Chapter 21: This Was the Second Time Master Had Given Her a Gift! p2
Mu Tao looked out at the distance, her eyes filled with longing and curiosity.
The mortals from the human realm called her “Young Immortal,” far more friendly than the cultivators and spirits on Mount Chao Yao.
She wondered what the human world was like.
Lost in thought, she asked again, “Senior Brother, you seem to be from the human realm. Do you remember anything about it?”
Mo Yichu: “I joined Mount Chao Yao when I was nine. Perhaps I was too young then; I don’t have any memories of the human realm.”
“Nine years old?” Mu Tao’s eyes widened, a hint of envy in her gaze. “Senior Brother was chosen as Lingyao Revered One’s direct disciple at nine? You must have been born with spiritual awareness!”
The little protagonist’s admiring tone instantly jolted Li Yu awake.
Alert! What were they doing?
Two people, standing so close, such a height difference, looking at each other… were they trying to flirt right in front of her?
Li Yu coughed lightly, hoping the two juniors would stop their suspected early romance.
But the strong sea breeze completely drowned out her coughs.
She gritted her teeth and frowned, lost in thought.
—How could she subtly interrupt them?
She couldn’t think of anything.
Fine, she’d eavesdrop for a bit…
Mo Yichu: “Humans don’t need to awaken their spiritual awareness.”
Mu Tao sounded surprised. “Isn’t Senior Brother from the Wood Clan?”
“I am now, but I wasn’t before.” Mo Yichu said calmly. “When Master brought me back to Mount Chao Yao, my body had been consumed by fire. Only a fragment of my soul remained. If Master Qinglan hadn’t used plants to reconstruct my body, I would have ceased to exist.”
Mu Tao: “Such a tragic past, I shouldn’t have brought it up…”
Mo Yichu: “It’s fine, I don’t remember any of that pain. Master told me about it.”
Mu Tao: “Oh…”
Mo Yichu: “Mm…”
Mu Tao: “…”
Mo Yichu: “…”
Mu Tao pursed her lips, looked away, and gazed at the vast blue ocean.
Good news, they had both fallen silent.
They seemed to have run out of things to say, the atmosphere turning awkward.
Li Yu vaguely remembered a similar conversation between them in the original story.
After learning about Mo Yichu’s past, the little protagonist offered him comfort, and the conversation flowed naturally from there. They talked and laughed from sunrise to sunset, enjoying each other’s company.
But now, they had simply ended the conversation.
It seemed that without a certain level of closeness, conversations could easily stall.
Excellent, she could relax a little.
Li Yu stepped forward and subtly positioned herself between them, occupying the center stage and separating the would-be couple that even the cold and unfeeling system couldn’t stand.
Mu Tao immediately looked at her, her eyes shining, as if expecting her to say something to break the awkward silence.
As a master, how could she disappoint her little disciple?
“Yesterday, seeing your reluctance to leave the mountain, I thought you had no desire for the outside world.” Li Yu looked at Mu Tao, a faint smile in her eyes. “Why the sudden interest in the human realm today?”
Mu Tao blinked a few times, then quickly shook her head and explained, “This disciple isn’t afraid of leaving the mountain, nor of hardship. I’m only afraid of being unable to serve Master…”
Before she could finish, Li Yu gently tucked a strand of hair behind Mu Tao’s ear.
The weather was hot, but her master’s fingers were cool.
The gentle touch, like a spring breeze, brushed against her ear.
Mu Tao lowered her gaze, her voice softening. “Ever since I can remember, I’ve never left Mount Chao Yao. In the past, an opportunity like this would never have been given to a disciple with my level of cultivation… Before boarding the ship today, I didn’t even dare to dream of the outside world, let alone yearn for it.”
But just now, she had seen Mount Chao Yao disappear into the horizon, seen the sunlight on the vast blue ocean.
The ocean was so boundless, making even the sky seem wider than usual.
For the first time, she yearned for the world beyond the mountain.
“Master, have you been to the human realm? What is it like?” Mu Tao asked softly, her eyes filled with longing.
Although Mo Yichu didn’t speak, his eyes also held a hint of curiosity.
At that moment, the two sheltered juniors looked expectantly at their elder, who, although having seen a bit of the world, had seen a world completely unrelated to this one.
Fortunately, although this novel’s world was fictional, its worldview wasn’t too outlandish.
Li Yu recalled the period dramas she had watched and the world-building of Demon Bone and patiently described her version of the “human realm” to them.
Mu Tao listened attentively, her eyes shining with increasing longing.
As Li Yu spoke, she suddenly remembered something and looked at Mu Tao seriously. “In the human realm, demons hold a low status. The animosity between humans and demons has never disappeared, unlike on Mount Chao Yao, where no one discriminates against demons. Although you both cultivate immortal techniques, you are still demons. Be cautious in the human realm, and don’t reveal your true forms.”
Mu Tao: “Ah?”
Li Yu gently ruffled Mu Tao’s hair.
These words were meant for the little girl.
Mo Yichu’s cultivation, according to the novel, was second only to the Three Revered Ones of Mount Chao Yao. Demons and cultivators in the human realm couldn’t see through his disguise; there was no need for her to worry about him.
Mu Tao was different; her identity had been exposed countless times in the novel.
She had finally left Mount Chao Yao, thinking she would no longer be looked down upon, but even in the human realm, she wasn’t treated with much respect. It was heartbreaking.
She had to prepare the girl for this, lest the reality be too harsh and increase her blackening value.
“Why do humans in the human realm discriminate against demons?” Mu Tao asked, puzzled. “Many humans can’t even open their spiritual apertures for cultivation, while demons can cultivate as soon as they gain spiritual awareness. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”
This was a profound question, and Li Yu didn’t know how to answer.
On Mount Chao Yao, whether among the inner disciples or the mountain spirits, those looked down upon were always the “useless” ones who cultivated slowly.
In Mu Tao’s view, demons, born with the ability to cultivate, shouldn’t be discriminated against by humans, who might never achieve the same ability.
But she didn’t know the underlying reason for this setting; she couldn’t explain it.
“Actually, demons are looked down upon everywhere, not just by humans, but also by gods and devils.” Mo Yichu said in a low voice. “There are many immortal sects in the human realm, but only Mount Chao Yao accepts demons as disciples, even having a majority of demon disciples.”
Li Yu, relieved that someone answered for her, nodded in agreement.
Mu Tao tilted her head and looked at Li Yu curiously. “Master, since demons are looked down upon, why does Mount Chao Yao accept them as disciples?”
Right, why?
Another question she couldn’t answer.
Li Yu quickly avoided Mu Tao’s gaze and looked at Mo Yichu.
Sorry, but she had to test him again.
Li Yu: “Nephew, you should know the reason, shouldn’t you?”
Mo Yichu, surprised by being called on, hesitated for a moment before replying seriously, “Master Qinglan was a demon before ascending to immortality. She naturally wouldn’t have any prejudice against demons. She founded Mount Chao Yao to protect the mountain spirits, so it’s not surprising that most of the disciples are demons.”
Mu Tao: “So that’s why!”
Li Yu also had a sudden realization.
She had forgotten that the novel mentioned that Qingxuan Revered One, Si Qinglan, was originally an ordinary lotus leaf on Mount Chao Yao. Although she gained spiritual awareness, she was defenseless, vulnerable to the elements.
Over seven thousand years ago, an ancient god passing by noticed the barren spiritual energy of Mount Chao Yao and casually bestowed a sliver of divine power, allowing her to take human form.
The little lotus leaf didn’t know the god’s identity, only remembering the gentle rain and the green mist that filled the air when the god arrived. Though there should have been no stars or moon, a bright, pure light suddenly appeared in the sky.
That full moon was a sight she would never forget.
From then on, the little lotus leaf diligently cultivated, hoping to ascend to the heavens and thank the ancient god.
But by the time she achieved immortality, most of the ancient gods had fallen, and the remaining ones had gone into seclusion.
Later, she sealed her divine power and traveled the human realm for millennia, but she never found any information about that ancient god.
Eventually, she founded Mount Chao Yao, sharing the grace bestowed upon her with the once-barren island.
Si Qinglan’s residence on Mount Chao Yao was called Qianlizhu—a thousand miles away, the candle in the sky, the “moon.”
It was a constant reminder of her gratitude towards that ancient god.
So, the reason Mount Chao Yao didn’t discriminate against demons was because of the kindness an unknown ancient god had shown to Si Qinglan, a demon.
Perhaps this was also why Si Qinglan dared to keep Mu Tao, a girl with a Demon Bone, on Mount Chao Yao.
Unfortunately, the little protagonist in the original story betrayed this naive kindness, not only killing Si Qinglan but also destroying Mount Chao Yao, the place she had protected for millennia.
When reading the novel, Li Yu had been too focused on the protagonist, her eyes and heart filled with the indifference of Mount Chao Yao towards the protagonist’s suffering. She hadn’t felt much for Si Qinglan, only sighing briefly when she died.
But now, having become close to Si Qinglan, she felt differently about this ending.
—Her gossip-loving, room-checking colleague, you were truly unlucky in the original story!
But it’s fine, things were different now. Since the system brought her here, and she had to find a way to survive, she might as well rewrite the plot for her unlucky colleague!
Consider it repayment for her company and all the magical artifacts.
Lost in thought, Li Yu forgot about the others around her.
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