Master is Also Running Away from Marriage Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 67

“What do you want to do?” Yan Qi spoke softly, her head resting on Mu Ling’s lap. Her snow-white hair, smooth as satin, cascaded around her, and her eyes were slightly closed. She looked beautiful and innocent, nothing like the ruthless, cunning Demon King who wouldn’t hesitate to snap someone’s neck.

Mu Ling gently massaged Yan Qi’s temples.

During this time, Mu Ling felt her straightforward tactics had been effective. Perhaps Yan Qi hadn’t noticed it herself, but she had begun to willingly show her vulnerable side in front of Mu Ling, and the smiles at the corners of her lips had grown more frequent. To Mu Ling, this was already a rare sign of progress.

“Sleep now,” Mu Ling said. Of course, she wouldn’t let Yan Qi know her plans. She lightly tapped the dark circles under Yan Qi’s eyes. “It won’t take too long, just about a month.”

Yan Qi didn’t respond, but Mu Ling knew she had silently agreed.

Sure enough, three days later, news spread that the Demon King had developed a special teleportation array.

With enough spiritual power, this array could instantly transport someone to any desired location. This way, if the Immortal Alliance attacked the Demon Realm, Yan Qi could immediately rush to the besieged area.

Upon hearing this, Mu Ling felt both pride and sorrow. Pride for Yan Qi’s achievement, as she was exceptionally brilliant, and few throughout history had ever created their own arrays; sorrow for Yan Qi’s cruel fate, just as Zhao Yunshi had written in her letter: she had never wished for her daughter to dominate the three realms, only for her to live a peaceful and happy life, free from sorrow.

Had she not been abducted as an infant, Yan Qi’s life should have been smooth and blessed, beloved by all, becoming a legend of the Immortal Realm just like the name Zhao Yunshi had long chosen for her: Zhao Wuyou (“Free from Worry”).

Alas, fate had other plans.

After Yan Qi annihilated two surprise attack teams from the Immortal Alliance, the people’s fear of her reached its peak. The mere mention of the “Demon King” could silence a crying child, and the Immortal Alliance temporarily ceased their assaults.

That night, Mu Ling sensed an unusual disturbance around her. When she opened her eyes, she saw Yan Qi dressed in casual attire, her usual bone-chilling aura subdued, and her hair restored to its natural black.

This gentle version of Yan Qi reminded Mu Ling once again of Lin Qingge.

“Where to?”

Yan Qi tried to keep her tone cold and indifferent, unaware that the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her emotions.

“To Qing Country,” Mu Ling replied casually. Noticing Yan Qi’s stiffened expression, she took her hand and yawned lightly. “The southern city, Fengwei.”

Yan Qi nodded, the tension in her jawline finally easing slightly. Mu Ling’s gaze flickered, resisting the urge to comfort Yan Qi and reveal her plans.

Only then did Mu Ling belatedly realize she had been outmaneuvered by Yan Qi. Yan Qi had never truly feared the Immortal Alliance otherwise, she wouldn’t have crushed them so thoroughly in just three days. The exhaustion she had shown in front of Mu Ling was likely a ploy to win her sympathy and attention.

And just as Yan Qi had anticipated, Mu Ling had fallen for it.

But in matters of the heart, calculations and gains or losses are like “Jiang Taigong fishing; those who are willing take the bait.” So although Mu Ling had fallen into the trap, she wasn’t particularly angry because she had also gone along with it. After receiving Zhao Yunshi’s suicide note, she had long wanted to take Yan Qi out for a trip.

Yan Qi didn’t know how Mu Ling had learned about the place called Phoenix Tail City, but she had to admit Mu Ling had excellent taste. Nestled in a mountain valley, Phoenix Tail City boasted breathtaking scenery, was easy to defend but hard to attack, and had a relatively dispersed population making it an ideal place for seclusion.

“This is the retreat I’ve had my eye on for a long time, my final trump card.”

At this moment, Mu Ling was dressed in a moon-white robe, waving a paper fan, having transformed herself with elixirs into the image of a dissolute young nobleman. Meanwhile, Yan Qi, after much coaxing from Mu Ling, had taken on the guise of a beautiful yet aloof maidservant.

Boldly courting danger, Mu Ling leaned in like a little rogue and patted Yan Qi’s cheek before leading her to a small courtyard. With the air of a spoiled aristocrat, she handed the elderly caretaker a bronze token.

“Finally, you’ve arrived!” The old man excitedly verified the token and, trembling with emotion, unlocked the gate. “This courtyard has been passed down from my grandfather’s time. I thought we’d have to keep waiting forever.”

“You and your family have worked hard.”

Mu Ling felt a pang of emotion as she looked at the aged caretaker.

Back when she had learned her disciple was Lin Qingge, Mu Ling had already begun planning for seclusion. For convenience, she had disguised herself as a man to purchase this courtyard and casually saved a family, enlisting them to look after it. Unexpectedly, the family had proven so loyal. Over the years, they had built a comfortable life using the money Mu Ling had given them, yet they never forgot her kindness. Not only had they faithfully guarded the courtyard, but they had even voluntarily spent their own funds to maintain and repair it.

The old man staunchly refused the money Mu Ling offered: “Without you, my family wouldn’t be where we are today. How could we take your money? You shame this old man.”

With the endorsement of the locally respected elder, Mu Ling quickly established an identity for herself: a fallen nobleman arriving from afar with his beautiful concubine to seek refuge with the old man’s family.

Mu Ling took Yan Qi to the local magistrate to complete their identity documents before returning to the courtyard.

The courtyard wasn’t large. Six rooms, a main hall, a small garden in the back, and a little vegetable plot. One could stroll through it all in the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

But though small, it had everything one needed. Thanks to the caretaker’s family’s meticulous care, the furniture inside was spotless and undamaged, clearly well-maintained over the years.

“So, what do you think? Your young master here is a man of property now, isn’t he?” Mu Ling, thoroughly enjoying her role, used her folding fan to lift Yan Qi’s chin, smirking like a tyrant teasing an innocent maiden. “Won’t you submit to me, young master?”

The icy, beautiful concubine curled her lips into a cold smile. Young Master Mu Ling suddenly felt a chill down her spine, but before she could change the subject and beg for mercy, the ‘concubine’ obediently nestled against her. “I submit to you, young master! Now, young master, it’s time for your cultivation practice.”

As for how the young master ended up blushing and tearfully begging for mercy the next morning, or how the concubine, slightly breathless and thoroughly satisfied, teased Mu Ling, who was trembling under the blankets, with the question, “Was the young master pleased with this servant’s service?” well, that was a matter for the following day.

From that day onward, the two settled down in the small town.

Phoenix Tail City was a forgotten corner, overlooked by both the demon realm and the immortal world. Long ago, it had been a place of exile for criminals of the Qing Kingdom. Strangely enough, while all people in the world possessed spiritual roots, newborns in Phoenix Tail City had never been born with them. Over the years, ambitious individuals had gradually left, leaving behind mostly ordinary folk who had adapted to life without spiritual power.

Yet, as the saying goes, a loss may turn out to be a gain. Without the relentless pursuit of spiritual roots and power that consumed the outside world, Phoenix Tail City became an unexpected haven of peace and prosperity amidst the chaos of the times.

Yan Qi hadn’t expected Mu Ling to genuinely consider settling down in Phoenix Tail City for the long term. She found work as a teacher, instructing the town’s little sprouts every day.

At first, Yan Qi couldn’t resist keeping an eye on Mu Ling during class. However, after several instances of terrifying the children so badly they wet themselves, Mu Ling finally drove Yan Qi out of the classroom.

Thus, under Mu Ling’s soft pleas, Yan Qi became a dutiful homemaker, handling household chores, laundry, and cooking.

The illusory appearances the two had taken were extraordinarily striking, drawing the townspeople’s attention the moment they arrived. Within days, thanks to the enthusiastic gossip of Mu Ling’s students, everyone knew that the new “Teacher Mu” was a “henpecked husband,” utterly devoted to and terrified of his beautiful yet cold concubine.

Some young women, smitten by Teacher Mu’s good looks, mustered the courage to send him handkerchiefs as tokens of affection. But before they could act, they caught sight of the stunning concubine delivering meals to him. A single indifferent glance from her froze them in place, their feet rooted to the ground.

Uneducated as they were, they lacked the words to describe the concubine’s beauty only that even celestial maidens would pale in comparison.

Yet her gaze was so chilling it seemed to freeze the blood in their veins.

After Yan Qi made a few such appearances, the hopeful young women gave up their infatuation with Teacher Mu.

Mu Ling, warm and approachable, quickly became familiar with the townsfolk.

At first, people assumed Teacher Mu doted on his icy, beautiful concubine, and they delighted in teasing the easily flustered man about his lack of authority as a husband. But eventually, they realized the truth wasn’t so simple.

During heavy rain, the concubine could always be seen waiting quietly at the school gates, holding an umbrella like a serene lotus in the downpour.

When Teacher Mu blushed under the townspeople’s teasing, the concubine, though expressionless, would turn her head and carefully wipe the sweat from his temples with a handkerchief.

Once, a local tyrant, coveting the concubine’s beauty, tried to force Teacher Mu to sell her to him. Before his lackeys could even touch Teacher Mu’s sleeve, the concubine descended from the sky. No one saw how she moved, but in an instant, the men lay scattered on the ground.

…

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Yan Qi didn’t know how to describe this feeling. A month wasn’t particularly long. In the span of her long life, it was almost fleeting. Yet, in this one month, her life and state of mind had been unprecedentedly peaceful.

It seemed she and Mu Ling had truly become an ordinary couple in this small town. Mu Ling worked hard to earn a living for both of them, while Yan Qi stayed home, content with washing clothes and cooking. There were no schemes, no deceit, no bloodshed, and no messy worldly affairs to disturb them.

At first, Yan Qi still felt somewhat unsettled. She even used her spiritual senses to keep an eye on Mu Ling every day. She noticed how particularly captivating Mu Ling looked when she was focused on teaching those little children. Suddenly, Yan Qi found herself wanting to concentrate on something too.

In her spare time, Yan Qi brewed an exceptionally fragrant fruit wine and crafted a zither with a clear, melodious tone. It was then that she realized this kind of tranquil life wasn’t so bad after all.

Later, Yan Qi came to understand that there was no need to watch Mu Ling all day. After all, Mu Ling would always share the amusing events of her day when she returned home. Though trivial like which kids fought in class, whose family stole whose chicken, or how beautiful the newlywed bride in the village was Yan Qi loved listening to them, simply because they came from Mu Ling.

And whenever Mu Ling came home, Yan Qi would bring out her newly brewed fruit wine for her to taste. Mu Ling had a weakness for alcohol, but Yan Qi never dared to let her drink too much, worried about her health. They bickered over this a few times, but Mu Ling knew Yan Qi meant well. Once her temper cooled, she would come up with all sorts of ways to apologize. Their arguments never lasted more than an hour.

Mu Ling was delighted to see the changes in Yan Qi. By the end of the month, Yan Qi had finally begun to focus more on herself, just as Mu Ling had hoped. She no longer trained like a machine all day but started learning to indulge herself and discover more joys in life.

Soon, the final day of their month-long agreement arrived.

On this day, Yan Qi noticed Mu Ling hadn’t returned at the usual time. Hastily channeling her spiritual power to check, she discovered Mu Ling had already left Phoenix Tail City and was heading north.

Without a second thought, Yan Qi chased after her. What greeted her eyes was a city still covered in charred ruins even after a hundred years. The grief and fury from the massacre back then seemed to linger in her heart.

Yan Qi pressed her lips tightly together.

“Because I adore you, I want to understand you from back then even more,” Mu Ling embraced Yan Qi, whose body had suddenly turned cold, and pressed something soft into her palm. “This is a birthday gift for five-year-old Yan Qi. She was so adorable, she’d look absolutely beautiful wearing this.”

It was a brand-new little red coat. In the projection of the Demon King’s inner demons that Mu Ling had seen long ago, she had caught a glimpse of little Yan Qi’s envious gaze as she stared at a passing girl’s red coat.

Yan Qi clenched the little coat in her hand.

She couldn’t put into words what she was feeling. It was at this moment that she suddenly realized when too many emotions surged in one’s heart, it could leave the mind utterly blank.

In a daze, the two of them arrived at the underground palace where Yan Qi had once fought desperately for her life. The once blood-soaked and slaughter-filled halls were now nothing but rubble and yellow sand. And in Yan Qi’s hand, there now rested a small sword inlaid with gemstones.

“Ten-year-old Yan Qi was very brave. She preserved her humanity in that inhumane living hell, and this is the reward I want to give her…”

“Twenty-year-old Yan Qi loved hairpins like this. Unfortunately, the gemstone on the original one is now extinct. I crafted a similar one, I hope you don’t mind.”

…

Before she knew it, Yan Qi’s hands were filled with gifts.

When she returned to the snake pit that had once turned her world upside down, a warmth touched her cold cheek. Mu Ling gently kissed Yan Qi’s face, her cheeks flushed but her eyes unusually bright: “I know the past has broken your heart, but all that is behind us now. Both your mother and I hope you can look forward to it. You are resilient, decisive, and powerful you deserve love more than anyone in this world.”

“Zhao Wuyou, happy birthday!”

This was the most unforgettable day of Yan Qi’s life.

She would always remember how the dazzling morning glow stretched across the sky like brocade that day. From Mu Ling’s words, she learned of her origins; like a drifting speck of dust finally finding its home. The old feelings of insignificance and despair faded away, the curses of the past scattered by the wind. Bathed in the dawn’s light, she straightened her back, facing the rising sun, and stepped into Mu Ling’s gaze with renewal and hope. A sight she would cherish for a lifetime, the most intoxicating scenery she would ever know.