Master is Also Running Away from Marriage Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 69

At this moment, cultivators from the immortal realm joined the battle, clashing fiercely with the demonic cultivators.

 

With so many more people below, Yan Qi became cautious to avoid accidental harm, restraining his techniques even further. The possessed Bai Junhao naturally noticed Yan Qi’s hesitation. His combat prowess was on a completely different level from Bai Junhao’s, and now, bolstered by an endless supply of spiritual energy, his attacks grew increasingly brutal, leaving Yan Qi momentarily unable to subdue him.

 

Meanwhile, Mu Ling’s attention was drawn to Bai Mufeng, who stood nearby.

 

She didn’t know much about Bai Mufeng. Her limited understanding came from Zhao Yunshi’s earlier introduction and their brief interactions afterward. Because of Zhao Yunshi, Mu Ling had instinctively felt goodwill toward Bai Mufeng and had never doubted him.

 

But upon closer reflection, Bai Mufeng had been living in seclusion in Lufeng Town when he was captured by Song Yi, a demonic cultivator from the Liao Family Manor who practiced dark arts and had close ties to the previous Demon King. Was that really just a coincidence?

 

Looking further back, Bai Mufeng had known Zhao Yunshi for years and was familiar with all her past. It was he who had told Mu Ling that Zhao Yunshi had lost a daughter and that Zhao Yunshi held her in high regard.

 

At the time, Mu Ling had taken this as a sign of Bai Mufeng’s concern for Zhao Yunshi. But now, it seemed less clear because the way Bai Mufeng had brought up Zhao Yunshi had been abrupt, almost as if he were probing Mu Ling’s attitude toward this world.

 

Mu Ling turned her gaze to Bai Mufeng. His eyes were closed now, his face deathly pale, looking almost like a corpse.

 

Involuntarily, she glanced back at Bai Junhao in mid-air. Perhaps because they were uncle and nephew, she couldn’t help but notice a certain resemblance in their expressions.

 

Around her, the clashing of swords and the cries of agony filled the air. Cultivators drained of their spiritual energy collapsed one after another, while the possessed “Bai Junhao” in the sky grew ever more ferocious…

 

How had all this even begun?

 

A sudden realization flashed through Mu Ling’s mind. Her heartbeat quickened as memories of her experiences in this world surged forth.

 

The array that drained others’ cultivation had first appeared in Song Tianxing’s cave. Legends said Song Tianxing had been struck down by heavenly tribulation while ascending to godhood.

 

Yet the same array had later resurfaced in Zhao Linglong’s tomb behind the Qingyi Sect.

 

Who was the false Yan Lufeng that Zhao Linglong had awakened?

 

And what had that person originally sought by approaching Zhao Linglong, who possessed the Phoenix Flame bloodline?

 

A thread seemed to form in her mind, connecting all the events since her return…

 

But something was still missing.

 

Mu Ling bit her lower lip, feeling as though she had overlooked something crucial.

 

Just then, Bai Junhao shattered a massive boulder with a single strike, sending fragments flying. One struck the protective barrier above Mu Ling.

 

The stone!

 

A spark of insight ignited in her mind. She suddenly recalled the behavior of the stone puppet she had encountered when retrieving the Phoenix Tail Grass years ago. The puppet had relentlessly pursued Yan Qi and his group, shouting “Song Tianxing” like a madman.

 

Mu Ling had initially thought the puppet was attacking Yan Qi because he had learned Song Tianxing’s techniques. But now, she remembered with a jolt.

 

The stone puppet had been targeting Bai Mufeng, who had been hiding behind Yan Qi!

 

And the shattered statue containing a soul within the stone lotus of Patriarch Bodhi was unmistakably the likeness of Zhao Linglong!

 

The look in Bai Mufeng’s eyes when he attacked her was identical to the gaze Patriarch Bodhi had once fixed upon her.

 

Back then, when she had been pierced through the heart by a sword, Bai Mufeng had been standing not far from her.

 

…

 

In that instant, all the pieces connected into a single thread.

 

Song Tianxing had not perished after enduring the heavenly thunder all those years ago. Like a cunning rabbit with three burrows, he had been reborn within Yan Lufeng’s body, perhaps intending to seize Zhao Linglong’s Phoenix Flame bloodline. Yet, for reasons unknown, the final outcome was Zhao Linglong’s death at the hands of the Nightmare Beast.

 

By the time Song Tianxing reemerged, he had become the previous Demon King. His ambition to ascend to godhood remained unquenched. This time, he had set his sights on Yan Qi’s bloodline from the moment of her birth. He orchestrated an immense conspiracy, manipulating the life of Yan Qi, who possessed the strongest Phoenix Flame bloodline in millennia, all for one purpose.

 

Mu Ling looked up at the sky, where dark clouds churned, a blood-red fissure seeming to split the heavens that was likely what Song Tianxing had been tirelessly pursuing: the Divine Rift!

 

But the heavens had eyes. Song Tianxing’s grand scheme, woven over countless plots, had likely aimed to drive Yan Qi to despair, to make her wreak havoc upon the world and open the path to godhood. Mu Ling could almost foresee it: had Yan Qi ascended to godhood by trampling over countless lives as Song Tianxing intended, he would have swooped in like a mantis stalking the cicada, seizing her chance to become a god. Yet, against his expectations, Yan Qi had not grown to despise the world as he had planned; instead, she sought to save this broken realm…

 

Thus, Song Tianxing could no longer remain hidden and had gradually revealed himself from the shadows.

 

After piecing together the entire chain of events, Mu Ling had expected to feel overwhelming fury. Yet, to her surprise, she found herself calmer than ever before.

 

Taking a deep breath, Mu Ling turned her gaze to Bai Mufeng, whose eyes were tightly shut before her.

 

If her guess was correct, Bai Mufeng was Song Tianxing’s true form.

 

Destroy the original body, and Song Tianxing would never be able to revive again.

 

Mu Ling looked up at Yan Qi in the sky. She was using her spiritual energy to form a barrier, blocking the flow of power into Bai Junhao’s body while enduring his relentless attacks. Her expression grew increasingly stern, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

 

Meanwhile, the cultivators below, whose spiritual energy was being drained, had turned as pale as gold paper. They wouldn’t last much longer.

 

Seeing the familiar venomous glare in Bai Junhao’s eyes now, Mu Ling understood: Bai Junhao, too, must have fallen under Song Tianxing’s control.

 

This was an opportunity!

 

Clenching her teeth, Mu Ling didn’t know where she found the courage, but before she realized it, she had already stepped out of the protective barrier, cautiously making her way toward Bai Mufeng’s body.

 

Yan Qi, high above, noticed Mu Ling’s movement, her pupils contracting. But she couldn’t let “Bai Junhao” discover that Mu Ling had left the protective formation. She could only intensify her attacks, keeping his attention fixed on her.

 

What was Mu Ling planning?

 

Anxiety and worry churned in Yan Qi’s heart, disrupting her rhythm. “Bai Junhao” laughed triumphantly, seizing the opening to slash Yan Qi’s arm!

 

If this dragged on until “Bai Junhao” accumulated enough spiritual energy, Yan Qi would no longer be a match for him.

 

At this critical juncture…

 

Yan Qi took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus as she cast her gaze upon the crowd below. The power from her bloodline surged forth, and those restrained by the formation spell looked up at her in the sky, feeling waves of dizziness. In their minds, an irresistible voice echoed, compelling them to submit even to kneel in worship “Offer your spiritual power to her!”

 

Since prolonging the standoff would only allow ‘Bai Junhao’ to drain these people dry, Yan Qi decisively reactivated the formation to absorb their spiritual energy for herself.

 

For now, ‘Bai Junhao’ was no match for Yan Qi. If she acted swiftly, killing him quickly and then voluntarily returning the spiritual power to the people she could save their lives.

 

Yet, this was an incredibly reckless decision. Abruptly cutting off the flow of spiritual energy would severely wound even Yan Qi, and countless enemies across the land would seize the chance to take her life.

 

Yan Qi knew this, but she still chose this path.

 

‘Bai Junhao’ sensed the rapid decline of spiritual energy flowing into his body and noticed the changes in the aura around Yan Qi.

 

“You!”

 

He never expected Yan Qi to resort to such a tactic. A flash of venomous hatred flickered in his eyes as he gritted his teeth, mustering every ounce of strength to lunge at her.

But he knew it was futile. His current strength paled in comparison to Yan Qi’s.

 

His previous body, that of Patriarch Bodhi, had already been destroyed by Yan Qi, leaving him gravely injured. If Bai Junhao’s body were to be destroyed now, he would likely fall into deep unconsciousness, just as he had thousands of years ago after being severely wounded by Zhao Linglong, requiring millennia of recuperation.

 

Yet, there was no other way.

 

Feeling the increasingly overwhelming spiritual energy within Yan Qi, a trace of malice crossed Bai Junhao’s eyes. He decided to relinquish control of Bai Junhao’s body and retreat to his own.

 

But when he glanced down, his vision nearly split with rage!

 

Mu Ling was silently approaching his dormant body, a sword in hand!

 

Bai Mufeng immediately stirred the remnants of his soul within his body, forcing himself awake.

 

Mu Ling hadn’t anticipated reaching Bai Mufeng’s body so effortlessly.

 

Yet, just five or six steps away, she encountered her first obstacle. Bai Fengqing stood in her path, his brow furrowed as he stared at the sword in her hands. “Miss, my uncle didn’t mean to harm you earlier.”

 

Anxious and fearing she might alert the enemy, Mu Ling suppressed her voice and met Bai Fengqing’s gaze, mouthing the words slowly and deliberately: “I am Mu Ling!”

 

The moment Bai Fengqing understood her words, his icy expression froze. Something unreadable seeped into his clear eyes, as if he wanted to speak but Mu Ling had no time to listen.

 

She swiftly sidestepped the stunned Bai Fengqing and lunged at Yan Lufeng with her sword raised!

 

At that very moment, Yan Lufeng who had been lying motionless with closed eyes suddenly snapped them open!

 

Mu Ling locked eyes with Yan Lufeng’s vicious, malevolent glare.

 

The soul within Yan Lufeng had just been roused and was unaware of the situation. For a split second, he was stunned to see Mu Ling so close. And that moment of hesitation was all the opportunity Mu Ling needed.

 

Mu Ling had no idea where her inspiration came from. The moment her gaze met Yan Lufeng’s, she suddenly shouted toward his back, “Zhao Linglong!”

 

Almost instinctively, Yan Lufeng turned his head.

 

And in that same instant, a sword infused with spiritual energy pierced through his chest.

 

…

 

With his true form destroyed, the ‘Bai Junhao’ in the sky immediately felt it and spat out a mouthful of blood. At the same time, Yan Qi’s sword also plunged into his chest, nearly striking his spiritual core.

 

Seeing that the tide had turned against him and Yan Qi was about to launch another attack, the spiritual energy ‘Bai Junhao’ had absorbed was nearly depleted, and most of it had already been drained by Yan Qi on the opposite side…

 

“Do you think you’ve won?”

 

Knowing he couldn’t escape Yan Qi’s strike, ‘Bai Junhao’ suddenly revealed a sinister smile and violently charged downward, crashing to his death at the center of the formation’s eye!

 

No one had anticipated such a turn of events!

 

The formation’s master had died by crashing into its core. With Bai Junhao’s flesh, blood, and soul as a sacrifice, the entire formation erupted into chaos. Yan Qi, who was in the midst of absorbing spiritual energy, was the first to suffer the backlash.

 

Blood immediately trickled from the corner of Yan Qi’s lips!

 

Yan Qi’s gaze fell upon Mu Ling, then swept past her to the assembled immortals and demons behind her. Their eyes held fear, wariness, hatred, and even blatant greed.

 

Yan Qi understood that the moment she showed weakness, the cultivators below would swarm her like greedy hyenas, and her fate in their hands would be dire.

 

But now, it wasn’t just her. There was also Mu Ling.

 

The only course of action now.

 

Yan Qi felt the spiritual energy still pouring into her body due to the formation’s effect. Compared to the energy she was rapidly losing, it was like a drop in the bucket. Dark red blood slowly seeped from her seven orifices, and every part of her body ached from the backlash. Her vision blurred, but she clenched her teeth and fixed her gaze on the cultivators battling at the formation’s edge.

 

“Enter the formation!”

 

The people nearby didn’t know what had come over them.

 

Though they had no intention of moving, a cold, commanding female voice suddenly echoed in their minds, ordering them to step into the formation.

 

They couldn’t resist the voice.

 

But by the time they entered the formation and regained their senses, it was already too late. A wave of weakness surged through them, and their spiritual energy uncontrollably poured out of their bodies.

 

It was a bizarre sight.

 

Immortals and demons who had been locked in combat just moments ago now moved in a dazed, eerie procession, forgetting their allegiances as if deaf to the screams within the formation, one by one stepping inside.

 

Once inside, regret was no longer an option.

 

Yan Qi felt her body transform into a massive funnel. Spiritual energy continuously leaked out, yet new energy endlessly poured in!

 

Yan Qi controlled these people to offer themselves as sacrifices. Unlike Song Tianxing, who had acted without restraint, she set a threshold. Once the spiritual energy exceeded the body’s capacity to endure, the sacrifices would automatically stop supplying energy. For Yan Qi, this was a thankless task, forcing her to constantly slow the absorption rate.

 

But Yan Qi remembered her promise to Mu Ling: she didn’t want to create new bloodshed.

 

Endless agony washed over her. Clinging desperately to consciousness, only one thought remained in Yan Qi’s mind: Survive!

 

Only by living could she see the peaceful, prosperous future Mu Ling had painted for her.

 

She had never told Mu Ling how deeply she yearned for that future Mu Ling had described.

 

Yan Qi didn’t know how much time had passed before, at last, a trickle of spiritual power returned to her body. The vortex of energy that had threatened to grind her bones to dust finally began to subside.

 

Yan Qi opened her eyes and immediately looked toward where Mu Ling had been. Meeting Mu Ling’s smiling gaze, Yan Qi tried to return the smile, only to widen her eyes in shock!

 

Behind Mu Ling stood a woman.

 

Her face was rigid, her skin a sickly gray-black, like a desiccated corpse. Her pupils held no trace of life.

 

A talisman was pasted on the woman’s forehead.

 

It was a face both Yan Qi and Mu Ling had seen before: Zhou Juan, the woman who had lived next to Bai Mufeng in Lufeng Town.

 

It was after witnessing the undercurrents between Zhou Juan and her widowed sister-in-law that Yan Qi then known as Lin Qingge had slowly realized her unusual feelings for Mu Ling.

 

Yet now, Zhou Juan held a knife in her hand.

 

Bai Mufeng had helped her mend her relationship with her sister-in-law, and in return, Zhou Juan had offered her soul and body as a vessel for Bai Mufeng’s last remnant of spirit.

 

A sinister glint flickered in Zhou Juan’s lifeless eyes as she raised the knife and plunged it into Mu Ling’s unsuspecting back.

 

……

 

Seasons passed. In a small Jiangnan town famed for its pastries, an unoccupied courtyard was rented by two women.

 

The shorter of the two introduced herself as the elder sister, Mu Ling. Though her features were plain, she had strikingly beautiful, smiling eyes. The other woman seemed to have some facial disfigurement even when venturing outside, she wore a veiled hat, and no one had ever seen her true appearance.

 

Since arriving in town, the pair had extravagantly purchased the largest courtyard and spent their days strolling through the streets, sampling all manner of sweets. Such lavishness naturally drew attention.

 

Wang Qiang was the son of the local village chief. Born late in his father’s life, he had been spoiled rotten, growing into a notorious bully who preyed on men and women alike.

 

Ugly and obese, Wang Qiang nonetheless looked down on the local girls, considering them coarse and unrefined. When he heard about the two wealthy outsiders, he seized the chance to catch a glimpse of Mu Ling in the street and immediately began scheming.

 

Knowing no respectable young woman would ever willingly take to him, he bought some dubious medicine from his unsavory friends and, with a few accomplices, sneaked into Mu Ling’s courtyard under cover of night, intending to abduct her and force her into submission.

 

But just as they scaled the wall and crept beneath Mu Ling’s window, expecting her to be asleep, voices drifted from inside the room.

 

“No, we can’t keep going. Your body has only just recovered, I—” The young woman’s voice sounded breathless.

 

“Shifu, I’m cold,” another voice rasped. Clearly female before murmuring something coaxing. Then Wang Qiang heard the young woman’s soft cries, a sound that seemed to teeter between pain and unbearable pleasure.

 

Wang Qiang, being no stranger to the world of pleasure, instantly recognized the sounds coming from within. He hadn’t expected the two women to share such a relationship. After a brief moment of surprise, a wicked grin spread across his face as he crept forward, intending to push open the window for a peek. But before he could act, a flash of white light struck. Pain seared through a certain part of his body, and then everything went black.

 

About two hours later, the young woman he had been eyeing finally stepped out of the room. Her once-delicate features had transformed into a strikingly beautiful face, and the woman beside her was even more stunning, capable of making fish sink and geese fall from the sky.

 

Mu Ling’s cheeks were flushed as she kicked Wang Qiang and shot Yan Qi a glare. “This is all your fault! I told you not to flaunt our wealth. Now we have to move again.”

 

“My bad,” Yan Qi conceded smoothly, coughing twice before continuing, “But I’ve already learned how to make those pastries. From now on, I can make whatever you want to eat.”

 

“Why are you coughing again?” Seeing Yan Qi like this, Mu Ling immediately dropped the previous topic, her expression shifting to concern as she studied Yan Qi’s pale face. “Is your old injury acting up?”

 

When Mu Ling had awakened, she was already outside the Demon Palace. Yan Qi had told her that she had exhausted her cultivation to bring Mu Ling back.

 

Since then, the two had been traveling together.

 

Mu Ling didn’t know how Yan Qi had managed to save her. Every time she asked, Yan Qi would deftly change the subject. But Mu Ling had noticed that Yan Qi seemed injured; her complexion had grown increasingly pale lately.

 

“It’s nothing,” Yan Qi murmured softly.

 

Mu Ling frowned. Yan Qi always said it was nothing, but she looked far too unwell these days.

 

“Don’t hide things from me. Whatever it is, we’ll face it together…” Even though Yan Qi sometimes seemed energetic and far from ill, Mu Ling couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

 

Yan Qi smiled but said nothing.

 

The two of them dumped Wang Qiang outside the village chief’s window before leaving the town on their swords. By then, Wang Qiang had been left mentally impaired and physically crippled in a certain way. Unable to harm anyone ever again. It was a fitting punishment for the chief, who had turned a blind eye to his son’s misdeeds.

 

Their next destination was the snowy mountain Mu Ling had planned to visit.

 

Rumors said the snow lotuses there were breathtakingly beautiful, and Mu Ling wanted to see them with Yan Qi.

 

Worried that Yan Qi might exhaust her spiritual energy, Mu Ling insisted on flying the sword herself the entire way, carrying Yan Qi. By the time they reached the mountain, she was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open.

 

Still, they managed to find the snow lotuses. Unfortunately, when they arrived, the flowers were still in bud, not yet in bloom.

 

“I’ll sleep for a bit,” Yan Qi said, torn between amusement and exasperation at Mu Ling’s drowsy state. She nipped Mu Ling’s cheek playfully, only for Mu Ling to grab her hand. “Wake me when the snow lotuses bloom.”

 

Yan Qi sighed and pulled Mu Ling into her arms, sitting down in the snow.

 

She discreetly waved a hand, and the tightly closed buds burst into full bloom, a breathtaking sight.

 

Another subtle gesture, and time seemed to freeze. The flowers remained suspended at their most radiant moment.

 

Had Mu Ling been awake, her eyes would have widened in shock. Controlling time and space wasn’t a skill any cultivator possessed, no matter how powerful their techniques.

 

Yan Qi lowered her head, pressing a gentle kiss to Mu Ling’s forehead. She had been keeping something from her. The moment Mu Ling had been struck by the blade, Yan Qi had been sucked into a spatial rift and emerged as the world’s last surviving deity. That was how she had been able to reverse time and bring Mu Ling back.

 

Yan Qi’s pale complexion during this period was due to her sending two divine artifacts. A black cocoon and a seed, obtained during her ascension to godhood back into the past and placing them within Mu Ling’s spiritual repository.

 

She even traversed time to the modern era, accompanying the young Mu Ling as she grew up. At the right moment, she made sure Mu Ling came across the novel The Domineering Immortal Lord Loves Fiercely.

 

…

 

Any slight change could alter the outcome. Yan Qi had never intended to change her own fate. She merely let everything return to the trajectory Mu Ling remembered.

 

Only this way could the ‘present’ remain unchanged, and only then could she secure a future with Mu Ling.

 

This was her, the obsession of a ‘god.’

 

As for when to reveal the truth to Mu Ling.

 

With a childish curl of her lips, Yan Qi gently woke the sleeping Mu Ling and quietly snapped her fingers. Snow ephemeral flowers bloomed in their most breathtaking form under Mu Ling’s astonished gaze.

 

Yan Qi plucked one, nipping at Mu Ling’s flushed earlobe as she tucked the flower into her hair.

 

She loved it when Mu Ling smiled at her, adored those beautiful eyes fixed on her every moment. And if she played the victim just a little, the usually shy Mu Ling would become surprisingly bold in certain matters.

 

Even gods would resort to petty schemes to capture their beloved’s attention.

 

As the one and only god in existence, Yan Qi felt entirely justified.

 

— (End of Main Story)