkness.

“Report! There’s a cave ahead!”

Murderous intent surged in Chisu’s heart, her sword inching forward only to be interrupted by the report.

“Take these three with us,” Chisu withdrew her sword and glanced at Bai Junhao, catching the slight furrow in his brow. Her expression shifted, the killing intent vanishing as she turned back with a coquettish laugh, lightly tugging at Bai Junhao’s arm. “Let’s keep them as ‘test stones’!”

“I know you don’t like killing…” Chisu clung to Bai Junhao, pouting playfully. “So, I won’t kill them, alright?”

“You…” Bai Junhao curved his lips, flicking her nose in mock affection, though his smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Secret realms often housed bizarre arrays and forbidden arts. Some requiring blood or souls as sacrifices. Unscrupulous cultivators would often drag a few humans along as ‘test stones’ when exploring. Compared to being slowly tortured as sacrificial offerings, a swift death would have been far more merciful!

Another muffled groan sounded nearby. Poor Bai Fengqing, his collarbone pierced by a demonic blade, his spiritual power sealed.

A demon pressed a sword against Mu Ling, forcing her toward the cave. Soon, Bai Fengqing was shoved beside her.

“Move faster!”

The demon behind them barked impatiently.

Bai Fengqing’s lips were pale, his face drained of color, blood dripping from his chest. Staggering, he could barely hold his sword, yet he kept turning back to look at his elder brother.

“Can’t we spare his life and just cripple his spiritual root?”

“You and your hypocritical mercy. In the immortal realm, without spiritual power, who knows how he’d die…”

“But I love this fake righteousness of yours.”

Alas, his brother was too engrossed in flirting with Chisu to spare him even a glance.

Bai Fengqing’s heart was filled with despair and self-loathing. He had hoped to rekindle his brother’s memories and escape together, but instead, his rash actions had alerted the enemy. Not only had he failed to save his brother, but he had also been humiliated by the demons. Now, it seemed he would perish here.

Can amnesia truly alter a person’s temperament and thoughts so completely? Bai Fengqing couldn’t fathom how his once-renowned brother could stubbornly align himself with demons and monsters.

“Hold tight to Mother’s neck, no matter what happens, don’t let go.”

Consciousness blurred as Bai Fengqing propped himself up with his sword to keep from collapsing. In his daze, he faintly heard the conversation between a herb-gathering woman and her daughter nearby. Surprisingly, the woman’s voice was unexpectedly melodious.

“Are you alright?”

Bai Fengqing’s unfocused gaze gradually sharpened as he realized the woman was speaking to him.

“I’m fine!” Unaccustomed to closeness, he subtly recoiled, only to suddenly gasp in pain as his chest seized. Doubling over, he broke into violent coughs!

The woman beside him seemed to reach out to steady him, but the watching demonic cultivator’s eyes flashed with malice. A whip lashed toward them!

Just as Bai Fengqing meant to warn her, the woman moved as if she had eyes in the back, sidestepping the strike with a swift shift. Then, a pair of delicate, pale hands reached out grabbing Bai Fengqing by the collar.

How could a herb-gatherer, weathered by sun and wind, possess such smooth, unblemished hands?

“My apologies!”

Before he could process his shock, Bai Fengqing felt himself being lifted by those hands. A deafening explosion of dust erupted behind him, and amid the violent jostling, his consciousness slipped away entirely.