After Transmigrating as an Immortal Master, I Hold a Group Meeting - Chapter 85

Qi Miancheng never accepted the idea that he needed Ning Mingmei as his cultivation furnace.

Firstly, because he neither believed in nor could accept the notion that his cultivation should be dependent on anything other than himself. To him, relying on an external force was not a support. It was a weakness, a leash that could be yanked at any time. He despised the feeling of being controlled.

Secondly, Ning Mingmei was simply too ordinary. Completely unremarkable. Qi Miancheng did not see him as a worthy match.

And third… This was the most important reason.

If every person had a vision for their ideal life, then for Qi Miancheng, that vision had always been clear: to become a righteous and noble sect master, a healer of the world, the brightest and most untouchable figure in the cultivation world, the undisputed number one, even if it meant sacrificing himself for the Dao.

Not for the Dao itself but for reputation. That was why he imposed the strictest self-discipline upon himself.

And in the grand, illustrious narrative of his life, Ning Mingmei would be nothing but a stain.

How could the so-called greatest cultivator require something as mundane as his ordinary junior brother just to maintain his own cultivation? If that were the case, how could he ever claim to be ‘the best in the world’?

Qi Miancheng would never allow even the slightest flaw in the perfect life he had crafted for himself.

That said, he had to admit that after returning from seclusion, Ning Mingmei was far more striking than before. If he hadn’t personally examined his soul multiple times and found no traces of possession, Qi Miancheng might have believed that Ning Mingmei had been replaced by someone else entirely.

Still, he didn’t pay too much mind to his newfound interest in him. Such a minor deviation wasn’t nearly enough to sway his decisions or alter the rational, respectable path of his life.

At least, that was what he believed at the time.

“Junior Brother, let’s go back. It’s the third watch of the night; two more remain before dawn. If you return now, you’ll still have time to rest for a while.” Qi Miancheng tucked the box into his robes. “Tomorrow, we take my mother’s relics and the day after, we depart. The Lian family won’t realize the lotus seed is missing for at least a month.”

He politely gestured for Ning Mingmei to leave first but Ning Mingmei didn’t move.

With arms crossed, Ning Mingmei remarked, “Lian Zhao certainly goes through children like disposable refining vessels.”

Qi Miancheng replied, “That’s inevitable. After all, it’s difficult to find another child as extraordinarily gifted yet powerless as Lian Zhao in Lian City.”

Ning Mingmei asked, “Is Senior Brother planning to take Lian Zhao in?”

Qi Miancheng did not answer directly. Instead, he looked at Ning Mingmei with an unusual expression in his eyes. “Are you suggesting that I should wipe out the Lian family?”

“The Lian family is an established aristocratic clan and one of the key forces behind the destruction of the Kindle Fire Island. It’s not up to me, nor to the Supreme Clarity Sect, to decide whether they should be eradicated. That decision belongs to the major ruling families of the cultivation world,” Ning Mingmei said. “It’s just…”

“You can’t bear it?”

Ning Mingmei: “I just find it a terrible waste of manpower.”

No matter how many times you exploit a single prodigy, they could never match the sheer numbers of dozens of ordinary cultivators.

Lian Zhao had burned through so many lives. Every one of them had been human resources.

Qi Miancheng stared into Ning Mingmei’s eyes, as if trying to discern some emotion from them. “I heard on the way here that the Lian family had already prepared another refining vessel for Lian Zhao. An orphan but exceptionally gifted, perhaps even more so than Lian Zhao. However, one month after arriving at the Lian family, he ran away. If I must take in a disciple, I’d prefer that orphan with no background, yet prodigiously talented, over someone as complicated as Lian Zhao.”

Taking in Lian Zhao as a disciple wouldn’t bring much academic benefit but it would require a great deal of resources to nurture him.

Taking in Lian Chengyue, on the other hand, an orphan with talent, meant he could be exploited as needed.

Ning Mingmei: …

What was this? Should he say, as expected of the protagonist? No matter how things twisted and turned, fate always seemed to loop back to Qi Miancheng taking Lian Chengyue into the Supreme Clarity Sect ahead of schedule.

The system screeched, [Ahhh! I told you ages ago to bring Lian Chengyue back to the Supreme Clarity Sect sooner! Now look! Qi Miancheng is making the first move! Once he takes the protagonist in, once they start developing a deep master-disciple bond, what are you going to do?!]

Imagining that scenario, the system nearly fainted.

It had to be said that Qi Miancheng, with his jade crown, his air of refinement, and his flowing white robes, looked far more like an aloof and untouchable master than Ning Mingmei, with his glasses and strange demeanor.

And he was the esteemed sect master of the Supreme Clarity Sect. For someone like Lian Chengyue, who prided himself on strength and admired power, it was only natural that he would be drawn to a lofty flower like Qi Miancheng, the unrivaled number one in the world.

The system’s countless words boiled down to one sentence. [You’re doomed.]

Qi Miancheng continued, “That’s why, on my way here, I sent my disciples to track down that child. He’s had a tough life, an orphan, and now a wanderer.”

Ning Mingmei: …

Qi Miancheng added, “Speaking of which, Junior Brother, you’ve saved quite a few people this time around. I took a brief look around your courtyard earlier. Aside from a female physician, there seemed to be two children as well. I’ve always known you to be a reclusive cultivator, rarely speaking, and spending most of your time in seclusion. Even the last time I took your pulse, you strongly resisted.”

Ning Mingmei: …

“I never expected you to personally feed medicine to that child. That was… very gentle of you, beyond my expectations.” Qi Miancheng smiled. “Where did you find that child? Back in Ye Province, I only caught a quick glimpse of him and couldn’t see his face clearly. His injuries were severe and he was just a mortal. I originally thought he wouldn’t survive. But against all odds, he did. Heavenly Terrace Peak is still short two disciples. If someone like him can survive such hardship, surely he has a great fortune ahead. I think we should take him and the missing child in as disciples together… Junior Brother, what is that child’s name?”

…

Was it the protagonist’s halo at work? How had he managed to draw attention even in this situation?

Ning Mingmei said, “I don’t know. If he has survived against all odds, then he has good fortune. Why not call him ‘Houfu’ (great fortune)?”

Honestly, calling him ‘Danan’ (great disaster) would work too.

Lian Danan.

Qi Miancheng mused, “Hmm… Houfu, that’s a great name!”

His face was filled with feigned delight and Ning Mingmei found it deeply unsettling, his expression slightly annoyed.

Ning Mingmei said to the system, [This donkey ruined my plan.]

When had Qi Miancheng turned into a donkey? The system, however, said, [Then what now? Why don’t you register Lian Chengyue as your disciple first?]

Ning Mingmei responded, [What kind of professor snatches a disciple from the principal?]

Besides, Qi Miancheng’s tone made it clear that his decision was final. His gaze on Ning Mingmei seemed to be measuring how much resistance he might encounter.

Under the dim night sky, Ning Mingmei failed to notice that Qi Miancheng’s expression darkened as well.

…Ning Mingmei seemed displeased. Given his usual blank expression, even a hint of discontent was glaringly obvious.

Was Ning Mingmei really so concerned for a mortal child with no power and no background?

Personally feeding him medicine, showing visible displeasure…

Fang Wuyu’s case could be overlooked, as could those two talisman cultivators. But the child?

He hadn’t even begun cultivating immortality.

And yet, Ning Mingmei had shown an unusual level of attention toward him.

A sense of displeasure surged in Qi Miancheng’s heart, a mix of being ignored and his own arrogance.

Qi Miancheng hadn’t necessarily been serious about taking in the child as a disciple. But now, it seemed like taking him away from Ning Mingmei’s sight wasn’t a bad idea. Along the way, he had noticed Ning Mingmei deep in thought and the urge to take the child right in front of him only grew stronger.

Did he really have to keep watching Ning Mingmei getting so close to a mere mortal child?

What was so special about that child?

Just an ordinary mortal. If he entered the Supreme Clarity Sect, he would easily fade into obscurity, never creating any real waves.

Qi Miancheng didn’t know why but ever since he caught sight of the child through the window from a distance, an odd feeling had settled in his heart.

Just like when he sat in meditation on the sect master’s peak, looking into the mirror at his own reflection and the three swords behind him, there was always a strange feeling.

And just like now, with the junior brother in front of him acting odd, yet holding his attention. All of those reasons added up to why he wanted to take in the disciple right in front of Ning Mingmei.

At that moment, the system asked Ning Mingmei, [Why aren’t you saying anything? What are you thinking about?]

Ning Mingmei replied, [I’m thinking that it’s fine. Qi Miancheng is going to die sooner or later. When that happens, I’ll inherit his disciples, his house, and everything else.]

The system: …

Well, it didn’t matter much. It was just Lian Chengyue. Even if he ended up on the Sect Master’s peak earlier than planned, Ning Mingmei could still adjust his strategy.

But…

It was really troublesome.

Ning Mingmei said, “Well, that’s just good luck for that child, Lian Danan. When does Senior Brother plan to take him in?”

Qi Miancheng felt an indescribable disappointment when he saw how naturally Ning Mingmei responded. But his tone remained gentle, “Tomorrow.”

As they arrived at Ning Mingmei’s courtyard, a gust of wind parted the clouds, revealing the moon.

The courtyard should have been empty but Ning Mingmei noticed a figure beneath a tree.

A child sat there, nodding off.

…It was actually Lian Chengyue.

Ning Mingmei asked, “What are you doing here?”

Upon hearing the voice, the drowsy child lifted his head.

Lian Chengyue’s skin had always been pale but now, after suffering yet another serious injury, his cheeks were even more sunken, his complexion as white as melting snow.

Perhaps because he was still recovering from his illness, he seemed a little slow to react. “I was waiting for the Immortal Master to return…”

Ning Mingmei asked, “Waiting for me? What for?”

Like a guard dog.

Lian Chengyue softly replied, “I just woke up today. I heard from the sister… Thank you, Immortal Master, for taking care of me. So I thought I’d wait outside the Immortal Master’s door and personally express my gratitude.”

His words were obedient and loyal. If Ning Mingmei didn’t already know the child was wicked, he might have believed it.

Lian Chengyue was waiting for him; his gratitude was probably only half the reason. The other half was clearly trying to earn points in front of Ning Mingmei.

After all, with his wrists and ankles looking so frail and bony, any normal person with a shred of sympathy would feel sorry for him.

Ning Mingmei said, “Alright, got it. Go back to your room and sleep. Oh, right…”

He almost forgot that Qi Miancheng was still standing next to him.

Ning Mingmei turned his head and immediately sensed something off. Raising an eyebrow, he glanced at Qi Miancheng.

Qi Miancheng had been looking at him, somewhat absentmindedly. But as the conversation wrapped up, he also turned toward the child under the moonlight and gave him a small nod.

So this was the child Ning Mingmei had been so concerned about?

Didn’t seem like anything special.

Then, in the very moment he got a clear look at the child’s face, Qi Miancheng’s expression froze slightly.

“I am… Lian Chengyue.”

Something stirred in his mind, as if it were about to break through the surface.