Chapter 27 Gray Baggage

“Long time no see, you still look down on everyone.” The man laughed bitterly, his aura growing more intense. “But I’m curious, someone as arrogant and inscrutable as you, how did Yu Xiao manage to win you over? Do you truly want to marry him, or are you just trying to catch him off guard?”

Chu Xuyun shook his head earnestly. “Rest assured, Yu Xiao and I are mutually willing.”

Yu Xiao’s friend still cared deeply for him, and Chu Xuyun understood. After all, Lingzhou often feared he would be deceived by Yu Xiao.

“What a mutually willing affair,” the man sneered. “If you hadn’t suddenly appeared, I would be the one with Yu Xiao.”

Chu Xuyun looked at him puzzled. “Why?”

Caught off guard by the question, the man didn’t know how to respond for a moment. “Why does it matter? I’ve been with him for years, helping him, and he doesn’t dislike me…”

“But you’re good friends,” Chu Xuyun analyzed seriously. “If he considers you a good friend, why would he be with you?”

The man fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject abruptly. “Don’t talk to me about this nonsense. Whether you genuinely want to marry Yu Xiao or just want him to let his guard down, marrying Yu Xiao would mean going against me.”

Chu Xuyun still didn’t understand. “So what do you intend to do?”

The man drew a sword from his waist and smirked at Chu Xuyun. “What do you think? While Yu Xiao’s away, I’ll remove you from his side once and for all.”

At these words, Chu Xuyun nodded. He casually drew a knife from the nearby demon cultivator. “Alright, let’s begin. Yu Xiao returned my powers yesterday, so now we can have a fair duel.”

It had been a long time since he sparred with someone. He wondered if his swordsmanship was rusty.

Upon hearing Chu Xuyun’s words, the man’s smile froze. “He returned your powers?”

Chu Xuyun nodded slightly. “Yes.”

The man’s breath paused for a moment, then he suddenly sheathed his sword. “Forget it, I’ll wait until Yu Xiao returns to discuss this.”

“Very well,” Chu Xuyun returned the knife to the demon cultivator beside him. Though strange, he politely asked, “What will you do now? Would you like some tea?”

“I… I’ll go back for now. I’ll visit again in the future.”

He left without even looking back.

Chu Xuyun watched his departing figure and sighed softly.

He had thought he could chat with Yu Xiao’s good friend, but it turned out the man didn’t like him very much. He left without even drinking tea.

What Chu Xuyun didn’t expect was that Yu Xiao’s good friend also loved Yu Xiao. Did Yu Xiao know about this?

Chu Xuyun sat back at his desk, his fingertips caressing the book Yu Xiao had personally written. A strange thought flashed through his mind.

Could the “he” in the book be this friend?

If so, Yu Xiao probably didn’t like him, because the book never mentioned love.

Yu Xiao’s friend was quite pitiable.

Chu Xuyun immersed himself deeply. If Yu Xiao didn’t like him, he would feel very uncomfortable, and he vowed never to let Yu Xiao know that he had once liked him.

But thankfully, they were already married.

He missed Yu Xiao so much. What could Yu Xiao be doing now?

Perhaps he was diligently teaching Yanhe. Chu Xuyun was sure Yu Xiao would train Yanhe to be very formidable, so Chu Xuyun wasn’t worried at all.

*

“Senior Brother, please eat something first. These dishes were specially chosen by Junior Brother for their beneficial effects on cultivation.”

Li Yanhe looked up to see Lin Ze holding a plate of side dishes, eagerly watching him. However, he had no appetite at the moment and couldn’t eat. “Thank you, but I can’t eat right now.”

Lin Ze sighed deeply, earnestly advising him, “The Sect’s Grand Competition is about to begin. If you don’t practice or eat like this, Master will be disappointed when he returns.”

“Master…” As soon as Chu Xuyun was mentioned, Li Yanhe felt even more heartbroken, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

Seeing him like this, Lin Ze also empathized, “Yes, Master stayed in the Demon Palace for you. It’s understandable that you’re so heartbroken. But you are his most beloved disciple and should take on the responsibility of winning the Grand Competition…”

Li Yanhe cried even harder. “I’m no longer his most beloved disciple.” That scoundrel Yu Xiao was now his martial aunt. Not only did Yu Xiao beat him up, but he also undermined his relationship with Master. How would he face all of this in the future?

Rain was coming, and mothers were remarrying. It seemed Master couldn’t be kept anymore.

Lin Ze didn’t understand his meaning and hurriedly comforted him, “How could that be? Master always treated you the best. Don’t think too much. For the Grand Competition, I’ve prepared a winning treasure specifically for you.”

At his words, Li Yanhe stopped his tears, looking at him curiously. “What treasure?”

Lin Ze smiled mysteriously, taking out the treasure from his bosom and carefully placing it in Li Yanhe’s arms. “Trust me, with this, you’ll surely win the Grand Competition. I used it myself to successfully enter the Inner Sect.”

Li Yanhe took it hesitantly, studying it closely. After seeing what it was, he paused, somewhat speechless. “Is this thing really effective?”

“Of course!” Lin Ze assured him confidently, patting his chest. “Just trust me. Keep it where you practice these days, and it will surely help you.”

Li Yanhe looked at him with some skepticism but said, “Alright, I trust you.”

Now, he could only strive to win the Sect’s Grand Competition. Maybe Master would change his mind and realize that Yu Xiao wasn’t that great after all, and then he would come back.

He had to practice diligently and forever be Master’s support.

Encouraged by Lin Ze, Li Yanhe finally felt the long-lost strength returning to his body. He was determined to win the top spot in the Grand Competition.

Since Lin Ze had given him such a good treasure, he decided to practice swordsmanship today.

Master’s sleeping palace seemed to have a good sword technique. He hadn’t finished studying it before. If Master wasn’t around, he would borrow it first and practice. Master would surely be happy when he succeeded.

*

A day earlier, standing at the entrance of Taiqing Immortal Sect, Yu Xiao took a deep breath. He had been expelled from the sect here by Chu Xuyun. The memory of that pouring rain day was still vivid.

Even though time had passed, whenever he saw this gate, a chill still rose in his heart.

For the four years after being expelled, he could only survive on the promise left by Xuyun that day. Although he lacked nothing materially, his soul seemed to have been buried here.

Forget it, he didn’t want to think about it.

With only three days left until the Sect’s Grand Competition, there was still much for him to do. To obtain that Clear Yuan Holy Water, he had to ensure that Li Yanhe became the champion of the Grand Competition.

That fool’s strength was too weak and needed proper guidance.

But the first thing Yu Xiao needed to do now wasn’t to find Li Yanhe, but… to go to Xuyun’s sleeping palace first.

As the Taiqing Immortal Monarch, Xuyun could live alone on a peak and had a palace occupying a mountain, where outer disciples were not allowed to disturb the Immortal Lord’s cultivation.

If Xuyun had any collections, they would surely be in his sleeping palace.

Yu Xiao knew he was being narrow-minded, and Xuyun might get angry, but he really wanted to know whose portrait Xufu had talked about, who had been painted.

Just a look, and he wouldn’t do anything else.

He and Xuyun were already married, so Yu Xiao couldn’t ask now.

Now was the best opportunity to get answers.

Arriving at the familiar palace, Yu Xiao carefully examined every brick and tile, feeling a slight ache in his heart.

If he hadn’t left Taiqing Sect back then, maybe he could still practice swordsmanship here with Xuyun.

Although Xuyun hadn’t accepted him as a disciple, he often let him practice swordsmanship in his own palace, privately teaching him many Taoisms techniques.

Those were the best times for Yu Xiao in Taiqing Sect.

Early every morning, before dawn, he would bring the wooden sword given by Xuyun and see Xuyun’s figure on the cloud steps not far from the palace, clad in white like snow in the thin mist of the mountains, ethereal like a celestial, making his heart beat faster silently.

Xuyun’s teaching was strict, probably because he demanded the same of himself, so punishing Li Yanhe with 30,000 sword swings wasn’t anything to Xuyun. He practiced like this every day.

Diligent, hardworking, extraordinary effort, and unparalleled talent created Taiqing Immortal Monarch Chu Xuyun.

Perhaps in Chu Xuyun’s heart, he only thought he had done very ordinary things.

Yu Xiao genuinely admired Xuyun for being different from others.

He had always been good, but he just didn’t know it himself.

Pulling back his thoughts, Yu Xiao realized he had stepped into the palace. The surroundings were still the same as four years ago, indicating that disciples often came to clean the dust. Even the table had a classic sword technique book on it, as if someone had just been practicing swordsmanship here.

He picked up the ancient book and glanced through it roughly, quickly losing interest and setting it aside.

It was a sword technique that Yu Xiao had practiced long ago, now fully mastered, perfect for showing Li Yanhe.

Once he found the portrait, he would go see the sect Master and Li Yanhe.

But where could Ah Xu have hidden the portrait?

Yu Xiao looked around but didn’t see it hanging anywhere obvious.

He searched the bookshelves casually, found nothing, and then turned his gaze toward Chu Xuyun’s bed.

Yu Xiao lifted the bedding, and searched carefully for a while, but found nothing related to the portrait. He neatly arranged the bedding again.

Where could it be hidden?

Yu Xiao racked his brain but couldn’t find an answer.

His gaze swept around the sleeping quarters, then suddenly stopped at a gray bundle near the hall door.

He paused slightly, sensing something, walked over slowly, and carefully examined the gray bundle.

He had never seen Ah Xu take out this bundle before. Could it have been found by sect disciples during dormitory cleaning?

After hesitating for a moment, Yu Xiao couldn’t resist and reached out to gently unwrap the bundle.

He only intended to take a quick look.

But with just one glance, he froze in place.

His eyelashes trembled slightly. It was as if Yu Xiao had touched a burning flame in his palm. He quickly let go of the object but continued to stare fixedly at it, his breath slightly quickened—

It was a portrait.

A portrait of Ji Lianzhou.

In an instant, Yu Xiao felt like he had plummeted into an abyss. He didn’t even know what he should do.

He had suspected that the person in the portrait might be Ji Lianzhou, but he had secretly hoped it might be Ah Xu’s father, the sect Master, or someone Ah Xu admired.

But it was indeed Ji Lianzhou.

It was definitely Ji Lianzhou.

Yu Xiao looked away, but all he could see in his mind was Chu Xuyun standing side by side with Ji Lianzhou.

The Great Celestial Immortal and the Sword Immortal, are childhood friends and lifelong companions.

No matter what role, it was not something Yu Xiao could aspire to.

It’s okay.

He was already married to Ah Xu, and even had a celestial marriage contract. Before leaving, Ah Xu had said he liked him the most.

At least now, Ah Xu’s favorite person is him, not Ji Lianzhou.

Yu Xiao took a deep breath and looked back at the portrait. Ji Lianzhou in the portrait wore a snowy robe, his eyes sharp, sword aura vibrant, the epitome of a cold and noble gentleman.

But the more he looked, the more unpleasant it felt, the more unwilling he became.

If only he had Ji Lianzhou’s luck, he could have been with Ah Xu since childhood.

His eyes dimmed, and he reached out and tore the portrait into pieces.

Ji Lianzhou was just luckier than him, that’s all.

This sect competition, Yu Xiao was determined to crush Ji Lianzhou’s prestige, to let Ah Xu know that choosing him was the right decision.

Yu Xiao made up his mind, took his sword, and left.

Before long, a figure entered Chu Xuyun’s sleeping quarters.

Li Yanhe, halfway through his cultivation, couldn’t resist finishing all the medicinal food Lin Ze had sent him.

That was good stuff, delicious and spirit-reviving. It would be a waste not to eat it.

After finishing, he returned to his quarters and noticed that the sword technique book on the table seemed to have changed position.

Li Yanhe puzzled over it briefly, then tucked the book into his robe. He didn’t worry too much; after all, the sect Master often sent disciples to clean the master’s quarters, perhaps one had just been here.

With the sword technique in hand, Li Yanhe contentedly prepared to continue his cultivation. As the most talented disciple of the Taiqing Sect, the sect Master had specially allowed him to cultivate in the Fuguang Peak of the master.

It was quiet here, abundant in spiritual energy, the best place for cultivation. Before, his master hadn’t been willing to let him come here, as if he had secretly hidden someone for private teaching.

But how could that be? His master treated them all equally.

He picked up his sword, about to leave the quarters for cultivation when he suddenly remembered the treasure Lin Ze had given him.

Oh right, Lin Ze had said to hang the treasure up while practicing.

It was a portrait of a sword immortal that Lin Ze had specially commissioned from someone at Sanqing Mountain, saying that hanging it up before the competition would greatly improve his swordsmanship and ensure victory.

Though he thought it was useless, Li Yanhe still appreciated Lin Ze’s kindness.

What if it really worked? Since the master wasn’t around, he’d hung up the portrait of the master’s good friend, Sword Immortal Shishu.

He looked at his gray bundle and opened it happily, but his smile vanished from his face.

—His Sword Immortal Uncle’s portrait, shattered.

“Who did this? Why does everyone bully me?!”