Chapter 201

Ye Tinglan knew this fellow's twisted logic had some merit.

Some things one overly values are merely shackles imposed by the mundane world, chains forged within one's own heart.

Her slow progress in cultivation these years was not unrelated to her mindset.

She was not free enough, too attached, utterly contrary to the mindset cultivation ought to demand—clearly detrimental to her practice.

But there was no way; she was not the legendary Formless Realm.

Yet the veil had nothing to do with this—he merely wanted to see what she looked like, spinning a whole mouthful of nonsense.

Besides, given Lady Ye's status, removing the veil was perfectly acceptable; even Shen Tang had never seen her true face, and revealing it would make her less likely to be associated with the State Preceptor, whereas wearing the veil might instead breed baseless speculation.

Indeed, she could find an opportunity to remove the veil…

But she certainly would not reveal her face just because he said so—what would that make her? Ye Tinglan sneered, then suddenly extended a finger and tapped Lu Xingzhou's third eye.

Lu Xingzhou was startled, yet after inner inspection, he detected no change within his body.

Just as he puzzled over it, Ye Tinglan waved her hand and flung Lu Xingzhou out the window—he landed in a split.

Anuo dashed out, gently helping her master up: "Old woman's moods are unpredictable."

Lu Xingzhou clutched his groin, limping into his room: "Don't offend her… you can't beat her…"

Anuo grumbled under her breath: "A gentleman seeks revenge over ten years—wait till I make her split next time."

Inside, Ye Tinglan was fuming.

She knew these two never truly regarded her as Mr. —and while that stemmed from her own conditions for taking disciples, she'd mostly squandered the respect she was owed, and she accepted it. But Mr. is still Mr. She'd been trying hard to make up for it, teaching diligently, yet they still behaved so vilely—no wonder, they'd been corrupted by Yuan Muyu.

Dead Daoist disciple.

You want me to split next time?

Anuo escorted Lu Xingzhou back to his room, then returned to hers. As she entered, the threshold seemed to suddenly rise; she tripped without noticing, cried "Ah!" and fell flat on her face, landing in a muddy heap.

Anuo sat up, sniffling, scratching her head and glancing back—no matter how she looked, it was clearly her own fault; she could only blame bad luck.

Ye Tinglan's fingertip spelllight faded.

Nothing much—just a simple expansion spell, applied to the threshold. Little kid, study hard—wait till the day you make me split.

Aside from being scolded by Ye Tinglan, that night the Lu family master and disciple had been quite comfortable—wine, meat, a warm room, and a nice hot bath. Their days huddled in the rainy mountains, wild and unkempt, were finally over; the next day, when they bid farewell to Meng Guan, they were once again a refined young master and a cute little dumpling.

Meng Guan was exchanging pleasantries: "Young Master Lu, under Lady Ye's tutelage, your alchemy will surely soar—I reserve a first-grade grade breakthrough pill."

"How could a prefect like you lack a breakthrough pill…"

Meng Guan sighed: "Indeed, sometimes one must admit—talent is talent; resources alone cannot change it."

Ye Tinglan said coolly: "Not necessarily. Perhaps Prefect Meng simply lacks a teacher who'll call out 'Mama.'"

Meng Guan: "…"

Seeing Lu Xingzhou and Anuo stifling their expressions, Ye Tinglan asked casually: "What? Is it not true that a teacher is like a parent? Calling out 'Mama' should be natural—don't you agree?"

"Agree!" Lu Xingzhou hurriedly said: "Prefect Meng is absolutely right."

Ye Tinglan smiled faintly: "Then call her."

Lu Xingzhou froze, then suddenly felt an odd force invade his spirit—he grew dazed, and before he knew it, blurted out: "Mama."

Meng Guan and his entire retinue stared wide-eyed, stepping back in unison.

Anuo's mouth hung open, as if she'd swallowed a rotten duck egg.

Ye Tinglan nodded slightly: "Good."

Lu Xingzhou's face flushed crimson—he suddenly remembered last night's finger tap. What kind of sorcery was this?

"This technique is called Truth from Lies," Ye Tinglan said, turning away with a refreshed air. "Once you verbally affirm a lie, the next moment you'll believe it as truth. See if you dare speak nonsense again."

Ye Tinglan assumed she'd taught the two shameless disciples a lesson. She never imagined Lu Xingzhou and Anuo, as they watched her back, blinked at each other.

The next instant, Lu Xingzhou followed after her in plain sight, smiling apologetically: "Mama, are you tired? Let me carry you."

With a "Bang!" Ye Tinglan kicked out—Lu Xingzhou spiraled into the sky, "Ding!"—shrinking into a speck and vanishing.

Meng Guan clasped his hands and sighed: Why, State Preceptor? You're the one who wanted him to call you Mama—and now you can't even take it.

Yet ever since the cold, dignified State Preceptor met these shameless Daoist disciples, she'd clearly reacted differently… like when refining pills, the main ingredient often requires a contrasting auxiliary material to produce new transformations.

One wonders what form this State Preceptor will eventually be refined into.

…………

Evening.

Small county town.

Ye Tinglan sat expressionless in the inn's main hall, watching Lu Xingzhou and Anuo excitedly ordering dishes. To prevent these shameless pair from shouting "Mama" in public later, she'd compromised—agreeing to normal lodging and meals on the road, no more burrowing through holes.

Lu Xingzhou and his disciple acted as if they'd won a great victory—Ye Tinglan could see them secretly high-fiving.

Don't say they lacked respect for her—they lacked respect for each other too. This pair didn't look like master and disciple at all; they looked more like siblings.

The thought that they'd manipulated her into compromise with a single title filled her with shame. That line—"Mr., you don't want us shouting 'Mama' in front of others, do you?"—sounded utterly wrong. Watching them happily eat, Ye Tinglan's face remained sour; she sat silent, saying nothing.

"Sigh, Mr., why so serious?" Lu Xingzhou placed a chicken leg on her plate: "Though I often spin twisted logic with you, one thing I say is sincere."

Ye Tinglan glanced at him—he said earnestly: "I hope you can be lighter."

Ye Tinglan fell silent.

Lu Xingzhou gnawed the chicken leg, continuing: "If my understanding isn't wrong, Mr., someone burdened with so many thoughts—doesn't that harm cultivation too?"

Ye Tinglan said coolly: "You, a mere Qinxin and Jizhi cultivator—where did you get your understanding of cultivation?"

"Yan Jun said so. She said the ultimate goal of cultivation is nothing but absolute freedom—certainly not like you."

Ye Tinglan sneered: "Did she omit the three words 'within bounds'?"

"She didn't emphasize them—she's a Daoist disciple, after all. But those three words, no matter how you look, shouldn't mean avoiding normal meals and lodging in town."

Ye Tinglan had no reply. Ordinary people wouldn't care—but she was a nun, known as True Person Tinglan. When posing as State Preceptor, she wore Daoist robes and headbands.

A nun sharing an inn with a man and a child—how strange it looked. A nun must still observe basic taboos.

Only adult male disciples are troublesome—they're worlds apart from well-behaved Miss Qingli.

She didn't pursue that thread, only saying: "Now you're eating and staying at inns like everyone else—why bring it up again?"

Lu Xingzhou said: "So you see, no one really thought much of it, did they?"

Indeed, no one thought much of it—they all assumed they were a family of three checking in. It was perfectly normal; what need was there to put on a show?

Ye Tinglan grumpily changed the subject: "Qin Xin San Die is merely the process of setting an aspiration and acting upon it. What is your aspiration?"

Lu Xingzhou said: "A resolute desire for revenge—isn't that it?"

"Yes," Ye Tinglan said coolly. "But if that's all you hold onto, your achievement will inevitably be limited. First, this aspiration is too narrow; second, what will you do after you've achieved revenge?"

"As long as it doesn't affect my cultivation in the short term, that's fine. As for the upper limit… can't I reset my aspiration when the time comes?"

"Theoretically, yes—but most people at that stage become empty and lost, unable to find a path, and waste away. Also, I sense you have depth within you—you must have your own thoughts."

Lu Xingzhou recalled his words to Guaimei not long after meeting her: to make this world, hot as a furnace, bear my flame.

In plain terms: to control heaven and earth, to set the rules. Comparing it to a crucible made it sound demonic, reflecting the rage that filled him at that time.

Now his rage has lessened, but the words remain the same—only phrased more pleasantly.

After some thought, he said slowly: "It's simply extending my personal grievance to the world—there is injustice everywhere. If I have the power, I will change it."

In truth, the meaning was worlds apart… but Ye Tinglan's eyes flickered slightly with interest.

Seeing her expression, Lu Xingzhou suddenly understood why she'd asked this question: "If your Dao is protection, then yes, it must be exhausting. You're saying this is your cultivation—exhausting, yet without regret?"

Ye Tinglan froze, her heart suddenly surging with tumult.

She'd never spoken these words aloud—how did this fellow know her Dao was protection?

So all this time, this rascal was her true understanding?

Lu Xingzhou knew what surprised her: "It's easy to guess, especially after what you said about the King of Hell—she wants heads rolling, but you would never agree. Your views clash."

Ye Tinglan calmed herself and said coolly: "So you agree more with her? That's why you've aided her for ten years."

"In a sense, I do agree with her more—some things must be shattered before they can be rebuilt. If your Dao is protection, then in my view, you protect the people, not the Great Qian. If you can separate them, perhaps you won't be so exhausted."

Ye Tinglan grew considerably more serious and solemn. She suddenly realized she wasn't speaking to a junior disciple, but to a judge of the Yin Palace: "Such talk is often merely an excuse."

"But you can tell the difference, can't you, Master?"

Ye Tinglan said nothing for a moment.

Lu Xingzhou added: "Still, the King of Hell acts only out of anger, not any grand vision—I don't hold much hope for her."

Ye Tinglan said seriously: "So what is your point?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled brightly: "Isn't there Shen Tang? Whether to shatter or to protect—it's all there."

Ye Tinglan's heart leapt sharply.

Though she had protected Shen Tang, it was only because she felt Gu Zhanting had acted unjustly toward her.

Now, thinking on it, she suddenly realized: Shen Tang cannot ascend the throne—and if she were to be placed upon it… perhaps it would require another shattering and rebuilding.

So that's why—back then, the divination had shown the Dragon in the Field.

————

PS: Monthly tickets, monthly tickets, please~

(End of Chapter)