C3 My Disciple will Cry, My Master will Break
Driven by curiosity, Jin Lingzi naturally turned to the first page.
"I am the Eldest Senior Brother of the Irontalons, the beacon of hope for our sect's ascension!"
Upon reading this line, Jin Lingzi paused, a smile breaking across her face.
Such a comforting thought!
"Ning'er..."
This child has always held himself to the highest standards.
To think he even keeps a diary to ensure he never strays from his mission.
While it was heartwarming, it also brought a pang of sorrow.
Alone, without the eyes of others upon her, the formidable woman of the cultivation world allowed such emotions to surface.
"Sigh."
People only see Ye Ning as a prodigy with otherworldly talent.
They're unaware of the extreme lengths he goes to maintain his level of cultivation.
"These years have been too demanding on Ning'er."
He's still just a boy, yet I've imposed my own ideals upon him.
With a mix of pride and concern, Jin Lingzi read on.
But now, I feel so anxious.
"Anxious?" she mused.
Already at the Golden Core Stage, and still anxious?
Ning'er, you're young. To have reached the Golden Core Stage at your age is already without parallel.
I have discovered my destiny!
What?
Ning'er, what do you mean by that?
How can you claim to know your destiny?
What is Ning'er's destiny?
"No, this isn't right!"
"Not even I can foresee my own destiny, how could Ning'er?"
Is the pressure too much for him?
Or has he been possessed by a demon of the mind?
"No, no, this golden notebook, though it contains Ye Ning's diary, might not actually be his writing."
Yet, as she tried to dismiss it, an insistent voice whispered in her heart:
This is real.
"I must read on..."
I was meant to be a great villain, betraying my Master and ancestors.
Jin Lingzi was stunned.
"A great villain?"
"Impossible!"
"Ning'er is so modest, dutiful, compassionate, and exemplary."
To describe Ye Ning as Jin Lingzi saw him: "A heart as fierce as a tiger, delicately sniffing the rose."
He is a man of grand vision, determined to lead the Irontalons to glory.
And yet, he is equally tender-hearted and respectful to all.
How could Ning'er ever be a villain, let alone betray his Master?
The text continued:
He harbored malicious thoughts towards his Master, and devious intentions towards his Junior Sister, exploiting them for his gain.
Jin Lingzi was speechless.
Malicious thoughts towards his Master?
What could this mean?
Silence enveloped her.
"Ning'er, harboring feelings for me?"
The words plunged her into a deep silence, an uncomfortable realization.
"No, it can't be!"
"How could Ning'er have such thoughts about me?"
"He has always shown me the utmost respect."
Jin Lingzi reassured herself, trying to dispel the unsettling thoughts.
Surely, she had misunderstood.
Ning'er couldn't possibly harbor inappropriate feelings for her.
Yet, when something goes unnoticed, it's one thing; when attention is drawn, it's quite another.
Had Ning'er's gaze always been so tender towards her?
Could it be that he would indeed make a dependable man?
"No, no, no, it was merely the respect he always had."
"Jin Lingzi, what are you thinking?"
No one witnessed the Iron Blood Sect Master's moment of vulnerability.
After the initial turmoil, Jin Lingzi steadied herself and regained composure.
"No, that's not correct! Ning mentioned that this is the fate of the future..."
"Even if this truly is Ning's diary, it's all about what's yet to come!"
"The future?"
That's impossible!
"In today's world, not even the mightiest Immortal Kings would presume to predict the future."
"This can't possibly be true!"
"Keep reading, let's see what else it says."
But in the past, I had no choice; now, I want to strive to be a good person!
End of entry...
The golden diary lingered in her thoughts.
Jin Lingzi remained motionless, seated on her meditation cushion.
The apparition of the sword transforming into a Green Lotus was gradually fading away.
Yet, her heart was anything but tranquil.
"Ning! Did you really feel so trapped?"
You had no choice before?
Such despairing words!
Now, all he wants is to be a good person?
"Yes, it's my fault."
"I was the one who brought Ning back."
"But I also imposed the heavy burden of reviving the Irontalons on him, an immeasurable weight to carry."
"I've always seen Ning as an exceptional talent, fearless and bold."
"But I overlooked the fact that he's still just a child."
Even now, Ye Ning is merely in his teens.
He was just seven when he first came to the mountain!
No choice, no choice at all...
"This is all my doing!"
Jin Lingzi has always been resolute, which is the only reason she's been able to sustain the Irontalons on her own.
But now, for the first time, she's wrestling with a sense of guilt.
"Ah, it's all because of my own fixations."
"Ning, rest assured, whether or not that's the true future..."
"I, as your Master, will not let it come to pass!"
Jin Lingzi, it's up to you to shoulder the burdens of your own obsessions!
...
Ye Ning took stock of his recent gains and steadied his mood.
"Ye Ning, Ye Ning, you're now the Ye Ning of the Irontalons' summit, aspiring only to be a good person."
"Stay cheerful, and persevere!"
Meanwhile.
In the High Clarity Hall.
A female disciple burst in, breathless with excitement.
"Master, today is the day Senior Brother Ye Ning emerges from his seclusion. Will you be there to greet him?"
This disciple was none other than Jin Lingzi's other direct disciple, Chen Qingwei.
Right now, she was brimming with excitement!
Within the sect, she and Eldest Senior Brother Ye Ning shared the closest bond.
After all, she was practically brought up by him.
Jin Lingzi's demands on her cultivation were stringent, but she always had the guidance and care of her Eldest Senior Brother.
He was there for her in every way, whether it was sharing meals, fun, or cultivation insights.
This allowed her to grow up joyfully and well-rounded.
Chen Qingwei had become a renowned fairy within the Orthodox Dao, largely thanks to her Eldest Senior Brother's influence!
She had felt his absence keenly during the three years of his retreat, and boredom had been her constant companion.
But now, things were looking up!
Eldest Senior Brother had concluded his retreat, his sword qi blossoming into a Green Lotus.
He had reached the Golden Core Stage, an unbeatable presence!
"Master, Master, are you coming or not?"
Jin Lingzi, still preoccupied with the revelations from the diary, glanced at her disciple's eager face and waved her off:
"Go ahead without me."
"I have matters to ponder."
Upon hearing this, Chen Qingwei's spirits lifted even more!
"Alright, that's settled then!"
Hehe, it's even better if Master doesn't come along!
With the Master gone, she'd be left with her hands tied.
So, she took off running.
...
Ye Ning was still struggling to sort through his thoughts.
Then, suddenly, a voice broke through!
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother!"
The voice was unfamiliar yet so endearing.
"Little Junior Sister?"
"Little Junior Sister!"
Upon hearing that, Ye Ning's frame shook.
It was his dearly loved Little Junior Sister.
Later on, she would be the one to call out to her true father, sealing Ye Ning's fate.
Ye Ning's hand gently covered his chiseled face, his expression one of resignation and sorrow.
In the story, Ye Ning's relationship with Chen Qingwei mirrored that of Emperor Jin and Little Junior Sister.
They were childhood friends who grew up together.
Yet, while Little Junior Sister saw Ye Ning as a brother, the original Ye Ning had hoped to marry her.
This very relationship was the linchpin in Ye Ning's heart being consumed by the Heart Devouring Bead!
...
Finally, as Ye Ning's hand fell away, a gleam sparked in his eyes.
If he was to be a good man, he needed to shift his mindset!
With that, Ye Ning made a solemn vow to himself,
"Chen Qingwei, from this moment forward, I am your brother!"
The voice grew more urgent!
"Eldest Senior Brother!"
"Eldest Senior Brother, Eldest Senior Brother!"
"I'm on my way!"
Chen Qingwei soared into the Mysterious Heaven Immortal Cave.