The Senior and Junior Apprentices

"Yi Yi, this... what is this? Mother, this..."

The young woman held Ji Qingyi in her arms, utterly bewildered. Hadn't they already died? What was happening now?

Facing her resurrected parents, the young Ji Qingyi lifted her head to glance at them for a moment, then lowered her eyes again, remaining silent. To her, their revival seemed neither exciting nor moving.

Mo Shangxie began to explain at that moment.

After a long while, the man and woman finally understood. "Immortal! So you are an Immortal!"

They knelt immediately!

Jiang Che had seen this scene play out countless times. The couple cried and begged to give their child to Jiang Che.

And so, just like that, Jiang Che was forced to accept Ji Qingyi as his young disciple.

Of course, Jiang Che felt nothing toward Ji Qingyi's parents. Admiring the strong was an instinct of all races—sending offspring to a more powerful figure for a better life was no sin. It was no different from parents spending a fortune on connections to find a master for their child to learn a craft.

But Jiang Che's gaze remained fixed on Ji Qingyi.

This little girl, no more than three or four years old, hadn't spoken a single word from beginning to end. She was like a mute, and even when her newly resurrected biological parents appeared before her, her face showed no emotion.

Of course, after seeing her parents brought back to life, Ji Qingyi wasn't completely unaffected. Her gaze had shifted from dull and vacant to calm.

This was truly not the expression a three- or four-year-old girl should have. Jiang Che even began to wonder—could Ji Qingyi also be a soul from another time reborn into this world?

But that seemed highly unlikely. No matter how high Ji Qingyi's cultivation was, she could never reach the level of a River God.

Because Ji Qingyi's status was not that of a Transcendent. Only a Transcendent could break free from the binds of the River of Time. Even a Supreme Immortal Emperor, if they stepped into the River of Time, would be corroded by it.

...

"Yi Yi, the Lord Demon Ancestor is a cultivator with vast, heaven-reaching powers. To be able to stay by his side is a blessing earned over ten lifetimes. Father and Mother will take their leave now—"

Soon enough, the couple left Ji Qingyi alone in the Demon Palace.

Jiang Che slowly walked up to Ji Qingyi.

[Ji Qingyi, descendant of the Ancient Fiend Clan, the only Fiend Seed remaining in the world. A born Fiend Spirit, the source of all evil, with a fate that counters all. The ultimate evil embryo.]

Holy moly, Jiang Che drew in a sharp breath. No wonder Ji Qingyi would eventually fall to the dark side—this was a pile of cursed traits! Maybe her turn wasn't his fault as her master, but her own doing!

Was her mind twisted from such a young age? Had he actually run into a true yandere?

Compared to Bai Jie, Ji Qingyi was the real yandere—she had been one since childhood.

"Ji Qingyi, from today onward... I am your master. Are you willing to accept that?"

Jiang Che stood with his hands behind his back.

But Ji Qingyi clearly wasn't paying him any mind. She was like a severely withdrawn child, not even glancing at Jiang Che, leaving Mr. Jiang feeling quite awkward.

"Hey, hey—this is your master! Little girl, hurry up and say yes! The master is incredibly powerful!"

Mo Shangxie ran over to Ji Qingyi and took her small hand. Even Mo Shangxie wasn't sure why this three- or four-year-old girl had such a strange personality. Had the sight of her parents dying before her eyes scared her senseless? But her master had already revived them! And yet the girl still refused to speak. Was she actually mute?

"Little Junior Sister, are you perhaps a mute?"

Mo Shangxie crouched in front of Ji Qingyi, gently rubbing her face with her little hands. She knew that Ji Qingyi wasn't really mute, but this was way too withdrawn!

Ji Qingyi lifted her head, blinked her big eyes twice, said nothing, then turned her gaze to Jiang Che.

She then started to waddle over to Jiang Che on her short little legs, lifting her arms—asking for a hug?

Jiang Che blinked in surprise, crouched down, and lifted Ji Qingyi into his arms. The little girl was soft as a cloud, like cuddling a ball of cotton.

"Zzz... purr..."

The moment Jiang Che picked her up, the little girl fell asleep on his shoulder.

Jiang Che: "..."

"Hehe, Master! Little Junior Sister is just scared, that's all. She'll be fine after a good sleep," Mo Shangxie said with a sweet smile. She was in a wonderful mood because she now had a junior sister!

As the sole disciple of the Demon Ancestor, she had seen many other Demon Lords and Demon Emperors taking thousands of disciples at once—no shortage of senior brothers, junior brothers, senior sisters, and junior sisters—but she had only ever had herself.

Now, she finally had a Little Junior Sister!

What a joy!

...

Jiang Che felt a headache coming on, because Ji Qingyi clung to his neck like a koala and refused to get off. She held on tight, just like a little sloth.

Left with no choice, Jiang Che took this little sloth fishing with him. Strangely enough, having Ji Qingyi with him actually gave him good luck! In the past, Jiang Che often came up empty-handed—he’d go ten days or half a month without catching a single fish—but now the fish were biting like crazy.

Ji Qingyi slept for over ten days before slowly opening her eyes, but she still refused to let go of Jiang Che.

"Let go now. I'm going to teach you cultivation."

Jiang Che peeled the little girl off his body and placed her on a table.

Ji Qingyi blinked her eyes, but she still refused to speak. She wouldn't even call him "Master."

Alright, Jiang Che could pretty much guess why Ji Qingyi would later fall to the dark side. Her stubborn, unyielding personality made her prone to extremes. If she suffered some kind of shock, she’d turn dark faster than anyone.

"Grrrr..."

Just then, a gurgling sound came from her belly.

She had slept for more than ten days as a three- or four-year-old girl. If not for her innate Qi Refining realm cultivation, she would have starved to death.

"Hmph... let me make you something to eat."

Jiang Che rolled up his sleeves, determined to show off to this little disciple. He refused to believe that his godly cooking skills couldn’t win over a little child!

Still, he kept a stern face, maintaining his dignified image as a cold and distant master.

Ji Qingyi trotted behind him like a little pet. At three or four, she was less than half his height, following him like a small shadow.

Everyone else in the Demon Palace saw this and understood the situation. The Demon Ancestor had taken another disciple. The Demon Palace was likely gaining another little demon king.

Mo Shangxie, though only thirteen years old, had already become the little menace of the palace—no one dared to discipline her except Jiang Che. And this Ji Qingyi was bound to be the next spoiled little overlord.