After Becoming a High-Risk Master, I Flipped the Script Chapter 186

Gu Baiqing’s gaze followed Mo Xuanli’s every movement. That indescribable sense of unfamiliarity lingered in his heart, making him inexplicably uneasy. It had only been half a month since they last met. How could there be such a feeling?

As he was thinking this, the person he was staring at suddenly turned his head. A sharp gaze swept over, startling Gu Baiqing into instantly withdrawing his eyes and lowering his head to drink tea, his heart pounding wildly.

Was he too close? He should find an opportunity to slip away later. Knowing their movements was enough. He could quietly follow them. There was no need to stay this close. If Mo Xuanli discovered him, he would definitely be angry. It was better to be careful.

Ji Chuling beside him also seemed afraid of being noticed by Mo Xuanli and hurriedly lowered her head to avoid his gaze. Fortunately, there were many tables in front of them, all filled with people. It wouldn’t be easy to notice them in the crowd.

When a beauty takes the initiative to get close, even a hero finds it hard to resist the test of beauty, not to mention that Yuxin is no ordinary beauty.

Just as everyone thought Yuxin would be angered into embarrassment, the beauty instead gave an enchanting smile, showing not the slightest anger. Watching Mo Xuanli’s retreating back, Yuxin did not bother to hide it as she licked her lips, wearing an expression of greedy desire, as if she had set her sights on prey. Her gaze burned intensely, her alluring posture like a bewitching flower with thorns and poison, addictive despite the danger, making the onlookers feel a surge of heat, wishing they could immediately spend a night of passion with the beauty.

The steward quickly helped to steer the topic away, dissolving the awkwardness. He ushered in the moment the guests had been anticipating most tonight, Yuxin was about to choose her guest of honor.

Everyone’s enthusiasm for Yuxin remained sky-high; even the sudden appearance of the demon race earlier failed to catch their attention. After all, it was not a true man-eating demon, merely an ordinary cultivator who had fallen into demonic ways, so once the ashes were cleared, the matter was considered over.

What they cared about more was who would receive favor tonight and dual cultivate with Yuxin.

The steward stepped forward to ask for Yuxin’s opinion. Yuxin waved her hand, signaling that it would be the same as usual.

Then, with a graceful turn, she leaned backward. At the instant she fell, countless vines sprouted beneath her feet. The vines formed the shape of a beauty couch, and delicate, vivid flowers bloomed upon them. She lay there just like that, assuming a generous posture that allowed everyone to admire her beauty and figure at will.

The steward loudly announced, “Tonight, Fairy Yuxin is following the old rules. If there are disciples from the Immortal Medicine Valley, they may be directly selected.”

As soon as the words fell, several voices immediately shouted, “I am, I am…”

Even the man sitting at the same table as Gu Baiqing shouted as well.

Gu Baiqing swept him a glance. He was indeed a medical cultivator, but judging from his expression, he was not necessarily from the Immortal Medicine Valley.

“Hey, what are you doing?” his companion seemed puzzled.

“I’m trying my luck. Fairy Yuxin practices the highest-level dual cultivation technique. After just one night, one’s cultivation can advance by leaps and bounds. Aren’t you tempted?” the man said slyly. “Anyway, they can’t tell. Look at all those people shouting, most of them probably aren’t from the Immortal Medicine Valley either.”

“Oh, brother, fishing in troubled waters, huh? Not bad.” His companion let out a lewd laugh, then added, “But with so many people, even if Fairy Yuxin is proficient in dual cultivation, she can’t possibly…”

“Of course there has to be a selection. According to past practice, the next step will be a contest of medical skills.”

Sure enough, as the man’s words fell, the steward had already begun calling people onto the stage. Though they could not determine who was truly from the Immortal Medicine Valley, they could use the outcome of the medical contest to help confirm it. In the locals’ eyes, anyone from the Immortal Medicine Valley would surely be the strongest. Once the best was chosen, Yuxin would make the final judgment.

“She looks for someone from the Immortal Medicine Valley every time? Why?” someone asked. “Is she unwell and needs treatment from the Immortal Medicine Valley?”

“No idea. Probably only someone who becomes her guest of honor would know.”

Amid the lively discussions, dozens of people were already standing on the stage.

At this moment, Mo Xuanli had returned to sit beside Li Xiuran. The women who had originally been pestering Li Xiuran immediately split in half, wanting to approach Mo Xuanli instead. A man who had rejected Yuxin naturally piqued the curiosity of the other sisters, who could not help wanting to challenge him.

Mo Xuanli raised a hand and blocked them at a distance, avoiding the woman who was trying to pour him wine.

Li Xiuran smiled and said to Mo Xuanli, “That must have been hard work. Didn’t expect there to be man-eating demons here. Probably just a coincidence.”

“Mm. A cultivator who hasn’t been demonic for long,” Mo Xuanli replied. As he spoke, he kept glancing in another direction, appearing somewhat distracted, but all he could see were figures wearing different masks crossing paths amid a lively, chaotic scene.

“What is it? Did you see her?” Li Xiuran was naturally referring to Ji Chuling. Having been followed all the way, how could they not notice? But Ji Chuling was no pushover either, she wouldn’t be easy to find unless she showed herself.

“Whether I see her or not, she’s definitely here. With so many women around us, she must be furious,” Mo Xuanli said, still trying to scan the crowd with his eyes.

The corner of Li Xiuran’s mouth twitched. He let out a somewhat helpless sigh. Being watched by one’s wife at all times made it hard for him to even inquire about things without some concern.

Li Xiuran waved his hand, signaling for the women beside him to leave. Even though some still lingered, his expression darkened, and in an instant he changed from a handsome, refined young cultivator into a man radiating danger. The women could only retreat one after another.

“How about bringing her along?” Mo Xuanli suggested. Along the way, they had indeed been pursued by the demon race. Even with disguises, there were moments of oversight. Having her follow alone was actually safer; moving together would invite danger. But after several encounters, Mo Xuanli felt that he and Li Xiuran could handle it. Ji Chuling was not weak either. Since they were a pair of lovers, why remain separated? Acting together should not lead to anything serious.

Hearing the suggestion, Li Xiuran hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. “When she’s not around, I can fight with all my strength. When she is, I get distracted. Looking ahead and behind only puts me at a disadvantage.”

What’s more, Li Xiuran glanced at Mo Xuanli. If Ji Chuling were present, there was still a risk of Mo Xuanli’s situation being exposed. Better to forget it. This was a critical moment for collecting fragments. Although he trusted that even if Ji Chuling learned Mo Xuanli’s identity, she would not become his enemy, he also could not bear to see Ji Chuling suffer over the conflict between clan rules and personal bonds.

“Don’t you think so too? If Immortal Lord Luofeng were here, it would probably affect you as well,” Li Xiuran said with a smile.

“That’s different.” Mo Xuanli habitually touched the slightly raised spot at his collar. “You would be distracted… but I would lose control. So he can’t be here.”

They were not the same. Li Xiuran and Ji Chuling were two people in love. Li Xiuran was confident in their feelings, so even if they were apart, his heart remained at ease. If Mo Xuanli had such fortune, he would want nothing more than to forge a chain and keep that person locked by his side at all times.

Li Xiuran glanced at Mo Xuanli and saw that the darkness in his eyes had grown so thick it seemed impossible to dissolve, and that darkness appeared increasingly dangerous. It felt as though the longer Mo Xuanli remained restrained, the more he resembled a caged beast, manageable at first, but now gradually growing hungry, restless, and unable to endure any longer.

Beneath that calm exterior was a surging flood. When he said he couldn’t control himself, it was probably because the moment his master appeared before his eyes, his emotions would be like floodgates thrown open, like a ferocious beast released from its cage, becoming hard to restrain.

Thinking of Mo Xuanli still drinking dull wine in Taixu Hall, being teased by Jingzhan, the youth who had been full of reluctance and sorrow when he left, over the span of half a month, Li Xiuran had watched Mo Xuanli change little by little, until now his temperament was completely different. Could lovesickness really be such a severe illness?

At this moment, Mo Xuanli seemed as if something were pressing down on him. If that thing were moved away, with a flash of the Void Spirit Space, he would probably return straight to his master’s side.

Seeing that he was still frequently glancing toward the diagonal opposite, Li Xiuran couldn’t help but say, “What’s wrong?” Normally, even if he sensed something, Mo Xuanli wouldn’t care much about it, at most making a comment.

“I don’t know, I just keep feeling…” Mo Xuanli closed his eyes, paused for a moment, then said, “No, he’s still at Zixiao Sect. I’m thinking too much. I explained it so clearly… he won’t appear.”

Looking at his brother like this, Li Xiuran smiled and shook his head, pouring him a drink. “Brother, your lovesickness is really a bit serious. You’re even having hallucinations. You miss him that much?”

Li Xiuran had meant it as a tease, but Mo Xuanli stiffly nodded once, then nodded heavily again, before lifting his head and taking a gulp of dull wine.

“I miss him.”

Miss him to the point of nearly going mad.

Every part of his body was suppressing longing, clamoring to see that person. He even wished he could use the ring left by his master’s side, and in the dead of night instantly return to his master, even if only to secretly take a glance.

But Mo Xuanli knew his own self-control now was growing weaker and weaker. If he really went back to take that one look, he probably would never be able to leave again.

“Maybe your master is also worried about you and will secretly follow you here?” Li Xiuran didn’t know whether that sentence counted as comfort.

But watching the wine cup suddenly crushed in Mo Xuanli’s hand, it seemed it might not be comfort after all.

“Then he’s finished.” Each word was spoken slowly, the voice low and hoarse.

It seemed like he had added fuel to the fire. Li Xiuran rubbed his forehead, helpless. Who told his brother to admire someone who was both powerful and of such high status as an immortal venerable? As brothers, they found it hard to help even if they wanted to, and could only let Mo Xuanli endure the trials alone.

Li Xiuran quickly changed the subject. “Do you think there’ll really be medical cultivators from the Immortal Medicine Valley later? If we run into them, I wonder if we could enter the Immortal Medicine Valley in advance?”

Once they turned to serious matters, Mo Xuanli’s emotions gradually settled a little. “Since the ritual of the Divine Tree’s blessing is coming up soon, the disciples of their valley should be very busy. How would they have time to come out?”

Li Xiuran said, “Maybe… they want to use this method to rapidly improve their cultivation, so they can perform well at the ritual.”

The two exchanged a look and could only wait and see. They had followed their instincts to come here, and after arriving, they were affected by the local spiritual energy.

They couldn’t determine whether it was really here. After all, they were often influenced by spiritually charged things in the area, or perhaps they had already entered the range affected by the fragments of the God-Slaying Sword, making it impossible to pinpoint the location further. All they could do was go to the place with the most spiritual energy and search again, and the place with the densest spiritual energy here was naturally the Immortal Medicine Valley.

However, the Immortal Medicine Valley was not open to outsiders, and they couldn’t just force their way in. Logically speaking, their mission was something any sect should cooperate with, but matters were not that simple. Human relationships were still very complicated.

They couldn’t determine what state the God-Slaying Sword fragment they were looking for was in.

Was it just a fragment, an ordinary broken stone that could be taken without consequence? Or was it like the treasured object enshrined by Tianyuan Sect, something that would not be easily given up?

So the two of them unanimously decided to disguise themselves and enter the Immortal Medicine Valley first to investigate the situation. If it wouldn’t affect anything, and there were already signs of the demon race coveting it, then they would have no choice but to take over. If it was another situation, they would have to negotiate and make plans accordingly.

While the two were talking, some unusual cries of surprise arose around them.

They looked up together. Li Xiuran showed a look of astonishment. A young woman had actually gone up there. She was also going to… compete?

And the moment Mo Xuanli saw that woman, his expression changed abruptly, disbelief written all over his face.

The young woman had her hair styled in twin buns, wore emerald-green clothing, and had a fair, delicate face that looked soft enough to be broken by a breath. Although she wore a mask, one could still tell she had a sweet, pretty appearance.

Such a competitor appearing on stage naturally drew bursts of laughter, making the girl awkwardly lower her head. The exposed skin gradually flushed red. Nervously, she pinched the red cord tied around her other wrist with one hand. The cord was cheap and old, yet at this moment it seemed to give her courage, and she stood still among a group of men.

Even the steward couldn’t help but confirm with her several times whether she really wanted to participate.

In a bright yet slightly nervous voice, the girl said, “I am a medical cultivator from the Immortal Medicine Valley. I want to see Fairy Yuxin alone. If you don’t believe me… if you don’t believe me, we can compete.”

The steward looked toward Yuxin, who was lazily reclining to the side in the distance.

Yuxin raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Women are acceptable too.” The crowd erupted instantly.

Upon hearing this, the little girl seemed to want to shake her head, but in the end she still lowered it with a red face.

The men on stage looked down on her with disdain, but at another table below, Gu Baiqing and Ji Chuling noticed her.

Ji Chuling frowned slightly, her face full of confusion as she looked at the girl. Then, upon hearing that women were also acceptable, she widened her eyes in shock.

Gu Baiqing’s expression, however, went through countless changes, his emotions rising and falling dramatically, the shock nearly making his mind short-circuit. It wasn’t because a woman was participating in the competition, but because—

At first, seeing such a special girl, Gu Baiqing had indeed found it somewhat novel. But after noticing the characteristics of the girl’s attire, he immediately thought of something mentioned in fan fiction he had read before: one of the women who once fought side by side with Li Xiuran, a medical cultivator.

Although the fan fiction he had read didn’t go into detail, judging by the typical harem-style tendencies of Half-Step Mad writing, this girl was probably also one of the male lead’s harem members.

Thinking of this, at most it had just been a bit of gossip to him.

But at this moment, Gu Baiqing’s heart was already in utter shock. The next second, he nervously looked around, yet an inexplicable confusion rose in his mind.

Why… had no one noticed?

No one had noticed… that this girl was a mixed-blood?

Gu Baiqing’s head was full of question marks. He had absolutely not expected that one of the former harem members would be a mixed-blood. The fan fiction hadn’t mentioned it at all. Could it be in the original work? But judging by the cultivation world’s discrimination against mixed-bloods, even the male lead Li Xiuran wouldn’t be able to take a mixed-blood as a wife, wouldn’t that blow up his entire harem?

Wait, up to now, it seemed that only he had seen that she was a mixed-blood. As for Ji Chuling beside him, Gu Baiqing looked closely. Her expression was somewhat similar to when she first met Mo Xuanli, she probably only sensed something subtly off, but wouldn’t come to any definite conclusion.

And ordinarily, for mixed-bloods, those at the Nascent Soul stage or above could basically detect it.

There had to be more than one Nascent Soul–stage cultivator here.

Unless she was a mixed-blood like Mo Xuanli, whose bloodline had been sealed by a half-step immortal, only someone with cultivation as high as Gu Baiqing’s, or special high-level demon clans, could sense something amiss.

Could it be that this girl had also encountered a half-step immortal and had her bloodline sealed?

That couldn’t be right! Gu Baiqing would also be able to sense that kind of seal. But now he felt nothing at all, even when focusing his attention and using spiritual power, it was useless. It was as if the girl’s bloodline were completely normal.

That didn’t make sense.

Gu Baiqing had always believed that within this storyline, it was impossible for a second mixed-blood to appear. After all, the cultivation world’s encirclement and extermination of mixed-bloods had been extremely ruthless. Especially during the period when young Xuanli was being hunted, combined with the hatred toward the demon race after the recent end of the immortal–demon war, it had triggered a wave of annihilation. It truly pushed “better to kill by mistake than to let one slip” to the extreme.

This one looked one or two years younger than Mo Xuanli. How could she possibly have survived?

Gu Baiqing wasn’t sure whether mixed-bloods could sense each other, but in any case, this matter was far too strange.

Soon, the competition on stage began. It was said that the format here was quite similar to what had been rumored about the Immortal Medicine Valley, three aspects of competition.

First, identifying and using pills. Second, diagnosis. Third, a contest of restorative and healing spells.

Such a competition was even more engaging and interesting than song and dance. Everyone’s attention naturally focused on the little girl; some even started betting.

The girl didn’t disappoint either, she actually kept advancing to the next rounds.

“This girl… looks like she really could be from the Immortal Medicine Valley,” Li Xiuran said in surprise.

Mo Xuanli nodded in agreement, because when they were at Taixu Hall, they had seen a medical venerable who came from the Immortal Medicine Valley, and their healing techniques were fundamentally of the same lineage.

However, Mo Xuanli’s doubts only deepened. Even for him, if he stayed cultivating in the Immortal Medicine Valley long-term, he wouldn’t dare guarantee that his body wouldn’t be detected by the medical venerables there. After all, as a healer, one inevitably undergoes various bodily studies and is also studied by others, this made it very easy to expose oneself.

He could sense that this girl was a mixed-blood because they were of the same kind and could naturally feel it. But because of the seal, the girl shouldn’t be able to sense him. So what was inside her body was definitely not a half-step immortal’s seal. Then what was it that allowed her to conceal her identity so naturally?

Mo Xuanli couldn’t help but think further. His own seal was gradually weakening and would collapse sooner or later. And as his cultivation advanced, every breakthrough or emotional fluctuation caused problems. If the girl’s method of concealment didn’t have so many drawbacks and wouldn’t be detected, then perhaps, aside from searching for the fragments, he might have another way to save himself?

“Truly a special girl.” Suddenly, a voice laced with an alluring spell rang out, instantly causing Mo Xuanli to rein in all his thoughts.

Someone was casting a charm spell on them. Li Xiuran and Mo Xuanli both showed displeasure. In a place like this, it was normal for women to want to seek such dealings with them, but being subjected to spellcasting was still unpleasant. They lifted their eyes and a woman in red had already sat down.

One could hear the surrounding sounds of sharp intakes of breath. After all, the person who had sat down was none other than Fairy Yuxin, who had just been on the stage. Everyone could tell, Yuxin had set her sights on them.

Yuxin directly took the empty seat between the two, casting a flirtatious smile. Her gaze evenly swept over both men, but what she received in return was only cold indifference.

Yuxin propped her chin up, her sorrowful expression like flower petals mercilessly beaten down by rain, beautiful yet pitiful. “You two are truly heartless. Is it that I am not beautiful? Treating me like this really breaks my heart.”

“We’re only here to catch man-eating demons and watch the excitement along the way. Miss, there’s no need to spend your thoughts on us,” Li Xiuran said, sensing that Yuxin’s cultivation was likely not shallow.

“Have you not heard? Dual cultivating with me for one night will cause your cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds. If you have talent, you might even learn this dual cultivation technique from me and use it yourselves in the future. Are you two really not going to give it a try? If it’s you two, even if you’re not medical cultivators, you don’t need to compete,” Yuxin invited with a smile. Her eyes gleamed, fierce and seductive like a hunt. Greed and desire were displayed on her face without the slightest restraint. “I guarantee that after one night, you will never forget it for the rest of your lives.”

Those around who were eavesdropping couldn’t help but feel a tightening below upon hearing the last sentence. She was truly a deadly enchantress, no man could refuse such a beauty offering herself so proactively.

“We’re not interested in dual cultivation. Miss, please return,” Li Xiuran said.

Yuxin seemed unable to understand. Her gaze swept over the two of them, and she raised an eyebrow. “Could it be that you two are each other’s…? Or I could also turn into a man and be with you both?”

Li Xiuran coughed violently, his face full of black lines.

Mo Xuanli coldly looked at Yuxin and said, “We both have someone in our hearts and must keep ourselves pure. Miss, you are being so enthusiastic, could it be that you have another reason?” Her excessive eagerness made Mo Xuanli feel a hint of suspicion.

Yuxin let out a light laugh. “Someone you love? Fine, you two are really interesting. But I’ve said it already, we could also be friends. Learn the dual cultivation technique from me. In the future, practicing it together with your beloved won’t just improve cultivation, it also has various healing effects.”

“No need,” Li Xiuran said, speechless.

Meanwhile, Mo Xuanli’s eyes flickered, but he quickly calmed himself. “Miss, your choice will be decided soon. You’d better go back.” As soon as the words fell, Mo Xuanli employed a wind-type spell, politely forcing her to stand.

Yuxin glanced at Mo Xuanli. Her gaze was still greedy, but she followed the force of the wind and stood up. As if that still wasn’t enough, Mo Xuanli directly used the wind to force her back onto the stage.

Can’t wait until next week to see more? Want to show your support? Come to my Patreon where you can get 10 or more chapters of After Becoming a High-Risk Master, I Flipped the Script right away ! Or go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! :)