Ran Away With a Baby After Screwing Up the System Task - Chapter 1

《The Wild Disciple of the Abstinent Master》

The second day of the second lunar month was the day the Qingheng Sect went down the mountain to recruit new disciples.

Cen Moyu had not been in this book world for long. He had just learned how to switch between his bird and human forms. He was not yet proficient at flying, so naturally, he did not dare approach a top-tier sect like this.

He hid far away, wearing clothes he had bartered from a neighboring shrike on a tree branch.

A month ago, he was a pure human.

Because his first boyfriend ran away with all his money and his father forced him into an arranged marriage, he chose to livestream his tragic situation on a pedestrian bridge. He hoped his aspiring star ex-boyfriend would see it and return the money.

The livestream did not result in getting his money back. Instead, he fell off the bridge and transmigrated into a Fairy Pitta that had been struck dead by heavenly lightning during the process of taking human form.

Without the system’s recap, Cen Moyu would not have known he had transmigrated into a cultivation novel he once read titled The Wild Disciple of the Abstinent Master.

Cen Moyu’s mother was a dancer in a foreign theater troupe. She met his father during a tour. They fell in love, married, and had him. However, their deep feelings could not overcome the language barrier, and they eventually divorced.

Cen Moyu followed his mother back to her hometown, a place with long winters and polar nights. After his mother passed away a few years later, he lived with his grandparents.

He had planned never to return to China or meet his father again. If it were not for his first boyfriend needing funds for a talent show packaging, Cen Moyu would not have handed over the inheritance his elders left him.

At that time, Fu Zeyu had just signed up for the show. Cen Moyu, who accompanied him, took a leave of absence from school to write songs in their apartment every day. During his breaks, he would open an app to listen to novels.

Cen Moyu’s mixed-race appearance was not very obvious, though his lake-green eyes matched the characteristics of the local people in the North. Despite growing up in a snowy country, he remained very interested in Chinese. Later, after meeting his ex-boyfriend, his spoken language became increasingly fluent, leaving him with no obstacles in conversation upon returning to China.

Perhaps because of this, he lacked any language shame regarding web novels. This book, with a title that made countless people cringe, was his go-to choice for listening to while eating.

Transmigrating into a book he had read one hundred percent would have been fine, but even though the title was wild, Cen Moyu’s actual progress was less than twenty percent. He relied entirely on the system’s reminders to clarify who the Protagonist Attacker and the Protagonist Receiver were.

[Your current mission is to go to the Qingheng Sect to register. Do you understand?]

Cen Moyu procrastinated, hiding on a hillside and watching the bustling crowd in the distance with a bit of trepidation.

“What if my identity is exposed?” he asked.

Cen Moyu was quite timid. Although he liked excitement, he did not like having too much contact with people. After transmigrating, he could not even figure out how to be a bird properly. Unlike typical bird demons who preferred sleeping in trees, he went through the trouble of building a thatched hut on a mountain peak far from the Qingheng Sect.

If the system had not pressured him, he might have lived such a primitive life forever.

Most demons capable of transforming into humans possessed some level of cultivation. Eating fruit was enough to sustain them. When Cen Moyu first arrived, his bird body had been charred by lightning and his tail feathers were half-bald. After turning into a human, his backside always felt like it was burning and his gait was unsteady.

There were many birds and beasts in the valley, many of whom could speak. They mocked the Fairy Pitta, an immortal among birds, for turning into a bald-feathered bird.

If the system had not released a fire, those demons might have kept up their chatter for ten days to a month. At that time, Cen Moyu had not realized he had a system. He mistook the falling fire for a shooting star and wished to return to his original world as soon as possible.

Even without family or a lover, and with the prospect of an arranged marriage, at least he would have a phone and the internet. He was addicted to novels; transmigrating was comparable to entering a rehab center.

[I said you will not be exposed, so you will not!]

[You are the host I selected. Can you show some spine?]

The system’s voice sounded like a distorted male voice from a web call. It was hazy and the system possessed a poor attitude. Cen Moyu was a bit afraid of it.

“Really? If I am killed on the spot by those immortals, will you die too?”

[I will not die, and neither will you.]

[Your primary task is to enter the Qingheng Sect. Otherwise, how will you complete the missions, get the god-level artifacts, and return to your hometown?]

The triple-question left Cen Moyu speechless. He took a deep breath and resigned himself to fate. “I understand,” he replied.

The clothes given by his shrike neighbor seemed luxurious to the mixed-race young man, but Cen Moyu was not very good at wearing them. His belt was tied loosely and his long hair was tied back in the style of a passing woodsman.

He asked the system nervously, “Will I be selected like this? I heard that Qingheng Sect’s recruitment is more focused on looks than other sects. They do not want anyone too ugly.”

[Do you not know what you look like?]

Having transmigrated as a bird demon, Cen Moyu underwent two weeks of special training. Under the system’s strict guidance, he learned basic spells, such as the Cleansing Charm. He could not remember the others. He roughly summarized them as being good for climbing trees, capable of diving, and suitable for peeping.

Not only that, but he also had many questions. While learning to manifest objects, he asked the system, “System, this bronze mirror is not stolen from someone else, is it? That would be bad.”

[You have too many questions.]

“Sorry.”

[This is not teleporting an object. It is created by your magic.]

“Oh. Then why can I not manifest money?”

[I answered you the last time you bought buns.]

“Sorry.”

[Stop apologizing and go register!]

Cen Moyu braved the crowd, staring at the banners of the various branches of the Qingheng Sect for a long time. He resolutely chose the one that did not require a martial trial.

Qingheng Sect’s recruitment already filtered by appearance. Those who chose to come here were usually confident in their looks. The bird Cen Moyu had become was already an immortal among birds, and his face after transformation was even more striking than his original one.

Unfortunately, the lake-green eyes brought by the transmigration had to be hidden. Becoming a version of Cen Moyu with ordinary black hair and black eyes, he bypassed the most crowded banners, thinking he was being very low-profile. Little did he know that many people were looking at him with envious gazes.

With this level of looks, one could get in even without talent.

Cen Moyu looked around and found the banner that required no interview. He asked politely, “May I?”

Right next to him was the most popular stall where various grand masters were recruiting disciples. Many had come specifically for them. Seeing the best-looking person choose the most obscure branch, someone kindly reminded Cen Moyu, “Little brother, look closely. They are recruiting cleaning disciples, not cultivation disciples.”

Cen Moyu was very confident in his lack of talent and said firmly, “I am not here to cultivate.”

The person in charge of registration was an old man with a goatee. He stared at Cen Moyu’s face for a long time. The new bird demon felt extremely guilty, frantically calling the system in his heart: What do I do? What do I do? I have been found out! I am going to die!

System: [You will not die.]

The system never joked about this.

“Have you made up your mind? Not taking the entrance test means you lack courage. You will only be an ordinary disciple and will not have the chance to practice in the Inner Sect.”

Cen Moyu naturally disliked conflict and did not like to stand out. The greatest retribution for someone who did not like to stand out was being pushed to a dead end, like his death being a headline news story. He had become a classic negative example of sending the one you love to the top instead of going yourself.

“I have made up my mind.”

The youth in coarse cloth was exceptionally handsome, his eyes reflecting the spring light. When he smiled, it was even more extraordinary. He was beautiful and endearing.

People around could not help but think: Being a cleaning disciple is a waste of such a good appearance. Being so beautiful, would it not be better to be a Daoist companion?

“Then sign it. I was just worrying that I was short one person.” The immortal with the goatee stroked his beard and smiled at Cen Moyu.

Not far away, a man in green robes carrying a sword walked over and spoke to him. “Elder Jueya, Elder Lan said he could not contact you. Why are you…”

The other person hesitated, and Elder Jueya chuckled. “It is because Old Wang, who manages internal affairs, went down the mountain for a wedding. We are usually on good terms, so it is just a small favor.”

He did not forget to show off the contract Cen Moyu had just signed. “Look, I have signed the last person. I can get off work early now!”

System: [The Protagonist Attacker, Lu Jijun, has appeared.]

Cen Moyu wailed in his heart: He is even better looking than I imagined!

His first boyfriend acknowledged Cen Moyu’s composing ability but still despised his obsession with these fictional romances. He preferred Cen Moyu to write more songs for him rather than focusing on the fate of the world or heart-wrenching love.

Many times, Cen Moyu felt the other party did not love him that much. But they grew up together, relying on each other in a freezing country. How could there be nothing at all?

Cen Moyu did not dare tell him that he hoped for that kind of love. It did not need to last several lifetimes or endure lightning strikes. It just needed to be that wherever he went, the other person would be there. That was enough.

The Wild Disciple of the Abstinent Master was added to his bookshelf during his illness. The recommendation blurb described it as shaking heaven and earth. At that time, Cen Moyu’s vision was blurred by sickness, so he switched from reading to listening.

The content was explosive. It was seemingly a romance supplement to a certain male-oriented novel. Cen Moyu had only listened to the intro and the first five chapters, and read a few pages of selected spoiler comments, before being dragged away by his father to prepare for the arranged marriage.

However, the sequel was certainly easy to guess. The Protagonist Attacker and Receiver would eventually end up together, with countless non-green and unhealthy contents omitted in between.

The live version of the Protagonist Attacker in the novel was even more handsome than imagined! Then how handsome must the Protagonist Receiver be? Two such good people must be together!

The system reminded the sentimental host: [What are you crying for? Your mission is not to woo this man.]

Cen Moyu held back his tears and told the system: I am just moved by the love between him and his Master. It is so touching, following each other in life and death, and staying together forever. I will definitely work hard for their happiness.

So you are a Matchmaker System.

System: [I am not. Stop crying, everyone is looking at you.]

Only then did Cen Moyu look up. Elder Jueya was looking at him with concern. “You child, you are not regretting it already, are you?”

The immortal in charge of the entrance test laughed. “Elder, then I am afraid you will not be getting off work so soon.”

Elder Jueya was a famous drunkard in the sect. He had also watched the Sect Leader, Wenren Qi, grow up, and he held great prestige within the sect.

“I still have to go down the mountain for a drink.” Elder Jueya scanned the area and stared at the green-robed swordsman holding a sword. “You, it must be you. You look so fierce you scared the child!”

Lu Jijun looked innocent. “How could it be me!”

The man was tall and handsome, causing quite a stir when he first appeared. Cen Moyu looked more and more satisfied, curiously asking: Do you have a Favorability reminder?

[No.]

Cen Moyu was disappointed: Why?

[Because he has no favorability toward you, obviously.]

Cen Moyu did not believe it. No matter how timid he was, people still did him favors because of his face. The bird he became also had the title of immortal among birds. Even when meeting unfamiliar birds, they liked Cen Moyu’s feathers and would bring him juicy fruits.

When he was a human, Cen Moyu was afraid of such unexplained kindness, but as a bird, he did not seem to worry. The little creatures that had not transformed were very simple, chirping and surrounding him. For many moments, Cen Moyu thought: Why not just live here?

But he was not reconciled. He wanted an apology, material compensation, and perhaps another possible life for himself.

“If not you, then who? You always copy your Master’s dead-man face all day long. Pretentious.” Elder Jueya was a rare senior in the sect who could gossip about the Sect Leader in any setting. He earnestly advised, “Xiao Jun, if you keep this up, you will never find a Daoist companion.”

“I am not looking for a Daoist companion,” Lu Jijun said coldly.

Cen Moyu stared at him silently, not forgetting to chat with the system: He will not fail to find one. I will help him.

[Then you had better see Wenren Qi as soon as possible.]

“Enough said, I have to go down the mountain for a drink.” Elder Jueya did not even pack up the stall. He stuffed several thin sheets of paper into Lu Jijun’s arms. “I have already sent the previous ones in. This one…”

The old man scratched his beard. “Please take this new disciple into the mountain gate.”

With that, the Elder vanished on the spot.

“Is the wine down the mountain really that good?” Taking charge of internal affairs for the first time, Lu Jijun put his long sword on his back and hooked his finger toward the side. Cen Moyu thought the man was calling him and walked over.

In the next instant, the banner, brushes, ink, and paper on the stall swirled like a wind and turned into a pebble. Lu Jijun tucked the stone away and said to the surprised Cen Moyu, “Follow me.”

“Senior Brother Xiao Jun, may I call you that?” Cen Moyu followed Lu Jijun through the mountain gate. The Qingheng Sect was vast, with mountain after mountain shrouded in mist. The mountain gate was merely a barrier. Beyond it were floating stairs like a game world.

“You may.”

Cen Moyu’s appearance was very striking. Before talking to Elder Jueya, Lu Jijun had heard many people mentioning him, saying that no matter how useless this face was, he might still be specially admitted. Such precedents had existed before.

Even if Qingheng Sect was the number one sect, it still had exchange activities with other sects. Face was also a matter of prestige. Ancestral ways could not be changed, and this had been passed down for ten thousand years. Even for the Sect Leader, the appearance had to be one in ten thousand, fitting everyone’s fantasy of an ideal Great Master of the World.

Lu Jijun did not smile much. With a stiff, cold face, he looked quite aloof. Having a preconceived notion, Cen Moyu naturally felt he was a good person and felt quite close to him. He tried to start a conversation but stuttered, and because he did not know how to ride the clouds, he almost fell.

Lu Jijun delivered him to the Internal Affairs Office. Seeing that Cen Moyu was beautiful but honest, he worried that if he went to clean for some ill-tempered Elders, he might be scolded severely. Thus, he discussed it with Elder Lan Que, who was in charge of internal affairs.

The Elder was always a gossip and asked, “You brought him in?”

Lu Jijun already had someone in his heart and coughed. “How is that possible? I…”

“I get it. You like demonesses. This one is good-looking, but a bit silly.”

Lu Jijun coughed thunderously. The Elder laughed heartily, watching the cold Senior Brother of the sect leave, then turned his smiling eyes toward the new disciple who was standing to the side looking at a birdcage.

“Cen Moyu. From Qingchuan Liyuan. That is not very far.”

Cen Moyu was a bit afraid of this kind of background check. “It is… it is alright.”

His voice was clear, timid yet pleasant to the ear, very likable. The senior flipped through the current vacancies, looking for a position that needed a good face to bring honor to the sect.

“Do you want to be a Gate-Closing Disciple?”

Cen Moyu did not understand the nuance and asked, “Closing the main gate?”

The Elder burst into laughter. “Smart! Will you do it? It just so happens the previous disciple went home to get married and have kids. If you take over, you will shift with Old Wang. The salary is three thousand, the sect’s five insurances are fully paid, and there are two golds as well.”

Cen Moyu had never had a job and looked blank. “What are those?”

The Elder smiled kindly. “One gold is a gift when a disciple of this sect ties the knot. The remaining gold is a housing fund. If you want to purchase property within the territory of the Qingheng Sect, it can be deducted. You have a good appearance. Many disciples come through our mountain gate, and when there are exchanges with other sects, there are plenty of opportunities.”

The system was cursing: [A pimp! Shameless! Salary only three thousand! No days off! Gift money is hardly a benefit!]

Cen Moyu did not understand why the system was so unhappy when he was the one working. He was very satisfied with this development. A Gate-Closing Disciple was great. Compared to jobs that required fighting and killing, this suited him better. Not only could he track the movements of the disciples, but he could also look forward to matchmaking the Protagonist Attacker and Receiver!

“Little brother?” Elder Lan Que’s hand waved in front of Cen Moyu.

“I will do it! I will do it!” Cen Moyu smiled very happily. After finishing all the procedures and getting his disciple uniform, he asked, “Elder, does the Sect Leader pass through the mountain gate?”

Lan Que showed a complex expression. Treating Cen Moyu like those young people who came because of the Sect Leader’s reputation, he spoke with pity: “The Sect Leader… let alone the mountain gate, he does not even step out of the palace gates.”

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