---

As soon as he said that, I felt like my butt was on fire. I immediately stood up from my chair and exclaimed, “What! How could you tell?!”

“Master, what’s wrong?” Feng Yexiao was a bit startled by my reaction, but he still answered my question honestly.

“I’ve been able to see through the disguises of cultivators since I was young. I thought you were hiding your true appearance to avoid trouble, so I didn’t say anything. You must have your reasons for doing this.”

“…”

So what kind of bug is this? All this time, what I thought was fatherly love and filial piety, in his eyes, was actually flirting, right?

I failed to guard against the one I wanted to avoid. What have I been doing for the past ten years?

Is it really true that masters in cultivation stories only have the fate of being oppressed? How terrifying!

---

11

Ever since that conversation with Feng Yexiao, we haven’t spoken much, mainly because I unilaterally didn’t want to talk to him.

Several times, Feng Yexiao tried to come and talk to me, but I ignored him.

To understand whether masters in cultivation stories are only meant to be oppressed, I specially went to observe other senior brothers and sisters and found that it didn’t seem to be the case.

There was plenty of harmony and respect for teachers everywhere!

But then again, Feng Yexiao acted the same way in front of me.

Could it be that my senior brothers and sisters are also being treated this way by their disciples behind the scenes?

Driven by a strong spirit of exploration, I asked my good friend, Xie Yunzhi.

Then—I was kicked out. Yunzhi even scolded me, saying she never expected me to be that kind of person, wanting to prey on my own disciple, and finally said she would report me to the sect leader.

Heaven knows I’m innocent!

From this, it can be seen that there’s no rule in the cultivation world about masters being oppressed!

So what exactly happened with Feng Yexiao? How did I lead him astray!

Yunzhi kept her word; not long after, the sect leader really sent a message for me to go find him.

---

12

When I received the message, I thought, what if the sect leader really intends to give me a lesson in ideology?

That would be utterly embarrassing!

With a heart full of trepidation, I went to find the sect leader, but to my surprise, it was the usual tea and chess. I gradually relaxed.

Unexpectedly, the sect leader said, “Yunhuai, your disciple is quite proactive.”

Hearing this, I nearly spat out the tea in my mouth. I restrained my panic and replied nonchalantly, “Oh, really?”

“Of course! Your disciple seems to be the only one among the new batch of disciples who voluntarily applied to go to the most remote village to pick up the children coming for the selection.”

I nodded in agreement, “Is that so? Yexiao is indeed very hardworking.”

I only then realized that Feng Yexiao had applied to go down the mountain to welcome the new round of children coming to the sect for selection.

I couldn’t help but recall the other day when he tried to talk to me; he must have wanted to mention this.

Although the cultivation world is peaceful now, it’s still very dangerous for ordinary people to come all this way to the sect; one small misstep could lead to disaster.

Therefore, except for a few sects close to Liyancang, where disciples don’t need to escort them, for villages a little farther away, the sect sends disciples to pick up the children who come for the selection each time.

But I must admit that during the days when Feng Yexiao wasn’t around, I felt much more at ease.

There was no longer a pair of melancholic eyes staring at me; I used to think that it was admiration for a master, but now it seems it was all love.

This thought gave me goosebumps.

Yet, looking at the empty courtyard, Feng Yexiao’s figure practicing swordplay, planting flowers, and calling me “Master” kept flashing in my mind.

Thinking about it, I found I missed him a bit.

No, what am I thinking?

I can’t think this way! My butt, my butt, I need to protect my butt!

To protect my rear, I suddenly came up with another plan.

I felt that Feng Yexiao’s feelings for me were just the infatuation of a teenage boy; as long as I reduced our encounters, I believed he would gradually forget me.

The child is still young; I could go out and travel for about ten years before returning. After all, cultivators live long lives, so it would just be a scenic trip.

Why should it be me who goes out to travel instead of that little brat Feng Yexiao?

After all, he is still young; I can’t just throw him out.

After Feng Yexiao returns, I’ll first firmly reject his feelings and then tell him about my plans to travel, and this whole scenario of the disciple falling for his master will come to an end.

Just as I had beautifully planned everything and was waiting to implement it after Feng Yexiao returned, news came that he was in danger.

---

13

When I received the news, I was in my room pondering what to take with me on my travels.

While I was thinking, I suddenly received a message from the sect leader: “Feng Yexiao is in danger; hurry to the discussion hall to discuss countermeasures!”

“I understand, I’ll be there shortly.”

How did Feng Yexiao encounter danger on his first outing? It’s really worrisome.

I hurried to the discussion hall, where several senior brothers had already gathered.

The sect leader explained that Feng Yexiao’s team, which had gone to escort the selected children, was attacked by demon cultivators on their way back. Fortunately, the senior brother leading the team was vigilant and detected something amiss, sending a distress signal in advance.

Hearing that they had been attacked by demon cultivators, everyone present was understandably shocked. After all, demon cultivators usually keep a low profile and never initiate trouble; no one knew why they targeted Feng Yexiao and his group today.

But the important thing now is to send someone from the sect for rescue. Without a second thought, I stepped forward to volunteer. After all, he was the child I raised; I couldn’t let anyone bully him.