Chapter 33 Ascension Avenue

As the first light of dawn shone through the window, Chu Xuyun lay limp on the bed, struggling to calm his chaotic breathing. His eyes stared blankly at the canopy above.

Yu Xiao… was amazing.

He hadn’t slept all night. Fortunately, his powers had returned, or else he wouldn’t have had the strength to even crawl out of bed.

If they continued to dual cultivate like this, he was going to ascend.

Hearing a rustling sound, he turned his head to see Yu Xiao already starting to dress.

“Yu Xiao… where are you going?” he called out weakly, not even realizing how coquettish his voice had become.

Yu Xiao looked back at him and said softly, “You rest. I’m going out for a walk.”

Chu Xuyun pulled the quilt up to his chest and said cautiously, “What I said earlier wasn’t true.”

He just wanted Yu Xiao to be bolder and not always obey his words.

Yu Xiao paused for a moment, then leaned down to kiss Chu Xuyun on the forehead, looking deeply into his eyes, “I know, but please don’t say it again. It really hurts me.”

Hearing those words felt like a stone was lodged in his chest, making it hard to breathe. He often felt an urge to silence Ah Xu by sealing his lips.

Chu Xuyun sheepishly said, “I will keep saying it until you stop obeying me.”

Yu Xiao: “…”

He gently pinched Chu Xuyun’s face, his eyes darkening, “I said not to say it. Remember?”

Chu Xuyun, satisfied, nodded lightly, “That’s right. I remember.”

Yu Xiao couldn’t help but smile bitterly. His Ah Xu was stranger than anyone, not yielding to gentleness but favoring firmness.

“Oh, by the way,” Yu Xiao suddenly remembered something he had forgotten to ask earlier, “What was the bet you made with Tan Mo?”

“It wasn’t a bet, it was a promise between friends,” Chu Xuyun corrected seriously.

His parents would be angry if they knew he was gambling outside.

Yu Xiao smiled helplessly, and gently coaxed, “Alright, then what did you promise?”

Chu Xuyun looked at him and said softly, “I promised him that if you killed Li Yanhe, I would stop liking you. If you didn’t kill him, I would stay friends with you.”

Hearing this, Yu Xiao found it amusing, “Ah Xu, he will never be friends with me. There is no genuine affection between demonic cultivators. After falling into the demonic path, we are no longer considered human. It’s all just superficial.”

He himself was the same. After falling into the demonic path, he was no longer an ordinary person. If not for the little bit of spells Chu Xuyun had taught him as a child, allowing him to suppress his evil thoughts, he might have been no different from other demonic cultivators.

“But he said he likes you,” Chu Xuyun shook his head, “If he understands liking someone, how can he be heartless?”

Yu Xiao didn’t agree with him but replied softly, “Perhaps, but I don’t really understand him. Why do you want him to be friends with me?”

Chu Xuyun mumbled, “I thought you might want a friend.”

Yu Xiao was momentarily stunned, his mind flashing back to his time at the Taiqing Sect.

Back then, he was ostracized by the other disciples and often did everything alone. Even though he said he didn’t feel lonely, the truth was he sometimes yearned for someone to talk to.

But that was a long time ago, a feeling from his youth that he had almost forgotten.

Why would Ah Xu think he needed a friend? Had he given Ah Xu the impression that he was lonely?

“Thank you for thinking of me, Ah Xu,” Yu Xiao laughed, getting up from the bed, “But Tan Mo and I will never be friends, and I don’t need friends.”

Right now, his heart was filled with frustration and anxiety. What he needed most was to find an annoying demonic cultivator to kill.

Chu Xuyun pursed his lips and curled up in the quilt.

He had questions he wanted to ask but couldn’t bring himself to. He wanted to know who the friend Yu Xiao had written about in that book he had secretly read was. Yu Xiao had filled dozens of pages with mentions of this friend.

Originally, he thought it might be Tan Mo.

But it wasn’t.

Yu Xiao finished dressing and left without looking back. As he stepped out of the hall, he saw a tall figure with a sword standing on the distant mountain steps.

He hadn’t changed his appearance yet, still wearing Chu Xuyun’s face. Yu Xiao guessed it might be someone coming to congratulate him on winning the championship after hearing the news of Li Yanhe’s victory.

He was right, but he didn’t expect it to be an acquaintance.

“Yu Xiao.”

Ji Lianzhou held a congratulatory gift in his hand, his eyes calm, “Congratulations.”

Yu Xiao frowned, his voice cold, “What are you doing here?”

Ji Lianzhou shouldn’t know that Ah Xu had returned.

“Don’t overthink it. I’m just here to congratulate you.” Ji Lianzhou placed the gift at the entrance of the hall and glanced at Yu Xiao, his eyes pausing on the bite mark on Yu Xiao’s neck before quickly looking away, “Please tell Ah Xu that I’m returning to the Three Saints Sect and won’t be able to visit him often.”

Yu Xiao squinted his eyes and responded lightly, “Alright.”

Ah Xu’s cultivation was profound. With just a hall door between them, there was no need for a message. Ah Xu must have heard everything clearly, unless he was asleep.

“By the way,” Ji Lianzhou suddenly remembered something, stopped in front of the hall, and took a letter from his bosom. “This is a letter Ah Xu gave me earlier. I always thought Ah Xu wasn’t good with words, and it might have caused some misunderstanding between you two. It’s better for you to see it.”

Although this letter was not written for him by the sect master, when he returned to the sect that day, the sect master said he knew what had happened and did not need to see the letter.

So the letter remained in his possession.

Yu Xiao stared at him intently, trying to understand his meaning. “Ah Xu is no longer at a loss for words. There is no misunderstanding between us.”

Ji Lianzhou was silent for a moment. “Then this letter…”

Yu Xiao: “Give it to me.”

Ji Lianzhou: “…”

He still wanted to see it, though his words were full of bravado.

On closer thought, Yu Xiao had only recently come of age; he still had a childish temper.

If Ah Xu could control him, their marriage wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Seeing Yu Xiao take the letter, Ji Lianzhou was relieved and turned to leave.

As soon as Ji Lianzhou left, Yu Xiao hastily opened the letter, unable to wait.

He had long wanted to read it but never had the chance.

Sure enough, it was written in Chu Xuyun’s handwriting, penned while Chu Xuyun was in the demon palace.

[To the Sect Master, greetings upon opening this letter.

Earlier, Yun Ling Fairy gave me eight words of wisdom, saying that my past affairs were unfinished and that I might struggle to ascend. After much contemplation, I realized the only unresolved matter was with Yu Xiao. I have no other requests of you, Sect Master, but to grant me some time. Afterward, I am willing to accept any punishment. Yun is at your disposal.]

The letter was signed with Chu Xuyun’s name.

Yu Xiao read each word carefully, his fingers trembling.

He knew Yun Ling Fairy, a female immortal who had successfully ascended in the cultivation world. Her words could not be wrong.

Ah Xu had an unfinished matter, and only by resolving it could he ascend.

Yu Xiao couldn’t help but think of that bottle of Yuanqing Holy Water. His heart felt as if it was being torn apart. He read the letter again and again, unwilling to accept it.

Was the unresolved matter turning him back into a mortal?

He pondered over it and found only this possibility.

Back then, Chu Xuyun had saved him and brought him back to the sect, teaching him spells. But unexpectedly, he had fostered a future demon lord.

He was Ah Xu’s unfinished business.

Only by becoming mortal again, losing his demonic energy, and ceasing to do evil, could Ah Xu ascend.

Yu Xiao’s face turned pale as he hastily stuffed the letter into his robe.

He wanted to pretend he hadn’t seen anything, hoping things could remain as they were, that he and Ah Xu were still a loving couple.

It was all fake; maybe Ji Lianzhou had forged it. It couldn’t be real.

Ah Xu truly liked him; how could it be false?

They had already formed a bond, drunk their wedding wine together, and sworn an oath to the heavens. Even ascension couldn’t break it!

Yu Xiao’s demonic aura grew stronger, so much so that even Chu Xuyun’s spells could barely conceal it.

He needed to get out and walk; Yu Xiao knew that if he continued like this, he might completely lose his sanity and become a murderous demon.

It would be best if someone came to relieve his agitation…

“Chu Xuyun, it’s really you!”

Yu Xiao suddenly looked up and saw another figure on the mountain steps.

He sneered slightly. “You came just in time.”

Yin Xuzhao didn’t recognize Yu Xiao’s disguise and stared at him in shock. “You’ve changed. Spending so much time with Yu Xiao has tainted you with his demonic aura.”

He had long known about Chu Xuyun’s return to the sect and that Chu Xuyun had taken his disciple to participate in the sect competition, winning the top prize.

Now everyone was saying the rumors were false, that Chu Xuyun had never been captured by Yu Xiao.

Only Yin Xuzhao knew the truth, but he couldn’t understand why Yu Xiao would let Chu Xuyun return to the sect.

If it were him, he would cling to Chu Xuyun for a good half month after their wedding.

Yu Xiao had no intention of explaining he wasn’t Chu Xuyun and approached him with his sword.

Yin Xuzhao sensed some killing intent and hurriedly said, “Don’t be hasty. I haven’t harmed anyone since coming to Taiqing Sect. I just came to see you.”

Seeing Yu Xiao still unresponsive, Yin Xuzhao, fearing he might strike, gritted his teeth and said, “I’ll tell you the truth. I came today to take you away. To kill Yu Xiao, I used the Dragon Pearl to revive the former Demon Lord. I didn’t expect him to be so powerful…”

At these words, Yu Xiao’s pupils contracted sharply. He grabbed Yin Xuzhao by the collar. “What did you say?”

“My original intention was just to cause some trouble for Yu Xiao…” Yin Xuzhao broke out in cold sweat, tightly clutching Yu Xiao’s wrist, afraid he would be struck down. “I thought anyone who could be killed by Yu Xiao wouldn’t be very strong. Who knew he’d nearly slaughter half the demon realm upon revival? I had no choice but to come to you.”

This was the truth. He really had no other options. If he didn’t find Chu Xuyun, it would lead to disaster. The human world would be in chaos, and everything would be irreparable.

Yu Xiao gritted his teeth and angrily threw him aside. “Idiot! Do you know how hard he is to kill? Do you know that after his revival, not only demon cultivators will die? Even dozens of lives wouldn’t be enough for him to kill!”

Back then, he and Tan Mo had set a trap and barely managed to push the former Demon Lord into the Soul Refining Valley. He didn’t expect the fool Yin Xuzhao to use his Dragon Pearl to revive him.

Yu Xiao had a deep-seated grudge with him, and the other party would surely seek revenge relentlessly.

Yin Xuzhao’s life meant nothing, but if he died, what would happen to Ah Xu?

Yu Xiao’s thoughts abruptly stopped. His gaze turned complex.

If he died, without his burden, maybe Ah Xu could ascend.

He had once said he would give Ah Xu anything he wanted, even the stars. What if this was what Ah Xu wanted?

Yu Xiao turned around and gave Chu Xuyun, who was inside the sleeping hall, a deep look.

Yin Xuzhao’s voice wasn’t particularly quiet; Chu Xuyun couldn’t have possibly heard it, but perhaps he was asleep.

Yu Xiao took a deep breath, grabbed Yin Xuzhao by the collar from the ground, and said coldly, “I’m going back to settle your mess in the Demon Realm now. After this matter, if you dare to cause trouble again, I will take your life.”

Yin Xuzhao looked at him timidly, clearly frightened by him. “Alright.”

Chu Xuyun could be terrifying when he got angry. Indeed, after spending so much time with Yu Xiao, he was starting to speak and act like that scoundrel Yu Xiao.

He was just a former Demon Lord. For Chu Xuyun, wasn’t dealing with him just a matter of one sword?

Meanwhile, Yu Xiao had made up his mind and wouldn’t look back.

If this was what Ah Xu wanted, then he would take the gamble.

If by some miracle he managed to kill that demon, he would return and drink the Yuanqing Holy Water, granting Ah Xu his freedom.

If he failed to kill the demon, he would use Ah Xu’s life, saved by him, to set Ah Xu on the path to ascension.

Soon, there were no longer any figures in front of the Fuguang Peak Hall, only the light of spring covering the ground.

Inside the sleeping hall,

As expected, Chu Xuyun was indeed asleep as Yu Xiao had guessed. He lazily turned over on the soft couch, lips pursed as if still enjoying a delicious feast in his dreams.

Hmm, even if it was a dream, it didn’t matter. After waking up, Yu Xiao would surely have prepared something delicious for him.