The Cool and Aloof Immortal Master Has Fallen to the Demonic Path (Transmigration) - Chapter 23.2

Chapter 23.2

It just so happened that he had stumbled upon the truth; Shen Yin indeed did not have a name. The old beggars only ever called her ‘Little Beggar.’

Jing Shu looked at Mo Tianji with great tenderness: “Then why doesn’t Senior Brother give her a name?”

Mo Tianji wasn’t in the mood to give her a name and didn’t think too hard, blurting out: “Just… just call her Shen Yin.”

“Why the surname Shen?”

“Can’t you tell? The Sect Leader just took in a disciple named Shen Yuehua, and Senior Brother Mo wants to name his disciple Shen Yin. He’s competing with the Sect Leader.”

“Well, well, Senior Brother Mo is so petty. You are not allowed to come to my Northwest for meals anymore.”

“Junior Sister Han, you’re the petty one. Senior Brother just ate two of your geese last time, and now you’re finding ways to stop him from visiting.”

“…”

They bickered back and forth, creating a lively scene. It was clear that the relationship between all the disciples in their sect was very good.

The truth was, even though Mo Tianji wasn’t kind to her, he maintained the image of a gentle and good Senior Brother in front of his junior brothers and sisters.

At that time, no one imagined that Mo Tianji would later betray the sect and steal the Sect Leader’s Seal, the Heaven-Reaching Seal, one of the three semi-divine artifacts.

Shen Yin was thus brought back to Xian Ling by Mo Tianji.

Xian Ling was a blessed land of immortals, but she began to live a life even harder than before.

She increasingly felt that the old beggars were wrong. They used to say that the greatest suffering in life was only hunger. In Xian Ling, she ate her fill every day, yet she felt that Xian Ling was not as joyful as her former life.

Shen Yin was not allowed to leave her residence. She had a solitary house, separate from Mo Tianji and Bai Ruxue. Outside the house were arrays set up by Mo Tianji, and inside, it was very, very dark. Mo Tianji did not allow her to go out or to learn immortal cultivation techniques. Every day, he fed her many elixirs and rare spiritual flowers and herbs, and immersed her in medicinal baths brewed with spirit herbs. She could feel a constant flow of spiritual energy drilling into her body, and then disappearing.

At that time, Shen Yin still did not know what a Saintly Vessel was, nor did she know why Mo Tianji wanted to drink her blood and eat her flesh.

Before arriving at Xian Ling, Jing Shu often said that her Senior Sister Bai Ruxue was extremely easy to get along with and would definitely be very kind to her. Yet, she had never met Senior Sister. She didn’t even see Mo Tianji often; he only appeared when he drank her blood.

She didn’t even know how many days and nights had passed. She had no friends and saw no light. When she closed her eyes, it was night; when she opened her eyes, it was still pitch black. There was no distinction between day and night, only the heavy scent of medicine accompanying her.

Shen Yin didn’t even understand why she had to live, or how long she had to endure, yet she didn’t really want to die. The old beggars said that those who commit suicide would go to the eighteen levels of hell, and she didn’t want to go to hell. She still somewhat missed the old beggars. Although they were sometimes mean and would snatch her food, sometimes they were kind, sharing some delicious things with her, and using their body warmth to keep her thin body warm.

They always said that life would get better day by day, but her life had only become more bitter. That time of not having enough to eat or wear was actually the best time of her life.

When they were drifting and homeless, they would still laugh and talk, saying that they would take her to test for recruitment when Xian Ling enrolled disciples. They were too old and had no hope, so they placed their hope on Shen Yin, saying that if she passed the test, they would follow her for a good life later.

But they did not know that she had arrived at Xian Ling and had become the personal disciple of the Chief Elder, a person of prominent status, yet she was nothing more than fish and meat to be devoured by others.

No matter how good Xian Ling was, it was not a place she was blessed to enjoy.

Shen Yin’s inner demons accumulated during that period of dark and sunless life. Mo Tianji’s secret was discovered three years later. Mo Tianji was indeed very good to Bai Ruxue, personally teaching her every immortal technique. That day, when he was teaching Bai Ruxue a cultivation method, he ushered in a bottleneck breakthrough. He was eager to break through and told Bai Ruxue to cultivate on her own first. Who would have thought that Bai Ruxue would secretly follow him to her location?

Bai Ruxue had great talent, and her stealth technique was remarkable. Coupled with Mo Tianji’s urgency to break through, he didn’t notice Bai Ruxue following him.

It was then that Bai Ruxue saw Mo Tianji drinking her blood and eating her flesh.

By the time Mo Tianji left, she was already terrified. Bai Ruxue hadn’t expected the usually kind and gentle Immortal Master to be so malicious, eating human flesh and blood. Bai Ruxue was crying inconsolably when she discovered her.

She said she would save her, and she truly did.

Bai Ruxue immediately told Jing Shu. Jing Shu was different from Mo Tianji; she was a true immortal. She did not covet the flesh and blood of a Saintly Vessel, only hating the demonic actions of the man who had been her great Senior Brother.

She originally wanted to find the old beggars and never return to Xian Ling, but she couldn’t find them. Moreover, what Jing Shu said made sense: the Saintly Vessel was dangerous. Even if she escaped Mo Tianji, there would be others. Once discovered, she would still suffer. Being protected by Jing Shu in Xian Ling was actually the safest choice.

Shen Yin stayed at Xian Ling.

However, Mo Tianji was the Chief Elder of Xian Ling. Jing Shu, restricted by the sect’s reputation, and also wanting to give Mo Tianji a chance to reform, did not make the matter public. She rescued her and brought her close to comfort her. It was also at that time that she became acquainted with Shen Yuehua. Shen Yuehua was just a three-year-old child then, soft and only knew how to call her ‘Senior Sister, Senior Sister.’

But she was Mo Tianji’s disciple, and even if Jing Shu wanted to personally guide her, she couldn’t.

According to Xian Ling rules, once a master-disciple relationship was formally established, it couldn’t be changed. The disciples of the Sect Leader and the Chief Elder were both candidates for the Sect Leader position and were rivals, needing to be nurtured separately. Rules were rules, and even Jing Shu, as the Sect Leader, couldn’t change that.

She returned to Mo Tianji’s side, but this time, she officially began her cultivation journey.

Mo Tianji never consumed her flesh and blood again, but he still didn’t properly teach her cultivation. More often, Bai Ruxue learned the techniques and came to teach her, and Jing Shu would occasionally come to teach her as well. She was extraordinarily intelligent; even Jing Shu said her talent was one in ten thousand. But the faster she learned, the more Mo Tianji loathed her. He entirely regarded her as a thorn in his side, constantly abusing and cursing her.

Perhaps he wanted her dead so that no one would know about his past consumption of a disciple’s flesh and blood.

She also wondered why he hadn’t thought of killing Bai Ruxue and Jing Shu to silence them, but only thought of killing her. Later, when she was older and playing with Shen Yuehua, she overheard Mo Tianji and Jing Shu arguing and realized that Bai Ruxue was actually the daughter of Mo Tianji and Jing Shu. They had feelings for each other but were incompatible in personality, so they didn’t live together even after having a daughter. Few in the sect knew, and even Bai Ruxue was unaware.

Mo Tianji wanted his daughter to become the Sect Leader in the future, and Jing Shu initially agreed. However, Jing Shu was an extreme admirer of talent. As Bai Ruxue grew older, the shortcomings of her talent became more apparent. Although both Mo Tianji and Jing Shu were exceptionally gifted geniuses, Bai Ruxue was not. While her talent was superior, it wasn’t top-tier. For the sake of the sect, Jing Shu leaned more towards her and the gradually emerging exceptional talent of Shen Yuehua to compete for the Sect Leader position.

Mo Tianji naturally refused and became increasingly ruthless towards her.

He even devised a more sinister plan—bone replacement. He once wanted to kill her and replace Bai Ruxue’s bones with hers, but then he disliked the fact that she was a Saintly Vessel with too many drawbacks in her flesh and blood, so he began to target Shen Yuehua instead.

But Bai Ruxue took after Jing Shu. She was very gentle and good to both her and Shen Yuehua. She couldn’t bring herself to hate Bai Ruxue.

The only person she could resent seemed to be Mo Tianji, but Mo Tianji was her Master. To harbor hatred for one’s Master would be deemed an act of extreme evil by Xian Ling. She convinced herself to forget the harm Mo Tianji inflicted upon her, only remembering any good he might have done.

Yet, he was almost never kind to her.

Once, when Jing Shu and the leaders of other sects went to the Extreme Lands, Mo Tianji came up with a brilliant idea. He stole the Purple Jade Whip and used an array to trap Zi Ying for a month, forcing her to recognize her as its master. His intentions were far from good. Zi Ying already coveted the flesh and blood of a Saintly Vessel and was born from an evil spirit. Once it recognized her as its master, it would inevitably be unable to resist devouring its master. Even Jing Shu would not suspect him if the spirit devoured its master.

As soon as she died, he would replace Bai Ruxue’s bones with hers. Then, he would use the pretext of an evil spirit causing harm to completely eliminate Zi Ying.

Treasures in the world are divided into eight ranks: Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, Spirit, Immortal, Saint, and Divine. Divine artifacts were almost only legends, and semi-divine artifacts were already top-tier magic tools. He planned to first erase Zi Ying’s spiritual consciousness, then persuade Jing Shu to lend him the three semi-divine artifacts of Xian Ling, find a pure wisp of soul to inject into the Purple Jade Whip, and help it gather a new spiritual consciousness. Although not as powerful as the original, it would definitely surpass a Saint-ranked artifact.

He had calculated everything, but he miscalculated the extent of the evil spirit he had severely injured and underestimated the speed of her cultivation. He also failed to account for Shen Yuehua being on her side. Zi Ying hadn’t completely merged with the Purple Jade Whip at the time. Relying on the secret methods in the Scripture Repository and Shen Yuehua’s full assistance, she managed to contend with it for a hundred days.

Although she was the fish to be consumed, she had a reason to live.

Just as they were exhausted, Jing Shu finally rushed back to Xian Ling, bringing back two Golden Luan Fire Seeds, which were naturally effective against evil spirits.

Jing Shu gifted her one of the seeds for self-defense. Mo Tianji failed to harm her, and instead, she gained a semi-divine artifact for protection.

Life truly started to get better. Shen Yin slowly felt that Xian Ling was like a home, with the gentle Jing Shu, the little sister who clung to her, and the good-tempered elder sister. But it was too short. Everything was too brief. She had enjoyed such good days for less than five years when Mo Tianji betrayed the sect. He brought people from the Demon Sect to the Xian Ling territory to besiege the Ancient Spirit Clan and attack Xian Ling. The Ancient Spirit Clan was virtually annihilated, and Xian Ling suffered heavy casualties.

Jing Shu was physically and mentally damaged, going into seclusion and taking Shen Yuehua with her.

Bai Ruxue was severely injured and began a life of wandering.

And she was left alone. Because of Mo Tianji, many in the sect also came to resent her, his only remaining disciple. Even if they didn’t openly exclude her, they distanced themselves from her behind her back.

Shen Yin had no one to talk to in Xian Ling. She could only stay in the Scripture Repository, reading immortal techniques and diligently cultivating every day. Her cultivation grew stronger daily, but she also became lonelier. She could only talk to her sword.

When Jing Shu and the others came out of seclusion, Jing Shu had a new disciple named Feng Lingyuan. She was extremely beautiful, and although she rarely smiled, she was very approachable. Everyone liked her. Although Shen Yuehua still called her Senior Sister, the person who used to cling to her day and night now followed Feng Lingyuan everywhere. Jing Shu wasn’t cold to her, but she was more concerned about Bai Ruxue. She started delegating some matters to other elders and would occasionally leave Xian Ling to search for Bai Ruxue’s whereabouts, sometimes gone for several years.

They never neglected her, but it seemed she wasn’t that important anymore.

If the young Shen Yuehua could easily be seen clinging to her, the adult Shen Yuehua would only show a slight preference for Feng Lingyuan. She was still kind to her, but she was also gentle and polite to everyone else. Shen Yuehua was fundamentally a good person.

Jing Shu also cared for her, but she had too many people to care for: Bai Ruxue, Shen Yuehua, Feng Lingyuan. Where did she fit in?

It was her fault.

Her mindset was wrong; she was being corroded by her inner demons, gradually becoming extreme.

She began to go into seclusion to control her inner demons, but they only grew deeper. Until seven years ago, Bai Ruxue returned to Xian Ling pregnant. She stopped wandering and took charge of the Southeast region. Jing Shu also stopped leaving Xian Ling frequently. Under Bai Ruxue’s mediation, she and Feng Lingyuan became slightly more acquainted.

Bai Ruxue gave birth to a daughter named Yu Ningsheng, who was fair, adorable, and very endearing.

Everything started to get better again, but Mo Tianji returned!

He returned, leading a large group of Demon Sect disciples to besiege Xian Ling from the Southeast. Almost all the seniors of Xian Ling died, Bai Ruxue and her daughter disappeared, and even Jing Shu’s whereabouts were unknown.

According to Shen Yuehua, she must have died, because the spiritual consciousness of the Hundred Flowers Chain severed its connection with Jing Shu and fell into a deep sleep.

It was known that when a spiritual consciousness recognized a master, the connection would only be severed and fall asleep upon the master’s death.

Her life was once again ruined by Mo Tianji.

It was always like this. Just when she felt things were about to improve, he would destroy them. Mo Tianji was her inner demon.

She had to find Bai Ruxue, and she had to find Yu Ningsheng. They were Jing Shu’s family. She had to repay her kindness. She had to find them and protect them. This time, no one could take them away. They were the last family she had.

In a trance, she saw the baby girl in a bamboo basket. She was smiling sweetly, waving at her.

“Sheng Sheng.” Shen Yin rushed over, but the baby girl instantly vanished.

She saw him again, the ugly and terrifying man. He stole Yu Ningsheng. He took away all her warmth, unwilling to leave her even a shred of affection.

She drew her long sword and rushed forward: “Kill!”

“Kill!” She wildly stabbed at Mo Tianji, her eyes bloodshot and filled with murderous intent.

But where was Mo Tianji?

She was being controlled by her inner demons again.

No, she couldn’t let this happen.

She had to break free. The outside world was full of danger, and she still had to protect Yi Hu.

Yi Hu…

Who was Yi Hu?

Why did she have to protect her? Was her life important?

Shen Yin gripped her long sword tightly, her consciousness growing increasingly hazy. She felt as if she was back a thousand years ago, remembering the old beggars and the temple in the pouring rain.

Cold, so cold.

The tiles of the temple were collapsing. Blue bricks and red tiles were falling and smashing towards her. This place would soon become ruins. She heard the urgent voices of the old beggars: “Run, run away!”

But this time, she didn’t want to run.

She didn’t want to encounter Mo Tianji again, nor did she want to be trapped in a thousand years of loneliness. She had nothing. What was the point of living for so long? She didn’t aspire to attain immortality. A long life would only bring her more desolation.

Destroying herself in this way might be a form of release.

“Immortal Master!” Suddenly, a pair of arms encircled her waist, carrying her away at an extremely fast speed. The temple collapsed before her eyes, dust flew everywhere and then disappeared. She finally clearly saw the person in front of her.

A beautiful face, clear skin, and she looked somewhat familiar.

The person looked at her, eyes full of gentle concern, with glistening tears welling up: “Immortal Master, are you alright?”

Shen Yin must have known her.

Shen Yin slowly raised her arm and gently touched Yi Hu’s cheek. Her fingertip felt a rolling tear, which was so hot that Shen Yin instinctively recoiled: “Hu’er…”

Yi Hu saw everything. She saw Shen Yin’s thousand years of loneliness.

No wonder Mo Tianji could easily tempt her into demonization; he was fundamentally Shen Yin’s inner demon.

The book didn’t describe much of Shen Yin’s past. She never thought that the powerful Shen Yin could be so miserable.

She lived in such despair and sorrow every day, yet she still respected Jing Shu’s teachings, helping sentient beings and rescuing her.

Yi Hu was heartbroken. She held Shen Yin’s hand, no longer concealing her tears, pouring out her inner sorrow.

She cried for Shen Yin, and even more, she wanted to accompany her: “Immortal Master, I belong to you.”

Shen Yin slightly froze, staring at Yi Hu: “Even you have come to pity me.”

She had her pride and refused to accept charity-like promises.

Yi Hu respected her pride. She knelt before Shen Yin: “Since the Immortal Master takes saving all living beings as her duty, and Hu’er is weak and will surely die tragically without the Immortal Master, I beg the Immortal Master’s mercy to shelter me for life.”

A moment of hope flickered in Shen Yin’s eyes, then slowly dimmed. She sniffled, her eyes gradually turning red. She lowered her head slightly, reached out to touch Yi Hu’s face, and whispered, “Mo Tianji will steal you away.”

Her eyes held compassion, but even more, an unresolvable pain.

Yi Hu felt a pang of heartache, her gaze toward Shen Yin was fervent and resolute: “He won’t. If he binds me, I will kill myself. I only ask the Immortal Master to find me in that mountain cave again. I will definitely be there.”

Shen Yin trembled all over, and hot tears fell onto Yi Hu’s collar.