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Translator: She.Wee

T/N: I’m only picking up the translation from where it was left off. If you want to read the previous chapters you can check them out through NU. If in future I get the time I’ll translate the previous chapters as well.

Chapter 80: Old Debts

When Yu Chaoluo woke up, he found himself lying in Su You’s small wooden hut.

Su You was sitting cross-legged beside him, forming hand seals as he practiced. He must have expended a lot of energy healing Yu Chaoluo earlier.

Yu Chaoluo sat up and turned to look at Su You. In all these years, it was the first time he had closely observed Su You’s appearance. His deep-set features had an exotic feel, like a vividly painted portrait. Though fierce, they still had a unique charm.

He raised his hands and examined himself, checking his injuries with his inner energy. To his surprise, there were no lingering issues. He had thought at the very least he would be left with some irreparable damage.

At this moment, Su You finished his practice, reached out, and pulled Yu Chaoluo into his embrace, his chin resting on Yu Chaoluo’s shoulder. He asked, “Surprised to find you didn’t die?”

“Thank you this time.”

“Heh, you’ll thank me when that woman comes, but you’re not usually this polite.”

Yu Chaoluo ignored him, calculating with his fingers for a moment before asking, “Do you know what day it is?”

“You’ve been unconscious for four days.”

“I need to get back to Nuanyan Pavilion as soon as possible, or the disciples will worry.” Yu Chaoluo quickly got up and retrieved a clean sect uniform from his treasure box to change into.

Su You leaned lazily against the bed and asked, “Mainly, it’s the group of hypocritical old Daoists from Nuanyan Pavilion who’ll worry you’ll cause trouble, right?”

Yu Chaoluo didn’t answer, silently continuing to pack his things.

Watching Yu Chaoluo frown slightly, Su You’s dark features showed a trace of displeasure. “Not resting a few more days? Your body…”

“No need.”

Long accustomed to these words, Su You could only roll his eyes.

When Yu Chaoluo returned to Nuanyan Pavilion, the sect was too preoccupied to notice him.

During his coma, Nuanyan Pavilion had been attacked, and the sect was in chaos. No one had even noticed his absence.

After inquiring, he learned that it was a few minor demonic sects unwilling to sign the peace treaty causing trouble. The Qingze Sect had intervened, ending the disturbance in disgrace.

Yu Chaoluo didn’t ask further and returned to his cave dwelling, intending to continue healing. However, his master arrived.

After a moment of hesitation, his master finally said, “If you have something to say, please say it, Master.”

“Recently, they took advantage of the sect leader’s absence to cause trouble. As you can see, it’s because Nuanyan Pavilion has been lacking talent, giving them an opportunity. We need to train a few strong fighters…”

These words deeply pained Yu Chaoluo. If not for the past incidents, he might have reached the Nascent Soul stage by now.

In such a situation, even if he couldn’t help, he could at least protect some sect disciples.

“Master wants me to…” Yu Chaoluo was about to ask if he wanted him to attempt reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

Unexpectedly, his master’s words struck him like lightning: “Since you and Su You… have a good relationship, he knows many ancient secret techniques. If you could get one or two for the promising disciples, it might help the sect.”

“……”

He turned to look at his master with red-rimmed eyes.He suddenly realized that Su You’s frequent visits to Nuanyan Pavilion were not unnoticed but ignored.

They knew all along that he was being coerced by Su You. They just chose to do nothing.

They didn’t want to confront Su You.

Now, needing his help, they were ready to use him, a disciple unable to advance, to extract ancient techniques from Su You.

He could somewhat understand giving Yun Yimo to Xi Lin before.

But now, he couldn’t comprehend it at all…So they could tolerate and commit such things.

Though his heart had been wounded before, he had managed to piece it together over the years, despite the occasional leak. But now, the wound was reopened, bleeding profusely, causing raw pain.

Yet, those he once trusted stepped on his wounds, urging him to endure, to show his final value.

Seeing his expression, his master clenched his fists. Having spoken, there was no turning back.

He had to continue, even self-righteously: “The sect is in a critical moment. If we don’t find a way to become stronger, how can we maintain our reputation as the top sect? Other sects have been eyeing us for years. Will you sit back and do nothing?”

“What about me?”

“What?”

“I’m in such pain, and you’ll sit back and do nothing?”

“Didn’t we open the artifact vault for you? Count how many times it’s been opened since the sect’s founding. You’re already an exception!”

“……”

Could it be that he covets those magical artifacts?

He would rather not have any magical artifacts; he just wanted his partner. He wanted to return to the peaceful days they had before. He could have successfully reached the Nascent Soul stage; the grand ceremony had already been held…Instead of being in this miserable state now.

His master said a lot more to him.

Earnest and sincere, as if the gradual lack of talent and decline of the sect were all his fault.

After his master left, he sat alone in the same place for more than ten hours, not moving, not crying, not making a fuss. His eyes were vacant, as if his master’s departure had taken away his soul.

In the end, he got up and left the Warm Smoke Pavilion on his sword.

He went to find Su You.

Su You did not seem surprised to see him and opened the barrier to let him into his valley.

He walked towards Su You, standing in front of him, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Su You curved his lips and looked at him, seemingly very interested to see what he had to say.

Then he saw him tiptoe and kiss him.This was the first time he had taken the initiative in over a decade.

“What’s the matter?” Su You raised an eyebrow and asked.

“Can you…”

“What?”

“You can do whatever you want, but can you promise me one thing?”

“Speak.”

“I need an ancient secret technique. If you can give it to me…”

“Sure.” Su You replied with a smile, but curiously added, “You told me directly. Aren’t you afraid I’ll think you have ill intentions and then refuse?”

“If I don’t say it directly, you’ll figure it out anyway.”

Su You agreed, after all, he knew many techniques and could easily give a few.

Yu Chaoluo was taken back to the wooden house by Su You and didn’t come out for several days…Outside the wooden house, Chi Muyao thought for a while and suddenly realized something was wrong: “Don’t you find it strange?”

Xi Huai was puzzled and asked, “What’s strange?”

“We assumed this was Su You’s inner demon realm, but seeing this, I suddenly realized that the entire inner demon realm revolves around Yu Chaoluo. He is the focal point of this world, and Su You only appears occasionally.”

“But we don’t have Yu Chaoluo’s token. How can we enter Yu Chaoluo’s inner demon realm?”

“After Yu Chaoluo saved you, Su You helped heal him. During that time, Su You’s technique was very special. He might have transferred Yu Chaoluo’s inner demon to himself, so Yu Chaoluo no longer has an inner demon. The inner demon that has been tormenting Su You all along is actually Yu Chaoluo’s.”

This speculation overturned Xi Huai’s understanding, and he couldn’t help but wonder, “Why would he do that?”

“Because he said he could help Yu Chaoluo successfully reach the Nascent Soul stage. Yu Chaoluo had tried to break through to the Nascent Soul stage without knowing it, causing the spiritual power in his body to become chaotic, so Su You helped him.”

“But… this level of inner demon would trap Su You in the Nascent Soul stage for so many years?”

“Because all the emotional experiences of this inner demon are the most difficult years for Yu Chaoluo. Su You was trapped in this inner demon, repeatedly witnessing how much Yu Chaoluo had suffered over the years. After realizing he had fallen in love with Yu Chaoluo, he felt heartache every time he watched.”

As they discussed this, they saw Yu Chaoluo draped in Su You’s outer robe, walk out of the wooden house, stand by the railing, and put two bamboo slips into his storage bag after a moment of thought, sending them back to the Warm Smoke Pavilion.

Su You stood at the door watching Yu Chaoluo and smiled: “I saw you hesitate when you were taking the brush. You could have deliberately written it wrong. Why give them the correct techniques and let them practice wrong techniques and go crazy?”

Yu Chaoluo didn’t answer. He walked down the stairs slowly, sat on the stone bench below, and looked peacefully into the distance, letting the wind lift his hair and Su You’s wide robe.

He had always been a gentle and serene person, and now, with the wind blowing, he exuded a lazy beauty.

He finally answered the previous question: “They raised me. I owe them for my achievements today.”

Su You followed him downstairs and said, “But they’ve done so many disappointing things. You’re in this miserable state today because of them.”

“Yes, I’m very disappointed, but I can’t be like them. If I did, I would hate myself, I would disappoint myself…”

“So you helped them even though it was so… painful.” Su You bit down hard on the last two words.

“Yes… so I can’t hold on anymore.” Yu Chaoluo looked up at Su You, smiling gently at him. It was rare for him to be so gentle with Su You. “Su You, I hate you very much. You’ve made me feel a lot of humiliation. But sometimes I have to thank you; you’ve helped me a lot… Su You, can I ask you one last favor?”

Su You finally sensed something was wrong and quickly walked towards Yu Chaoluo, trying to control him, but found that Yu Chaoluo’s cultivation was already dissipating.Yu Chaoluo weakly said, “Su You… don’t bury me at the Warm Smoke Pavilion after I die…”

“Yu Chaoluo! Stop this!” Su You used his techniques to try to stop Yu Chaoluo from killing himself, but he couldn’t stop it. He could only watch as Yu Chaoluo dissipated, falling into madness. “How dare you! How dare you play tricks in front of me! I will keep your body and torment you forever. I will make sure you have no peace. Come back, stop!”

Yu Chaoluo tilted his head and looked at Su You, seemingly unable to hear him, just looking at his lips in confusion.

“You can reach the Nascent Soul stage now! You have no inner demon! Yu Chaoluo, don’t die. Stay here with me, don’t go back to the Warm Smoke Pavilion. Just pretend those bastards don’t exist, live your own life! I’ll give you the two beads you wanted! Yu Chaoluo! If you dare to die, I’ll destroy the Warm Smoke Pavilion! I’ll kill everyone in your Yu family…”

Yu Chaoluo still perished.

He dispersed his cultivation, closed off his senses, and ended it all.

His body swayed and fell into Su You’s arms, his soul scattered.

Su You held Yu Chaoluo, channeling spiritual power into him, trying many methods, but none worked.

Su You roared madly, venting his rage, seemingly unable to believe he could be so heartbroken.

Finally, exhausted, knowing there was no way, he sat in the courtyard with Yu Chaoluo’s body.

He didn’t know how long he sat there. When he came to his senses, his hair was already silver.He looked at his silver hair, his eyes dark and devoid of light, staring blankly for a long time.

He understood Yu Chaoluo’s pain.

He knew his persistence had contributed to Yu Chaoluo’s breakdown. He was partly responsible for Yu Chaoluo’s death.

He wasn’t sure if the deepest wound was caused by him or the Warm Smoke Pavilion.

At first, he thought it was just fun. How did it turn out like this?

How could there be such a stubborn person in the world? If Yu Chaoluo also had hatred, became as ruthless and cruel as him, he wouldn’t care so much.

Chi Muyao watched Su You’s grief and could only utter two words: “Serves you right.”

Xi Huai also sighed and asked, “Have you figured out how to use the inner demon to break Su You?”

“Yes, Su You deserves to die too.”

Su You’s weakness was Yu Chaoluo.

Translator’s Corner

I wish these two can just be together happily. My pookies.

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