Chapter 33 The Scheming Disciple and the Charming Master 33

Chapter 33: The Scheming Disciple and the Handsome Master 33

But the more that was true, the more he wanted to prove to Lin Huaiqing that he was stronger than Mu Yunting. He was Lin Huaiqing's one and only home.

From that day on, he cultivated day and night without rest, just to raise his cultivation to a higher level.

Lin Huaiqing had been calmly thinking and reflecting for half a month, and finally came to his senses.

With his strength alone, he couldn't change the course of the plot that had already been set.

At one point, he naively thought that if he kept the Little Villain by his side and taught him, he could lead him onto the righteous path.

But the facts showed him that demons were demons, plain and simple. Forcing him to devote himself to the Dao would only turn him into a monster—neither demon nor immortal—even if he did achieve enlightenment in the end.

This included his secret cultivation of the Demonic Path, and the bee he had casually swatted to death.

As the ancients said: "A gentleman, regarding animals, cannot bear to see them die after seeing them live; cannot bear to eat their flesh after hearing their cries."

Then could he also use this small example to see the bigger picture—that Qin Du, despite living in the Xuantian Sect for nearly ten years, still retained the nature of a demon?

Moreover, without Qin Du reclaiming control of the demon race, how could Mu Yunting have annihilated them and unified the cultivation world?

The wheels of fate were rolling forward, and there was no stopping them.

Instead of trying to right the ship, it was better to just go with the flow.

Let the plot get back on track.

Worst case scenario, after the plot concluded and everything had settled, he could step forward and beg Mu Yunting to spare Qin Du's life.

After all, with all those years of master-disciple bond between them, Mu Yunting would surely grant him that favor.

"Yunting, where is your senior brother?"

"Reporting to Master, Qin—uh, Senior Brother went to the martial arena to spar with other disciples."

"Alright, I understand."

He needed to see Qin Du, right now.

Sword-flying to the martial arena, he saw two disciples standing on the platform.

When the sect had no special events, the arena was open to all Xuantian Sect disciples on the fifth, fifteenth, and twenty-fifth of each month.

Any disciple of the same cultivation level—whether sword cultivators, force cultivators, alchemists, or formation masters, male or female, old or young—could step onto the platform to spar.

The rules were to pull your strikes and no hidden weapons allowed, but beyond that, anything went. It served as a platform for healthy competition among the disciples.

At that moment, the match on the platform was between Qin Du and a force cultivator at the mid-Golden Core stage.

Disciples above the Golden Core stage in the Xuantian Sect were mostly direct disciples of the various hall elders.

Qin Du had only just reached Golden Core, yet he was already challenging the senior disciple of the Force Cultivation Hall—now that took guts.

"Do you really think Qin Du can win? Senior Brother Meng is the head disciple of the Force Cultivation elder! Challenging him right off the bat—let's see how badly he loses!"

"Haven't you heard? When Qin Du was at Foundation Establishment, he struck down a Golden Core elder of the Baqi Sect and knocked his cultivation down a level! I don't think Qin Du will lose!"

"Hey, hey, hey! You two stop arguing! Look over there—isn't that Immortal Venerable Huaiqing?"

"Oh my god! It really is Immortal Venerable Huaiqing! The Immortal Venerable personally came to watch his disciple fight!"

"Ahhh! Qin Du is so lucky! If Immortal Venerable Huaiqing came to cheer for me, I'd take on Senior Brother Meng too!"

"Get out of here. You wouldn't even last three punches against Senior Brother Meng."

On the platform, in the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Qin Du knocked the force cultivator surnamed Meng off the stage.

Amid the crowd's astonishment, he flew down and landed steadily in front of Lin Huaiqing.

"Master, were you looking for me?"

Qin Du felt a flicker of surprise and joy.

There had been some friction between him and his master these past few days, but seeing Lin Huaiqing come to find him in person, the resentment buried in his heart melted a little.

"Mm... let's find a place where we can talk."

The two walked in single file, all the way to a bamboo grove behind the martial arena.

The disciples were all gathered near the platform watching the matches, so no one would pass by this secluded spot.

"Xiaodu... how long have you been at the Xuantian Sect?" Lin Huaiqing asked out of nowhere.

Qin Du answered without a moment's hesitation.

"About seven years and five months."

"Have I treated you well all this time?"

Hearing this, Qin Du quickly knelt down.

"Master has treated his disciple very well. If not for you saving me from the abyss back then, I would have been devoured by demonic energy long ago! You not only guided me on the path of cultivation but also taught me how to live right. Such great kindness, I can never repay in this lifetime!"

Lin Huaiqing felt his chest grow heavier, as if something were stuck there.

This was it—this was how Qin Du had deceived him for seven years.

Sweet talk on the surface, but in truth, he couldn't even confirm the expression on Qin Du's face, let alone know whether his words were true or false.

Heaven had given Qin Du such a silver tongue, one that fooled him time and again.

"Is that so... It seems I failed to teach you properly, allowing you to stray onto the demonic path!"

"Master?! How did you..."

"Are you wondering how I, a blind man, know you've been cultivating demonic arts in secret? Do you really think I'm blind in both eyes and heart, unable to see through your little schemes?!"

To say he wasn't heartbroken would be a lie. He had worked his heart out for seven years, hoping to lead Qin Du back to the righteous path, only to find he had been kept in the dark all along.

Qin Du had never seen Lin Huaiqing look so pained and distraught.

In his memory, Lin Huaiqing had always been that unflappable figure—no matter what tricky problem arose, he handled it with calm composure.

At a loss, Qin Du could only kneel on the ground, kowtowing to Lin Huaiqing again and again, begging for his forgiveness.

"Master! I was wrong! I only wanted to grow stronger, to have the power to protect you! I'll never cultivate demonic arts again!"

Lin Huaiqing didn't want to see him like this either—after all, it was he who had imposed his expectations on Qin Du in the first place.

If that's the case, it's better to let go now than to drag it out.

"You need not do this. The Xuantian Sect does not accept demon cultivators. You can head down the mountain now."

From start to finish, he never said anything outright, nor did he reveal Qin Du's true identity.

Sending him down was just a way to get him back to the demon realm and put the plot back on course.

After all, a mighty Demon Lord hanging around his Lingxiao Peak was just wasting time.

Qin Du, who had been kneeling with his head lowered, looked up in disbelief, staring at the resolute Lin Huaiqing.

A faint glimmer of tears welled up in his eyes.

"Are you really casting me out of the sect, Master?!" Qin Du's voice was nearly choked with sobs.

"If you leave on your own, I will not speak of this to anyone. Just think of it as you having completed your training..."

"No! I won't leave! If Master no longer wishes to see me, I'm willing to go to Bitter Cold Peak to reflect in seclusion! I just beg you, Master, don't cast me out."

Lin Huaiqing's emotions churned, but in the end, he only said two words: "As you wish."

Then he turned and walked away.

He had said and done everything he could. The rest was up to Qin Du's choice.

"Your disciple respectfully sees you off, Master..." Qin Du kowtowed devoutly toward Lin Huaiqing's departing figure, until his forehead bled and that silhouette was nowhere to be found.