In truth, Chen Yin master has always treated him well.
Immortal Yu Ling is a legend in the cultivation world—a supreme immortal of the Great Purity Realm, known as the only one to attain longevity before enlightenment.
She created her own technique, Record of the Forgetful Blossoming Heart, which has led her to never face defeat and even has the power to reverse aging.
To this day, she appears as nothing more than a ten-year-old, a beautiful and extraordinary young girl.
Although she holds the title of elder within the Misty Spirit Sect, her status is as high as the sect leader's.
Countless people in the cultivation world fight tooth and nail to become her disciples, longing to learn her legendary technique that promises "eternal life."
However, over the years, his master has only taken in two disciples: himself and his junior sister, Xiang'er, whom she brought up the mountain ten years ago.
Chen Yin still remembers that day vividly.
Back then, he was a street urchin who had just reincarnated from Earth into this world.
He survived by blending into the streets, stealing food and living a life of petty crime.
Out of nowhere, this celestial figure, his master, descended right in front of his dirty, disheveled self.
Behind her, a slightly younger girl peeked out timidly, stealing curious glances at him.
Master spoke in a soft, elegant voice:
"You filthy little thing. Just look at you."
"Come with me. You won't have to worry about food anymore."
It was an irresistible offer, so Chen Yin agreed without hesitation.
At that time, Chen Yin had no idea who Immortal Yu Ling was.
Chen Yin knew that there were immortals in this world, but he thought it had nothing to do with him.
All he wanted was to survive in this world.
Here, there was no social welfare, no orphanages, no police to take you back home. No McDonald's to spend the night at.
None of Chen Yin's knowledge from his previous world could help him survive.
So, Chen Yin followed his master up the mountain.
It was only then that he learned the timid girl hiding behind his master was his junior sister.
She was two years younger than Chen Yin and had been taken up the mountain on the same day.
Back then, Xiang'er's features hadn't fully blossomed, yet it was clear she was destined to be a beauty.
Her dimples would appear when she smiled, and they were so adorable.
She'd often trail behind Chen Yin, calling out in a soft, childlike voice:
"Senior brother!"
Chen Yin adored his junior sister, treating her as his closest family. He loved teasing her, as she'd always blush easily and reveal an adorable expression.
The ten years they spent on the mountain were uneventful but full of warmth. Although their master took Xiang'er and Chen Yin as disciples, she never pressured them to cultivate. She rarely even taught them any techniques, leaving them free to follow their own paths.
So, every day, Xiang'er and Chen Yin would spend their time training a bit, studying some techniques. When they were tired of that, they'd admire flowers, look at the trees, and play around, living carefree and content.
Back then, the cultivation world was filled with many prodigies, like Shen Shuanglian, the Frost Moon Sword Immortal of the main sect, and Luo Qiaoqiao, the Fairy of the Tianluo Sect. But Xiang'er and Chen Yin never cared about such things. They didn't need to be prodigies; all they wanted was to live this happy, peaceful life.
Chen Yin thought he could live in happiness forever.
But on that fateful day, Shen Shuanglian came with an order from the main sect to find Chen Yin.
That time, Chen Yin agreed to go.
He joined the main sect as a so-called "core disciple" for five years.
Back then, Chen Yin still had the naive hope that his talent might one day help him stand out among the disciples. But eventually, Chen Yin realized how naive he was.
His handsome appearance and fine roots were nothing but a decorative shell—nice to look at but useless in practice. He was just a vase, labeled as a core disciple yet receiving no resources, shunned by the other disciples, enduring their sneers and ridicule in loneliness and hardship.
Five years passed.
Though the days were tough, Chen Yin held onto a glimmer of hope. The sect's rule was that after reaching the Cloud Realm, a disciple could freely roam the world.
Chen Yin wanted to quickly reach that level so he could return to Yushan Mountain, find his beloved master, and see his dearest junior sister again.
With that hope, Chen Yin threw himself into every task the sect had, risking his life repeatedly to gain experience and cultivate.
Chen Yin's hard work finally paid off. In a hidden realm, he obtained something that could change my fate.
But fate didn't give Chen Yin the ending he had hoped for.
When Chen Yin emerged from the hidden realm, he overheard other sect disciples talking:
"Did you hear? The Misty Spirit Sect has been wiped out!"
"They say it was one of their female disciples, someone inconspicuous, who had been secretly cultivating demonic powers and turned into a demonic overlord. She killed everyone, leaving the sect leader and all the elders dead or injured. The legendary Immortal Yu Ling, was out traveling and wasn't there."
"In the end, it was only the Frost Moon Sword Immortal Shen Shuanglian who, at the cost of her life, used a forbidden technique to take down the demonic overlord. She single-handedly saved the world of cultivation."
"Thank goodness for Shen Shuanglian, or else we'd have had another demonic overlord wreaking havoc."
"It's such a shame about Shen Shuanglian…"
At first, Chen Yin thought he must have misheard. Maybe they weren't talking about his sect.
But when Chen Yin returned to the mountain, now reduced to ruins, he broke completely.
The entire mountain had been turned to rubble.
In the midst of the ruins, two breathtakingly beautiful women lay facing each other, swords piercing through each other's dantians.
One had a face as cold as snow, radiating a moon-like purity, while the other had a hint of seductive charm that couldn't mask her innocence—her youthful features exuding a chilling aura as cold as the depths of the Nine Hells.
Though she looked different from the dimpled girl in his memories, Chen Yin recognized her immediately.
It was his junior sister, Xiang'er. His closest family.
And standing opposite her was the Frost Moon Sword Immortal Shen Shuanglian, his senior sister, whom he'd only met a few times and barely exchanged words with.
The two maintained a posture of mutual destruction, the lingering power from their battle so intense that most cultivators couldn't approach.
It was only then that Chen Yin realized he was too late.
Despite obtaining something that could change everything, he was still a step behind.
He didn't know what Xiang'er had gone through in the five years he was away from Yushan Mountain, nor why she had fallen into the demonic path and become a demonic overlord. He also couldn't fathom what fortuitous encounters his senior sister must have had to be able to bring Xiang'er down with her.
All he knew was that there was nothing he could change.
It was like the most ordinary folktale told by a storyteller: the senior sister was the righteous protagonist, blessed with extraordinary talent, luck, and a series of fortunate encounters.
The junior sister, however, was the tragic villain, fallen into the demonic path, betraying her master, and enduring the world's scorn.
And he was merely a side character, unable to save anyone, unworthy of inclusion in the tales of heroes and villains.
Despite finally obtaining something that could alter everything, he was still too late.
In despair, Chen Yin laughed bitterly and ended his life before the two of them.
But heaven played a rather crude joke on him—it gave him a third chance.
This time, instead of being sent to another world, he was sent back in time.
Back to five years earlier, to Yushan Mountain. Before he'd made that choice.
<+>
After Shen Shuanglian left, his master, as was her habit, prepared to bathe again.
She was exceptionally fond of bathing, soaking three or four times a day, claiming it was necessary to maintain her Record of the Forgetful Blossoming Heart technique.
Naturally, Chen Yin took the opportunity to ingratiate himself as usual.
"Master, let me scrub your back for you!"
"Ha, you filthy brat, don't tell me you're not a lolicon? Even in this childlike body of mine, you still have impure thoughts?"
"Oh, Master, you wrong me! It's not that I like loli bodies; it just so happens that my beloved Master is in a loli form."
"Ugh. Smooth talker."
In the end, Chen Yin was allowed to stay by the bath.
In the misty steam, Yu Ling leaned softly against the edge of the pool, crystal droplets clinging to her fair shoulders.
"So, you filthy brat—what do you think of your famous senior sister?"
"Just average," Chen Yin replied dismissively, then added thoughtfully, "She's got nothing on you, Master."
"Don't push your flattery too far," Yu Ling said, rolling over onto her stomach, watching Chen Yin pour tea with an amused glint in her eyes. "Honestly, I wonder about you. For such a shameless rascal, you sure don't seem interested when a true beauty shows up right in front of you. Or… maybe you're just not up to the task?"
That was something Chen Yin wouldn't take lying down.
He immediately lifted his head. "Hey, don't slander me, Master. They call me the 'Iron Bullet of Yushan Mountain'—I could even poke a hole in that ancient thousand-year-old tree at the mountain gate."
"Oh, I don't believe you," Yu Ling replied with a playful smile. "Maybe one day you should let me sample your supposed prowess?"
"…I doubt I'd be a match for Master," he teased back.
"At least you know your limits." She splashed a handful of water over herself, her tone softening. "Let's talk about what's on your mind."
"You knew?" Chen Yin grinned, unsurprised.
"Of course I knew. I've known you since you were a mud-covered little brat. I don't need to see you naked to know your exact size," she quipped, scoffing playfully. "So, spit it out. Ever since you saw your senior sister, you've been brooding."
She paused and looked at him with suspicion. "You didn't go as far as trying to drug her, did you?"
"It'd be a miracle if I were still alive after that." Chen Yin's smile twitched, but the humor didn't reach his eyes.
He had been debating whether to tell his master about what he knew.
With her towering cultivation level, perhaps she could solve this and prevent that tragic ending.
But he feared something else more: though his master was fiercely protective of her disciples, she despised demonic cultivators above all.
If Xiang'er had already taken a step down that dark path, would Master still protect her?
Or would she, in a fit of fury, handle the matter herself and purge her from the sect?
That would be the end of everything.
After a moment's hesitation, Chen Yin decided to keep it to himself, at least for now.
"Actually, I was just wondering why such a trivial matter as my joining the main sect required Senior Sister's personal attention," he explained. "But after seeing her expression today, I understand."
"Oh?" His master looked intrigued. "And that would be?"
"That she's definitely smitten by my charming, refined presence and secretly fancies me. She just can't bring herself to admit it, so she used this as an excuse to get close to me," he replied with an utterly convinced expression.
"…What a shame you don't make face-thickening talismans," Yu Ling retorted.
Then, after a brief pause, she cast her gaze sideways, her tone light but faintly concerned. "Even though I know you aren't one to cause trouble… if there ever is something you need my help with…"
Her lips parted slightly. "Don't hold back."
Chen Yin was silent for a moment.
Then, he nodded deeply.
"Understood."