Chapter 14: I’m such a beast

On the way back, Yin Luoling still had one more question.

“You showed off so many spirit stones in the street—aren’t you afraid?”

Yin Luoling hugged the bamboo basket, gnawing on a candied hawthorn skewer.

Her eyes remained glued to the kitten in her arms, unable to look away for a long time.

Ling Huan smiled knowingly.

At last, his conversation with Yin Luoling had no awkward pauses.

Although things were still a bit stiff and unfamiliar, wasn’t that a sign of their relationship improving?

“What’s there to be afraid of? I have a Master now.”

“…?”

A Master…?

Yin Luoling’s steps suddenly froze.

Her surprised gaze sharpened, fixing intently on Ling Huan’s back.

“What’s the… name?”

Ling Huan, who was walking ahead, also came to a stop.

Now that Yin Luoling asked… she had a point.

If he was going to make up a Master, he’d need to have a proper name, cultivation rank, background, and cultivation techniques all thought out.

Otherwise, just saying “I have a Master” wouldn’t be enough to intimidate anyone.

He couldn’t possibly say, “My Master is called ‘System’~ It tortures me, and only by tormenting others do I get coins from that beast~”.

Never mind how abstract that name was—just saying it would make people think he had something wrong in the head.

Of course, he could also choose not to say anything at all.

But if he said nothing, all his careful arrangements would come to nothing.

In the future, he was bound to acquire a massive amount of spirit stones, cultivation methods, and secret manuals.

Such sudden wealth would definitely attract attention.

Only by inventing a powerful backer could he spend the System’s resources with abandon, and then share them with his family.

A strong person—his weakness would always be his family.

But if his family was strong, then his weakness was no longer a weakness at all, but a whole group of powerful allies!

But the premise for all this was to make others believe that his family had a formidable backer.

Therefore, Ling Huan had to act arrogant enough.

Back when he was showing off his wealth to Yin Luoling to complete the System’s task, Ling Huan had already thought of this and had been pondering it whenever he had a spare moment.

Since the System forced him to flaunt his riches, he’d have to go down this path.

The family route.

“My Master’s surname is Li. But he didn’t tell me his full name—he said he’d only tell me when I’ve graduated from his tutelage. If anyone asks, just call him ‘Ancestor Li.’ He said that as long as someone calls him by this name, others will naturally understand.”

Ling Huan feigned ignorance, but in truth, he had already figured out the cultivation world of this realm years ago.

With spiritual energy so thin, a Nascent Soul cultivator was the undisputed ruler, and those in the Golden Core stage were considered top experts.

Nowadays, Nascent Souls were basically reclusive monsters, rarely intervening.

When they did, it usually spelled catastrophe for the living.

Unless it was a sect war or the contest over a secret realm, they almost never appeared.

As for the Li surname, Ling Huan had done his research.

He was borrowing the name of a certain senior.

This senior was ruthless—not in the sense of being cruel, but in that he was a loner, completely unattached, who cultivated all the way to the Golden Core stage.

He traveled alone, never making enemies or friends.

No one knew where he learned his skills or what techniques he used.

But he was powerful, having made a name for himself in some secret realm, where he single-handedly stood against several sects’ top experts.

After that, he disappeared without a trace.

His story, however, became legendary and widely circulated.

By borrowing this senior’s name, Ling Huan didn’t have to worry about being exposed.

Even if someone bore a grudge from that secret realm, what Nascent Soul rogue cultivator would dare make trouble now?

A Nascent Soul with no ties—provoke him, and he might just come knocking on your sect’s door for revenge.

If he couldn’t win, he’d run, but he might come back to harass you again and again, killing your disciples or targeting your allied forces…

Who could stop him?

Sooner or later, you’d be bled dry, and when other predatory sects saw the weakness, they’d swoop in, and your sect would be finished.

“Apparently, he’s just a rogue cultivator with no sect or clan. Seriously, how could a rogue cultivator be that strong?”

Ling Huan asked with feigned curiosity.

“Master told me to spend money as I please, and if anyone tries to rob me—wipe out their entire clan.”

Ancestor…?

Surname Li…?

Wasn’t it supposed to be “System”?

Hearing this, Yin Luoling finally let out a breath of relief.

In the human realm, only Nascent Soul cultivators dared call themselves “Ancestor.”

Below Nascent Soul, almost no one would dare.

So… this was the difference this life—the Master he acknowledged?

Ling Huan didn’t lower his voice, speaking loud enough that even a passerby could overhear if they paid attention.

Soon, all of Qingmu City would be in an uproar—the Ling Family’s young master had taken a powerful Master.

Plus, with his extravagant spending in Liuyun Pavilion, this lie became even more convincing.

At this point, Yin Luoling understood why Ling Huan did all this.

He just wanted to tell everyone that the reason he dared to spend so freely was because he had a powerful backer.

If you’re not afraid to show your wealth, it means you’re confident that no one can rob you.

That made the origin of the spirit stones much more believable.

Basically, unless someone was a complete fool, they’d all be wary of this “Master” Ling Huan spoke of.

No one would dare take the risk.

But… Yin Luoling remained cautious.

“Wow, such a formidable Master—does he have any other famous titles?”

Yin Luoling asked, her tone full of awe.

“Of course he does,” Ling Huan replied without thinking.

He was afraid he might slip up and accidentally mention the System’s name in the future, so he added, “Though it’s a bit weird—he wants me to call him ‘System.’ Says he can systematically make me a future Nascent Soul cultivator!”

Yin Luoling’s delicate body trembled.

Unchanged.

Her breathing quickened.

Still… just like her previous life!

The candied hawthorn skewer quietly slipped from her lips, and the kitten in her arms lost all its charm.

This lifetime, he was just playing the same tricks in a different way!

Yin Luoling’s gaze turned completely cold.

She followed silently behind Ling Huan, never saying another word, no matter how he tried to strike up conversation.

Leaving Ling Huan full of question marks.

Why did she suddenly become unhappy?

How could her mood shift so fast?

Did he do something wrong?

Could it be… his little sister… was a green tea?

Did she think he was easy to take advantage of and generous, and planned to PUA him into a lovesick fool?

No, maybe she wanted to steal his Master and make him her backer?

No, that didn’t make much sense either… this wasn’t some silly ancient fantasy romance drama…

Just like that, each with their own thoughts, the two returned to the Ling Manor and immediately went to their respective rooms.

For the following week, nothing happened, and they didn’t meet.

Yin Luoling didn’t touch the spiritual herbs and medicines she’d bought.

She even left the storage pouch in plain view on her room’s table.

Ling Huan kept a low profile for the whole week—until today.

“You unfilial son! What have you done!?”

An angry shout shattered the Ling Manor’s early morning peace.

Judging by the voice, the adoptive parents had returned.

Yin Luoling had been about to resume cultivating her self-created technique from her previous life, but the moment she heard Ling Huan being scolded by their adoptive father, she was instantly overjoyed.

She abandoned cultivation, leapt out of bed, and dashed from her room!

Could it be… Ling Huan really did secretly steal the Ling Family’s spirit stones and got caught by the parents?!

He really is scum?!

Yin Luoling followed the sound to the scene—the main hall of the Ling Manor.

Just as she reached the doorway, Ling Huan’s aggrieved voice rang out.

“Dad, what did I do wrong…”

That familiar tone—this was the real Ling Huan!

Pitiful and aggrieved, acting as if he’d done nothing wrong, trying to soften his adoptive parents’ hearts with a pathetic act!

Yin Luoling was instantly delighted, clinging to the doorway and listening intently.

“What were you thinking? Taking your sister to a place like that!?”

“This time, even your mother agrees with your father. You really went too far.”

Each word made Yin Luoling’s breathing grow more and more rapid!

As expected! The source of those spirit stones was dubious!

And that Master was nothing but a made-up story!

It was absolutely right not to touch those spirit stones!

Ling Huan really was faking it!

He was even better at pretending this life, and more patient!

Now I can kill him!

Yin Luoling bit her lip, desperately restraining her excitement, lest she make a sound and spoil this wonderful moment!

She’d already begun plotting how to torment Ling Huan in her mind!

After all, a week was more than enough for her to recall her previous life.

She’d traversed the Immortal Realm in her past life—what strange and bizarre immortal arts hadn’t she seen?

Among them, there was a puppet art capable of completely controlling others, even allowing them some autonomy.

She knew how to use it.

But its method of refinement was extremely wicked and cruel.

But wasn’t that perfect for a beast like Ling Huan?

Besides, rather than a son who could get them all killed, a well-behaved and obedient child would be much better.

After all, it would still have self-awareness.

Even if that awareness was hers.

That would be enough.

With this in mind, Yin Luoling turned and left, hurrying back to her room to enter seclusion and recall the steps and materials needed for that puppet technique.

Her steps were light as she left the area.

She didn’t hear what came next.

“Luoling insisted on going to the festival, and on the way back she was attacked by bandits—her parents died tragically!How long has it been?And you took her to the festival again—aren’t you just ripping open her wounds?!”

Her father’s words jolted Ling Huan awake!

Only now did this little fool finally realize… why Yin Luoling hadn’t spoken…

Why the System judged him as having humiliated Yin Luoling.

Why it gave so many spirit stones!

That night… he had tormented her heart!

Damn!

Ling Huan hated himself!

No wonder Yin Luoling was so cold to him!

After what he’d done, she hadn’t slapped him and had even forced herself to stroll the festival with him… she really was… a kind little angel!

At this thought, Ling Huan’s heart twisted with pain!

I really am—a beast!