After Breaking Off the Engagement, I Started Pursuing My Master-Chapter 7 - Luo Qingyu

Chapter 7: Luo Qingyu

There are seven days left until the end of the month.

The inner sect competition is a grand event held every three months in the Tianxuan Sect inner sect, with seven hundred inner disciples vying for their ranking within the sect.

As the second-largest sect on Yuelan Continent, Tianxuan Sect has over ten thousand outer disciples but only seven hundred inner disciples. Inner disciples receive a guaranteed fifty spirit stones for completing sect missions each month, as well as the benefits of Alchemy Mountain’s assistance in pill refining, access to the scripture library, and one day of cultivation in the blessed land each month.

Most inner disciples are direct relatives of the sect’s elders and have received more generous cultivation resources since childhood compared to ordinary outer disciples, naturally resulting in higher cultivation levels. With limited resources, the number of inner disciples is almost fixed. Unless an extraordinary genius emerges from the outer disciples who are worth the sect’s special cultivation, there would be no chance to enter the inner sect.

However, Jiang Huai had visited the outer sect many times and often led outer disciples on missions. He saw that many outer disciples were diligent in their cultivation; it was just unfortunate that in a predetermined situation. Effort was meaningless without cultivation resources.

That’s why Jiang Huai proposed to the sect master that the last five inner disciples in the rankings should go to the outer sect for three months. And the top five from the outer sect competition could enter the inner sect and enjoy three months of inner disciple cultivation resources.

But most of the time, they would have to switch back after three months. Although those inner disciples went to the outer sect, their elders in the sect would not be stingy with cultivation resources. They didn’t lack the fifty spirit stones per month; they were just clinging to their spots to enjoy the benefits.

Later, he gradually realized that his proposal also inadvertently harmed some special inner disciples.

Now he had to face the possibility of being at the bottom of the inner disciple rankings and being forced to go to the outer sect… It seemed like karma.

……

“This time, for the inner sect competition, you don’t need to participate,” Chu Xianning said indifferently.

“Hmm?” Jiang Huai was taken aback.

“I will speak to the sect master. Even if you don’t participate, you can still stay at Guangxue Mountain. You’ll just lose some privileges of an inner disciple, that’s all.”

“There’s no need for that.”

Jiang Huai blinked at Chu Xianning, “I’d like to give it a try.”

“Are you seeking humiliation?” Chu Xianning’s eyelashes lifted slightly.

The weakest inner disciple has at least reached Foundation Establishment, and the strongest are even in the mid-stage of Golden Core. With Jiang Huai’s current Qi Refining at the first level, participating would be no different from seeking humiliation.

“You know me, Master,” Jiang Huai suddenly smiled at Chu Xianning.

“I’ve never been one to dig my own hole and make trouble for myself. So… I want to try this time in the inner sect competition.”

“Reason.” Chu Xianning seemed somewhat displeased.

“I’ve already lost my cultivation. If I stay by your side, people will inevitably gossip.”

“Have you ever cared about that?”

Chu Xianning was well aware of the thickness of her disciple’s thick skin.

“I do care a little.”

Jiang Huai’s answer was without hesitation, his eyes still smiling. In truth, he didn’t care about these things, but he thought that the gossip would sound unpleasant and could tarnish his master’s reputation.

Having lost his cultivation, it would inevitably lead to criticism if Chu Xianning kept him, a man, in her household.

“So what if you care? If you get beaten up later, the outcome won’t change by half. Will your heart feel better then?”

“Losing is no fun, so I never lose.”

“What if you do lose?”

“Are you willing to bet, Master?”

Chu Xianning fell silent after Jiang Huai said this.

Over the years, she and Jiang Huai had made three bets, and without exception, she lost every single one.

The stakes were simple: she had to put on a beautiful dress and stroll around the sect with him or wear high-heeled crystal shoes and walk around the courtyard. Once, she had to wear a snow-colored cheongsam with silk ice silk white socks underneath, sit obediently under the peach tree, and let him paint her.

It seemed that every time they bet, he had already dug the hole for her, confident that he would win, just waiting for her to jump in.

Chu Xianning turned her face away.

“I won’t bet with you. If you want to get beaten up, go ahead. I don’t care.”

Jiang Huai knew Chu Xianning was probably recalling the frustration of losing their previous bets. He stood up with a wry smile.

“How about sour fish for lunch?”

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……

Luo Yueguan left the Tianxuan Sect.

She had already announced to the Tianxuan sect master the dissolution of the engagement between Jiang Huai and Luo Qingyu. The Tianxuan sect master probably had expected it, and his attitude was quite amiable. Thus, the marriage arrangement was concluded. But Luo Yueguan didn’t feel the weight lifted from her heart. For some reason, a sense of unease began to spread within her.

Luo Qingyu was raised by her from a young age. Luo Yueguan was especially strict with her, placing many expectations on her, to the point that Luo Qingyu became a fool who only practiced swordsmanship every day. When Luo Yueguan realized that Luo Qingyu had no friends of her age in the sect and had never spoken to strangers, she suddenly realized… she might have made a mistake.

When Luo Qingyu was sixteen, Luo Yueguan awoke from a nightmare in the middle of the night and went to Luo Qingyu’s room, only to discover her slowly cutting her pale wrist with a sword, watching the beads of blood drop, her cheeks as pale as paper. Luo Yueguan was panic-stricken, looking into Luo Qingyu’s eyes, not knowing what had happened.

“It hurts,” Luo Qingyu said softly to her.

Luo Yueguan rushed to her side, hugged her tightly, fed her healing pills, and tears instantly welled up, “If it hurts, why do you hurt yourself?”

“It’s not the wrist that hurts,” Luo Qingyu replied blankly.

“The chest hurts, the wrist hurts… then the chest doesn’t hurt so much.”

That’s when she stripped Luo Qingyu’s clothes and discovered that underneath Luo Qingyu’s dress were densely packed scars. The two mother and daughter shared a connection, and Luo Yueguan could always sense her pain, so Luo Qingyu would hurt herself secretly while she slept.

Luo Yueguan knew she had made a mistake, but she didn’t know where exactly she went wrong. She had given Luo Qingyu the best cultivation resources, making her the sect’s number one sword cultivator, but she seemed to have no joy. That night, Luo Yueguan felt that Luo Qingyu’s eyes had become dull.

If she hadn’t been awakened by the nightmare…

If things continued like this, who knows, one day Luo Qingyu might choose to end herself.

Luo Yueguan began trying to make up for her mistakes, trying to take Luo Qingyu out to relax, trying to make friends for her, but Luo Qingyu was always icy, dumb, and like a mechanical puppet. Luo Yueguan told her to do something, and she would do it without objection or protest, but she seemed to have lost her own thoughts, sitting alone in her room, hurting herself with a sword.

Luo Qingyu’s abnormality kept Luo Yueguan on edge, and the heart demon that had been suppressed for a hundred years began to quietly break free. This was her first time as a mother, and she didn’t know what to do for her child. Until the day Chu Xianning proposed marriage, she had long known Jiang Huai was a good child and placed all her hopes on him, agreeing to the marriage.

Thus, Jiang Huai met Luo Qingyu.

After that, Luo Yueguan no longer sensed Luo Qingyu hurting herself at night. Occasionally, she would see Luo Qingyu sitting in front of a canvas, carefully depicting Jiang Huai’s figure. Even the corners of her usually tight lips seemed to have a faint arc.

She had only seen Luo Qingyu smile when she was a child, and it had been a long time since she had seen her smile after she grew up.

Even after Jiang Huai came to Qingxuan Sect and stayed for a few days, taking Luo Qingyu around the sect, Luo Qingyu made friends in the sect. When practicing swordsmanship, her eyes were no longer so cold, and even a faint smile appeared. Once, when she returned to the courtyard, she saw Luo Qingyu in the kitchen, cooking earnestly, looking at her with anticipation, saying that this was what Brother Jiang Huai taught her. Her bright eyes almost melted her heart.

But unfortunately, Jiang Huai lost his cultivation.

Thinking of this, Luo Yueguan couldn’t help feeling anxious. She hated Chu Xianning, that foolish woman, for making Jiang Huai into such a person. Clearly, Jiang Huai could have completely ignored those evil cultivators; his path of cultivation was already laid out, and in the future, he would be the next sect master of Tianxuan Sect. When he married her daughter Luo Qingyu, Tianxuan Sect would merge with Qingxuan Sect to become the fourth largest sect in the Eastern Region. But… Jiang Huai foolishly made a mistake on such an insignificant matter and ruined his bright future.

With Jiang Huai’s cultivation completely gone, the marriage could no longer proceed as planned; otherwise, it would be a lifelong burden for Luo Qingyu. Jiang Huai himself knew this, so… she never felt her decision was wrong. All she had to do was to wait until Luo Qingyu finished her retreat and then comfort her.

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became.

Luo Yueguan couldn’t help but take out the jade box Jiang Huai gave her, which contained a pill that could completely change the defect of the Ice Soul Profound Body. This pill was many times more precious than the Fire Luo Sacred Fruit, yet he gave it away unconditionally. Clearly, he was the one who was rejected and humiliated.

With his cultivation gone and the engagement canceled, such a blow would leave anyone devastated, and there was even the possibility of seeking death. Luo Yueguan suddenly felt a headache.

Had she made another mistake?

Luo Yueguan couldn’t think anymore. The heart demon in her mind had already begun to whisper these things. She sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and spent a long time finally suppressing the heart demon. The spiritual boat also returned to Qingxuan Sect.

She came to the courtyard, and as soon as she stepped in, she saw Luo Qingyu’s door, which had been closed for three months, now open. Luo Qingyu, wearing the black nightgown Jiang Huai gave her, with her tender lotus feet bare, pushed open the door and walked out, looking at Luo Yueguan with anticipation in her eyes.

“Mother, I’ve reached the mid-stage of Golden Core.”

“My good daughter, you’re amazing.” Luo Yueguan felt a bit more reassured.

Her daughter was the most talented cultivator in Qingxuan Sect, and there were not many in the entire Eastern Region who could surpass her in cultivation talent.

“I want to see Brother Jiang Huai. Mother, you promised me that after this retreat, I could stay in Tianxuan Sect for half a month.” Luo Qingyu’s fingers gently pinched her skirt, her eyes bright.

Luo Yueguan’s heart twitched.