Chapter Fifteen: I Truly Am Not a Master

“The matter isn’t settled yet. Keep a close watch here—if anything changes, call me at once…” Casting a wary glance toward the commotion a hundred miles away, Ye Qiu left these words and turned to ascend to the second floor.

The sword formation above the inn remained undispersed, ready at any moment to confront an enemy. For now, the heretics of the Underworld Sect had been dealt with, but the Wilds would not quiet down so easily. Calamity still raged on, and no one could say how long it would last. Ye Qiu even considered making a run for it.

But where could he possibly flee? In these Wilds, where myriad races mingled and the land was scarred and unhealed, there was not a single untouched haven. Powers tangled everywhere, their conflicts ceaseless; nowhere under the heavens was truly free from war.

“Senior…”

Returning to the second floor, Ye Qiu sat calmly in a chair at last, letting out a breath of relief. The others approached with respect, deeply admiring Ye Qiu’s strength.

But Ye Qiu knew in his heart that he was hardly as formidable as they thought. Rather than continuing the charade and risking an even more embarrassing exposure, he decided it was best to be honest now.

“Enough. I’ll stop pretending. Let’s lay all the cards on the table!”

Resolute, Ye Qiu was just about to speak when Yang Xuan came forward, full of praise: “Senior, your mastery truly runs deep. You are as a banished immortal from the heavens, sweeping away all before you with a flick of your finger. We are in awe.

At this moment, I recall a saying: ‘With the sun and moon in hand, I pluck the stars from the sky—no one in this world is like me!’ Impressive… truly impressive!”

Ye Qiu: “???”

What? Am I really that amazing?

How annoying, these flatterers, so over the top—yet why does it all sound so pleasing?

“Yes, yes, that’s me!” Ye Qiu felt a rush of satisfaction, as though Yang Xuan’s words were meant just for him.

“Wait, no—I was about to come clean. Why am I putting on airs again?” Ye Qiu was embarrassed. This wasn’t how the script was supposed to go. Was he really someone who couldn’t take a compliment?

“Uh… honestly, let me tell you the truth—I’m just an ordinary person. You don’t need to call me senior. I’m really not as incredible as you imagine…”

Though it felt good to pretend, Ye Qiu valued his life more. Best to confess now.

The moment he said this, everyone fell silent.

Yang Xuan blurted out, “Pretending?”

Come on, you’re an ordinary person? You, who can dispatch a supreme elder with a single blow?

Heavens, does that make us less than swine or dogs?

This is outrageous. You’re really rubbing it in. Are you just here to make us feel inferior? I can’t believe this.

“So this is how true experts humble themselves? I get it now…” Yang Xuan’s heart trembled with sudden understanding. He continued, “Senior, please, don’t jest with us! If you are an ordinary man, what does that make us? Rest assured, we would never betray your presence here in seclusion. There’s truly no need to worry…”

“To hell with your seclusion! I really am just an ordinary man…” Ye Qiu wanted to die. Why wouldn’t they believe him when he told the truth?

He wasn’t some mighty figure! Why did they all insist he was?

“Forget it, think what you like. No matter what I say, you’ll just think I’m putting on a show…”

Ye Qiu was speechless, too tired to explain further. Once he’d sent them on their way, he wouldn’t have to keep up the act.

Everyone else looked utterly baffled by Ye Qiu’s reaction.

“Strange, isn’t this senior’s temperament a little too odd? He doesn’t even enjoy being praised?”

“You don’t understand. His purpose in seclusion is to avoid the world and cultivate in peace—of course he doesn’t want his true power exposed!”

Suddenly, enlightenment dawned in their hearts, and their admiration grew.

“To think he possesses such depth of character—wielding unmatched strength, yet content to live as an ordinary man. Perhaps… this is what it truly means to be a master.”

They simply could not believe Ye Qiu was just a regular person. The righteous energy that radiated from him alone was enough to command the world.

An ordinary man? Nonsense. Line up everyone under the heavens, and none could match him.

“Senior, the Underworld Sect is finished, but a greater calamity approaches. What should we do next? Please instruct us—whatever is within our power, we will accomplish…” Yang Xuan suggested. The crisis was far from over; now was no time to rest.

Ye Qiu was troubled by this as well. This time, it wasn’t just the Underworld Sect, but true behemoths approaching.

These were ancient primordial fiends, their power second only to the supreme. Even the grand elder of the Radiant Sanctuary would not dare claim victory.

After a moment’s thought, Ye Qiu replied, “What else can we do? Meet force with force, water with earth—right now, we can only take things one step at a time…”

All around, the land was a sea of fire. Even if they wanted to flee, there was nowhere to run. Their only hope was that the four great fiends would not draw near.

“By the way, you’ve all mostly recovered, haven’t you? While they’re still far off, you should escape now. If you wait, even I won’t be able to save you…”

Escape?

The crowd was stunned by Ye Qiu’s words.

Escape where? With their cultivation, the moment they set foot outside they’d be swallowed by the inferno—there was simply nowhere to go.

“Senior brother, what do you think?”

All eyes turned to Yang Xuan, who pondered for a moment before saying, “Given the current situation, our only chance at survival is to cling to senior’s side. If even he can’t protect us, we’re truly doomed.

This place may seem dangerous, but in truth it’s the safest spot. As long as senior is here, we’ll be delivered from peril. Don’t you agree, junior sister?”

Fu Yao nodded. “Yes.”

She was naturally reserved, not prone to many words, and replied coolly. Yet inside, her feelings were conflicted. She had been observing Ye Qiu, only to find that no matter how hard she tried, she could not fathom even a fraction of his depth.

Terrifying. This man’s cultivation was unfathomable.

But she couldn’t understand why, with such power, Ye Qiu kept so low a profile. Or perhaps—there was one word to sum it up.

Cowardice.

What was he afraid of? Was he somehow forbidden to interfere in mortal affairs?

Clearly, Fu Yao misread him. It wasn’t that Ye Qiu was forbidden—he simply had no idea how powerful he was, or how to wield the strength within him.

So what could he do but lie low to survive?

Good grief. Bringing a god-tier account to the rookie village and pretending to be a newbie? What arrogance…

Yang Xuan slapped his thigh. “It’s settled. Until we find our sect, no one is to leave the inn. Stay by senior’s side at all times.”

“Agreed…”

With the plan made, Yang Xuan strode up to Ye Qiu and declared, “Senior, we won’t leave. We vow to live and die with this inn…”

Having said this, Yang Xuan was so moved by his own words that he nearly wept. Who would have thought he could speak so passionately? Surely, now Ye Qiu would have no excuse to drive them away.

Heh—trying to play the ordinary man and trick us into leaving? No way!

Ye Qiu gave him an odd look. “Goodness, why does it feel like this inn belongs to them, not me? Is it just my imagination?”

Whatever. Since they’re so eager to act tough, let them. I’m not playing along.

“If that’s the case, then you all stay—I’m leaving!” Ye Qiu announced, and this time it was Yang Xuan’s turn to be dumbfounded.

What? You’re leaving? Hey, you’re the expert here—the inn means nothing without you!

I just finished my speech and you slap me in the face like this? How can you do this?

If you’re gone, what use is the inn?

“Senior, please don’t go…” Yang Xuan was on the verge of tears, clutching at Ye Qiu’s leg to keep him from leaving.

“What are you doing? Let go. If you want to die, that’s your business, not mine. Don’t hold me back…”

Ye Qiu’s face darkened. Weren’t you just full of bluster? Fine, you want to act tough, I’ll let you—I’m leaving, isn’t that enough?

“Senior, this inn is your home. How can you abandon it? And if you must leave, take us with you…”

Yang Xuan had thrown shame to the wind. If clinging to Ye Qiu’s leg meant survival, then dignity be damned.

Ye Qiu was mortified. Were young people these days all so shameless? Just moments ago, they were boasting about living and dying with the inn, rousing even Ye Qiu’s own fighting spirit. Yet now they wanted to flee? What happened to standing together?

Suddenly, a thunderous boom echoed from the horizon.

“What was that?” Yang Xuan, startled, leapt from the floor, releasing Ye Qiu.

Everyone rushed to the window, where they saw a vast crater in the earth and, above the abyss, the Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow looming close.

“They’re here… they’re really here…”

In that instant, no one could remain calm. They all turned to ask Ye Qiu what to do next—only to find he had already vanished.

“Where is he?” Yang Xuan was dumbstruck. In the blink of an eye, such a large man was gone?

My goodness, and you say you’re not a master? That speed was faster than teleportation.

“Senior brother, do you think the senior has already run off?”

The crowd was anxious. If Ye Qiu had fled, did that mean they were doomed?

“Quiet! Do you really take senior for a coward who fears death? The reason he said those things was to test our resolve.

Yes, that must be it! I understand now—he wanted to see our attitude toward the inn.

And since we performed so admirably, he surely won’t abandon us. Just wait—he’ll be back…”

Yang Xuan forced the narrative, though even he couldn’t quite believe it. Yet the others, swayed by his conviction, were half-convinced.

Meanwhile, Ye Qiu had already slipped into the underground chamber, panting as he shut the door and collapsed onto the floor.

“Phew… that was close. Thank goodness I reacted quickly, or I’d be dead by now. It’s getting harder and harder to survive these days—even keeping a low profile is impossible…”