“Voluntary Apprenticeship” – An Inescapable Fate

“……”

Su Wanqing tremblingly placed the teacup on the table beside her.

She felt like she was truly unlucky, or that this tea simply clashed with her!

Why did major events always happen every time she drank tea?

Now, she felt her hands were uncontrollable, her whole body seemed to lose strength, and even the hand holding the teacup couldn’t hold steady.

After managing to place the teacup steadily on the table, Su Wanqing fell into deep thought.

She couldn’t understand why Ning Yuer had suddenly changed so much?

She had already pushed that girl to Hongxiu, so why? Why did she come back?!

Although Ning Yuer wasn’t following the plot, which was beneficial to her, this was far more troublesome than following the plot.

Not only had she entered the top three, but she also wanted to take her as a master!

It’s over. Did she build up too much favorability?

Did this lead to Ning Yuer being unable to forget her, which is why she returned to the Tianjian Pavilion selection assembly, wanting to use her top three status to join her tutelage?

Tsk…

She should have known when to stop.

But even so, Su Wanqing still wouldn’t take her as a disciple, because no matter what she did, or what choice she made, it was a dead end.

Now she had a terrible headache, and not just a headache.

Soon, she would also have to figure out how to refuse Ning Yuer, how to set the precedent of a top three disciple being rejected for mentorship.

What made her headache even worse was that Ning Yuer’s return completely disrupted her plans, instantly turning what she had always looked forward to into nothing.

Of course, Su Wanqing’s biggest headache was Chen Xueli.

If she couldn’t withstand the pressure and actually took in Ning Yuer, who knew what would happen when that rebellious disciple returned?

Would she flatten her mountain peak?

This was very possible. She couldn’t say for Chen Xueli in the Foundation Establishment stage, but if she reached the Golden Core stage, she definitely had that power.

And most importantly, her body…

If she didn’t refuse and was “assaulted” by that rebellious disciple for this reason, then she would truly be finished.

No! She must refuse!

But before that, Su Wanqing still had to ask Li Ziyu what exactly was going on.

“Elder Li, can you explain what’s happening?”

Su Wanqing asked the woman beside her with a forced smile.

At this moment, the aura between them made it seem as if she was the superior, not Li Ziyu.

“Why has this girl changed so much?”

“I told you, Elder Su, you wouldn’t recognize Ning Yuer when you saw her again.”

“Didn’t you say you were looking forward to it?”

“How about it? Isn’t it a huge surprise?”

Just as Su Wanqing hadn’t picked up on Li Ziyu’s subtle hints, Li Ziyu also didn’t pick up on the dissatisfaction in Su Wanqing’s words.

In fact, her tone even carried a hint of seeking credit, as if saying: she had brought such a good disciple to Su Wanqing, so shouldn’t Su Wanqing thank her properly?

“Mm, a surprise, of course a surprise.”

Su Wanqing tried her best to control her emotions, but her occasionally twitching lips still betrayed her.

How could she not be surprised? This was almost a fright.

Li Ziyu was truly her “great bringer of fortune”…

She had successfully created the only option that put Su Wanqing in a dilemma.

Why did this woman insist on sending Ning Yuer back?

And even helped this girl establish a good foundation, easily securing a spot in the top three.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so passive and troubled now.

“By the way, what’s with her hair color, eye color, and weight?”

Although she knew the reason for Ning Yuer’s overall drastic change, to avoid arousing suspicion from others, she still asked.

However, what Su Wanqing was most concerned about was Ning Yuer’s rapid weight gain.

Even though the girl’s appearance still couldn’t be called plump, it was at least much better than being skin and bones.

She was very curious what method Elder Li had used to make Ning Yuer’s malnutrition recover so quickly.

“I don’t know what’s with her hair and eye color. It seems she was born with this hair color, and it only awakened after cultivation.”

“As for her weight issue, that’s because I nourished her with pills.”

“I see.”

Su Wanqing nodded, roughly understanding, then no longer paid attention to the “great philanthropist” Li Ziyu beside her. Instead, she focused all her attention on Ning Yuer.

Now, Ning Yuer was a ticking time bomb for her—a ticking time bomb specifically aimed at her!

Whether she ignited it, making herself experience being “assaulted” by a new rebellious disciple again, or ignited Chen Xueli’s side, no matter what she did, she would still experience being “assaulted.”

It was still the fate of being pinned down by a lesbian—

To be honest, Su Wanqing had once tried to think about enjoying the conveniences her alluring bones brought her, but ultimately, she gave up on this dangerous idea.

After all, no matter how she thought about it, the disadvantages outweighed the advantages, with a high possibility of making her situation even more dangerous.

Moreover, the advantages, for her, were not really advantages; they might be more dangerous and harder-to-detect disadvantages.

And even if Chen Xueli’s reaction wasn’t as exaggerated as she imagined.

Su Wanqing could still be certain that her coming days would be lived in a hellish shura field.

This was something she did not want to see.

Although having someone willing to vie for her was very satisfying to her vanity, this also depended on the situation.

And in Su Wanqing’s current situation, she was just a piece of meat.

No matter who ultimately won, she couldn’t escape the fate of being devoured whole.

Moreover, even now, she could see Ning Yuer’s obsession with her.

Currently, this girl was probably just experiencing her first stirrings of love.

She probably didn’t even understand the specific meaning of “love.”

But if, in the future, the other party fully matured, then it was highly likely she would become another rebellious disciple who “assaulted” her master.

Although the methods might not be as extreme as the villainess female lead Chen Xueli.

But that moral violation of being intimately pressed down by a disciple while being respectfully called “Master” was something Su Wanqing simply could not tolerate.

However, taking Ning Yuer as a disciple wasn’t without its benefits.

It could, for example, restrain Chen Xueli’s presumptuousness.

After all, these two were natural enemies.

Mutual checks and balances might lead to some unexpected results.

Moreover, if she took Ning Yuer as a disciple, as long as she intentionally or unintentionally revealed it to her, then she wouldn’t have to fear being controlled by Chen Xueli’s Fallen Immortal Gu and the other unknown Gu poison…

No, no, no.

As she thought, Su Wanqing realized she was thinking crookedly, and even overthinking!

She quickly dismissed this dangerous and fatal idea for herself.

If she really let Ning Yuer join her tutelage and vie with Chen Xueli, then it seemed that no matter the outcome, she would be the only one suffering.

The less trouble, the better.

The fewer people, the better. She must firmly refuse the other party now!

“Su…”

Jiang Yi looked at Su Wanqing, intending to gauge her intentions. After all, Su Wanqing not taking disciples was a default understanding.

But this time was different.

The disciple’s talent was extremely high. Perhaps even Elder Su would…

Their gazes met for only a moment, and she understood Su Wanqing’s meaning, speaking out to refuse on her behalf:

“Little girl, choose another. Su Wanqing has no intention of taking disciples.”

“However, since the top three can designate their Master, as compensation, I can exceptionally take you as my disciple.”

Upon hearing this, the faces of all the elders darkened. Jiang Yi’s abacus beads were practically hitting their faces.

They had originally thought such a good thing would fall to them, but it turned out that a disciple of such talent would still be given to her.

However, no one felt any dissatisfaction or injustice regarding this.

Although Jiang Yi’s actions were somewhat unconventional, this was a Heavenly-grade spirit root.

For Ning Yuer, it was completely worth it.

But what no one except Su Wanqing and Li Ziyu expected was that Ning Yuer actually shook her head in refusal.

Seeing this, Su Wanqing, who had been deep in thought, rubbed her forehead, growing even more troubled.

It seemed Ning Yuer was determined to have her.

However, the other elders of Tianjian Pavilion did not know Ning Yuer’s purpose.

Seeing her refuse the Sect Leader, and holding onto the idea that they should try to recruit her even if it violated rules, they prepared to speak.

But just as everyone was about to extend an olive branch, Ning Yuer’s next words made everyone in Tianjian Pavilion’s hearts turn cold by half.

Even Su Wanqing, as the protagonist of the event, was even more exaggerated.

At this moment, her heart could no longer be described as half-cold; it was frozen solid, shattered into pieces!

“No, junior only intends to join Elder Su’s tutelage. Otherwise, junior would rather not embark on the path of cultivation and find her own way, until she acknowledges junior.”

Because everyone’s gaze was on Su Wanqing, Ning Yuer, and the embarrassed Sect Leader Jiang Yi, who were at the center of the event.

So no one noticed Li Ziyu’s beaming, smug smile after hearing these words.

This was exactly what she had taught Ning Yuer. As long as she said this, no matter how tempted Sect Leader Jiang Yi and the others were.

No matter how much Su Wanqing didn’t want to take a disciple and resisted, she would still be forced by pressure to accept her.

After all, even if she wasn’t under their tutelage, the elders wouldn’t want the sect to lose a Heavenly-grade prodigy just like that.

So, Su Wanqing accepting Ning Yuer was inevitable.

However, if Su Wanqing knew that all of this was “Li Ziyu” instigating Ning Yuer to do so, she would definitely “thank” her thoroughly.

“……”

Sure enough, when Su Wanqing once again cast her gaze towards Jiang Yi, this time Jiang Yi merely nodded at her.

She had initially still wanted to stick to her decision, but facing the gazes of almost everyone, she hesitated for a moment.

Finally, under pressure from all sides, Su Wanqing “voluntarily” took in this disciple.

“Alas—come here.”

“Okay!”

Looking at Ning Yuer’s expression, so excited she couldn’t hide it, Su Wanqing felt utterly helpless.

Take her in, then. At worst, keep a strict watch. If she shows any problematic tendencies, nip them in the bud.

Even if this still couldn’t prevent Ning Yuer from becoming a rebellious disciple who “assaulted” her Master, at least it wouldn’t be as extreme as Chen Xueli.

It wasn’t until Ning Yuer walked over to her side that Su Wanqing gradually accepted everything.

It seemed this was the fate she couldn’t escape…