Chapter 10 The Little Tanuki

“If you don’t like this day,” Yu Xiao’s voice carried a tremor he hadn’t realized, “I can choose another day.”

He didn’t want, nor dared, to hear Chu Xuyun say she didn’t want to marry him.

“Even though he had already promised him this time, could he be planning to go back on his word again?”

Seeing Chu Xuyun nod, Yu Xiao sighed deeply.

It turned out he only disliked the chosen date. Any day for the wedding would do, as long as Chu Xuyun was willing.

It was all his fault. How could he set a date without discussing it with Chu Xuyun first? Perhaps that’s why Chu Xuyun was upset.

“My lord, which day in April do you think would be suitable?” Yu Xiao relaxed and slowly sat beside Chu Xuyun, speaking cautiously.

Chu Xuyun pondered for a moment, counting on his fingers.

April wouldn’t work. The sect’s grand competition was approaching, and he would have to return to the sect to observe the matches. It also conflicted with his mother’s memorial day. Other days were not suitable for the wedding, so April was out of the question.

After a long while, Chu Xuyun reluctantly shook his head.

Yu Xiao’s palms began to sweat, his heart pounding hard. “May is also possible, or if you think it’s too soon, June.”

Chu Xuyun still shook his head.

Yu Xiao’s heart sank.

Could it be that Chu Xuyun still didn’t want to marry him and was just using the excuse of an unsuitable date to delay the wedding?

Yes, marrying someone like the Devil Lord would only bring shame to Chu Xuyun.

He was a righteous immortal lord, while he was nothing but a despicable and shameless person resorting to underhanded tricks against an immortal lord.

Yet Yu Xiao still harbored a glimmer of hope, thinking that perhaps Chu Xuyun was just playing hard to get and didn’t hate him that much.

Now upon careful consideration, all those calculations were likely just Chu Xuyun’s expedient measures, whether for Li Yanh sake or the Taiqing Sect, Chu Xuyun had always been forced to listen to him.

His clenched fingers gradually relaxed, and Yu Xiao felt ice-cold all over. He raised his eyes to look at Chu Xuyun in front of him. “If my lord doesn’t want to marry, you can just say it plainly.”

Hearing his words, Chu Xuyun suddenly looked up at Yu Xiao and held up three fingers.

Yu Zheng paused for a moment, abruptly stopping his sorrowful emotions. “What do you mean?”

At these words, Chu Xuyun quickly picked up a stone pen from the table and excitedly wrote down a line.

Yu Zheng leaned over to read it, murmuring, “Three days later…”

Three days later?

Yu Xiao was momentarily stunned. If he understood correctly…

“…Marriage in three days?”

Seeing that he understood his meaning, Chu Xuyun nodded satisfactorily and patted his shoulder, secretly praising his quick wit for grasping his intentions so readily.

He had just calculated it; the 9th of April was the only auspicious day suitable for marriage, but unfortunately, it coincided with his mother’s death anniversary. Chu Xuyun checked other dates but found that none in April were suitable.

However, three days later, on the 18th of March, that was an exceptionally auspicious day.

Yu Xiao hadn’t quite caught on yet; he remained stunned for a good while before murmuring to himself, “I-Isn’t this a bit too soon?”

He had thought Chu Xuyun didn’t want to marry him, only to realize that Chu Xuyun thought the date he had picked was too late.

Chu Xuyun tilted his head slightly, looking at him with a hint of confusion.

Yu Xiao was half nervous, half excited, his heartbeat almost drowning out his voice, “It’s not that I think it’s too soon. It’s just that the wedding attire and gifts are still being prepared. Don’t worry, three days from now means three days from now. I’ll make sure everything is well-prepared by then.”

Chu Xuyun pursed his lips, suddenly realizing he hadn’t thought about preparing any token of affection for Yu Xiao

After a moment of contemplation, he gently took off a small jade pendant from around his neck and placed it in Yu Xiao’s palm.

He hadn’t brought anything valuable out this time, and this jade pendant had been given to him by his late mother, engraved with her hand. It held profound meaning for Chu Xuyun. After careful consideration, he felt it was the most suitable gift, hoping the pendant would inspire Yu Xiao as it had inspired him.

Yu Xiao stared at the jade pendant in his palm, having seen Chu Xuyun wear it almost all the time.

He had often wondered who had given Chu Xuyun this pendant.

And now, Chu Xuyun had given it to him.

“Is this a token of affection?” Yu Xiao asked cautiously.

Chu Xuyun nodded somewhat shyly.

In that instant, Yu Xiao felt like everything was unreal.

Was he dreaming?

Chu Xuyun had agreed to marry him, and not only that, he had personally chosen the best and fastest date. Furthermore, Chu Xuyun had given him this jade pendant that he always kept close to him as a token of their love.

Feeling like he was walking on clouds, Yu Xiao walked out the door, forgetting what he had originally planned to do.

He lowered his eyes and carefully examined the jade pendant in his hand.

Running his fingertips over some rough, uneven marks that seemed like engraved characters.

Narrowing his eyes, Yu Xiao carefully deciphered them for a while.

“Devotion to… country?”

What did that mean?

Yu Xiao remained silent for a moment, then obediently put the jade pendant around his neck, patting it close to his heart.

Though he didn’t understand why “Devotion to the country” was engraved on the token of Chu Xuyun’s affection, he was sure Chu Xuyun had his reasons.

—

The wedding date was set, but Chu Xuyun still needed to figure out how to quickly bring Yu Xiao home to meet his parents.

Bringing Yu Xiao home sounded simple enough in theory, but in practice, it was difficult.

Chu Xuyun’s hometown was on Penglai Island, which, despite its name, was a deserted town with an exceptionally rich spiritual energy. Mortals entering would feel uncomfortable, their vision blurring and their chests weighed down as if by heavy stones. Only those born and raised on Penglai Fairy Island were oblivious to these effects.

It was for this reason that the locals, bathed in spiritual energy since childhood, were all exceptionally talented. Yu Xiao’s strong demonic aura would surely be noticed the moment he set foot there.

Moreover, how would he explain to his parents what Yu Xiao did for a living, and about his family members? He certainly couldn’t say that Yu Xiao’s usual hobby was practicing dark arts.

Father and mother lived their whole lives with integrity, detesting those who committed numerous evil deeds.

Yu Xiao had recently ascended to the position of Demon Venerable and hadn’t done anything bad yet. However, his father would never accept the idea of him marrying Chu Xuyun, someone associated with the Demon Venerable.

Chu Xuyun took a sip of tea and sighed deeply.

What a worry.

Since childhood, his parents had hoped he would become a scholar. If only Yu Xiao could pretend to be a scholar.

But how could Yu Xiao, as the Demon Venerable, willingly pretend to be a scholar?

Deep in thought, Chu Xuyun heard a light tapping on the thin window beside him.

Turning, he saw a small orange tabby cat lying on the windowsill, wearing a jade pendant around its neck.

It was the same cat from yesterday, delivering another letter to him.

Frowning slightly, Chu Xuyun approached and opened the window halfway.

The cat immediately leaped into the hall and respectfully bowed on its front paws. “Greetings, Immortal Lord. The Immortal Lord has sent me again to deliver a message. Please cherish this opportunity.”

With that, the cat took off the jade pendant from its neck and handed it to Chu Xuyun.

As soon as Chu Xuyun touched the jade pendant, it shattered, revealing a thin piece of paper.

Chu Xuyun had no intention of reading someone else’s letter, but he couldn’t help catching a glimpse of the urgent and hastily written words on the note.

— Chu Xuyun, this is your final chance from me. After reading this letter, come to the Dragon Palace to see me. I will ensure your safety from Yu Xiao.

If not, I will no longer intervene in your affairs.

Was this letter written by a child? How could it turn so angry?

Chu Xuyun fell silent and looked at the signature on the letter.

The signature was… Yin Xuzhao.

The contents of the letter seemed to be addressed to him, but Chu Xuyun couldn’t recall who Yin Xuzhao was. He had never known any demons, let alone a Demon Lord.

His memory wasn’t great; he often forgot about unimportant people or events. Perhaps he didn’t have a deep relationship with this Demon Lord, which was why he couldn’t remember him.

“Immortal Lord, please come with me quickly. If Yu Xiao returns, we won’t be able to leave,” the cat anxiously paced in circles. “Yu Xiao’s methods are formidable. Last time, he crippled our Demon Lord’s leg. If he finds out, my life might be forfeit.”

Chu Xuyun shook his head. How could he leave? He had already agreed to marry Yu Xiao, and what’s more, he couldn’t even remember who Yin Xuzhao was.

His mother had taught him never to go with strangers.

Seeing Chu Xuyun hesitate, the cat suddenly lowered its voice. “Forgive me, Immortal Lord.”

As it spoke, the cat pounced on him.

Chu Xuyun instantly realized what it was intended to do, but he had no magic power and no sword in hand. There was no way he could evade it.

In the next moment, the spacious hall was empty, save for two small tabby cats.

Chu Xuyun had been transformed into a completely white tabby cat.

“Immortal Lord, follow me!” The cat bit Chu Xuyun’s neck and tried to climb out the window, but then it saw a gleaming magic sword flying towards it from nearby.

Startled, the cat accidentally dropped Chu Xuyun from its mouth and was grabbed by a cold hand around its neck.

It raised its head to meet a pair of eyes as cold as an icy pond. Its fur stood on end in fear.

This was it, it was doomed.

“I wondered what creature had sneaked in. Turns out it’s a tabby demon raised by that beast.”

Yu Xiao spoke calmly, curling his fingers as if to crush the tabby demon in his hand.

“Demon Venerable, spare me…”

The tabby demon struggled madly, tears uncontrollably streaming down its face.

“Lord Demon, I’m afraid I won’t be able to return to see you, but if Chu Xuyun can escape to the Dragon Palace, my mission will likely be completed.”

Thinking this, the tabby demon suddenly bit down on Yue Xiao’s wrist, desperately trying to divert his attention.

Take this opportunity to escape, Immortal Lord!

Glancing sideways at Chu Xuyun, the tabby demon wanted to see where he had fled to, only to find a quiet lump of white fur lying peacefully at Yue Xiao’s feet, lazily yawning.

Tabby demon:?

Why are you still here?!

The weight on his boot was light but hard to ignore. Yu Xiao looked down in confusion, his gaze falling on the snow-white kitten and Chu Xuyun’s scattered clothes.

Could this be…

The Immortal Lord?

…Isn’t this a bit too cute?