After Becoming a High-Risk Master, I Flipped the Script Chapter 21

It was the beauty of a wedding night in an illusion, the tenderness when the illusion broke. It was what he longed for, what he could no longer suppress. He owned almost nothing; beyond survival, he had no other wish—except for his master. In this world, only his master treated him with genuine care, so he wanted his master for himself.

His master, and his alone.

He looked up at the Sword Demon’s lingering wisp of demonic energy, ambition no longer hidden in his eyes.

The Sword Demon tempted again: “Gu Baiqing is strong. Weaklings don’t deserve him—and you know it. If you stay on the righteous path, you’ll forever be his disciple. And if one day he learns the truth about you, do you think he’ll let you live? To survive, you must be stronger than him.”

“Do you want him? Want him… Then absorb me.”

Mo Xuanli’s gaze flickered. Finally, under the coaxing voice, he slowly raised his hand. The demonic energy drifted closer, merging into his spiritual consciousness.

The demon nature awakened.

…

The raging sea of consciousness gradually calmed as images of Gu Baiqing appeared.

The Sword Demon’s wisp quivered, confused as to why Mo Xuanli had suddenly gone quiet.

The scenes were all moments of Gu Baiqing’s coldness toward Mo Xuanli. Even as a demon, the Sword Demon found such treatment unworthy. What kind of master treats his only disciple this way?

The Sword Demon’s remnant demonic qi thought it had glimpsed the truth, and laughed: “Deep down, you’re unwilling, aren’t you? Just look at your sea of consciousness—full of these images. That means you actually resent your master. Such an aloof person doesn’t even put you in his eyes—you’d love nothing more than to trample him underfoot, right? But you’re too weak. Your strength holds you back, so you can only keep playing the obedient disciple and numb yourself. As long as you’re willing to enter the demonic path, I guarantee you, in just a few years you’ll surpass him. If he dares treat you badly again, you can hit back, give that hypocrite a harsh lesson.”

Mo Xuanli’s gaze left the sea of consciousness and turned to the steadily thinning demonic qi before him. He let out a cold laugh: “If the day comes when I am stronger than him, I will protect him well, never let him suffer the slightest harm. And I will never allow him to risk himself for my sake, standing in front of me to shield me.”

Just thinking of what had happened today—thinking that his master must have once again come for him recklessly, of his own accord—made Mo Xuanli feel he had failed his master’s affection.

“You… you must be insane! That kind of master, and you still want to protect him? Do you enjoy being abused?”

Mo Xuanli almost smiled in pride. “You simply don’t understand how my master treats me. His feelings… his coldness toward me is not his true intention. I know better than anyone how much he wants to treat me well, how much helpless forbearance he endures.”

Those images, to others, looked cold and unfeeling. But to Mo Xuanli, they were constant reminders of the devotion hidden behind the aloof façade—how much struggle and pain Gu Baiqing felt when doing such things. His master already bore so much hardship; all Mo Xuanli could do was take those kindnesses into his heart with gratitude, unable to return them.

And now someone dared to mock and slander him? Mo Xuanli could never tolerate that. He directly tried to take control here and force the demonic qi to vanish.

Sensing the threat, the Sword Demon’s demonic qi grew flustered and anxious, blurting out the most crucial words: “Are you not worried that, once your true identity is exposed, he will kill you? Just look at his thunder strike—he will never tolerate a demon. Once he learns of your bloodline, he will definitely kill you with his own hands. And with a cultivator’s way of training, you can’t beat him—you’ll die at his hands.”

Mo Xuanli’s expression did indeed shift slightly. The Sword Demon’s demonic qi exhaled in relief, grinning smugly, just about to press its persuasion further—

When suddenly, an invisible force began dragging it away. It stared in horror at the man before it, unable to believe its eyes.

Mo Xuanli slowly raised his head, his eyes void of joy or sorrow. “If the day comes when my master wishes to kill me, I will gladly accept death.”

“You… you madman!” the demonic qi roared in the last instant before vanishing.

Mo Xuanli’s consciousness calmly closed its eyes.

Meanwhile, in the outside world, Mo Xuanli had already closed in on Gu Baiqing.

The sight of their distance shrinking made Gu Baiqing’s hair stand on end; he was just about to use spiritual power to strike—

When Mo Xuanli suddenly released his grip on Gu Baiqing’s arm. With his left hand he snatched up Three Bean, who was crouched anxiously on Gu Baiqing’s shoulder, and with his right hand pulled over Yun Yue, whom Gu Baiqing had been holding protectively in the crook of his arm in the rush just now.

One in each hand, a pull and a toss—he flung them both to the side.

Gu Baiqing, thinking Mo Xuanli was about to attack someone else, froze in place.

Before him, Mo Xuanli’s eyes were red—stained by demonic qi, yes, but more like a child sulking—roughly throwing aside anything in the way.

Just as Gu Baiqing was completely at a loss, he saw Mo Xuanli reach out to pat his shoulder on one side, brushing off a few cat hairs, then dust off the crook of his other arm as if removing dirt from his clothing.

Gu Baiqing was utterly dumbfounded, staring in disbelief. This wasn’t how the original plot went at all.

Then, Mo Xuanli suddenly knelt before him, clutching the hem of Gu Baiqing’s robes with both hands, murmuring something in a low, aggrieved tone.

Gu Baiqing calmed himself and listened.

“Master hates others touching you. I can’t touch you. No one else can touch you either.”

Gu Baiqing: Uh… even while out of control, he still follows the rules?

“Master… Master… you’re my master. A master should act like a master. You’re the most important person to me. Your disciple really can’t… you… you… could you not…”

Gu Baiqing: ?????

What in the world is he saying?

But before Gu Baiqing could hear clearly, Mo Xuanli collapsed unconscious, the demonic qi within him dispersing completely.

As Mo Xuanli fainted, the demonic value kept dropping—

Until it finally returned to its original level.

Gu Baiqing could hardly believe his eyes. This was… a fright with no real harm done? A false alarm?

Deflating like a punctured ball, he slumped to the ground, glancing speechlessly at the unconscious Mo Xuanli. “You really scared me to death!”

“Master, what’s wrong with Xuanli? He’s not hurt, is he?” Three Bean, who had been inexplicably flung away, hurried over to ask.

“He should be fine now. Go check on Yun Yue.” Gu Baiqing let out a breath. Logically, if the demonic value hadn’t changed, that meant Mo Xuanli’s demonic nature hadn’t been triggered. Looks like his own efforts weren’t wasted. Maybe that last bit of demonic qi wasn’t large enough to tempt Mo Xuanli, so it vanished without succeeding. After all, Mo Xuanli had no strong obsessions right now.

Once again, Gu Baiqing was certain Mo Xuanli harbored no great rebellious ambition—and the troublesome plot had been thrown into disarray. His straight-man path was just getting smoother and smoother.

Thinking this, Gu Baiqing felt suddenly light all over, even seeing a beautiful future beckoning to him.

But… what did Mo Xuanli’s earlier words mean?

The more he thought about it, the more it sounded like… Gu Baiqing quickly figured it out. Probably the kid was still worried about the matter of changing masters.

He hadn’t expected Mo Xuanli to be so sensitive—Gu Baiqing hadn’t even brought it up, and yet he’d kept it on his mind for so long.

Logically, telling Mo Xuanli now that he wouldn’t change masters wouldn’t be a problem.

But the very moment the thought arose, Gu Baiqing felt uneasy, as if there were still a trap waiting. This was the ultimate move to sever the “master-disciple romance” plotline—he wasn’t about to give it up easily. Sorry, but he still wouldn’t go soft.

Unless Mo Xuanli fell in love with someone else, there was still a one-in-ten-thousand chance of being dragged back into the plot—after all, this world’s plotlines were tricky and unpredictable.

Gu Baiqing calmed his mind and carefully checked the system interface:

【Cultivation Progress: Mid Foundation Establishment 50%, Account Points: 55, Demonization Value: 7.】

While checking, Gu Baiqing let his thoughts wander. In the original plot, Mo Xuanli had taken the treasure before encountering the Sword Demon, which meant the items were already in his hands?

He had intended to look for them to ease his mind—after all, it concerned his mission—but voices from above interrupted.

Everyone had come over. Fu Zhiyi was the first to rush forward and grab Gu Baiqing. After observing carefully, he relaxed and whispered, “Still so reckless. Didn’t I tell you not to act alone? Senior Brother nearly had a heart attack from you.”

Gu Baiqing glanced at the others from the sects and clans behind him. Clearly, they were concerned about the strange situation here. Worried about conflicting statements, Gu Baiqing simply gave a brief answer, saying it involved demons, and that the detailed account should wait until the disciple woke up. Then he assumed a thoughtful, inscrutable demeanor.

Meanwhile, the fissure in the ground no longer had any trace of demonic qi, which left everyone puzzled.

Since the situation was unclear, they first left to find people to treat the wounded.

After coming out, Gu Baiqing looked at Ten Thousand Swords Island and almost didn’t recognize it.

A third of the land was scorched. Seeing all the remaining fragments of spirit swords and the buzzing of residual electricity, Gu Baiqing realized it was probably the effect of his last move.

He didn’t dwell on it; he still had confidence in his own strength.

Back on the platform, the group summoned healers to treat Mo Xuanli and Yun Yue.

Both recovered consciousness quickly.

By now, representatives from the various sects and clans had gathered in the cabin. After all, anything involving demons was serious business.

Mo Xuanli, freshly awake, immediately tried to find his master. As expected, his master sat nearby, only giving him a faint glance as he rose.

Mo Xuanli remembered what had happened in his sea of consciousness and in reality. He felt some lingering fear—he had just acted recklessly, but fortunately hadn’t said anything he shouldn’t have.

He looked at Gu Baiqing with some guilt, just as someone asked about what had happened in the fissure.

Mo Xuanli’s expression shifted as he considered how to answer.

Gu Baiqing calmly explained the situation, completely omitting the fact that Mo Xuanli had been influenced by demonic qi. Upon hearing this, Mo Xuanli’s eyes brightened—he realized his master had deliberately protected him.

His master… truly… was always upright and fair in handling matters, yet for him had deliberately bent the truth. That was not the usual way a master treated a disciple. This left Mo Xuanli deeply conflicted, overwhelmed by the intense affection he could not bear.

When Gu Baiqing finished his part, he said, “I don’t know about what happened before. Listen to what the other two say.”

Yun Yue, just waking, shivered at the mention of demons: “I’m not sure either. I only encountered the suddenly frenzied island guardian, and then was thrown down. I tried to fly with my sword, but it wouldn’t obey. After falling into the fissure, everything went black, and then I knew nothing more.”

Mo Xuanli cooperated: “I went to rescue Senior Sister, but the sword suddenly wouldn’t obey. I fell, but didn’t lose consciousness. After landing, I searched for her, and when I found her… we suddenly encountered the Sword Demon. It tried to tempt me, wanting me to bring it out, but I ignored it, only wanting to escape with Senior Sister. Then Master appeared.”

Mo Xuanli hesitated, but didn’t mention that he had found a stone. He knew if he did, everyone would laugh. He wasn’t afraid of embarrassment, but as Elder Luofeng’s direct disciple, not sensing a spirit sword but a stone instead would make his master a laughingstock—so he remained silent.

After hearing everything, the crowd began to discuss among themselves. The healer reminded them that the two patients needed rest.

Everyone left to deliberate.

“The Sword Demon is the previous Demon Lord’s sword. As a sword with a soul, it became a Sword Demon. Whether as a weapon or in solo combat, it’s extremely powerful. But in the Celestial-Demon War, it was broken by Baili Xianzun, then went missing—yet here it appears.”

“The question is, who brought this Sword Demon here? And why can’t it leave on its own? Though Ten Thousand Swords Island has a barrier, with the sword’s intelligence, it should be able to leave.”

“This matter definitely requires investigation.”

“But cultivators just casually throw swords here. Few records exist, so it may be difficult to investigate.”

“And I think the most likely scenario is that the Sword Demon disguised itself and ended up here by accident.”

“Impossible. This place is full of spiritual energy, which is bad for the Sword Demon’s recovery. Why would it come here?”

The crowd chattered incessantly, feeling the matter extremely strange.

Originally, Gu Baiqing hadn’t thought it odd, but hearing them, it seemed the Sword Demon appearing here itself was abnormal. Could it be that the novel world arranged this, ignoring logic, just to give the male lead a golden finger and trigger Mo Xuanli’s demonic awakening?

Gu Baiqing considered it and thought, well, this is a novel world, so such manipulation is acceptable.

“If only one piece had been left behind, it could be investigated properly. This accident leaves me uneasy,” someone lamented. “Elder Luofeng acted too quickly.”

“I didn’t expect the broken sword to be so fragile,” Gu Baiqing lied.

“One move, Thunder Strike, from Elder Luofeng—its power is undiminished. We saw it from the platform, which is how we could trace it,” someone said ambiguously.

Gu Baiqing assumed they were being polite, and replied, “Not bad, I guess.”

After finishing, he noticed the crowd giving him strange looks.

Gu Baiqing was puzzled. At that moment, Fu Zhiyi patted his shoulder, as if silently offering some comfort.

Gu Baiqing: ???

“You rest first, I’ll come find you later,” Fu Zhiyi said with a silent sigh.

The others also gave a few awkward laughs. They naturally still had to gather together to discuss the next steps for handling the matter. This wasn’t something Gu Baiqing should be involved in.

And Gu Baiqing had no patience to stay. He had something important to take care of.

D*mn it, Mo Xuanli hadn’t mentioned the stone just now. Could it be he didn’t find that treasure?

In the original story, Mo Xuanli did mention it, and was mocked by everyone.

Gu Baiqing had been waiting to see that scene—after all, it was a fixed plot in the original. When Mo Xuanli obtained his life-bound magic weapon, all the current mockery would turn into resounding slaps in their faces. The more ridicule now, the louder the slap later.

But just now, Mo Xuanli hadn’t mentioned it at all. Did that mean he really didn’t find it? Wouldn’t that mean the mission couldn’t be completed?

No way—he had to confirm. If it really wasn’t found, they had to immediately return to Ten Thousand Swords Island.

At this moment, inside the cabin, Mo Xuanli was in a daze. Although he had lied just now, he definitely had to tell his master the truth later. But… what if his master became disappointed in him?

Mo Xuanli felt a little dejected. Why was it that he found nothing at all? Even if it was just an ordinary sword, that would be fine—yet all he had was a rock.

He let out a silent sigh and suddenly heard the sound of the door opening.

Mo Xuanli instinctively shut his eyes and heard Three Bean call out “Master.”

It was his master.

Then he… wait—he still hadn’t figured out what to say. He was afraid of facing that disappointed gaze. Maybe… maybe he should just sleep a bit longer until he was mentally prepared?

As he was thinking this, he heard his master tell Three Bean to step outside. Three Bean, though puzzled, obediently left.

Strange—what was master going to do?

Suddenly, he felt his master come closer. Two hands gently lifted the blanket. Mo Xuanli’s heart clenched.

Master?

Then those hands touched his chest, even slipping inside his robe. Mo Xuanli’s body went rigid in an instant, unable to breathe.

Master… what is master doing?

The rustling hands searched around, then moved toward his waist.

Mo Xuanli tried hard to steady his breathing. Everywhere the hands touched felt as if it were on fire—tingling and unbearably itchy.

While he was unconscious… his master was actually…

Master… how could you!

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