After Becoming a High-Risk Master, I Flipped the Script Chapter 71

In the original story, the master awoke to find himself already in a brothel room, and was very displeased that his disciple had chosen such a place.

After all, not just the incense and atmosphere, but the music and the lack of soundproofing—all these distractions were utterly unsuitable for cultivators, making it impossible to stay calm.

At the time, the disciple said there was no other lodging, so they had no choice but to stay there. The master had readily believed him.

But while dubbing, Gu Baiqing had always thought it was an excuse—that the wicked disciple had deliberately chosen a shameful place to satisfy his own unspeakable thoughts.

Never did he expect it was in fact true that there was nowhere else to stay, and now they’d been stopped and pushed into the brothel.

Truly being dragged forward by the plot.

“Oh, two young masters! Then all the more reason to stay here. What family would let two grown men from outside lodge with them? You won’t find anywhere else unless you sleep in the streets. I can see you’re gentlemen, surely not used to rough places. Our environment is guaranteed, and we don’t eat people. If you don’t want to call for girls, just treat it like a restaurant-inn-tavern, eat, drink, and sleep, that’s all.”

At this, Mo Xuanli seemed somewhat convinced. He glanced back at Gu Baiqing, worried his master would be unhappy, his eyes cautious. Gu Baiqing felt a headache coming on, but after weighing it, finally nodded agreement.

“Master, don’t worry. I’ll clean it up later,” Mo Xuanli promised, thinking that such a refined master would surely despise the filth of this place, and fearing to wrong him.

Gu Baiqing, apart from the inner discomfort of being shoved along by the original plot, was actually a little curious about such a place.

But once inside, it was quieter than he imagined. There were girls dancing on stage, tables below not fully occupied, some guests upstairs, but overall not very lively.

“Young masters came at the wrong time,” the tout sighed. “Recently… ever since the Immortal Statue, many guests have stopped coming.”

“Isn’t the statue supposed to grant wishes?” Mo Xuanli probed.

“Yes. Ever since word spread about that wastrel turning over a new leaf, lots of households’ womenfolk go to the Immortal to pray. Who knows if those men were truly enlightened, or just scared into not coming—but our business has suffered.”

Hearing this, the two understood why the tout outside had been dragging even lodging-seekers in.

But once he realized the two really wouldn’t call for girls, he suddenly insisted there was only one room available. Just one, enough for both to stay. The rest, he claimed, had been reserved. Clearly trying to cut costs. Even offering more money didn’t work. Unfortunately, Mo Xuanli wasn’t the kind to throw weight around—he hadn’t brought much money on the journey, especially while caring for Gu Baiqing, so he couldn’t just wave his hand and blind everyone with wealth.

So in the end, when the two were shown into the same room, Gu Baiqing deeply felt the crisis of being dragged by the plot—so angry he almost wanted to go rob that Immortal’s Jade Statue and once again become a nouveau riche.

“Forgive me, Master. Luckily this room is quiet and secluded, not too noisy. Please sit, I’ll tidy it up.”

Still obedient and considerate, Mo Xuanli swiftly took out supplies from his storage pouch, giving the room a complete makeover. He had prepared them just in case, and indeed they came in handy, since resting here would otherwise be a real trial—especially when he found a whole box of indecent items in the bedside cabinet, making him feel even more that bringing his master here was disrespectful.

He even replaced all the incense in the room. When the brothel staff came back later, they probably wouldn’t recognize it.

“Master, I’ll go to the kitchen to prepare some food and drink.”

“Let the staff—”

“No, I’ll make it clean myself. Please wait here,” Mo Xuanli said.

In this matter, Mo Xuanli was exceptionally earnest. Seeing him like this, Gu Baiqing’s inner discomfort finally eased.

He came to sit down by the bed and immediately began meditating. Three Bean had already slept enough inside the carriage; stretching lazily, it said, “So boring, Master, I’m going out for a stroll.”

“Mhm, be careful.”

The little wildcat darted out the window in a flash, off for their walk.

Before long Mo Xuanli returned. Seeing his disciple looking both gloomy and embarrassed, Gu Baiqing pondered a little.

“Master, tomorrow we must change to another place. This place is really no good.”

Gu Baiqing held back a laugh. He knew that just now the boy must have been pestered badly by the young ladies. With a face like that out in the open, there’d surely be no shortage of girls willing to throw themselves at him.

It’s just that this disciple of his was pure and innocent—completely the opposite of the “wayward disciple” in the original text.

The one in the original was eager to watch his master’s awkwardness and shyness in such places, until at last he had no choice but to yield. But this little disciple now, unable to bear the chirping swallows and warbling orioles here, only wanted to escape as fast as possible. Thinking of it that way, he really was a bit adorable.

“What’s the matter?” Gu Baiqing asked, pretending not to understand.

Mo Xuanli was somewhat depressed, but in the end only said one word: “Noisy.”

In truth, when he had gone out earlier, he really had been entangled by the young women. But Mo Xuanli handled it calmly, rejecting them from a thousand miles away. The moment his aura spread, a few, who dared to try, hit a wall and backed off, and no one else dared approach.

The old madam, a shrewd one, on hearing their situation and seeing how Mo Xuanli was utterly unmoved by women, his gaze straight as a blade, treating them like air—instantly understood. She came right up and stuffed a book into Mo Xuanli’s hands. “Young master, if there’s anything you need, just say. My house has all the tools and medicines you could ask for. As long as young master enjoys himself, this servant has done her duty.”

Sure enough, the madam never let slip a chance at business.

Mo Xuanli, utterly confused, looked at the book without a cover in front of him. Without thinking much, he casually flipped it open—and in an instant, as if it caught fire in his hands, the book was flung straight down the building.

“Young master…” The madam was startled. But turning her head and seeing Mo Xuanli’s face—first red to the ears, then black with anger—she dared not say more.

Mo Xuanli, both furious and embarrassed, gave a warning and left. Yet, unbidden, the two pages of little stick-figure drawings that had flashed through his mind would not disperse.

The first, he had seen something similar before—much like the jade therapy pool—only this one was in a bath tub, from behind…

The second, someone’s clothes half-falling, hands bound with red cord, straddling another, actively seeking pleasure…

And the moment the scene lodged in memory, the figures atop were automatically replaced with… What sort of expression would appear then?

“Xuanli!” Gu Baiqing’s voice suddenly broke Mo Xuanli’s thoughts.

Mo Xuanli instantly panicked, bowing his head, not daring to look at his master. “What?”

“What are you daydreaming for? I asked what formation you plan to use?” Gu Baiqing said.

Mo Xuanli swallowed several times before the heavy, blocked feeling in his throat eased. When he finally spoke, his voice was slightly low, but not hoarse.

“It’s a formation I thought of myself. I’ll set it up later—please guide me, Master.” Mo Xuanli gradually steadied himself, as though all that had just flashed through his mind had been mere illusion. He dared not think further.

Gu Baiqing nodded. After they finished supper, Mo Xuanli began arranging the formation in the room.

Gu Baiqing examined it closely. It resembled the sensing array of the Zixiao Sect. If it were indeed a Zixiao Sect array, it was specifically for detecting demons and spirits. But its range and duration varied according to the caster’s power. With Mo Xuanli’s current strength, it should be far from enough to cover Linxun Town, and even its time would be short. But this one before him was a little different.

“What did you draw? Is it for sensing?”

“This is an improved version, combined with the array of City Lord Zhuo’s family from Star-Stepping City. Their array can be driven even with a small amount of spiritual power. I merged that part into the Zixiao Sect’s formation, so now even with little spiritual power, it can sense the whole of Linxun Town.” Mo Xuanli explained.

Gu Baiqing’s eyes lit up in amazement. Truly worthy of being the legendary study god—see it once, grasp it, and even innovate on it. If not for his own system and memories, he really couldn’t have taught him.

“But since it’s the first time, I don’t know if it will work…”

“It should be fine.” Heh, joking—how could the male lead’s attempts possibly fail? They must all become miracles.

Mo Xuanli’s innovation, acknowledged by his master, made him smile shyly. Soon he sat within the formation.

As the array activated, spiritual power began to ripple within the room. A faint radiance gathered upon Mo Xuanli’s body. His white robes billowed as if in the wind, making him look like an immortal suspended in midair.

Suddenly, something extended from Mo Xuanli and wrapped around.

Gu Baiqing did not resist, for he saw it was the whip formed by God Nine Transformations’s transformation, which bound his wrist.

The next instant, Gu Baiqing saw the vision Mo Xuanli was seeing. Likely Mo Xuanli had discovered something and wanted to discuss it with him, thus pulling him into the formation together.

They could see the entirety of Linxun Town, as though it had turned into a map of glittering points before them. Beside him stood Mo Xuanli.

Mo Xuanli pointed to one spot. “Three Bean ran out?”

“Mhm, went for a walk.”

Mo Xuanli then pointed to a larger, brighter spot. “That’s a cultivator with spiritual power. Seems like from the cultivation world, it isn’t only us who came here.”

Gu Baiqing arched his brow. Naturally, he knew who it was. They would soon meet an old friend.

“What else?”

Mo Xuanli shook his head. “I didn’t sense anything strange—no demons or monsters. Perhaps the other party is at least two realms above me, so they’re concealed and I can’t feel them. Otherwise, there really are none. But I lean toward the former. Only a pity I couldn’t find Senior Brother Zhu’s traces.”

This mission was to slay the puppet master. The aura of puppets is entirely different from demons or monsters, so how could it be sensed? Still, after this experience, Mo Xuanli would surely be able to further refine this array.

Unfortunately, Gu Baiqing couldn’t remind him, and could only accompany Mo Xuanli in watching the false starry sea spread across the sky. Still, it was quite beautiful, like the Milky Way displayed vertically before their eyes.

“If you can’t sense anything, then leave it. Don’t waste spiritual power,” Gu Baiqing reminded.

Mo Xuanli nodded and immediately withdrew the formation.

But just as Gu Baiqing came back to his senses, he realized his body was still in a forward-falling posture, and his hands had been mischievously bound together by God Nine Transformations, making it even harder to keep his balance. So when Mo Xuanli opened his eyes, the very first thing he saw was his master toppling straight toward him.

For a split second, the sight of Gu Baiqing’s posture made Mo Xuanli think of something, and his own movements inexplicably slowed a beat—as if, if it went on like this, his master would end up sitting on him…

Suddenly, a heavy weight pressed against his chest. Gu Baiqing’s palms braced against him, and with a nimble flip, he vaulted directly over Mo Xuanli’s head.

When Mo Xuanli turned back in shock, Gu Baiqing had already landed steadily, his landing flawless, his face full of displeasure as he tugged off God Nine Transformations’s binding. “Mischievous thing!”

Though he scolded God Nine Transformations, Gu Baiqing was sweating inside. Truly, being swept along by the plot here was riddled with dangerous set-ups. If he hadn’t kept taut as a bowstring all this time, he really would have fallen into the trap today.

Gu Baiqing coughed lightly and turned his head. “Since we didn’t find anything, tonight we’ll make a night visit to the Immortal Temple.”

Mo Xuanli nodded, though he seemed a little uneasy.

When night had fallen silent, the two arrived outside the Immortal Temple, only to see the inside brightly lit. Clearly, the “devout” worshippers came day and night to pray.

As soon as they drew close, they heard the sound of arguing from within.

“Madam Wen, we all know you’re worried about your husband and want him to return quickly. But missing persons truly aren’t managed by the Immortal—you should go to the yamen.”

“Don’t say we’re bullying a woman, but with you occupying this place night after night, how are we supposed to seek the Immortal’s help? We’re sincere too!”

“Lu Sulan, I’m still considered your elder. Give us a little time. We just want to ask the Immortal for blessed marriages for our children.”

The voices sounded familiar. Looking through the window, the two saw Wu Hongxi being dragged in—sure enough, the Wu family and Zhou family had come here to ask the Immortal to change her. Likely, after she had resisted again upon returning home, they had finally decided to seek ghosts and gods for aid. It seemed they truly believed this could change a person, and even thought it a good thing—probably because they had seen too many “positive cases.”

Lu Sulan was the woman kneeling before the jade statue of the Immortal, kowtowing, her face pale and devout, a red patch already marking her forehead from who knew how long she had been at it. After being rebuked by the others, she rose proudly, preparing to leave in anger. Before leaving, she gave Wu Hongxi a disdainful glance. “She doesn’t even want to marry, what’s the point of you forcing her?”

“You—!” The elders of both families were choked speechless.

Young Zhou immediately stepped forward to shield himself. “Madam Wen, before criticizing others, think about yourself first. At least Hongxi and I are childhood sweethearts—we have feelings. Hongxi just hasn’t gotten used to it yet. And you and Young Master Wen—do you have anything?”

Lu Sulan’s face instantly turned deathly pale.

Near the window, someone began whispering gossip, saying that Lu Sulan and Young Master Wen had married only because of a drunken mistake, and not long after, Young Master Wen disappeared—so naturally people pointed fingers.

Lu Sulan gave a cold snort and left proudly.

Now it was the Wu and Zhou families’ turn. Only Young Zhou stepped forward, kneeling devoutly. At his side, Wu Hongxi tried to struggle, but couldn’t. Only now did the two outside realize the girl’s mouth had been gagged—no wonder she hadn’t spoken a word.

This way of forcing marriage was rather brutal.