Chapter 12 It’s different

Yu Xiao’s words were disjointed and incomplete. Chu Xuyun tried hard to look up at his expression, but all he could see was Yu Xiao’s tense jawline.

It seemed like he had missed something important again while he was sleeping.

Chu Xuyun raised his paw, wanting to gently touch Yu Xiao’s neck to comfort him, but he didn’t expect his sharp claws to instantly cut a small wound like a blade.

He really didn’t mean to do it!

Oh no, now he’s really going to be angry.

Bright red droplets of blood quickly seeped out, but the insignificant pain was far less than the pain in Yu Xiao’s heart.

He looked at Chu Xuyun, whose eyes were slightly widened but who had the face of a raccoon and couldn’t make any other expressions. After a long silence, Yu Xiao suddenly stopped worrying about Chu Xuyun’s response.

His grip on the knife relaxed a little, and Yu Xiao sheathed the demonic blade. He looked up at the never-ending whirlpool and waves in front of him as if he could see through the obscuring foam to meet the gaze of Yin Xuzhao on the other side.

“You are right, Yin Xuzhao.”

Yu Xiao’s voice was very soft, with no discernible emotion.

“The Immortal Lord has indeed suffered a lot with me. Since you two have already discussed it in advance, I won’t stop you, but I have one condition.”

Chu Xuyun was stunned for a moment. Although he didn’t know what was going on, he instinctively patted Yu Xiao’s chest with his paw.

He had not been wronged, really.

Yu Xiao seemed not to notice, his eyes passing over Chu Xuyun’s head without giving him another glance, and continued, “If you agree, I will immediately let the Xianjun go.”

Upon hearing this, Yin Xuzhao first felt it was strange. Based on his many encounters with Yu Xiao, this person would never give up without achieving his goal. How could he possibly let Chu Xuyun go so easily?

Moreover, he had long heard about the grievances between Yu Xiao and Chu Xuyun. Yu Xiao probably wished he could break Chu Xuyun’s legs and lock him in the demon palace day and night. There was definitely a trick here.

“Yu Xiao, under your feet is the eye of the killing formation. If you dare to deceive me, I will make you wish you were dead.” The icy dragon’s eyes half-closed dangerously, indicating its master’s patience was running out.

“The condition is that you swear by the Heavenly Dao that you will never form a bond with Chu Xuyun again, and you must give me some rare treasures of the demon race. Only then will I happily let him go.” Yu Xiao smiled. “In this way, the Immortal Lord can return to your side, and I can relieve my resentment. What do you think?”

As his words fell, Yin Xuzhao almost couldn’t resist rushing into the whirlpool to strangle him. “Why should I swear? If you don’t hand him over, I can just kill you and take him by force.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiao sneered coldly, “Fine, before you kill me, I’ll die with theXianjun. The two of us will be buried at the bottom of the sea together; it would be quite a poetic death.”

In his arms, Chu Xuyun’s eyes widened even more, his jet-black pupils reflecting the light underwater like a transparent bead, staring incredulously at Yu Xiao.

What had happened? Did Yu Xiao want to kill him?

It didn’t need to be so troublesome; he would starve to death soon enough anyway.

“You madman!” Yin Xuzhao roared uncontrollably, “He took you back to the sect back then and raised you; don’t you have any gratitude at all? And now you actually want to kill him?”

He had thought Yu Xiao only wanted revenge for the past grievances against Chu Xuyun and would let him go after venting his anger. He never expected this ungrateful person to genuinely want to kill Chu Xuyun.

What deep-seated hatred could warrant such actions?

Yu Xiao, however, nonchalantly grabbed Chu Xuyun by the nape of his neck and lifted him into the air, saying without a change in expression, “Enough with the nonsense. The Immortal Monarch’s life is entirely in your hands.”

Chu Xuyun did not struggle at all, allowing Yu Xiao to hold him as he looked towards the whirlpool, trying to see the person on the other side, but to no avail.

It’s said that cats can learn to swim on their own in water; if Yu Xiao really let him go, he would swim to shore himself and catch a few fish to eat along the way.

Through the whirlpool, Yin Xuzhao finally saw Chu Xuyun.

However, it was a transformed tanuki cat version of Chu Xuyun.

The scene was far from what he had imagined when seeing him again after so many years. The proud, aloof sword cultivator he remembered had turned into this.

Just one glance and Yin Xuzhao’s tone carried a hint of urgency as he struggled to keep his voice steady, speaking softly,

“Fine, I agree.”

Yu Yu succinctly repeated, “Swear it.”

The massive dragon’s tail impatiently flicked, churning the surrounding seawater violently.

Yin Xuzhao took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “I swear by the Heavenly Dao, I will not form a bond with Chu Xuyun.”

But beyond forming a bond, he could not guarantee what else he might do.

“Treasures?” Yu Xiao said slowly.

Yin Xuzhao gritted his teeth. In the next moment, he transformed into his human form, his snow-white hair falling over his shoulders and his dark green robe billowing in the seawater.

He glanced back at his subordinates from the dragon palace, coldly ordering, “Bring the Jiaozhu here.”

Soon, a subordinate respectfully presented a box made of rosewood. Yin Xuzhao took it and, with a burst of force, threw it towards Yu Xiao from a distance.

Yu Xiao caught the box and opened it, confirming the authenticity of its contents, then slowly closed the lid.

“Now it’s your turn,” Yin Xuzhao said coldly.

Yu Xiao did not respond but lowered his eyes to the tanuki cat in his hand, who showed no reaction.

Despite what he had said, Chu Xuyun remained indifferent.

Yu Xiao looked away and cast a protective water spell over Chu Xuyun. “Come and take him.”

As soon as the words fell, Yin Xuzhao immediately and without hesitation rushed into the depths of the whirlpool. The whirlpool did not harm him at all; in an instant, he had snatched Chu Xuyun from Yu Xiao’s hand.

After an unknown amount of time, the turbulent seabed returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.

In the dragon palace, Yin Xuzhao cautiously cradled the little tanuki cat, quickly walking into the inner hall, his heartbeat almost painful to Chu Xuyun’s ears.

Chu Xuyun frowned slightly, looking up. His vision was obscured by snow-white hair, and he could only vaguely discern that the person was a man.

With a loud bang, Yin Xuzhao kicked open the hall door and then tightly closed it, shouting, “No one is allowed to come in!”

Chu Xuyun observed his every move and the unfamiliar face.

This person repeatedly mentioned his name, but why couldn’t he remember who this person was?

Finally, when the surroundings quieted down, Yin Xuzhao breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze falling on the little cat in his arms. He slowly placed him on a soft couch, chanting a spell in a low voice.

After a while, Chu Xuyun finally returned to his human form.

He sat silently on the couch, meeting Yin Xuzhao’s eyes.

Yin Xuzhao’s breath hitched, memories of countless moments with Chu Xuyun flashing through his mind.

“Did you read my letter?”

Chu Xuyun hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Speak.” Yin Xuzhao took a half step back uncomfortably. “I saved you, yet you still treat me with this attitude. Isn’t that a bit unreasonable?”

Out of politeness, Chu Xuyun gestured in sign language, “I can’t speak.”

Yin Xuzhao didn’t understand, alarmed.

“What’s with the gestures? Are you cursing me?”

Chu Xuyun: …

No, it was said that Yu Xiao had sealed Chu Xuyun’s cultivation. How could he cast curses?

Realizing this, Yin Xuzhao suspiciously stared at Chu Xuyun and said in a low voice, “I saved you from Yu Xiao’s grasp. You should not treat me with a cold face in the future.”

Chu Xuyun did not respond.

He wasn’t really being saved; it was Yu yu who let him go. Moreover, he wasn’t showing a cold face; he was just born with this look.

“Lord Demon! Lord Demon!” A sudden urgent call came from outside the hall, and the door was forcefully pushed open.

Yin Xuzhao irritably turned back, saying, “Everyone out! I said no one is allowed to come in. Do you have a death wish?”

The intruder was a tanuki demon, who rolled to Yin Xuzhao’s feet, quickly apologizing, “Lord Demon, please forgive me.”

Seeing it was the tanuki demon, Yin Xuzhao’s expression softened a bit. “Get up. You did well today, I won’t punish you.”

The tanuki demon, however, cried bitterly, “Lord Demon, I failed my task. I was too embarrassed to say outside that the Immortal Lord was forcibly turned into a tanuki cat by me. He didn’t come willingly.”

Upon hearing this, Yin Xuzhao’s expression changed drastically, “So what are you telling me now?”

“I am afraid, my lord, that you might be too complacent. The Immortal Lord doesn’t really want to leave the Demon Palace. He must have put a demon curse on Yu Xiao. Be careful of any deceit!”

Hearing this, Yin Xuzhao incredulously turned to Chu Xuyun, “Have you been controlled by a demon curse?”

Chu Xuyun calmly shook his head.

“Then have you lost your mind?”

“…” Chu Xuyun shook his head again.

Yin Xuzhao couldn’t understand, “Then why don’t you want to leave the Demon Palace?”

Chu Xuyun was somewhat puzzled.

Why would he necessarily want to leave the Demon Palace? What was so wrong with the Demon Palace that everyone wanted him to leave?

Of course, the answer to this question was simple.

Chu Xuyun extended his hand and slowly made a sign language gesture.

Yin Xuzhao: “I told you to stop casting spells on me.”

Chu Xuyun remained silent for a moment, unable to think of a way to explain. Suddenly, the tanuki demon spoke up, “It seems the Xianjun is gesturing. He says… because he has unfinished business in the Demon Palace.”

Hearing this, Chu Xuyun nodded appreciatively. Finally, someone who understood sign language, though the explanation wasn’t entirely accurate, it captured the general idea.

“Oh, so you’re mute,” Yin Xuzhao’s focus shifted completely, his brow furrowing in confusion, “But weren’t you able to speak seven years ago?”

Just as Chu Xuyun was about to gesture again, Yin Xuzhao assumed Yu Xiao had destroyed Chu Xuyun’s voice in revenge. So he said in a low voice, “Forget it, it’s all in the past. Since you’ve come to me now, I don’t care about the rest. I’ll cure your muteness in the future.”

He extended his hand and gently untied the belt at his waist, his golden vertical pupils fixated on Chu Xuyun. In a calm voice, he said, “Tanuki demon, get out. I have important matters to discuss with the Immortal Lord.”

The tanuki demon didn’t dare stay any longer and swiftly ran away, closing the hall doors tightly behind him.

In the vast hall, only Chu Xuyun and Yin Xuzhao remained facing each other.

Chu Xuyun watched his movements, frowning slightly.

What was he trying to do?

Yin Xuzhao lowered his face, his breathing slowed, “Actually, I wanted to tell you seven years ago, Chu Xuyun…”

Chu Xuyun tilted his head, his eyes filled with deep confusion.

“I have admired you for a long time. If you wish, I am willing to give you…”

Chu Xuyun’s eyes widened.

“A child.”

On the roof of the Dragon Palace, Yu Xiao almost fell off the beam upon hearing this.

In his hand, he was still holding the tanuki demon who had just walked out of the hall, both equally shocked.

Yu Xiao had only handed Chu Xuyun over to Yin Xuzhao to break the curse on the tanuki demon. He also wanted to eavesdrop and find out if Chu Xuyun and Yin Xuzhao had conspired to deceive him.

But Yu Xiao had imagined countless possible scenarios, never expecting this one.

Upon hearing Yin Xuzhao’s words, Chu Xuyun frantically waved his hands and even stood up to run, but was immediately pulled back by his wrist.

“Chu Xuyun, I know you have a cold and stern temperament, a strong sense of pride, and never tolerate any nonsense. You would never easily accept a man, let alone a demon like me.” Yin Xuzhao held him tightly, gritting his teeth, “But if you can accept Yu Xiao, why can’t you accept me? Is it because I’m not as obedient and docile as he is? What difference does he make in bed that you refuse to try with me?”

Yu Xiao: …

There is indeed a difference,

Yin Xuzhao.

Top and bottom, they are different.