Chapter 53: Disciple and Wife
After leading Tao Ning away, Cen Dianshuang realized her lack of preparation extended beyond just the disciple token.
She hadn’t considered where her new disciple would live.
The token issue was easily resolved with the jade pendant, but living arrangements were less flexible. She was accustomed to solitude, and even with a disciple, maintaining a certain distance was preferable.
Her senior siblings had warned her about the awkwardness of living too close to one’s disciples. A master needed to maintain a certain authority, and she, with her secrets, needed even more distance.
Never live with your disciple, their advice echoed in her ears.
Standing before the boundary marker of Wangshu Peak, with her new disciple trailing behind her, she turned, a frown on her face. “Where do you plan to stay?”
Tao Ning, feigning confusion, replied innocently, “Wherever Master resides, I will reside.”
Of course.
Cen Dianshuang turned back to the boundary marker, her brow furrowed in thought.
Her senior siblings had also warned her about new disciples being like newly hatched chicks, clinging to their master relentlessly.
A good master fostered independence, encouraging their disciples to fly solo.
Tao Ning, mentally translating the look she received as Why are you so clingy?, wondered, Isn’t this how new disciples are supposed to behave?
Having never taken a disciple before, she struggled to formulate an appropriate response.
Both master and disciple were caught in a mental stalemate.
Cen Dianshuang considered using her communication jade to consult her senior siblings, but resisted, not wanting to appear incompetent before her new disciple. Maintaining a master’s image was important.
Tao Ning, meanwhile, roused her AI companion, 520, requesting advice on proper disciple etiquette.
520: 【You’ve come to the right place! My search engine is top-notch!】
Then, both stared at the top search results in stunned silence.
Calling Master “Master” During the Day, Something Else at Night
High-Risk Occupations in the Cultivation World
My Disciple is Rebellious Again
What to Do When You’re Obsessed with Your Master
…
Tao Ning: “520, you call this ‘top-notch’?”
520 groveled, wailing electronically, 【I’m so sorry, Host! wuwuwu…】
Tao Ning closed the search results, her face a mask of disgust.
“Your search history is… concerning. You’ve polluted my results.”
520, knowing it was at fault, and not wanting to upset the already volatile widow, apologized profusely. 【I’m so sorry, Host! I’ll purify my search engine immediately!】
Tao Ning looked at the figure ahead. Cen Dianshuang, her black hair cascading down her back, looked ethereal, yet her posture radiated frustration and impatience, a rare sight.
Tao Ning: “Actually, don’t bother.”
520: 【???】 Why not?
Finally, Cen Dianshuang had an idea. She led Tao Ning to a clearing halfway up the mountain, a reasonable distance from both the foot of the mountain and her cave dwelling at the summit, convenient for providing guidance.
Satisfied with the location, she turned to Tao Ning. “How about this place?”
The scenery was beautiful, with a cascading waterfall and a flat plateau overlooking the valley.
Tao Ning, suppressing her disappointment—she had hoped to be closer to Cen Dianshuang—surveyed the area, then nodded. “It’s lovely, Master. I like it.”
A longer walk up the mountain was a small price to pay. She could consider it exercise.
Cen Dianshuang: “…”
Looking at the girl’s bright eyes, she was reminded of the night Tao Ning had devoured the roasted rabbit, her eyes shining with equal intensity as she declared, Rabbit is delicious. I love rabbit.
This disciple would be… high-maintenance. She was picky, refusing Fasting Pills, demanding meat, vegetables, and various fruits.
Just last night, unable to find another pheasant, she had dug at the earth, declaring she would rather eat dirt than another Fasting Pill.
Who would rather eat dirt than a perfectly good pill? How is that not high-maintenance?
Cen Dianshuang, having been pampered and protected all her life, didn’t realize that bamboo shoots grew underground. She had only ever consumed delicate slices of spirit-infused Phoenix Bamboo Shoots served on jade platters.
Fearing her disciple might actually resort to eating dirt, she blurted out, “As my first disciple, you are now in charge of everything on Wangshu Peak.”
She recalled the abundance of wildlife on the vast mountain, creatures she rarely paid attention to, only catching glimpses of them during her travels.
As Tao Ning looked at her with confusion, she pointed towards the waterfall and the deep pool below. “There are Silverfish in there. I caught them myself.”
Then, gesturing towards the surrounding forest, she continued, “I didn’t drive away the animals when I established this peak. They’ve thrived here.”
The ordinary, non-spiritual beasts could roam freely. The other peaks were too crowded. Only Wangshu Peak offered peace and quiet, attracting various creatures.
Tao Ning, remembering Cen Dianshuang’s hidden compassion, asked tentatively, “You want me to… take care of them, Master?”
Cen Dianshuang shook her head. “No. You can eat them.”
“…Understood.” Tao Ning felt like she was being… farmed.
An entire mountain, all-you-can-eat.
520 recalled a scene from a drama, a similar situation where the protagonist declared, I want everyone to know this mountain is yours!
Tao Ning: “Will Master be eating too?”
Cen Dianshuang instinctively shook her head. “I don’t eat.”
Seeing the girl’s disappointed expression, she clarified, “Having reached Nascent Soul, I no longer require food. Mortal food is merely a burden.”
Tao Ning, quick-witted as ever, asked, “What about spiritual rice and spirit beast meat? Are those also a burden?”
Cen Dianshuang: “No.”
Remembering her role as a master, she elaborated, explaining, “Spirit-infused food enhances cultivation and expands one’s meridians. It’s not a burden for cultivators.”
Tao Ning: “I understand, Master.”
Cen Dianshuang, unsure what her disciple understood, but satisfied nonetheless, moved on to the more pressing issue of shelter.
It rained frequently on Wangshu Peak. Her now-mortal disciple would get sick if exposed to the elements. Mortals were so fragile.
“What kind of lodging do you prefer?”
Tao Ning: “Nothing too extravagant. Comfortable is fine. A training room and a kitchen are sufficient.”
Cen Dianshuang nodded. “Alright. Step back. Wait for me by the pool.”
Tao Ning obeyed. As she stood by the water’s edge, she heard a clear voice call out, “Xuan Ying.”
Turning, she saw Cen Dianshuang draw a sword, a narrow blade, barely two fingers wide.
The sword was pale, almost translucent, like ice, its color reflecting its master’s spiritual energy. The hilt, far from simple, was intricately carved with mysterious runes.
It was the first time Tao Ning had seen Cen Dianshuang wield a sword. The display was mesmerizing.
A passing cultivator, noticing the surge of sword intent, wondered, “Who’s showing off on Wangshu Peak? Aren’t they afraid of getting sliced by our Junior Sister?”
The disciple behind him replied, “Pale blue spiritual energy… It must be Elder Cen herself…”
“Oh… right.”
With a single sweep of the sword, trees toppled, the force of the blow clearing a large area. The fallen trees neatly arranged themselves, as if guided by an unseen hand.
Tao Ning watched, captivated.
Cen Dianshuang was both a Sword Cultivator and a Music Cultivator, always carrying her zither, Yaoguang, and her sword, Xuan Ying.
It was said that Elder Cen had achieved fame at a young age, defeating an opponent of a higher realm at the age of thirteen during the disciple competition, comprehending the ninth form of the sect’s legacy sword technique, the Carefree Sword, on stage.
The Carefree Sword had fifteen forms. Most Foundation Establishment disciples only knew the names, not the actual techniques.
Cen Dianshuang’s comprehension of the ninth form at thirteen, during a live duel, was a testament to her exceptional talent.
She had then immediately broken through to Foundation Establishment, her Golden Core forming, an unheard-of feat at such a young age. The previous Sect Leader had personally overseen her breakthrough.
She had missed winning first place in the Foundation Establishment division of the disciple competition, moving on to dominate the Golden Core division instead.
At fifteen, she was halfway to Nascent Soul. Fearing she was progressing too quickly, the previous Sect Leader had instructed her to suppress her cultivation.
Obeying her master’s orders, she finally reached Nascent Soul at one hundred and fifty—unable to contain her breakthrough while slaying a demon, her tribulation lightning conveniently obliterating the demon attempting to ambush her.
Fearing her master’s reprimand, she had remained in seclusion for twenty years, returning with a self-created sword technique, the Thirteen Forms of Falling Snow, hoping it would appease her master.
520, sensing a shift in Tao Ning’s demeanor, asked cautiously, 【Why are you smiling, Host?】
The usually gloomy, resentful widow was suddenly radiating joy. It was unsettling.
She wouldn’t have… snapped, would she?
Better search for symptoms.
Unbeknownst to Tao Ning, the search engine was once again being abused, churning out thousands of results, which 520 diligently categorized.
Like a busy little bee, it searched for the most relevant information.
Tao Ning: “Someone is building me a house. I’m happy.”
The situation was still uncertain. She wouldn’t reveal her true intentions prematurely. Her distrust of the world seemed innate. Few earned her complete trust.
Even with 520, she remained guarded, her words often cryptic.
Her memories were fragmented, incomplete, but she had a general sense of who she once was.
She had also had someone she trusted implicitly, someone who made her believe her paranoia had faded with time.
But now, her subconscious whispered, No, that’s not true. Your paranoia thrived in the shadows of that trust.
Having cleared the area, Cen Dianshuang considered the design, constructing two simple wooden houses with the felled trees, not feeling the least bit wasteful about using her Nascent Soul cultivation for such mundane tasks.
For her, there was no such thing as waste, only willingness.
She furnished the interior with a spirit jade bed from her storage ring, along with various pots, pans, and other potentially useful items.
The Hanshan Sect disciples often speculated about Elder Cen’s dwelling.
Elder Yaodan’s Green Hut was filled with the aroma of herbs, its central chamber dominated by a perpetually burning furnace. Elder Qianlian’s residence resembled a treasure trove, its red and gold walls lined with shelves stacked high with artifacts.
The Sect Leader’s dwelling was, of course, grand and opulent, though she preferred cultivating in the Red Stone Spring behind it.
They imagined Elder Cen’s dwelling to be spartan and meticulously organized, devoid of ornamentation, like an icy, impersonal chamber.
In truth, Cen Dianshuang had never put so much effort into her own living space.
As a child, finally coaxed down from her treetop perch by her master, who insisted that no respectable cultivator lived in trees—it raised questions about potential feather molting—she had simply carved a cave into the mountainside, creating a stone bed for cultivation.
This was another reason for her reluctance to bring Tao Ning to her own dwelling.
Her senior siblings’ cave dwellings were lavishly furnished, with beds carved from ten-thousand-year spiritual wood, deep-sea crystals and corals adorning the walls, and teacups crafted from the finest jade, said to enhance meditation.
Her own cave was bare, furnished only with a stone bed and a coral she used as a perch.
—The coral was a gift from her senior sister, intended to be the focal point of a spirit gathering formation.
Tao Ning watched as Cen Dianshuang built her house, her brow furrowing in confusion as she examined the various items from her storage ring before giving up and tossing them inside.
She even placed a small, spirit-fire-fueled furnace inside. Tao Ning raised her hand, wanting to say something.
How do I tell Master that’s not for cooking?
Cen Dianshuang, deeming the house complete, beckoned Tao Ning. “Come here.”
Tao Ning approached quickly, her robes swirling around her. “Master, your swordsmanship is truly remarkable, like a celestial being descending from the heavens. It’s amazing! Can I learn it too?”
Cen Dianshuang: “…”
She finally understood why her senior siblings enjoyed having disciples. Being looked at with such admiration was… pleasant.
Her usually tense demeanor softened. “Of course. It’s my own creation. As my direct disciple, you will inherit my legacy. You’ll be punished if you don’t learn it properly.”
Tao Ning: “With Master’s guidance, I will dedicate myself fully and strive to live up to your name.”
Cen Dianshuang, slightly embarrassed by the praise, coughed, covering her mouth with her sleeve. “Is there anything else you need?”
Tao Ning’s eyes shone. “So you agree, Master?”
Before Cen Dianshuang could respond, she darted inside, her slightly sun-bleached hair swaying behind her.
Cen Dianshuang, shaking off her momentary bewilderment, thought, She’s endured so much hardship. I should ask Senior Sister if she has anything suitable for a new disciple.
A gift for her grand-niece was a perfectly reasonable request. This was, after all, her first disciple.
Tao Ning, exploring her new home, was nearly blinded by the glowing jade bed, then her attention was drawn to a large screen.
The screen depicted a massive bird in flight, its wings spanning the entire surface, its white plumage gleaming, its tail feathers on the back, its head on the front. She had to walk around it to see the whole image.
She couldn’t quite decipher its meaning, but she suspected it was one of Cen Dianshuang’s creations.
“Master, what kind of divine bird is this?”
Cen Dianshuang, glancing at her sideways, her expression unreadable, replied, “A warding screen. With this, no one will dare intrude.”
Tao Ning, her curiosity piqued, asked, “What if someone does intrude?”
Cen Dianshuang: “Pick it up and crush them.”
Tao Ning: …She’s definitely messing with me.
Cen Dianshuang coughed, offering an alternative. “If you can’t lift it, hide behind it and wait for me.”
Tao Ning understood. It was a turtle shell.
Her gaze lingered on the small furnace, the spirit fire within seeming to resent Cen Dianshuang’s ignorance.
The furnace, barely large enough to hug, was a vibrant red, adorned with carved dragons that peered over the rim, their mouths open as if breathing fire into the interior.
An Earth-grade, first-tier artifact refining furnace, the kind that would spark bidding wars at auctions, was now relegated to a kitchen, a glorified cooking stove.
Tao Ning felt a pang of sympathy for the mistreated furnace. “Master, what is this? How does it burn without firewood?”
As if in response, the flames flared, singeing the ends of Tao Ning’s hair.
Cen Dianshuang’s expression hardened. With a flick of her wrist, she extinguished the flames with a ball of water. “Insolent thing.”
Tao Ning touched her slightly singed cheek. The furnace seemed to have developed a nascent spirit, still in its infancy.
She had felt sorry for it, but now… hmph.
Holding a singed strand of hair, she complained, “Master, it burned my hair.”
It dared to burn my disciple’s hair in my presence? Imagine what it would do when I’m not here.
Cen Dianshuang summoned more water from the pool, dousing the furnace again, its flames sputtering in protest. “If it misbehaves, just pour water on it. Ordinary water will do.”
Tao Ning: “Understood, Master.”
The two stood before the Earth-grade furnace, discussing methods of water torture, like bullies tormenting a weaker opponent.
The furnace, sensing their hostility, subsided, its flames dimming.
Cen Dianshuang, oblivious to the furnace’s complex emotions, explained, “This is the Flame Dragon Furnace. I found it in a secret realm years ago. It’s said to be used for artifact refining, but it can also cook food. It’s all about applying heat.”
Tao Ning: “So it’s an artifact refining furnace.”
Cen Dianshuang paused, glancing at Tao Ning. Having spent some time with her, she recognized the slightly dismissive tone.
As she considered refining a small trinket to test the furnace, Tao Ning turned, meeting Cen Dianshuang’s serious gaze.
Cen Dianshuang assumed she was dissatisfied, but seeing the eagerness in her eyes as she looked at the furnace, she realized the girl liked it.
Good, she thought, relieved. Being a master was harder than she anticipated.
She couldn’t simply replicate her own master’s methods.
But some things were universal.
She retrieved a thin book from her storage ring. “This is the Hanshan Sect’s direct disciple cultivation manual. Take it and practice. But your first priority is guiding spiritual energy into your body. Do you require instruction?”
Tao Ning, unaware of the implications, reached for the book. “I’ll try it myself first. I’ll ask if I have any questions, Master.”
Guiding spiritual energy into her body would be as easy as breathing. She had been suppressing the urge for days, nearly succumbing to it in her sleep.
She reached for the book, but couldn’t grasp it. Confused, she looked up.
A pale hand reached out, grasping her wrist. Cen Dianshuang’s fingers tightened slightly, and Tao Ning froze, allowing a cool stream of spiritual energy to flow through her meridians.
Cen Dianshuang observed her reaction, slightly surprised by her lack of resistance, but she still had to ask. “You have recent injuries. Who hurt you?”
Leave a Reply