Chapter224 – Are you leaving?

Lauren shot him a look. You useless bastard. You ran off the day you took a disciple. I was the one who raised your kid.

“You can’t say that,” she said aloud. “It depends on fate.” And on how the sect leader assigns them.

“He has a Thunder Spirit Root,” she added. “Our sect has the most complete Thunder cultivation inheritance. Of course he belongs at Starfell Summit.”

“Thunder Spirit Root?” Tarot’s expression shifted.

“Yes.”

“That’s good,” he murmured. “Perfect for inheriting Master’s legacy.” His voice softened. “If only Master were still here.”

Silence fell between them. Six years had passed here. Up there… only six days. Their master probably hadn’t even had time to miss them.

“Then we’d better teach him well,” Lauren said. “Maybe he originally came here for Master. Who would’ve thought Master would suddenly ascend?”

Tarot nodded, then paused. Wait. “What do you mean we? He’s your disciple.”

Lauren waved it off. “Don’t be so formal. My disciple is your disciple. Haven’t I been raising your disciple for you all this time?”

Tarot went quiet. Then his expression darkened. “What are you trying to say? Are you planning to leave?”

Lauren smiled sweetly. “Senior Brother really is amazing. You even guessed that.”

His face sank further. “Where are you going? When will you be back?”

“I’m going to fetch a ten-thousand-year-old ice bed. It shouldn’t take long.”

“…Right. When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow. I was planning to go as soon as I came out of seclusion, but taking on a disciple delayed me.”

Tarot exhaled slowly. “Fine. Come back quickly.”

“Understood, Senior Brother.” And just like that, she too left the day after taking on her disciple.

.....

Wayne spent half a day showing Wallace around Starfell Summit. By the time they returned, the sun was already setting, casting long shadows across the peaks.

Lauren had moved into the Peak Master’s residence—the room her own master had once occupied.

She sat cross-legged on the same meditation cushion he used to sit on. Then, just like he used to do to her, she extended her spiritual sense. And shamelessly spied on her disciple.

The more she watched, the more satisfied she became. She wondered if her master had done the same back then—quietly observing her every move.

At that moment, Wallace was asking Wayne about her. Specifically, he was trying—very discreetly—to find out her age.

Wayne told him she was in her thirties. Wallace clearly didn’t believe it. “How could there be a Spirit Transformation cultivator in her thirties?” he muttered.

Wayne shrugged. “It’s true. I joined the sect ten years ago. Miss Lauren joined twenty years ago.”

Wallace’s eyes widened. “My master is that powerful?”

“Of course. Miss Lauren has Immortal Roots. She’s insanely talented. She’ll definitely become someone like Grandmaster in the future.”

Grandmaster. That legendary figure. If Grandmaster hadn’t ascended, Wallace might have become his disciple instead.

That was what his family had always told him. He was the only Thunder Spirit Root born in thousands of years—destined to worship Drake.

But fate had other plans. Who could have predicted that the Grandmaster would ascend to immortality so suddenly a few years ago?

Listening in, Lauren couldn’t help smiling. She directly transmitted her voice. “Wallace. Come to Starfell Hall.”

Wallace jolted, spinning around in alarm. The look on his face—half terrified, half confused—was painfully familiar. That had been her exact expression twenty years ago.

Wayne cleared his throat. “Miss Lauren isn’t here. She’s in Starfell Hall.”

“Then… what was that just now?”

Wayne looked almost proud. “Miss Lauren is already at Spirit Transformation. Her spiritual sense can cover the entire Starfell Summit. She can even sense a cicada flapping its wings.”

Wallace froze. “Then she heard what I said about her just now?”

“Probably.”

Wallace: “…”

Watching his mortified expression, Lauren burst out laughing. So this was what it felt like. Was this how Master had felt spying on her back then?

Before long, Wayne brought Wallace to Starfell Hall.

Hearing the nervous knock at the door, Lauren quickly straightened up, folded her legs properly, and composed her expression. “Come in.”

The doors swung open automatically. Wallace blinked at them, momentarily stunned. He took a steadying breath before stepping inside.

His master was frighteningly powerful. A Spirit Transformation cultivator at such a young age. He had to perform well. “Greetings, Master.”

Lauren’s voice was calm. “Sit.”

He sat stiffly on the cushion opposite her.

“What is your current cultivation level?” She could already see it clearly—but asking was part of the ritual.

“Reporting to Master, I have reached Great Perfection of Qi Training.”

“So you can attempt Foundation Establishment at any time?”

“Yes. Please guide me, Master.”

Lauren thought for a moment. “Don’t rush into Foundation Establishment. There’s a grand Qi Training competition in two months. Register.”

Wallace blinked.

“If you take first place,” she continued evenly, “I’ll allow you to choose your own sword from the Sword Tomb.”

His breathing hitched slightly. “Yes, Master.”

Lauren retrieved a jade manual and placed it on the table, sliding it toward him.

“This is the finest lightning-attribute cultivation technique in the cultivation world. Study it properly. Don’t waste something this damn rare.”

Wallace immediately bowed his head. “Thank you for bestowing this technique, Master.”

She nodded. “I’m leaving on a long journey tomorrow. If you need anything, ask your Senior Uncle or Wayne.”

Wallace looked up, startled. “Master is leaving?”

“Yes.”

“May I ask where—”

Lauren’s gaze turned cold. Back then, she wouldn’t have dared ask her own master such a question. “That is not something you should inquire about.”

Wallace immediately lowered his head. “I have overstepped.”

“Good that you understand.” She waved a hand. “Go. Focus on that lightning technique. I expect you to become the next legend.”

“Yes. I will obey.” He picked up the manual and left.

The moment the doors closed, Lauren sagged slightly and let out a long breath. She really wasn’t cut out for this strict-master act. Putting on that cold, imposing front was fucking exhausting.

She spent the rest of the night preparing—stacking talismans, packing spare robes, stuffing spirit stones into a pouch, and checking the ice-breaking chisels she’d specially forged for this trip.

She planned to leave at dawn. Just as she finished tying up her storage bag, Tarot showed up.

“Senior Brother?” Lauren raised an eyebrow. “What brings you here this late?”

Tarot didn’t bother with pleasantries. He walked straight in and dropped onto the cushion opposite her, tapping his fingers against the low table.

“Hey. Your apprentice came back looking like someone kicked his dog. Did you scold him?”

“Huh?” Lauren blinked. “No.”

“No?” Tarot gave her a look. “Wayne said Wallace was asking about you, you overheard it, and now you’re pissed.”

Lauren stared at him, utterly baffled. “What the hell? No. I just—” She hesitated. “I might’ve tried to sound a little stern. My tone was… colder than usual?”

Tarot rolled his eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t fall out. “Why are you pretending to be stern? No wonder the kid’s overthinking.”

“So what should I do?” she shot back.

“You should be like me.” He leaned back smugly. “Look at how I get along with Wayne. We’re practically brothers. If he has doubts, he comes straight to me. No guessing games. No misunderstandings.”

Lauren considered that seriously. “I’m afraid I can’t be brothers with Wallace.” Then her eyes lit up. “Senior Brother, why don’t *you* be brothers with him? That way, if he’s confused, he can just ask you.”

Tarot choked. “…”

He pointed at her accusingly. “You’re misleading students.”