C9 I Can’t Die, I Have to Write a Diary!

In that moment, Ye Ning was utterly bewildered!

"Master, how can you suggest I rest now?

You must've mixed up the script or flubbed your lines, right?

Logically, Master Jin Lingzi's gentle persuasion for me to rest well is throwing me off.

To put it bluntly, it's as if absurdity itself opened the door for me.

"Is it possible that my memory is faulty?"

Have I got the character wrong?

No way!

"Based on the original storyline, after my seclusion, Master Jin Lingzi should be assigning me a mission right away!"

I even recall the subsequent main quest.

It involved the discovery of the Demonic Cult in Pontybridge, near Empty Pinnacle, slaughtering villagers to empower their wicked array.

Some on the side of righteousness believed these villains intended to decimate the entire town.

Given the urgency, Jin Lingzi sent me, Ye Ning, without delay.

And so the story unfolded.

In this "instance," I truly embodied the spirit of the Irontalons' Eldest Senior Brother!

This time, it wasn't just me clearing the "instance."

The elite disciples from the four major sects were also there!

To make a name for myself, to not let my Master down, and to truly stand out among my peers, I tapped into the Heart Devouring Bead's power once more!

Ultimately, I vanquished seven demons with a single sword strike.

This feat echoed the legendary ancestor of the Irontalons who similarly dispatched seven great Devil Masters.

From that point on, the name Ye Ning resonated across the top sects.

But now, Master is actually telling me to rest up?

I just can't wrap my head around that.

Jin Lingzi said with a smile, "Ning, after three years of seclusion, you've managed to condense your sword qi into a Green Lotus and enter the Golden Core Realm. I couldn't be prouder."

"Today, I want to impart a lesson about cultivation."

"Uh, Master, I'm all ears."

"Cultivation is about balance, much like the natural world cycles between day and night."

...

Jin Lingzi shared a cultivation technique.

Ye Ning absorbed every word. It all boiled down to this: Ning, you're working too hard. Go get some rest and recover!

"Master, are you sure you haven't picked up the wrong script?"

"Hold on!"

A thought struck Ye Ning.

"What if Master has discovered the Heart Devouring Bead?"

Considering even Chen Qingwei has advanced in her cultivation, it's not out of the question that Master could uncover a secret.

And the system never guaranteed the plot would stick strictly to the script!

This realization sent Ye Ning into a panic.

"Oh no, this is not good. I'm in deep trouble!"

If a Dao Transformation Supreme Elder grows suspicious, could this be the end for me?

Is Master's current demeanor a test?

She's telling me to rest, but is she actually probing to see if I've changed?

"Stay cool, stay calm!"

"If I just go along with it now, Master will definitely notice a drastic change in my personality!"

That's right, I've always shared Master's bold and fearless nature.

But now, I've agreed to her suggestion without hesitation.

Isn't that a red flag?

"I can't afford to slip up at this crucial juncture."

With that, Ye Ning straightened his expression and declared with utmost seriousness and determination:

"Master, your disciple is not tired!"

Indeed, a man must never admit to fatigue!

As the Eldest Senior Brother, I simply cannot afford to be weary.

"Now that I've just broken through and mastered the Profound Clarity Sword Qi, it's time to vanquish demons and uphold the honor of the Irontalons!"

"Master, your advice is sound, but I believe rest can wait for later!"

I, Ye Ning, am resolute in my mission to eradicate evil.

Master, you mustn't hold me back!

You mustn't stand in my way, no matter what!

...

Jin Lingzi gazed at her disciple, whose face was a portrait of determination, and felt her guilt intensify.

"Ah, Ning is always so hard on himself!"

"It appears the diary truly reflects Ning's innermost thoughts!"

Any previous skepticism had vanished; she was now utterly convinced.

"This child has it tough!"

Despite his exhaustion, his only thought is to rejuvenate the Irontalons!

He's ready to sacrifice everything for the sect, for himself.

Such a devoted disciple!

"Ning, even if your diary reveals that you're destined to become a formidable antagonist, I..."

In that moment, Jin Lingzi resolved firmly.

"I will stop you. I won't let you succumb to darkness."

As Ye Ning steeled his resolve, so did Jin Lingzi, silently and firmly.

Her expression grew stern.

"Ye Ning, did my words fall on deaf ears?"

Her sudden sternness sent Ye Ning's spirits plummeting.

Even Master's demeanor towards him had shifted!

She claimed she harbored no suspicions?

But he must remain composed, he must!

He listened intently to his Master's guidance:

"I instructed you to recuperate to refine your sword qi."

"Let's settle this now. No more discussion is needed!"

"The other matters will be handled by me and your Martial Uncles."

"You may leave."

With that, she dismissed him with a commanding wave of her hand.

Her face betrayed a flicker of impatience.

In truth, Jin Lingzi was thinking:

"Ning, please don't resent me."

"I'm doing this for your own good."

Indeed, she had made this tough decision with Ye Ning's best interests at heart.

Wasn't it the overwhelming pressure that had driven him to become the villain in the first place?

So as his Master, I'll take on the burden, face it on my own!

I can't let him shoulder this alone, let his young shoulders and spirit be crushed!

"Ning, one day, you'll see the wisdom in my actions."

Meanwhile, Ye Ning's mind was anything but calm.

"This is it, the end!"

"It looks like Master isn't just confused; she truly suspects something's wrong with me."

So this isn't a test, but actual confinement?

"Hiss!"

I'm in danger!

What am I to do, facing peril right after transmigrating?

To be killed right after arriving?

What a trap. I would have been better off not transmigrating or without this 'golden finger'!

In the original story, Ye Ning, the arch-villain, met a tragic end.

But at least he survived until the final act of the drama.

But now, as for me...

Can I even survive a single day?

"What to do, what to do!"

Ye Ning was frantic.

"No, Ye Ning, you mustn't panic. Especially now, you need to keep your cool!"

If he let anxiety take over and acted rashly, he'd likely meet his end all the sooner.

He steadied his resolve and addressed his Master, "I've grasped the lesson. Thank you for your guidance, Master."

"I shall head to the Scripture Pavilion to study the Taoist texts and nurture my spirit."

Ye Ning's statement was, in truth, a probe!

If Jin Lingzi refused him access to the Scripture Pavilion, it would signal her intent to seal his fate.

However, her consent would suggest mere suspicion, or at worst, deep mistrust.

For the time being, at least, Master wouldn't act against him.

"Excellent, excellent!"

"My circumstances haven't reached their direst point yet!"

"There's still hope, still hope for me!"

The diary, of course!

His beacon of hope lay in maintaining his diary.

Ye Ning couldn't be sure whether death at the hands of the diary's characters meant true demise or a return to his former world.

He couldn't take that gamble.

Indeed, he must persist in his diary entries.

Just then, a sudden thought struck Ye Ning:

"Master is plotting against me, she's plotting against me!"

"Ah, but Master, she's so enchanting..."

A forbidden thought!

The sinister influence of the Heart Devouring Bead!