Love Travels through Time (My father who traveled through time and space to cultivate immortality came back to pick me up) - Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Become A Disciple
The fortune-telling brush, which had been floating in mid-air, sneakily descended and forcefully tried to burrow into Tuntun Mouse’s mouth.
But the terrified Tuntun Mouse covered its eyes with its paws, its teeth chattering, leaving no opening for the brush to enter.
Yin Changli was the slowest to react.
Had he just been scolded by a bratty little girl?
He wanted to retort, Fine, either the Tian Kuang Sword suddenly gained sentience today, or your head is about to explode, Xiang Haikui.
But before he could get the words out, a spark flickered on the Tian Kuang Sword, followed by a surge of black light!
What the—
This dumb sword really had gained sentience.
“Senior Yin, I deeply apologize,” Xiang Haikui said, bowing immediately and swallowing her pride.
“Time is of the essence. You see, this is much faster than me lugging the sword out to slay beasts, right?”
“Heh,” Yin Changli scoffed, flicking his sleeve.
“Xiao Bai, head to the Ten-Thousand Bones Cave.”
Tuntun Mouse obeyed, swallowed the fortune-telling brush, and scurried out of the hall.
As it passed Xiang Haikui, it gestured quickly with its tiny paws, out of Yin Changli’s sight, as if to say, You’re awesome.
The mouse leapt out of the hall’s threshold, pierced through the mist, and emerged in a primeval forest.
On a tree branch hung a small black orb, swaying gently in the breeze.
Tuntun Mouse scampered up the tree, retrieved the black orb, hung it around its neck, and began darting through the forest, heading toward the Ten-Thousand Bones Cave.
Both Yin Changli and Xiang Haikui were inside that small black orb.
The swordmaster Yin Changli mentioned resided in the Ten-Thousand Bones Cave.
Just the name alone sounded terrifying, and Xiang Haikui couldn’t shake the feeling that no decent sword cultivator would live in such a place.
Then again, she looked down at the Tian Kuang Sword in her hand.
It didn’t exactly seem like a decent sword, either.
But she had no spiritual root.
Her father had exhausted all options just to help her establish a foundation.
Now that she had a chance to cultivate immortality, she had no right to be picky.
With no other options, there was no point in overthinking. All she could do was train.
After taking a nap, Yin Changli emerged from the rear chamber and walked into the main hall.
He saw Xiang Haikui asleep on the floor, using the sword as a pillow.
Her sprawled-out posture made him raise an eyebrow in disdain.
Xiang Haikui suddenly woke up with a start, her body stiff as a board.
When she saw it was Yin Changli, she gradually relaxed.
Yin Changli’s ever-present smile remained on his face.
“I must admit, Miss Xiang, your adaptability is truly remarkable.”
Xiang Haikui wanted to deny it.
She had just had a nightmare about drowning, and about her father, his eyes bloodshot, killing people left and right.
But she couldn’t deny that her adaptability was indeed quite strong—just like her body’s recovery ability.
Back in the orphanage, she used to get beaten to a pulp by children who were either disabled or twisted in personality.
Applying medicine, her wounds would take days to heal.
But eventually, she got used to it and stopped bothering with medicine.
Surprisingly, her wounds healed faster.
As she grew older and stronger, whenever someone dared to challenge her, she would grab a kitchen knife and charge at them.
In the end, whether the orphanage was chaotic or orderly, depended entirely on Xiang Haikui.
Her fists weren’t that strong, but those with nothing to lose don’t fear those who have everything.
“Senior, did you need something?”
Xiang Haikui didn’t take his bait, instead climbing to her feet.
She could now wield the Tian Kuang Sword barehanded, without gloves.
Yin Changli scrutinized her peculiar attire.
“We’re almost at the Ten-Thousand Bones Cave. You’ll need a change of clothes.”
Right, she was going to formally take a master.
She needed to dress appropriately.
“But I don’t have—”
“Follow me,” Yin Changli interrupted.
When they arrived at his treasure trove, Xiang Haikui’s eyes lit up so brightly they could have served as flashlights.
Wasn’t this just a department store?
Clearly, this bigshot had a hoarding problem.
No wonder he wasn’t interested in women.
She browsed for ages and finally picked out a sea-blue belted dress paired with matching feather earrings.
She didn’t know how to style her hair, so she simply tied a neat high ponytail.
Once she was ready, Yin Changli led her out of the small black orb and into the depths of the Ten-Thousand Bones Cave.
Xiang Haikui didn’t see the cavern in its entirety.
When they emerged, she found herself inside what looked like a giant wasp’s nest.
The walls were riddled with holes, and behind each one was a pair of eerie, green-glowing eyes.
They seemed to be afraid of the man walking ahead of her, remaining motionless and merely watching with their eyes.
Xiang Haikui felt a chill run down her spine.
She quickened her pace to stay close to Yin Changli.
“Afraid?” Yin Changli stopped abruptly, turning to look at her.
Xiang Haikui nodded honestly.
This creepy place, being stared at by a bunch of unknown creatures—it was terrifying!
Yin Changli’s expression turned peculiar.
“You’re not afraid of me, but you’re scared of these adorable little ones?”
Excuse me, what did he just say?
Adorable little ones?
Xiang Haikui immediately flattered him, “Senior, I don’t quite understand what you mean. It’s very comfortable being with you, why would I be afraid?”
Yin Changli nodded.
“How comfortable?”
“Well…” Xiang Haikui was searching for the right words when she suddenly realized—wait, is this a sudden innuendo?
She thought his scholarly demeanor meant he was a cultured gentleman, but turns out, he’s a refined scumbag?
She quickly took two steps back, spooked.
Yin Changli raised an eyebrow.
“Remember what I’m about to say. The person inside is stubborn but soft-hearted. Later, you should act as pitiful as possible.”
“Yes, yes,” Xiang Haikui hastily agreed.
As they continued forward, Yin Changli flicked his sleeve, and the green eyes retreated into the holes in the walls.
The end of the passage was near, and Xiang Haikui could already see someone imprisoned there.
The figure appeared youthful, though their hair and beard were entirely gray and disheveled, matching the tattered state of their clothes.
Their shoulder blades, wrists, and ankles were pierced with iron hooks, which were connected to the stone walls by chains emitting electric arcs.
The scene resembled something out of The Deer and the Cauldron, where Oboi was restrained by Emperor Kangxi.
(T/N: The Deer and the Cauldron, also known as The Duke of Mount Deer, is a historical novel by Jin Yong. The story centres on a witty, sly, illiterate and lazy protagonist, Wei Xiaobao, who was born to a prostitute from a brothel in Yangzhou in the early Qing dynasty. Oboi is one of the Four Regents who govern the Qing Empire when the Kangxi Emperor is still a child. With Wei Xiaobao’s help, the emperor ousts Oboi from power and imprisons him. Wei Xiaobao later kills Oboi by accident.)
It carried a tragic air of a fallen hero.
Could this be the swordsmanship master that Yin Changli had arranged for her?
It must be.
The closer she got, the more her sword, Tian Kuang, vibrated excitedly in its scabbard.
Tian Kuang was ecstatic.
“Master Qi,” Yin Changli stopped a distance away and gave a slight bow.
Tuntun mouse stood by his feet, balancing a wine jar on its head.
Though the jar was sealed, the aroma of the wine filled the air.
Perhaps lured by the fragrance, Qi Yin, bound by chains, slowly opened his eyes.
“You’re still not caught?”
Yin Changli smiled.
“If I were caught, who’d bring you wine?”
Qi Yin snorted.
“Aside from wine, you always bring trouble.”
Yin Changli maintained his grin.
“This time, it’s not trouble. I’ve brought you a disciple…”
They seemed to communicate telepathically for a moment.
Then Qi Yin’s gaze shifted from Yin Changli’s face to Xiang Haikui’s.
His eyes were as sharp as sword blades, yet crystal clear and untainted.
Meeting his gaze felt like falling into a pristine lake.
Xiang Haikui, entranced, snapped out of it and quickly averted her eyes.
Wow, so this is the world of the strong—even their stares are intense.
She knelt and greeted him, “Junior Xiang Haikui greets Senior Qi.”
Yin Changli asked, “What do you think? Her mental state isn’t bad, right?”
Qi Yin shook his head.
“What’s the use of mental state? She has no spiritual roots, no sword bones—she’s just an ordinary person. She’s not suited to cultivate swordsmanship at all.”
Yin Changli chuckled.
“Precisely because it’s challenging, I’ve brought her to Sword Emperor Qi.”
“Stop flattering me,” Qi Yin was immune to his compliments, unmoved.
“This is impossible. Teaching her for a hundred days? Just kill me now…”
Before he could finish, his pupils shrank.
“Tian Kuang? Tian Kuang has awakened?”
Yin Changli’s smile deepened.
“So, a hundred days will suffice, won’t it?”
Qi Yin ignored him, looking directly at Xiang Haikui.
“I’ve been listening to him ramble on endlessly. So, tell me—who is the one seeking a master, him or you?”
“Junior…”
Xiang Haikui was about to speak when Qi Yin interrupted, “Now, give me one reason to convince me.”
Yin Changli had predicted this question on their way here.
Xiang Haikui had thought it over repeatedly, preparing countless answers, but at this moment, she abandoned all of them and simply replied with five words:
“I don’t want to die.”
Not wanting to die.
And not being able to die.
Revenge was too distant a goal, and lamenting the world’s injustices felt pointless.
Her current objective was just to survive.
No matter how tough it got, she had to hold on for the two or three years her father would be in seclusion.
She absolutely couldn’t die.
Qi Yin’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
In his life, he had heard countless answers, but this was by far the most pitiful one.
Yet, in his ears, it sounded like the breaking of a seed from beneath the soil—frail, minuscule, yet boundless in potential.
After a brief pause, Qi Yin suddenly burst into maniacal laughter.
“Good! Yin Changli, this disciple you’ve brought—I, Qi, will accept! Within a hundred days, I swear to transform her completely!”
In the border of Zhongzhou, in Silver Sand City.
Outside the formation disk stood a man clad in a sharp black robe, with elegant and refined features—Xiang Haikui’s father, Xiang Heng.
Inside the formation disk sat a man with short, choppy hair and deep-set features—Xiang Haikui’s senior, Jingran.
In the modern world, he had only been missing for a few days.
However, in Silver Sand City, he had already been here for quite some time.
“Young man, I truly apologize.”
Xiang Heng clasped his hands together, his expression tinged with guilt, as he once again expressed his apologies.
“I’ll send you back right away.”
