Reborn As A Villainous Cannon Fodder

Thinking about it, Yino suddenly remembered that worn chess manual from Mo Yiqing.

Maybe playing chess isn’t the issue, that manual is Mu Daosheng’s real red line…?

Could he already know I’ve been decrypting the manual lately?

Under Mu Daosheng’s scrutiny up close, Yino couldn’t help feeling guilty.

Still, on the surface, he kept playing dumb and scratched his face awkwardly.

“Yino, you’re a smart boy…”

“Though I haven’t explicitly warned you before, you’ve been at Wuji Sect for nearly a year now. I’m sure you understand certain rules without me having to spell them out.”

Mu Daosheng stood with his hands behind his back, his old face stern and serious. He didn’t soften despite Yino’s half-joking, awkward smile.

He looked genuinely angry.

And honestly, in this life, Yino barely knew Mu Daosheng, Sure, he’d nominally become Mu Daosheng’s disciple back then, but strictly speaking, Yuyan was his real master. Mu Daosheng was just a hands-off supervisor at best, he’d never taught Yino any cultivation techniques, never disciplined him as a master should.

Now, suddenly being called out by Mu Daosheng, Yino felt an inexplicable pressure, like being interrogated by his father-in-law.

“Sorry…”

Knowing he’d been caught red-handed, Yino didn’t try to make excuses. He lowered his head obediently.

Behind him, Yuyan couldn’t bear to watch anymore.

“Master, I was the one who asked Yino to teach me chess. This isn’t his fault…”

She bit her lip, feeling deeply uneasy.

Because the atmosphere right now was strange.

Just like how Yino was scared, this was also the first time in years Yuyan had seen her master this angry.

Though Mu Daosheng had kept many things from Yuyan, to be fair, he’d always treated her like his own daughter in daily life. Aside from strictly forbidding chess and formation techniques, he’d given Yuyan every cultivation resource Yanran had, sometimes more.

In fact, because Yuyan’s talent was higher, she got even more resources at Wuji Sect than Yanran!

Because of this, Yuyan had always respected Mu Daosheng deep down.

She knew he doted on her, so today if she pleaded, surely Mu Daosheng wouldn’t….

“Yuyan, you’ve also broken the sect rules today.”

“All these years, I’ve always indulged you. I haven’t asked much of you, only that you stay away from chess and formation techniques. Other than that, even if you turned Wuji Sect upside down, when have I ever blamed you?”

“But now, even this one requirement we agreed on, you’ve broken your word.”

“Yuyan, I’m very disappointed in you.”

Mu Daosheng spoke expressionlessly. Terrifying pressure emanated from him, spreading outward. For the first time in years, facing her master’s fury made even the usually proud Yuyan feel ashamed.

She was being scolded by her teacher.

And… she had no comeback.

Because long ago, when Yuyan was still a little girl, she’d personally promised Mu Daosheng, as long as he’d teach her cultivation, she’d give up her pursuit of chess and formations.

That was their agreement as master and disciple.

That year, Mu Daosheng had smiled and ruffled her hair, saying Yuyan was such a good disciple, that he believed in her.

But…

From the very beginning, Yuyan never really intended to keep that promise.

She just wanted to use Mu Daosheng’s resources to cultivate quickly, so that one day when she became strong enough, she could avenge her family’s massacre!

So all along, Yuyan had been fearless. She could feel Mu Daosheng’s indulgence. She figured since she wasn’t his real daughter, he was just going through the motions out of guilt toward Mo Yiqing, he wouldn’t really care about her like he did to Yanran.

But today, caught in the act, Yuyan suddenly realized that under her master’s fury, she couldn’t even face her own conscience.

By all rights and reason, there was no way Yuyan could argue back today.

Unless…

Unless Yuyan was truly heartless enough to betray the ten years of care and cultivation Mu Daosheng had given her.

“I’m sorry… Master…”

Yuyan finally lowered her proud head today.

Mu Daosheng stood before them, silently watching the white-robed beauty whose face was filled with shame.

His fist clenched beneath his sleeve where no one could see, and he spoke in a heavy voice:

“Yuyan, though your talent is excellent, your temperament is restless. You haven’t let go of the hatred in your heart…”

“With such a corrupted mindset, no matter how high you cultivate, you won’t have a good ending on this long road.”

Here, Mu Daosheng closed his eyes, as if scolding Yuyan pained him too.

Yuyan didn’t dare talk back. She just stood there in a daze.

“Today you’ve violated my prohibition. Yuyan, do you admit your guilt?” Mu Daosheng lifted his chin slightly, speaking coldly.

“This disciple admits her guilt…”

“In that case, I’m punishing you to go into seclusion at the Wuji Sacred Grounds for reflection. When you’ve calmed down and overcome your arrogance, I’ll let you out!”

“?!!”

Hearing this, Yuyan’s previously downcast eyes suddenly widened.

She looked up at Mu Daosheng in disbelief, both shocked that he’d actually punish her, and even more surprised that the Wuji Sacred Grounds he’d mentioned that day would now be imposed on her this way.

For a moment, a rebellious thought flashed through Yuyan’s mind.

Does he already know about me and Yino playing chess…?

He tolerated it before, but caught us today on purpose, just to find an excuse to send me to the Wuji Sacred Grounds instead of letting me go to the Dragon Palace or Jianlan Sect with Yino.

“But… Master…”

Yuyan grew anxious.

She tried to argue, but Mu Daosheng’s narrowed old eyes just gave her a disappointed look before turning to Yino instead, ignoring her completely.

“Yino, come with me.”

Mu Daosheng spoke calmly.

Noticing the surprise and unease on Yino’s face, he sighed and softened his tone:

“Don’t worry. You’re the seventh young master of the He mansion. I won’t punish you… It’s just that there are some things I think it’s time we talked about openly, man to man.”

Hearing this, not only did Yino freeze, but even Yuyan, who’d been about to say something, fell silent.

Yuyan could clearly sense that Mu Daosheng was planning to have a serious talk with Yino about their relationship and potential marriage.

And…

This was a conversation between father-in-law and son-in-law. Yuyan didn’t even have the right to sit in.

At the same time, Yino naturally had the same premonition.

His earlier hunch was right. Mu Daosheng was truly approaching him as a father-in-law now.

“Okay…”

After all, this was the first time feeling such pressure. Yino didn’t dare argue, just nodded obediently.

He glanced back at Yuyan, giving her a look that said don’t worry, then followed Mu Daosheng’s steps, riding a flying carpet to the Patriarch’s pavilion atop Wuji Peak.

This pavilion was where Mu Daosheng handled sect affairs. It wasn’t luxurious, just filled with yin-yang and formation diagrams, a scholarly, antique style that fit Wuji Sect’s traditional immortal aesthetic.

“No need to be tense. Sit wherever you like…”

Mu Daosheng walked ahead and sat in his seat.

Yino followed behind, settling into meditation before the long table where Mu Daosheng worked.

“Yino.”

“Recently, I’ve learned about what happened between you and the National Advisor at the Liuli Sect.”

Mu Daosheng spoke first.

But Yino didn’t know what he was getting at.

“Yino, you did well. Training under the National Advisor in the future, you’ll surely have boundless prospects and become a legendary figure in the cultivation world.”

He praised Yino first.

But soon, Mu Daosheng’s tone shifted, his eyes falling with some regret: “However, when you chose to stand by the National Advisor’s side, you were also forced to stand against the Five Great Immortal Sects.”

“About the Divine Gate’s existence, Yino, you should understand.”

At this point, Yino finally grasped Mu Daosheng’s implication.

He nodded slightly:

“The Divine Gate wants to kill me… right?”

“Yes.”

Mu Daosheng sighed. “Child, this is no joke. The Divine Gate exists above the Five Great Immortal Sects. They hold supreme authority across this land!”

“So, because of the Divine Gate, you hope Yuyan can stay at Wuji Sect and avoid contact with me going forward…?”