Chapter 5: From Today Onwards, I Am Your Disciple p3
As Liu Ying grew older, the brothers played together. One day, while in the outhouse, the innocent Liu Ying asked why he was different. From that day on, Liu He became aware of his disability, shutting himself in his room, refusing to see anyone.
His mother always felt guilty, believing she shouldn’t have taken him out that day. Seeing his withdrawal, she stayed with him, comforting him, saying everything was alright, that his disability didn’t matter.
Over time, he became increasingly dependent on his mother and resentful of his indifferent father. Liu Ying, on the other hand, admired his tall, strong, and kind father, finding his reclusive mother and brother strange and difficult to understand.
Two sons, one favoring his father, one favoring his mother, one born into poverty, one born into wealth. Though a family, their temperaments and experiences were vastly different, preventing them from living a harmonious life.
As he grew older, Liu He realized his disability was permanent and believed he had lost his dignity. His emotional distress worsened, and his mother’s guilt deepened.
So, later on, she would give him whatever he wanted, regardless of its potential harm.
That was how he came into contact with dark magic.
Their father, discovering this, was horrified and tried to stop him, fearing he would stray down a dangerous path. But his mother protected him, believing he had suffered enough and that she would accept and care for him no matter what he became.
Mother and son moved to a secluded part of the Liu residence. Their father, unable to discipline him and ashamed to face him, could only give up.
At first, Liu He knew dark magic was harmful and only dabbled in it without any ill intentions. But years later, when his mother fell ill and the doctors were helpless, he tried to use dark magic to save her life.
Practicing such arts, even a small mistake could lead to irreversible consequences. His skills were inadequate, yet he attempted it anyway, failing to save his mother and instead causing his brother, Liu Ying, to fall seriously ill, almost dying.
Enraged, his father burned all his talismans and magical artifacts. Liu He watched the flames silently, his hands reaching into the fire, burning his flesh. At that moment, news of his mother’s death arrived.
After burying his mother, Liu He ran away from home in the middle of the night, attempting to drown himself in the river. His father, sensing something was wrong, saved him. But from then on, he became completely withdrawn, rarely leaving his room. He continued to dabble in dark magic, but his father didn’t dare to interfere. No one knew the extent of the resentment that festered in that secluded courtyard.
Then Miao Lan arrived, triggering another outburst from Liu He.
Mu Qiandan thought, ‘So, it was because of his own disability that he couldn’t bear to see his brother marry. And because of his resentment towards his father, he attached his soul to his granddaughter.’
Li Biyuan sighed, ‘I didn’t expect such a backstory to an event that was only briefly mentioned in the book. But, according to the original story, Liu Ying was supposed to unknowingly watch his father’s soul be destroyed.’
Mu Qiandan said, ‘That would have been better.’
She shouldn’t have opened her mouth and caused all this trouble.
Looking at the coffin again, Liu He was dead, his eyes still open in defiance. He had likely starved Liu Cailiang to death, and he himself had gone mad, unable to eat, driving himself to this state.
Did he know he was wrong? It seemed he did. He had brought his mother’s corpse here, constantly repenting, saying he had done bad things again. He wanted his mother’s comfort, to hear her say it was alright.
But he knew better than anyone that the dead couldn’t be resurrected, that what was lost could never be regained.
In his final moments, did he remember his childhood, when his father returned, tossing a bag of candy in the air and catching it, then dividing it equally between his two sons?
Dabbling in dark arts corrupted the mind. He wasn’t a person of strong will, and a mediocre person trying to take shortcuts was more likely to harm themselves.
And Liu Cailiang, after a lifetime of hard work, was left a lost soul. He had longed to hold his granddaughter, a wish fulfilled after his death, unaware that he had almost caused the death of his loved ones.
Even the most selfless parental love could cause harm and lead to irreversible consequences.
Life was unpredictable.
After the matter was resolved, the couple decided to rebury their parents and brother. Checking the family assets, they found Liu He had barely touched them.
Liu Ying offered more than half to Mu Qiandan and Shang Shang. Shang Shang waved her hand, saying they didn’t need it, that they needed the money to rebuild their lives. Mu Qiandan didn’t argue, accepting the money, including Shang Shang’s share, much to Shang Shang’s astonishment.
Liu Ying invited them to stay for a few days, but Mu Qiandan declined, saying she had other matters to attend to. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they parted ways. Before leaving the Liu residence, Shang Shang helped them catch rats again, putting them in a cloth bag and leaving it by the door. She said, “I’ve cleaned the house, you can move back in now.”
After a busy night, the sky began to lighten, and people gradually appeared on the streets, occasionally glancing at the unfamiliar figure.
Even martial artists were rare in this small village, let alone an immortal of such beauty, and she was walking with the Cat Official. This unusual pairing attracted the attention of more and more villagers.
The two walked in silence to the end of the street, where the road forked. Shang Shang stopped, and Mu Qiandan stopped as well.
Before transmigrating, she had been under a lot of stress for a long time, unable to rest properly. Now, after a busy night, in a frail body, having expended a significant amount of spiritual energy, she was exhausted and longed to sleep.
But she couldn’t, because the most important task remained unfinished.
Shang Shang retrieved the bag of gold, weighed it in her hand, hesitated for a moment, and then offered it to Mu Qiandan. “Here, this is for you.”
Mu Qiandan hadn’t expected her to initiate conversation, thinking she was still angry. She glanced at the gold, then looked up, “Why?”
Shang Shang said, “Didn’t you help them because you saw this gold?”
Mu Qiandan replied, “Do you think I’m short of money?”
She used to be, but after receiving a substantial sum from the Liu family, the fullness of her purse gave her the right to be sarcastic. And this master’s storage pouch was filled with artifacts, she was the Hall Lord of a major sect, so logically, she shouldn’t be lacking money, right?
Besides, the first thing she saw upon arriving in this world was a magnificent hall, the master’s personal quarters. It looked opulent from the outside, so the inside must be filled with treasures. She would have to search it thoroughly when she returned.
As for the protagonist’s gold, she would need it for later plot points, so it was better to leave it with her for now.
Shang Shang observed her appearance. Such an otherworldly person didn’t seem like someone who would be swayed by money, yet she had accepted the money offered earlier, and now her attitude had changed, confusing Shang Shang.
She tilted her head, thinking for a moment before asking, “If you didn’t help them for the money, then did you… pity them?”
The girl had put her mask back on, only her eyes revealing her emotions. Mu Qiandan looked into those eyes, seeing a gentleness clearer than water.
The protagonist asking this must mean she had been moved. This was a good opportunity. Mu Qiandan replied, “Yes.”
That’s right, Yao’e Immortal is this kind and powerful, quickly become my disciple like in the original story.
Shang Shang fell silent again. The morning sun filtered through the leaves, dappling her with light, like an old painting. For some reason, Mu Qiandan suddenly recalled the moment last night in the courtyard when the girl’s mask had fallen.
It was like opening a book and, instead of text, being greeted by a vibrant illustration, a striking and unforgettable image.
“Then how about this,” Shang Shang said seriously, having made up her mind. “I’ll keep the gold, but if you ever need help catching rats, just come find me. Everyone around here knows me. Just call for the Cat Official, and I’ll appear.”
Mu Qiandan: “…?”
Having said this, Shang Shang, satisfied with her solution, turned to leave. Mu Qiandan stopped her, “Wait!”
Shang Shang looked back, her eyes innocent, as if asking what else there was.
Mu Qiandan resisted the urge to tie her up again, trying to control her temper. “Have you forgotten what I wanted from you in the first place?”
Shang Shang replied smoothly, “For me to become your disciple.”
“So…” Mu Qiandan frowned, “You don’t want to cultivate?”
She was certain this little Cat Official hadn’t seen the world and could see her yearning for cultivation, so she was somewhat confident bringing it up. But Shang Shang said firmly, “I want to cultivate, but I don’t want to follow you, and I don’t want to be your disciple.”
She almost instinctively asked “why,” but after a moment of thought, she understood the reason and fell silent.
So, the starting mission had failed. Li Biyuan wailed, ‘Wuwuwu, what do we do? I told you not to treat her like that! Why don’t you apologize? Children don’t hold grudges.’
Mu Qiandan retorted, ‘What did I do wrong? Apologize? Are you crazy?’
Her exhaustion was intensifying. If she didn’t resolve this quickly and get some rest, she felt she might collapse. She said impatiently, “Cultivation requires resources. You won’t get anywhere on your own. I’m the Hall Lord of Tianyu Gate. Isn’t following me the wiser choice? Can’t you tell what’s good for you?”
Even as she spoke, she felt a sense of frustration.
In the original story, the protagonist had persistently pestered and flattered Yao’e Immortal, following her back to the sect and finally earning the opportunity to become her disciple after much effort.
Why was she being rejected now?
Shang Shang stared at her for a long moment, then asked instead of answering, “I’m actually curious, why are you so insistent on taking me as your disciple?”
Mu Qiandan sneered inwardly. If she had a choice, would she be doing this? Wasn’t it because of fate? Thinking this, she casually replied, “Fate.”
It was a simple and dismissive answer, yet, upon hearing this word, Shang Shang’s eyes widened, as if a lamp extinguished for a thousand years had suddenly been lit, piercing the darkness, brighter than the rising sun, dazzling and compelling.
For some unknown reason, captivated by the word “fate,” her voice trembled slightly, “If I go with you, will you teach me properly?”
Not understanding her sudden change of heart, but recognizing it as a positive development, Mu Qiandan didn’t bother questioning it, answering, “Yes.”
Shang Shang took half a step forward, one hand on her chest. “Will you hit me again?”
Mu Qiandan thought that was hard to say, but she replied, “No.”
Shang Shang thought for a moment, then asked, “Are you a person of your word?”
Absolutely not, never. Mu Qiandan: “I am.”
“Alright!”
Seemingly believing her without a doubt, Shang Shang’s eyes lit up. “From today onwards, I am your disciple!”
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