Chapter 34 Coincidentally

Boundary of the Demon Domain, Ning’an City.

At the top of the city tower, a man was seated on a throne made of countless demon skulls. Upon seeing Yu Xiao approaching, he merely lifted his eyelids in casual acknowledgment.

Yu Xiao took a light breath, furrowing his brows.

Sure enough, it was Su Yang.

Back then, he had joined forces with Tan Mo and spent considerable effort setting a trap, luring Su Yang into the Soul Refining Valley where no one survived.

Only then did he take advantage of the situation to become the Demon Lord, unifying the Demon Domain and exterminating the remnants.

He never expected Su Yang to be resurrected one day.

Yu Xiao released a burst of demonic energy from his palm onto the sword held in his hand. Upon seeing this, Yin Xuzhao hesitated for a moment before speaking in surprise, “You’re not Chu Xuyun?”

Yu Xiao had no mind to answer him, his gaze firmly fixed on Su Yang before him.

His cultivation was not what it used to be, but against Su Yang, Yu Xiao wasn’t sure of his chances.

He could sense an increase in Su Yang’s demonic energy; he had likely absorbed a large amount of death aura in the Soul Refining Valley, possibly advancing to become a demonic immortal.

The distinction between human immortal and demonic immortal was as vast as the difference between heaven and earth.

At this moment, he was actually thinking, thankfully Ah Xu wasn’t here.

Back then, when Ah Xu went to the Demon Domain to eliminate demons and save his life, he hadn’t fought Su Yang. Ah Xu might not necessarily win; he was also aiming for ascension and couldn’t afford to die unexpectedly in a place like this.

Su Yang glanced at the demonic energy on him, his eyebrows raised slightly as he sneered, “Who do we have here? Turns out it’s that little bastard who caused me to fall into the Soul Refining Valley back then. But I have to thank you, without you, I wouldn’t have broken through so quickly.”

Only then did Yin Xuzhao realize. The person in front of him, wearing Chu Xuyun’s face, was actually Yu Xiao.

“Damn it, Yu Xiao, you’ve really crossed the line this time. Why did you disguise yourself as Chu Xuyun?” Yin Xu Zhao despairingly held his head, “Without Chu Xuyun, we’ll all die here!”

In his mind, as long as Chu Xuyun came, he could definitely defeat Su Yang. Chu Xuyun was the strongest existence here; Su Yang was no match for Chu Xuyun at all.

But why did he bring the wrong person? He had actually brought Yu Xiao.

Yin Xuzhao suddenly thought it wouldn’t be bad if Su Yang killed Yu Xiao. After all, he had resurrected Su Yang just to get rid of Yu Xiao.

Once Yu Xiao died, wouldn’t Chu Xuyun be his?

As if sensing Yin Xuzhao’s thoughts, Yu Xiao coldly chuckled, “You run away. Ah Xu and I have a life and death pact. If you want to escape, now’s your chance.”

It was fake, but he would die dragging Yin Xuzhao down with him.

“What did you say?” Yin Xuzhao’s feet suddenly froze as he turned sharply to look at Yu Xiao, “You made such a vicious vow, you lunatic!”

Yu Xiao sneered lightly, ignoring him and focusing on Su Yang.

Su Yang seemed in no hurry to kill him, rather observing something, but Yu Xiao had already exerted eighty percent of his strength.

“You can’t die!” Yin Xuzhao suddenly flashed in front of Yu Xiao, gritting his teeth, “I’ll hold him off, you go find Chu Xuyun.”

As he spoke, a hazy mist enveloped him. After a while, the mist dissipated, and Yin Xuzhao transformed into a large white dragon, completely shielding Yu Xiao.

This beast was deeply devoted to Ah Xu, but he wouldn’t go back to find Ah Xu.

With the demonic parasite on him, after luring out the demonic parasite, he could die with Su Yang.

“Go up and block his demonic energy, I’ll take care of killing him!” Yu Xiao kicked the white dragon to Su Yang’s front, seizing the opportunity to unleash a cold sword strike.

Su Yang effortlessly punched Yin Xuzhao in the abdomen, causing him to spit out a large pool of blood and lose consciousness completely.

Meanwhile, Su Yang easily countered Yu Xiao’s sword with his fingertip.

“Too weak. Have there been no stronger cultivators in the immortal Domain since my death?” He yawned as if bored, nonchalantly using demonic energy to force Yu Xiao back, casually advising, “You’re not good at swordsmanship; stick to your old ways with the knife.”

Yu Xiao took a deep breath, gripping his long sword tighter. This was Chu Xuyun’s Thousand Tribulations, given to him by Ah Xuyun before the sect’s major competition.

He hadn’t brought a knife, and he had no advantages in terms of timing, location, or people.

But with this sword, he could at least feel that Ah Xuyun was still by his side.

Yu Xiao turned his head and saw Ji Lianzhou approaching.

“Ji Lianzhou, what are you doing here?” Yu Xiao gasped for breath, lifting his gaze to Ji Lianzhou’s back. The contents of the letter flashed through his mind again, stabbing at his heart.

Equally puzzled, Ji Lianzhou responded, “This place is a necessary route for the Return Three Saints Sect. I was about to ask how you ended up here.”

Ignoring his question, Yu Xiao raised his sword, pointing it at Su Yang.

“Ji Lianzhou, Su Yang is cunning and ruthless. As a Sword Immortal, you should lend a hand,” Yu Xiao demanded.

Ji Lianzhou immediately prepared for a serious threat, drawing his longsword. “He’s Su Yang? But isn’t Su Yang already dead?”

“The stupid dragon resurrected him. Su Yang absorbed too much evil aura from the Soul Refining Valley, greatly increasing his strength. He’s now a Demon Immortal. How confident are you?” Yu Xiao challenged.

Before Ji Lianzhou could respond, Su Yang attacked with a burst of demonic energy. Ji Lianzhou took the hit head-on, nearly coughing up blood, realizing grimly, “Only thirty percent. After his resurrection, he’s too powerful for just the two of us to handle. If Ah Xu were here, maybe there’d be a slim chance.”

Hearing this, Yu Xiao’s hope dwindled. He closed his eyes resignedly, murmuring softly, “Only thirty percent. Even if Ah Xu were here, it might be useless.”

“I’m still here, and you two are chatting away as if nothing’s wrong,” Su Yang sneered, chin propped on his hand, releasing a wave of demonic energy effortlessly.

Yu Xiao raised his sword to block the attack with all his might, but the overwhelming demonic energy sent him flying several meters, crashing hard into the city gate behind him.

Several ribs shattered, and as Yu Xiao raised his eyes, Su Yang’s hand gripped his throat.

“You have a demonic insect on you,” Su Yang declared.

Yu Xiao thrust his sword into Su Yang’s chest, but Su Yang seemed unfazed, still smiling. “I’m quite familiar with this demonic insect.”

Yu Xiao hesitated for a moment, then heard Su Yang speak lazily, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Once, a woman gave birth to a child for me. I planted a demonic insect on that child, intending to use it for cultivation once it matured. But that woman took the child and ran away.”

Yu Xiao’s eyes widened slightly, his breath slowing.

“I suppose you’re that child?” Su Yang laughed heartily, tossing Yu Xiao aside. “True to my blood, pushing your own father into the Soul Refining Valley. You’re quite skilled. The demonic insect, fed by you, has matured. Truly, I’ve raised a good child.”

Yu Xiao disgustingly moved his gaze away from Su Yang’s face. He had long suspected that his biological father was a demonic cultivator, but never expected it to be Su Yang.

If he had known earlier, he would have made Su Yang suffer a more miserable death.

“Yu Xiao, stop wasting words with him,” Ji Lianzhou intervened, helping him up. “The immediate concern is how to eliminate him.”

Yu Xiao knew what needed to be done, but the method was a last resort.

After a long pause, he bit his lip and whispered,

“Since Ah Xu wishes to ascend, I’ll finish this unfinished business for him.”

Ji Lianzhou’s grip on the sword tightened abruptly as he turned to Yu Xiao. “What do you mean?”

“If I die, Ah Xu will have no more debts. Naturally, I’ll use this worthless flesh and blood to send Ah Xu to ascension,” Yu Xiao calmly explained, cutting his wrist with the longsword. He had already planned everything. “I have a demonic insect on me. If I feed this demonic insect with my blood, it might give me the strength for one final battle. But after that battle, I’ll perish along with the demonic insect.”

Ji Lianzhou stared at him in disbelief, abruptly pushing him to the ground. “Have you gone mad?”

Yu Xiao responded indifferently, clearly resolved. “I haven’t.”

Whatever Ah Xu desired, even if it was the stars in the sky, he would obtain them.

His life was already forfeit. Ah Xu had saved his life, and now it was time to repay that debt.

“Ah Xu’s letter was just wasted on you!” Ji Lianzhou gritted his teeth, looking at Yu Xiao, restraining the urge to strike him with his sword. “What debts? Have you forgotten everything you said yourself? You said Ah Xu once made a promise to you: after you both came of age, you would marry. That’s what Ah Xu meant by ‘unfinished business’ in his letter!”

Yu Xiao suddenly froze, the cacophony around him fading into a distant buzz, leaving only a piercing noise echoing through his mind.

He could hardly believe it, trembling and stammering as he asked, “B-but didn’t Ah Xu forget about this?”

Ji Lianzhou had previously mentioned that Ah Xu wouldn’t remember insignificant people like him. If he couldn’t even remember his own person, how could he recall such a promise?

“How could he forget?” Ji Lianzhou bitterly pulled Yu Xiao behind him, avoiding Su Yang’s demonic energy, his heart heavy. “Ah Xu may have a poor memory, questionable judgment, and a peculiar temperament, but he’s not foolish. How could he forget something so important? No one forced him. He wanted to marry you because he’s been in love with you for years!”

Yu Xiao trembled all over, Ji Lianzhou’s words ringing in his ears.

Ah Xu had been in love with him for years?

Why couldn’t he see it? Had Ah Xu really liked him for so long?

Suddenly, he remembered something, his trembling fingers reaching towards his chest where a small medicine bottle lay. It was given to him by Chu Xuyun when he comforted him, filled with his favorite mulberry fruit candy.

In that instant, it felt as if a fluttering butterfly had taken flight from his heart, its wings stirring a breeze that almost brought tears to Yu Xiao’s eyes.

When he was in the Taiqing Sect, no one cared about him. Later, he made mistakes and was expelled. He had spent very little time with Chu Xuyun, far less than Li Yanhe, who had been with him day and night since childhood, or Ji Lianzhou, or even the troublesome dragon that followed him everywhere.

He had thought that someone as insignificant as him would never be remembered by Chu Xuyun.

He had thought that their initial promise might have been just a moment of kindness from Chu Xuyun.

The bottle labeled “Return Pill” did not contain a pill but mulberry fruit candy from the fruit shop at the foot of Taiqing Immortal Sect’s mountain. It was rarely bought during ordinary days, only because it was his favorite. Why did Chu Xuyun happen to give him his favorite candy?

When he had decided to capture Chu Xuyun and bring him back to the Demon Palace that day, even he hadn’t expected everything to be so easy. He had never imagined why Chu Xuyun, who had lost his mind and been careless, was easily bound back to the Demon Palace with a single strand of the red rope.

Hidden under the desk was not a portrait of Li Yanhe or Ji Lianzhou. Who it depicted was utterly unimportant. What mattered was that he happened to be the one who painted it. At thirteen, he had stood by the window, stealthily sketching Chu Xuyun’s features with his fingertips, drawing the image that would accompany him day and night into sleep.

So many coincidences, so many subtle signs, all crushed beneath the boulder in his heart named inferiority.

He dared not think, dared not delve deep, fearing to guess wrong, fearing irreversible calamity.

—”Lianzhou, this will be my last plea.”

—”I choose to stay.”

—”After you come of age, if you still desire me.”

—”Come find me, and we shall marry.”

How could he not have realized sooner? How could he be so foolish?

Chu Xuyun had already given him the answer.

She had said she chose to stay.

From the beginning, Chu Xuyun was not abducted by him but had come willingly, brimming with joy, solely to marry him.

“I cannot die…” Yu Xiao regained his senses, staggering to his feet, picking up the sword from the ground. The hilt had long been shattered by the demonic aura, his grip faltering, yet he forced himself to tighten his grasp on the handle, murmuring to himself, “I cannot die yet…”

Seeing him finally understand, Ji Lianzhou exhaled deeply. “Of course, you cannot die. Ah Xu is surely waiting for you to return.”

Now, every word from Ji Lianzhou felt profoundly stirring to Yu Xiao. How had he not noticed before how noble and understanding Ji Lianzhou truly was?

“After your reunion, may I speak one more sentence?” Su Yang calmly observed Yu Xiao, his voice serene. “Perhaps summon the demon pest quickly. I’m growing impatient. Without it, even ten sword immortals wouldn’t beat me.”

Indeed, Su Yang had been waiting for him to unleash the demon pest. From the outset, Yu Xiao had realized Su Yang hesitated to strike because he awaited the matured demon pest within him, intending to consume it to elevate his cultivation. Yet, Yu Xiao would not grant him that opportunity.

How could he die?

He must return to ask clearly when Ah Xu had started to love him.

Seeing his apathy, Su Yang sighed, sounding almost reluctant. “I offer you one final warning. If you do not summon the demon pest, my next wave of demonic energy will reduce you to dust, body, and soul. Consider carefully.”

With his words, thick thunderclouds abruptly blanketed the sky, followed swiftly by a tempest, darkening everything in its wake.

Yu Xiao’s heart clenched. He knew he had no way out now, yet he absolutely could not die at this moment.

Currently, his only option was to join forces with Ji Lianzhou, risking their lives against each other.

“Stubborn fool.”

After a long wait, Su Yang lost interest, coldly mocking, “Then go ahead and die.”

The sword in his palm was suddenly enveloped by demonic energy. Yu Xiao stood frozen in place, realizing his feet had also been ensnared by demonic energy, immobilizing him. Helplessly, he could only watch as that murderous intent charged toward him.

With a heart as heavy as ash, he closed his eyes, having just learned the truth, only to meet his end like this. Even in the underworld, he wouldn’t forgive himself.

A long time passed, but the excruciating pain of torn souls did not come. It seemed a light shone down, casting a gentle crimson before him.

Confused, Yu Xiao slowly opened his eyes.

The wind and rain had vanished, the sky clear again.

Before him lay a sword that had dispersed all demonic energy.

As its tip gradually exuded an icy chill, Yu Xiao froze for a moment, pupils widening as he followed that blue blade inch by inch upwards, meeting a pair of furious eyes.

Robes fluttering, snow upon his brows, he seemed a banished celestial descending to the mortal realm.

At his feet, Yu Xiao was covered in blood and filth, reminiscent of their first encounter seven years ago in the demonic realm.

“Ah Xu.”

Yu Xiao blinked in disbelief, staggering to his feet. For a moment, he thought it was a hallucination before death.

Until he touched Chu Xuyun’s robe hem, did he realize the person before him was real.

Ah Xu had come. Ah Xu had actually come.

At least he could tell Ah Xu that he understood everything now.

But faced with Chu Xuyun’s angry gaze, that look made Yu Xiao’s throat choke on his words.

Yes, Ah Xu would definitely be angry at his departure without a word, coming to seek his death. It was all his fault; he should not have awakened so late. He was truly the most foolish person.

Yu Xiao’s eyes reddened, he opened his mouth to explain, “Ah Xu, I…”

Before he could finish, a cold voice interrupted.

“Why did you not leave breakfast before leaving this morning?”

Chu Xuyun pursed his lips tightly, staring straight at him, pointing and pointing with infinite indignation. “Do you know how bad the food at Taiqing Sect is?”

For the past seven days of participating in the sect’s grand competition, he had gone without a single decent meal for seven whole days. He dreamt of Yu Xiao’s delicious meals every night, looking forward to a good breakfast today.

As a result, that grand feast had disappeared with Yu Xiao, whom he had been searching for. He had only managed to find it after noticing the unusual phenomenon.

Yu Xiao was too bad, and he had made breakfast for him every morning before. After they got married, he became lazy and evil!

“I want breakfast!”

Yu Xiao: …

I’m sorry, Ah Xu, I really forgot this time.

Can you look at the opposite evil immortal first? We are fighting and may die.