Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Ways to Tempt the Disciple
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After that, the disciple kept himself busy practicing the first form I had taught him, Falling Heaven.
He seemed bothered that I had left him alone and gone off to face the enemy by myself.
Perhaps because of that, Nameless had drastically increased his already grueling training schedule, living day after day in a somewhat mechanical routine, just like I had done for so long.
I admired his dedication and taught him even more diligently than usual—personally correcting his stance, letting him touch my muscles to feel their movement so he could grasp the knack of it.
At first, Nameless had hesitated to touch my body, but he gradually grew accustomed to it and progressed smoothly in his training.
And so, another three years passed.
...
"That's a pretty decent Falling Heaven now."
After demonstrating Falling Heaven for me, Nameless approached, breathing heavily. I wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, tapping it lightly.
"Yes, all thanks to Master's guidance."
"Tch, you sure know how to talk smooth."
Over the past three years, through bone-grinding effort, Nameless had mastered my Falling Heaven to a considerable degree.
Yes, a considerable degree.
He couldn't bring the heavens crashing down like I could, but it had enough power to shake the skies.
My instruction must have helped a great deal, but Nameless's growth rate was nothing short of astonishing.
As expected of the protagonist, his progress was ridiculously fast—embarrassingly so, enough to make even his master feel a twinge of jealousy.
Of course, it wasn't purely negative.
'He's my disciple, after all.'
His rapid growth filled me with pride, like that feeling of being full just from looking at food—something I'd never experienced in my lifetime.
Of course, his growth wasn't limited to swordsmanship.
"Nameless, just how big are you going to get? My neck hurts looking up at you now."
"Meanwhile, Master doesn't seem to have grown any taller with time."
"You little—?"
I flicked the forehead of my cheeky disciple, who loved teasing me whenever he got the chance.
"Ugh, Master, I'm not a kid anymore."
Not pleased about the flick, Nameless covered his forehead with both hands, narrowing his brows as he spoke—but nonsense.
"In my eyes, you're still a child."
With over three hundred years between us, anyone would seem like a kid compared to me.
Of course, I still didn't like how old that made me sound.
"Once I obtain a body like Master's, the age gap won't matter, will it?"
"Ha, as if that closes the gap between our actual ages?"
It was one of the rare chances to tease my insolent disciple.
Nameless had only ever teased me about my age once at the very beginning—otherwise, he never did.
In fact, whenever I brought up the age difference, he'd make an unusually sullen face.
I couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, but judging by my sharp intuition, he seemed aware that his master was a bit sensitive about her age and was playing along.
That made teasing him all the more fun for me.
Now a full-grown man with a handsome face that exuded masculinity, seeing him pout like that was endlessly amusing in its own way.
Whether because of the age gap or because I had raised him myself, this big lug still had his cute sides in my eyes.
Nameless, still wearing that dissatisfied expression, shot back once more.
These exchanges happened so often now that I couldn't even remember how many times.
"If I gain a body like Master's, it'll be true immortality. Shouldn't I think more about the days ahead than the ones behind?"
"Tch, say that after you reach that realm, you brat."
I flicked his forehead again.
"Ugh! Stop hitting me! Aren't you afraid of the day I surpass you?!"
"You punk! Still haven't learned, huh? One more for you."
How dare he threaten his master, who was like the heavens themselves!
Thwack—!
"Aack!"
He definitely hadn't acted like such a brat back in the day.
I could only sigh, wondering who he'd learned it from.
"Sigh, tch tch."
Unlike his childish mind, his physical growth was unreal—probably pushing late 180s now.
In contrast, I hadn't grown or shrunk an inch; my appearance remained completely unchanged.
Not even my nails, toenails, or hair grew.
My dantian, below my navel, sucked up every bit of energy and nutrients that could have gone to those, as if it were too precious to waste.
Of course, if a nail fell off or I cut my hair, it would grow back.
I tried to act nonchalant on the outside, but lately, my mind had been troubled.
'Have I really attained immortality?'
I should be thrilled, but being unusually timid, I feared what lay ahead.
Once even Nameless's lifespan ended and he grew old and died, wouldn't I truly be alone?
A greatly extended life wasn't entirely a blessing.
And if I felt lonely later, I doubted I could take on another disciple besides him.
He might act immature, but his kind nature shone through in how he considered my feelings. Taking a new disciple would feel like betraying the bond we'd built.
"Haa."
The somewhat sad imagining drew out a sigh.
Nameless, somehow always attuned to my feelings, smiled lightly and continued.
"Don't worry, Master. I'll definitely reach the same realm as you."
One moment he's teasing, the next he's comforting his master at the drop of a hat—seeing that made me chuckle softly.
'What a good kid. Wonder who he takes after.'
Feeling embarrassed for no reason, I turned my head, waved him off, and urged him back to training.
"Enough slacking. Get back to cultivating."
"Yes."
Still, his simple words of comfort had definitely eased my heart.
He must know my inner thoughts even from my reactions.
Embarrassing.
Anyway, three years after that day, Nameless was now nineteen.
Practically an adult.
Less than a year until he could enroll in the Academy, but he showed no signs of wanting to leave the mountain. Whenever I subtly broached the topic, he'd shut it down cold.
See, even now.
"Disciple, the world is vast—"
"Master doesn't leave this mountain either."
"...True enough."
What could I even say?
I couldn't tell him something absurd like, "If you don't go to the Academy, the world might end!" And forcing him wouldn't work—with his current skills, he'd just bolt from the Academy and come right back here.
This wasn't speculation; it was certainty.
Look at him now: even when I hinted at descending the mountain, he was swinging his sword with a sulky expression.
'Getting that obviously sulky isn't easy...'
Tch tch, who does he take after?
Nameless's determination to stay by my side forever was admirable, but at this rate, he'd never find a partner.
I understood his feelings well enough.
In my past life, I'd vowed to serve my parents forever, but hadn't. Why would Nameless be any different?
Plus, spending his prime years with someone like me—who's only old in age—must leave him seriously frustrated.
'Hmm.'
The slightly vulgar thought made my face flush.
Guess I've gotten more sentimental with age.
Well, since we started using separate rooms three years ago, he could handle his own needs, but that probably wasn't enough.
At this rate, I might hear some adolescent outburst like, "It's your fault I never found a partner, Master?!"
If that happened, I'd swallow tears like a father chewed out for doing his daughter's laundry.
The chilling imagination made my whole body shudder.
I absolutely refused that future.
Still sulking, or avoiding my gaze, Nameless swung his sword. I watched him for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.
"Haa— who on earth is going to take that kid off my hands? Poor thing."
I felt a bit resentful toward my disciple for not understanding his master's heavenly heart.
If Nameless truly was the protagonist from the novel I'd read, he'd have a fated partner chosen by the heavens.
'And I only read pure romance novels.'
A sudden idea brought a devilish smile to my face.
I'd found another way to send Nameless to the Academy.
As a man, if I told him his destined one was at the Academy, his eyes would light up and he'd go running.
"Heh heh heh."
What a brilliant idea.
"Master, are you feeling okay...? Why are you laughing like an idiot...?"
I ignored Nameless's suspicious words with a flick to the forehead.