Disciple, Behave Yourself! - Chapter 1

When I transmigrated into this world, the story had yet to begin.

Bai Yin was still the lofty, untouchable master, and I was Chi Yuchu, his eldest and most outstanding disciple.

At first, ours was an ordinary relationship between master and disciple.

Then, on a demon hunt down the mountain, he was poisoned with an aphrodisiac, and I took advantage of his vulnerability.

After our passionate encounter, I had plucked that unattainable flower before the heroine ever appeared.

From then on, everything between us changed.

In public, he was the master no one dared approach, and I was the gentle, dependable senior disciple.

In private, he clung to me, calling me his husband over and over, while I lost my mind demanding, again and again, whether I was the one he loved most.

Helpless, he could only grit his teeth and call me a wicked disciple.

When my master brought the heroine back from the Hehuan Sect, I was planting immortal herbs with the Third Elder on Ziyun Peak.

The moment a disciple came to tell me he had returned, I dropped my hoe, summoned a spirit beast, and flew to the main peak.

The Third Elder teased me.

“Over a hundred years old, and you still act like a baby who hasn’t been weaned!”

“I’ve never seen you show this much enthusiasm for a demon hunt. But the moment my senior brother comes home, you’re in a terrible hurry.”

Of course I was in a hurry.

If he’d brought back some ordinary disciple, that would have been fine. I would never have been so nervous.

But this time, he had brought back the heroine of this world—Ji Jiaojiao.

According to the story, after Ji Jiaojiao became his disciple, she and my master would soon fall in love.

Which would bring down the frenzied hostility of the second male lead, the Demon Lord; the third male lead, yours truly; the fourth, the Human Emperor; and the fifth, the Demon King.

The second male lead would come to provoke him and seize the chance to blind him.

I would kick him while he was down and dig out his spiritual root.

The fourth would abduct him and sell him to a brothel, leaving him to anyone who wanted to abuse him.

The fifth was worse. After buying him out, he would drug him and lock him up with a dog.

Then the heroine would descend from the heavens.

She’d tell the second male lead, “You’re a good man, but you’re a demon and I’m an immortal cultivator. We have no future.”

She’d weep to me, “I only ever thought of you as a brother. I never knew you loved me so much.”

She’d throw away the fourth male lead’s love token. “You have so many women, but I only have my master.”

And she’d cling to the fifth, looking wronged. “I thought you’d be my little puppy forever.”

By the end, she’d come down with a case of indecision over which cultivation partner to choose.

My master would be forced to put the past behind him and accept the other four men.

Together, they’d make one big, happy family.

Back when the women at my office had discussed this novel, I’d been utterly baffled.

Had a carbon-based life-form really written this?

If all six were going to end up together anyway, what was all the suffering my master had endured supposed to be?

A joke?

Then I transmigrated here and met his eyes. In that instant, I understood. I went mad.

I wanted to see him crying as he whispered my name.

I wanted to see him bare his long neck, unable to contain his feelings.

I wanted my reflection to be the only one in his eyes, forever and ever.

Someone as far beyond reach as he was should never have to endure such inhuman torment!

I leaped off my spirit beast. Ji Jiaojiao was shyly clutching my master’s hand and swaying it back and forth.

“Immortal Master, I have neither father nor mother. All I have is my yin spiritual root. Everyone else sees me as a cultivation vessel. You’re the only one who’s truly kind to me. If you won’t take me as your disciple, I’ll have nowhere to go. Could you bear to see me fall into their hands?”

My master frowned helplessly. “Jiaojiao, you are exceptionally gifted, an excellent prospect for cultivation. But I…”

Jiaojiao?

My heart tightened. I hurried forward.

“Miss Ji, are you hoping to join our sect? I’m afraid my master stopped accepting disciples three years ago. If you’re interested, however, we’re holding a disciple selection ceremony next month. The Second, Fourth, and Fifth Elders will be choosing talented candidates.”

Relieved by my interruption, my master gently freed his sleeve from Ji Jiaojiao’s grasp and rose to stand beside me.

“Yuchu is quite right.”

Ji Jiaojiao bit her lip, her gaze fixed on him. “But Immortal Master, you’re the only person I trust. You know that before I met you, all those people coveted my yin spiritual root. They only wanted to use me as a vessel for their cultivation. You alone have treated me sincerely. If even you won’t have me, where can I go…?”

I stepped forward, blocking that suggestive gaze, and said sharply, “Are you suggesting that, apart from my master, everyone in our sect is a fraud who would stop at nothing to advance their cultivation?”

Ji Jiaojiao flinched, her eyes reddening like a frightened rabbit’s. “N-no. That isn’t what I meant.”

A junior disciple hurried to defend her. “Senior Brother, Jiaojiao is innocent. She couldn’t possibly mean that. She’s just suffered so much that she finds it hard to trust people.”

Ha. Innocent.

Could a place like the Hehuan Sect produce anyone innocent?

He’d known her for half a day, and she’d already coaxed him into calling her Jiaojiao.

Yes, how very innocent!

I sneered inwardly, but let my expression soften. “You needn’t worry, Miss Ji. The Second and Fourth Elders are both women who follow a benevolent path. Neither would ever use you as a cultivation vessel.”

Ji Jiaojiao pouted and lifted her face obediently. “Do you think so too, Immortal Master?”

Hidden by our sleeves, I gently hooked my fingers around my master’s hand.

My little finger lightly scratched his palm.

After so many years together, he knew perfectly well what that meant.

He went still, then gave me a discreet little pat and closed his hand around mine.

His palm was as warm as the spring sun, warm enough to put my heart at ease.

“Yuchu has said exactly what I was thinking. As sect leader, I have every confidence in our elders. You have your concerns, but I am truly not the right master for you. If you don’t wish to attend the selection ceremony, I will find somewhere else for you in a few days.”

The moment he finished, Ji Jiaojiao’s meekness vanished. Panic flashed across her determinedly composed face.

“In that case, I’ll leave everything to you, Immortal Master.”