Chapter 54 Go! "This is called using their own methods against them, learn from yours..."

(54)

Chu Li is a very interesting person. You can never guess what she will do next, or imagine what strange thoughts are going through her mind, or what bizarre things she is planning to do. This unpredictable and moody personality is exactly what Gu Ye likes about her the most.

For example, right now.

With a loud slap, Chu Li didn't hesitate to give him a slap, and even dared to spit on him, "Pah, you wish!"

His face was turned slightly to the side. Gu Ye licked the bloodstains from the broken corner of his lips, a more dangerous glint flashing in his eyes, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

That was powerful; that's exactly the kind of slap I wanted.

Anyway, since the master lost his memory and left her in the Demon Realm, he probably won't like Chu Li anymore. So what if he takes Chu Li? He didn't steal or rob her; he just picked her up from his own home.

Gu Ye slowly stood up, his tall figure causing Chu Li to instinctively shrink back in fear for a moment.

This madman, he must have eaten the gall of a bear and the gall of a leopard!

Chu Li frantically grabbed a vase from the table and threw it at him, but Gu Ye caught it with ease.

"Didn't you want my help?" Gu Ye put the vase back on the table, his gaze falling on Chu Liyan's red lips. A fire seemed to be burning in his chest, unbearably hot, yet he couldn't find an outlet. "You should at least show some sincerity, shouldn't you?"

Chu Li stared at him in astonishment, unable to believe that he could be so shameless. "You just said that you would help your master."

“Yes, I will do whatever he asks me to do.” Gu Ye grabbed her wrist without hesitation and pulled her in front of him. “But he didn’t ask me for help. Now you are the one asking me for help.”

As demonic cultivators came to join the fun from behind, he cursed without turning his head, "Get out of here, can't you see I'm busy?"

Hearing this, Chu Li was both angry and afraid. Seeing the demonic cultivators wisely retreat, she could only struggle desperately, but she couldn't break free from his shackle-like hands at all.

"Aren't you afraid Shang Xinglan will kill you for doing this?" She was at her wit's end. Apart from bringing up Shang Xinglan, she didn't know what else could stop this mad dog, Gu Ye.

Gu Ye shrugged, seemingly unconcerned, and said, "Who told Master to lose his memory? And you still divorced him, isn't that giving me a chance?"

They're clearly speaking human language, but when you put them together, she can't understand a single word. What kind of rubbish logic is that?

She realized that she shouldn't have used that towering stone to erase Shang Xinglan's memory. At least in this situation, Shang Xinglan would have killed this bastard with a single sword strike!

Chu Li was so angry that she bit his hand that was holding her, but he didn't budge. He even leaned down and chuckled in her ear, "Use a little more force."

Upon hearing his words, Chu Li released him in despair, tears streaming down her face.

She hated the Demon Realm, she hated Gu Ye, and she hated Shang Xinglan.

Why did you abandon her in this godforsaken place?

This shouldn't be the case; this isn't what she wanted.

She wanted Shang Xinglan to live, and she also wanted him to love her forever, but these two things could never be done at the same time. Every time she chose one, the result was always more painful for both her and Shang Xinglan.

Chu Li couldn't help but cry like a child. She couldn't bear it anymore; these things weighed heavily on her heart and were about to crush her.

Seeing her crying so fiercely, Gu Ye gently released her and said helplessly, "Crying again? I don't know how to comfort people. Can you leave it to cry in bed later?"

"How about I stay and cry at your grave?"

Gu Ye's expression changed drastically. He stiffly turned his head and saw Shang Xinglan staring at him with a sinister look in her eyes.

He almost instinctively moved away from Chu Li, and asked with surprise and doubt, "Master, you haven't lost your memory?"

Upon hearing their words, Chu Li immediately stopped crying and looked at Shang Xinglan, who had appeared in the hall at some point, while sobbing.

No amnesia?

Really?

Shang Xinglan's forehead veins throbbed as his gaze swept over Chu Li, whose face was streaked with tears. He was... truly on the verge of going mad.

"Gu Ye, have you finished what I asked you to do?" Shang Xinglan asked coldly.

Gu Ye froze, "When are you going to tell me...?"

Before he could finish speaking, he received a solid punch to the face.

"Neglecting your duties, is it because I've been too lenient with you all this time?" Shang Xinglan dragged him up from the ground and punched him hard in the chest.

This was the first time Chu Li had seen him hit someone so violently, but strangely, she felt no fear whatsoever; instead, she felt a sense of joy. Chu Li wiped away her tears and carefully stood up.

Shang Xinglan hasn't forgotten her, has he?

Otherwise, why would she be so angry with Gu Yesheng?

A metallic taste rose in Gu Ye's throat, and he coughed up blood. His expression was complex as he looked at Shang Xinglan, but he showed no intention of retaliating. "Master, I thought..."

Shang Xinglan didn't give him a chance to explain. She beat him up without any mercy, then grabbed his collar and kicked him out of the hall. "Get out, and don't let me see you again."

The palace doors closed tightly before him. Gu Ye struggled to his feet, coughing violently as if he were coughing up his heart, liver, spleen, and lungs. After a long while, he sat cross-legged and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth in frustration.

His master definitely hadn't instructed him on anything, otherwise he couldn't possibly forget. The way he looked just now, as if he intended to stab him to death with a single sword strike, didn't seem like someone with amnesia.

He cursed himself under his breath in frustration, scolding himself for being so stupid. He had gotten carried away by Chu Li's words and actually dared to think he could take advantage of the situation.

It's also the master's fault. Why did he have to pretend to have amnesia and play the divorce game when he had nothing better to do? He had originally planned to stay in the Demon Realm forever and never leave, but he still had to bring Chu Li to his palace.

Gu Ye sat outside the hall, unwilling to give up. He glanced at the demonic cultivators who were casting curious glances at him, and drew his sword from his waist in a huff.

"court death?"

The demonic cultivators scattered in all directions, none daring to provoke him.

On the other side, inside the hall.

Chu Li scrutinized every expression on Shang Xinglan's face, took a light breath, and tentatively stepped forward to take his hand.

The hand froze for a moment, then quickly withdrew.

"You haven't lost your memory, have you?" Chu Lifu grabbed him tightly again, not allowing him to let go.

Shang Xinglan lowered her eyes and said coldly, "I warned you, if you dare to touch me again, I'll chop off your hand."

Upon hearing this, Chu Li moved closer instead of backing down, and slowly said, "Go ahead and chop, I'm not stopping you. Or if you don't have a knife, you can go and borrow one from Gu Ye."

After a long silence, Shang Xinglan's expression grew increasingly grim. He slowly pulled Chu Li's hand away and said in a deep voice, "Get out."

Judging from his reaction, Chu Li had already guessed most of it. He hadn't lost his memory after all, and hadn't used that towering stone at all; he was just deliberately trying to annoy her.

I felt a strange sense of relief, as if I had regained something I had lost.

She didn't know why she thought that way. She had clearly thought about it for seven days before making the decision, and thought she could accept this outcome. But when Shang Xinglan really treated her like a stranger, Chu Li felt that everything had changed, nothing was right, and everything was hard for her to accept.

She was clearly not suited to be a good person; kindness and generosity were truly terrifying things for her.

"I'm not leaving," Chu Li retorted softly. "Where's your sweetheart from the Demon Realm? Bring her here so I can see her."

Shang Xinglan paused slightly, then said nonchalantly, "Why should I show it to you? Who are you to me?"

Chu Li chuckled inwardly, slowly walked to his side, and said softly, "You should have said, 'Who do you think you are, daring me to bring you here?' Then you should have ordered your men to drag me away immediately, cut me into a thousand pieces, and throw me into a vat of boiling oil..."

Where did they hear all this nonsense? Shang Xinglan frowned slightly. "If you want it, I can grant your wish. Someone—"

The next moment, Chu Li covered his lips tightly and gritted her teeth, saying, "You dare! If you treat me like this again, I'll tell Grandmother and Yin Yin, and let everyone scold you."

Once she knows he still cares about her, Chu Li will act recklessly and become increasingly arrogant; there's nothing she won't do.

It was precisely because Shang Xinglan understood this that he pretended to have amnesia; otherwise, he would have had no way to make Chu Li obediently restrain himself.

"It doesn't matter, I don't know the person you're talking about." Shang Xinglan ignored it and casually sat down at the table, picked up her teacup, but saw the dark blue dress she was wearing in the reflection.

Gu Ye's clothes.

His knuckles, which were gripping the teacup, turned slightly white, and he looked away in annoyance.

Seeing that he was determined to keep up the act, Chu Li narrowed her eyes and said casually, "Alright, since you don't know me, Grandmother, or Yin Yin, I won't meddle in your business anymore. Gu Ye likes me anyway, so it wouldn't be bad for me to live with him. He's not bad looking, and he can even build houses and farm."

Shang Xinglan suddenly looked up at her, their eyes met, and they both saw a suppressed anger in each other's eyes, unwilling to be outdone.

"Go ahead," he said coldly.

Chu Li turned to leave, but when she reached the palace gate, she realized that Shang Xinglan still hadn't called her back. She stopped and looked back. "Am I really going?"

No one responded. Shang Xinglan sat quietly in place, her eyes lowered, making her expression unreadable.

Chu Li blinked, secretly chuckled to herself, walked to his side, and leaned down to look at his expression.

Soon, her smile faded.

Shang Xinglan's eyes were red and swollen, and he silently shed tears without making a sound. Even when the patriarch had him beaten with wooden sticks until he was covered in blood, he never cried like this.

Chu Li stared at him blankly, then came to her senses and hurriedly cupped his face to wipe away his tears. "Don't cry, don't cry. I'm sorry, my husband. It was my fault."

He didn't react at all, as if he no longer had the strength to forgive her.

"I shouldn't have divorced you without asking your opinion. I know I was wrong, really." Chu Li snuggled into his arms and hugged him tightly, saying urgently, "I don't like Gu Ye, I only like you, you are the only one I want in the whole world."

He remained silent.

The scalding tears fell onto her neck, making Chu Li tremble.

"I was just afraid you would fail to ascend. Without immortal bones, with so much less cultivation, and the curse of lightning marks..." Chu Li wiped her eyes, choking back tears, and said, "I know I was wrong. I should have believed in you. Whether you succeed or fail, I'll be with you, okay?"

She took out the Heavenly Marriage Contract from her bosom, along with the fragments of the divorce papers. Chu Li quickly threw the divorce papers far away, looked at Shang Xinglan ingratiatingly, held the Heavenly Marriage Contract in front of him, and whispered, "Look, Shang Xinglan, I didn't throw away the Heavenly Marriage Contract you wrote."

"I get scared too."

He gently pulled her into his arms. Chu Li was stunned for a moment, then heard his trembling voice, "Ah Chu, I'm also afraid of failure. How can you be so heartless as to leave me alone to face it every time?"

He was different from those who ascended to immortality. From a young age, his magical power was weak. Using stones to knock persimmons off a tree was the limit of what he could do—no different from ordinary people.

How could I not be afraid?

Every time he stood in front of the mirror, watching the lightning marks gradually climb up his body, it was as if countless venomous snakes were coiling around him, suffocating him bit by bit until he died.

It seems that nothing in life has any meaning except for cultivation. Sleeping is meaningless, so he has to sleep less. Making friends is meaningless, so he's not allowed to talk to anyone. Meeting his parents is meaningless, so he can only see them once a year. Even he himself is meaningless; he was born solely for the purpose of ascension.

What if it fails?

The head of the household never allowed him to say such discouraging things.

But he knew he was very likely to fail.

The tribulation lightning that usually strikes at the age of twenty-five had already struck him from the day he was born.

All Shang Xinglan could do was protect Chu Li from the lightning tribulation, but she couldn't guarantee that she herself wouldn't die.

But he still wanted to take a gamble, just in case.

What if he and Achu have a better future?

Shang Xinglan had no desire for other people's futures. Just like the painting of a lonely swordsman, even if a person gained freedom, it would not make him feel any relief.

He needs Achu, and Achu needs him too. They can't be separated. Too many beautiful memories of being together bind them tightly together. Tearing them apart would only cause them both unbearable pain.

Chu Li rarely heard him talk so much; every word he uttered spoke of the grievances in his heart.

"If you don't believe in me, I will also start to doubt myself."

“I never intended to retrieve the immortal bones, because they were the ransom I paid in exchange for my freedom. I just wanted to prove that even if I am not an ascendant, I can still ascend.”

“We are husband and wife. Husband and wife should share joys and sorrows. How can you bear to leave me to someone else and make me go through tribulations with a complete stranger?”

Chu Li stared at him speechlessly, instinctively reaching out to catch his tears, a slight, stinging pain tugging at her heart.

"I really want to just let it go like this. Perhaps our relationship was destined to be a bad one, and ending it might be better."

"But I can't do it."

Shang Xinglan pinched her face, suddenly kissed her, and bit her lips hard.

Her lips were bitten and bled slightly.

Chu Li winced in pain, and before she could react, she saw him grab her wrist, dab the blood on it, and then press it onto the Heavenly Marriage Contract without hesitation.

The marriage contract glowed with a pale golden light, and two red lines rapidly grew from the blood-stained fingerprints, wrapping around the little fingers of the two people, round and round, until they gradually became transparent and disappeared.

Chu Li stared at Shang Xinglan in astonishment, and said incredulously, "You...you pretended to cry just to get me to re-form the contract with you?"

Shang Xinglan calmly tucked the Heavenly Marriage Contract back into her clothes and said in a low voice, "This is called using their own methods against them. Trying to copy you is foolish."

Why can't we make a clean break?

On their wedding day, he had sworn in his heart that he would make her happy this time, and he would never break his promise. Seeing Ah Chu getting better and better, it was as if she had taken his place in happiness.

It seems that from that moment on, he was destined not to abandon her. No matter how much he was hurt, he would still want to give her another chance to repent.

A husband naturally has to be more tolerant of a wife who loves to cause trouble and is infuriating.

Just like how Chu Li dotes on Yin Yin, Chu Li's reckless behavior is all due to his repeated tolerance and indulgence. He doesn't dislike this result; in fact, he's quite satisfied with it, though he occasionally feels a bit of a headache and discomfort.