The night was deep, and the starlight at the edge of the sky shone brilliantly.
On the Tianjian Main Peak, everything remained tranquil.
Lin Muxue sat beneath the small pavilion before her cave dwelling, her gaze fixed on the inside of the cave.
Her eyes pierced through the barriers and walls, dazedly watching the sleeping Su Qianqian.
Looking at Su Qianqian’s petite and adorable appearance now, Lin Muxue found it hard to associate her with her eldest disciple, Su Ling.
But after many tests, Lin Muxue could tell from Su Qianqian’s countless subtle reactions… she was indeed him.
Just as Qingxia had said, Lin Muxue was not someone who could easily untie the knots in her heart.
The sluggish passage of time brought by her long lifespan made it even harder for her longing to fade.
A hundred years ago, due to a fateful accident, she took Su Ling as her disciple.
Dozens of years ago, Su Ling disappeared and broke off contact with her, stealing the Sect’s Heavenly Medicine at the same time.
Lin Muxue never believed he had betrayed her, and searched for him for a long, long time…
Over a decade ago, when Lin Muxue sensed Su Ling again, he was trying to sever the Fate Thread between them.
Lin Muxue didn’t know why Su Ling was doing such a thing.
She only knew that Su Ling was her disciple.
If he made a mistake, then she would shoulder it for him, bring him back, teach him, punish him—this was a Master’s duty!
In the end, Lin Muxue learned the reason Su Ling stole the Heavenly Medicine.
He simply wanted to survive…
Then as his Master, she would protect him while he challenged Heaven’s Mandate, and, once he succeeded, continue to guide and cherish him.
However, Su Ling failed.
He dissipated before her eyes without a trace, even the connection of Cause and Effect Path vanished, as if he had never existed at all…
Lin Muxue, dazed, returned to the Sect, staring blankly all day at the Bamboo Flute in her hand.
The jade-green Bamboo Flute still held his aura, but he had truly disappeared from the world…
A turning point came a year later.
Lin Muxue suddenly looked off into the distance—she sensed a faint new Fate Thread forming.
Although the aura was quite different from his, an inexplicable feeling rose in her heart—it was him!
This thread was too faint.
Even though there was no concealment, even though it kept trembling, it was still difficult to follow this slender link to its end.
Fortunately, as time passed, the connection grew stronger.
Lin Muxue, under the pretense of wandering, began searching for the owner of this Fate Thread.
This search lasted eighteen years.
Relying on her mastery of the Cause and Effect Path and that ethereal fortune, she found the right direction ahead of time.
On this day, in an ordinary Mortal City, she saw two girls—one of whom was at the end of that Fate Thread!
Watching the two sisters before her, so close and affectionate, Lin Muxue’s heart was full of expectation:
“Could she be his reincarnation?”
Lin Muxue knew she was not the only one looking for Su Ling, so she concealed Heaven’s Secrets for them and began quietly observing this familiar yet unfamiliar girl…
After several days of uninterrupted observation, Lin Muxue noticed many of Su Qianqian’s small, unconscious habits that were so familiar to her.
What’s more, she clearly hadn’t joined any Sect, yet possessed impressive cultivation.
She realized this might be more than just a simple reincarnation.
Until today, when a lively temple fair began in this Mortal City, and the girl named Su Qianqian participated in the festivities with her sister.
“Lingling, let me carry what you’re holding.”
“No way! Sis, you’re already holding so much stuff, you won’t grow taller if you keep it up!”
“I’m not tired at all. Why are you so stubborn? Just give it to me.”
……
“Would you like me to help you with some of those?” Lin Muxue appeared behind the two, initiating their very first conversation.
Seeing Su Qianqian’s panicked expression, Lin Muxue was sure—Su Qianqian was Su Ling! Was this a reincarnation with memories…? The timing matched, too.
Lin Muxue did not rush to expose her.
Su Qianqian looked very happy now, and it was clear she didn’t want her true identity discovered.
Should she disturb Su Qianqian’s new life?
This was a question she had been thinking about ever since seeing Su Qianqian…
So, she decided to let Su Qianqian make the choice:
“Has your sister joined a Sect? Her talent is excellent; it would be a shame for her not to cultivate immortality. I’d like to take her as my disciple.”
“Of course, your talent is also outstanding. I would love to accept you as a disciple as well. However, at your age, to already have Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation, it’s clear you’ve already joined a top Sect, haven’t you?”
Lin Muxue was well aware she had not joined any Sect.
If Su Qianqian was willing to confess and once again become her disciple, Lin Muxue would still gladly take her under her wing—as their talents were indeed exceptional, they were truly fine disciples.
If Su Qianqian ultimately decided not to go with her, Lin Muxue would still fulfill her Master’s responsibility—continuing to shield her from Heaven’s Secrets, helping her and her family leave this place and evade those who would soon be coming, allowing Su Qianqian to live her life as she wished…
To her relief and joy, Su Qianqian finally chose to become her disciple once more!
Since that was the case, then this time, let everything begin anew!
Lin Muxue brought Su Qianqian and her family to the Sword Sect.
She prepared the most lavish Apprenticeship Ceremony for her disciples—she would continue to protect her beloved disciple.
That was how things ought to be…
But today, she made a mistake.
While Su Qianqian was focusing her attention on switching cultivation methods, Lin Muxue slipped her hand inside Su Qianqian’s clothing…
It wasn’t until Su Qianqian’s chaotic mind snapped her back to her senses that Lin Muxue belatedly realized what she had done.
What had come over her? Why would she make a move on her disciple at such a dangerous moment? Wasn’t she supposed to be protecting her?
Indeed… her feelings for Su Ling might not have been merely those of Master and disciple.
She had always denied this, until so many others who loved Su Ling appeared, until after Su Ling’s death did she slowly start to realize…
Su Qianqian wanted to cut off the connection with “Su Ling” and live a new life, and Lin Muxue wanted to comply with Su Qianqian’s wishes—but she simply couldn’t do it…
Lin Muxue could not separate Su Qianqian from Su Ling.
What she loved was the person called “Su Ling,” no matter what form he took.
She wanted “Su Ling” to stay by her side forever!
She wanted to truly possess Su Qianqian’s body and heart!
She wanted the confidant, the disciple, the beloved, the one who once played music for her beneath the moonlight to stop for her—rather than pretending not to know her!
It was only now that Lin Muxue truly recalled the pain she felt when, with a heart full of hope, she spoke to Su Qianqian, and Su Qianqian, who clearly remembered her, pretended not to know her!
“Uh, just a bit more…” Su Qianqian mumbled in her sleep, rolling over, pulling Lin Muxue’s thoughts back…
“It’s not too late to stop now. Su Qianqian is just Su Qianqian.” Lin Muxue admonished herself in her heart.
Yet the swelling desire was like a boulder tumbling down a mountain—once it started, it was impossible to stop…