It was not until he heard Cang Yu’s voice that Yi Ling, who had been consumed by rage, regained a sliver of clarity and gradually calmed down.
To think that after coming back to life, I actually obtained this kind of capability. Yi Ling let out a soft laugh. Then it seems I cannot simply kill him right now.
Rather than taking straightforward, immediate revenge, Yi Ling preferred to watch his enemies fall from grace and crumble, despairing as everything slipped through their fingers while believing they were in total control.
A crazy mix of emotions flickered in the depths of his eyes, making his red hibiscus-colored pupils look as enchanting and vivid as blood. He thought to himself that he would definitely play along with them until the very end.
Shifting his gaze to Cang Yu, he took the teacup, took a light sip, and said, “Stand up.”
Although he could not fully comprehend the dialogue earlier, Yi Ling could still infer that the so-called “protagonist gong” Luo Xingzhou mentioned must refer to Cang Yu. As for “favorable impression,” did it represent the degree of his affection for someone?
Yi Ling’s gaze darkened slightly. He had not expected his favorability toward Cang Yu to be so high. Judging by Luo Xingzhou’s surprised reaction, one hundred might represent the absolute maximum.
Recalling the phrase “fated dao companion” he had heard before his death, his hand tightened around the teacup. Since his favorability was so high, could it really be true?
Yet Yi Ling had never considered engaging in such an improper relationship with his disciple. Furthermore, his current feelings toward Cang Yu leaned far more toward guilt than worldly romantic desires.
Upon realizing this, Yi Ling froze.
He realized he had never considered what Cang Yu’s feelings were toward him.
Did Cang Yu truly just want to follow him and cultivate? That seemed unlikely. But if one were to say Cang Yu harbored any boundary-crossing thoughts, Yi Ling could not see it for the time being.
Thinking this, Yi Ling decided to test the waters first. He looked up at Cang Yu and said, “Hold out your hand.”
Cang Yu: “?”
Sluggishly, he extended his hand with the palm facing upward, moving it near Yi Ling’s hand as if preparing to be hit with a ruler.
In the next moment, Yi Ling reached out, interlacing his fingers with Cang Yu’s, and even rubbed the other’s wrist with his thumb.
Witnessing everything from the side, Lu Yufeng’s eyes widened: “?!”
Cang Yu: “!!!”
Perhaps it was too sudden, but Cang Yu froze on the spot without moving, simply staring as Yi Ling held his hand with such intimacy.
Surprise and panic filled his face.
Yi Ling carefully sensed the emotions transmitted over. Fortunately, he did not feel any heart-fluttering affection, so he released his grip with peace of mind.
Lu Yufeng gritted his teeth and said, “Yi Ling, act your age!”
“?” Yi Ling furrowed his brows in confusion. “Why do you say that?”
Lu Yufeng was almost driven to exasperated laughter. Using divine sense transmission, he said, “Where have you ever seen a master pulling and tugging with their disciple in public? It is only because I am beside you. If it were anyone else, your reputation would have been ruined long ago!”
Having been solely focused on testing Cang Yu earlier, Yi Ling had completely failed to consider this. He paused for a moment, then unabashedly made up an excuse to Cang Yu without blushing: “Master was merely taking your measurements just now to choose a suitable spiritual sword for you another day.”
Cang Yu’s hand was still burning hot. Suppressing the stormy waves in his heart, he thought: Does measuring a hand require interlocking fingers?
Even though he knew full well that Yi Ling was merely spewing a random lie, Cang Yu knew what to say: “This disciple thanks Master.”
*
As the sundial moved by one double-hour, the match on the martial arena reached its conclusion.
Relying on the assistance of the system, Luo Xingzhou easily claimed the top spot. The other elders, unaware of the truth, as well as the sect master beside Yi Ling, all unanimously believed that Luo Xingzhou was a rare genius seen only once in a century.
Yi Ling, fully aware that Luo Xingzhou had cheated throughout the entire match, maintained a cold expression. Hands resting in front of him, he quietly observed Luo Xingzhou’s proud demeanor. Stroking his storage ring leisurely, Yi Ling had already come up with a plan.
Before announcing the results, Lu Yufeng glanced at Yi Ling and transmitted via divine sense: “If you truly do not want to take another disciple, Luo Xingzhou can join my sect instead.”
For the first time, Yi Ling felt his Senior Brother was so dull. He was already so resistant to Luo Xingzhou; should Lu Yufeng not have harbored some suspicion?
“No,” Yi Ling replied in a tone that left no room for argument.
Lu Yufeng looked at him suspiciously, but with time pressing, he had no way to continue the conversation. He could only step onto the stage to present the top prize to Luo Xingzhou.
Perhaps because he had not seen such a genius in a long time, Lu Yufeng, who usually judged people by their wealth, spoke in a rare, softer tone: “Since this young friend has claimed the top spot, is there an elder whose sect you wish to join?”
Luo Xingzhou looked at Yi Ling with full confidence and said, “This disciple has always admired Elder Yi’s singular devotion to the path of cultivation. Therefore, this disciple naturally wishes to acknowledge Elder Yi as my master.”
Lu Yufeng thought to himself: It is over, he really came for Xiao Han.
He turned back to look at Yi Ling and hesitated, “Then, what does Junior Brother Xiao Han think?”
“To receive this young friend’s favor is naturally this seat’s honor,” a wave of sour jealousy hit Yi Ling’s mind, but he casually cast a glance at Cang Yu and ignored it, continuing, “However, this seat will only accept one personal disciple in this lifetime.”
Luo Xingzhou was astonished. He clearly remembered the system saying that Yi Ling cherished talented individuals above all else. Having performed so remarkably, how could he be rejected? Furthermore, by rejecting him under such circumstances, was Yi Ling not afraid of public criticism?
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Yi Ling immediately interrupted him: “However, if you truly wish to become my disciple, it is not entirely impossible. But you must pass my test.”
He reached out and pulled Cang Yu, who was oozing resentment beside him, pushing him forward.
“He is this seat’s personal disciple. You shall spar with him, and neither of you may use spiritual energy or any other external objects. If you win, I will accept you as my disciple; if you lose,” Yi Ling let out a soft laugh, “with your capability, young friend, surely you will not lose, right?”
【I have never seen this plot before!】 The usually composed system suddenly panicked.
【Luo Xingzhou, he did not give you any way out at all! If you lose, there is no way you can survive in Lingxiao Palace!】
Luo Xingzhou did not care. “With you around, I could even win against those kids from prominent families. Why do you think I cannot even beat Cang Yu?”
【There is something fishy about this. It is impossible for Yi Ling to push Cang Yu out as a shield!】
Before transmigrating, Luo Xingzhou had always been a straight guy. He simply could not comprehend two men having this kind of relationship, yet the system kept bringing it up.
So he perfunctorily brushed it off impatiently: “Yeah, yeah, yeah. There is no way he would not care about the life of his future darling dao companion.”
Yi Ling, who was silently listening to their conversation, remained silent.
It seemed the System still had some brains. As for Luo Xingzhou, he was quite stupid.
However, in the eyes of outsiders, Luo Xingzhou merely pondered for a few breaths before nodding cheerfully: “This disciple is naturally willing to accept the test.”
Cang Yu, however, panicked a little. Although he possessed memories of his rebirth, in his past life he had only held the nominal status of an outer disciple under Yi Ling. Because he was framed for harming his fellow disciples, his standing in Lingxiao Palace had been even inferior to a handyman disciple. Thus, let alone learning anything, simply surviving had been extremely difficult.
He was completely clueless when it came to combat moves.
Cang Yu had also seen how effortlessly Luo Xingzhou fought against others earlier. With his current skill level, only fit for chopping vegetables and cooking, how could he possibly fight Luo Xingzhou?
Thus, he looked at Yi Ling in panic and guilt, whispering softly, “Master, can this disciple really win?”
Yi Ling smiled. He seemed to have thought of something pleasant, for his smile was very genuine.
He stood up, leaned in close to his ear, and whispered, “You will naturally not lose.”
Yi Ling suddenly drew near, and Cang Yu instinctively took a step back, muttering, “Huh?”
【Why are the two of them getting so close!】 From Luo Xingzhou’s perspective, because he could not hear the conversation between master and disciple, and due to the forced angle, in the system’s eyes, they appeared to be kissing in broad daylight.
“Heh,” Luo Xingzhou silently averted his gaze. “Did you not just say those two were madly in love? Now you are acting disgusted again?”
From an angle hidden from Luo Xingzhou, Yi Ling raised his hand, pulled out his own white jade hairpin, and with a stroke of his fingertip, a beam of golden light sank into it. He then put Cang Yu’s long hair up and fastened it to his hair bun.
He tidied Cang Yu’s sideburns again and whispered softly, “Consider this a gift for acknowledging me as your master.”
Yi Ling was entirely oblivious to the blank expressions on the faces of everyone around them when they saw him personally put up Cang Yu’s hair.
Especially Elder Fang, who was closest to them. The white beard hanging on his face trembled, and the tea in his teacup almost spilled out completely.
He wanted to reprimand Yi Ling several times, but remembering the gap in their cultivation realms, he forced himself to hold back.
“?” However, Yi Ling noticed Elder Fang’s strange behavior and asked, “Does the Second Elder have something to say?”
Elder Fang wanted to directly berate him on whether he had taken a disciple or raised a young dao companion, but the moment he met Yi Ling’s eyes, he could only speak gloomily: “Does Elder Yi not feel that something is inappropriate?”
Doing such intimate acts was one thing, but to actually use his own hairpin?
Elder Fang really did not expect young people nowadays to be so devoid of restraint, treating the acceptance of a disciple like child’s play!
Yi Ling knitted his brows: “What is inappropriate? It is merely giving a disciple a gift upon taking him in. Does Elder Fang not give them?”
Elder Fang remained silent, rendered completely speechless by Yi Ling’s righteous and confident tone.
Meanwhile, Cang Yu was finally certain of one thing.
It seemed his Master truly was completely clueless about romantic love. Once or twice could be called a coincidence, but several times in a row, Yi Ling likely truly saw nothing wrong with these actions.
Since it carried no other meaning, Cang Yu guessed that Yi Ling must have a deeper intention behind giving him this hairpin right now. He asked in a low voice, “Master, would this count as cheating on my part?”
Yi Ling was somewhat pleasantly surprised that Cang Yu could think of this, so he patted his back with satisfaction. “It does not matter. Only the two of us know about this matter.”
Cang Yu had originally only been guessing, but he had never expected that Yi Ling would actually lead him to cheat with such seriousness!
No, no, no. Cang Yu refuted himself in his heart. Master must have a reason for doing this. After all, Master has never broken fairness, nor would he tolerate it.
Considering that Cang Yu had not yet learned sword-riding, Yi Ling personally escorted him to the martial arena, checked everything carefully, and only then returned to sit on the high platform.
Lu Yufeng was already accustomed to it, whereas Elder Fang directly crushed the teacup in his hand.
He finally understood: Yi Ling was not acting as a master at all, he was clearly raising a little dao companion who had nothing going for him except a handsome face!