I Don’T Want To Be This Master For A Day Anymore. Chapter 10

It’s sweet, is it the apricot or me?

Seven days later, Qiu Yin’an prepared to visit Bai Chengying at Wanyun Pavilion.

The moment he stepped out the door, he saw a scattering of fallen fruit beneath the apricot tree in the courtyard.

In previous years, Bai Chengying would start anticipating the fruit when the apricots were still green. He always said the fruit from the tree in Qiu Yin’an’s courtyard was the sweetest.

The past few days had brought continuous, heavy storms, and many plump apricots had been blown to the ground. Qiu Yin’an glanced at the few remaining apricots hanging on the branches. If it rained again tonight, they would likely all be gone.

Qiu Yin’an decided to pick the rest and take them to Bai Chengying.

The apricot tree wasn’t tall. Qiu Yin’an took a few quick steps and leaps to finish picking the fruit. Just as he jumped down, he saw Wan Qiongju emerge.

Wan Qiongju picked up an apricot from the ground, rubbed it twice on his sleeve, and tossed it into his mouth.

Qiu Yin’an had taken good care of him. In just a few days, Wan Qiongju had undergone a tremendous change. Though he wore only a simple Daoist robe and his hair was neatly combed, he looked remarkably dashing and striking standing there.

Qiu Yin’an admired him like one would admire their own masterpiece, gazing at him for a moment longer. “Is it good?”

Wan Qiongju nodded while chewing.

With the constant thunderstorms these days, Qiu Yin’an had stayed by Wan Qiongju’s side every night. Wan Qiongju was no longer reserved around him and would occasionally even help cover him with a blanket.

“Then have some more.” Qiu Yin’an held the basket forward, signaling for Wan Qiongju to take a couple of the best ones. However, Wan Qiongju misunderstood and took the entire basket.

“Thank you, Virtuous Venerable Muyang,” Wan Qiongju said, winking and smiling at him.

Qiu Yin’an’s hand was still suspended in mid-air. After seeing Wan Qiongju smile at him, his fingertips twitched slightly, and he ultimately chose to withdraw his hand.

“What’s wrong?” Wan Qiongju keenly noticed Qiu Yin’an’s unusual behavior.

Qiu Yin’an replied, “Wash them before you eat them. Don’t wipe them on your sleeve.”

He then left the courtyard empty-handed and headed toward Wanyun Pavilion.

When Qiu Yin’an arrived, he happened to run into Bai Chengying’s medicinal cultivator disciple. This was the same cultivator Qiu Yin’an had asked Yao Ye to fetch to treat Wan Qiongju’s leg injury—his Daoist name was Hai Di.

Hai Di was carrying a long, square wooden tray holding a bowl of medicine that smelled very bitter. Seeing Qiu Yin’an, he respectfully bowed, then apologized, “Junior Martial Uncle, I was busy attending to my master that day and couldn’t leave, so I didn’t go with Young Lord Yao. Please don’t hold it against me.”

“It’s fine. The medicine was excellent. Wan Qiongju’s leg healed in just three days.” Qiu Yin’an looked at the bowl of medicine in Hai Di’s hands and asked, “What ailment does your master have? Is he still unwell?”

“This…” Hai Di pursed his lips. “Master originally forbade me from speaking of this, but since you are here, you will know sooner or later.”

Hai Di continued, “The day Junior Martial Uncle and Young Lord Yao went down the mountain, the Venerable Lord ordered my master to go to West Mountain Hall to break the seal and retrieve the cultivation manuals and texts. Master refused, so the Venerable Lord punished him.”

Qiu Yin’an cursed inwardly. So much for a marriage proposal—it was Chen Liang’s scheme to lure the tiger away from the mountain. Fortunately, the seal at West Mountain Hall was complex enough that the old man couldn’t break it himself.

Qiu Yin’an’s eyes darkened, and his tone was scornful. “It’s bad enough Chen Liang is shameless, but why does he force others to accompany him in such underhanded schemes?”

Hai Di dared not respond to insults against the Venerable Lord. He continued describing the situation from that day. “The Venerable Lord flew into a great rage. In his fury, he condensed Spiritual Energy and struck Master. Master couldn’t fight back, and his spiritual core cracked by accident.”

“His spiritual core cracked?” Qiu Yin’an’s gaze suddenly froze. “Is Chen Liang insane? Elder Brother Chengying is his personally taught direct disciple!”

“It is precisely because he is a direct disciple, and one taught since childhood, that the Venerable Lord felt heartbroken,” Hai Di replied. “Master has defied the Venerable Lord for your sake more than once or twice. This time, the Venerable Lord was truly enraged.”

At that moment, the person inside heard the commotion, pushed the door open, and walked out. “Yin’an, you’re here. Why don’t you come inside to talk?”

Bai Chengying was dressed neatly and properly. Aside from a hint of weariness around his eyes, he looked no different than usual.

Qiu Yin’an’s hand, hanging by his side, clenched. “Elder Brother Chengying, can your spiritual core be completely repaired?”

“Didn’t I tell you not to speak of it?” Bai Chengying glared sideways at Hai Di, then picked up the medicine bowl and drank it in one gulp. “You may leave. Don’t brew this medicine tomorrow; drinking it is useless.”

“Yes.” Hai Di lowered his head and quickly retreated.

Qiu Yin’an looked at Bai Chengying, too heartbroken to speak. Qiu Yin’an knew how difficult it had been for Bai Chengying to earn the respect of being called Virtuous Venerable Linyu today.

Bai Chengying was not someone born with profound, innate wisdom or talent, nor did he have two immortal pills to aid his cultivation like Qiu Yin’an did. Everything he achieved was through his own diligence, hard work, and relentless practice of techniques day and night. From Foundation Establishment, forming the Core, advancing to the True Man Realm, and now the Virtuous Venerable Realm—this journey had been fraught with hardship.

For a person who dedicated everything to cultivation, the cracking of his spiritual core was too cruel.

“Don’t worry about me. The spiritual core is only damaged, not completely shattered.”

Bai Chengying ushered Qiu Yin’an into the room. “I truly am fine.”

The more Bai Chengying acted this way, the more distressed Qiu Yin’an felt. He sat down facing Bai Chengying. “Let me take a look.”

He immediately condensed Spiritual Energy in his palm and placed it on Bai Chengying’s chest. The Spiritual Energy circulated throughout Bai Chengying’s body, and only then did Qiu Yin’an realize that Bai Chengying’s condition was far more severe than just a cracked spiritual core—his heart meridian was severely damaged.

A cracked spiritual core makes progress in techniques extremely difficult, but a damaged heart meridian directly terminates a person’s path of cultivation. That person would never be able to break through a realm or advance again in this lifetime.

Qiu Yin’an swallowed, looking helplessly at Bai Chengying’s calm face. He couldn’t imagine the kind of breakdown Bai Chengying must have endured these past few days to be able to sit before him now without changing expression.

“How could Chen Liang bear it? How could he bring himself to strike you?” Qiu Yin’an’s voice trembled slightly.

“It was all my own fault.” Bai Chengying grasped the hand Qiu Yin’an had placed on his chest. “Master has been kind to me. Sometimes, I cannot stand on your side, but I want you to know that you are very important to me. Do you understand?”

Qiu Yin’an felt uncomfortable being touched and slowly pulled his hand back. “You are too, just like Yao Ye. Both of you are very important to me.”

Hearing this, Bai Chengying forced a bitter smile. “I don’t just want you to treat me as a good brother.”

Qiu Yin’an didn’t want to continue the topic. He changed the subject and asked, “Is there any way to heal the damaged meridians?”

“There is,” Bai Chengying answered, looking directly at Qiu Yin’an. He asked, “Do you want to hear it?”

“What method?” Qiu Yin’an asked.

“Dual cultivation with someone of profound cultivation and deep mastery of techniques.”

“No.” Qiu Yin’an didn’t even think before the word slipped out of his mouth. He hastily explained, “I mean, is there any other way?”

Bai Chengying’s lips curved downward slightly, and the faint light in his eyes dimmed. “You don’t need to be so nervous. I never intended to force you into anything.”

Qiu Yin’an: “That’s not what I meant.”

Bai Chengying: “Then can you dual cultivate with me? I am willing to be beneath you.”

Qiu Yin’an flatly refused. “Stop talking about it. A person like you should not debase yourself.”

Bai Chengying moved his lips and said with a hint of self-mockery, “I shouldn’t have such extravagant hopes. An excellent person like you has many admirers. What makes me so special that I could earn your favor?”

Qiu Yin’an felt deeply uneasy hearing Bai Chengying’s words. In truth, he had made his stance clear many times, both overtly and subtly, yet Bai Chengying still hadn’t abandoned the idea of dual cultivating with him.

If it were anyone else who dared to pester him like this, Qiu Yin’an would have lost his temper long ago and beaten them until they were spitting teeth. But he couldn’t do that to Bai Chengying, because Bai Chengying had saved Yao Ye’s life.

When Qiu Yin’an was fourteen, he advanced to the True Man Realm. Yao Ye was particularly envious, so Qiu Yin’an decided to help his good brother out and took it upon himself to guide Yao Ye’s cultivation.

Qiu Yin’an’s rapid advancement in cultivation was due to the efficacy of those two immortal pills. His method of practice was not suitable for ordinary cultivators, but Qiu Yin’an hadn’t realized this at the time, so he guided Yao Ye using his own method.

Yao Ye had barely closed his eyes before he began to suffer Qi deviation. Qiu Yin’an realized something was wrong and quickly told him to stop, but it was too late. When Yao Ye opened his eyes again, the whites were tinged with black energy. Qiu Yin’an called out to him, but he didn’t respond, acting like a walking corpse.

Qiu Yin’an immediately panicked and rushed to seek help from his father and mother. But coincidentally, his parents were in the Council Hall discussing important matters with other sects. A seal was placed outside the hall, preventing Qiu Yin’an from entering. Just when he was desperate for help, Bai Chengying appeared.

Bai Chengying was eighteen at the time and already had a reputation on Qingxuan Peak. Qiu Yin’an often heard Chen Liang boast to his parents about having trained an exceptionally outstanding disciple, so Qiu Yin’an pleaded for his help.

Bai Chengying did not disappoint him. Upon seeing Yao Ye, he quickly cleared his meridians and smoothed out the chaotic vital energy. Moments later, Yao Ye regained consciousness, and the two became acquainted from then on.

Bai Chengying had saved Qiu Yin’an’s good brother, and Qiu Yin’an was eternally grateful. Therefore, Qiu Yin’an was more lenient with him than with others. But it was precisely this leniency that failed to completely extinguish Bai Chengying’s desire for dual cultivation.

Qiu Yin’an: “Elder Brother Chengying, you are excellent. I truly admire your perseverance. Looking across the Cultivation World, you won’t find another young and promising cultivator like you. Why must you degrade yourself by dual cultivating with me?”

“I am not degrading myself; I genuinely like you.”

Bai Chengying threw caution to the wind and leaned in to embrace Qiu Yin’an. “The white robes and blue sash of Qingxuan Peak are terribly ugly, but they look dazzling on you, making you unforgettable. Do you understand this feeling? Do you know how bright you shine in a crowd? As long as my eyes see you, they will constantly follow you. I truly love you, Yin’an.”

“Don’t do this. Let go of me.”

Qiu Yin’an struggled free from Bai Chengying and stood up, saying, “I don’t want to say anything too harsh to you. I will say this one more time today: I will never dual cultivate with a man. Never.”

After his impulsive action, Bai Chengying felt a little regretful. He tried to soothe him, “Don’t be angry. We can take things slowly. I won’t hug you.”

Seeing that Bai Chengying was entirely focused on dual cultivation and considering his damaged heart meridian, Qiu Yin’an didn’t bring up the matter of reinforcing the seal. He left with a final statement: “Dual cultivation between us is absolutely impossible, but I will keep the matter of repairing your heart meridian in mind.”

Qiu Yin’an pushed the door open and rushed out, sighing internally. The divination from Qimen Pavilion was truly accurate; reinforcing the seal was indeed fraught with obstacles. He never expected that the most reliable person, Bai Chengying, would also be defeated.