Chapter Five: Senior?

Ye Qiu glanced around, making sure there really was no one else before slowly stepping out from within. When he saw the entire group from the Yaoguang Sanctuary kneeling in unison below, he was startled out of his wits.

What the hell, why are they kneeling to me for no reason? Are they trying to shorten my life? Ye Qiu didn’t believe himself to be some great master. This bizarre act nearly scared him half to death. Surely not—surely they don’t actually think those contraptions are so formidable that I must be some amazing figure?

“What are you all doing…” Ye Qiu asked, looking at the people below, feeling so awkward he didn’t know what to say.

Yang Xuan spoke first, “Thank you, Senior, for saving our lives. I, Yang Xuan, will never forget this debt of gratitude…”

“Se… Senior?” Ye Qiu nearly choked. I’m a senior now? Brother, have you got the wrong guy? I’m just an ordinary person! This sudden “senior” is going to kill me with embarrassment.

Flustered, Ye Qiu replied, “I’m not some senior. I’m just an ordinary man. You must have mistaken me for someone else…”

Pretending? Still pretending? Yang Xuan looked down on this behavior—clearly so powerful, yet still acting like an average person? Look at this house full of immortal artifacts, and you call yourself ordinary? Then what are we?

It seemed Master was right: these reclusive masters like to disguise themselves as commoners, always keeping a low profile. They say it’s to escape worldly disputes and seek enlightenment amidst the mundane. Incredible—Yang Xuan silently congratulated himself for his insight. So this is how true experts act? No wonder it’s so terrifying.

Playing the weak to hunt the strong? Feigning modesty only to amaze everyone in the end? I’ve learned so much today…

Yang Xuan’s heart leapt with excitement as he said, “Senior, rest assured—I swear on my honor, I will never reveal your hidden sanctuary here.”

Reveal, my foot! I’m really not a senior… Ye Qiu was utterly confused. Is this guy out of his mind? How did I suddenly become a senior?

Yang Xuan was unmoved by Ye Qiu’s protest; in his heart, Ye Qiu was already a hidden master, no matter what he said. He just thought Ye Qiu was playing along. Pretending to be ordinary—does he find this fun?

Pretending? More pretending? Yang Xuan smiled meaningfully, “Senior, I understand, I understand…” He then turned to his junior brothers and sisters, “Did you all hear? The senior is just an ordinary man. Don’t go spreading it around…”

“Understood…” the group replied in unison, nearly making Ye Qiu curse aloud.

You understand nothing! This is forcing me onto the stage. I never wanted to pretend, but you’re making me do it. Only protagonists get to play this game, and if I do it, won’t I be doomed? Ye Qiu shuddered at the thought, but then he reconsidered.

Wait… maybe this is a way out. Since they already think I’m a master, why not go along with it? The Great Wilderness is in chaos; simply hiding isn’t enough to survive. After some thought, Ye Qiu decided to keep up the act. Though he didn’t know any cultivation or fighting, he was a natural at pretending to be a master.

Heh, that’s right, that’s right—it’s me, it’s me, I am the great one… Ye Qiu was delighted inwardly, yet on the surface he remained calm and collected, exuding an air of righteous grandeur, giving the appearance of a reclusive master at first glance.

He spoke lightly, “All of you may rise. I didn’t expect, after hiding so deeply, to be discovered by you. But this matter must not be spread. If I find anyone talking about it, I will destroy them…”

“Understood…” The group was overjoyed to have Ye Qiu’s recognition and kept his words close to heart, not daring to speak carelessly.

After all, this man might be one of the legendary supreme masters. If they angered him, no matter where they fled, death would be unavoidable.

Seeing the relieved expressions below, Ye Qiu finally breathed easy. They seem rather afraid of me, he thought. As long as I don’t give myself away, nothing major should go wrong.

But pretending to be a master takes skill, too.

“Junior Sister, can you still hold on?” Yang Xuan asked with concern, glancing at Fu Yao and noticing her face growing paler.

Fu Yao shook her head. “My cultivation is ruined. I doubt I’ll last through the night…”

At those words, the group panicked. Fu Yao was wounded saving them, and now they could do nothing but watch.

They felt terribly frustrated.

“Senior Brother, what do we do? There’s still no word from the sect, and the Elders must be deep inside the sea of fire by now. We can’t delay any longer with Senior Sister’s injuries…”

Yang Xuan’s face darkened. He wanted to save Fu Yao, but was powerless. The immediate priority was to find a quiet place for her to recover.

“Senior, my junior sister is gravely wounded. Please, let us enter and tend to her. If she survives, Yaoguang Sanctuary will never forget your kindness…”

Ye Qiu hesitated, looking at Fu Yao, torn. He’d wanted to send these people away to keep his secret safe. But Fu Yao clearly couldn’t endure further torment; any delay meant certain death.

A living life, and such a lovely girl—he couldn’t bear to turn her away.

What should I do? she’s so beautiful, destined to be the protagonist’s companion. If I don’t save her, will the protagonist come after me one day? Ye Qiu thought, not realizing that he himself was the protagonist.

After all, in his mind, every protagonist was either invincible or had a legendary system. Who else would be as miserable as he? Hiding for twenty years, doing nothing but playing music, painting, brewing wine, and farming—what kind of protagonist lived like this?

No, no, no—of all people, I can’t offend the protagonist. Fine, today I’ll be the pushover.

Ye Qiu made up his mind, then said calmly, “Come inside…”

He turned and called to Cao He inside, “Cao, arrange for them.”

“Alright!” Cao He hurried over, as the group at the entrance called out in unison, “Thank you, Senior!”

Senior? Cao He was stunned. Who are they calling? Ye Qiu? Don’t joke—he’s a senior? No one knows better than I do. I’ve followed him for twenty years; he can’t even read basic cultivation texts. Senior?

Cao He was confused, but didn’t correct them. Instead, he asked curiously, “Boss, why are they calling you Senior?”

Ye Qiu shot him an annoyed look. “How should I know? Maybe our traps earlier scared them. Just stay sharp—since they’ve already misunderstood, there’s no need to clarify. If they find out I’m not a master, both of us are done for…”

“Got it, got it,” Cao He replied. He wasn’t foolish—he didn’t know why they addressed Ye Qiu as Senior, but he knew it was safest to follow Ye Qiu’s lead.

“Alright, go see to them.” Ye Qiu left the words behind and, maintaining his calm façade, walked out of the first floor—heart pounding with excitement, feeling light as a feather.

Heh, who would’ve thought I, Ye Qiu, would one day be called Senior? This is amazing! Is this the peak of my life? So this is what pretending feels like? No wonder all those protagonists are obsessed with it—it really is exhilarating.

Over twenty years—does anyone know how I’ve lived these twenty years? I’m a transmigrator too, but I’ve never once put on airs. Not once! My lifelong dream is coming true. So this is what it feels like! I feel positively immortal…

I can’t believe I got such an impressive title for free. Senior? Ha! Fantastic!

Back on the second floor, Ye Qiu gazed at the sea of fire outside, worry clouding his heart. Damn it! How did such a disaster erupt out of nowhere?

He couldn’t figure it out, but with the great calamity already unfolding, there was no point in dwelling on the cause. All he could do was hope it would pass quickly, or disaster would be inevitable.

This turmoil involved not just the great clans, sanctuaries, and immortal sects within the sea of fire, but all of the Great Wilderness and its countless beings—including Ye Qiu himself.

In the main hall on the first floor, everyone gathered around Fu Yao, watching her meditate. But she had already missed her best chance for healing; it was now too late.

Blood spurted from her lips and she collapsed, deathly pale, onto her chair, nearly falling.

“Junior Sister, how do you feel?” Yang Xuan asked anxiously.

Fu Yao shook her head, her voice weak, “My foundation is destroyed. The blow from the Devouring Heaven Sparrow was more than I could withstand. The scorching fire within me can’t be suppressed. Before, I could barely hold on with my cultivation, but now… I have no strength left.”

“What!” “Nothing can be done…” The group was shocked.

“Wang Le, have any disciples returned with word from the Elders?” Yang Xuan pressed. Wang Le shook his head, “Nothing. Even if they find the sect, they probably won’t know we’re here…”

Hearing this, Yang Xuan was devastated. Before leaving the sea of fire, he’d already sent junior brothers to seek the sect. But the chaos was too great—even survival was a miracle.

Just as hope faded, Ye Qiu appeared once more in the hall.

Seeing him, Yang Xuan felt as if he’d glimpsed salvation, rushing over excitedly, “Senior, I beg you, please save my junior sister…”

“Huh?” Now it was Ye Qiu’s turn to be dumbfounded. He’d just come down to fetch a jar of wine—how had he landed in the middle of all this?

Healing people? Don’t make him laugh—it would be like asking Zhang Fei to embroider. This was simply impossible!