I Took You as My Disciple, Not My Husband - Chapter 1

When Xuan Yi found me, I was just waking from the illusion. Still dazed, I caught a look of bewilderment and unease on my eldest disciple’s usually composed face.

“What’s happened to Huahua? Why do you look like that?”

Xuan Yi lowered his eyes. “Master, the Demon Lord Lou Qi has taken Huahua. He says he wants to see you.”

That familiar name brought back everything I had experienced in the illusion. I quickly collected myself. “He won’t hurt her.”

His reputation might be terrible, but after the long years we had spent together in the illusion, I believed he wasn’t the man the world made him out to be.

Xuan Yi offered no objection. He seemed to agree.

His expression remained grave. “Master, he seems… determined to have you.”

I looked down, straightening the hem of my robe as I changed the subject. “Come. Let’s bring Huahua home first.”

As for being determined to have me…

That was a complicated matter.

When we reached demon territory, a demon respectfully ushered Xuan Yi and me inside.

Everything in the Demon Realm looked exactly as it had in the illusion. Though this was my first visit, none of it felt unfamiliar.

Our guide took us to a cliff on the border of their lands. Standing at its edge were Lou Qi and my youngest disciple, Jin Hua.

“Master! Eldest Senior Brother!”

The moment she saw us, my little disciple tried to run over. Lou Qi caught the back of her collar with one hand. How could a young girl possibly match the Demon Lord? After struggling in vain, she drooped, looking pitiful and aggrieved.

Lou Qi gave Huahua an indifferent glance. When he turned to me, amusement warmed his eyes. “Master. You’re here.”

Before I could speak, Huahua broke her silence in indignation.

“Shameless! She’s my master and my eldest senior brother’s master! Don’t think kidnapping me gives you anything to threaten her with. My master will beat you up!”

Lou Qi glared at her. His fingers moved slightly, then he raised his arm and tightened it around her neck. The next time Huahua opened her mouth, no sound came out.

He looked at me with a burning gaze. “Master, choose. Do you want her, or me?”

I had no words.

The whole scene was so absurd that I felt as though I were playing house with children.

Without waiting for an answer, he supplied his own.

“If you choose her, marry me.”

“If you choose me, we get married at once.”

What?

Could he hear himself?

Leaving aside the complete lack of difference between those two choices, he was the Demon Lord. He had kidnapped someone. Why on earth did he look so bashful?

And besides, I was his master!

Before I could answer, my little disciple stared wide-eyed for a couple of stunned seconds, then lowered her head and bit Lou Qi’s arm. She came bounding toward me.

Xuan Yi caught her in his arms before I could. With a slight frown, he released the pressure point that had silenced her. “Huahua, are you hurt anywhere?”

She shook her head, then looked at me pleadingly. “Master, I’ve escaped. You don’t have to let him threaten you.”

Xuan Yi and I both fell silent. We knew perfectly well that Lou Qi wasn’t serious about this. With his strength, she wouldn’t have had a chance to try anything if he were.

Xuan Yi glanced at me, then led my little disciple aside with an arm around her. “Huahua, don’t meddle in your elders’ affairs.”

“But Master…”

I gave her a reassuring look. Only after Xuan Yi had taken her aside did I turn back to Lou Qi.

“She still thinks like a child. Don’t hold it against her.”

“Of course not.”

Lou Qi raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be her master’s husband, after all. You cherish her, so naturally I’ll be fond of her too. I wouldn’t quarrel with her.”

“Lou Qi,” I said helplessly, “what exactly do you want?”

He approached me, one step at a time, his eyes intent on mine.

“I thought you would understand how I feel, Master.

“The illusion may have been false, but the tears you shed for me were real.”

I remained silent, unsure how to answer.

He came closer, bending a little to slip his arms gently around me. Only when he felt no resistance did he slowly tighten his embrace.

“Master, you know I have no wish to plunge the world into chaos. But who can say what may happen?

“Master, keep me in line.”