MSBITRS Chapter 44 V2

“Master?”

Qi Yuan froze mid-shout. His voice wavered.

“Ling’e?”

“Master, are you stuck in the formation?”

“You… you’re Ling’e?”

“Of course, Master. Who else would it be?”

“No, no, you might be a heart demon… my heart demon…”

Outside the array, Ling’e sighed, pressing her palm to her forehead.

This wasn’t good. Her senior brother’s handiwork had clearly broken her master.

After a brief pause, Ling’e called out, “Master, please stay still! This formation is tricky!

And don’t walk toward my voice—if you leave that area, you won’t be able to hear me anymore!”

“Disciple, I’ll come in to find you! But it’ll take me some time to locate the correct pathway through the formation to reach your position. Only Senior Brother can undo these formations—he set them up himself. Please rest assured and wait a little longer.”

Master Qi Yuan paused, his expression momentarily blank as he processed what he just heard.

Senior Brother? Did Ling’e just say Senior Brother?

These formations… were set up by Changshou?

Qi Yuan’s eyes filled with doubt, but his thoughts soon calmed as his mind wandered.

About half an hour later, Ling’e emerged from the forest, covered in grass and fallen leaves, her face slightly bruised, though she still wore a sheepish smile. She greeted her master with a respectful bow.

“Master, I’ve found you.”

Qi Yuan stared intently at her as she cast a few small spells he had personally taught her.

“Master, it’s me, Ling’e.”

Qi Yuan let out a sigh of relief and chuckled wryly. “So, what exactly is going on here?”

Ling’e hesitated, biting her lip as she deliberated how best to explain this without exposing too much. After a moment, she pulled out a pouch, walked to the small table nearby, and began laying out two cushions, a teapot, and porcelain cups.

“Master, please sit and rest for a moment. Let me explain everything slowly.”

Still harboring some suspicions, Qi Yuan sat down, his gaze softening as he watched Ling’e prepare tea with familiar ease. The aroma of lotus tea—the kind he loved most—wafted in the air, easing his nerves.

The forest was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves stirred by a gentle breeze. Looking up, he could see a patch of blue sky framed by the dense trees.

It was in that serene moment that Qi Yuan began to piece together some truths.

He glanced around at the formation’s intricate elements and asked in a low voice, “Ling’e, is everything here… designed by your Senior Brother?”

Ling’e nodded. “Yes, but it would be more accurate to say he designed it while True Immortal Jiujiu from Po Tian Peak helped set it up.”

“Ah, that explains it,” Qi Yuan chuckled wryly. “So Jiujiu handled the physical setup.”

“Actually,” Ling’e corrected, “Jiujiu doesn’t know much about formations. Senior Brother guided her every step, telling her exactly where to place each component.”

Her tone turned serious as she continued, “Master, have you not noticed anything all these years?”

“Noticed what? That you’re fond of your Senior Brother?”

“Master!” Ling’e’s face turned crimson in an instant.

Qi Yuan frowned. “What, you don’t like him?”

“I… it’s not something I can say out loud,” Ling’e muttered, her face still flushed. Then, in a soft voice, she added, “Senior Brother… is remarkable.”

“Oh?”

“Not in the way you’re thinking, Master,” Ling’e said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Senior Brother is far more extraordinary than you realize.”

Ling’e began recounting her experiences with her Senior Brother.

“Over the years, he’s taught me so much. After your lectures, whenever I was confused or couldn’t grasp the principles, Senior Brother would come and explain the essence in just a few sentences. Thanks to him, my progress has been steady.”

Qi Yuan’s brows furrowed deeply, his expression a mix of pride and discomfort.

Ling’e continued, “Master, can you guess my current cultivation level?”

After a moment of thought, Qi Yuan said, “Ninth level of Qi Refinement?”

Ling’e smiled and formed a complex hand seal. Her aura surged.

“And now?”

Qi Yuan’s eyes widened. “Fifth level of Nascent Soul! When did this happen?”

Ling’e quickly motioned for silence and retracted her aura.

“This is thanks to the Turtle Breath Concealment Technique Senior Brother taught me. It lets me hide my true cultivation level, even simulating a lower one. Unless a True Immortal inspects my physical body directly, no one can detect my real strength.”

Qi Yuan was left speechless.

“Master, you’ve spent much of the past century in seclusion to prepare for your ascension. You’ve barely paid attention to Senior Brother. But I’ve seen everything he’s done—for you, for the sect, and me.”

Ling’e spoke of her Senior Brother’s efforts, from gathering rare herbs for Qi Yuan’s tribulation elixir to crafting and testing numerous artifacts designed to withstand heavenly tribulations.

“Master,” Ling’e said softly, “the ‘ordinary birdcage’ you see in his possession was just one of many failed attempts. I’ve seen him frustrated, sitting among the broken remnants of his experiments. The only time I’ve ever seen him nervous was during your recent tribulation.”

Qi Yuan sat frozen, his mind racing as Ling’e’s words sank in.

“Master, Senior Brother isn’t just exceptional—he’s selfless. And he’s never sought recognition for any of it.”

The old man sighed heavily, his eyes glistening as he murmured, “Ling’e… what should I do? Should I praise him when he returns?”

Ling’e chuckled. “Master, pretend I never said anything today. Act as if none of this happened. Treat him the same as always. When he gets here, scold him like you usually do. Maybe even smack him with your dust whisk… just don’t hit him too hard.”

Qi Yuan’s brow twitched. “Has he been letting me catch him on purpose?”

Ling’e gave an innocent smile. “Master, you’re wise and mighty, of course. But Senior Brother might occasionally let you think you’ve outsmarted him.”

Qi Yuan shook his head with a bitter laugh. “I see. I’ll play along, then. But you and I will team up to ‘discipline’ him when he arrives.”

Ling’e’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Really? Thank you, Master!”

The two of them shared a hearty laugh.

As they waited, Qi Yuan glanced into his tea, the reflection of his weathered face staring back at him. He sighed, shaking his head with a soft smile.

“To have disciples like this… the ancestors of Xiaoqiong Peak can rest easy.”