The Doomed Master's Survival Guide - Chapter 3

The town at the foot of the mountain was bustling. I happened to arrive during a festival, so I lingered a little longer and picked up plenty of good food and amusing trinkets.

By the time I returned to the peak, it was well past midnight.

With a sweet in my mouth, I considered for a moment, then made a detour to Qingxin Pool.

The mountains encircled it. Between their dark green silhouettes, the pool’s clear ripples moved slowly, moonlight flowing over the water. Framed by moonlight and pool, the black-haired young man looked slender and graceful. Fins like those of a merperson had appeared at his ears, and I could just make out a dragon tail moving beneath the surface.

I rubbed my chin.

Looked like his power was starting to recover.

After a moment’s thought, I picked up a pebble and tossed it out. Only after waiting a little did I stroll out of the shadows.

He had already put away his dragon form. Sitting in the pavilion at the center of the pool, eyes lowered and aura restrained, he blinked only when I approached, as though he had just noticed me.

“Master…”

“No need to bow.” I raised a hand to stop him with a half smile. “Still cultivating this late?”

“A cultivator should forget food and sleep in pursuit of the Dao.”

I raised an eyebrow. As someone who had only stumbled into the profession yesterday, I naturally couldn’t relate. I shrugged and let the subject drop. “All right. Here. Your master brought you something from town.”

Water was still dripping from his black hair. His eyes were moist too.

He stared at the parcel in my hand with those emerald eyes, nostrils stirring. “What is it?”

“Fried little fish.” His slightly dazed look made me laugh, putting me in an even better mood. “For you. Take it.”

“For me?”

“Mm-hmm.”

I nodded as he accepted it.

Qianyuan had a tragic history. The dragon race had been wiped out a thousand years earlier. At the time, he had been only an egg, buried deep in an abyss, which was why the rebels hadn’t destroyed him along with the others.

Much later, villagers found him. They had no idea what he was worth, and the original owner bought him when they put him up for sale.

She watched him hatch and grow.

Later still, after he finally escaped his master’s torment, other pursuers forced their love on him because of his bloodline and beauty.

Sometimes the protagonist had a pretty rough life too.

“Thank you, Master.”

He accepted the parcel in both hands, then did nothing.

“Try some,” I suggested, leaning lazily against a pillar.

Qianyuan was perceptive, and deeply wary of me.

If I left right away, he would definitely find somewhere to throw the food away.

Wasting food wasn’t good.

Something shifted in his eyes. He gave me a discreet glance, then lowered his gaze and slowly unwrapped the parcel.

The fried little fish were still steaming. They were a specially bred boneless variety.

Delicious. I’d demolished two large boxes in town.

I’d brought a third back for a late-night snack, but some temporary lapse of judgment had sent me this way, so now I could only feed it to the dragon boy.

Qianyuan picked up a fish, looking a little puzzled. Under my intent gaze, he pressed his lips together, then ate it with the air of someone marching to his death.

His eyes widened slightly. Trees swayed in their emerald depths, beautiful beyond words.

If it weren’t for that large line of text the System had stuck above his head…

I really would have liked to have my way with him.

My mouth twitched, and I looked away from his face.

“Well? Good, right?” His surprise gave me an immense sense of achievement. “Don’t worry. I haven’t put anything in it. Eat up. I’m off.”

“Master…”

At my words, his expression stirred. He studied me for a moment and opened his mouth to explain.

I stood up as I continued, looking at him. “It’s fine. You don’t have to rush to explain. How do I put this? I’ve suddenly turned over a new leaf. No more tricks. You cultivate, I teach. Just like any normal master and disciple.”

With that, I patted down my sleeves. “But I can’t let you leave just yet. Stay here and cultivate in peace. I’m going.”

“Your disciple bids you farewell, Master.”

Cultivation held no meaning for an ordinary person like me.

Once I finished my mission, I could leave this world.

But since there was a risk I might fail, I could only grit my teeth and force myself to practice.

The only happy part of my day was going down the mountain to loiter around town.

Ever since we’d talked things through, I had brought Qianyuan little snacks and novelties whenever I returned at night.

He seemed especially interested in fish.

When I arrived at Qingxin Pool with a parcel, he was already waiting in the pavilion.

“Master.”

His face was still expressionless, yet somehow I managed to detect a little anticipation in those green eyes.

Must have been my imagination.

I handed him the parcel. “Li’s dried-fish shop was closed today. I got fish soup from Wang’s instead. I think it’s pretty good too.”

“Thank you, Master.” The black-haired young man accepted it. A little disappointed, he nevertheless tried to rally. “Anything is fine.”

Anything was fine, he said. In truth, he was picky.

I rolled my eyes inwardly. Only after getting him used to me had I learned what a delicate little dragon he was.

“I don’t know why, but I keep thinking you’ve grown taller.”

Rubbing my chin as I spoke, I looked Qianyuan up and down.

Almost all the boyishness had left his face. Beneath sharp brows, his eyes shone like stars, tempered by a mature coldness. He reminded me of a blizzard sweeping across the far northern snowfields, or ice that had not melted for a thousand years.

Standing straight, he was a full head taller than me. It was rather intimidating.

Perhaps this was the result of his bloodline reviving.

Without a change of expression, Qianyuan said, “You must be imagining it, Master.”

I shrugged and didn’t pursue the matter.

“Oh, right. I’m going back to my sect tomorrow,” I told him, suddenly remembering.

His hands paused over the parcel. He looked up. “Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Silence fell again.

“I’ll probably be back soon. I don’t think my master has anything terribly important to discuss.”

As long as you don’t go, it won’t be anything important.

I swallowed that last part.

“Then I’ll wait here for you, Master.”

“Work hard at your cultivation.” I smiled.

Back then, I had no idea I would return a few days later with a new little disciple.

From that day on, my peaceful life would become utter chaos.