Master is Also Running Away from Marriage Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 50

Mu Ling was unaware of everything happening on the battlefield.

 

Over the past few days, she had come to terms with the situation. After all, her entanglement with Lin Qingge had reached such a point, and upon reflection, denying her feelings would be a lie. Mu Ling knew better than anyone how dazzling and beautiful Lin Qingge was. No one could resist her gentle and considerate nature. With their parting imminent, Mu Ling couldn’t bear to distance herself from Lin Qingge any longer or waste the little time they had left on meaningless pursuits. She resolved to let things take their natural course, interacting with Lin Qingge as she always had, cherishing their final moments together.

 

Mu Ling knew this was the day they would storm the Demon Palace. Barring any unforeseen events, it would also mark the end of everything.

 

She dressed in vibrant red robes and adorned herself with exquisite makeup.

 

For decades to come, the two would live in different times and spaces, never to meet again. Mu Ling knew she likely wouldn’t have the chance to marry Lin Qingge in this lifetime, but in her heart, she wanted Lin Qingge to see her in full splendor, to leave behind a beautiful memory in Lin Qingge’s mind.

 

Their time together had been far too short. So short that it was ending before it had even truly begun. Mu Ling knew her sudden disappearance would hurt Lin Qingge, but she had no other choice.

 

She could only place her hopes in time. Perhaps she would merely be a fleeting interlude in Lin Qingge’s long cultivation journey, like any modern-day first love that fades without resolution. All memories, love, and resentment would eventually dissolve into the endless expanse of a cultivator’s lifespan. Lin Qingge would forget the young woman who had once left without a word, the one who had caused her pain, and forge ahead on her path perhaps even finding a new partner.

 

As for Mu Ling herself, she had already planned her future: after returning to the modern world to rescue her grandfather and care for him in his old age, she would most likely live out her days alone.

 

She had met the most extraordinary, irreplaceable person. No one else could ever make her heart flutter like this again!

 

…

 

Mu Ling did not join the battle to attack the Demon Palace, nor did Lin Qingge want her to. Just as Mu Ling had anticipated, Lin Qingge’s eyes lit up when she saw her dressed in her finest attire. Unbeknownst to Mu Ling, Lin Qingge adored seeing her in red. More than once, Lin Qingge had dreamed of Mu Ling wearing red robes as Princess Luo Zhi in the illusion. Her purity laced with an unconscious allure, both innocent and seductive. Lin Qingge didn’t want anyone else to see Mu Ling like this.

 

To win Mu Ling over, Lin Qingge had spent these days restraining her impulses to get closer, intending to take things slow. But lately, she had sensed Mu Ling’s softening attitude. Now, with the long-imagined vision of Mu Ling in red standing before her, Lin Qingge could no longer hold back. She pulled Mu Ling into a corner and kissed her deeply.

 

When the kiss ended, Lin Qingge pressed her forehead against Mu Ling’s and chuckled softly. She hadn’t expected that someone who had read so many romantic tales would be so unpracticed at kissing, even forgetting to breathe.

 

How could her shizun be this adorable? Lin Qingge wished she could carve Mu Ling into her very bones.

 

And what delighted her even more was this Mu Ling was clumsily responding to her.

 

“Mu Ling, wait for me to return,” Lin Qingge’s beautiful eyes sparkled like starlight as she gazed earnestly at the blushing, downcast Mu Ling. “In the days to come, I’ll travel with you to see all the wonders of this world whether you prefer the snow of the northern lands or the fish of the southern regions.”

 

Lin Qingge was usually a woman of few words, with Mu Ling being the chatterbox whenever they were together. But now their roles seemed reversed. Lin Qingge had become the talkative one. As Mu Ling listened to her softly outlining a future that would never come to pass, her heart ached. She lowered her head even further and whispered a faint, “Okay.”

 

Lin Qingge didn’t notice Mu Ling’s momentary hesitation, mistaking her bowed head for shyness. She leaned down to kiss Mu Ling’s brow and eyelids.

 

Mu Ling froze, yet couldn’t bring herself to reject Lin Qingge’s affection. Trembling, she closed her eyes and lifted her face.

 

The two lingered in each other’s embrace for a long while before Lin Qingge reluctantly released her hold on Mu Ling’s waist.

 

Outside the door, Lin Qingge carefully laid down a formation, while Mu Ling stood nearby, watching her with a complicated gaze.

 

Mu Ling knew Lin Qingge still didn’t trust her completely. This formation would bar entry to anyone but Lin Qingge herself. Even if Mu Ling exerted all her strength to break it, it would take her ten days to half a month. She was also puzzled by Lin Qingge’s sudden, rapid advancement in formation mastery, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. The force that had manipulated her into transmigrating into this novel seemed to exist beyond this world. It wasn’t something Lin Qingge’s formation could stop.

 

“Be careful too.” Mu Ling lowered her head and, as she always did, gently straightened Lin Qingge’s collar. “Stay safe and well. Don’t get hurt.”

 

For all the years to come, may your life be filled with clarity and ease, free from sorrow.

 

Lin Qingge gazed deeply at Mu Ling, then bent to press a light kiss to her right cheek. Her dark eyes brimmed with warmth. The beautiful young cultivator, in the prime of her youth, carried her sword with an air of confidence as she strode out the door.

 

Mu Ling remained in the room, quietly awaiting the moment of her departure. She had no idea how much time had passed when suddenly, her heart clenched. A commotion erupted outside, followed by the sound of chaotic footsteps.

 

Mu Ling rose, intending to investigate, when someone burst violently into the room.

 

All she had time to see was the splashes of fresh blood staining the intruder’s white robes before darkness swallowed her vision, and she lost consciousness.

 

Her dreams were filled with endless pursuit and slaughter, the clashing of blades ringing incessantly. Several times, she nearly woke, only for the person behind her to notice and plunge her back into deeper unconsciousness.

 

By the time Mu Ling finally awoke, she had no idea what day it was or where she was.

 

Before her lay an abyss of darkness. She was in a room constructed of black marble, vast in size. The bed she lay on was made of black jade, most of the furniture crafted from ebony sandalwood even the spider plants blooming from the ceiling were black.

 

Amid this oppressive darkness, Mu Ling’s red robes were the only splash of color in the entire world.

 

Her heart plummeted when she saw what she was wearing!

 

These red robes weren’t the ones she’d been wearing when she left!

 

Shouldn’t she have returned to the modern world by now?

 

Where was this place? And who had changed her clothes?

 

…

 

“Is anyone there?” Mu Ling tried to summon her spiritual energy, only to find it sealed once again. The method of sealing felt vaguely familiar. She attempted to call out loudly, her voice echoing through the empty, dark room, but no one appeared.

 

Barefoot, Mu Ling stepped off the bed and groped around, discovering that the room was surrounded by a formation. As soon as she approached the edges, the hanging orchids on the ceiling jingled with a ‘ding-ling-ling’ sound.

 

It was like some kind of signal.

 

Mu Ling sensed that someone had silently appeared in the darkness, their gaze burning as they watched her from the shadows, yet they made no move to reveal themselves.

 

She couldn’t tell if it was her imagination, but she felt that the person’s gaze was both sorrowful and frenzied, giving her an overwhelming sense of familiarity.

 

“Who are you?”

 

Mu Ling shouted, but no one answered.

 

Her eyes flickered, and she retreated back to the bed, wrapping herself tightly in the blanket.

 

That person didn’t seem intent on harming her, but why had they imprisoned her here? Where exactly was this place?

 

…

 

She didn’t know how much time had passed before the hidden gaze finally disappeared.

 

Before long, rustling sounds came from outside, and a group of meekly bowing maids in black robes filed in, carrying trays of various foods and kneeling at Mu Ling’s feet. “Miss, please eat.”

 

Mu Ling glanced briefly at the offerings. They were all her favorite dishes.

 

Her confusion deepened. Why were these foods so perfectly suited to her tastes?

 

“Where is this?” Mu Ling didn’t touch the food, instead addressing the lead maid.

 

She had expected the maid to remain silent under orders, but to her surprise, the maid looked at her and respectfully bowed. “Reporting to the Miss, this is the Demon Palace.”

 

The Demon Palace?!

 

Mu Ling’s eyes widened. “Wasn’t the Demon Palace already conquered by the Immortal Realm?” Why was she being held in the Demon Palace?

 

“That Demon Palace was the old site,” the maid replied deferentially. “The Master has long since relocated to a new place. ”

 

The statement carried immense implications. Mu Ling took a deep breath, needing a long moment to process it.

 

“Who brought me here?” She already had an answer in mind, but her throat was dry as she forced the question out.

 

“The Master brought you back,” the maid hedged, using the word ‘brought’ instead of ‘captured.’ “The Master has already announced to the world that the wedding will take place in seven days. After that, you will be the supreme Demon Queen.”

 

“Who said I would marry your Demon King?”

 

Even though she had guessed it was the Demon King who had taken her, Mu Ling had never imagined he would want to marry her!

 

It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck her from the sky, leaving her utterly stunned.

 

“Get out! I’d rather die than marry him!”

 

“Miss, we advise you not to abuse the Master’s favor.”

 

The maid pressed her lips together, shooting Mu Ling a disapproving glance. Her loyalty to the Demon King was evident, but she obediently led the others out of the room.

 

Mu Ling’s back stiffened. She knew the maid would surely relay her words to the Demon King, and it wouldn’t be long before she met the so-called ‘Master.’

 

From the maids’ words, it seemed the Demon King wasn’t dead after all.

 

But she was merely someone who had fled from an arranged marriage centuries ago. Why would the Demon King go to such lengths to capture her now?

 

The Demon King had long since secretly established a new demonic palace. What exactly was she planning?

 

……

 

Mu Ling instinctively felt that the Demon King was weaving a vast conspiracy, but what did that have to do with her?

 

Yet Mu Ling didn’t dwell on it for long.

 

Before long, faint footsteps sounded from outside, and someone leisurely walked in.

 

Mu Ling warily watched the figure: a black cloak that concealed their form, crimson robes beneath, and a hideous, grotesque mask covering their face. This was the attire of the legendary Demon King!

 

The Demon King truly hadn’t died!

 

Seeing the Demon King she had evaded for over two hundred years with her own eyes, Mu Ling was far from the composure she had imagined. The moment she laid eyes on the Demon King, she was overwhelmed by the oppressive, blood-soaked aura emanating from her. Trembling beneath the covers, Mu Ling could barely speak.

 

This was the Demon King, the one who had slaughtered an entire city without hesitation!

 

“Why do you refuse to marry me?” The Demon King approached Mu Ling, her voice as hoarse as the rumors described. The blanket covering Mu Ling and the Demon King’s cloak both lifted into the air. The Demon King’s dark gaze bore down on Mu Ling, who had curled into a ball, as her pale, slender fingers traced Mu Ling’s cheek with unsettling intimacy.

 

Mu Ling dared not look at the Demon King, nor did she notice the strikingly graceful figure beneath the discarded cloak. She felt like prey caught in the gaze of a venomous serpent. Under the scrutiny of those pitch-black eyes, Mu Ling trembled uncontrollably, barely aware of the words spilling from her lips.

 

“Get away from me!” Mu Ling shrank into the corner, glaring defensively at the Demon King behind the fearsome mask. Tears welled up in her eyes as she listed the Demon King’s crimes one by one: “You’re vile and despicable, a murderer, utterly repulsive.”

 

How dare she force Mu Ling to marry her!

 

“Is that all?” Contrary to Mu Ling’s expectations, the Demon King wasn’t provoked. The voice above her sounded strangely familiar, though Mu Ling couldn’t place it. As the Demon King’s fingers lingered on her cheek and began to drift downward, Mu Ling panicked. Without thinking, she snapped her teeth toward the Demon King’s fingers.

 

Of course, she didn’t land a bite. Instead, the Demon King gripped her chin.

 

“Get lost!” Mu Ling glared at the Demon King, tears streaming down her face. “I’m warning you, don’t touch me!”

 

“My disciple is Lin Qingge! If you force me to marry you, she’ll never let you get away with it.”

 

“You mean that Lin Qingge who groveled before you like a worm, desperate to win your favor and live happily ever after with you?” The Demon King laughed mockingly at Mu Ling’s bluster. There was something hidden in her voice, but Mu Ling didn’t catch it.

 

Mu Ling was seized by sheer terror: How did the Demon King know about Qingge’s feelings for her?

 

“What have you done to Qingge?” Mu Ling struggled violently, her gaze sharp enough to pierce the Demon King a thousand times over if looks could kill.

 

The Demon King seemed indifferent to the hatred in Mu Ling’s eyes. She leaned closer, staring intently into Mu Ling’s. “She’s dead!”

 

Lin Qingge, who had yearned to abandon evil and feign goodness to live happily with Mu Ling, had been gravely wounded. Yet instead of salvation, she was hunted down and surrounded by the immortals she had once saved.

 

Fate had never favored her, always crushing her hopes. She could never be Lin Qingge again!

 

Lin Qingge died in this hypocritical realm of immortals. What survived was Yan Qi, who stood in irreconcilable opposition to the entire cultivation world.

 

Mu Ling froze in place not because of the Demon King’s words, but because as he drew closer, she caught the unmistakable scent of blood. The Demon King seemed injured, and mingled with the metallic tang was a faint, achingly familiar fragrance. One that Mu Ling would recognize anywhere, the scent that belonged to Lin Qingge.

 

How was this possible?

 

An unbelievable thought flashed through Mu Ling’s mind. Countless overlooked oddities suddenly surged to the surface. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at the Demon King before her.

 

The Demon King traced a finger along Mu Ling’s chin, his dark gaze drinking in the terror in her eyes before he suddenly let out a low, amused chuckle. “You’ve finally figured it out, haven’t you?”

 

Slowly, deliberately, he removed the ghastly, sinister mask. Revealing the breathtakingly beautiful face hidden beneath, one renowned throughout the land. But now, that face was twisted with a ruthless, chilling intensity Mu Ling had never seen before.

 

“Shifu,” the Demon King murmured, his crimson lips brushing against Mu Ling’s petrified cheek before pressing a kiss to her trembling eyelid. “What if I told you I’m going to force you to marry me?”