I Don’T Want To Be This Master For A Day Anymore. Chapter 11

What did you call me?

Three hundred years ago, a civil war erupted in the Demon Valley. The Demon Queen was gravely wounded, her heart meridian severely damaged. To save her, the Demon King slaughtered tens of thousands of cultivators in the Cultivation World, extracting their vital essence to refine a pill.

This was the only record Qiu Yin’an found regarding the successful repair of a heart meridian after nearly two months immersed in ancient texts. His eyes were filled with confusion and melancholy.

The matter of Bai Chengying’s shattered spiritual core and damaged heart meridian weighed on Qiu Yin’an like a massive stone, suffocating him. He had no choice but to abandon his plans to reinforce the seal.

Yet, even so, he couldn’t relax, because five years from now, he still hadn’t found a replacement for the person who was supposed to perform the sealing technique with him.

Looking across the Cultivation World, the other Virtuous Venerables had achieved little in the way of sealing techniques. Chen Liang had only specifically cultivated Bai Chengying after his own progress in sealing techniques stalled.

Qiu Yin’an picked up the book and slapped it against the desk. “Chen Liang must have had maggots eating his brain.”

Before the anger faded from Qiu Yin’an’s face, Wan Qiongju walked in.

Wan Qiongju held a small white jade bowl in his hand, approaching him with a smile in his eyes.

Qiu Yin’an was particularly sensitive to smells. When Wan Qiongju was still ten steps away, he caught the overly sweet scent emanating from the bowl.

Wan Qiongju stopped beside the desk and pushed the white jade bowl toward Qiu Yin’an. “I noticed your appetite hasn’t been good lately, so I made a bowl of sweet rice cakes.”

Qiu Yin’an didn’t much care for overly sweet things, but not wanting to disappoint Wan Qiongju, he picked up the spoon and began to eat.

After a couple of bites, Wan Qiongju said, “Virtuous Venerable Muyang, I wish to become your disciple.”

Qiu Yin’an raised an eyebrow and glanced at Wan Qiongju. “Become my disciple?”

Wan Qiongju: “Yes, I want to study techniques with you. A person cannot remain idle forever; they should always strive for improvement.”

“Since you have the heart for cultivation, I will send you to Wanyun Pavilion to become a disciple of Virtuous Venerable Lin Yu. His disciples are all capable of standing on their own, and under his tutelage, you will surely achieve great things in the future.”

Qiu Yin’an licked his lips. “However, he has recently sustained some injuries, so he might not have the mind to look after you. You will need to wait.”

Wan Qiongju: “I don’t want to go there. I want to be your disciple.”

Qiu Yin’an: “I have never taken a disciple, and I don’t know how to teach. Furthermore, in terms of cultivation methods and power, I cannot compare to Virtuous Venerable Lin Yu.”

“Never mind then.” Wan Qiongju dropped his shoulders. “Since you have no intention of taking a disciple, I won’t seek a master. It’s fine to remain by your side as a serving disciple.”

Qiu Yin’an put down his spoon. “Are you trying to force me?”

Wan Qiongju: “No, it’s just that in my heart, staying by your side is more important than anything else.”

Qiu Yin’an narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Wan Qiongju. “Don’t think that this will make me change my mind. I have other matters to attend to and no time to look after you. There are many people outside who are desperate to become a disciple of Virtuous Venerable Lin Yu. If you refuse today, even if I intervene later, you might not get the chance to enter his sect.”

Wan Qiongju’s tone was firm. “I won’t go.”

Qiu Yin’an never responded well to coercion. He scoffed inwardly, lifting his chin slightly. “Fine, then I will grant your wish. Stay by my side and serve me. Go and massage my shoulders now.”

Wan Qiongju stood up, walked behind Qiu Yin’an, placed his hands on his shoulders, and began to rub them.

Qiu Yin’an leaned back in the chair, thoroughly enjoying it. He wanted to see how long Wan Qiongju could keep up the act.

But he waited one day, two days, three days, and Wan Qiongju remained diligently attentive, serving him without once mentioning the matter of apprenticeship or showing the slightest hint of impatience.

One afternoon, as the two ate together at the same table, Qiu Yin’an spoke first. “Have you thought about going to Wanyun Pavilion to take a master? Don’t be shy about speaking up. If you’ve decided, I’ll take you today.”

Wan Qiongju added a spoonful of soup to his bowl, answering unhurriedly, “I don’t want to go anywhere else. I want to stay by your side forever.”

“Why are you always so clingy?” Qiu Yin’an raised his hand and ruffled Wan Qiongju’s hair haphazardly. “I’m not the only good person in this world. Virtuous Venerable Lin Yu treats his disciples very well too.”

Wan Qiongju did not reply.

Qiu Yin’an stared at him for a long time. “Must you absolutely take me as your master?”

Wan Qiongju: “It’s not about having to take a master; it’s about having to stay by your side. If you don’t want to take a disciple, don’t force yourself.”

Qiu Yin’an frowned and glared at him. “Eat your food. Do I need you to advise me?”

Wan Qiongju obeyed, burying his head in his meal and not mentioning apprenticeship again. But Qiu Yin’an’s heart was left feeling restless.

Since Wan Qiongju had the desire to cultivate, Qiu Yin’an didn’t want to disappoint him further. However, he didn’t want to agree so easily. Otherwise, this little brat would think that as long as he stubbornly persisted, he could get whatever he wanted.

Qiu Yin’an didn’t want to be manipulated. He wanted Wan Qiongju to actively bring up the matter of apprenticeship, to plead and pester him relentlessly, rather than maintaining this indifferent, ‘whatever works’ attitude.

Qiu Yin’an tapped the table. “You say you want to be my disciple, but I have never felt your sincerity.”

Wan Qiongju put down his bowl and chopsticks, swallowing the food in his mouth. “I am sincere. Isn’t insisting on only you enough?”

“No, it’s not.” Qiu Yin’an lightly bit his lip, then added, “It’s not enough. I particularly dislike this indifferent attitude of yours.”

Wan Qiongju lowered his gaze for a moment. “Virtuous Venerable Muyang, please accept me as your disciple.”

Qiu Yin’an pursed his lips and remained silent, but this time he didn’t refuse.

Wan Qiongju continued, “No one has ever been this kind to me in my life. You are the first person who has made me feel that life is worth looking forward to. I have nothing to offer in return, but I hope to learn some skills so that I may brave any danger for you in the future.”

Wan Qiongju’s words were sincere, warming Qiu Yin’an’s heart, but he still felt something was missing. “Let me think about it.”

Wan Qiongju had figured out that Qiu Yin’an responded well to softness but resisted pressure. He leaned closer and tugged on Qiu Yin’an’s sleeve. “Virtuous Venerable Muyang, I want to be your direct disciple. I don’t want to be a serving disciple who can be replaced. Please, you are the best to me.”

Qiu Yin’an’s mouth twitched twice. Flattery worked on him. Wan Qiongju diligently began massaging his legs. “Brother Yin’an, please, will you take me as your disciple?”

That address, Brother Yin’an, sent a shiver down Qiu Yin’an’s spine. “Don’t call me that. It sounds too mushy.”

“Then can I call you Master?” Wan Qiongju stared into Qiu Yin’an’s eyes. “Master, Master, please acknowledge your disciple, good Master.”

“Alright, stop calling me that.” Qiu Yin’an slightly lifted the corner of his mouth, acknowledging the address. He said, “I remember your Wanzong Mountain cultivates the Dao of Alchemy. What are your plans?”

Wan Qiongju: “I want to study the art of runes.”

Wan Qiongju cupped his fingers, and a spiritual talisman floated in his palm. He tossed it toward the door. The talisman turned to ash, and a loud clap of thunder sounded in the clear sky.

He explained, “I was just messing around. I originally wanted to stop the thunder, but I accidentally made it attract lightning instead.”

“To be able to self-cultivate and condense runes without guidance shows good comprehension.” Qiu Yin’an lightly tapped the desk with his fingertip. “While I haven’t achieved great success in the art of runes, I am sufficient to guide you. Moreover, regardless of the Dao, if you wish to achieve anything, you must rely on your own contemplation and hard practice in the future.”

Wan Qiongju knelt down and formally kowtowed. “This disciple will certainly remember.”

Qiu Yin’an reached out and pulled him up. “I am only five years older than you. Don’t be so formal. Come with me to the study later, I have something for you.”

Wan Qiongju held Qiu Yin’an’s hand to steady himself as he rose. “By the way, Master, you often have ancient texts about alchemy on your desk recently. Are you researching something? I wonder if I can help.”

Qiu Yin’an: “I am looking for a way to repair meridians. When I was young, I once took two pills that somehow cleared all the meridians in my body. I don’t know where those pills came from, so I thought I would research them myself and see if I could refine one.”

Wan Qiongju asked, “Is it for Virtuous Venerable Lin Yu?”

Qiu Yin’an: “How did you know?”

Wan Qiongju: “The Spirit Fox told me.”

“It must have gone to East Mountain Hall again.” A hint of annoyance appeared on Qiu Yin’an’s face as he complained with dissatisfaction, “That fox is never attentive when serving people. It’s always focused on running outside.”

Wan Qiongju: “I heard my grandmother mention something that is very beneficial for nourishing meridians. It’s called the Sitting Buddha Hand.”

Qiu Yin’an: “Sitting Buddha Hand? I think I’ve flipped through a record about it, but isn’t that a legendary flower?”

Qiu Yin’an only had a vague impression of it.

Back then, the Demon King slaughtered many cultivators, taking their vital essence to refine pills, resulting in corpses littering the Cultivation World. Ten steps meant a death, a hundred steps meant an injury. Eventually, the bodies that couldn’t be buried were thrown into Cold Ridge White Cliff.

The vengeful spirits were too numerous, causing constant unrest. The Flower God personally performed rites to purify the area. In gratitude for the Flower God’s merit, the souls at Cold Ridge White Cliff condensed into a flower, named the Sitting Buddha Hand.

Wan Qiongju: “It’s real. The flower is pale white all over and grows on the Cold Ridge White Cliff amidst the endless snow. It is very difficult for the human eye to spot, day or night.”

Qiu Yin’an: “How do you know so much?”

Wan Qiongju: “I heard it from my grandmother. She also said that our family once obtained two of these flowers and later used them to refine pills.”

Hope ignited in Qiu Yin’an’s heart. If he could obtain this flower, he could repay his debt to Bai Chengying and wouldn’t have to worry about the Demon Valley seal. Perhaps he could even proceed with his plan to reinforce the seal and advance to the Saint Venerable realm.

Wan Qiongju added, “To be honest, Master, I once wanted to obtain this flower myself to aid my cultivation. I even trained an eagle for that purpose.”

Qiu Yin’an grabbed Wan Qiongju’s wrist. “My good disciple, where is the eagle? Lend it to your master. Your master desperately needs a Sitting Buddha Hand right now.”

Wan Qiongju: “It’s at Wanzong Mountain.”