Chapter 31: I Won’t Ever Accept Another Master
Fengqi’s proposal hung in the air as Xiang Yu carefully gathered the shattered glass fragments from the floor. His movements were deliberate, buying precious seconds to collect his thoughts before responding.
"Aunt Master surely jests," he finally replied, his tone light but measured.
Huang Fengqi rose from her seat, her posture straightening as she infused her words with unmistakable sincerity. "No, I’m serious. If you join the Phoenix Ascension Pavilion, I’ll make you a genius on the same level as your junior sister."
The declaration sent ripples of shock through the room. Li Yao’s eyes widened with astonishment. Could it truly be possible? Could her seemingly talentless senior brother actually become a genius of her caliber? The possibility both thrilled and unsettled her.
Xiang Yu himself felt the weight of the offer pressing against his chest. His gaze flickered toward Elder Guo, searching for guidance, but his master’s expression remained carefully neutral. The lack of surprise confirmed his suspicion—the two elders had already discussed this arrangement privately.
As the implications of Huang Fengqi’s offer unfurled in his mind, Xiang Yu carefully weighed the possibilities. Becoming a genius of Li Yao’s caliber would undoubtedly accelerate his progress. His cultivation would advance by leaps rather than the steady increments he currently managed.
Yet something deeper gave him pause. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as clarity emerged from his internal debate. His goal wasn’t merely faster improvement—he already possessed the system for that purpose. What would accepting this offer truly mean?
He would become like Li Yao—thrust into the spotlight, burdened with the sect’s expectations, obligated to defend its honor at every turn. Such prominence would inevitably attract jealousy, resentment, and challenges. He’d become a target rather than an observer, forever entangled in protagonist-centered plots he desperately wished to avoid.
The mathematics of the situation revealed an unfavorable exchange—temporary acceleration at the cost of permanent freedom. Even with talent matching Li Yao’s, immediate invincibility remained a fantasy. In the long term, his system would compensate for any initial disadvantage, rendering the offered shortcut ultimately meaningless when weighed against the sacrifices required.
"I’m sorry, but I cannot accept this," he stated with unexpected directness, accompanying his words with a respectful bow.
Huang Fengqi’s composure faltered momentarily, genuine surprise flashing across her features. How could anyone reject such an extraordinary opportunity? Elder Guo appeared equally baffled. He had always attributed Xiang Yu’s earlier reluctance to cultivate to his lack of talent—never imagining the boy would actively decline the chance to acquire it. Perhaps he didn’t understand his disciple as thoroughly as he had believed.
Li Yao stared at her senior brother, momentarily stunned before her expression softened with understanding. This response, while seemingly incomprehensible to others, aligned perfectly with the Xiang Yu she knew.
"Is there a reason?" Huang Fengqi inquired, her tone suggesting she suspected Xiang Yu might be misinterpreting her offer as some form of test, perhaps playing hard-to-get to demonstrate loyalty.
"I already have a master, so it would be inappropriate if I took in another," Xiang Yu responded, his sentiments genuine—a direct reflection of the original Xiang Yu’s unwavering loyalty. "Plus, I’m not that interested in cultivation, so it would be better if you gave this chance to someone who really wanted it."
This latter justification was entirely fabricated. In truth, no one desired cultivation progress more desperately than he did. Yet he wanted advancement on his own terms, without sacrificing the precious anonymity that protected him from this world’s dangerous narratives. Denying the opportunity represented a genuine loss, but one he would overcome through redoubled effort rather than compromise his fundamental survival strategy.
...
Huang Fengqi stared at Xiang Yu, disbelief etched across her elegant features. Her worldview seemed momentarily shaken. Wasn’t cultivation the universal pursuit? Didn’t everyone harbor fantasies of soaring through limitless skies, wielding immense power, and perhaps rescuing damsels in distress? Yet here stood this peculiar young man, genuinely disinterested in an opportunity that countless cultivators would commit unspeakable acts to obtain.
His sincerity was unmistakable. The Phoenix Ascension elder found herself genuinely perplexed by this anomaly standing before her—a contradiction to everything she understood about human nature and ambition within the cultivation world.
Elder Guo observed his disciple with newfound curiosity. The boy’s loyalty touched something within him, a sentiment he hadn’t expected to feel so keenly. Nevertheless, practicality compelled him to intervene. Allowing such an opportunity to slip away seemed unconscionable, regardless of the boy’s peculiar resistance.
"Xiang Yu, why don’t you listen to your aunt master," Elder Guo urged, his tone measured but insistent. "Do you want to remain in your junior sister’s shadow forever?"
Xiang Yu’s response came without hesitation, his voice steady and resolute. "If that’s how it has to be, then so be it." He turned toward Li Yao, offering her a small smile that carried surprising warmth. "I’m sure junior sister won’t mind me hiding from the sun in her shadow."
Elder Guo released a heavy sigh. The boy’s determination proved more substantial than anticipated. Perhaps a different approach might yield results? A more dramatic push seemed necessary to overcome this inexplicable reluctance.
"It’s because you already have a master, right?" Elder Guo proposed, his voice taking on a strategic edge. "Then if I’m no longer your master, will you take the offer?"
Surprise flickered across Xiang Yu’s features. The suggestion caught him entirely off-guard—he hadn’t imagined his master would consider such drastic measures. Was this actually possible? Could masters simply transfer disciples like commodities? The thought created immediate discomfort.
This represented the worst possible outcome—severing his connection to Mountain Heart Pavilion while simultaneously thrusting him into the spotlight he desperately wished to avoid. His survival strategy would be thoroughly demolished from both directions simultaneously.
Xiang Yu lowered himself into a formal bow, his voice carefully controlled despite his internal turmoil. "If the master doesn’t want me anymore, then that’s that."
Both Elder Guo and Huang Fengqi’s expressions shifted, a momentary triumph quickly shattered as Xiang Yu continued:
"But even if that’s the case, I still won’t ever accept another master."
The declaration landed like thunder in clear skies. Elder Guo and Huang Fengqi exchanged astonished glances, thoroughly confounded by such resolute rejection. What possible motivation could drive this extraordinary aversion?
Elder Guo’s weathered features softened as understanding gradually replaced his initial bewilderment. His posture relaxed as he nodded slowly. "It’s okay, I understand."
He turned toward Huang Fengqi, meeting his junior sister’s confused expression with unexpected firmness. "I’m sorry, junior sister, but I’m also unwilling to part with my disciple."
The decision crystallized within him with surprising clarity. If his disciple could demonstrate such unwavering conviction—rejecting even the chance to become a genius—how could he possibly consider sending him away? In all his centuries of cultivation, he had accepted only two disciples into his care. Both had secured places in his heart, despite his outward gruffness. His philosophy remained steadfast: if a disciple wished to depart, he would offer no resistance, but if they chose to remain, he would never force them away.