I Don’T Want To Be This Master For A Day Anymore. Chapter 20
byAn Uninvited Guest
With the large red veil covering her, Yao Yu was escorted out of the main hall by two maids. For the next few hours, Yao Yu only needed to keep the red veil on and wait until dawn for the people from Fengyun Manor to come and take her away.
Under the watchful eyes of the guests, Qiu Yin’an completed the task Yao Ye had assigned him. The departure ceremony was finished, and the guests took their seats for the banquet.
Qiu Yin’an had drunk too much wine yesterday. He wasn’t drunk, but his stomach had been churning since last night and was still aching now.
He had no appetite for the delicacies laid before him. Qiu Yin’an called a maid and instructed her to brew him a bowl of ginger tea.
Qiu Yin’an sat in his seat, rubbing his stomach with one hand.
Bai Chengying’s table was right beside his. Seeing his condition, he moved his chair closer with concern. “Yin’an, what’s wrong? Why do you look so unwell?”
Since their last unpleasant parting, the two had not seen each other for a long time.
Qiu Yin’an replied faintly, “I drank a bit too much last night. It’s nothing serious.”
Bai Chengying lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear. “Yin’an, I’ve thought about what happened last time. I was being unreasonable and forced you to say things in anger. I won’t pressure you anymore. I’ll believe whatever you say. Please don’t be angry anymore, okay?”
Given their years of brotherhood, Qiu Yin’an hadn’t truly intended to cut ties with Bai Chengying forever. Since Bai Chengying was now making amends, Qiu Yin’an decided to let bygones be bygones and reconcile.
Qiu Yin’an said, “As long as you stop targeting my beloved disciple, we can go back to how we were.”
Bai Chengying smiled, pursing his lips. “Since he is your disciple, he should call me Martial Uncle. I have always doted on the younger generation, so don’t worry, I won’t target him.”
Qiu Yin’an raised an eyebrow, observing Bai Chengying. The sudden shift in Bai Chengying’s attitude made him uneasy. After all, last time he had been openly cursing Wan Qiongju as a little brat, and now he was referring to himself as Martial Uncle.
Regardless, Bai Chengying no longer targeting Wan Qiongju was a good outcome.
“Yin’an, why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?” Bai Chengying’s cheeks flushed slightly.
Fearing he might misunderstand, Qiu Yin’an quickly averted his gaze. He replied, “I’m just surprised you feel this way.”
Bai Chengying chuckled softly. “He is your direct disciple. You value him, so I should be more tolerant of him. Oh, the disciples of East Mountain Hall know you’ve taken a disciple and want to see what kind of person earned your favor. If you have time, let him visit East Mountain Hall to meet the disciples. They are all fellow disciples of Qingxuan Peak and should get acquainted.”
Qiu Yin’an said, “I’m about to take him to Cold Ridge White Cliff. We can talk about it when we return.”
Bai Chengying said, “Yin’an, I’ll go with you on the trip to Cold Ridge White Cliff.”
Qiu Yin’an glanced around and saw that everyone was busy drinking and chatting, paying no attention to their conversation. He whispered, “You should stay and recuperate properly. Leave the task of finding the Seated Buddha Hand to me.”
Bai Chengying protested, “How can I do that? How can I let you go to such a dangerous place alone?”
Just then, the ginger tea was ready. The maid placed it on Qiu Yin’an’s table. Qiu Yin’an took a small sip. The warmth entering his stomach instantly made him feel much better.
After the maid walked away, Qiu Yin’an replied to Bai Chengying, “I won’t be alone. Wan Qiongju is coming with me, and he has an eagle.”
“Then I must go even more,” Bai Chengying’s voice suddenly rose, and his speech quickened. Everyone around them looked over. He smiled, raised his cup in response a couple of times, and after diverting their attention, he explained to Qiu Yin’an, “If he goes with you, you’ll have to divide your attention to look after him. If I go with you, the two of us partnering up will surely yield twice the result with half the effort.”
Cold Ridge White Cliff was fraught with danger. Qiu Yin’an originally didn’t want Wan Qiongju to risk it with him, but he also had no choice but to bring him. Qiu Yin’an explained to Bai Chengying, “It won’t work. That eagle only listens to Wan Qiongju. We must bring him.”
Bai Chengying said, “In that case, we’ll bring him along.”
Qiu Yin’an insisted, “You shouldn’t go. Focus on recuperating.”
Bai Chengying said, “You know my strength. Even in my current state, I won’t drag you down.”
Qiu Yin’an said, “That’s not what I meant.”
Bai Chengying continued, “You’re going to such a dangerous place. I will definitely worry about you. Please let me go. Besides, you’re going to Cold Ridge White Cliff because of me in the first place. How can I stay home and enjoy the benefits in peace? An extra person means an extra helper. Take me with you.”
Seeing Bai Chengying’s sincere persistence, Qiu Yin’an wavered. Moreover, as Bai Chengying said, he was indeed a good helper. Finding no further reason to refuse, Qiu Yin’an squinted and smiled at Bai Chengying. “Then let’s go together.”
Just as Qiu Yin’an had taken a few sips of ginger tea to warm his stomach, there was a loud crash at the entrance. Something had been thrown down. Everyone was startled and fell silent, looking toward the door. It was a square package wrapped in black cloth. Half of the golden totem on the cloth was tied into a knot, making it impossible to immediately identify which sect it belonged to.
Yao Ye walked toward the object, cursing, “It’s a joyous day for my Jiuling Mountain! Who is so careless as to let something drop here?”
Yao Ye picked up the black cloth package and examined it in his hands. It wasn’t heavy; he could easily hold it with one hand. Inside, it seemed to be a square wooden box.
Yao Ye apologized, “This must be a congratulatory gift sent by one of the sects. The maids were negligent and allowed the gift to roll here. My apologies.”
People from various sects walked toward the hall entrance, but no one stepped forward to claim it.
Qiu Yin’an also walked over, looking at the black cloth package with confusion. Congratulatory gifts were usually wrapped in red silk. Why was this one black?
Seeing Yao Ye untie the cloth and about to open the peach wood box inside, Qiu Yin’an immediately stopped him. “Be careful. This might not be a congratulatory gift.”
“Not a congratulatory gift?” Yao Ye shouted toward the sky, “Who dares to cause trouble at my Jiuling Mountain? Step forward—”
“Don’t shout yet.” Qiu Yin’an took the peach wood box and placed it on the ground. The crowd gathered around.
Qiu Yin’an summoned his twin blades and struck the peach wood box. The box split open, revealing a cultivator’s spiritual core, glowing with purple light. The bloodstains on it had not yet dried.
Gasps erupted from the crowd. Yao Ye sucked in a cold breath and stumbled back a few steps. He said with a trembling voice, “Yin’an, someone has been cored.”
The fear a cultivator felt upon seeing a spiritual core was akin to a mortal seeing a severed head placed before them.
Everyone was discussing the matter, still trying to figure out what was happening, when a sudden gust of evil wind blew up. Thunder and lightning immediately flashed. Qiu Yin’an looked up and saw a square black banner suspended in the sky, bearing the image of a soaring eagle.
Qiu Yin’an said, “It’s a Witch Cultivator.”
Everyone instantly became alert and summoned their magical artifacts. Bai Chengying held his Linked Star Sword and stood beside Qiu Yin’an. “The visitors are hostile. Be extra careful.”
Qiu Yin’an hummed in agreement, his knuckles white as he gripped his blade handles.
The lineage of Witch Cultivators was once feared even by the gods. Their power was undeniable. Although this lineage of cultivators had been suppressed and few remained, their strength was still not to be underestimated.
After a clap of thunder, about seven or eight Witch Cultivators dressed in black robes with gold patterns descended from the sky. The banner shrunk to the size of a forearm and flew back into the hand of one of them.
The Witch Cultivator holding the black banner slowly lifted his eyelids, scanning the crowd. He said coldly, “Yao Yu, Venerable Lord of Jiuling Mountain, and Lang Yue, Star Master of Qimen Pavilion, spread rumors, distorting the intent of Chen Liang, Venerable Lord of Qingxuan Peak, to protect the peace of all beings. Their crimes are heinous. Star Master Lang Yue has already been executed. Now it is Jiuling Mountain’s turn.”
“Who are you trying to scare? Try touching my sister!” Yao Ye rushed out of the crowd, pointing at the man’s nose and cursing, “Today is a joyous day for my Jiuling Mountain. If that old bastard Chen Liang dares to instruct you to cause trouble, I, your young master, will not let you off easily.”
“You must be Yao Ye?” The banner holder took two steps forward. “I heard you have little ability but are quite restless. After we deal with your sister, you’ll be next.”
Over the years, although Yao Ye’s cultivation was not refined, under the protection of Qiu Yin’an and his sister, no one had dared to provoke him. The Witch Cultivator’s words instantly ignited Yao Ye’s fury. He pushed Qiu Yin’an forward. “Yin’an, help me teach them a lesson.”
Bai Chengying quickly pulled Yao Ye back. He scolded Yao Ye, “The Witch Cultivator lineage is unfathomable. Why did you push Yin’an out?”
“To fight them!” Yao Ye glared at Bai Chengying, his eyes red with anger. “Know your place. You have no business interfering between Yin’an and me.”
The Witch Cultivator sneered. “Virtuous Venerable Lin Yu, I advise you to stay away from Jiuling Mountain. Your master has ordered us not to harm you, but in a fight like this, no one can guarantee anything, so you should step aside.”
Bai Chengying’s eyebrows twitched slightly. He remained standing beside Qiu Yin’an, holding his sword, silent.
The Witch Cultivator waved the banner and shouted, “Venerable Lord Chen Liang has commanded that today, only Jiuling Mountain shall be slaughtered. All bystanders, step aside.”
As the black banner swung back and forth, the surroundings became hazy. At first, it was just a light drizzle, but in an instant, it turned into a fierce storm. The raindrops hitting people became increasingly painful, and everyone rushed to hide indoors.
Yao Ye pulled Qiu Yin’an, intending to go inside too, but when he turned around, he found that their retreat had been cut off by the Witch Cultivators. A high wall constructed of talismans had appeared behind them at some point.
Qiu Yin’an turned back to look for another way out, only to find that talisman walls surrounded them on all sides. The three of them were trapped as if at the bottom of a well.
Bai Chengying said, “These talismans can suppress techniques. We must break the spell quickly.”
“I’ll try.” Qiu Yin’an channeled his Spiritual Energy, stepped back, and then fiercely cleaved forward. His twin blades cut a path, and the talisman wall was breached. He escaped.
But only he escaped.
Because the moment he broke through the spell, the crack immediately sealed itself.
Bai Chengying was not a concern, but Yao Ye was still inside. Qiu Yin’an held his twin blades diagonally and swung them hard several times, but this time the talisman wall did not budge.
This was bad.
The person holding the banner raised an eyebrow, saying smugly, “Don’t try anymore. If I don’t let you in, you won’t be able to enter.”
Qiu Yin’an glanced at him and replied, “No one can stop me from doing what I intend to do.”
A moment later, Bai Chengying also quickly broke free. Qiu Yin’an immediately asked, “How is Yao Ye?”
Bai Chengying said, “He’s fine. He still has the energy to curse and act arrogant. But I tried many times and couldn’t bring him out with me.”
Qiu Yin’an said, “This talisman wall can be breached from the inside, but it’s indestructible from the outside. With Yao Ye’s limited ability, he can’t get out on his own. Brother Chengying, you know more about talisman arts than I do. Do you have any way for me to get back in?”
Bai Chengying said, “Although I understand some talisman arts, it’s quite difficult to figure out how this talisman array is controlled and set up.”
“If we can’t dismantle it, we’ll break it by force. I can’t abandon Yao Ye. Brother Chengying, help me.” Qiu Yin’an channeled the Spiritual Energy throughout his body, gathering it in his palms and pouring it into his twin blades. Bai Chengying tightly gripped his Linked Star Sword. The two combined their strength and struck the talisman wall with all their might. With a loud clang, the talisman wall rippled with a circle of golden-black spiritual light, sending the two of them reeling back ten feet.
Qiu Yin’an stabbed his blade into the ground, ending in a semi-crouching posture. Bai Chengying supported himself with his sword, barely managing not to fall.
Bai Chengying’s face was pale. His heart meridian was damaged, and his spiritual core was fractured. That single blow had exhausted all his Spiritual Energy. He needed to rest and recover.
Bai Chengying’s stance was unsteady. His hand slipped from the sword hilt, and he was about to collapse. Qiu Yin’an took a step and supported him.
Bai Chengying was drenched in cold sweat. He whispered weakly into Qiu Yin’an’s ear, “Yin’an, I’m sorry. I can’t help you right now.”
Qiu Yin’an supported Bai Chengying with one arm. “Focus your energy. Stabilize your breath first. I’ll help you recover later.”
“Don’t waste your effort. In less than half an hour, Yao Ye’s spiritual core will be completely peeled out.”
The Witch Cultivator smiled smugly and swaggered toward the two of them. “We were originally going to kill Yao Yu first, but since he’s so arrogant, we might as well send him on his way first.”
As he approached, Qiu Yin’an raised a blade and held it against his neck. “Let him go, or I’ll cut your head off.”
With the blade at his throat, the Witch Cultivator laughed instead of fearing. “Virtuous Venerable Muyang, I, Chang Chuan, am different from Yao Ye. I have the capital to be arrogant. I have lived for a hundred years. If I could be injured by your long blade, wouldn’t I have lived in vain?”
Qiu Yin’an twisted his wrist. The moment the sharp edge sliced into Chang Chuan’s neck, the man suddenly dissolved into countless black feathers, vanishing before his eyes, only to reform into a living person again not far away.
Qiu Yin’an could not harm him.
Chang Chuan curled his lips into a wicked smile. “Virtuous Venerable Muyang, don’t rush. When we find the Great Witch Lord, we will send you to reunite with your good brother. Back then, the Great Witch Lord’s soul was scattered thanks to your Qiu clan. However, the curse has been fulfilled after all these years. We have avenged the Great Witch Lord. Your Qiu clan is truly on the verge of extinction, with only you remaining.”
Qiu Yin’an retorted, “So what if I’m the only one left? My Qiu family reigned supreme in the Cultivation World for a hundred years and remains the victor.”
“Victor?” Chang Chuan clenched his fist and pointed at Qiu Yin’an. “No matter how high your Qiu clan’s cultivation, you are all short-lived. Even your father, what good was it to break through to the Saint Venerable Realm? He still died. You are the same. You absolutely won’t live past a hundred years. I curse your Qiu clan to be cut off from descendants. I want to see who will become the overlord of the Cultivation World a hundred years from now.”
Qiu Yin’an did not want to waste time arguing with him. The grudges of the past would lead to endless quarreling.
Yao Ye had been trapped inside for some time now. He had to find a solution quickly.
Jiuling Mountain was mostly composed of artifact cultivators, and the Elders had little combat power. The Witch Cultivator’s sudden storm had scared them all back into the house. At this moment, Qiu Yin’an could only rely on himself to save Yao Ye.
Qiu Yin’an looked up at the talisman wall, which was still brightly glowing. His and Bai Chengying’s attack had been like throwing an egg against a rock, completely ineffective.
Qiu Yin’an couldn’t think of a way out for a moment. Was Yao Ye truly doomed this time?
Qiu Yin’an had grown up with him. His bond with Yao Ye was no less than the bond between Yao Ye and his biological sister, Yao Yu. If Qiu Yin’an had to watch Yao Ye die in front of him, helpless, he would rather kill himself for a quicker end.
The talisman wall was bright and dazzling, but Qiu Yin’an couldn’t see what was happening inside. He walked closer and reached out to touch it. The talisman wall could not be cleaved open, but Yao Ye had to be saved.
Qiu Yin’an turned back to Chang Chuan and said, “Tell Chen Liang that I won’t fight for the Venerable Lord position. Release Yao Ye.”