I Became the Male Lead’s Cruel Master - Chapter 3

Lord Mingshui was brewing tea in his courtyard, waiting for me.

He wore a sky-blue robe, his raven hair gathered with a ribbon. Mist swirled around the mountaintop, giving him the ethereal air of an immortal.

I sat opposite him.

“Senior Brother.”

Lord Mingshui set down his cup. Seeing the infatuation in my eyes, he looked rather pleased with himself.

“You’re a little late today, Junior Sister. Did something go wrong with the dragon horns?”

All these years, Yun Qi had taken Ying Xun’s blood and torn off his scales to support Lord Mingshui’s cultivation. She’d practically dragged a man of mediocre talent all the way to Tribulation Crossing.

Upon learning that dragon horns could regrow, she’d sent him word at once. A few sweet words from him later, she was sharpening her blade for Ying Xun, promising to present the horns today.

Lord Mingshui took my hand, his eyes brimming with affection.

“You’ve worked so hard, Junior Sister. When I ascend, I won’t let you down. We’ll be an immortal couple everyone envies.”

I withdrew my hand and covered my face, sobbing softly. “I’m useless. I couldn’t get the horns.”

His expression changed at once. “What did you say?”

“Taking his blood was easy enough before, wasn’t it? They’re only a pair of horns. Junior Sister, you…”

Suspicion crossed his face. He wondered whether I’d kept them for myself.

He knew how to handle women. Back when they were fellow disciples, he’d looked after Yun Qi so attentively that the innocent girl became utterly besotted with him and never went against his wishes.

She was a dog he’d trained to perfection.

I lowered my eyes and spoke cautiously. “Don’t be angry, Senior Brother. Once I forge a dagger, I’ll cut out those horns and bring them to you.”

“I’ve found some tanyang. It’s extremely beneficial to cultivation. Please make do with it for now.”

Only then did his expression ease. He gestured for me to produce it.

I’d just taken out the brocade box when a noise came from inside his residence.

I thought nothing of it, but Lord Mingshui instinctively took two steps toward his residence. Only when he remembered I was there did he stop himself.

That made me curious.

“Do you have someone inside, Senior Brother? Why not introduce us?”

I walked in as I spoke. Unable to stop me, he could only follow.

His residence was lavish, its walls glittering with inlaid jewels.

A lovely woman lay amid a heap of embroidered silk.

She looked over timidly, her lips red and tender, her skin whiter than snow. A white tail swayed behind her. Her beauty could steal a soul.

A white fox.

At the sight of me, the little beauty shrank fearfully into the blankets. The movement only exposed more of her body, and she turned to Lord Mingshui for help.

I gave a cold laugh. “Keeping a beauty hidden away, are we, Senior Brother?”

He gathered her into his arms. “Her name is Jinhuan. She’s a spirit beast I recently acquired. She’s only just taken human form and is a little shy.”

“Junior Sister, we’re going to be Dao partners. Jumping to conclusions like this will damage our relationship.”

Maybe take your hand off her waist before saying that?

I drew my sword and pointed it at the beauty in his arms.

Her face drained of color. Her bare arms tightened around Lord Mingshui’s neck.

His expression darkened. Spiritual power snapped my sword apart, inch by inch. “Yun Qi,” he said impatiently, “I am a venerable cultivator at Tribulation Crossing. It’s perfectly ordinary for me to enjoy a few beast companions.”

“I’ve already promised to make you my Dao partner. How could they threaten your position?”

His voice deepened. “Don’t let jealousy lead you astray, Junior Sister.”

Hurt and indignant, I turned to leave.

He called me back.

I looked over my shoulder. Lord Mingshui approached, his robes fluttering.

“We’ve cultivated together for hundreds of years. You should know what’s in my heart.”

With one hand, he tucked the stray hair by my ear into place. With the other, he slid down my arm and took the brocade box containing the tanyang.

“Don’t disappoint me.”