The Villain Recognizes the Female Lead as His Master [Transmigration] - Chapter 21.1

“Master!” Su Tingxi refused to give up and took another step forward. At this moment, Yuan Shao was channeling spiritual energy into Chi Jinnian and couldn’t be disturbed. Without a word, she raised her hand and sent a silvery-white energy sphere flying toward Su Tingxi.

Though the force wasn’t strong, it still pushed Su Tingxi’s body back several steps, leaving a faint mark on his snow-white robe a clear warning.

Su Tingxi looked up at Yuan Shao with stunned disbelief.

His once gentle and indulgent master had actually used spiritual energy against him for the sake of someone else!

His gaze then slid downward, trying to get a look at the person in Yuan Shao’s arms.

“Chi Jinnian!” The shock only intensified when he recognized her. Wasn’t this the same girl who had pestered him relentlessly after he knocked over an anthill, even gleefully picking up the things he discarded?

What was she doing here? Why was she with his master? She must have latched onto Yuan Shao after he ignored her! And now she had made his master forget all about him!

“You know my disciple?” Yuan Shao frowned when the man called out A’Nian’s name. Could he really have some connection to her?

But why was he here?

Before Yuan Shao could react, Su Tingxi lunged forward, trying to tear Chi Jinnian from her arms.

Yuan Shao would never allow that. No matter who this man was or what their relationship might be, she wouldn’t let him lay a finger on her disciple.

“What are you doing?!” Another burst of spiritual energy struck his shoulder, this time leaving a deeper, unmistakable burn mark a far more severe warning than before.

If the first strike had been a mere caution, this one was undeniably an act of anger.

Still, Yuan Shao kept a firm hold on the girl in her arms, erecting a barrier between them to prevent Su Tingxi from getting any closer.

“Master, you attacked me!” Su Tingxi stared at her in disbelief. “For an outsider? You attacked me?”

Yuan Shao carefully cradled Chi Jinnian, ensuring her movements wouldn’t jostle the girl. “An outsider? She is my disciple!”

“Then what am I?!” Su Tingxi shouted. “Master, what am I to you? What do all those years of your teachings and care mean?!”

As Su Tingxi grew increasingly agitated, Chi Jinnian inwardly screamed: Male lead! Even if this is a female-dominated novel, you still need to step up and act like the rightful male lead! Are you seriously just going to stand there? Are you that useless?!

If you don’t hurry up, I won’t be able to hold back anymore!

Yuan Shao had been continuously channeling spiritual energy into Chi Jinnian. At first, it had felt like a warm current flowing through her body, but as time passed, the heat intensified, burning through her like wildfire, scorching her from the inside out.

To make matters worse, Yuan Shao was more powerful than an overcharged battery, her spiritual energy seemed endless, growing stronger by the second. Soon, a thin layer of sweat formed on Chi Jinnian’s forehead, her cheeks flushed crimson. She felt like a roasted rabbit in an electric oven, evenly heated from all sides and unable to make a sound.

As if hearing the thoughts in Chi Jinnian’s heart, Su Tingxi saw that Yuan Shao’s spiritual power was waning. He wanted to say something but softened his tone instead: “Master, let me take you away from here. Let’s go back, alright?”

Hearing this, Chi Jinnian felt like a parched traveler in the desert who had suddenly spotted an oasis. Just as she thought her carefree life as the young mistress of the demon realm was about to begin, Yuan Shao dashed her hopes.

“Wherever she goes, I go!” Yuan Shao declared, standing up and attempting to lift Chi Jinnian to leave the place. “A’Nian, don’t be afraid. Master will take you away. I won’t leave you here alone.”

Chi Jinnian:

Not an oasis, just a mirage,

The fire in Chi Jinnian’s chest surged uncontrollably. She couldn’t take it anymore, silently cursing the male lead for being useless. In the end, she had to rely on herself.

Seizing the moment, Chi Jinnian took advantage of Su Tingxi’s pulling motion to feign a reaction.

“Cough, cough, cough…” A weak coughing sound came first, followed by slight movements from Chi Jinnian.

Seeing her little disciple respond, Yuan Shao immediately stopped and cradled her in her arms, calling softly, “A’Nian? Are you awake? A’Nian?”

Yuan Shao watched as the long lashes trembled slightly, revealing round almond eyes that slowly fluttered open.

“Master?” Chi Jinnian’s voice was faint, barely a whisper.

“Master is here,” Yuan Shao replied.

“Master, cough… are you alright? Did that thing hurt you?” Chi Jinnian lifted a trembling hand toward Yuan Shao’s cheek, but her arm felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. No matter how hard she “struggled,” she couldn’t quite reach Yuan Shao’s face.

Seeing this, Yuan Shao took Chi Jinnian’s hand and held it gently, soothing her: “Master is fine. But you, why were you so reckless! If something had happened to you just now, how could Master ever forgive herself?”

At that moment, Chi Jinnian’s palm was warm, while Yuan Shao’s skin was cool to the touch, like the finest silk just brought out from an ice cellar, smooth and chilling.

Chi Jinnian couldn’t resist stroking it a couple more times.

She knew perfectly well that before the giant serpent struck, she had already pushed Yuan Shao aside. There was no way Yuan Shao could have been hurt. As for herself, Su Tingxi had descended from the sky and dealt with the serpent before it could even graze her at most, she’d been jostled by the shockwave and bitten her tongue.

“Master, don’t be sad. I, I’m… cough, cough… fine… cough, cough…” Chi Jinnian coughed her way through the lines. “I’m alright, don’t, cough, cough… don’t worry…”

The earlier surge of adrenaline had agitated the wound on her tongue, and as she spoke, fresh blood seeped out.

Despite her words, Chi Jinnian’s coughing only worsened, and Yuan Shao’s frown deepened. She watched as her little disciple’s face twisted in pain, spitting out another mouthful of blood…

Chi Jinnian turned her face away, as if hiding her coughing fit from Yuan Shao. Her gaze naturally fell on the person beside them, and she “startled” with a gasp: “Senior Brother!”

The moment the words left her mouth, both Yuan Shao and Su Tingxi froze.

Su Tingxi looked utterly bewildered: “Senior Brother?”

Yuan Shao was completely stunned: “Senior Brother?”

Chi Jinnian barely managed to prop herself up, sitting beside Yuan Shao, her upper body weakly leaning against the other’s shoulder. Between coughs, she spoke in a frail voice, “Master, cough cough… I, look at me in this state.” She feebly displayed her limp arm again, adding, “I’m just a useless waste! After all your teachings, not only can I not protect you, but now… I can’t even lift my hand, cough cough”

Then, Chi Jinnian let out a sob, her voice instantly trembling with tears, “I, I don’t deserve to be your disciple!”

With that, she turned her face away, tears streaming down one after another.

Her little disciple was crying again. For some reason, Yuan Shao couldn’t bear to see Chi Jinnian shed tears. Every time she cried, Yuan Shao’s heart melted like ice under the sun, transforming from something hard and cold into a pool of spring water.

“Ah Nian, don’t say that!” Yuan Shao comforted her. “During the danger earlier, it was you who pushed me away with all your strength and got hurt. In the end, it was my fault for not protecting you well enough.”