The grand main hall of the Demon Palace had a single man kneeling in the center, trembling all over. His head was pressed to the floor; he did not dare to raise it, nor did he dare to listen closely, yet the strange sounds still echoed endlessly in the vast space.
Sounds that should have been tender now struck his ears like a death knell.
At the far end of the high platform was a long seat made from the skull of a spirit beast, covered with soft fur.
Mo Xuanli sat on the seat, holding Gu Baiqing firmly in his arms from behind, trapping him with an array that restricted all attempts to struggle.
“So this is the new disciple Master took in? Looks like Master really doesn’t know how to teach disciples—raised one who’s ungrateful and betrays his own sect?”
Gu Baiqing clenched his teeth hard and refused to speak.
“I know Master must be cursing me, saying I used threats and temptation to make your new disciple a traitor, to lure you here and send you to my bed. So really, I should thank my junior brother. To repay him, I’ll let him hear how Master usually teaches me. After all, the way Master teaches me is something he’ll never get to enjoy. Isn’t that right, my good Master?”
Gu Baiqing gave no answer, but that only made Mo Xuanli more determined to force a reaction.
“Master, even though you already have me, you still want to take others as disciples. That makes me very unhappy. Tell me—shouldn’t Master accept your disciple’s punishment? Ah? Silly me, isn’t this already punishment?”
“Master, don’t make things hard for yourself. Let him hear—so what if he hears? He’s going to die anyway. How could I allow anyone who betrays you and harms you to live? Especially one who dares to claim the title of your disciple. Your disciple can only be me.”
“So remember, Master—if you ever dare to take in another disciple behind my back again, I’ll bring them here, in front of them, and let them see exactly how their senior brother receives your teachings.”
…
When he remembered recording that scene, he only needed to make breathy sounds and the sound of breathing. But just from the plot, he could feel the original character’s grief and rage — the talented new disciple Zhao An, whom he had just accepted, planned to stand with him against Mo Xuanli, but ended up being betrayed. That little beast Mo Xuanli even humiliated him in front of Zhao An, trampling on his dignity. In the end, he was knocked out cold, and when he woke up, he saw a pool of blood in the distance in the main hall — the body had already been dragged away.
In that part of the story, Mo Xuanli went mad — not because Gu Baiqing had brought people to wipe him out, but simply because he heard that Gu Baiqing had taken on a new disciple. That was enough to make his demonic nature spiral out of control. After all, no matter how twisted he normally was, he would never allow anyone else to watch — he had a crazed possessiveness and absolutely would not allow anyone to see Gu Baiqing like that.
Only this once.
And the reason was just the new disciple. How petty!
Gu Baiqing kept a straight face as he looked at the two people who had just fought standing before him. The corners of his mouth twitched. He very much wanted to smash their dog heads right now to eliminate future trouble — but he couldn’t.
“Elder Luofeng, young people are all hot-blooded, please don’t take offense. Probably this Mo disciple was afraid my clan’s grandson would steal his master’s attention after entering the sect, so he accidentally showed some hostility. My clan’s grandson is just a bit impulsive — the moment someone shows even a little hostility, he wants to spar and see some real skills.”
Mo Xuanli’s face went a little pale, but he couldn’t explain himself. After all, hostility wasn’t something you could prove. His only focus right now was — was his master really going to take a disciple? He had worked so hard to get his master’s attention, finally…
Elder Zhao quickly shot Zhao An a look.
Zhao An immediately knelt down in excitement.
Mo Xuanli, however, clenched his fists nervously inside his sleeves.
“Please take me as your disciple, Elder Luofeng. I will definitely—”
“Not taking!”
Before the other could finish, Gu Baiqing coldly cut him off.
All three looked at Gu Baiqing in that instant, though their expressions were completely different.
Elder Zhao looked as if he had expected this. Zhao An’s face instantly showed humiliated anger. Mo Xuanli, on the other hand, stared blankly at his master, his eyes shimmering with tension.
“Elder Zhao, have you been in Zixiao Sect so long that you’ve forgotten what kind of person I am? When have I ever taken on a disciple so lightly?”
Elder Zhao forced a smile. “Of course I know Elder Luofeng never takes disciples lightly, but haven’t you already taken one? Taking another wouldn’t hurt. Among all the sect’s guardian elders, you’re the only one with just a single disciple.”
“Others are others, I am myself. Even the sect leader doesn’t meddle with me. Elder Zhao, are you planning to lecture me?” Gu Baiqing’s voice was cold. “No means no.”
Elder Zhao knew Gu Baiqing was a thorny one, but hadn’t expected him to be this thorny face-to-face.
If not for the fact that Elder Luofeng had truly begun to seriously teach his disciple — rather than just going through the motions under pressure from the sect leader — he wouldn’t have had such thoughts. But when he saw Elder Luofeng even sending the disciple to train jointly at the Chunyang Pavilion, that was no ordinary privilege. Normally, whichever pavilion you were assigned to was where you stayed. If one could receive guidance from both Gu Baiqing and Chu Fei, the benefits would be endless. That was why he had transferred his own clan’s grandson over from elsewhere.
At this moment, Zhao An had gone completely mad with anger and suddenly stood up.
“Elder Luofeng, my father and mother are both prominent figures in the cultivation world. They admire you, that’s why they sent me to become your disciple. Do you know how many people want to take me as a disciple with my talent? I am far stronger than the useless disciple you took before. Although we’re both at the peak of Qi Refining, I’ve only held back from breaking through because of a special cultivation method. Otherwise, with my spiritual power, I could break through to Foundation Establishment at any time. I’m nothing like this fake who entered the Dao through medical cultivation and relies on pills to improve.”
“Zhao An!” Elder Zhao had heard the boy had a bad temper, but hadn’t expected it to be this explosive.
Gu Baiqing looked coldly at Zhao An. Right now this fellow seemed all high-spirited, but in the original story didn’t he sell out his master just to save his own life? Compared to someone like Mo Xuanli, Gu Baiqing looked down even more on Zhao An’s kind.
“Oh? Is that so? Waving around a spiritual weapon your parents gave you to hack at a wooden sword — really strong?” Gu Baiqing couldn’t help himself and dropped the sarcasm without caring about appearances.
Zhao An froze instantly. It was probably the first time anyone had ever said something like that to him. His face went blue, then white, and he couldn’t react for a long time.
Elder Zhao gaped at Gu Baiqing. “Elder Luofeng, this—”
Gu Baiqing completely ignored Elder Zhao’s awkward expression. He wasn’t defending Mo Xuanli — he just plain didn’t like Zhao An. Heaven’s favored son, was it? This lord won’t indulge you.
Mo Xuanli’s heart pounded wildly. In that instant, it felt as if he were wrapped in a sense of safety, all his resentment melting away.
This was his master standing up for him. His master… was so good.
Gu Baiqing lowered his head and smoothed the sleeves of his new robe. The black fabric seemed to carry its own oppressive weight. “Xuanli, see the guests out.”
Mo Xuanli immediately stepped forward. Now that he was sure his master wouldn’t accept Zhao An, he was in high spirits and couldn’t wait to kick the outsider out.
“Elder Luofeng, the parents of my clan’s grandson are friends with the sect leader.”
“Oh? Then go knock on the sect leader’s door while she’s in seclusion, and ask if she wants to take a disciple.” Gu Baiqing replied directly.
This time Elder Zhao was truly choked into anger. He got up, flung his sleeves, and turned to leave.
But Zhao An was unwilling to accept it, standing his ground. “I refuse to accept this. Why take him and not me? In family background, in talent and cultivation, in spiritual root aptitude — I even have the same lightning spiritual root as you. From any angle, you should take me instead.”
Gu Baiqing naturally had no need to pay him any mind. He looked straight at Elder Zhao.
Unable to bear the pressure, Elder Zhao went to drag Zhao An away.
Zhao An, furious, directly drew his sword.
“Zhao An!” Elder Zhao’s beard nearly flew off.
Daring to draw a sword against Gu Baiqing — was the boy looking for death?
Gu Baiqing’s expression turned cold as he looked at Zhao An.
But Zhao An pointed the sword straight at Mo Xuanli.
“Kid, dare to bet with me? In the upcoming Inner Sect Grand Competition, the disciple taken in by the number one of the Zixiao Sect will definitely take first place. You and I compete—if you lose, Master will be mine, and you disappear. If I lose, I’ll give up becoming his disciple.”
Gu Baiqing was displeased—using him as a wager without his consent. This brat really was annoying.
Just afraid Mo Xuanli would impulsively agree, he was about to speak up when he suddenly heard Mo Xuanli say coldly, “Master is a senior. How could I use a senior as a bet? I won’t gamble.”
“If you don’t gamble, you’re a coward, a wimp! A stinking bug in the mud, a useless waste who can’t accomplish anything!”
Such insulting words even changed Gu Baiqing’s expression.
A dense sting spread across Mo Xuanli’s face, but he still said, “Say whatever you like. I will absolutely never use Master as a wager.”
Mo Xuanli’s tone was firm, as if without the slightest hesitation.
Gu Baiqing turned his head to look, only seeing the boy’s gradually defined and handsome jawline—it seemed he had grown up a bit. Hah, this was a much more pleasant person than the little beast from the original story.
Zhao An was about to flare up when Gu Baiqing directly gave a cold snort.
“Enough. Are your ears broken? I said I won’t take him in—get out, and I won’t see you off!”
Though he had no spiritual power, his cultivation was still at the Tribulation Crossing stage, so the pressure he released was something ordinary people couldn’t withstand. He might not be able to fight, but putting on a show was still possible.
In the end, under Gu Baiqing’s gaze, Zhao An’s face went pale, and Elder Zhao dragged him away.
“Heh, you’re just afraid of losing to me and embarrassing yourself! You don’t deserve to be his disciple at all.”
Mo Xuanli didn’t retort a single word, only quietly watching Zhao An with his deep black eyes.
Seeing the boy’s final shouts and vicious glare, Gu Baiqing truly couldn’t understand how, in the original story, the original self eventually agreed to take him in—was it really because he had no other choice? To accept someone who seemed mentally unstable?
But it seemed the original story didn’t have today’s events. Perhaps they weren’t important enough to write? After all, real life and novels are different.
Gu Baiqing didn’t dwell on Zhao An. He absolutely wouldn’t take him in in the future—better to let this arrogant brat exit the stage entirely.
“Master, you really don’t plan to take Zhao An as a disciple?”
Gu Baiqing looked over and saw Mo Xuanli staring at him with unease.
“What? Your ears are bad too?” Gu Baiqing said irritably. Seeing him looking so easy to push around now, he couldn’t imagine how in the original he became so loathsome.
But Mo Xuanli was secretly delighted. He knew Master meant what he said, but he still couldn’t help wanting to hear Master reject it again. That kind of rejection felt like a roundabout acknowledgment, giving him a vain sense of satisfaction.
Just as he was feeling pleased, he saw a child attendant peek his head in at the doorway, looking urgent. Mo Xuanli instantly reacted and quickly said, “Master, I haven’t eaten yet. I’ll go to the dining hall first and come back later.”
Gu Baiqing looked baffled. “Then what did you come here for?”
“Just… heard someone was here,” Mo Xuanli said guiltily.
Gu Baiqing said speechlessly, “Go eat.”
Mo Xuanli nodded and was just about to leave.
“Wait—what happened to your hand?” Gu Baiqing called out.
Mo Xuanli froze, lifted his hand, and was shocked to see that the hand he had been clenching just now was still bleeding. When he opened his palm, a gash split across it, and there were remnants of blood-stained plum blossoms.
Gu Baiqing frowned. “You got hurt fighting just now?”
“Mm. I was careless,” Mo Xuanli said. He hadn’t even noticed—when holding the plum branch earlier, the backlash of spiritual power had injured his hand.
“And why do you have plum blossoms?” Gu Baiqing asked suspiciously.
“The plum blossoms at Chunyang Pavilion are in full bloom. I wanted to change the vase in Master’s room with fresh ones. I picked one branch to bring, but unfortunately… I was useless. When my wooden sword broke, in panic I pulled out the plum branch to defend myself, but…”
Gu Baiqing frowned at the wound. “There should be common medicine in the pharmacy. Treat it first, then eat. Today’s class can start later.”
Mo Xuanli pressed his lips together, suppressing the upward curve at the corners—this was the first time he felt getting hurt had an upside: he could get Master’s concern.
“Yes, Master.” Mo Xuanli left fully satisfied.
He quickly treated the wound, then headed straight to the kitchen.
“Young master, your hand’s injured—why don’t I cook today instead?”
“No, no. Master likes my cooking. You just help me out.”
The child attendant could only obey, but the cooking process today left him on edge.
Not only did this young master Mo sometimes give strange smiles, he also hummed an unknown little tune. He’d been beaten and injured earlier, insulted by someone, and although they’d driven the man away in the end, there didn’t seem to be anything to be so happy about.
Young master Mo really did seem a bit unsound in the head.
In the end, the child attendant delivered the dishes, while Mo Xuanli happily hid in the kitchen eating, every bite imagining what Master’s reaction would be when tasting it.
When the child attendant returned, he hurried to ask if Master had enjoyed the meal.
The child attendant told him that Elder Qianren had suddenly visited.
Mo Xuanli guessed it might be related to the two who had just left, and, worried Master might be scolded, quickly finished eating and went over.
Just as he reached the window, he heard voices from inside—it had never been closed.
Sure enough, Fu Zhiyi had come because of Zhao An.
“His parents promised benefits—how could you not even consider it and just outright refuse? That child’s spiritual root is the same as yours, truly most suited to be your disciple. Don’t you really want to think it over? You offended them so badly just now, and they still came to complain to me and asked me to put in a good word for them—shows they’re sincere.”
“Second Senior Brother, I haven’t even said anything about you yet. You knew my temperament—why did you still let them come bother me?”
Fu Zhiyi, sitting to the side watching Gu Baiqing eat, looked a little helpless. It was only because he’d noticed Gu Baiqing’s temper had eased recently, becoming more easygoing, that he’d gradually relaxed. Who knew the result would still be the same.
“Really not possible?” Zhao An’s family had many capable people, and Fu Zhiyi felt that having the title of master would actually be quite advantageous.
Gu Baiqing shook his head while eating.
“Do you really plan to only take Mo Xuanli as your one and only disciple in this life?” Fu Zhiyi asked in disbelief.
At that moment, outside the window, Mo Xuanli’s whole body froze. He hadn’t dared to eavesdrop, but now he couldn’t move his feet. Every part of him tensed up.
Only… one. The one and only…
“That’s not necessarily… we’ll see in the future,” Gu Baiqing said slowly. If a disciple was raised well, there would be no taboos, and nothing could be said for certain. After all, cultivators like him had very long lifespans.
Outside the window, Mo Xuanli suddenly felt his heart sour, his chest a little tight. So it was only that Zhao An would not be accepted.
“Then can I ask why Zhao An is not acceptable? That kid looks fine to me.”
“That’s because you didn’t look closely.” Gu Baiqing gave a cold snort, his gaze shifting slightly. “A little brat in my Luofeng Pavilion used a sharp sword to bully and injure my disciple. Is my disciple someone others can injure? Old man Zhao even hinted that it was Mo Xuanli who provoked him first. Don’t I know my disciple’s temperament? Would I let him spout nonsense? If it weren’t inconvenient for me to act right now, hmph!”
Gu Baiqing turned his head toward a vase nearby. The plum branches in it had wilted a bit. Normally, he didn’t pay attention, so it must be that Mo Xuanli occasionally brought new plum branches like today to replace them, letting him always see fresh ones.
He didn’t think this was some sort of romantic gesture toward him—he just felt the child was pure-hearted, so…
Fu Zhiyi chuckled. “Rare to see you so protective.”
Gu Baiqing immediately straightened his face. “I am not being protective. I am defending the dignity of my Luofeng Pavilion.”
“Hard mouth, soft heart,” Fu Zhiyi teased.
Gu Baiqing gave him a cold glance.
In that earlier situation, he hadn’t spoken much in Mo Xuanli’s defense, essentially to avoid falling into patterns—he’d almost formed a reflex not to easily stick up for Mo Xuanli openly.
Now the kid had gone to eat, so letting something slip in front of Fu Zhiyi was no big deal.
He was just extremely displeased—especially seeing Mo Xuanli injured—it made him even more displeased.
Bully my disciple? Think I’m some vegetarian monk?
But then he remembered… right now he really was forced to be vegetarian, couldn’t fight, couldn’t bear to spend his points, so he could only stay frustrated.
Outside the window, Mo Xuanli was stunned. The conversation just now swirled in his mind like a hurricane.
Before, it had all been hearsay. This was the first time he truly heard his master defending him, getting angry over his affairs. Even if his master usually seemed indifferent, behind the scenes, in word and deed, he was always protecting him.
His master… treated him really well.
Suddenly, Mo Xuanli remembered that just now, Gu Baiqing had expressed a willingness to take other disciples, and his heart tightened.
It was like a child who had just tasted candy, selfishly unwilling to share it.
Such a good master… why couldn’t he be only his master?
If there were junior brothers or sisters, they would take away his master’s already limited attention.
He didn’t want junior brothers or sisters… if only his master would have only him as a disciple for life.
[Demonization value +1]
Gu Baiqing clearly showed dislike for Zhao An’s character. Fu Zhiyi naturally agreed with his junior brother’s words, nodding. “In that case, forget about Zhao An.”
Then he changed the subject, smiling. “Fourth junior brother, you really know how to enjoy yourself. I haven’t seen such a feast of color, fragrance, and flavor in ages. It smells so good I can’t help it—how about letting your senior brother have a bite?”
“Pft!” Suddenly, Gu Baiqing, drinking soup, changed expression sharply, almost spitting it out.
Fu Zhiyi, startled, pulled back the hand that was stealing food. “What’s wrong? Is the taste off?”
Gu Baiqing coughed for a while, full of disbelief. Ignoring his senior brother, he frantically poked at the system in his mind.
The h*ll, are you crazy? Why did it increase again? Explain to me! You unscrupulous system, secretly deducting values!
System: [System diagnostics show everything is normal. Please refrain from unreasonable troublemaking, Host.]
Gu Baiqing: … I’m innocent!
He forced himself to calm down and think. Could it be… because of the Zhao An matter? Even though Mo Xuanli didn’t show any abnormality just now, maybe his pride was still hurt. And he himself hadn’t really defended him.
Sigh! Trouble. If he defended too much, it might make his disciple harbor improper feelings. If he didn’t defend, corruption value increased.
This generation of disciples is too hard to handle.
He must arrange healthy psychological education classes for him later.
