Yu Zhiling didn’t notice the odd tension between Mo Zhu and Yun Zhi. Instead, she marveled inwardly at the male lead’s intelligence while also giving herself a pat on the back—after all, she had noticed the same thing!
But for Mo Zhu, the candy in his hand suddenly felt scalding. He couldn’t decide whether to throw it away or keep it. Frowning, he glanced at Yu Zhiling, who was still grinning foolishly, and wondered where she found so much joy in everything.
After hesitating, he finally tucked it into his Qiankun bag without much thought.
Yun Zhi cleared his throat at that moment. “Let’s focus on the task at hand. We should return soon—the Four Kill Realm is no place to linger overnight.”
“Understood!”
Yu Zhiling remembered their mission and stepped forward to touch the Four Kill Stele. As a Great Ascension Realm cultivator, she could sense the layers of protective formations within the boundary marker. Now, over a hundred of its thousand formations had been shattered.
Even for cultivators like Yu Zhiling and Yun Zhi, breaking these formations wasn’t easy. Yet, from the moment Yun Zhi received news of the disturbance in the Four Kill Realm and rushed here, no more than six hours had passed. In that short time, the demonic cultivator had already destroyed so many formations.
Yu Zhiling pondered, “They must at least be at the peak of the Divine Transformation Realm.”
“Tsk.” Shu Feng sucked in a sharp breath. “That would make them one of the strongest in the Central Continent. Weren’t the demons all wiped out by Immortal Fuchun—”
His words abruptly cut off as three pairs of eyes turned toward Yu Zhiling.
Yu Zhiling: “…?”
Baffled, she asked, “Why are you all looking at me? Let’s get to work.”
Shu Feng exhaled in relief and murmured, “My apologies, Immortal. This disciple spoke out of turn.”
Yu Zhiling: “???”
What had he said wrong?
Yun Zhi’s expression was grave as he sighed softly and approached her. “Let’s not dwell on this now. We must repair the Four Kill Stele. You should be able to sense which formations were destroyed—one hundred and thirty-seven in total. We need to restore them.”
Though still confused, Yu Zhiling recognized the urgency of their task and nodded. “…Understood.”
Repairing formations wasn’t the same as creating them. While the latter required mastery of talismans and arrays, the former only demanded high cultivation and the ability to channel spiritual energy to mend the broken seals.
Side by side, Yun Zhi gave her a nod and began first.
Yu Zhiling formed hand seals, her mind swiftly recalling the necessary repair techniques. Emerald-green spiritual energy flowed from her fingers as she inscribed talismans and sent them into the stele.
She stole a glance at Mo Zhu, not speaking, but he understood her intention.
The art of formation repair relied on the secret techniques of spiritual talismans, a skill all three Immortals of the Immortal Alliance had mastered. Each talisman she drew was essential, and she was subtly guiding him to observe and learn.
This way—
At least she could be of some use!
Shu Feng, on the other hand, was diligently studying, eyes fixed on his master as he memorized every stroke, preparing for his future bid to become an Immortal Alliance elder.
The three of them were absorbed in their tasks, their focus entirely on the stele—except for the young man standing behind Yu Zhiling.
His gaze never left her.
Watching as she worked seamlessly beside Yun Zhi, he noted how practiced her movements were, the result of years of experience. Her cultivation remained unrivaled in the Central Continent, yet something felt off.
When Immortal Fuchun’s name was mentioned earlier…
She hadn’t reacted at all.
Mo Zhu’s expression remained indifferent as he averted his eyes from Yu Zhiling and turned them toward the Four Kill Stele.
If he guessed correctly, she would soon call him over to try repairing the formations herself. She seemed genuinely intent on teaching him cultivation.
Time passed slowly. Beads of sweat formed on Yu Zhiling’s forehead, and Yun Zhi’s face grew paler.
After two or three hours, the one hundred and thirty-fifth shattered formation was restored. Yu Zhiling and Yun Zhi exchanged a glance, silently agreeing to withdraw simultaneously.
“Shu Feng, you try.”
“Mo Zhu, your turn.”
Shu Feng, who had been frantically scribbling notes on his master’s talisman techniques, blinked in confusion. “Try? Try what?”
Yun Zhi gestured. “Repair the formations in the Four Kill Stele. Weren’t you paying attention?”
Mo Zhu, far calmer than Shu Feng, met Yu Zhiling’s encouraging gaze and replied flatly, “This disciple is a demon.”
Demons were generally forbidden from touching the Four Kill Stele.
Long ago, the demon race had aided the demons, an act so severe that even though they later betrayed the demons and sided with humans, the Central Continent still held a grudge.
Yu Zhiling frowned. “So what if you’re a demon? You’re my disciple. I brought you here to teach you how to suppress disturbances in the Four Kill Realm, including repairing the stele. If you ever want to compete for a position in the Immortal Alliance, how else will you qualify?”
A position in the Immortal Alliance.
Did she truly intend for him to join?
But in the Central Continent’s history, no demon had ever held a seat among the Immortal Alliance elders.
Mo Zhu found her naivety almost amusing, yet he couldn’t fathom why she was so earnest in teaching him cultivation. Why go this far in her act?
But Yu Zhiling was already pushing him toward the stele, her tone stern. “There are two formations left. You and Shu Feng will each repair one. Take your time.”
Shu Feng took a deep breath. This was his first time interacting with the Four Kill Stele. Flipping through his notes, he reviewed his master’s techniques before closing his eyes and channeling spiritual energy to painstakingly inscribe the talisman.
Yu Zhiling transmitted her voice to Mo Zhu. “Hurry up! Your master believes in you!”
Mo Zhu’s eye twitched. Ignoring her, his slender fingers moved swiftly, weaving a flawless talisman with his spiritual energy before guiding it into the stele.
In less than half an hour, the formation was restored.
[Ding! The male lead has mastered the art of repairing the Four Kill Stele. Host’s merit points +100. Current merit points: 170. Keep up the good work.]
Yu Zhiling: “…”
Yun Zhi’s voice was hoarse. “This disciple of yours… Is he truly a genius?”
When he first learned formation repair, it took him half a month just to memorize the talisman sequences, and his first attempt lasted a full hour—and Yun Zhi was renowned for his cultivation talent.
Yet Mo Zhu, after merely observing Yu Zhiling, had succeeded on his first try in under thirty minutes.
Shu Feng, meanwhile, was still struggling, growing more frantic as he watched Mo Zhu finish. His spiritual energy was nearly depleted, and his talisman remained incomplete.
In the end, Yun Zhi patted his shoulder. “You did well enough. I’ll teach you more when we return. Let me handle this.”
Shu Feng lowered his head and stepped back. Just as Yun Zhi moved to take over, a flash of green robes darted past him.
Yu Zhiling dragged Mo Zhu to Shu Feng’s former spot and declared firmly, “Try again. One more left.”
Mo Zhu didn’t argue. Expressionless, he raised his hand and inscribed another series of talismans, sending them into the stele. This time, he was even faster, restoring the final formation with practiced ease.
The cracks on the Four Kill Stele vanished, and the demonic abyss settled into silence.
[Ding! Mission “Suppress the Four Kill Realm Disturbance” complete. Host’s merit points +50. Current merit points: 230.]
Yu Zhiling nearly dropped to her knees. Was this what a true genius looked like?
What kind of master is she even supposed to be?
Yun Zhi’s expression was complicated: "Zhuo Yu, this one has potential. Nurture her well."
Yu Zhiling felt that Mo Zhu didn’t need any nurturing—he could thrive perfectly well on his own.
Mo Zhu took a step back, finding the way his master was looking at him utterly terrifying. Her eyes gleamed like a wolf spotting its prey.
Yu Zhiling was just…
Too strange.
Seeing her usual irreverent demeanor, Yun Zhi shook his head with a quiet laugh and asked, "I heard you’ve been in seclusion for three years. How’s your cultivation now?"
Yu Zhiling snapped back to attention, catching the concern in Yun Zhi’s eyes. She grinned and flexed her arm. "Scarily strong. I could punch down a mountain with one hit."
An exaggerated claim, delivered in an overly playful tone.
Yun Zhi curled his fingers slightly, his Adam’s apple bobbing as his gaze remained fixed on Yu Zhiling.
She couldn’t help but feel there was something odd about his expression—nostalgic, restrained, almost like what she’d seen on Yan Shanqing’s face the day before.
She ventured cautiously, "Yun Zhi?"
He turned his face away. "It’s been years since we last met, and you never once called my name."
His voice was soft, yet Yu Zhiling unmistakably picked up on the undertones of grievance and reproach.
As if she alone had been the one treating him poorly.
Yu Zhiling laughed awkwardly, her heart unsettled. She’d been slipping up far too often these past two days.
Meanwhile, Mo Zhu narrowed his eyes slightly, taking in the inexplicable exchange between the two.
So Yun Zhi had also noticed Yu Zhiling’s strangeness, had he?
His master… really had changed a lot.
A fierce wind swept through the Four Slaughter Realm, where the once-restless demonic abyss had now quieted.
Yun Zhi glanced at the dark abyss. "Let’s go. The cold here is too harsh to stay overnight. We should return and report to the sects about the situation in the Four Slaughter Realm. That demonic cultivator who fled to the Central Continent is a threat that must be dealt with."
Yu Zhiling nodded. "Alright."
Before leaving, she turned back for one last look at the abyss.
Through the endless darkness, it almost seemed as though countless pairs of crimson eyes were watching her from afar. An inexplicable unease gripped her heart.
Beneath that unease, there was another indescribable feeling.
Discomforted, Yu Zhiling averted her gaze.
But Mo Zhu turned to look back.
The young man’s dark pupils elongated into vertical slits, their edges tinged with gold.
The eyes of a Teng serpent could perceive things beyond ordinary sight—things even the two Central Continent immortals failed to notice.
He could see them.
The four departed one after another, and the Four Slaughter Realm returned to its usual silence, calm as ever.
By the time Yu Zhiling returned to the Yingshan Sect, evening had fallen. She had slept the entire journey back on the mustard seed boat, and upon landing, she was still groggy. She pushed herself up from the bed and leaned against the windowsill, sliding open the lattice window.
Dusk approached, the sky painted in brilliant hues.
A knock came at the cabin door. "Master, we’ve arrived at the Yingshan Sect."
Still half-asleep, Yu Zhiling rested her chin on the sill and mumbled, "Mmm… yeah."
The person outside fell silent. The drowsiness in her voice made it clear she wasn’t fully awake. Unwilling to share the cabin with her in this state, he remained seated on the deck in meditation.
Yu Zhiling drifted in and out of sleep for a while longer before finally rousing herself and opening the door.
Mo Zhu sat with his back to her on the deck, posture impeccably straight. The evening light bathed him in a golden glow, making him almost radiant. Yu Zhiling marveled inwardly—truly the protagonist, even meditation looked this refined.
As she stared, Mo Zhu abruptly stood and turned, his dark eyes locking onto hers.
Yu Zhiling averted her gaze nonchalantly and tossed out a compliment. "We’re here already? So fast. My disciple really knows how to steer a mustard seed boat."
Mo Zhu: "…"
Yu Zhiling still felt uneasy being alone with Mo Zhu. Before he could speak, she stepped off the boat on her own.
As they passed each other, Mo Zhu caught sight of a faint red mark on her jaw.
He couldn’t understand—how could an immortal master end up with her face pressed into such a state just from sleeping?
Back at Listening Spring Cliff, Yu Zhiling’s first order of business was to shed her outer robe and collapse into bed.
Repairing the Four Slaughter Stele had drained a fair amount of spiritual energy. While she wasn’t exhausted, fatigue was natural. Most cultivators would meditate to recover, but for someone like her, accustomed to modern comforts, nothing beat a good nap for restoring body and mind.
The window she’d left open that morning remained so, and she hadn’t drawn the bed curtains either.
The fading light spilled into the room, casting a long shadow across the floor as a figure appeared by the window.
Yu Zhiling was tucked under a quilt, far more decent than the disheveled state she’d been in at dawn. Satisfied, the youth outside slipped inside.
Snakes excelled at concealing their presence. Mo Zhu moved soundlessly, though he made no effort to suppress his spiritual pressure. Yet Yu Zhiling remained oblivious, undisturbed even as he approached her bedside.
Kneeling beside the bed, Mo Zhu studied her face intently. His lips thinned, his gaze darkening.
Then his eyes caught on the jade bracelet coiled around her wrist.
The serpentine design was unmistakable—its scales lifelike, the jade luminous. The craftsmanship was exquisite; though the serpent’s head was small, even the minute patterns of its pupils were visible.
How had this bracelet ended up on her? And why hadn’t it attacked her?
Mo Zhu reached out, his fingers brushing the serpent’s body. The moment his skin made contact, a searing pain shot through him. He withdrew his hand, examining the blistered flesh where the jade had burned him.
With a wave, he healed the wound, but the answer was already clear.
The serpent bracelet had recognized her as its master.
It had actually recognized her…
Yu Zhiling slept on, completely unaware. She didn’t seem to realize what the bracelet truly was—if she had, would she have dared wear it in front of him?
How could she?
Mo Zhu remained crouched beside her bed for a long time. By now, the last rays of sunlight had faded, leaving only a faint glow that traced the curve of her cheek. Her lashes were long and thick, casting delicate shadows.
This was the same person, yet not the same at all.
She felt both foreign and familiar to him.
Mo Zhu stared unblinkingly, as though trying to see past her skin, to discern whether the soul within was black or white.
A gust of wind suddenly slammed the window shut. The noise made her mumble in her sleep, wrinkling her nose, and snapped Mo Zhu out of his thoughts.
He exhaled slowly, forcing down the urge to kill her, and rose to leave. But just then, Yu Zhiling rolled onto her side, kicking off the quilt in her sleep.
The quilt brushed against a small table at the foot of the bed, knocking a book to the floor. The wind flipped it open to the first page.
As Mo Zhu bent to pick it up, the bold title leapt out at him.
The Villainous Master’s Survival Guide
Mo Zhu: "…?"
The first line read:
—Step one: Find a way to redeem yourself.
Beneath it, a scribbled note replied:
——So the question is, how do I try to redeem myself?
——Send some warm little treats and say some Mary Sue sweet talk?
——No, Yu Zhiling, wake up! He’s seventeen, not seven—way past the age of being swayed by candy!
——Then it’s over. Feels like there’s no way to redeem myself.
——If you don’t want to die, there’s still hope!
——Wahhh, save me! Maybe I should just die. That ink-black dumpling hates me too much!
...
Only one page was written, filled entirely with self-questioning and self-answering—rambling, chaotic, and utterly disordered, the handwriting a frantic scrawl.
Ink-black dumpling… Was that referring to him?
But what did “redeem” mean?
At the very bottom, a simple doodle served as the finale.
A plump little snake was biting the neck of a small figure in green robes, who clutched their chest, tilting their head with their tongue lolling out as if poisoned to death.
Next to it, a round frame contained bold words:
I’m dead, I’m dead! The most likely outcome is that I still end up dead!
Since it’s death either way, you rebellious disciple—I’ll just
EX-PELL YOU FIRST!!!
Mo Zhu had never known that someone could entertain themselves so thoroughly all on their own.
He’d met many people, but never one with such a… peculiar mental state.
The young man furrowed his brows, his gaze shifting to the nearby couch—only to find no peacefully sleeping figure, but instead a pair of pitch-black eyes staring back.
He could see the scattered light in her phoenix-like eyes, the way they softened when she focused on someone, devoid of their usual sharpness. Back then, it was those very eyes that had fooled him into willingly taking her hand and following her to the Yingshan Sect.
Yu Zhiling blinked drowsily, her gaze landing on the notebook in Mo Zhu’s hand.
Mo Zhu suddenly grinned, a mischievous thought crossing his mind:
Ah, she’s awake.
