I'll Only Tell Fortunes If the Reading Says My Master Is My Daoist Partner

My name is Ying Guan Miao, and I'm a couch potato.

But even a couch potato like me is fated to join an immortal sect.

Yes, that's right. I divined it myself.

But the journey to Qingze Immortal Mountain is a long one, so...

Before long, I didn't feel like going anymore.

-

Just then, a sword cultivator happened to pass by and gave me a lift on his flying sword.

The handsome beauty, who could fly on a sword, took me to the entrance of a shabby sect.

Big brother, where have you brought me?

Handsome beauty: "Didn't you want to learn how to fly on a sword?"

"Now," he said, his posture elegant as he lifted his chin toward the sect, "you're my disciple."

Me: ???

-

I don't know how I ended up with a master, but...

He's really hopeless!

We have no spirit stones. He tricked a disciple into coming here. The cultivation technique came from a random book on the shelf, and we get by on sweet-tasting pills for all three meals.

There are only two of us in our sect, him and me. A jumble of books lies carelessly on the shelves, and nameless flowers and plants have grown all over the mountain, making the place look like a complete mess.

Me: "Master, are you a sect leader with no disciples, and did you trick me into becoming your founding disciple?"

Master blinks.

Furious, I steal two of the flowers he's raised rather well and plan to sell them for some spirit stones to support the household.

Master doesn't even blame me. He leisurely reminds me, "Just don't sell them too cheap."

Me: "Name your price. How much?"

Master ponders for a moment. "A hundred thousand spirit stones?"

I'm shocked. "How much?!"

When I accidentally trampled one before, Master just waved his hand and said it wasn't worth much!

How did it become worth a hundred thousand as soon as I tried to sell it?

I'm not selling them anymore.

I'm afraid someone will report me to the authorities if I take them out to sell.

I mean, for fraud.

-

One day, Master tells me we're going to attend a banquet hosted by the immortal sects.

I'm horrified. I'm the only founding disciple in our sect, and even I was tricked into coming by my master. With a master and disciple who are both on their own, and a shabby sect like ours, won't we just be stuck in a corner drinking cold tea at a banquet hosted by the immortal sects?

"Can we skip it and save ourselves the embarrassment, Master? QAQ"

Master doesn't say yes or no. He simply picks me up, puts me on his sword, and sets off.

Feeling utterly dejected, I pull Master over and sit at the edge of the banquet hall.

This is the grand gathering of the immortal sects. The small sects get much worse treatment. The others feast on delicacies, listen to music by winding streams, and watch cranes dance.

As for us...

We're lucky if we get a sip of water.

The banquet is slow to begin, and two seats of honor remain empty.

I have just swallowed a mouthful of cold tea when the crowd suddenly parts. A disciple from an immortal sect hurries over, wiping his sweat as he says, "Y-You two esteemed lords, your seats aren't here."

Me: "Huh?"

If not here, then where?

The disciple points to the two empty seats of honor: "Over there."

Oh, over there.

...Over there?!

That's such a good seat. Does he have a crush on my master?!

-

Illustrator: Gu Dong

Theme: Keep striving and moving forward, no matter the circumstances