Master

Writing practice - third-person narration - short story

Spoiled, lazy girl x possessive, motherly master

*

My master took in two disciples: me and my junior brother, Ergou.

My master named me Yue Zhao, hoping I would shine like the bright, pure moon. But I was mischievous by nature and never devoted myself to cultivation.

My master named my junior brother Ergou, saying that a humble name would help him thrive. He hoped his junior brother would inherit his mantle. In time, Ergou applied himself wholeheartedly to cultivation and became skilled in it.

I asked my master, "What about me, Master? What about me? Why did you take me as your disciple?"

My master looked at me and smiled gently, brushing the hair at my temple. "If Zhaozhao is happy, then Master is happy too."

I understood.

He took me as his disciple to keep himself entertained, and Ergou to inherit his mantle.

Later, the Heavenly Dao said I would marry the strongest demon in the world and live a happy, peaceful life lying flat.

Just then, my usually upright and irreproachable junior brother fell to demonic cultivation, so I ran away with him.

I figured that since he was so skilled at cultivation, he would surely become the strongest demon in the world after turning to the demonic path.

After I married Ergou, he became the Demon Lord. I followed him through a life of hardship and never felt happy, so I ran away.

I wanted to go back to my master.

My master had spoiled me since I was little, and I couldn't stand even the slightest hardship. After escaping Ergou's subordinates, I rushed into my master's arms, my skirt in tatters and my little face covered in grime, sobbing uncontrollably.

My master smiled gently and wiped the snot and tears from my face. "It's good that Zhaozhao is back."

My master and I enjoyed a wonderful life of cultivating, sleeping, and playing Dou Dou. Ergou never came looking for me, either. I thought this was what a happy life of lying flat was supposed to be. The strongest demon in the world? I had no desire to marry one.

My master was a very good person. He was gentle with me and patient with my little quirks, and he was kind to everyone else, too.

Later on,

A group of cultivators came to our door, claiming that my master was a great demon and saying they would kill him and drive him away. I hid in a corner and watched my usually gentle master elegantly twist the head off one of the cultivators. I stared in shock and stumbled back a couple of steps.

When I tried to run, my master caught me and locked me up.

My master approached step by step, smiling as gently as ever, but there was something different in his smile now.

He stroked my hair and asked softly, "I raised you. Why did you run off with someone else?"

"Who else in this world could make you happy besides me?"

*

Only later did I learn that Ergou had come looking for me several times, and each time my master had beaten him until every meridian in his body was severed.

My master was not from a righteous sect. He was the strongest demon in the world.

Theme: Zhaozhao is as bright as the moon.