Su Bei sped back to No-Sword Peak on his flying sword, beneath the admiring gazes of a group of female disciples.
As twilight descended, he could still faintly hear conversations between Sword Sect disciples along the way:
"Did you hear? The Fifth Elder brought back a woman to the Sword Sect this time!"
"Ah! The Fifth Elder, such a gentle, tender, and peerlessly good man, also fancies women?"
"Sigh, that's how men are."
"But that woman doesn't look very old, right? She appears to be only about seventeen or eighteen?"
"But the Fifth Elder is over five hundred years old!"
"Do you think it's possible that she's a new disciple taken in by the Fifth Elder?"
"But the Fifth Elder is over five hundred years old!"
"..."
Su Bei had nothing to say about it! After all, someone as outstanding as himself would definitely be the most eye-catching no matter where he appeared. Some people are so impressive from birth that it pervades their entire life!
The leaves rustled as the sunset dyed No-Sword Peak with a crimson hue.
Gazing at this scene, Su Bei let out a soft sigh. "The sect's big recruitment ceremony in a month's time..."
Normally, that would definitely be a major plot point! It's the kind that would absolutely be tied up with various cause-and-effect relationships! You can't rule out the possibility of Wenren Pingxin, that silly woman, getting a sudden whim and inviting all the great sects of the realm to witness the event... There's no need to even think about it; as the host of this grand event, I would definitely be the kind of character who either gets humiliated or is forced into a humiliating situation. Then there are the cliché plot lines that I can foresee with my eyes closed.
As the renowned Fifth Elder of the Sword Sect from the Twenty-One Provinces, I awoke to find myself already at the Mid Stage Divinity Transformation realm in this cultivation world. I've spent decades bored on No-Sword Peak, and relations within the sect are harmonious... Considering those generic protagonist templates—the clichéd ones like characters who've had their bones dug out or are deemed useless—I won't go into detail. And those supposedly novel types from Qidian or Faloo: the genius protagonist, the invincible protagonist, the dimension-hopping protagonist, the 'system exposure' protagonist, the empress protagonist, the villain protagonist... Which one has anything to do with me? The system-wielding protagonist? Please, if a transmigrator doesn't have a system, can they still be called a transmigrator?
So, over time, Su Bei gradually came to realize something. He's very likely not the Child of Destiny in this world! And upon discovering that his system rewarded him for taking in disciples, Su Bei, who was already reluctant to meditate and cultivate, focused all his energy on what he called 'clever contraptions and unorthodox skills'!
If I'm not the protagonist, why should I act like one?
Embracing the excellent idea of snatching leisure whenever possible, Su Bei did basically everything transmigrators like to do: distilling liquor for higher purity, creating rocking chairs for the lazy, mahjong, playing cards...
"I wonder how my disciple is doing?"
Su Bei shook his head, dismissing these troubling thoughts. Sheathing his sword, he descended onto No-Sword Peak in a most dashing manner.
However, the next moment Su Bei sensed something was amiss. He took a couple of sharp sniffs. The air was thick with the potent smell of strong alcohol.
This is bad! Su Bei's expression turned to one of alarm. This prodigal disciple couldn't have drunk the 'Kharasho, Life Water' I refined for that 'boozehound' persona of mine, could she?! If Xiao Ruoching had cultivation, it wouldn't be a big issue! The problem is she's just an ordinary person now! She's my precious tool! What am I to do if she's drunk herself into some kind of trouble? My laid-back life depends entirely on this disciple!
Su Bei swallowed nervously and rushed into the cottage in a panic. Pushing the door open—
"BURP! Master, you're back." Xiao Ruoching looked at Su Bei with seductive, doe-like eyes and let out a soft burp.
Her beautiful eyes were as limpid as autumn waters, her simple white garments, already somewhat tattered, hung disheveled and askew on her frame. Her eyes were glazed, and a captivating flush spread over her delicate, slender white neck.
A beauty intoxicated, her rosy cheeks flushed... If only one could disregard the iron pot she was holding, Su Bei would indeed like to describe the woman before him in this manner.
Xiao Ruoching looked at Su Bei with flushed cheeks, staggering toward him. She placed her fingers on Su Bei's chest, her gaze fixed on his, her breath fragrant as orchids as she spoke.
——The distinct, rich, and mellow fragrance of "Kharasho, Life Water" wafted over.
"Master, Qing Er... HIC!"
"Qing Er is making you chicken soup!"
"HIC! Master, wait a bit longer; this chicken was so hard to kill!"
Su Bei's mouth twitched as he looked at the chicken in the pot. From the chicken's carcass, one could vaguely tell the extent of the torment it had suffered before death. This was definitely the Phoenix Feather Big Head Chicken I had painstakingly raised for fifty years on this mountain. The one I tended to so carefully every day, the one that was on the verge of attaining godhood as a Chicken God... And it was just ruined by this wasteful brat?
In a confused daze, Xiao Ruoching proudly showed Su Bei the chicken in the pot, which had been stewed until it couldn't be any mushier. Then, with practiced ease, she carried the iron pot, hiccuping all the while, and rummaged through a cupboard.
"HIC!"
"Need to add this..."
Right in front of Su Bei, Xiao Ruoching nonchalantly picked up the item next to the deadly poison "Heavenly Immortal Child"—it was the laxative, Glauber's salt.
With careful movements, she sprinkled it evenly and finely into the chicken soup. Then, taking dreamlike steps, her large eyes sparkling, she looked at Su Bei with utmost sincerity and expectation.
"Master, have some chicken soup!"
"Having chicken soup is such a delightful affair..."
THUMP!
After she put the chicken soup on the table, Xiao Ruoching collapsed onto the ground.
Su Bei: "..."
Su Bei stared with a darkened expression at Xiao Ruoching, who lay on the ground, dead drunk. He glanced at the empty wine bottle on the table. Frowning slightly, he propped his chin with his hand and fell into deep thought.
Could it be that all disciples slip laxatives into their master's chicken soup? But isn't this too blatant? Not even trying to hide it? Could it be that this disciple of mine has a combination of aloofness, natural obliviousness, and a scheming nature?
"Sigh..." Su Bei sighed, his head beginning to ache. Then he scooped up Xiao Ruoching from the ground.
The soft, warm touch immediately spread through Su Bei's body. Su Bei coughed lightly, repeatedly reminding himself in his mind: Yes, this is my disciple! This is my disciple!
"Nnngh..."
It seemed that upon being picked up by Su Bei, the woman in his arms murmured softly. Then, she wrapped her arms around Su Bei's neck and pressed her red lips towards him.
From this angle, Su Bei needed only to lower his head slightly to have the gorgeous view fully within sight. Her stunning face was flushed from intoxication, but the words coming from her mouth made Su Bei increasingly uncomfortable.
"Master... Master, hehe..."
"Why haven't you died yet, Master..."
"When will you die, Master..."
Su Bei tilted his head back, gazing up at the ceiling, trying his best not to lower his gaze to the soft, jade-like peaks. He sighed deeply.
Does this female disciple have a problem with her brain? Could she also have a yandere streak?
Just then, from the sky above, the sound of something rapidly tearing through the air approached. It was accompanied by an undisguised, blatant, deafening noise that echoed throughout No-Sword Peak.
Even from a great distance, Su Bei could smell that familiar scent of alcohol.
"Fifth Senior Brother! HIC!"
"Your Junior Brother has come for some wine... HIC!"