Chapter 106: Master, Little Fish Knows Her Wrong

The moon hung high in the sky, stars sparse, and a gentle evening breeze blew softly. Inside the room, the scattered lights flickered as the wind rustled them, their elongated shadows dancing playfully on the floor like hesitant, mischievous children.

These lights had been lit by my effeminate Third Senior Brother before he left, and the heavy quilt covering me was also brought out by him from the inner room before his departure.

Before leaving, he had worn a proud expression and said to me, “Since the headmaster uncle is anxious, this senior brother kindly lit the lamps for you. Little junior brother, just lie here and wait.”

His actions moved me deeply, but his words seemed tinged with a hint of provocation.

The door to the building was not closed, and the wind made it creak intermittently.

Lying on the couch, I occasionally opened my eyes to glance outside the door. I had been staring at the doorway for an entire day. Many people came and went within the building, but I remembered none of them. I merely smiled as they entered, placing some slightly valuable items beside my bed, exchanging a few words of greeting, and then leaving with mocking smiles on their faces.

Ah, well! With my body so battered, broken bones and torn sinews making movement difficult, I no longer bothered to be angry or argue over such trivial matters.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded. I abruptly opened my half-closed eyes and anxiously looked toward the door. The footsteps drew closer, tinged with urgency. A shadow darkened the room, stretching longer as a gust of wind blew, lifting strands of long hair that fluttered gently.

Then, a figure clad in purple appeared before me, blocking half the wind outside the door.

“Master, you’ve finally returned. Little Fish thought you had left, thought you never wanted me anymore.”

I bit the quilt, tears welling in my eyes as I looked at him.

“Nonsense,” he replied.

He stepped forward, withdrew a sprig of grass from his sleeve, and held it before me, saying calmly, “Eat this.”

“Eat grass?”

My eyes widened as I stared at the golden wild herb. Could this be one of the poisonous plants tasted by Shennong from the ancient legends, capable of killing any demon in the Six Realms?

“Master,” my eyes welling with tears, I pleaded miserably, “If you want Little Fish to eat it, then Little Fish will.”

“Hm,” he nodded.

I leaned in and bit the leaf. Immediately, a strange, bitter taste spread through my mouth, and a wave of nausea rose within me.

How awful—such a bitter poison! This grass was even more bitter than the fishy herb.

“Don’t spit it out. Swallow it,” Zilian said, frowning slightly as he watched me.

“Mm!” I clenched my teeth and took another bite, closing my eyes as I chewed. I chewed and chewed, but suddenly felt stuck. Opening my eyes, I saw a long, pale hand just beneath my eyelids, beneath my nose, inside my mouth.

“Is it delicious?” Zilian’s calm, even voice sounded again.

Ah, Master’s hand. I looked up to see Zilian frowning at me.

“Master, Little Fish was wrong.”

Afraid he might abandon me here again, neglecting me completely, I sniffled and begged softly.

He sighed, producing a silk handkerchief from who knew where, gently wiping the saliva I’d left on the grass. With a hint of helplessness, he said, “I see that you are kind-hearted and virtuous, that you usually do not eat fish and have no greed for the bloodlingzhi.”

Hearing the mention of the bloodlingzhi, my heart tightened and I fixed my gaze on him. He continued, “Even if you disguised yourself as a boy to enter Lingyun Mountain and became my disciple, I believe your heart holds no ill intent.”

After wiping away the saliva, he looked at me and said, “Remember, no one in the sect must know that you are a girl disguised as a boy, nor anyone outside the sect. Should this secret be leaked and reach the ears of Lord Yuanxu, I fear even I could not protect you.”

“Is disguising myself as a boy really that serious?” I asked incredulously.

“Mm,” Zilian nodded. “The relations among the Six Realms are currently chaotic. The demon and monster clans are restless, ready to wage war against the immortal realm at any moment. The mortal world is the most innocent, but the rampant demons and monsters cause suffering and chaos, with no peace anywhere. Countless mortals have died or been injured due to these invasions, and many have sworn blood pacts with the monster clans for survival. Lord Yuanxu is extremely strict, always prioritizing the safety of the Six Realms and the lives of all beings. If he discovers that you, originally a girl, disguised yourself as a boy to enter Lingyun Mountain and become my disciple, knowing his usual methods, he would undoubtedly impose the harshest punishment to prevent you from being a spy sent by the demon clans.”

“Ah! The harshest punishment!” I swallowed hard, staring blankly at him. “Master, if I say I’m not a spy sent by the demon or monster clans, would you believe me?”