After Faking Her Death and Fleeing, the Emotionless Daoist Master Regretted It - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Misunderstanding – A Scheme Against Su Lingqing

Seeing her disciple vanish before her eyes, a momentary panic arose in Ling Yunyue’s heart.

She quickly probed with her divine sense and instantly noticed a clue: this was the Form Concealment Art, a spell unique to the sect and not taught to outsiders.

At the same time, Su Lingqing revoked the spell, her figure slowly manifesting. Looking at the woman in the plain white dress and unparalleled beauty not far away, a smile instantly bloomed on her face.

“Big Sister, the Form Concealment Art was successfully cast!”

Hearing the address “Big Sister,” Ling Yunyue immediately realized that Lingqing had mistaken her for the Ice Deficient.

Back at the Welcoming Immortal Tower inn, she had explicitly stated that in the future, if she saw the Sword Spirit, she should address her as “Aunt Ice.”

Given her disciple’s nature, it was unlikely she would proactively change the address, so it must have been the Ice Deficient’s request.

After a moment of silence, Ling Yunyue said calmly: “The Ice Deficient and I are considered peers, so Lingqing should still address her as Aunt Ice in the future, and stop calling her Big Sister.”

Hearing this, Su Lingqing instantly realized she had mistaken the person and immediately became much more constrained.

“Master, this disciple…”

“Is Lingqing unwilling?”

“No, no, that’s not it. This disciple listens to Master. I just… I just didn’t expect Master to come over at this time.”

“I have already warned the Ice Deficient. In the future, she will not appear before Lingqing using my appearance again.”

Su Lingqing misunderstood her Master’s meaning and quickly explained: “Aunt Ice is very good to this disciple. The Form Concealment Art I just practiced was taught by Aunt Ice. I beg Master not to blame Aunt Ice.”

Ling Yunyue pursed her lips, her voice a little cold: “She behaved intimately with you, and you still defend her?”

“Master, Aunt Ice only wanted this disciple to change the address at that time. She meant no harm.”

“The Ice Deficient is a Sword Spirit and cannot be with a human. If Lingqing has any interest in her, it would be best to cut it off early.”

“This disciple does not!” Su Lingqing suddenly raised her voice: “This disciple only wants to cultivate now, to improve my strength, with no thoughts of romance whatsoever.”

Ling Yunyue’s expression softened slightly: “That is for the best. The night is deep. Lingqing, rest assured and continue cultivating. Tomorrow at chen hour (7 AM – 9 AM), I will take Lingqing to the Treasure Depository to select a suitable Artifact.”

Su Lingqing looked at her Master’s retreating figure, hands behind her back, and her eyes gradually filled with tears.

She didn’t know why her Master would think that way. Did Master view me as someone only concerned with romance?

Thinking so, the young girl’s hands, hidden in her sleeves, gradually clenched into fists.

She could not tolerate such a misunderstanding. She had to become strong as quickly as possible.

Having lived on Illusory Moon Mountain for fourteen years, she had come to understand many principles.

In certain matters, the weak are inherently subjected to speculation and suspicion, while the strong are not.

Her Master suspected her simply because her current strength was still weak. With the slightest misstep, her Master would assume she lacked motivation. If her strength were sufficient, such a situation would not arise…

Su Lingqing’s reasoning was indeed sound, but the reality was otherwise.

Ling Yunyue’s anger was entirely due to the subtle jealousy acting up in her heart, but she could not articulate it, thus causing the present misunderstanding.

Su Lingqing did not cry for long. Determined to become stronger, she quickly calmed her mind and immersed herself in cultivation…

Heaven-Extending Sect, Beast-Taming Peak.

It was past midnight. Inside a Dongfu made of crystal on the mountainside, the sound of shattered glass was heard repeatedly.

“Why? For so many years, I have exhausted my efforts trying to become the Venerable’s disciple, only to be rejected every time. I thought the Venerable would never accept a disciple in this lifetime, yet in the end, she brought back a little girl from the countryside! How am I inferior to her!”

Xu Miaoluo smashed the dark jade table in front of her with a palm strike. She gnashed her teeth, and her phoenix eyes revealed boundless anger.

“Senior Sister, please calm down first. Don’t let anger damage your health.”

Chi Wanyun carried a bowl of newly stewed millennium snow crisp pear and walked to the woman’s side, preparing to feed her as usual. However, the next moment, a tremendous force struck, instantly knocking the bowl to the floor.

“Does Junior Sister even look at me? Do I look like I can eat anything right now?”

Chi Wanyun barely managed to maintain a smile and advised: “The Venerable accepting a disciple is already a fact. No matter how angry Senior Sister is, it won’t change anything. After all these years, Senior Sister has been obsessed with this. It’s time to slowly let go now.”

No sooner had the words fallen than the woman beside her grabbed her by the neck.

“You want me to let go? But I am not resigned! Not resigned at all!!! My childhood wish was to become the Venerable’s disciple. Over the years, I have not slackened in my cultivation for a moment. Among my peers in the sect, who can surpass me in strength? Why? Why did I lose to a little girl from the mountains??”

“Senior Sister…”

Chi Wanyun’s breathing gradually became difficult as her neck was choked. Just as her consciousness was about to fade, the grip on her neck suddenly disappeared.

Having narrowly escaped death, she gasped for fresh air, her heart filled with sorrow.

She knew her Senior Sister didn’t like her, but some things had to be said. She feared her Senior Sister would take a wrong path in a moment of aberration.

“Over the years, Senior Sister’s obsession has grown deeper. Continuing like this will only lead to inner demons.”

Xu Miaoluo snorted coldly: “Instead of worrying about this, Junior Sister, why don’t you help me figure out a way to deal with Su Lingqing?”

“Senior Sister, sect rules strictly forbid harming fellow disciples.”

“I naturally know that. I’m not thinking of taking her life. I just want the Venerable to despise her, and ideally, sever the Master-disciple relationship.”

Seeing the woman remain silent, Xu Miaoluo said mercilessly: “If Junior Sister cannot come up with a solution, you don’t need to come here anymore.”

Chi Wanyun suddenly looked up, staring at the person in front of her in disbelief. “Senior Sister…”

“Stop with the nonsense. Junior Sister, are you going to help or not?”

“…Help. Senior Sister, allow me to think… The previous Peak Masters of Profound Heaven Peak have always cultivated the Emotionless Dao. The Venerable accepting a disciple must have a similar intention. If we can make Su Lingqing fall in love with someone and neglect her cultivation, perhaps the Venerable will consider taking a new disciple.”

“That method sounds feasible. Do you have any other plans?”

“In two years, it will be the once-in-a-decade Sect Competition. With Su Lingqing’s current cultivation, she will at most reach Foundation Establishment by then. If nothing unexpected happens, she will definitely participate in the competition. At that time, Senior Sister can find a way to financially support her opponent and ensure her early defeat.”

“Only this?”

“Senior Sister, don’t forget, in every Sect Competition, if Profound Heaven Peak participates, they are guaranteed the first place in the corresponding realm. If Su Lingqing is easily defeated, she will inevitably be ridiculed by the entire sect. Even if the Venerable doesn’t care about winning or losing, she is young and spirited, so it’s impossible for her to be completely unaffected. Over time, her nature will likely become twisted, and the Venerable will gradually come to dislike her.”

The argument was logical and reasonable. Xu Miaoluo listened and secretly nodded. The anger in her heart dissipated somewhat.

Two years was but an instant for a cultivator. She could afford to wait.

Furthermore, the first plan did not require waiting and could be implemented immediately.

Chi Wanyun secretly watched the change in her Senior Sister’s expression, knowing that she agreed with her suggestions. After a moment of hesitation, she carefully opened her mouth: “Senior Sister, if the first plan is to be executed, a trustworthy person must be sent to gain Su Lingqing’s trust and slowly conquer her heart. As for the candidate…”

Mid-sentence, she was interrupted by Xu Miaoluo raising her hand.

“No need to send anyone.”

“Is Senior Sister preparing to abandon this plan?”

“Of course not. I will execute it myself!”

Upon hearing this answer, Chi Wanyun’s mind went blank for a moment. She thought she had misheard and repeated the question: “Senior Sister intends to execute it personally?”

Xu Miaoluo glanced at her coldly: “Looking at Junior Sister’s incredulous appearance, are you perhaps lacking confidence in me, believing I cannot gain the liking of that girl?”

“No… Senior Sister has misunderstood. With Senior Sister’s strength and beauty, success is naturally possible. Wanyun is just worried…”

“Worried about what?”

“Worried that Senior Sister might truly fall in love with that girl, or be relentlessly pursued by her…”

“Hmph, you don’t need to worry about that, Junior Sister. Firstly, it’s impossible for me to fall in love with her. Secondly, she is only at the Qi Condensation stage, while I have already formed my Golden Core. With her strength, she absolutely cannot cling to me unless I allow it.”

“But…”

“Junior Sister, there’s no need for further words. What has been decided, I will not change!”

Chi Wanyun was filled with bitterness at this moment. If she had known this, she absolutely would not have suggested such an idea.

Although her Senior Sister repeatedly called Su Lingqing a girl from the countryside, anyone accepted as a disciple by Venerable Lingxiao was surely extraordinary. Birth meant nothing.

At this moment, she only hoped that Su Lingqing did not like women. That way, the first plan would not have any chance of success…

Profound Heaven Peak.

The night quickly passed. In the early morning of the next day, Su Lingqing paused her meditation and walked out of the Dongfu.

Facing the morning light, she saw a familiar figure approaching from afar, a plain white dress fluttering in the wind as she walked.

Seeing her Master, Su Lingqing quickly stepped forward to greet her.

Ling Yunyue helped her up and said warmly: “Has Lingqing been to the peak’s dining hall for breakfast?”

The young girl slowly shook her head: “Not yet.”

Yesterday, while touring Profound Heaven Peak, her Master had pointed out the dining hall’s exact location. Going down from the mountainside, heading southwest, it was about ten li from her current Dongfu.

In the past, traveling on foot would take about an hour. Now that she had begun cultivating, with spiritual power enhancing her steps, she could arrive in about fifteen minutes.

“Since you haven’t eaten, let’s go to the dining hall first, and then to the Treasure Depository.”

Ling Yunyue quickly settled the itinerary. To save time, she simply took the young girl and flew the entire way, reaching their destination in a moment.

The dining hall on Profound Heaven Peak was not small. All hundred service disciples on the peak ate here.

Ling Yunyue had long achieved bigu (abstinence from grains) and rarely set foot here. However, her portion of spiritual meals was prepared every meal. If the time passed, it was distributed to others and not wasted.

Because it was still early, there were only a few people when Su Lingqing arrived at the dining hall.

Stepping inside, the unique fragrance of spiritual cuisine instantly wafted to her nose. However, at this moment, she didn’t pay attention to her hunger, only because she heard a continuous weeping sound.

“Master, this is…”

Ling Yunyue sensed with her divine sense and found the source of the crying.

“It is a service disciple on the peak, squatting in the corner of the kitchen.”

Su Lingqing walked toward the sound and saw a young girl about her age, wearing a pale blue, narrow-sleeved silk dress with her hair styled in a Daoist bun. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

The young girl noticed their arrival and, at that moment, as if seeing a life-saving straw, immediately knelt down and cried miserably: “I beg the Venerable to save my sister’s life! My sister accepted a sect mission yesterday to go to Misty Demon Island, and she hasn’t returned. This morning, the Bl00d Jade she left me cracked. The Bl00d Jade is connected to my sister’s life. My sister must have encountered extreme danger…”