Chapter 15 Jokes

“Are you two interested in buying a copy of ‘The Legend of the Three Sacred Sword Immortals’?” The storyteller, smiling with eyes narrowed, opened the money pouch at his waist and handed over a book about the sword immortals with his other hand. “It’s a story about the Three Sacred Sword Immortals and the Immortal Monarch Taiqing, who grew up together and trained as childhood friends. If you buy this one, I’ll give you a free copy of ‘The Legend of the Immortal Monarch’ as well.”

Childhood sweethearts,

What a pair of childhood sweethearts.

Yu Xiao squinted his eyes, sipping his tea as if no one else were present, ignoring the persistent storyteller who kept pestering him.

“Buy a copy! This story is fascinating, and it comes with a Sword Immortal manual. You can take it home and practice with it. Who knows, one day you might even match a fraction of the Sword Immortal’s skill!”

Hearing this, Yu Xiao’s face turned even colder. His fingers hidden in his sleeve clenched subtly. He was about to take action but froze in place—

Chu Xuyun slowly stood up, retrieved some money from his storage ring, and handed it to the storyteller. Amidst the storyteller’s profuse thanks, he took the two books.

Yu Xiao’s expression stiffened slightly, his gaze falling on the Sword Immortal’s biography in Chu Xuyun’s hand, his heart sinking along with it.

They really are childhood sweethearts.

Chu Xuyun always appeared with Ji Lianzhou. Their names seemed bound together; if one was mentioned, the other was sure to follow.

In Chu Xuyun’s heart, no one could compare to Ji Lianzhou.

Chu Xuyun finished eating, oblivious to Yu Xiao’s increasingly deep gaze and casually opened the Sword Immortal’s biography.

He had to see why Lianzhou’s biography cost money while his own was given away for free.

Upon closer inspection, it was merely a chronicle of Lianzhou’s life, and the included sword manual was the same kind handed to every novice disciple of the Three Saints Mountain.

Damn it, he had been conned.

Chu Xuyun pursed his lips, unhappily setting down the Sword Immortal’s biography. He felt it was a pity to throw it away, so after pondering for a while, he pushed it towards Yu Xiao.

“Use it as firewood.”

“I don’t want it,” Yu Xiao’s cold voice rang out.

Chu Xuyun paused, looking up at him, meeting Yu Xiao’s seemingly resentful eyes. Yu Xiao glanced at him for a moment before looking away and picking up his teacup to drink.

Chu Xuyun: ……

What happened?

He carefully observed Yu Xiao’s expression, not understanding why Yu Xiao was upset.

After much thought, Chu Xuyun slowly reached out to retrieve the Sword Immortal’s biography.

If he didn’t want it, fine. He could use it to prop up a table leg at home.

Seeing Chu Xuyun’s indifferent expression, as if he didn’t care about his feelings at all, Yu Xiao’s fingers clenched tighter, almost drawing blood.

Yu Xiao didn’t understand what giving him the Sword Immortal’s biography meant.

Did Chu Xuyun also want him to practice with the sword manual, hoping he might one day match a fraction of Ji Lianzhou’s skill?

Suddenly, Yu Xiao grabbed Chu Xuyun’s hand, staring straight at him. “I’ve changed my mind.”

Chu Xuyun blinked in confusion and gently released the book.

Yu Xiao took the Sword Immortal’s biography, ignited a cluster of ghostly blue demonic flames at his fingertips, and burned the book to ashes in front of Chu Xuyun.

Chu Xuyun’s expression flickered. After a moment, he handed over the other book, the Taiqing Immortal biography.

He knew Yu Xiao wanted to burn something. Might as well give him another book to burn; it was all nonsense anyway.

Yu Xiao gazed at him deeply and said in a low voice, “Why get angry, Immortal? Is Ji Lianzhou that important to you?”

Just because he burned Ji Lianzhou’s book, Chu Xuyun handed over his own in a huff.

Did it mean he wanted to live and die with Ji Lianzhou?

Chu Xuyun was silent.

Did he mention Lianzhou just now?

“Thank you for the book, Xianjun. I’ll keep this one and read it thoroughly.” Yu Xiao’s voice was flat, but his intent was clear. “I’ll read every page, every line, until I remember every word, and every page bears my mark.”

He abruptly looked up at Chu Xuyun.

His eyes were filled with desire as if he wanted to mark Chu Xuyun as his own.

Chu Xuyun turned away.

Wow.

He didn’t know Yu Xiao loved reading so much.

In fact, his parents loved scholars the most. When he was a child, they hoped he would excel in the imperial examinations, but unfortunately, Chu Xuyun was not suited for it. If not for his talent in cultivation, he thought he would probably still be at home growing celery with his father.

Suddenly, an idea flashed in Chu Xuyun’s mind, his eyes lighting up—he thought he knew how to make his parents accept Yu Xiao.

If Yu Xiao pretended to be a studious scholar, his father would definitely not object to their relationship.

It was a perfect plan. This way, his family would be reassured, and they wouldn’t look for matchmakers to introduce girls to him every year.

“Xianjun?” Yu Xiao’s gaze darkened. He knew Chu Xuyun was smart enough to understand his implied meaning, but he didn’t care about his words at all.

If that was the case, Yu Xiao would have to take action.

“It’s time to go.” Yu Xiao stood up, taking Chu Xuyun’s hand without waiting for a response, ignoring the curious glances around them.

Being a male couple was indeed strange in the world. Even Yu Xiao knew he was odd, but he just liked men. More accurately, he only liked Chu Xuyun.

Chu Xuyun let him lead the way out of the inn, equally unconcerned about others’ eyes.

He wasn’t a gay; he just naturally liked attractive people, and in his eyes, Yu Xiao was the most attractive.

*

As soon as they entered the demon palace, a strong scent of blood assaulted their senses.

Yu Xiao released Chu Xuyun’s hand, frowning, looking around at the corpses of demon cultivators killed with a single sword strike.

Yu Xiao didn’t care about these demon cultivators’ lives; they were remnants of the previous Demon Lord’s forces. But there was only one person who dared to act so recklessly in his demon palace.

“Xianjun, it seems your childhood sweetheart has come.” Yu Xiao looked back at Chu Xuyun, jealousy surging in his heart. “What a coincidence. Today’s record of the Three Saints Sword Immortal will surely be enriched with another dramatic chapter.”

Chu Xuyun didn’t respond, lowering his head to look at the wound on the corps of the Demon cultivator. It was indeed Lianzhou; one sword strike was fatal, and the majestic sword intent seemed to linger deep within the wound.

Why did Lianzhou come at this moment? He hadn’t had a chance to form a bond with Yu Xiao yet.

Surely, it was the Sect Master who repeatedly invited him to bring Chu Xuyun back.

Chu Xuyun pursed his lips tightly, suddenly grabbing Yu Xiao’s wrist and turning to leave the Demon Palace.

Just as he turned away, a familiar voice came from behind.

“Ah.”

Chu Xuyun froze in place, slowly turning back, and instinctively pulling Yu Xiao behind him.

Ji Lianzhou held his long sword, looking at him from afar, naturally noticing Chu Xuyun’s subtle actions. He furrowed his brow slightly. “What are you doing?”

Yu Xiao stood behind Chu Xuyun, his eyes not on Ji Lianzhou but on Chu Xuyun, who was tightly holding his hand.

He hesitated for a moment, looking repeatedly.

Could it be… Chu Xuyun was protecting him?

His heart skipped a beat, and Yu Xiao remained silent, allowing Chu Xuyun to hold him tightly.

“Ah Xu,” Ji Lianzhou called again, gently saying, “I was entrusted by the Sect Master of Taiqing to come and rescue you.”

Even though he wanted to ask why Chu Xuyun was holding Yu Xiao’s hand, inexplicably, he dared not ask.

Chu Xuyun looked at him steadily for a while, shaking his head seriously after a moment.

He wasn’t going back.

Even if Lianzhou wanted to punish him, he wouldn’t leave. He had already decided to marry Yu Xiao.

“I know you are kind-hearted and unwilling to give up on Yu Xiao, but he is beyond saving now,” Ji Lianzhou knew very well how much effort Chu Xuyun had put into Yu Xiao. Although they were not master and disciples, their relationship was akin to one.

Ah Xu didn’t want him to kill Yu Xiao; he probably just had a soft heart.

But Ah Xu’s downfall was also due to his soft heart. If he hadn’t indulged Yu Xiao repeatedly, how could Yu Xiao have become so reckless and tortured Ah Xu into this state?

He’s even lost weight.

Ji Lianzhou ignored the slight increase in flesh on Chu Xuyun’s cheeks. “Yu Xiao is now a Demon Lord. He has fallen into evil ways, and not killing him will only lead to disaster.”

Yu Xiao found each word Ji Lianzhou spoke incredibly laughable.

“I also want to ask what kind of evil way your Silent Path is,” Yu Xiao sneered lightly, “Throughout history, no one has thought of such a foolish method.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Lianzhou visibly paused, his figure stiffened, and his face became slightly rigid.

“… How did you find out?”

Yu Xiao sneered, “What do you think?”

Ji Lianzhou looked incredulously at Chu Xuyun and muttered to himself, “Did you even tell him about this?”

Chu Xuyun nodded embarrassedly.

Seeing this, Ji Lianzhou couldn’t help but take a deep breath. “That Silent Path is indeed fake. I know it’s very stupid, but Ah Xu, why did you tell him our childhood jokes?”

Chu Xuyun was stunned for a moment.

Yu Xiao was also stunned for a moment, “What jokes?”

Chu Xuyun had earnestly practiced the Silent Path, even striving to not make a sound on his bed, in order to train quickly and become an immortal of the Taiqing!

“Ah Xu, what’s wrong with you? Say something.”

Ji Lianzhou sighed helplessly, but upon seeing Chu Xuyun’s bewildered expression, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

He instantly reacted and said in amazement, “You couldn’t possibly be…”

Yu Xiao looked at Chu Xuyun in the same astonishment, a bold thought floating through his mind.

Could it be… Chu Xuyun actually took those jokes seriously?!