Chapter 28 Gambling

Since Yu Xiao left, Chu Xuyun quickly finished reading the books on the bookshelf.

His favorite was still the book written by Yu Xiao himself. Every time he opened it, he felt like he understood Yu Xiao a bit more.

Yu Xiao would daily record in the book what techniques he had learned and whom he had met, but he never mentioned Chu Xuyun’s name.

Perhaps it had been a long time since he had written in it recently, otherwise, he would surely have written about it.

Chu Xuyun closed the book and suddenly heard a commotion outside.

“The Lord has decreed that no one may enter the Immortal Monarch’s chamber.”

“I can’t even see him?”

“No.”

“Fine, then I’ll kill you and see him!”

With those words, Chu Xuyun swiftly opened the door. Outside stood the man who had come yesterday, Yu Xiao’s friend.

Why had he come again today? Did he want to continue their competition?

Seeing Chu Xuyun emerge with a sword at his waist, the man’s arrogance immediately faded, and his voice softened, “I have something to discuss with you.”

Chu Xuyun remained silent, simply stepped aside to make way, gesturing for the man to come in.

The two entered the chamber. Chu Xuyun politely poured him a cup of tea. “I didn’t ask your name yesterday.”

“Tan Mo.”

He was so calm that it made the man feel uneasy instead.

“Today, I came to make a deal with you. I know I can’t kill you, but I can help you with something.” Tan Mo fixedly stared at Chu Xuyun, his fingertips subtly curling, almost imperceptibly. “I’ll send you back to your sect, continue being the Taiqing Immortal Monarch. From now on, you don’t need to see Yu Xiao anymore. How about it?”

As long as Chu Xuyun left Yu Xiao’s side and returned to Taiqing Sect, he would still have a chance.

Although he wasn’t sure if Chu Xuyun would agree, he had no other options.

Chu Xuyun set down the book in his hands and looked up at him. “No, I can’t.”

Tan Mo’s face went pale for a moment. “Why do you have to stay by Yu Xiao’s side? What do you really want to do to him?”

Hearing this, Chu Xuyun spoke softly, “We are already married, so I must stay by his side.”

“Don’t try to deceive me. I’m not a child. Do you really want to leave? You can leave anytime.” Tan Mo’s tone grew more intense, his fists clenched tighter. “Do you really like him?”

Upon hearing this, Chu Xuyun nodded. “Yes.”

Tan Mo seemed to hear something unbelievable. He took a step back in disbelief. “How is that possible? He’s a demonic cultivator, with a bad temper and unpredictable behavior. He’s even subjected you to so much humiliation… Apart from someone like me who’s blind, no one else would like him. What do you see in him?”

Chu Xuyun fell silent for a moment, then chuckled softly as if he had realized something. “He’s good-looking. And… he’s really good-looking.”

Tan Mo frowned. “I didn’t expect you to be so shallow.”

Could you not come up with any other words of praise for him besides good-looking?

He took a deep breath and sat across from Chu Xuyun, his voice cold. “I advise you to return to your Taiqing Sect and be a proper Immortal Monarch. If the world finds out you’ve married an unforgivable Demon Monarch, how will you handle yourself? How will your sect handle it?”

The accusation of colluding with a demonic cultivator would be enough to make Taiqing Sect despised by the world for generations.

As the Taiqing Immortal Monarch, how could Chu Xuyun not understand this?

“Yu Xiao is a good kid,” Chu Xuyun murmured softly. “Stop speaking ill of him.”

Tan Mo choked on his words. “He’s a good kid?”

“Yeah.”

Heaven above, the Taiqing Immortal Monarch had gone mad.

Tan Mo pinched his brow. “Is he pretending to be good just to please you? He’s cunning and ruthless. Can’t you see that?”

Chu Xuyun looked at him puzzled. “If you like him, why do you always speak ill of him?”

Tan Mo paused. “…”

Right, maybe he should speak ill of Chu Xuyun to Yu Xiao instead of vice versa.

But Chu Xuyun had no flaws to speak of. Even if he tried to make something up, Yu Xiao wouldn’t believe it.

He liked Yu Xiao, yes, but Yu Xiao wasn’t a good person, and he was just stating the truth.

“Chu Xuyun, think carefully. Is Yu Xiao really someone you should trust?” Tan Mo tempted him. “Believe me, over time, he will reveal his true nature, and by then, it’ll be too late for regrets.”

Chu Xuyun shook his head. “I won’t regret it. I promised him I would marry him.”

Tan Mo was speechless. “Alright, that’s your decision. But why wasn’t Yu Xiao with you the day after your wedding?”

“He went to Taiqing Sect to help me teach my disciples.” Chu Xuyun unwittingly revealed.

Upon hearing this, Tan Mo smiled. “So that’s it. Do you think he really went to help you teach your disciples, or did he go to Taiqing Sect to kill all your disciples?”

Chu Xuyun said seriously, “To help me teach my disciples.”

“Do you dare to bet with me on the will of heaven?” Tan Mo took out a dagger from his waist and slammed it on the table. “If Yu Xiao really kills your disciples, you must willingly let me kill you. If Yu Xiao is really helping you teach your disciples, I will willingly give you the heads of my loved ones.”

Chu Xuyun waved his hand. “My parents don’t allow me to gamble.”

Tan Mo had never met such a stubborn person. “Are you done? Your parents aren’t here with you. What’s wrong with making a bet?”

Are you a three-year-old child, always obeying your parents’ words?

Upon hearing this, Chu Xuyun’s expression softened slightly. He said softly, “Let’s make a deal. If Yu Xiao kills my disciples, I’ll never like him again. If Yu Xiao really teaches my disciples…”

He closed his eyes and, under the direct gaze of the sea, slowly said, “You can’t speak ill of Yu Xiao anymore, and you must be a good friend to him.”

Tan Mo was stunned for a moment, almost thinking he had heard wrong.

“You…” He didn’t know what to say to Chu Xuyun.

Chu Xuyun’s words were both harmless and in his interest. Even if he lost the bet, he could continue to be “friends” with Yu Xiao. He had no reason to refuse.

With a complicated look on his face, Tan Mo glanced at Chu Xuyun and said in a low voice, “Okay, the Immortal Monarch is indeed a true gentleman. I promise you, let’s go now.”

Chu Xuyun nodded. Before setting off, he stopped suddenly. “You must use the appearance to avoid being found.”

Now that Yu Xiao is using his face, he needs to use someone else’s face. Otherwise, Yu Xiao will be exposed.

Tan Mo agreed. The two quickly used their two faces to hide in the crowd and set off for the clan.

In Taiqing Clan, Yu Xiao stood in front of the clan’s door and was hanged for an hour.

“Immortal Monarch, go back. The clan leader said he didn’t want to see you now.” The doorkeeper couldn’t bear to see it and advised him, “It’s not too late for the Immortal Monarch to come back when the clan leader is angry.”

Yu Xiao had no intention of meeting the Sect Master. He simply wanted to endure a scolding on behalf of Chu Xuyun.

After being scolded, Chu Xuyun wouldn’t scold him again when he returned.

Just as the young gatekeeper was about to advise him, a voice suddenly came from inside the gate.

“Let him in.”

Yu Xiao’s heart sank slightly. He stepped forward, and as soon as he entered the hall, he saw the Sect Master of Taiqing Sect, Chu Yao, seated on a high platform—the older brother of Chu Xuyun who had forced him away four years ago.

“So, you’ve decided to come back?” Chu Yao looked at him coldly. “Why didn’t you continue staying at the Demon Palace? Was Yu Xiao unwilling to keep you?”

Yu Xiao was puzzled. Chu Yao seemed to have known long ago that Chu Xuyun would stay. But now was not the time to ask.

Seeing him silent, Chu Yao’s expression darkened further. “I told you long ago, but you wouldn’t listen. After practicing dark arts, one loses their humanity and eventually becomes a ruthless demon lord. If it weren’t for you insisting on teaching him magic, he wouldn’t have become the Demon Venerable.”

His becoming the Demon Venerable had nothing to do with Chu Xuyun.

Yu Xiao argued in his mind.

“Enough.” Chu Yao suddenly sighed deeply, pinching his temples hard. “Since you’re back, don’t go looking for Yu Xiao anymore. It’s better this way.”

Yu Xiao looked up at him and finally understood. Chu Yao thought “Chu Xuyun” had returned because Yu Xiao had abandoned him.

Strange.

Why did it seem like the Sect Master had known all along that Chu Xuyun genuinely liked him? Even Yu Xiao himself had only believed Chu Xuyun wasn’t deceiving him after they were married.

The Sect Master handed a list of participants in the upcoming sect competition to the attendant beside him. “These are the disciples of our sect participating in the competition. Arrange accordingly. Also, Yanhe really misses you. Remember to go see him.”

Yu Xiao took the list from the attendant’s hand with a calm expression.

Of course, he would go and see Li Yanhe properly. That fool truly lacked proper guidance.

Just before leaving the hall, the Sect Master suddenly called out to him again.

Yu Xiao turned around, meeting the Sect Master’s hesitant gaze. He seemed to want to say something, a hint of sadness flickering in his eyes. After a while, he spoke slowly,

“Xuyun, don’t be sad.”

Yu Xiao paused in place for a moment and nodded lightly.

There would never be such a day. He would never let Xuyun be sad.

Yu Xiao held onto the list of disciples and left the Sect Master’s room. Just as he stepped out, a figure rushed towards him recklessly, caught up in his thoughts about the Sect Master’s words, Yu Xiao didn’t notice for a moment and was actually hit by the person.

“Master, it’s really you!”

Li Yanhe hugged Yu Xiao tightly, tears streaming down his face. “Is this disciple dreaming?”

Veins bulged on Yu Xiao’s forehead. He resisted the urge to kick him to death, pulling Li Yanhe off his shoulders.

“Master, I thought you’d never come back.” Li Yanhe felt wronged. “Have you finally given up on Yu Xiao? I told you he’s no good. Instead of marrying him, you might as well marry me.”

As soon as the words fell, Li Yanhe suddenly realized something was wrong, quickly slapped himself in the mouth, and smiled apologetically, “I misspoke. I just wanted to express my excitement.”

With these words, Yu Xiao slowly revealed a faint smile. “Is that so?”

“Of course! Ah, Master, why are you talking like this?”

Yu Xiao grabbed his throat, pulling him into an empty corner, and spoke coldly, “Xuyun entrusted me to properly teach this useless thing. If you can’t become the leader of the sect competition, I’ll kill you immediately and throw your body to feed the dogs. Remember that?”

Li Yanhe: ??

“Why is it you again, Yu Xiao? Are you haunting me?”