After Faking Her Death and Fleeing, the Emotionless Daoist Master Regretted It - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Admonition – The Taboo Not Tolerated by the Secular World

Su Lingqing had complete trust in her Master. Being pushed so unexpectedly, her body staggered backward, hitting a corner of the well.

A sharp pain instantly radiated from her right shoulder. She bit her lip, her eyes tearfully looking at the aloof, fairy-like woman, filled with confusion and apprehension.

Had she done something wrong? Or said the wrong thing?

Otherwise, why would her Master push her away?

Before the young girl could think further, Ling Yunyue hurriedly stepped forward, picked her up, her eyes betraying a hint of self-reproach.

She wanted to apologize, but didn’t know how to speak, and merely treated her disciple’s injury in silence.

The pain from her right shoulder quickly dissipated. Su Lingqing looked at the person so close to her, hesitating to speak: “Master…”

“Lingqing, it is my fault. I recalled something just now and did not mean to push Lingqing away.”

Facing the inherently pure and kind young girl, Ling Yunyue lied for the first time in her life.

A trace of doubt still lingered in Su Lingqing’s heart, but facing her Master, she was unwilling to harbor suspicion.

She trusted her Master.

How could the divine being who saved her from peril deceive her?

Leaning in her Master’s embrace, her injury gradually healed. Although her Master was an Ice Spiritual Root, her spiritual power was remarkably gentle, without any hint of coldness.

At this moment, she thought greedily, How wonderful it would be if she could stay with her Master in this space forever, undisturbed by anyone…

Ling Yunyue, filled with guilt and intent on compensating, allowed the young girl—whom she never usually allowed to be close—to cling tightly to her. The body nestled in her arms was very thin, inciting pity.

There was a bone-tracing technique in the cultivation world that could determine exact bone age, so she knew Lingqing was already fourteen. However, her physique was still underdeveloped compared to her peers.

This was due to years of malnutrition. Fortunately, the cultivation world had an abundance of various nourishing spiritual meals. Now that Lingqing was her disciple, she resolved to take good care of her.

A sincere smile, which she herself hadn’t noticed, appeared on Ling Yunyue’s face.

Some bonds were destined from the moment of their first meeting…

Su Lingqing nestled in her Master’s embrace, her cheeks flushed. Her Master’s fragrance was very unique—fresh, light, and yet intoxicating.

After a long while, her injuries were fully healed. Her Master withdrew her spiritual power, and a voice of extreme gentleness reached her ears.

“If this Spatial Pouch can be utilized well, it will greatly aid Lingqing’s immortal path in the future. Is Lingqing willing to open up a spiritual field within the space?”

“Willing, but I do not know where to start.”

“If Lingqing agrees, shall I do it on your behalf?”

The young girl nodded repeatedly, “Of course I agree!”

Receiving an affirmative answer, Ling Yunyue showed a hint of a smile on her face. She rapidly performed a few hand signs and waved her hand toward the distance.

The next moment, her spiritual power split into ten thousand, transforming into countless light blades, quickly clearing the barren land.

In but a moment, acres upon acres of spiritual fields appeared before Su Lingqing’s eyes.

This was the first time she had an intuitive sense of her Master’s power.

The light blades clearing the land were not aimed at her, yet the instant they converged, she could clearly sense the powerful force contained within them.

A hint of aspiration arose within her.

If she cultivated diligently, could she too become as powerful as her Master someday?

At this moment, a conviction arose in the young girl’s heart. Given time, it would slowly drive her to become stronger, to chase after the deity in her heart…

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, a hundred li of spiritual fields were successfully opened within the Spatial Pouch.

Su Lingqing looked at the completely renewed space, filled with joy.

“Master, are there many types of spiritual herbs in the cultivation world? Now that the spiritual fields are ready, which ones are suitable for planting?”

Ling Yunyue smiled and replied: “The Profound Heaven Realm has two thousand four hundred and ninety-seven known types of spiritual herbs. Most of them belong to rare categories and are difficult to grow. However, Lingqing is a Wood Spiritual Root and has a natural advantage in the path of spiritual planting. You can try planting any variety of spiritual herbs.”

At this point, she waved her sleeve and took out a snow-white cloth bag.

“Inside are the various spiritual seeds I have collected over the years. If Lingqing agrees, you can sow them in the spiritual fields.”

“Of course I agree. Master can do whatever you wish with everything in the space.”

Su Lingqing was filled with trust. An idea gradually formed in her mind, and she continued: “Is there any method that would allow this disciple and Master to share this space? That way, Master could come and go freely in the future.”

“I appreciate Lingqing’s good intentions. Related methods indeed exist, but they cannot be used between you and me.”

“Why not?”

“Because that method has a restriction: it can only be performed by intimate partners.”

The young girl was full of confusion: “Does ‘intimate’ mean trusting each other very much? This disciple feels that way toward Master…”

Ling Yunyue raised a hand to stop the young girl’s next words and shook her head in explanation: “What I mean is Dao Companions—two people who genuinely love each other. We are Master and disciple, and are destined not to be able to do this.”

Su Lingqing belatedly understood, and her pretty face gradually flushed.

So that was what her Master meant…

But thinking of the last sentence, the color on her face slightly receded again.

“Are Master and disciple… truly destined not to be able to love each other?”

It was a thought in her heart, but she subconsciously spoke it aloud.

Ling Yunyue gazed at the young girl, her willow brows slightly furrowed as she recalled the mysterious guidance.

“The Daoist sect tradition places the greatest emphasis on respecting the Master and honoring the Dao. Love between Master and disciple is not accepted by the world.”

Su Lingqing bit her lip tightly, constantly recalling her Master’s previous words. Finally, she asked hesitantly: “Then what about between women…”

“Within the cultivation world, same-s3x Dao Companions are relatively common, and the Daoist sect does not reject them. Women can love each other. However, I must still remind Lingqing: embarking on the immortal path, a single-minded devotion to the Dao is the correct path. Given Lingqing’s current age, you should not be considering such matters.”

“This disciple understands. This disciple was only curious…”

At this moment, Su Lingqing’s heart was a jumble of emotions.

The Daoist sect was more tolerant than she had imagined, but it ultimately could not tolerate everything.

Love between Master and disciple was not tolerated by the world, whether in the mortal realm or the cultivation world.

While same-s3x love was only rejected by the mortal world.

In Illusion Moon Mountain, Su Lingqing had once witnessed a pair of same-s3x lovers commit suicide together. They had planned their deaths, wearing smiles of relief on their faces, without the slightest fear of death.

At that time, she was still very young, and her parents were alive.

Illusion Moon Mountain had many villages, and the richer ones had schools.

Her mother told her that one of the women who committed suicide taught at one of those schools, and the other was her student.

They were both Master and disciple, and also women, but they fell in love during their daily interactions.

Later, their relationship became known to outsiders, and they were both driven out of the school.

Their relatives threatened to kill themselves if they didn’t break off all contact.

However, their devotion to each other, combined with the relentless pressure and hysteria from their relatives, ultimately led them to choose to die together hand-in-hand.

At that time, Su Lingqing had quietly asked what her mother would think if it were her.

The moment the words left her mouth, she saw her mother’s expression change.

She didn’t receive a reply, but she already guessed the answer…

Now, having come to the cultivation world and knowing that same-s3x love was not rejected here, Su Lingqing felt fortunate.

At least in the cultivation world, women who loved each other could be together openly, and perhaps even receive blessings from various sides.

Furthermore, she also vaguely sensed that she liked people of the same s3x.

If in the future…

Su Lingqing began to contemplate a possibility, but the thought had just begun when she could no longer continue, only because her Master’s figure appeared in her mind…

Love between Master and disciple… was not tolerated by the Daoist sect. Moreover, her Master wanted her to be singularly devoted to the Dao. Perhaps for the rest of her life, she would not touch upon romantic love at all.

That was fine too… As long as she could control her heart and they could continue to interact as Master and disciple, it was not bad…

At this moment, the young girl seemed to have made some kind of resolution, and her gaze gradually became firm.

“Master, after the spiritual fields are sown, this disciple wishes to cultivate in the space for a while.”

Ling Yunyue knew she had figured things out and responded with a smile: “Cultivation cannot be achieved in a day or two. Lingqing is only beginning the immortal path and still has many things to learn. It is not too late to begin intensive cultivation after returning to the Heaven-Extending Sect.”

“Then what are Master’s plans next?”

“The inn provides three spiritual meals a day. The first thing Lingqing needs to do is recover your health. In a couple of days, I will take Lingqing to look around the city. What do you think, Lingqing?”

“This disciple has no objections. I will listen to Master.”

Su Lingqing’s eyes held a smile. She was like a completely different person compared to her earlier dejected appearance.

Sowing the spiritual seeds required a basic technique, the Object Manipulation Art.

Ling Yunyue assigned this task to her disciple, using the opportunity to pass on the technique.

Su Lingqing listened intently and quickly grasped the technique, attempting to cast the spell.

Her comprehension was very high on the path of cultivation.

As the technique was silently recited, a wisp of spiritual light gradually emerged from the young girl’s fingertips. The snow-white cloth bag was opened mid-air, and strange spiritual seeds flew out, uniformly falling onto the many acres of spiritual fields under the control of the Object Manipulation Art.

Having just begun the immortal path, her spiritual power was difficult to maintain for long. In less than half a zhan cha, she felt unable to sustain it.

Just then, a gentle force came from behind. Her Master placed her palm against her back, providing a continuous supply of spiritual power.

With her Master’s help, Su Lingqing successfully completed the sowing of the spiritual herbs…

Leaving the space and returning to the outside world, it was already the next morning.

A knocking sound reached her ears. Su Lingqing opened the door and saw several maids holding jade trays, with lowered eyes.

“Two guests, this is the breakfast provided by the inn.”

Hearing this, Su Lingqing immediately stepped aside.

The maids filed in, carefully placing the breakfast on the sandalwood table, and quietly retreated in an orderly fashion without making a sound. The last person closed the door as she left.

The hot, fragrant food piqued the young girl’s appetite.

“Don’t look anymore; hurry and eat while it’s hot. Some of these spiritual meals will lose their flavor once they cool down.”

The gentle voice reached her ears. Su Lingqing quietly assented and sat down at the sandalwood table with her Master to enjoy the meal.

The spiritual meals, upon entering her stomach, carried a trace of spiritual qi.

The young girl’s bright eyes slightly narrowed. This was a delicacy she had never tasted before.

Since her parents’ deaths, she had rarely eaten a full meal.

Even when she did get food, aside from a bowl of longevity noodles on her birthday each year, the food she received on other occasions was generally not fresh and was sometimes difficult to swallow.

Before today, she had only regarded food as a necessity for maintaining vital signs. This idea began to change now.

It turned out that there were irresistible delicacies in the world. The moment the food entered her stomach, all worries seemed to vanish.

These spiritual meals were all ordered by her Master.

Her Master was truly so kind to her—from their first meeting at the cliff of Illusion Moon Mountain, taking her to safety, then accepting her as a disciple, and now taking her to tour a cultivation city and helping her open up a spiritual field…

As long as she could follow her Master, even if they could only be Master and disciple, what did it matter?

Facing the deity in her heart, she should not be greedy. Being able to accompany her for a long time was enough.