After Becoming a High-Risk Master, I Flipped the Script Chapter 61

Mo Xuanli shot upright. He closed his eyes to use the master-disciple bond to sense—but felt nothing.

No matter how far apart, there should have been some directional pull—unless his master was hidden within a barrier.

Seeing the room crisscrossed with red threads, his fury erupted. A single fire spell burned them all away. At the same moment, Si Chun also finally broke free.

“Three Bean, do you know where Master was taken?”

“I don’t. I was injured at the time, I only saw Master threatened—grabbed by the Love Demon’s red threads—and then she vanished in an instant. I can’t sense her either. She must have been taken by that demon.”

Mo Xuanli’s eyes turned sharply toward Si Chun.

“I… I don’t know,” Si Chun said quickly. “I was with you the whole time.”

“I know. I mean for you to sense Ruiyao. Don’t you also have a master-disciple bond with her?” Mo Xuanli said sternly.

Si Chun suddenly realized—she had forgotten. She closed her eyes to sense at once.

“No good. I can’t sense her. I’m not lying. Master is a fallen cultivator—only when she maintains her spiritual cultivator state can I sense her. If she’s in demon form, I can’t.” Si Chun hurried to explain.

Mo Xuanli did not doubt Si Chun, but silently took Three Bean and rushed out.

He needed to find Ji Chuling for help!

Yet as soon as he stepped outside, he saw Ji Chuling also trapped by the passion net in the courtyard—and this place was none other than the City Lord’s residence. Mo Xuanli’s eyes darkened; in that instant he understood several things.

He immediately stepped forward and burned away the red threads. Since the passion net’s master was no longer controlling it, to Mo Xuanli it was nothing more than a dead object—easily dealt with.

Once the red threads were destroyed, Ji Chuling slowly awakened.

“Young Master Mo, you—”

“Please, sense for the demon clan!”

Ji Chuling froze. How did he even know she could sense demons?

Forget it. Looking around, she quickly realized that after she fainted, Gu Baiqing must have been taken away.

Not wasting any more time, Ji Chuling hurried to try. But it was useless. “I’m sorry, I really can’t sense anything. The formation here—”

Before she could finish, Mo Xuanli had already taken off into the distance, Si Chun following after him in grim silence.

Though worried for them, Ji Chuling could not bring herself to leave Li Xiuran unattended in such circumstances. For now, she could only return to guard him. What’s more, after experiencing that passion net illusion, like a bone-deep love trial, her feelings for Li Xiuran had only deepened.

Seeing Li Xiuran still in meditation, she could only wait anxiously. But then another thought struck her—hadn’t that demon earlier said that Big Brother Mo Bai was Gu Baiqing?

Gu Baiqing… wasn’t he Mo Xuanli’s master?!!!

“Where are you going?” Si Chun caught up with Mo Xuanli, asking worriedly.

But Mo Xuanli ignored her, questioning Three Bean instead about what had just happened. Every detail—he had to know.

And when he heard that his master had used a spirit crystal for him, Mo Xuanli’s heart clenched tight. He had clearly told his master—that crystal was meant for him to use for his sake. Why…

He had planned to collect the crystal, then return to Zixiao Sect with his master to consult Third Senior Uncle, to see if there was a way to treat his condition. From his earlier research with Third Uncle, they had already learned that even top-grade spirit stones were useless for him—only the crystal held hope. How could it be wasted here? For him to form a golden core, top-grade spirit stones would have sufficed. His master… was far too foolish.

Mo Xuanli’s chest ached. And then, hearing that the enemy had threatened his master with him, forcing him to yield, he bit down hard, the taste of blood flooding his mouth, his heart feeling as if it would split apart.

What had he done? How could he be so useless? Why did he choose this moment to break through? Why had he left his master to face danger alone, sacrificing himself for him?

Cruel resolve began to flicker in Mo Xuanli’s eyes.

Si Chun ran alongside him for a while before suddenly realizing, “You mean to find Zhuo Ling? Do you even know where he is?”

Mo Xuanli gave a cold snort. “I don’t. But I can make him come out obediently.”

From a secret chamber, Zhuo Ling emerged with a stormy face. He was about to deal with the mess Ruiyao had left behind, when suddenly a figure flashed before him.

“Come out.”

Lin Ningshuang slowly walked forward. “What was that just now? Weren’t two of those people guests? And the other woman… she didn’t seem right, almost like a demon! You… what exactly are you doing?”

“Deputy City Lord Lin, mind your own affairs. Don’t meddle in mine.”

Lin Ningshuang quickly pressed, “Zhuo Ling… there’s a huge incident outside at the spirit vein, and you’re not going to intervene? What on earth—”

Before she could finish, Zhuo Ling’s face suddenly twisted.

Lin Ningshuang, watching him, was startled by the abrupt change. It was as if he had been struck by some invisible attack, his heart stabbed by a blade.

“Zhuo Ling, what’s wrong? Are you unwell?” she asked in alarm.

But in that moment, Zhuo Ling’s eyes bulged wide, veins bursting red, and he shot into the air on his sword.

Thinking some great calamity had happened, Lin Ningshuang hurried after him.

To her shock, the direction he flew was toward the main residence—the very room where that woman lay.

Could it be that something had happened to her? That would indeed explain Zhuo Ling’s drastic reaction. After all, he had taken the curse of the bride upon himself for the safety of the entire Star-Stepping City—this was his chosen burden.

Rushing into the room, Lin Ningshuang expected to see some monstrous change. But no.

The woman still lay intact and silent on the bed, the same as always. Yet at her throat rested a sword—and beside the bed stood two figures.

One was a woman she had never seen. The other was one of the guests—Mo Xuanli.

“You…” Lin Ningshuang was stunned. If that woman was an enemy, then these people holding a sword to her should be allies, right?

But then, beside her, Zhuo Ling began to tremble all over, his voice breaking with fury: “What are you doing? Let her go! If you dare harm her even a fraction, I’ll see every one of you die here!”

Lin Ningshuang froze. That tone—it didn’t sound like someone protecting innocents from triggering a curse. It sounded like… someone terrified that woman might be hurt.

“That depends on whether you cooperate. Where is my master? Where is Ruiyao?”

Zhuo Ling’s heart jolted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I welcomed you with good faith, and this is how you repay me?”

“Seems the City Lord doesn’t care all that much for his wife.” Mo Xuanli’s voice was cold, and with a flick of his wrist, the sword at the woman’s throat pressed just a little deeper, a hair’s breadth from piercing her.

But the woman on the bed remained utterly still. Instead, Zhuo Ling lost all composure, roaring, “Don’t!”

“Enough wasting time, City Lord. You and Ruiyao are in league. You lured us here, altered the formation to suppress my master’s power. It was your formation that masked Ruiyao’s demonic aura. Still going to play dumb?”

Zhuo Ling glared venomously at Mo Xuanli, his wrist twitching.

“You can test it if you like—whether your formation can strike me down faster, or my sword cuts off her head faster.” Mo Xuanli’s eyes were sharp with ruthless certainty, as if he had already seen through everything.

Zhuo Ling instantly froze, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. “She’s just a weak woman, she’s a good person. Is this how your so-called righteous sects treat mortals? Is this what your master taught you?” Zhuo Ling shouted angrily: “If you’ve got a problem, come at me—don’t hurt her.”

“Heh, Zhuo Ling, do you take me for a fool? I know you must have made some deal with Ruiyao. Even when I threaten you like this, you won’t agree, insisting on stalling me here—because what she promised you also has to do with this woman, doesn’t it? The bride’s curse of Star-Stepping City… is it really a curse?”

Until Mo Xuanli said this, Lin Ningshuang, who had been overwhelmed by the torrent of information and nearly fainting, finally lifted her head slowly to look at Zhuo Ling.

“Zhuo Ling, why are you so worried about her? Weren’t you forced to marry her? Didn’t you marry her for the safety of Star-Stepping City? Unless… unless you’ve fallen in love with her? Impossible… When you first met her, Zhu Si… Zhu Si was already a…”

“Shut up! She’s not—she’s not dead.”

“Heh?” Mo Xuanli mercilessly reached out, seizing Zhu Si by the throat and lifting her as if she were a puppet without a soul.

Though there was faint breath, she was like a corpse. Even with her feet dangling in the air, there was no trace of struggle or pain.

Zhuo Ling’s eyes widened as Mo Xuanli’s action sank in.

“A corpse. A corpse dead for six or seven years, merely with some wandering souls bound to it, making her seem like the living.” Mo Xuanli exposed coldly: “But that’s none of my concern. I’ll count to three. If you don’t lead the way, I’ll tear her apart. I don’t care if she’s the corpse of a good person—I only know, you dare try to harm my master, then you all must pay the price!”

“Three.”

Zhuo Ling trembled. He could hardly believe it—this young man who once seemed refined, courteous, so easily bound by morality—turned out to be even more terrifying than Ruiyao. But how could he agree? If Ruiyao’s plan was ruined, then Zhu Si would never come back.

“Two.”

Si Chun stared blankly at Mo Xuanli. Standing beside him, she herself could feel the chill and killing intent. She didn’t think Mo Xuanli was a cruel person, but she could tell he would indeed do such a thing for his master.

But at that thought, Si Chun cursed herself for being young, naïve, soft-hearted. To save one’s own, in front of the enemy, one mustn’t falter.

“One…”

Mo Xuanli’s grip suddenly tightened, Zhu Si’s neck visibly sinking in.

“I’ll take you!” Zhuo Ling finally broke, his face completely drained of color, his mental defenses collapsing. He knew if he didn’t lead them now, Zhu Si’s body would be destroyed in Mo Xuanli’s hands.

“Move!” Mo Xuanli, holding Zhu Si’s body hostage, forced Zhuo Ling to lead the way.

Seeing Mo Xuanli’s cold expression, Zhuo Ling knew there was no room for bargaining. He also understood now—even the most docile puppy, if you try to snatch the bone from its mouth, it will fight to the death. Powerless, he sneered: “Sure enough, you’re his disciple—just as cold-blooded and heartless.”

“Is that so? Better than you—who can’t protect the one you love, and endangers your own people,” Mo Xuanli shot back mockingly.

Zhuo Ling’s face darkened further.

At this moment, Lin Ningshuang finally couldn’t hold back, rushing forward to clutch Zhuo Ling’s arm. “What on earth are you all talking about? Zhuo Ling, what’s the truth between you and Zhu Si? Tell me! Back then… wasn’t it because Zhu Si’s restless spirit caused Star-Stepping City’s calamity, and you proposed marrying her yourself, completing the ghost marriage, to bear Zhu Si’s resentment in place of the townsfolk?”

Zhuo Ling gave Lin Ningshuang a cold look. “You should ask your father. He was clearly a cultivator, yet he believed rumors of mountain gods stirring trouble, and even took the initiative to choose Zhu Si as a sacrifice.”

Lin Ningshuang’s face went pale in an instant. She remembered—back then, her father had been furious with Zhuo Ling, saying he was disobedient, unruly.

But soon after, Star-Stepping City had its disaster. Zhuo Ling was busy without pause, and she couldn’t see him again until the city had to rely on sacrifice to resolve the problem, and Zhu Si was chosen.

Since childhood, she had a marriage agreement with Zhuo Ling, but he loved his freedom and never acknowledged it. Once away, he pursued the rumored celestial beauty Ruiyao. Though she herself had a bit of cultivation talent, she had never left Star-Stepping City, only learning superficial skills. Naturally, she didn’t dare compare with a fairy. But Ruiyao rejected Zhuo Ling, and when he returned, she thought they would finally wed… If Zhuo Ling had once liked Zhu Si, and her father discovered it, her father indeed was the sort of man who, to ensure she became the city lord’s wife, would take extreme measures.

Not long after Zhu Si’s death, Zhuo Ling returned with the truth, things calmed down. He shut himself in his room for a long time. She thought he regretted coming back too late, failing to correct the tragedy. But perhaps, he was hating… thinking of revenge? And afterwards, her father died. Could it be… her father’s death—

Lin Ningshuang froze, watching helplessly as the others left, not daring to move. Everything terrified her too much to think further.

Beneath the City Lord’s manor was a secret chamber.

The chamber’s walls were covered with demonic formations, and over the arrays were countless red threads woven into a net of passion, like a spider’s web.

Inside, Gu Baiqing and Ruiyao were bound within.

It was an enhanced form of the Love Demon’s magic—her trump card, dragging people into a world of passion. To bestow anyone with the seven emotions and six desires—so that even the most detached monk would fall in love within it.

This was Ruiyao the Love Demon’s special design for Gu Baiqing.

She believed Gu Baiqing only failed to love her because he didn’t understand love. If he did, if he grew feelings, then he would surely love her.

She wove for Gu Baiqing a beautiful dream—they could meet anew, fall in love again, marry, bear children, share a lifetime together. She didn’t believe that, under such circumstances, once awake, Gu Baiqing could still reject her.

She wanted Gu Baiqing to fall hopelessly in love with her. She wanted Gu Baiqing to fall into demonhood for her.

And when Mo Xuanli rushed into the secret chamber, what he saw was the two entangled together, Ruiyao leaning against Gu Baiqing’s chest. A surge of fury immediately burst forth in him.

The God Nine Transformations in his hand sensed its master’s fury, erupting into its sixth form—a long whip.

With a sharp snap, it lashed out with force, only to be blocked by an unseen barrier.

“Useless. This place is covered with demonic formations—you can’t get in. Even if you did—”

Before Zhuo Ling could finish, there came a sharp crack. He looked up, stunned, to see Mo Xuanli crush the invisible barrier with his bare hands.

“How… is that possible?”

Si Chun, too, was taken aback, though she didn’t think much further. None of them noticed that, for an instant, a red glow spread through the depths of Mo Xuanli’s eyes before quickly retreating.

When Mo Xuanli came back to himself, he realized he had briefly lost control. He had felt this before, but there was no time now to dwell on fear—he had to save his master!

“Can you return my wife to me now?” Zhuo Ling immediately asked.

That question sobered Mo Xuanli.

“You go in first. Take me to my master.”

Zhuo Ling hadn’t expected his question to cause trouble for himself. This boy was far too shrewd.

He had spoken only because he feared Zhu Si might be in danger if taken inside.

“What’s wrong? Afraid?” Mo Xuanli pressed.

Zhuo Ling’s cheek twitched in anger. “Boy, she’s right here, safe—that proves it. When they come out of the illusion, Gu Baiqing will be fine. You must’ve heard their story: Ruiyao won’t bear to kill Gu Baiqing, she won’t take his life. You’ve no need to risk going in. I’ll tell you straight: this web of passion isn’t the same as what you faced before. Once inside, you too will be trapped in its illusion, unable to escape. In there, Ruiyao is the heavens themselves—none of you can beat her. And she may not be merciful to others. So don’t go throwing your lives away!”

Mo Xuanli was about to speak when Si Chun said: “That is my master. I will bear it. Let me go in for you. I swear I will bring Elder Luofeng out safe and sound.”

Without waiting, Si Chun rushed straight into the web of passion. But the instant she entered, she was caught midair like a puppet with its strings cut, instantly ensnared.

“I know illusions, Xuanli, don’t worry—I’ll save Master!” Three Bean too hurled himself in without hesitation.

“I told you, none of you can fight Ruiyao in there, you—” Zhuo Ling was still speaking when a sudden force shoved him into the web.

Startled, he turned back toward the ruthless youth, only to see that boy carefully lay Zhu Si aside before leaping in after him.

“My master—I’ll save him myself.”

How could he ever entrust his master’s safety to someone else?

With a crack of the whip, he coiled it around his master’s waist and yanked back, finally managing to separate Gu Baiqing and Ruiyao amidst the tangle of red threads.

In the next moment, Gu Baiqing’s body fell into Mo Xuanli’s arms—and right then, Mo Xuanli too was drawn into the illusion.