I Don’T Want To Be This Master For A Day Anymore. Chapter 18
byYou Will Be My Support
Qiu Yin’an had originally promised Wan Qiongju that they would visit the small town at the foot of Jiuling Mountain on his birthday. The plan was to bring Wan Qiongju back to Qingxuan Peak in the evening to give him a grand gift. However, the weather did not cooperate; a fierce storm swept across the entire Jiuling Mountain area before dawn.
A massive clap of thunder woke Qiu Yin’an. He opened his sleepy eyes slightly and vaguely saw Wan Qiongju, dressed in his sleeping robes, kneeling beside his bed.
Wan Qiongju whispered, “Master, it’s thundering. I’m scared.”
Qiu Yin’an groaned, half-asleep, then lifted the warm covers. Wan Qiongju quickly slipped inside.
The torrential rain continued for ten days without stopping, accompanied by constant lightning and thunder. Even during the day, the sky was dark and gray, as if thick smoke was rolling above, threatening to descend and swallow the world at any moment.
The rain poured down like a waterfall, and no one wanted to venture outside.
Qiu Yin’an and Wan Qiongju stayed indoors these days. Sometimes Qiu Yin’an would stand by the window to get some air.
Qiu Yin’an was extremely bored because Wan Qiongju spent most of his time quietly practicing his rune techniques, only occasionally speaking to him.
Qiu Yin’an plucked a grape and tossed it toward the studious little bookworm. Wan Qiongju heard the movement, raised a hand, and caught the grape between two fingers just before it hit his head.
Wan Qiongju set down his ancient text, stepped off the wooden couch, and walked over to Qiu Yin’an, placing the grape back in the dish. “Master, you should eat it. I don’t like grapes.”
Qiu Yin’an pushed the large drawing on the table toward Wan Qiongju. “Look, is my drawing good?”
The drawing depicted the side profile of the young man engrossed in cultivation.
“It’s good, exceptionally good.” Wan Qiongju’s fingertip rested on the drawing. He touched the inconspicuous tear mole near his eye in the picture. The mole was so faint that Wan Qiongju often overlooked it even when looking in a mirror.
“Master, who else have you drawn portraits of?”
“No one. You are the first. I don’t enjoy drawing people.”
Hearing Qiu Yin’an’s reply, Wan Qiongju curved his lips and gave a proud, soft snort, raising an eyebrow.
Qiu Yin’an said, “Drawing people is too difficult. It requires a lot of contemplation.”
“Oh? How does one contemplate?” Wan Qiongju seemed intrigued. “I want to draw too. Will Master teach me?”
The little bookworm was finally willing to put down his rune technique manual and talk to him. Qiu Yin’an was delighted to teach him. He said, “You must look closely.”
Wan Qiongju immediately opened his beautiful eyes and began to brazenly admire Qiu Yin’an.
Bai Chengying’s description was apt: this little brat, Wan Qiongju, was indeed captivating. As he scrutinized Qiu Yin’an’s features, his own handsome face was simultaneously before Qiu Yin’an, tempting Qiu Yin’an to look back. When they were too close, Qiu Yin’an’s mind would wander.
Qiu Yin’an looked away and raised a hand to cover Wan Qiongju’s face. “If you keep staring at me like that, I’ll feel uncomfortable.”
Wan Qiongju grasped Qiu Yin’an’s wrist and gently moved his hand away. “If I want to draw Master’s portrait, I must stare at Master.”
“Since you’re just starting, don’t draw portraits. Draw something else.”
Qiu Yin’an tried to pull his hand back, but Wan Qiongju grabbed it firmly.
Wan Qiongju held Qiu Yin’an’s hand, resting it on his own palm, gazing intently. “Master’s hands are truly beautiful. And the things they draw are beautiful too.”
“It’s you who is born beautiful.” Qiu Yin’an looked at his right hand resting on the table, then at Wan Qiongju, and finally offered his right hand as well. He explained, “I drew with my right hand.”
Wan Qiongju chuckled softly and used his other hand to support Qiu Yin’an’s right hand. Suddenly, he noticed a scar that had already scabbed over, standing out awkwardly on the long, fair hand. He remembered the day he had wounded Bai Chengying, and Qiu Yin’an had taken the injury to protect him.
Wan Qiongju’s eyes darkened. He held Qiu Yin’an’s hand, repeatedly rubbing the scar with his thumb. “It hurts,” he said.
“It doesn’t hurt, it itches.” Qiu Yin’an withdrew his hand and scratched around the wound with his other hand. “It’s almost healed.”
Wan Qiongju asked, “Will this scar never disappear?”
“It should,” Qiu Yin’an said, lifting his hand to look at it. The scar ran almost across the entire back of his hand.
Wan Qiongju said, “I’m sorry. I won’t be so impulsive in the future. I didn’t want you to get hurt, yet in the end, you were injured protecting me.”
“I am your Master. Of course, I must protect you.” Qiu Yin’an patted Wan Qiongju’s cheek. “Don’t look so downcast. It’s all in the past. Come, your Master will teach you to paint.”
Qiu Yin’an moved aside, giving his seat to Wan Qiongju. Wan Qiongju picked up the brush and drew a line. The line was crooked and shaky, as if the person drawing it had a spasm in their hand.
Wan Qiongju showed the paper to Qiu Yin’an. He said, “Master, look. I can’t hold the brush steady. I can’t even draw a straight line.”
Qiu Yin’an glanced at it, slightly puzzled. “How can your hand be unsteady? I see you draw runes very well.”
Wan Qiongju calmly replied, “I used a brush when I first started learning, but I haven’t used one since.”
Qiu Yin’an recalled that this was true. Every time he had seen Wan Qiongju, the boy had gathered Spiritual Energy at his fingertips and drawn runes in the air; he had never held a brush.
“Master, hold my hand and draw.”
“Hold your hand? That’s unnecessary. You’re not a child who doesn’t know how to hold a brush.” Qiu Yin’an taught him earnestly, “If your hand is unsteady, you need to practice slowly on your own. Me holding your hand won’t help.”
Wan Qiongju put down the brush, disheartened. “I won’t draw. I’m more interested in cultivating rune techniques.”
Qiu Yin’an asked, “I see you working so hard every day. Let me check how your cultivation is progressing.”
Wan Qiongju’s eyes darted around, and with extreme speed, he conjured a Spiritual Talisman and threw it at Qiu Yin’an’s chest.
The moment the talisman entered his body, Qiu Yin’an froze completely. He channeled his Spiritual Energy, trying to break through the seal with one surge, but failed. Only with the second surge of Spiritual Energy did he manage to break the spell. Qiu Yin’an was momentarily stunned. He said, “Such fast progress. Your hard work hasn’t been in vain.”
Wan Qiongju didn’t stop. He pressed two fingers together on each hand, flipped his wrists, and the light at his fingertips quickly condensed into a Spiritual Talisman. A force gathered around it, converging into the spell. The Spiritual Talisman spun as it flew toward Qiu Yin’an.
The art of runes draws upon the natural power of heaven and earth, making it extremely potent. Although Wan Qiongju’s cultivation was not high—no, it was fortunate that Wan Qiongju’s cultivation was not high, otherwise Qiu Yin’an might not have been able to handle this talisman.
Qiu Yin’an did not remain seated calmly like before. He stood up and summoned his twin blades. When the Spiritual Talisman was half a meter away, he swung his weapons twice. The talisman clashed with the blade energy, shattering into pieces that scattered like exploding fireworks, dazzling the eye.
The broken runes dissolved into wisps of bright white smoke. Once the smoke gradually dissipated, Wan Qiongju walked up to Qiu Yin’an and asked, “Master, am I amazing?”
Wan Qiongju looked like a small dog wagging its tail, eagerly awaiting Qiu Yin’an’s praise.
“Amazing, amazing. My direct disciple, Qiu Yin’an’s disciple, is naturally amazing.”
Qiu Yin’an put away his artifacts; the twin blades melted back into his flesh and blood. He patted Wan Qiongju’s back, then walked over to the small wooden table Wan Qiongju used for studying. He picked up the rune text and flipped through it. “When I cultivated up to this point, I found it difficult. I figured I lacked the talent, so I stopped.”
Wan Qiongju walked over and looked at the page Qiu Yin’an was pointing to. He said, “I haven’t cultivated up to here yet.”
“Your Master will soon have nothing left to teach you,” Qiu Yin’an said, sitting on the couch, leaning back lazily with an elbow resting on the table. He praised, “Your cultivation speed is much faster than I anticipated. You are naturally suited for the art of runes.”
Wan Qiongju said, “Thank you for the compliment, Master. I will continue to strive hard and not disappoint you.”
Qiu Yin’an said, “How could I be disappointed when you work so hard? I actually wish you wouldn’t be so diligent and would live a happier life, like Yao Ye. He never works hard and lives the most carefree life.”
Wan Qiongju replied, “No, I must work hard. I want to become even more powerful.”
Qiu Yin’an raised an eyebrow, asking curiously, “Why? Are you in a hurry to break through and advance?”
He explained seriously, “Given your talent, there’s no need to rush. Next year, I’ll take you to the Immortal Sect Grand Assembly to try. Advancing to the True Man Realm won’t be difficult for you.”
Wan Qiongju shook his head. “No.”
Qiu Yin’an asked, “Then what is it? Revenge? When I brought you away from Wanzong Mountain, I let you settle your grievances. Besides, Wanzong Mountain has already been destroyed by Yu Jingyan. What revenge do you still seek?”
Qiu Yin’an suddenly realized something and sat up straight. He asked, “You’re not planning to seek revenge on Yu Jingyan, are you?”
Although Yu Jingyan himself was incompetent, he was still the Young Lord of Qingxuan Peak. If he could be easily killed, where would Qingxuan Peak’s dignity lie?
Not to mention his father, Chen Liang, the various Elders would certainly not spare a young brat like Wan Qiongju.
Qiu Yin’an quickly advised, “Don’t act rashly. Yu Jingyan’s status is significant, and killing him would cause trouble. If you really can’t let him go, your Master can take you to beat him up every now and then, as long as he doesn’t die.”
Wan Qiongju said, “Wanzong Mountain has nothing to do with me since Master brought me back to Qingxuan Peak. I won’t seek revenge on Yu Jingyan.”
Qiu Yin’an sighed in relief. He asked, “Then what is it you want to do?”
Wan Qiongju said, “I want to replace Bai Chengying.”
“Replace him?” Qiu Yin’an’s voice almost soared to the heavens. This little brat always chose such challenging goals.
Wan Qiongju continued, “Little Brother Ye said that Bai Chengying promised Master he would help you reclaim the Venerable Lord position, but he constantly acts in favor of his Master, Chen Liang. He is unreliable. I hope I can replace his position by your side and help you reclaim the Venerable Lord position.”
Qiu Yin’an’s heart suddenly clenched. This was an answer he never could have guessed.
He had never expected Wan Qiongju to do anything for him, so when he heard Wan Qiongju say this, he instantly felt like his heart had fallen into the clouds, soft and yielding.
He looked at the young man before him, feeling as if a long time had passed, and they had known each other for years.
Qiu Yin’an’s nose felt sore, and his lips parted slightly. He said, “You don’t need to work so hard for me. I can handle it myself.”
In Qiu Yin’an’s mind, he had to be a good Master. He wanted Wan Qiongju to live happily and carefree under his protection.
But in Wan Qiongju’s mind, Qiu Yin’an was his everything, his only one. He wanted nothing except for Qiu Yin’an to have everything he wished for.
Wan Qiongju said, “Master, I am willing to go through fire and water for you. You saved me and gave me a new life. I want to become your most reliable helper. This is my choice.”
The young man’s gaze was as passionate and sincere as his heart.
They stared at each other until Qiu Yin’an noticed his vision blurring. He lowered his head and complained, “Why would Yao Ye talk about these things with a child like you?”
Wan Qiongju said, “Master, I am not small. I am already sixteen. I can do things for you. I will become more powerful in the future. The more I know, the more I can do for you. Perhaps one day, I can become your support.”
The young man’s eyes were firm, his resolve unquestionable.
Facing Chen Liang’s instigation, the hypocrisy of the various sects, and Bai Chengying’s hesitation, Qiu Yin’an had never felt helpless. He just charged forward blindly. He was thankful for his profound cultivation and powerful techniques; he could handle everything. Qiu Yin’an was too strong-willed, so much so that he forgot that people are allowed to rely on others, even very powerful people.
In this Cultivation World, it seemed everyone had someone willing to risk everything for them. Yu Jingyan had Chen Liang, Yao Ye had Yao Yu, but only he had no one.
Now, he did.
Qiu Yin’an’s heart instantly filled with a sense of grievance.
A heart that fights alone for a long time gets tired. This exhaustion requires someone who cares about him to point it out before it is noticed.
Qiu Yin’an needed a corner of stability to rest. This young man might not be very capable yet, but he was enough for Qiu Yin’an to lean on for a moment.
Qiu Yin’an didn’t want Wan Qiongju to hear the unusual tremor in his voice, so he said nothing.
Qiu Yin’an’s hand resting on the book pages trembled slightly. He pretended to be searching for something, constantly flipping the pages. He didn’t want the young man before him to see his vulnerability or think that his Master was a sentimental person. He wanted to remain exactly as Wan Qiongju had described him when he took him as a disciple: My Master is awe-inspiring.
Wan Qiongju sat back down on the couch and began to cultivate. A moment later, Qiu Yin’an heard him say, “Master, believe me, I can do it.”
Qiu Yin’an didn’t look up, but simply reached out and placed his hand on the back of Wan Qiongju’s hand, tapping lightly twice with his finger, as if to say—I believe you.