How Could I Bear to Cut Off Your Horns

Yuelai Inn.

As for this copy of the Classic of Waterways, Chu Xingchen ultimately decided to follow Li Xingtian’s advice and summoned his eldest disciple.

At the moment, Li Yingling was lightly flipping through the book with a single finger, her eyes barely skimming the pages before she raised a brow and glanced at Li Xingtian beside her.

With a tone of mild surprise, she remarked, "Junior Brother, you don’t even understand something this simple? You had to call me here specifically?"

Li Xingtian fell silent for a long moment before admitting with a hint of shame, "Senior Sister’s brilliance is beyond my reach."

Chu Xingchen, who had been watching the heavy rain outside the window, turned his gaze to his eldest disciple, noting the undisguised pride on her face.

Li Yingling’s expression could practically be interpreted as—Without me, this sect would be doomed sooner or later.

Chu Xingchen walked up to her and lightly rapped her head with his knuckles.

"Stop showing off in front of your junior brother. Time is tight—finish learning and get ready to work."

Though the tap didn’t hurt, Li Yingling still theatrically clutched her head, feigning grievance.

"Master! If you keep this up, my brilliant mind will turn as dull as Second Junior Brother’s!"

Li Xingtian, standing silently nearby, endured yet another verbal jab from his senior sister…

Alas, his own performance had been lacking, leaving him no room to retort.

Chu Xingchen asked, "How long do you need?"

Li Yingling dropped the act. When it came to serious matters, she knew to adopt a proper attitude.

"Give me half an hour, and we can set off."

Chu Xingchen nodded and gestured for her to proceed.

What followed was an eye-opening display for Li Xingtian—a true demonstration of innate genius and the learning methods of a prodigy.

Li Yingling picked up a brush, ink, and paper. With utmost focus, she flipped through the book with her left hand while her right hand swiftly filled blank sheets with notes.

In mere moments, the first page was covered.

Two quarters of an hour later, as she finished her eighth sheet, she also turned the final page of the Classic of Waterways.

Setting down the brush, she scanned her notes, cross-referencing them with the book’s contents before declaring with confidence,

"I’ve got it. It was simpler than I thought. We can go now."

Chu Xingchen glanced at the densely scribbled pages in her hands, some lines resembling chaotic scribbles.

The term [Cultivation Prodigy] seemed almost too broadly applicable…

A peculiar thought suddenly crossed Chu Xingchen’s mind—

What if I taught Li Yingling some modern physics? Would that spark something unexpected?

But for now, all such musings had to wait. Business came first.

"Xingtian, accompany your senior sister to survey the surrounding waterways and draft a map," Chu Xingchen instructed, then glanced at Li Yingling’s notes and added,

"Make it easy to understand… There might be others reviewing it later who aren’t as sharp."

"We should consider their comprehension as well."

Li Xingtian bowed. "Understood, Master."

Li Yingling, brimming with enthusiasm, declared, "Come on, Second Junior Brother! I’ll teach you on the way!"

Watching his two disciples depart, Chu Xingchen lifted his gaze to the unrelenting downpour outside.

In the next instant, his figure vanished from the room without a trace.

Aside from laying the groundwork early, he needed to prepare other contingencies.

After all, it wasn’t the number of plans that mattered—it was the lack of them.

The more Plan Bs, the better.

---

Tianyan Sect.

Bai Xuanling held one of Qinghe’s horns in her left hand and a longsword in her right, her expression icy as she interrogated,

"You little river dragon—did growing new horns make you forget the days when you had none? Daring to deceive me?"

"Confess now, and I might spare you. Keep lying, and these horns won’t last."

Qinghe’s face paled, her voice trembling, but she stubbornly insisted,

"How would I dare deceive you? This is all there is! I didn’t pocket a single coin! The market’s been flooded with pills lately, driving prices down. I kept meticulous records—you can check the ledgers yourself!"

Qinghe was no fool. Having served Bai Xuanling for years, she knew the old demon’s temperament well.

Confession meant certain death. Only by resisting could she cling to life—and her horns.

Even if irrefutable evidence were slapped in her face, she’d grit her teeth and deny it.

These horns were a dragon’s pride!

Even if she was a bit of a hybrid… Pride was pride!

"You think I didn’t investigate?" Bai Xuanling sneered. "Before coming to you, I went to Lingmiao Peak and cross-checked with those alchemists. You didn’t sell at a discount—you marked them up!"

Bai Xuanling’s tone shifted abruptly, mimicking Qinghe’s voice:

"You think it’s expensive? I think it’s expensive too! But with such high demand, if not for our old ties, I wouldn’t even sell to you. Out there, I could hike the price another twenty percent and still sell out. This is practically a friendship discount!"

Hearing this, Qinghe’s face turned ashen.

Bai Xuanling narrowed her eyes. "Sound familiar, little Qinghe? Did you really think those who got swindled would keep your secret?"

"Let’s make this fair—three more lies, and I’m taking these horns as interest!"

Qinghe recalled those alchemists from Lingmiao Peak—how moved they had seemed when parting.

They’d promised to keep it quiet, to never let others know their pills were the cheapest.

Who knew humans could be so treacherous?!

As a dragon, why wasn’t her heart black enough yet?!

Bai Xuanling waited, but Qinghe remained silent.

"Nothing to say?!"

Qinghe racked her brain but found no excuses. In desperation, she lifted her head and forced a grin.

"I really didn’t embezzle! If you don’t believe me, drag me to Lingmiao Peak and confront them face-to-face! I—"

Bai Xuanling cut her off. "One."

Qinghe’s expression twisted into pitiful grievance, her large eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Other people’s spirit beasts get pampered with fine food and treats, while I’m stuck eating bland pills every day…"

"Two." Bai Xuanling remained unmoved.

Qinghe shut her eyes. There was no way she’d return the money—if she had to rely on Bai Xuanling’s meager stipend, she’d need an eternity to save up.

Two months’ wages couldn’t even cover a single meal at Tianyan Sect’s Zhiwei Pavilion!

She steeled herself and spat, "Go ahead and cut them off! I’ve got no face left to show other dragons anyway!"

The atmosphere froze.

"Master, it’s done…"

Xie Lingyu’s voice rang out.

Qinghe’s eyes flew open, locking onto the returning Xie Lingyu like a lifeline.

Xie Lingyu was Bai Xuanling’s treasured disciple—whatever she asked for, Bai Xuanling would move mountains to grant.

Right now, in all of Tianyan Sect, only this young lady could save her.

"Help me!" Qinghe pleaded.

Bai Xuanling still held onto Qinghe’s horn, her gaze shifting toward Xie Lingyu.

Before Xie Lingyu could speak, a streak of light descended straight from the horizon.

With a casual wave of her hand, Bai Xuanling summoned the light into her palm—a small jade disc shimmering with a faint blue glow.

An urgent message from the sect leader?

Bai Xuanling frowned slightly. This brat dares to assign me tasks at a time like this?

Did I not feed him enough pills last time?

She channeled her spiritual sense into the disc, and within a second, the icy expression on her face melted away.

Well, the sect leader finally learned some tact—knowing to offer a reward.

Releasing Qinghe’s horn and sheathing her sword, her tone softened as she spoke:

"Ah, fine. I suppose I’m feeling merciful. Just a few spirit stones—hardly worth cutting off your horn."

Qinghe’s face instantly paled with horror.