Chapter 4: How can the vast heaven treat me so poorly?

Lingxuan Peak

After the recruitment assembly, Luo Qingyue personally brought Jiang Ling to Lingxuan Peak and arranged everything for her residence.

“From now on, this will be your home. If you have any issues, feel free to inform me at any time.”

Then, Luo Qingyue handed Jiang Ling a token engraved with her exclusive spiritual seal. “This is a protective travel token. With it, you can be safeguarded in critical moments and freely enter and exit the sect.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Jiang Ling respectfully bowed and accepted the token.

“By the way, in my presence, you can drop your male disguise and stop hiding your true self,” Luo Qingyue said calmly, causing Jiang Ling to fall into a brief silence.

“Though your disguise technique can mask your feminine aura and alter your appearance and voice, there are some inherent traits you cannot change.”

“…”

“Master… did you notice from the start?”

“Mm.”

Luo Qingyue nodded slightly in response.

She had already discerned that “he” was actually a woman when Jiang Ling far surpassed others in the entrance trials.

“I won’t interfere too much in your personal vendettas. But since you’re now my disciple, if you face any unspeakable hardships, you can openly discuss them with me.”

“As your master… I’ll do my best to provide whatever help I can.”

Her words were clear.

As long as Jiang Ling was willing, Luo Qingyue could serve as her shield for vengeance.

However…

“Thank you for your concern, Master.”

Jiang Ling bowed, politely declining Luo Qingyue’s offer, making her stance clear. “There are some matters I wish to handle personally.”

“Very well, do as you wish.” Luo Qingyue didn’t press further, knowing that pushing too hard might backfire.

“But at the very least, you should tell your master your real name, shouldn’t you?”

Jiang Ling pursed her lips, hesitating for a moment.

In the end, she chose to trust the master who hadn’t exposed her from the start.

“Your disciple…”

“Is named Jiang Ning’er.”

***

As dusk approached.

Bang!

A forceful push flung open Shen Mu’s door.

A pair of smooth, jade-like legs, accompanied by the sway of a flawless skirt, stepped into his room.

“My dear disciple, I have a surprise for you.” Luo Qingling glanced around, her gaze locking onto an ancient folding screen emitting a misty aura.

“Hm? You’re bathing again?”

“…”

Shen Mu, squatting in the medicinal liquid-filled tub, rolled his eyes, too exhausted to even retort.

“Master, I plan to go into secluded cultivation for a while. Unless it’s something major, I’d appreciate it if you could avoid disturbing me.”

“Huh?” Luo Qingling felt as if the sun had risen from the west. “You’ve never been serious about cultivation, always tinkering with those weird gadgets. Why the sudden change of heart today?”

“I just feel my strength is too weak. I’ve wasted two years and can’t even see the world beyond Xuanyong City.”

“So, I want to focus on improving myself.”

Hearing this, Luo Qingling raised an eyebrow, a rare trace of surprise in her eyes.

But that surprise quickly faded into calm.

“With four mixed spirit roots and an ordinary body without any special physique, your innate talent has no outstanding qualities.”

“Your ceiling… was set long ago.”

While it was good that her disciple had ambition, some innate gaps were insurmountable chasms.

“…”

“Heh… set long ago, huh…”

Shen Mu let out a mocking chuckle, then lowered his gaze, sinking into endless silence.

Indeed…

In a world like this, everyone’s fate was practically decided at birth.

But… for an anomaly like him, as long as he didn’t die, he still had a chance to turn everything around!

“Oh, come on~ You don’t need to worry so much about cultivation. Your master’s got your back.”

“Oh? Then where did Master go gallivanting off to today?”

“Hmm…” Luo Qingling’s eyes darted playfully, deciding to keep him in suspense. “You’ll find out after your bath.”

Sigh~

I really don’t get what she’s up to this time…

Shen Mu sighed inwardly, helplessly adopting a “salted fish” sprawl in the tub.

***

Nightfall.

“…”

In the courtyard, Shen Mu stared at the golden-haired girl before him, his expression frozen in shock.

This is your surprise?!” His tone was filled with disbelief.

“Hey~ Hello, Senior Brother~” Lin Yuhe greeted him with a bright smile, seemingly oblivious to Shen Mu’s earlier wariness.

Hello, my foot!

And who’s your Senior Brother?!

Shen Mu’s mind was a stampede of a million galloping alpacas, overwhelmed with a sense of wanting to cry but having no tears.

“S-Senior Brother, hello.”

The next moment, a petite girl with pink hair beside Lin Yuhe spoke timidly, her cute face flushed, her sparkling pink peach-blossom eyes shimmering with a watery glow.

She seemed shy upon seeing Shen Mu’s strikingly handsome appearance.

“You’re… Tang Yueyao?”

“M-Mm…”

When Shen Mu’s gaze turned to her, Tang Yueyao lowered her head, responding softly, too shy to meet his captivating face.

Upon confirming Tang Yueyao’s identity, Shen Mu’s heart sank completely.

One deadly trouble wasn’t enough—they had to throw in another for a buy-one-get-one deal…

According to the game’s original storyline, Tang Yueyao was supposed to join Xuanxiang Peak to study talisman crafting, becoming one of the male protagonist’s top support harem members.

With her around later on, even the toughest challenges became significantly easier.

And, most crucially, among all the harem heroines, she was one of the most favored.

The kind where even touching a single hair of hers could mean death or severe injury.

A T1 on the “must-avoid” list for background characters.

As for the T0, that was, of course, the girl standing before him—the designated main heroine of the storyline.

At this moment, Shen Mu wanted to raise his arms to the heavens and cry out: Oh, vast heavens… why are you so cruel to me?!

What ultimate sin had he committed in his past life to deserve such torment?

Cough, cough!

As the atmosphere among the three grew increasingly awkward, Luo Qingling cleared her throat. “From now on, you three need to get along harmoniously.”

“Especially you, Yuhe. Though you’re the young miss of the Lin Clan, in the Wind Spirit Immortal Sect, you must abide by the sect’s rules and regulations.”

“No more reckless behavior like today.”

“I understand, Master. I’ll adhere to the sect’s rules from now on.”

As she spoke, Lin Yuhe gave Shen Mu another slight smile.

As if to say: We’ll have plenty of time from now on.

“…”

Shen Mu turned his head away, his mind already racing to figure out how to escape this Phoenix-Proud Heaven heroine from his homeland who had taken an interest in him.