The Inescapable Disciple and the Jiang Manor’s Predicament

“…”

[Father, shall I drive away your ‘former’ beloved disciple?]

Daoling’s voice, though internal, seemed to emphasize the word ‘former’ with particular weight.

‘No need,’ Zhuang Xun thought.

‘From the moment I re-encountered her, I knew it was only a matter of time before she found me again.’

‘Whether it’s a blessing or a calamity, if it’s a calamity, it cannot be avoided. One can escape the first, but not the fifteenth.’

‘That day, I willingly let her end me.’

‘I should have known then that she would exhaust every means to find me once more.’

‘Though the girl speaks little, when it comes to action, she is exceptionally serious.’

Zhuang Xun had faced life and death alongside her for nearly a century in that world, ultimately helping her ascend to become its strongest being.

He knew his wayward disciple’s temperament well. If she spoke of killing, she truly would kill him.

[Luoshui… you’ve left me with no choice…]

“Mn…”

Seeing Zhuang Xun yield to her “intimidation,” Xuanyuan Luoshui finally separated their lips.

She leaned her forehead against his. “Master… you’re not to deceive me like this again… do you understand?”

Her warm, fragrant breath continuously brushed against Zhuang Xun’s face. It felt like drops of cool orchid dew seeping into his heart, eroding his will to resist.

“Do you think I even have a chance to deceive you now?”

Through the blood that had permeated him from her kiss, Zhuang Xun had already sensed Xuanyuan Luoshui’s current cultivation realm. He harbored no thoughts of resistance.

‘A kiss is a kiss, and a Bloodline Curse is a Bloodline Curse,’ he mused. ‘But what’s with this tongue invasion?’

[Father, it seems you’re rather pleased about being forcibly kissed?]

[Shall Daoling try it next time?]

‘Scram!’

‘Stop with these jokes!’

‘Quickly, think of a way to break this Bloodline Curse… I don’t want my lifeblood constantly held in her grasp.’

Zhuang Xun watched helplessly as a faint, blood-red thread gradually coalesced in his heart. It extended, pulling, towards her own heart.

He then felt his entire body being pervaded and controlled by her consciousness.

[Don’t worry, Father. As long as you can complete the Primordial Chaos Dao Body, her Bloodline Curse will naturally break on its own.]

‘I know that, of course,’ Zhuang Xun thought.

‘But I reckon she’ll drag me away any second now… where would I find the chance to complete it?’

[Finding the opportunity is your business, Father. Good luck~]

[You must hold on!]

Zhuang Xun felt like crying but had no tears. What an utterly ridiculous situation this was! How was he supposed to endure it?

“Then, Master, I shall take you back to the Spirit Realm right now, where you can rest well in my palace,” Xuanyuan Luoshui announced. “Your disciple has many questions I wish to ask you personally.”

Having established the bloodline connection, Xuanyuan Luoshui released Zhuang Xun without another word. She prepared to use spiritual threads to entwine around his body and take him to her chambers to properly catch up.

“Wait a moment… I still have something to do here,” Zhuang Xun interjected. “I’ll go back with you once I’m done.”

Although Zhuang Xun was now a fish on the chopping block, entirely at her mercy, the necessary arrangements here had not yet been completed. He needed to find a way to finish them first.

Xuanyuan Luoshui’s brows furrowed slightly, her displeasure evident. “Master, you know my temperament. I never wish to create complications.”

“I know,” he conceded, “but this matter must be handled by me.”

“Once it’s done, I will return with you, as you wish.”

This was the first time Zhuang Xun had ever compromised and softened his stance before a woman. He couldn’t help but think that if his former strength were still available, he would certainly teach this drastically changed brat a lesson. He would show her that her master was still her master.

“…”

Xuanyuan Luoshui pondered for a moment. She decided there was no need to push Zhuang Xun too hard right now. After all, she had already placed the Bloodline Curse upon him, giving her temporary control.

Pushing too hard might cause her hard-won master to perish, making all her efforts futile.

“Very well, I shall grant Master three days.” She gently lifted Zhuang Xun’s chin with a fingertip, a hint of a smile playing in her eyes. “In three days, I will personally come to receive Master.”

“…”

“Thank you…”

With that, Xuanyuan Luoshui gently stroked the void before her with one hand.

A low hum resonated. Cracks and shatters echoed.

The dark clouds in the sky gradually dispersed, and everything that had been static around them shattered like reflections in a mirror or the moon in water.

[Master, if you require any assistance, please do not hesitate to speak.]

[Luoshui will do her utmost to help you.]

“…”

Zhuang Xun listened to the gentle breeze caress his ears, her kind words still echoing in his mind. Yet, at this moment, his heart was exceedingly complicated, unsure how to respond.

“Alas…”

“What a mess…”

“Another troublesome affair.”

****

Jiang Manor

The Jiang Manor was ablaze with lights. Two luxurious carriages were parked before its grand entrance. The occupants had already been ushered into the manor’s main hall, where they were discussing various matters.

“Old Master Jiang, I needn’t elaborate on the current situation in Yue Long County, need I?” Strategist Li Shan, seated on a guest chair, spoke volubly. He cast a sidelong glance at his own young master, who appeared on the verge of dozing off.

‘Young master,’ he thought, ‘this is hardly the time for sleep.’

“Of course, I am well aware,” Old Master Jiang replied from his seat of honor. His expression was as unmoving as an ancient tree rooted in the earth, betraying not a hint of emotion.

“However, the incident of the poisoned people in Yue Long County has persisted for a long time now.”

“During this period, the county magistrate fled, yet the imperial court remained entirely unresponsive, unwilling to offer even the slightest support.”

“Now, a true expert has finally resolved the poisoned people incident, restoring peace to Yue Long County.”

“Yet, the imperial court has sent people over once more, with some even seeking to collude and scheme. They truly don’t treat the common people here as human beings.”

Old Master Jiang’s tone clearly held a hint of suppressed anger. He, too, had been a victim of the poisoned people incident, having once understood the agony of poison invading their very bones.

That Demonic Cultivator had plunged his entire Jiang Manor into chaos, leaving many dead and injured. The imperial court’s indifferent reaction had utterly disheartened him, stripping him of any lingering hope for the current regime.

Yet now, there were actually people who wished to collude with his Jiang Manor to exploit the national treasury and the common people’s livelihoods. It was utterly foolish, a pipe dream!

“Old Master Jiang, even if the imperial court’s reaction has disheartened you this time,” Strategist Li Shan continued, “you can cross anyone, but don’t cross money.”

“Look, Yue Long County is now awaiting reconstruction. Many families that were rooted here have been forced to scatter and depart.”

“If you could collude with Lord Liang at this moment, then in the future, Yue Long County… might just see your Jiang family become the sole dominant power.”

Strategist Li Shan had initially believed Jiang Longqian, the master of the Jiang Manor, to be a sensible man. Yet, it now seemed he was merely a stubborn old man, incapable of adapting. To refuse such an excellent opportunity to revitalize his family was baffling.

No matter, though. He still had an ace up his sleeve. The Jiang family would comply today, whether they wished to or not.

“Don’t even think about it!” Jiang Longqian declared. “My Jiang Manor will never engage in such acts of exploiting the common people! Please, see yourselves out!”

He sternly refused, clearly intending to dismiss them.

“Cough, cough! Don’t be so hasty, Old Master Jiang,” Strategist Li Shan said leisurely, a knowing wink in his eye. “Has it escaped your notice that Lord Liang and I have brought along four Daoist priests?”

“What do you mean?”

“These four Daoist priests are Golden Core realm experts. In the eyes of us mortals, they are already indistinguishable from immortals.”

“Old Master Jiang, surely you understand my meaning now?”

“…”

If Old Master Jiang hadn’t already conversed with that expert and gained a deeper understanding of cultivators, he might have found his blood pressure soaring and his mind unsettled at this moment.

Just then, a bright and clear voice drifted from outside the main hall, drawing closer.

“The Golden Core realm, perhaps in the eyes of mortals, seems as distant as an immortal…”

“But in the eyes of cultivators themselves, this realm is actually no different from merely having just entered the path.”

“Hmm?”

Lord Liang Xiu, who had been listening drowsily nearby, immediately perked up upon hearing the mature and pleasant female voice. He looked towards the graceful and maturely beautiful figure that was now walking into the center of the main hall.

“Furthermore, those who act for the sake of mere worldly possessions like money…”

“Are considered unworthy individuals in the eyes of cultivators.”

Jiang Ningwan, with her graceful figure, slowly walked towards the center of the hall, her tone gentle. Yet, her aura was no weaker than anyone else present.

“Am I correct?”

“Four Daoist priests?”