After Faking Her Death and Fleeing, the Emotionless Daoist Master Regretted It - Chapter 33.2

Chapter 33.2: A Drunken Kiss – The Jealous Shizun

Qin Su thought to herself: if anyone were to warn Senior Sister, only the Sect Master could do it… Perhaps Lingqing, who could easily provoke Senior Sister’s emotions, also had the ability to do so, but judging from Senior Sister Ling’s current state of being irrationally jealous, it was better for her not to seek out that girl. She couldn’t endure a scolding from Senior Sister…

Beside her, Rong Jiangzhu heard Qin Su’s words and sighed softly again.

“I told Junior Sister Ling more than once, even before she took a disciple, that she didn’t need to cling to the ruthless path. Unfortunately, Junior Sister didn’t listen.”

Hearing this, Qin Su took the opportunity to ask a doubt that was deeply buried in her heart.

“The method of attaining the Dao through the ruthless path seems too cruel to me. Why does Senior Sister insist on clinging to this path?”

Rong Jiangzhu was silent for a moment, then slowly explained: “Firstly, it is influenced by the late Senior Aunt Qionghua. Achieving the Dao and ascending through the ruthless path was Senior Aunt Qionghua’s lifelong wish. Secondly, it is related to Junior Sister Ling’s upbringing since childhood. Junior Sister Qin should know that to cultivate the ruthless path, a heart like still water is the most basic requirement.”

Qin Su nodded: “The ruthless path is most averse to emotional fluctuations.”

Rong Jiangzhu continued: “Junior Sister Ling’s parents died in a natural disaster when she was three years old. It was then that Senior Aunt Qionghua brought Junior Sister into the sect and she has resided on Xuantian Peak ever since. Senior Aunt Qionghua was strict. From the time Junior Sister began to remember things, she personally guided her cultivation. If she failed to complete a designated task, a heavy punishment would immediately be enforced. As time went on, Junior Sister became more taciturn, focusing solely on cultivation, ignoring external matters, and almost completely severing contact with her fellow disciples. In this way, she gradually stepped onto the ruthless path…”

Qin Su contemplated: “If Senior Sister had not grown up in such an environment, but had been accompanied by family and enjoyed the friendship of fellow disciples since childhood, then she would not have embarked on the ruthless path.”

Rong Jiangzhu looked at the woman beside her with approval and then spoke: “Childhood experiences, to some extent, determine one’s character for life. Although Junior Sister Ling has never explicitly said it, I can guess that since she started on the cultivation path, she has been deeply influenced by Senior Aunt Qionghua, and she subconsciously believes that she can only cultivate the ruthless path.”

“But given Senior Sister Ling’s current state, she is clearly no longer suitable…”

“The matter of the Dao path can only be slowly grasped by Junior Sister Ling herself. I only wish that Junior Sister will not follow the path of those who came before.”

At this moment, Qin Su seemed to recall something, and her expression changed slightly: “Does the Sect Master mean…”

Rong Jiangzhu made a shushing gesture: “Some things, even if thought of, should not be spoken aloud. I do not want to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Compared to mortals, cultivators place greater importance on the concept of luck, as they know that luck truly exists and profoundly affects the path to immortality.

There are many factors that influence luck, and negative words should be avoided whenever possible.

Within the cultivation world, those who specialize in the Dao of Curses are all taciturn and extremely cautious about many things.

Regardless, Rong Jiangzhu absolutely did not want to see anything happen to her Junior Sister in the future. Therefore, she immediately stopped Qin Su’s words. It was enough that they understood the unspoken meaning.

Above the auspicious clouds, no one spoke again for a time…

On the other side, Su Lingqing followed Qiu Ying away from Yanwu Peak and quickly arrived at Shan Peak (Dinner Peak) with the help of a spiritual crane.

All the peaks of Tianyan Sect originally had their own dining halls. Shan Peak existed primarily to host external guests, and secondly, to handle situations like today’s large-scale trial where disciples gathered to eat.

Shan Peak had no idle land. As Su Lingqing approached, all she saw were vast patches of spiritual vegetables. Some were almost ripe, while others looked like they had just been sown.

Spiritual vegetables in the cultivation world were similar in appearance to mortal vegetables and fruits, allowing her to generally distinguish between some types.

The spiritual crane’s speed was not slow, and it quickly brought them to a stop in front of an eatery emanating an enticing aroma.

The sect’s meals were all supplied free of charge. They had not arrived early, and many fellow disciples had already gathered nearby, orderly lining up to collect their food.

There were eighty-one eateries on Shan Peak, corresponding to the number nine multiplied by nine.

Su Lingqing followed Senior Sister Qiu, walking until they reached the eatery with the fewest people lining up, and slowly waited.

Qiu Ying took this opportunity to ask a doubt that arose in her heart during the trial earlier.

“Junior Sister Su, have you met me before?”

The girl was stunned, then quickly shook her head: “Today is the first time Lingqing has met Senior Sister Qiu.”

“Then why… when Junior Sister saw me before the trial began, did you show a trace of recollection?”

Hearing this, Su Lingqing immediately realized that her reaction had caused Senior Sister to misunderstand, so she quickly explained: “Senior Sister’s attire and the aura emanating from you reminded Lingqing of a female tutor who taught in a school and brought back a past event.”

“So that’s it.” Qiu Ying felt enlightened. With the doubt resolved, curiosity followed.

“Before entering the Dao, I also visited mortal schools. I was even inspired by this to embark on the path of literature and calligraphy. Most of the teachers in the schools are elderly, and it’s rare to see young female tutors.”

Su Lingqing lowered her eyes and said softly: “That female tutor was exceptionally talented, but unfortunately, she was born at the wrong time…”

Qiu Ying guessed the general meaning from the expression the girl displayed and spoke with emotion.

“Since entering the Dao, I’ve heard many fellow Daoists say that the cultivation world is a place where the strong prey on the weak, full of danger. But being born in the mortal world is also a place where the strong prey on the weak. For women, the cultivation world is clearly better than the mortal world. In the cultivation world, there are no extra constraints on women, unlike some mortal places that adhere to the sickening custom of male supremacy. If one day I succeed in my cultivation, I will definitely go to those places, abolish all bad customs, and ensure women are no longer oppressed!”

Her words perfectly matched Su Lingqing’s inner thoughts: “When the time is right in the future, I wish to go with Senior Sister.”

Seeing her Junior Sister agree with her actions, Qiu Ying’s beautiful eyes lit up: “Then it’s a promise!”

Su Lingqing nodded with a smile: “It’s a promise!”

She did not want the tragedy of the women who committed suicide for love on Fantasy Moon Mountain to happen again. There was nothing wrong with women loving women, and it didn’t hinder anyone. They should not have been forced to their deaths.

The two were talented individuals. If they had been in the cultivation world, they should have walked hand-in-hand, possessing long lifespans and countless wonderful years. They loved each other and harmed no one, yet they were forced to such an extent.

They were brave. They did not retreat under worldly oppression or choose the fate of most mortal women but chose to face their predicament together, never betraying each other.

Committing suicide for love was their final act of resistance when they could not reverse the situation.

The conversation with Qiu Ying gave Su Lingqing a new, clear goal for her future life.

On Shan Peak, the two Senior and Junior Sisters, who had reached an agreement, stood facing each other, the atmosphere exceptionally harmonious.

Ling Yunyue, hidden in the shadows, heard her disciple and Qiu Ying’s discussion about the mortal world.

She had lived in the sect since childhood, knew nothing of the outside world, and had never actively tried to understand it. Even when she achieved success in cultivation in her youth and gained experience outside, she mostly traveled to perilous places, constantly pushing her limits and improving her strength in dangerous situations, and had never lived in the mortal world.

Lingqing had never mentioned these things to her.

Yet now, she made an agreement with a fellow Senior Sister to change the bad customs of the mortal world in the future.

Ling Yunyue’s emotions were quite complex.

On the one hand, she greatly approved of Lingqing’s and Qiu Ying’s views, but why didn’t Lingqing directly propose this request to her?

With her strength, changing the mortal world was extremely easy.

Why did Lingqing prefer to make an agreement with a Senior Sister she had only recently met, instead of asking her, her Shizun?

Did Lingqing believe in her heart that she wouldn’t agree to such a thing?

At this moment, Ling Yunyue felt as if a heavy stone had settled on her heart, or perhaps a wad of cotton was blocking it, making her very uncomfortable.

Since Lingqing started acting distant, her emotions had never stabilized.

Now, Lingqing making this choice, did it mean she no longer trusted her as her Shizun?

There were many excellent disciples in the sect. Perhaps in the future, more and more Senior and Junior Sisters would gather around Lingqing, and the girl whose heart was once entirely hers and who relied completely on her would start accommodating more and more women in her heart…

Thinking of this possibility, Ling Yunyue’s face instantly became covered with a layer of frost.

She would not allow this situation to happen. Until this moment, she had to admit that she truly possessed an intense possessiveness towards Lingqing.

When drunk, Lingqing had said that Shizun was the perfect and flawless goddess in her heart.

Since this was the case, compared to those Senior Sisters, she, as her Shizun, must occupy a more important position in her heart.

If she took the initiative… would Lingqing treat her wholeheartedly, as before?

But before that, there was one thing she had to get started on: changing the existing order of the mortal world, eliminating all unfair treatment of women, and gradually achieving the goal of female supremacy.

This was what Lingqing and Qiu Ying had agreed to accomplish together in the future.

If she accomplished this goal first, their agreement would naturally become void.

There were countless mortal lands. If she acted alone, it would take a relatively long time, but as the top sect in the Azure Profound Continent, Tianyan Sect had many subordinate forces. To accomplish this, she only needed to issue appropriate commands.

Then, at regular intervals, she would visit various places to check the implementation of the new order. If anyone was found to be feigning compliance, they would be severely punished.

After forming a preliminary plan, Ling Yunyue quickly began to implement it.

Although she was very unwilling for Lingqing and Qiu Ying to stay together, it was currently dinnertime, and Lingqing had participated in multiple rounds of trials and needed rest. Therefore, she did not step forward to disturb them.

When Lingqing finished dinner and returned to Xuantian Peak, she would have also issued the relevant commands, and they, Master and disciple, would have enough time to spend together.

The moment Ling Yunyue left, Su Lingqing seemed to sense something. She turned and looked at an unremarkable peach tree not far away.

Qiu Ying saw her look strange and followed her gaze, but found nothing.

“Junior Sister Su, what’s wrong?”

Su Lingqing retracted her gaze and slowly shook her head: “Nothing, it must be my illusion.”

In that instant, a sudden, inexplicable sense of familiarity arose. She thought Shizun had arrived…

A trace of disappointment flashed in the girl’s heart.

How could Shizun appear here… Shizun was clearly on Yanwu Peak. She must be missing her too much, causing her to have an illusion…

Now that the trial was over, Shizun had probably returned to Xuantian Peak, or was discussing important matters with the Sect Master.

She secretly made a decision. After finishing dinner, she would immediately go to Shizun to apologize.

Even if Shizun continued to be angry with her, she would have no regrets…

Due to the large number of fellow disciples on Shan Peak, discussions in twos and threes occasionally reached Su Lingqing’s ears.

Within Tianyan Sect, there was a Spiritual Transmission Peak dedicated to gathering various news from outside the sect. At this moment, several fellow disciples lining up for dinner happened to be from this peak.

They spoke quite loudly. Although Su Lingqing did not intentionally listen, discussions occasionally reached her ears.

Most of them were related to the Heavenly Fire Sect from the Scarlet Flame Continent.

“The Heavenly Fire Sect borrowed our sect’s spatial Dao artifact, the Mountain and River State Chart, that day, and continuously cast spells for several days, completely stabilizing that secret realm. Now, the Dao artifact has been returned to our sect.”

“The one hundred and twenty slots in the sect have been decided. There will be trials against the one hundred and twenty people sent by the Heavenly Fire Sect. The winner of two out of three matches will gain the final qualification to enter the secret realm.”

“The trial location was jointly selected by the two sects, located southeast of the sect, on the Worry-Free Island in the Cangming Sea.”

“What kind of place is Worry-Free Island?”

“I heard it’s an island that recently appeared, not yet occupied by any force. There are no buildings on the island, making it the most suitable place for a trial.”

“I’m a little curious. Why not continue the competition on Yanwu Peak? Why choose another location?”

“The reason is simple. Yanwu Peak is within our sect’s sphere of influence. The Heavenly Fire Sect is wary of us. The people they brought to participate in the trial are the sect’s elite. If they all suffer losses, the sect might face a lack of talent continuity in the future. Choosing a place outside our sect’s sphere of influence is fair to both parties and eliminates many concerns.”

“Among the one hundred and twenty elite disciples the Heavenly Fire Sect sent this time, there is one who has mastered the World-Purifying Li Fire, a powerhouse that can be considered invincible among peers. If any of our fellow disciples draw that opponent during the sect trial, they’ll be unlucky, alas…”

Su Lingqing listened to the conversation between the two Senior Sisters, but instantly thought of a treasure Shizun had given her: the Profound Nether Heavy Water.

Shizun had said that Profound Nether Heavy Water was one of the heaven and earth spiritual objects and was the nemesis of exotic flames. A single drop weighed over a hundred jin (approx. 50 kg) and could be infinitely extended.

If she encountered an exotic flame during combat, provided she had enough spiritual energy, casting a spell to construct a defensive barrier with the heavy water to protect herself would ensure her safety.

However, Profound Nether Heavy Water had a drawback: it could not be bound to a person.

In other words, there was a possibility of this treasure being seized after being taken out.

If she encountered a cultivator from the Heavenly Fire Sect who possessed an exotic flame during the sect trial, she would need to be extra careful when using the heavy water in battle to prevent the treasure from being taken by trickery…

Su Lingqing’s thoughts raced. The discussion between the two Spiritual Transmission Peak Senior Sisters continued, and new information occasionally reached her ears.

“I heard that the Heavenly Fire Sect Master issued a strict order. Disciples who fail the trial against our sect will have ten years of their sect’s monthly salary deducted upon returning, and will be forcibly required to complete twelve sect tasks annually, with all other cultivation resources reduced by half.”

“That order is truly harsh. What if someone fails to complete the corresponding tasks?”

“They will be locked up in the Blazing Fire Prison and endure fire torture daily.”

“This… just for failing to complete tasks, they face such a punishment? Is this still a Daoist sect?”

“The Heavenly Fire Sect’s influence ranks first in the Scarlet Flame Continent. Even if they go too far, the cultivators on that continent dare not say much… I am a little worried that there will be considerable casualties in the trial between our sect and the Heavenly Fire Sect.”

“With such severe punishment, the Heavenly Fire Sect cultivators will indeed fight desperately. Our Sect Master is better. She didn’t propose any punishment. Before the slot contention, she explicitly said to just participate to the best of our ability and not worry too much about winning or losing.”

“I hope all our fellow disciples participating in the trial will be safe…”

Amidst the discussions of the two Spiritual Transmission Peak Senior Sisters, the queue in front of the eatery gradually decreased, and it was finally Su Lingqing’s turn.

The spiritual cuisine here was rich and comparable to Xuantian Peak’s.

Su Lingqing ordered a few spiritual vegetables and fruits she liked, plus a delicious spiritual mushroom soup. She went to an empty spot in the corner of the eatery with Senior Sister Qiu and sat down to slowly eat.

Due to her identity, or perhaps because she had shown her prowess in today’s trials, many fellow disciples nodded to her and greeted her warmly as she walked by.

Regardless of their inner thoughts, the surface atmosphere was warm and peaceful.

About an incense stick’s worth of time later, Su Lingqing finished her dinner and stepped outside the eatery.

At that time, a bright moon hung high in the sky. The moonlight sprinkled down, illuminating the otherwise dark night.

She looked up at the full moon and thought of Shizun again.

If her originally dark life was likened to this night sky, then Shizun was that bright moon, a beam of light shining into her heart.

Shizun was angry today, giving the bright moon a slight possibility of leaving.

If the bright moon were gone, then her life would most likely return to the darkness of the past…

She could not accept this happening. She had to find a way to make the bright moon illuminate her forever…

After a long while, Su Lingqing withdrew her gaze from the sky and bid farewell to Qiu Ying, who had also walked out of the eatery.

“Senior Sister Qiu, it’s late. I should head back.”

Qiu Ying first nodded, then reminded her: “Junior Sister Su must have heard the discussions of the two Senior Sisters from Spiritual Transmission Peak just now. Be extremely careful when fighting the Heavenly Fire Sect cultivators in the future.”

The girl smiled brightly: “Lingqing understands. Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister.”

After saying goodbye, the two each summoned a spiritual crane. After a brief communication, the spiritual cranes spread their wings and flew, taking them separately to Xuantian Peak and Wenhui Peak.

At that moment, the little Phoenix Xiwu, who had been forgotten by the girl, spread its wings and flew, following closely behind her.

Half an incense stick’s time later, Xuantian Peak.

Su Lingqing returned to the entrance of her usual cave dwelling. The little fox, Ruozhu, sensed her owner’s return and rushed out of the cave dwelling to pounce into her owner’s arms immediately.

At the same time, Xiwu, who had followed her back to Xuantian Peak, removed its talent for concealing its figure and landed on the girl’s shoulder.

Su Lingqing remembered what happened in the arena trial earlier. She looked at the little Phoenix, which Shizun’s illusion had made completely black, and said softly: “Thank you, Xiwu, for reminding me of the formation core’s location during the trial against the Formation Peak disciple today. Also, thank you, Xiwu, for secretly intervening at the end of the fifth trial and dealing with the unscrupulous person who violated the rules and intended to kill me.”

As soon as her words fell, the little Phoenix’s clear voice immediately reached her ear.

“These are all trivial matters, Sister. Don’t be so polite. If anyone should say thank you, it should be Xiwu thanking Sister. Without Sister’s rescue back then, Xiwu would not have had the chance to hatch and be born. Can Sister promise Xiwu not to say the word ‘thank you’ again in the future? It makes Sister seem distant from Xiwu.”

A gentle smile appeared on Su Lingqing’s face, and she agreed to the little Phoenix’s request.

At that moment, the little fox, Ruozhu, nestled in her arms, its fluffy tail continuously swinging back and forth, signifying its joy at seeing its owner.

Having returned to Xuantian Peak, Su Lingqing intended to seek out Shizun and apologize for the events of the day. Just as she turned around, an all-too-familiar figure appeared in her line of sight…