Volume One, Chapter Two: Then Let’s Get a Divorce!

These disciples had little experience and perhaps could not distinguish between the two, but Yuan Lingqing certainly could.

Sure enough, the moment Yuan Lingqing saw the spirit plant flying toward them, his expression changed drastically. He quickly pulled Lin Caibing behind him, waved his sleeve, and a ball of flame immediately engulfed the Broken Heart Grass, reducing it to ashes before everyone’s astonished eyes.

“You actually threw out blossoming Broken Heart Grass in public! If any of these disciples even touch it, they’re doomed!” Yuan Lingqing was furious, pointing at Bai Zhi. “How vile you are!”

“Yes, yes, I’m vile,” Bai Zhi smiled broadly and made a dismissive gesture. “Finished scolding? Don’t waste my time—I have better things to do.”

Everyone watched Bai Zhi’s retreating figure, their expressions a mix of amazement and amusement.

“Has the mistress really been unfaithful?”

“That demon clan young lord is so devilishly handsome, even I, a man, am…”

“Quiet! Haven’t you seen how angry Master is?”

Yuan Lingqing’s face was ashen.

The eldest disciple, Zhou Yan, sensing the tense atmosphere, hurriedly changed the subject.

“Master, you just said that wasn’t a Milky Way Flower, but blossoming Broken Heart Grass?”

The disciples who had witnessed the entire scene frowned.

“Didn’t the little junior sister say that flower was a Milky Way Flower?”

“Could it be that the mistress, in her desperation to save the little junior sister, really…”

“The blossoms of Broken Heart Grass and the Milky Way Flower look very similar. The biggest difference is at the calyx—Milky Way Flowers have no teeth, but Broken Heart Grass does, with barbs. Bing’er, are you sure you weren’t mistaken about the Milky Way Flower?”

Yuan Lingqing looked down gently at the trembling Lin Caibing in his arms and asked softly.

“No... I’m certain. I clearly saw that flower was a Milky Way Flower. I don’t know why Mistress would take out that Broken Heart Grass just now. Master, does Mistress dislike me...?”

Lin Caibing felt guilty; she really couldn’t tell Broken Heart Grass and Milky Way Flower apart.

But since the flower was destroyed, as long as Yuan Lingqing believed her, that was enough.

Yuan Lingqing’s jaw tightened as he restrained his anger.

Lin Caibing hurriedly placed her hand over his chest.

“Master, please don’t be angry. Perhaps Mistress truly needed the Milky Way Flower. After all... the young lord of the demon clan was seriously injured, and everything is in chaos among the demons. Mistress must be very worried about him…”

“Heh, worried about him…”

Yuan Lingqing, already feeling green-tinted despair, trembled slightly, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Lin Caibing lowered her gaze, a triumphant smile flickering in her eyes.

* * *

Back in the room, Bai Zhi decisively took out the talisman kite and wrote a letter to her master, Daoist Chen Qing.

The letter was brief: she wanted to divorce Yuan Lingqing.

“Divorce” was a polite term; what she truly wanted was to sever all ties with him.

However, she needed Daoist Chen Qing’s intervention. The marriage token from when they became Daoist partners was still in his possession.

The token symbolized their bond and linked their fortunes.

If the token wasn’t destroyed, she and Yuan Lingqing would remain entangled.

If Yuan Lingqing wanted trouble, he mustn’t drag her into it.

But Daoist Chen Qing was an eccentric old man—carefree, wandering, and unpredictable.

Since taking her as a disciple over a hundred years ago, Bai Zhi had seen him fewer than ten times.

Who knew when he’d reply?

Bai Zhi packed her belongings and prepared to leave.

She didn’t want to stay in this miserable place for even a second longer.

Suddenly, the door was flung open, and Yuan Lingqing stood at the entrance, his face dark as iron.

Seeing him, Bai Zhi’s expression soured.

“Do you have business with the demon clan young lord?”

Yuan Lingqing strode forward, his cold gaze fixed on Bai Zhi.

Though half a head shorter, Bai Zhi’s presence was no weaker.

“What’s it to you?” Bai Zhi smiled coldly. “I’ve already sent word to Master. Once the marriage token is destroyed, we’ll be no more.”

“What did you say?!”

Yuan Lingqing’s eyes narrowed, his brow twitching. “You want to divorce me?”

“Mm-hmm, that’s right.”

Bai Zhi met his gaze calmly.

Seeing the clear resolve in her eyes, Yuan Lingqing was inexplicably flustered, unsure whether it was anger or something else.

“...Why? Is it because of that demon clan young lord? He’s just a mere boy. Besides that face, what else does he have?”

Having spent seven lifetimes with Yuan Lingqing, Bai Zhi could read his anxiety.

She knew that although Yuan Lingqing favored Lin Caibing, he still harbored some feelings for her.

If she were her former self, seeing him like this would soften her heart.

But recalling the past seven lifetimes, no matter what she did, Yuan Lingqing inevitably drifted further away, beyond repair. Better to sever ties completely, and soon.

“Say what you want. I have nothing more to say.”

Bai Zhi smiled faintly, shrugged, and tried to walk past him, but he grabbed her shoulder firmly, causing her to frown in pain.

“If it’s not because of him, then is it because of today’s incident?”

Yuan Lingqing’s tone was urgent. “You clearly made a mistake. All you had to do was apologize to Bing’er, and this would have been over! Why make such a fuss over a small matter...?”

“A small matter?” Bai Zhi curled her lips and shrugged off his hand.

“You better go comfort your precious disciple well. I’m not apologizing.”

Watching his hand fall empty, Yuan Lingqing momentarily choked.

Bai Zhi reached the door, then suddenly stopped, recalling something.

“Oh, right, Sect Leader. Not only will I not apologize, but I’m also going to retrieve what belongs to me from her. Want to come along? So you won’t say I’m bullying your precious disciple again.”

At her words, Yuan Lingqing’s heart tightened inexplicably.

“She’s just a child. You’re an adult—why must you pick on her?”

“Say whatever you want.”

Bai Zhi’s tone remained indifferent as she didn’t look back.

Yuan Lingqing was infuriated by her nonchalant attitude.

“Bai Zhi! What exactly do you want?”

Ignoring his anger, Bai Zhi strode straight to the Apricot Forest Hall.

Everyone was gathered there—all six disciples surrounded Lin Caibing with concern.

Lin Caibing lowered her gaze guiltily. “It’s all my fault... Should I... apologize to Mistress?”

“Apologize for what? It wasn’t your fault…”

“Little junior sister, you know Mistress’s temper—she’s tough but soft-hearted. Whenever she errs, she never admits it verbally, but always sends precious treasures or pills as her way of apologizing.”

“Yes, Mistress is still our Mistress. Even if she’s wrong, she won’t openly admit it to us disciples. Instead, she shows it by giving us nice gifts. Don’t worry. Mistress will surely make it up to you properly.”

Before Bai Zhi entered the hall, she heard the disciples’ words and raised an eyebrow.

They truly had spoiled these fools.

“Ahem…”

Bai Zhi cleared her throat as she stepped inside, and the chatter ceased abruptly.

“Mistress… this disciple is fine. You need not worry.”

Lin Caibing bowed her head respectfully, secretly anticipating what Bai Zhi would offer as compensation this time.

A spiritual treasure? A magical artifact? Or pills?