Volume One, Chapter 85: The Formation of a Duo

There was no need to expect a reply from Lu Jinyuan, that much Lu Hualing knew. His curiosity, however, was thoroughly piqued, so he decided to turn his efforts toward Qin Yu.

“Master Dieqiu!”

Lu Hualing jogged to keep up with Qin Yu.

Qin Yu shot him a sidelong glance. “What is it?”

Lu Hualing wore the eager look of someone about to hear juicy gossip. “Master Dieqiu, may I ask you something? What exactly is your relationship with my uncle?”

Qin Yu stopped in her tracks, pondered seriously for a moment, then said, “A relationship of mutual benefit, I suppose?”

Lu Hualing was plainly unconvinced.

His uncle lacked for nothing—what could he possibly need from someone else?

A sudden thought struck him, and his mouth formed a perfect O of shock.

His uncle had never had any women around him since childhood—could their ‘mutual benefit’ be what he was imagining? Oh heavens! Was this the sort of thing a dashing young man like himself was supposed to hear?

But then...

His scrutinizing gaze swept up and down Qin Yu.

He shook his head.

A master like her couldn’t possibly be that sort of person!

Yet, aside from being a bit eccentric, a little cold, and rather taciturn, his uncle was the kind of man whom countless women dreamed of seducing! Master Dieqiu was, after all, a normal woman—perhaps she was attracted to precisely that type?

Qin Yu watched as Lu Hualing’s expression swung wildly from shock to suspicion, then finally to a reluctant acceptance—a veritable rollercoaster of emotions—three imaginary black lines all but appeared above her head.

What on earth could possibly be going on in his mind?

Snapping out of his reverie, Lu Hualing patted Qin Yu’s shoulder in a show of understanding. “Master, there’s no shame in this sort of thing! After all, my uncle is so handsome—how could you lose out?”

Qin Yu: ?

“Really, you don’t have to hide it from me. I’m family!”

As he spoke, Lu Hualing thumped his own chest for emphasis.

Qin Yu: ?

“But, you know, such a relationship is not entirely aboveboard. Why not take it further and become a proper couple? I like you, too! If you became my aunt, I’d be all for it!”

Now Qin Yu understood.

She gave the wildly imaginative Lu Hualing a sweet smile, then crooked her finger, beckoning him over. “Come here, I’ve something to tell you.”

Delighted, Lu Hualing thought perhaps Master Dieqiu had long hoped to make their relationship official, and his suggestion had touched her heart.

He trotted over eagerly, saying, “Master Dieqiu, you don’t need to thank me for this! Once it’s done, just give me a few more protective charms and—ow!”

Before he could finish, Qin Yu delivered a sharp knock to his forehead.

“I give your uncle evil-warding talismans, he helps me with my affairs! That’s how we both get what we need!”

Qin Yu hadn’t held back; Lu Hualing clutched his head, aggrieved. “Master, why did you hit me?”

Qin Yu’s eyelid twitched. “You should be grateful you’re human.”

Overhead, Mu Ling, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, shivered as if he’d been called out, a chill running down his spine.

This little episode, strangely enough, brought the two a little closer.

Lu Hualing still couldn’t quite believe that the ‘ship’ he so adored was not real. Reluctant to give up, he pressed again, “Master, is it really impossible for you and my uncle to be something more?”

I think you two are a perfect match!—he dared not say this last part aloud.

Qin Yu shot him a cold glance.

Immediately, Lu Hualing clapped a hand over his mouth. “I won’t ask, I won’t ask.”

And so, under the cool night sky…

Qin Yu walked ahead, with Lu Hualing trailing half an arm’s length behind.

No one knew how long they walked.

At last, Lu Hualing couldn’t take it anymore. “Master, where exactly are we going?”

Qin Yu raised her brows, didn’t turn around, and corrected him, “I’m looking for a place to rest. As for you, go back to where you came from.”

“Don’t be like that, Master! I’ve followed you all the way here—my car’s still at the foot of Ling Mountain! Are you really going to make me walk back?”

Qin Yu arched an eyebrow, her expression plainly saying: And why not?

Lu Hualing’s mind worked quickly. With a sycophantic smile, he tried to negotiate. “Master, how about this: we help each other out. I’ll provide lodging, and you let me stay with you!”

“No.”

Qin Yu refused without even thinking.

“Why not?”

Qin Yu turned to give him a thorough once-over. “Having you with me—what good does that do me?”

“I have money!” Lu Hualing triumphantly produced a handful of colorful cards from his pocket. “Master, think about it—how can anyone travel the world without money? Bring me along, and you’ll never have to worry about expenses again! Food, clothing, shelter—leave it all to me!”

Qin Yu: So this is what it means to be a rich young master? So simple, so straightforward—money solves everything!

“Fine!”

Hearing Qin Yu’s assent, Lu Hualing broke into a delighted grin.

But then he heard her add, “You can follow me, but only if you agree to three rules.”

Lu Hualing nodded so vigorously he looked like a pecking chick. “So long as I can stay with you, three rules or even thirty—I’ll agree to them all!”

Qin Yu held up her index finger. “First, you may only tag along for incidents I allow you to be part of.”

Lu Hualing nodded in understanding.

Some situations were far too terrifying—he wouldn’t dare go anyway!

“No problem!” he agreed.

Qin Yu raised her middle finger. “Second, if you notice anything suspicious or unusual around me, you must report it to me at once.”

Lu Hualing nodded again. “No problem!”

Qin Yu raised her ring finger. “Third, if you ever get into danger and I have to save you, there will be an extra fee.”

That was even easier to understand. Lu Hualing agreed at once, “Deal!”

Watching from the sidelines, Mu Ling couldn’t help but click his tongue in admiration: being rich really does let you do whatever you want!

Fifteen minutes later, thanks to a certain young master’s arrangements, Qin Yu checked smoothly into a hotel.

After showering, Qin Yu lay back on the soft, fluffy bed, but her mind was filled with the image of her master’s death.

Her master had perished with a gaping wound through the chest, drained of blood by a powerful spiritual force.

Her master’s cultivation had reached unfathomable heights—just who could have killed him with a single blow?

The more Qin Yu dwelled on it, the worse her headache became. Finally, she forced herself to stop thinking. Her intuition told her that this matter could not be separated from the Qingfeng Temple.

She raised her hand and formed a calming seal to clear her mind and try to sleep.

But her sleep was anything but peaceful.

“My precious disciple…”

That familiar voice made Qin Yu’s eyes well with tears. She dared not open her eyes, afraid that doing so would make everything vanish.

“Master, you’ve come back.”

“Yes, I have. My precious disciple, have you missed me?”

Her throat tightened, but she couldn’t get the word out.

Lin Changxiu saw the tears glistening in Qin Yu’s eyes and sighed in distress.

It was all his fault, for not planning better.

He’d forced his precious disciple to accept all this too soon.

“My precious disciple, do you remember what I told you the day I brought you back?”

“I remember. You told me to forget who I once was.”

Lin Changxiu nodded with satisfaction. “Good. My cultivation of you was not in vain.”

How could Qin Yu not understand her master’s implicit advice—not to make revenge her sole purpose?

But…

“A master is a father for life. The hatred of killing a father is irreconcilable. This is the karmic destiny I must accept, Master—you need not try to dissuade me.”

Qin Yu’s words left Lin Changxiu speechless. “My precious disciple, the dead are like smoke, scattered to the wind. Clinging to this is useless—saving the world is your true duty.”

“The world must be saved, but so must my vengeance be exacted! The two do not necessarily conflict!”

Lin Changxiu sighed. He knew her character—once she made up her mind, nothing could sway her.

And that was exactly what worried him most.

“Very well. If you must avenge me, I won’t stop you. But remember—know your limits. Do not let hatred cloud your judgment. Don’t lose sight of the truth.”

Qin Yu sensed a hidden meaning in his words and wanted to ask more, but her consciousness was already fading.

Until, from the distance, Mu Ling’s wailing voice broke through: “Xiao Yu! Xiao Yu!”