Chapter 86: Master-Disciple Relationship, Qin Xiao Lays the Cards on the Table

Lin Shimeng didn’t expect Qin Xiao to ask this so abruptly, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.

“Being master and disciple? How would I know? Father has guided all my cultivation himself. I never had a master before. How am I supposed to know?”

After thinking for a moment, Lin Shimeng could only admit that she had no idea.

“Yun Man, what do you think?”

Seeing that Lin Shimeng couldn’t offer any real insight, Qin Xiao turned to Yun Man, who was steering the flying sword.

“To be honest, I’m not entirely sure either, but I once heard a saying: A teacher for a day is a father for life. I have no other family left, so Master is my only relative. No matter what Master does, I will unconditionally stand by his side.”

Yun Man had no idea why Qin Xiao was asking this, but she simply voiced what she felt in her heart.

“See how she understands it? You two are clearly very different.”

Qin Xiao was quite satisfied with Yun Man’s answer.

“Then tell me your view. Exactly how do our outlooks differ?”

Lin Shimeng retorted, still somewhat unconvinced.

Qin Xiao knew she would not accept it. She had grown up in the sect, never short of relationships or affection. People were always trying to please her. To her, a master-disciple bond did not carry much weight.

“I see it much as Yun Man does. Our backgrounds are similar: neither of us has anyone to rely on. A master doesn’t just teach you. They’re like family, someone you can lean on emotionally.

“Why do you think I still return to the Tianyuan Sect, with the wealth I have now? It never gave me much. In three years on Seven Stars Peak, I never even received a stipend. Though I can’t say it did nothing for me—it did send me food regularly.

“I’m grateful for what the sect has done, but I stay mainly because of my master. He left Seven Stars Peak behind. We knew each other only briefly, but I was his only Personal Disciple. If I leave, the sect will take the peak back. It’s my only tie to him. Without it, I’d have no roots.”

Qin Xiao spoke at length, laying out the primary reason he remained within the Tianyuan Sect.

Truth be told, even he wasn’t entirely sure how deep his affection ran for a master he had only known for three days. But he knew that Seven Stars Peak was his starting point, his emotional anchor, and a home he could always return to. This chapter was taken from novelping.com without permission.

Brief though their time together was, his master had given him an identity, a place to belong, and a spiritual anchor, saving him from drifting through the world like rootless duckweed.

“But everything Grandpa Qin had came from the sect too. Why aren’t you grateful to it?”

Lin Shimeng pressed on.

“From the sect? The sect doesn’t give things away for free. I see it as a village. Everyone helps build it, and that’s how it grows. If the village gives someone benefits, it’s because they can give more back. And how am I ungrateful? Haven’t I taken the village chief’s daughter as my disciple? I’ll also be competing for places in other secret realms on the sect’s behalf.”

Qin Xiao laid it out bluntly: his bond with Yun Man was built on genuine affection, whereas his arrangement with Lin Shimeng was largely an exchange of mutual benefits. Taking her as a disciple was his way of giving back to the Sect.

“What do you mean? You didn’t genuinely want me as a disciple? You only took me in to repay the sect?”

Lin Shimeng found it hard to accept. In what way was she inferior to Yun Man?

“I know you’re unhappy, so let’s talk this through properly.”

Since he had already brought it up, Qin Xiao decided to lay all his cards on the table.

“I took you as a disciple for three reasons. First, you have a Heavenly Spirit Root. I needed your talent. Second, during your first spar with Yun Man in the courtyard, something went wrong and you came to protect me. Nothing happened in the end, but it showed me your character was good. Third, your father and I made a bargain: he protects me, and I train you. Does that make sense?”

Qin Xiao stated it plainly.

“So that’s how it is… And Yun Man? Did you choose her just for her talent, or do you have other intentions?”

Lin Shimeng was deeply discouraged. In Qin Xiao’s eyes, she was just part of an exchange of benefits. But she was still unconvinced. She was no worse than Yun Man. Why did Yun Man get so much trust?

“If you still don’t understand, let me explain another way. Earlier, when the Tian Family Ancestor suddenly tried to kill me, who stepped in front of me without hesitation? It wasn’t you. It was Yun Man. You may have thought of doing the same, but you didn’t. She acted, and you hesitated.

“That’s the first point. Second, if I ever fall out with the sect and get expelled, Yun Man will leave with me. You won’t. You’re the Sect Leader’s daughter, and you’ve grown up there. It’s your home. You might hesitate, but in the end you’ll stay.

“Third, Yun Man and I have no other ties, so we cherish each other. We’re master and disciple, but we see each other as family too. You have the sect, your father, and countless Senior Brothers and Sisters. You don’t need other ties. To you, being my disciple just means receiving instruction. That’s the difference between you two.”

Qin Xiao gave all three reasons at once. He did not think Lin Shimeng was wrong. Their backgrounds were different from the start, so they had little in common emotionally. As her master, he would not stint on resources, but they had not reached the point of confiding in each other.

Qin Xiao also understood that Lin Shimeng and her father, Lin Tiancheng, were alike. They put the sect first and were blindly loyal to it, even to the death. That was why Lin Tiancheng had become Sect Leader. Lin Shimeng had been raised with the same ideas, so Qin Xiao had given up trying to confide in her. An exchange of benefits suited them too. Each could get what they wanted.

“I agree with Master. You’re different from us. You’re the sect’s Holy Maiden and the Sect Leader’s daughter. I may not like you, but since you became Master’s disciple, I won’t give you any less of the resources. But that’s all—resources.” This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.

Yun Man, who had remained silent throughout, finally spoke up.

At first, Yun Man had not thought much of Qin Xiao either. She had come for the resources he promised. But over these months, she had seen how sincerely he cared for her, and she was willing to repay him with her life.

Her initial thinking had been just like Lin Shimeng’s. He would give her resources, and she would help protect Seven Stars Peak. That would make them even. At most, she could help more later when it was within her power. She had her own revenge to seek, and would not have put her life at risk for Qin Xiao. Gradually, though, her feelings had changed. She was no longer so selfish.

Perhaps it was as they had said: she now saw Qin Xiao as family. She had no family left. During the turmoil in her clan, her branch had been almost entirely wiped out. Finding that feeling of family again in Qin Xiao made her cherish it even more.

Lin Shimeng opened her mouth to retort, but after uttering a single word-“I”-she stopped short. It seemed every word Qin Xiao spoke was the truth; she had no counter-argument to offer.

“You don’t need to be discouraged. Since you became my disciple, I won’t short you on cultivation resources. You can have almost everything Yun Man gets. Besides, didn’t you become my disciple for those resources too? You haven’t lost anything. Why worry about the rest?”

Seeing the dejection on Lin Shimeng’s face, Qin Xiao offered some mild words of guidance.

“Right, what am I even upset about? I originally just wanted his resources. Since the resources aren’t lacking, what is there to fuss over?”

Qin Xiao’s words cleared up much of Lin Shimeng’s confusion, but she still could not feel happy. She did not know why she had competed with Yun Man over things that should not matter. Was it her pride, or her refusal to lose?

Even she was confused. She had only been a disciple for a few days-why overcomplicate things? Let it be.

“You’re right, Master. I understand.”

After thinking for a while, Lin Shimeng spoke to Qin Xiao.

“Since you understand, let’s head back to the Sect. I won’t ride the flying sword this time; I want to test out my ability to walk through the air.”

Seeing that she had finally worked through it, Qin Xiao said no more. Refusing a ride on the sword, he prepared to fly back under his own power.

By dusk, the three of them finally returned to the Tianyuan Sect.

“Qin Xiao, you’ve got some nerve! You took the Holy Maiden away for three days, with no news at all. If something had happened, could you bear the blame? I’ll call an Elders’ meeting over this and see that you’re severely punished.”

As soon as they landed, they met Great Elder Yao Tiansheng, who had just returned from Tianyuan City. He challenged them on the spot.