AZI Volume 4 Chapter 39

(There isn't much value in accepting her as a disciple. If anything, it's only needless trouble. And…)

Recalling his shizun's words about his ill fate with women, Long Hua makes it another reason to not accept Yao Ying as his disciple.

(Accepting a disciple also requires there to be a fated connection between the two involved. My shizun said, that there was a fated connection between us—when he accepted me under his tutelage. In that case, it's only proper of me to do the same, if I were to accept a disciple.)

Thinking up to here, Long Hua concludes his decision, and turns to face Yao Ying, to say—

"You want me to accept you as my disciple? This matter…"

"…"

The instance before Long Hua gives his answer to Yao Ying—to her, it feels far longer than it should be, due to the stakes of being refused.

However, the inevitable moment must still come regardless of her unwillingness.

"Isn't possible."

"…"

Despite feeling dejected from this outcome that couldn't be more obvious, Yao Ying stands her ground, and replies—

"…May I ask why?"

"Primarily, it's because I do not think that there is a fated connection between us."

"…"

In an attempt to lighten the mood, Nuo'er says—

"Seems like it can't be helped. Yao Ying, make do with Bai Wen as your mentor, then."

"C'mon, don't drag me into this as well. I'm hardly a good teacher…"

Towards Bai Wen's remark, Zhen Rong raises a sigh, and says—

"And I'm hardly a good student…"

"No, that's a bit…"

Deaf to the others' conversation, Yao Ying draws in a deep breath before asking—

"…How would you go about proving that there isn't a fated connection between us? Similarly to you, I also just wish to return home."

Smiling faintly, Long Hua answers—

"I see. Our desire to return home does sound like we have something in common. But our personality couldn't be any more different."

Flipping his left hand over to his palm, Long Hua creates a plum blossom of sword Qi, and imbues it with his killing intent, prior to directing the flower towards Yao Ying.

"…"

Presented with the plum blossom, Yao Ying feels all the hair on her body stand on ends, while Long Hua asks—

"If I asked you to reach your hand out to this, would you be able to do so without any hesitation?"

"That's…"

In Yao Ying's eyes, the crimson glow of the plum blossom is as terrifying as it is beautiful. And under the emotions of both terror and awe, the act of reaching her hand out for the flower doesn't even cross her mind—for her instincts told her that she would lose her hand the moment she makes contact with it.

"Killing intent is something that can only be cultivated by washing one's hands in the blood of others. This is only a tiny portion of what I used to have during my previous life. If one is able to find genuine meaning amidst killing, it has the potential to evolve into slaughtering intent."

Staring directly into Yao Ying's pale purple eyes, Long Hua adds—

"Perhaps, it's because you come from a practitioner household, which led you to believe that it's only natural for you to be a practitioner as well. However, with your current personality, you really aren't suited to be a practitioner. You would be better off living out the life of an ordinary mortal, instead of getting tangled up in the mess that is the practitioners' circle."

"…If I were to die in this world, I'd be reborn as a weapon spirit. Aren't I basically trapped within the practitioners' circle as it is?"

"You have the option of emerging from this world when your lifespan is nearly over. At that point, none of the people who are targeting you right now, would see you as a potential threat."

"I...…"

As her eyes moisten with tears, Yao Ying stares directly into Long Hua's eyes, and shouts—

"I'm a human being; I'm not a weapon spirit! A proper human being should live in the real world—under a clear blue sky! I don't want to spend almost all my life in this prison!"

"…"

As the plum blossom begins to fade, Long Hua closes his left hand, while thinking—

(A human being should live like a proper human being. Indeed. And an object should live like a proper object. …Qie had asked—how a human is supposed to act; if my definition of them is to be an individual that is selfish and greedy, then I'd also fit into being a human. However… "A proper human being should live in the real world—under a clear blue sky," was it? "Human," the definition of it is ever-changing, so much so that it would probably be impossible to keep up with. In the end, an object is an object. It cannot ever be considered a genuine human—no matter how alike their appearance may be. Maybe, it's because I care too much about how other people think? …Being that unpleasant bastard's supposed masterpiece—certainly doesn't help matters at all.)

Narrowing his eyes, Long Hua returns his attention to Yao Ying, and asks—

"Are you so set on wanting to escape from this world—despite the troubles that await you outside? I do not know what sort of life you were living prior to being dropped into this world, but whatever life you used to lead, there's no getting it back at this point—even if you make it out of here. You have to be prepared to face a great deal of challenges, to even get to live an ordinary life outside of this world."

"I…-"

Detecting hesitation in Yao Ying's eyes, Long Hua raises a sigh, and says—

"Think of your answer carefully. Half-baked resolve won't get you very far. As they say, words are cheap; you can say one thing, but be completely unable to act upon it when the occasion arises. …The killing intent that you just got a feel for, there will be plenty more of it waiting for you under that clear blue sky you're yearning to live under. Against such intents in abundance, if you don't have one of your own—to act as a deterrent, I can't imagine you living for very long."