INE Chapter 93: Master

When Yue Qianqiu returned to the Wanjian Sect, she remained unconscious for three days.

She felt as if she were nestled in a warm, comforting embrace. The fabric against her cheek was slightly cool, but the hands holding her were warm.

Three days later, she awoke to find one of her disciples keeping vigil by her bedside.

But Chu Changli and Bai Yushuang were nowhere to be seen.

Yue Qianqiu asked, “Where are Changli and Shuang’er?”

Mei He replied, “Shuang’er went with Changli. As for Changli… she went into seclusion. We don’t know where.”

Three years later, Chu Changli emerged from seclusion.

She and Bai Yushuang took up their swords and bathed the Demon Sect in blood.

That day, Chu Changli killed indiscriminately. Whoever she saw, she struck down, old or young, man or woman. Cries, screams, begging, it made no difference. Her expression never changed as she cut them down one by one.

The sword she held didn’t suit her, but when she saw the Demon Lord trying to end his own life, she sliced off his right arm and snatched away his Chixiao Sword.

The Demon Lord’s face twisted in terror. Bai Yushuang picked up the Chixiao Sword, smiled sweetly at him, and said, “You want to die? Oh, it’s not that easy.”

She subjected him to a thousand cuts, left his mutilated body under the sun to rot, for the crows to peck at and the wolves to tear apart.

When it was over, Bai Yushuang stood still, watching as Chu Changli ascended the steps, one at a time, and seated herself high above with her legs crossed.

Then Bai Yushuang suddenly dropped the Chixiao Sword, covered her eyes, and began to sob bitterly.

Because she knew, Senior Sister Chu would never return.

That same year, many righteous cultivators died. When their corpses were found, a folded paper crane was placed beside each one.

The cranes were pure white, but their wings were stained with blood.

Atop the snowy peak of Bixue, Yue Qianqiu gazed at the drifting clouds on the horizon. Beyond them, she looked into a distance far, far away.

She turned to Mei He and asked, “Yizhu, do you remember when I asked why you chose to cultivate? You said it was for the beauty and the wine of the world. Do you still remember?”

Mei He looked at her gently and nodded.

Yue Qianqiu asked again, “Since you had your own path, why did you help Ayu set up the formation and slaughter them?”

Mei He smiled faintly. “I know the past can’t be undone. That’s exactly why I won’t let it go.”

Yue Qianqiu had four disciples. Each had a firm Dao heart and trained diligently.

She had always believed they cultivated to pursue the Dao. Only now did she realize that wasn’t the case.

Her four disciples were all exceptionally gifted, but none of them were truly passionate about cultivation.

They followed this path because one day, a person in red appeared before them, smiling as she asked:

“Do you want to cultivate with me?”

“You’re asking where our sect is? Hmm… Our sect is called Wanjian Sect. It’s atop Bixue Peak. That mountain is very tall. The trees there stay green all year, and the flowers bloom in every season.”

“Shuang’er, you’re wondering how I know all that?”

“Of course I know. Because one day, our sect will become the foremost in all of the Central Plains. And you… you’ll all become famous, admired figures.”

“Hush, Changli, don’t say a word. The heavens don’t like their secrets being revealed.”

After Chu Changli left Wanjian Sect, she killed many people.

Her Dao heart had long since collapsed, replaced by the encroaching madness of her inner demons.

If she went a day without killing, those demons would start to gnaw away at her mind.

So she killed, members of the Demon Sect, and righteous cultivators too. Her favorite pastime was watching fellow disciples turn on each other. She would always sit at the highest vantage point, calmly and curiously watching the bloodshed unfold.

But that day, the scene bored her.

With a flick of her fingers, those still locked in brutal combat instantly dissolved into pools of blood.

Resting her chin on her hand, she looked at the figure standing at the base of the steps.

A woman in red, draped in a white fur cloak, stood quietly on the cold jade stairs, gazing up at her.

Bathed in the crimson light of the blood moon, Chu Changli saw the woman’s face clearly.

And when she did, she smiled softly and said with uncharacteristic tenderness, “Master… you’ve come.”

She slowly rose and descended the steps.

Her posture was still upright and proud, but the cold, elegant robes she wore only made her seem more thin and fragile.

Seeing the woman in front of her wrapped in fox fur, she reached out and brushed the snowflakes from Yue Qianqiu’s cloak, just like she used to. Gently, she asked, “It’s snowing outside. Are you cold, Master?”

Yue Qianqiu looked at her and shook her head.

Blood had already begun to flow down the steps, creeping toward Chu Changli’s shoes.

But she didn’t seem to notice. She withdrew her hand and smiled at Yue Qianqiu. “Master has always loved cleanliness. It’s dirty here. Why don’t I take you to Phoenix Terrace instead? There are lots of flowers there, it’s beautiful.”

“I’m not sure when those phoenix flowers bloom, but they’re so vividly red, so pleasing to the eye. So I used a little spell to keep them blooming, always. That way, when Master finally came, you’d be able to see them.”

Chu Changli looked at Yue Qianqiu and softly asked, “Master, did I do well?”

Like a child who had made a bowl of pretty little dumplings, she still acted like that ingratiating girl, pretending to be pitiful, just to earn a word of praise from her master.

But Yue Qianqiu remained silent for a long time. Her lips moved slightly, yet no words of praise came out. She only said, “Changli, come home.”

She couldn’t bring herself to say, “It’s not too late,” because everything had already changed beyond recognition. All she could do was ask her disciple to return.

She knew that tomorrow, Chu Changli would become the Demon Lord. She would fulfill everyone’s expectations and ascend that cold, cursed throne, reviled and hunted by the righteous path.

Perhaps this was the storyline her sister had wanted. Perhaps it was the “correct” storyline.

But at this very moment, Yue Qianqiu no longer wanted to continue walking down that path.

Chu Changli smiled and spoke to her master, though the words had nothing to do with the present.

“When I was little, I used to wonder why Master saved me that day. Why were you so good to me? I didn’t know the reason… just that you always seemed to know things we didn’t.”

“Sometimes, it felt like every decision you made had some deeper reason. But because you treated me so well, I didn’t want to think too much about it. I only wanted to be your disciple, spend my life watching you read and practice the sword, that would have been enough.”

“I always thought the Master was so beautiful. Your smile was beautiful, and even when you didn’t smile, you were still beautiful. Sometimes I’d wonder to myself, maybe I knew you in a past life. Otherwise, how could I feel such joy just looking at you?”

“I tried my best to act like your perfect disciple. Acted mischievous on purpose, just to make you angry, so you’d look at me a little more, care about me a little more.”

“For one thousand one hundred and one days, I wished every day to see you again. And today, I finally got my wish… but I feel no joy at all.”

Yue Qianqiu asked, “Why?”

Chu Changli answered softly, “Because I’ve realized… I can’t go back. Master, I can’t pretend anymore. I’ve killed so many people, I can no longer pretend to be your good disciple.”

“Master, did you know? I never fell into demonic ways. I didn’t change. It’s just… my heart was always false and filthy. I’ve killed so many, and I don’t even feel guilty. Because I wanted to kill them. I wanted to skin them alive, break their bones, make them suffer until they begged for death.”

“Master, you told us the world isn’t simply black and white. But now, standing there, you look so pure. And look at the blood beneath my feet, how filthy it is.”

“Master, how could you take a single step in this place? How can you bear to set foot here?”

Yue Qianqiu stayed silent for a long while. Then, she lifted her foot and stepped through the blood. She came to stand before Chu Changli.

Her shoes were soaked in blood, like fluttering plum blossoms in the snow.

Chu Changli stared at Yue Qianqiu, never once looking away.

Yue Qianqiu looked at her, too. Then she reached out and cupped the face before her—a face so cold, so indifferent.

“Changli… and then?”

“Master… you shouldn’t have come.”

Yue Qianqiu replied, “That day, I was covered in blood, and you came to me. So why shouldn’t I come to you now?”

Chu Changli gazed at her master for a long time.

Then she reached out and interlocked all ten fingers with Yue Qianqiu’s. She buried her face into her master’s shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent, and closed her eyes.

The soft, clean fragrance carried her back in time, just for a moment.

Back then, she had fallen ill. Master was holding her in her arms, eyes lowered, scooping up a spoonful of bitter, metallic medicine from a bowl.

She’d scrunched up her face and looked at her master with pleading eyes, saying, “Master is the best. Master is so kind, you wouldn’t make Changli drink this, right?”

The spoon hung in midair as her master replied coldly, “Stop talking nonsense. Don’t waste my time. Drink it.”

She’d pouted and said, “Master, other disciples get candy and praise after drinking medicine. But Changli… Changli is so pitiful. No candy, no praise.”

Master had laughed. “My little Changli is amazing. Twelve years old and still can’t drink medicine on her own, what a truly exceptional child.”

She’d widened her eyes in disbelief.

Her master was always so blunt, so painfully honest.

When she looked up again, Master had set the bowl aside and pulled out a silver box from her storage pouch.

When the lid opened, it revealed glistening candies wrapped in gauzy paper.

She had stared in a daze, silently watching her master.

Master’s expression was awkward and full of disdain.

She could almost hear her master’s thoughts: This kind of syrupy sweet candy must be the most useless thing in the world.

And also: But that useless disciple of mine likes these useless things best. Useless disciple and useless sweets, what a perfect match.

She had thought and thought, wondering just what her master was truly thinking.

Then, wrapping her arms around her master’s waist, she nuzzled in close and sweetly whispered, “Master is the best.”

Now, at this very moment, Chu Changli opened her eyes. She looked up and gently brushed away Yue Qianqiu’s hands.

Exhausted, she said, “Master, you should go.”

“I’m too dirty now. I don’t want to see you like this. Please… just go.”