The World’s Greatest Swordsman Wants Me to Confess

[Performative Red Dust Path x Unintentionally Affectionate Path]

*The Red Dust Path means entering the mortal world and immersing oneself in ordinary life to cultivate.

*The Affectionate Path doesn't mean being promiscuous, just treating everyone well, except one's enemies.

Zi Sangyin had known for a long time that he was doomed to die young. All he wanted was to spend the rest of his days doing as he pleased. So he said goodbye to his older brother and sister, took the alias Sang Jian, and headed for Xianyi Pavilion, the world's foremost music cultivation sect, to take its entrance exam.

He could do everything a music cultivator could do, and he did it, even though the result was an awful, grating racket. And he could even do things music cultivators couldn't.

At the apprenticeship ceremony, the Pavilion Master looked somewhat troubled and asked him, "Young friend, why did you choose Xianyi Pavilion? With your aptitude, you'd surely be better suited to becoming a sword cultivator."

Sang Jian grinned. "Because music is my biggest weakness."

...Could that wailing racket really be called just a weakness?

Sang Jian added, "Besides, if I wanted to become a sword cultivator, isn't the greatest swordsman in the world right here at Xianyi Pavilion?"

In an upper corner of the hall, a nonchalant man sat up straight. The smile at the corner of his mouth slowly faded.

The Stringless Immortal Venerable, whose real name was Bai Ruoyi, was the greatest swordsman in the cultivation world. His primary discipline was music cultivation. He'd made a name for himself with a sword in his youth, but then claimed he wanted to cultivate his character and trade the sword for music.

Perhaps old habits really were hard to break. He'd once declared that as long as he could win a fight, he wouldn't mind using a flute as a dog-beating stick.

How arrogant. How shameless.

It was said that the Pavilion Master at the time was so furious he took heart pills like candy every day.

He'd originally come to watch this year's entrance exams for a bit of amusement. Who could have guessed a weirdo would show up, and start trying to steer the conversation toward him the moment he opened his mouth? The boy must have admired him for a long time.

Bai Ruoyi furrowed his brow for a long while, then decided that Yanching Peak was a little lonely and could use some fresh blood.

"You want me to take you as my disciple?"

Sang Jian: ?

When did I ever say I wanted him to be my master?

"Very well. You'll be my final disciple."

Sang Jian: ??

He'd only just opened the door, and now he was closing it?

But then again, it might not be so bad. The Stringless Immortal Venerable looked rich and easygoing, and probably wouldn't bother managing him. It was an excellent choice for a master.

The low mountain and foul waters had found kindred spirits, and at last, darkness fell over Yanching Peak.

The master-and-disciple duo, who made no fuss and focused on enjoying a life of leisure and wealth, had only one daily worry: What should they do today?

Cultivate? No, no, too tiring.

Go to class? No, no, too dull.

Go on an adventure? No, no, too much effort.

Play music? Yes, yes, how refined.

Eat? Yes, yes, delicious.

Make money? Yes, yes, we love it.

What if they got tired of all that?

Sang Jian had a flash of inspiration, grabbed a flute and a xiao, and ran to the neighboring sword cultivation sect.

"Hey! Let's have a sword duel!"

Sword cultivators: WTF?

Then one day, Sang Jian found a portrait hidden in a secret compartment in his master's cave abode. The person in the painting wore a knowing smile, eyes full of affection, and looked exactly like him.

Sang Jian: ?!

His master was actually this kind of master! Where was justice? Where was ethics? Where was reason?

And where was the way to confess?

But then he remembered he was just going to die young, and his spirits sank.

He'd live for as many days as he had. Love was too deep to grasp.

#The Untold Stories of the Master and Disciple of Yanching Peak#

#Can You Really Not See Those Eyes Watching from the Shadows?#

#Are Some Things Done on Purpose, or Deliberately?#

#After I Gossiped About the Daily Life of the Master and Disciple of Yanching Peak, My Master Told Me to Get Out#

[2026.10.7]

*Please note

1. A chuunibyou saves the world. The early parts are lighthearted and fun, but the later parts will feel a little heavy in comparison.

2. Performative Red Dust Path x Unintentionally Affectionate Path, with affection toward family and friends (*emphasis added*).

3. The couple will not be broken up, reversed, or disrespected.

4. Maybe it's a joyful, happy, sad story (?)

Theme: Love, hatred, anger, and obsession are all part of the human world