Chapter 24 Pleasure

Lanterns flickered across the night sky, and candle tears dripped onto the table.

In the middle of the night, Chu Xuyun was suddenly awakened by a kiss, his face being pinched.

Yu Xiao was still gripping his wrist tightly, as if afraid he would leave again.

Chu Xuyun suddenly realized that all his clothes had been stripped off, and fine gold chains were wrapped around his wrists and ankles, binding him firmly to the soft couch.

What was Yu Xiao trying to do?

“Have you sobered up?”

Yu Xiao’s gentle voice sounded in his ear. Chu Xuyun looked up and found his calmness a bit strange, but he didn’t seem as angry as before.

Cold fingertips gently brushed the side of Chu Xuyun’s face. Yu Xiao’s gaze deepened, like a thin layer of icy mist in the dim night, “If you’re sober, let’s continue. We have a lot to do tonight.”

He handed the thin paper with the Heavenly Marriage Contract written on it to Chu Xuyun and coaxed softly, “Immortal Monarch, read it out loud.”

Chu Xuyun said softly, “I can’t read it.”

“Why not?” Yu Xiao’s voice turned cold, “Tell me, I’m listening.”

Chu Xuyun didn’t even dare to look at his face and whispered, “Actually, I’m not as good as you think.”

After he finished speaking, Yu Xiao was briefly stunned, then chuckled softly, “Just because of that?”

There was too much to say. Chu Xuyun took a deep breath, knowing that if he didn’t say it today, he might never be able to say it again. He gritted his teeth and said, “I’m very stupid. Ever since I was young, my teachers said I wasn’t smart. I can’t figure out many things on my own and tend to overthink. I’m not omnipotent. Besides cultivation, I have almost no commendable qualities.”

Yu Xiao stared at him without interrupting.

“My paintings are ugly, my cooking is terrible, and I only manage to teach my disciples because they are smart and talented.”

Chu Xuyun lowered his face, his voice growing smaller, “You think I’m amazing, but I’m not. If we get married and you find out I’m a fool who always causes trouble, can’t do anything right, and messes everything up… you will regret it.”

After he finished speaking, Yu Xiao remained immersed in Chu Xuyun’s words for a long time. Finally, he murmured thoughtfully, “So, you’re not planning to elope with Ji Lianzhou?”

Chu Xuyun looked up in astonishment and said incredulously, “I’m not… I’m just afraid…”

Afraid that once Yu Xiao knew these things, he would show a look of disdain.

That was truly terrifying, worse than seeing celery.

Just thinking about Yu Xiao no longer liking him made Chu Xuyun want to cry.

He rarely cried; even when his father denied him food as a child, he hadn’t cried.

“Yu Xiao, why aren’t you saying anything?” Chu Xuyun pursed his lips, never expecting he would one day urge Yu Xiao to speak. “What are you thinking about?”

Who was really practicing the Silent Way?

Yu Xiao’s face was still mostly hidden in the dim candlelight, making it hard to read his thoughts. Being bound by hand and foot made Chu Xuyun even more anxious.

“I’m thinking that Immortal Monarch’s Silent Way might not be completed,” Yu Xiao suddenly laughed softly, with a hint of schadenfreude.

Chu Xuyun pursed his lips unhappily, “I gave up on that long ago.”

The Silent Way required a serene heart, and his current state of mind was less peaceful than that of a night-watching demon cultivator.

He only wanted to know if Yu Xiao would despise him, not caring about the Silent Way anymore.

“Xianjun thinks I don’t truly like you because I said I admired your aloof, intelligent demeanor.” Yu Xiao cupped his face and whispered, “It seems Xianjun isn’t very smart, but very cute.”

Chu Xuyun: …

The more Yu Xiao thought, the more he found it amusing. “I said that to comfort you after seeing Yin Xuzhao’s harsh words hurt you. You couldn’t tell?”

“But why would you comfort me?” Chu Xuyun looked at Yu Xiao, puzzled. He didn’t feel very hurt; Yin Xuzhao’s words couldn’t touch him.

Just as he wanted to hear Yu Xiao’s explanation, Yu Xiao suddenly stopped talking.

“First, read the Heavenly Marriage Contract. Otherwise, I won’t tell you.”

The thin paper was once again placed in front of him. Chu Xuyun cautiously asked, “You really want to marry me? You won’t regret it?”

Yu Xiao squinted, smiling, “Read it.”

Chu Xuyun: “…Oh.”

He had no choice but to look at the paper and read it honestly, “Chu Xuyun pledges to unite with Yu Xiao for life… Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

Yu Xiao paused for a moment, then leaned close to his ear and whispered, “If you don’t read it, I won’t be polite.”

Fingertips suddenly pinched Chu Xuyun’s sensitive spot with enough force to make him shudder like he was electrocuted. He tried to squirm away, but his bindings were too tight to escape.

“I’ll read it… Yu Xiao, I’ll read it.”

Chu Xuyun could only comply, reading the marriage contract as written by Yu Xiao, “Chu Xuyun pledges to unite with Yu Xiao for life, sharing the same virtues and heart, becoming Dao companions. Should there be any betrayal… they will never have another Dao companion and will never leave Yu Xiao’s side, entangled for nine lives.”

Why did his contract seem longer than Yu Xiao’s?

Was Yu Xiao’s contract the same as his?

His head had hurt too much to hear clearly then, but it should be the same.

After finishing, a red string appeared simultaneously on their wrists, twining and tying them together before vanishing.

The Heavenly Marriage Contract was sealed; they were now officially Dao companions.

Seeing the red string disappear, Yu Xiao seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and turned to look at Chu Xuyun.

His eyes were clear and bright, reflecting only Chu Xuyun.

Yu Xiao bent down, gently kissed Chu Xuyun’s lips, and whispered, “Now I’ll answer your question.”

Chu Xuyun’s heart raced, his eyelashes trembled, and he dared not move.

“If you’re not smart, not omnipotent, and just a fool who can’t do anything…”

Yu Xiao couldn’t help but laugh, blurting out, “Wouldn’t that be even better?”

How could he regret it?

This was Chu Xuyun.

A person so perfect that discovering his flaws, flaws Yu Xiao could help mend, proved they were a match made in heaven.

He knew how to paint, and cook, and could help guide Chu Xuyun’s disciples.

Yu Xiao felt truly happy, even more than the day he captured Chu Xuyun and brought him back to the demon palace.

Before, he had to rely on coercion to keep Chu Xuyun, but now, he could become Chu Xuyun’s other half, helping him with things he couldn’t do.

“Loving someone doesn’t always mean admiring their character, intelligence, or talents. Sometimes, it’s because they do things others haven’t, and say things others don’t. Finding them special is the first stage of love. Only by seeing someone as special do you want to understand them.” Yu Xiao’s voice was gentle, warming Chu Xuyun’s heart.

Chu Xuyun looked at him in bewilderment, realizing Yu Xiao understood more about this than he did.

“Am I very special to you?”

Yu Xiao glanced at him and said, “It’s a long story. If you can remember our past, you’ll understand.”

Meaning—figure it out yourself.

Chu Xuyun was troubled. What in their past made Yu Xiao find him special?

His memory was really bad. Why did Yu Xiao have to quiz him now when he’d always hated answering questions?

“I’ll give you a hint,” Yu Xiao said mysteriously. “Seven years ago, early summer, Taiqing Sect, your sleeping quarters.”

His voice stopped abruptly. Chu Xuyun looked up at Yu Xiao, anxious, “And then?”

“You’re greedy, A Xu. Think for yourself.”

Chu Xuyun pouted and glared at him.

That hint was useless. It made it even harder to remember.

After a while, seeing Chu Xuyun still couldn’t recall, Yu Xiao decided to stop waiting. “Think about it later. Today is our wedding night. Let’s consummate the marriage first.”

“Yu Xiao…” Chu Xuyun wanted to ask more, but soon he couldn’t make a sound.

Yu Xiao couldn’t resist rubbing his ink-black hair and softly praised, “Ah Xu’s voice is so nice, but you should call me a husband.”

The person who first proposed the Silent Way was truly detestable, making him wait so long to hear Ah Xu’s heartfelt words.

However, the golden chain remained fastened. It looked good on Ah Xu’s hand.

Chu Xuyun felt like he might have been drugged. Otherwise, why would his heart race no matter what Yu Xiao did? He wanted to cover his chest but couldn’t free his hands. After a long time, his voice was as soft as a bird’s chirping, gently calling,

“Husband.”

“My favorite, husband.”

Yu Xiao’s body stiffened, and after a moment, his movements quickened as he held Chu Xuyun’s face and kissed him deeply.

“I am too. My favorite is Ah Xu.”

Not the Xianjun, but Ah Xu.

—

Seven years ago, in early summer, Taiqing Sect.

The weather was warm, and in Chu Xuyun’s sleeping quarters, Yu Xiao was hiding under his desk.

As soon as Chu Xuyun returned to his quarters, he would see him.

Today, he had to make Chu Xuyun explain why he brought him back to the sect and then avoided him every day without mentioning taking him as a disciple.

Only after arriving at Taiqing Sect did Yu Xiao realize that although Chu Xuyun seemed young, he was already a world-renowned Immortal Lord.

If he could learn the Dao from Chu Xuyun, within five years, he could return to the demon Domain to seek revenge.

But since bringing him back, Chu Xuyun hadn’t seen him again.

It must have been the rumors outside calling him a demon that made Chu Xuyun hesitate.

He couldn’t let Chu Xuyun easily treat him as a toy. If Chu Xuyun didn’t agree today, he wouldn’t leave this room.

After a while, Chu Xuyun indeed returned.

Unfortunately, he brought a sword. Even more unfortunate, as soon as he stepped into the room, he sensed the demonic aura on Yu Xiao.

The moment the sword tip touched his chest, Yu Xiao had never realized his heart could beat so fast.