Three-tiered Trials

Mù Qīngyǔ was utterly bewildered at this moment.

‘No, I just said that casually—are they really coming to arrest me?’

She had waited for so long, yet neither the original protagonist nor the mysterious master had appeared.

Instead, she had waited for a man who had literally fallen from the sky.

“I understand now.”

“I understand everything.”

Xǔ Tiānlí was the first to regain his senses.

He walked closer to the older sister before him, a smile spreading across his face.

“So, these were all trials.”

“…”

That wasn’t a deceptive tale; reclusive masters truly existed, and one stood right before Xǔ Tiānlí.

Xǔ Tiānlí stopped, bowing deeply.

“Master, do you think my performance was satisfactory?”

“Satisfactory?” Mù Qīngyǔ blinked.

Xǔ Tiānlí had already swiftly pieced together the entire sequence of events in his mind.

His father had once said that reclusive masters would occasionally emerge from the deep mountains and ancient forests to seek disciples with whom they shared a fated connection.

This older sister’s actions perfectly matched that description.

After the annulment of his engagement became a widespread scandal, word reached the ears of this reclusive master, piquing their interest in him.

However, masters didn’t accept disciples haphazardly; she would surely test him first!

“You are the reclusive master.”

“During the day, you deliberately disguised yourself as a fortune teller, but in reality, you were giving me a trial, testing whether I was worthy of becoming your disciple.”

‘Oh no, did this person hit their head and become stupid?’

‘Did I say any of that?’ Mù Qīngyǔ’s mouth twitched.

Seeing that she remained silent, her expression unchanged, Xǔ Tiānlí continued.

“In fact, Master, you’ve been observing me all along, haven’t you?”

“If I had fled in the face of danger, it would have meant failing the trial.”

“What you wanted to see was my fearless resolve in a crisis, which is why you intervened to save me from that otherworldly demon.”

Otherwise, there would be no explanation for where that red light came from, or how he was saved.

‘Yes, it must be like that.’

Listening to him ramble on with such mystical nonsense, Mù Qīngyǔ only felt a headache brewing.

‘What in the world is he talking about?’

‘If he’s sick, he should get treated.’

She took a deep breath.

Under Xǔ Tiānlí’s expectant gaze, she spoke her first words in a cold, detached tone.

“How long do you intend to stare?”

Only then did Xǔ Tiānlí realize that the older sister before him was still completely naked!

The silver moonlight cast its glow upon her, her long, dark hair edged with silver, her tender skin fair and translucent.

Droplets of water still clung to her exposed chest above the water’s surface.

Xǔ Tiānlí could see everything he shouldn’t merely by looking down.

This was the first time in his life he had seen a naked woman.

“My apologies!”

“I’m so sorry!”

Xǔ Tiānlí gasped, immediately turning and running to the side.

He was even worried that she might get angry and change her mind about taking him as a disciple.

“Heh.”

Such an exaggerated reaction made Mù Qīngyǔ unable to suppress a laugh.

Although her body had transformed into a woman’s, she still perceived herself as a man internally, so she didn’t feel much shame.

This seemingly unintentional sound, however, stirred a new storm of thoughts within Xǔ Tiānlí’s mind.

‘She laughed?’

‘Why would she laugh after being seen completely exposed?’

‘Could there be some hidden mystery here?’

As he pondered the secret, he heard Mù Qīngyǔ’s voice once more.

“You can turn around now.”

Xǔ Tiānlí nervously turned back, only to see Mù Qīngyǔ, who had already dressed.

Because the splash of water had soaked her clothes, the thin fabric clung to her body, creating a semi-transparent effect.

Her entire being exuded a cool, ethereal aura, like a fairy who had arrived on the moonlight.

‘She might as well not have worn anything.’

Xǔ Tiānlí averted his gaze, complaining inwardly.

“Master, since I have passed your trial, please accept me as your disciple!”

He was serious; he even knelt before Mù Qīngyǔ on the spot.

“I, Xǔ Tiānlí, pay my respects to Master.”

During the time it took to get dressed, Mù Qīngyǔ finally understood what was happening.

It turned out that this mentally unstable man had mistaken her for the legendary reclusive master.

‘What a joke.’

‘I don’t have time to play make-believe with you.’

‘I came here to find that mysterious master, and the protagonist of the original story, Xǔ…’

“What did you just say your name was?” Mù Qīngyǔ suddenly froze.

“Xǔ Tiānlí.”

“…Is that Xǔ Tiānlí, the one who is eighteen, grew up relying on his father, and was just dumped after his father’s death?”

“Uh, that’s me.” Xǔ Tiānlí grimaced, a bit abashed.

Mù Qīngyǔ suddenly felt a wave of suffocation.

‘So he’s Xǔ Tiānlí, my ex-fiancé.’

‘Why did I have no memory of him?’

‘Oh, right, neither I nor the original owner had ever met him.’

‘The original owner was too arrogant to even bother knowing what he looked like.’

‘No wonder…’

Mù Qīngyǔ subconsciously touched her face, grateful that her disguise was still intact.

‘Wants to take me as his master?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

‘I’m waiting for you to lead me to that mysterious master so I can cling to their coattails.’

‘Xǔ Tiānlí is here now, but where is the mysterious master?’

‘No, absolutely not.’

Facing Xǔ Tiānlí’s kowtow, Mù Qīngyǔ’s tone remained cold.

“I cannot accept you as my disciple.”

“Why?”

“No reason.”

‘I’m here for you to carry me, not to carry you.’

“Th-this way…”

‘Hmm?’

Mù Qīngyǔ suddenly felt Xǔ Tiānlí’s aura grow incredibly heavy.

“As expected, I’m still not worthy, am I?”

“A good-for-nothing can never catch the eye of a master.”

Xǔ Tiānlí clenched his fists, forcing a bitter smile.

He quickly suppressed his sorrowful expression and bowed again.

“Thank you, Master, for giving me the opportunity.”

“I won’t speak of what happened today.”

His turn to leave was decisive.

Even if he wasn’t accepted as a disciple, he wouldn’t abandon his path to becoming stronger.

He had vowed to do it, and he would.

Mù Qīngyǔ remained expressionless, but inwardly, she was breaking out in a cold sweat.

‘You’re not just going to leave, are you?’

‘Why isn’t that mysterious master showing up?’

‘No, if this continues, the plot will go in a completely unpredictable direction.’

‘Without the mysterious master, Xǔ Tiānlí won’t be able to embark on his path of revenge, and then wouldn’t it become the villains’ world?’

‘I need to find a way to keep him here.’

‘Hiss, whatever, I’ll just throw caution to the wind.’

‘At least ensure the plot doesn’t deviate too far.’

“Wait.”

Xǔ Tiānlí stopped, turning to look at her.

“Do you truly believe it ends like this?”

“Huh?”

“To tell you the truth, I was still testing you just now.” Mù Qīngyǔ began her performance.

“Since you know I’m strict about accepting disciples, how could I only give you one layer of trials?”

Xǔ Tiānlí was initially bewildered, then began to ponder, and finally, his pupils constricted in shock.

“So… that’s how it is?”

‘How what?’

“I never thought Master would arrange a full three layers of trials for me!”

‘Did I?’

Mù Qīngyǔ continued her act: “Then tell me, what are these three layers?”

Xǔ Tiānlí took a deep breath and launched into his lengthy explanation.

The first layer of trial tested his resolve: if Xǔ Tiānlí truly had the determination to become stronger, he would definitely come up the back mountain.

The second layer of trial tested his composure: Master deliberately appeared naked to see if he could truly regard Mù Qīngyǔ as his master, with no distracting thoughts.

And this third layer of trial still tested his resolve: intentionally rejecting him was to observe his reaction.

A person who truly wanted to become stronger would not give up on the path to power because of such a setback.

His words flowed like bullets from a machine gun, leaving Mù Qīngyǔ utterly dumbfounded.

She couldn’t help but inwardly scoff: ‘This person really needs to get his brain checked.’

She cleared her throat and spoke again.

“Since you yourself understand the meaning of the three layers of trials, it proves that I did not misjudge you.”

“I have not come in vain; I have found a truly fated individual.”

“Really?”

“Now, what should you call me?”

“Master!” Xǔ Tiānlí knelt once more.

It must be said, being kowtowed to felt quite satisfying.

To keep herself from laughing, Mù Qīngyǔ closed her eyes, appearing utterly unperturbed.

‘Hmm, I guess I’ve bluffed my way through this.’

‘It seems that mysterious master had an accident and can’t come for now.’

‘Until that mysterious master appears, I’ll stabilize Xǔ Tiānlí first.’

As this thought occurred to her, Mù Qīngyǔ’s heart suddenly sank.

She opened her eyes, looking at the guy who was happier than if he’d won the lottery.

‘I won’t actually have to teach Xǔ Tiānlí all the time, will I?’

‘I’m just a rookie who transmigrated a few days ago, unable to even comprehend spiritual power or anything.’

‘All I can manage are some parlor tricks to fool people.’

‘If the mysterious master never shows up, won’t I be stuck with him indefinitely?’

‘A villainous ex-fiancée and the male protagonist who obsesses over her… if he finds out, wouldn’t his hatred for me skyrocket through the roof?’

If Mù Qīngyǔ hadn’t already been drenched, people would probably have seen her profusely sweating.