Chapter 181, Chapter 5: Tying Up the Boat

From that day on, Yu Wanwan lived in the home that Xu Qingzhou had prepared for them.

It's not the Xu family.

It was a house that Xu Qingzhou bought himself.

This used to be his restricted area.

Just like in the game, when he looked at her with a face exactly like hers, he wouldn't allow anyone to disturb him.

He also doesn't allow outsiders to enter this house that belongs to them.

Even his family members in this body are not allowed.

Upon learning that a woman was now living in the house, the Xu family became extremely agitated.

Unfortunately, Xu Qingzhou is difficult to deal with, even more so than before.

On the first day, Xu's mother made a video call.

"Qingzhou, do you have a girlfriend?"

In the video, Xu's mother asked the question cautiously, trying her best to pretend she didn't care.

"If you get a girlfriend, when are you going to bring her home to meet us? Don't let people think you're not interested."

Xu Qingzhou was peeling grapes for Yu Wanwan without looking up.

"It's not the right time yet. She's timid and will be scared."

"..."

Mrs. Xu settled for second best.

"Then... should Mom go see you?"

Xu Qingzhou finally looked up, a gentle smile on his face.

"no."

On the third day, Mr. Xu came to visit in person.

When the doorbell rang, Yu Wanwan was curled up on the sofa playing games and didn't react to the noise outside.

Xu Qingzhou left early to prepare dinner for her.

After glancing at the security camera footage, he unplugged the doorbell without hesitation.

He didn't mention it to Yu Wanwan at all, keeping it a secret from her.

On the seventh day, Xu Xiaomei suddenly appeared outside the house.

This time, Yu Wanwan saw the surveillance footage first, leaving Xu Qingzhou with no choice but to go and open the door.

Unfortunately, he only opened a crack, gently but firmly keeping Xu Xiaomei outside.

"Brother! I'll just take a look! Just one look!"

"no."

"Why?!"

Xu Xiaomei was very angry, but her good upbringing allowed her to maintain her composure and not shout.

"Are you trying to shirk responsibility and become a scumbag like him?!"

Xu Qingzhou turned and glanced at the girl curled up on the sofa watching TV. His voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable authority.

"She gets shy."

Xu Xiaomei: "..."

Yu Wanwan: "..."

Who's shy?

she?

After finally seeing Xu Xiaomei off, Xu Qingzhou turned around and met Yu Wanwan's ambiguous smile.

"shy?"

"..."

Xu Qingzhou touched the tip of her nose, then snuggled up to her in a somewhat ingratiating manner, burying her face in her neck.

Its head bobbed up and down, like a big dog seeking comfort.

Yu Wanwan leaned back slightly, adjusting her position to make it more comfortable for him to hold her.

Fingertips ran through his hair.

"Why won't you let them see me?"

Although she didn't say anything or ask anything.

But she knew everything that had happened during that time.

He couldn't hide it from her.

Xu Qingzhou froze for a moment, then remained silent.

Yu Wanwan didn't press him for an answer and patiently waited for his response.

After a long while, Xu Qingzhou finally spoke slowly.

"The time I've spent with you feels like a dream."

Once you've said the first sentence, the rest is much easier.

"I keep wondering, could it be that I haven't actually escaped the virtual world? Could it be that I've fallen into some kind of illusion? Could it be..."

He held her waist, his arms tightening unconsciously, his voice tinged with grievance and resentment.

"The moment I saw them, the dream ended?"

He looked up, his eyes red-rimmed, like a child lacking a sense of security.

"But they're so annoying, they always try to interrupt our time together! This is our time, and I don't want anyone to take it away from us."

What wasn't said aloud was...

At times, he even considered killing them all.

But these dark thoughts were suppressed when he met her gentle eyes.

Yu Wanwan was stunned, and the usual smile on her face vanished without a trace.

"Xu Qingzhou".

The man's eyelashes trembled slightly, and after a long while, he responded softly.

"Um?"

His hands were trembling.

Intuition told him that she had discovered it.

Yu Wanwan's voice was soft, gentle yet calm.

"You've developed inner demons."

Xu Qingzhou remained silent.

This time, Yu Wanwan did not wait any longer.

Why not remove it?

Xu Qingzhou suddenly looked up, no longer pretending or hiding.

Deep within those eyes, which were always filled with gentle affection, surged a long-suppressed stubbornness.

"Because your inner demon is you."

He had noticed something was wrong with him a long time ago.

It can even be traced back to not long after we parted ways.

He wasn't as noble and steadfast as she thought.

His longing for her gnawed at him day and night, eventually turning into a demon that clung tightly to his heart.

If it is not removed, it will be detrimental to his spiritual practice.

But she was his inner demon, and he didn't want to get rid of her.

Even knowing it's like drinking poison to quench thirst, they still find it sweet.

Yu Wanwan was speechless.

She finally understood why she felt something was off about him when they reunited in the game.

However, later on, both his behavior and the actual offline meeting revealed the truth.

He acted perfectly normally.

He was exactly the same person she remembered.

It made her feel no sense of unfamiliarity despite the long separation.

I didn't think much of it.

But she should have thought of it sooner.

Human nature is ever-changing; even the most powerful beings in all the heavens and realms cannot remain constant.

How could he not have changed at all over millions of years?

He possesses all the wonderful qualities bestowed upon him by the Creator, including exceptional talent and unwavering resolve.

Yu Wanwan truly never expected that he, in his current state, would develop inner demons.

But she was very calm, so calm that she seemed cold-hearted.

"If you don't get rid of your inner demons, you will make no progress in your cultivation."

Looking into her calm eyes, Xu Qingzhou felt as if his heart was being squeezed tightly, the pain almost suffocating him.

He tugged at the corners of his lips, revealing a bitter and self-deprecating smile.

"Then let's not go in."

He raised his hand and gently stroked her cheek, his fingertips trembling almost imperceptibly.

"Anyway, my current cultivation level is enough to step into the myriad worlds. Didn't you say you would be my support? It doesn't matter if you're a little weak."

The voice was soft, yet it carried an almost destructive resolve.

"This inner demon is one I chose myself. I am willing to be trapped by it, as long as... it is you inside."

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar person in front of me.

Looking into the surging darkness in his eyes, a darkness born for her.

Yu Wanwan remained silent for a few seconds, and as Xu Qingzhou's gaze flickered, she suddenly raised her hand.

With a single chop to the neck, the man's pupils twitched, his body went limp, and he fainted.

[...]

Dao Guo glanced at the unconscious man, then at the expressionless Yu Wanwan.

How could you do that!

Yu Wanwan wasn't in the mood to pay attention to it.

Looking at the person in his arms, he managed to utter a few words after a long time.

"Damn idiot!"

She's right here, what need is there for inner demons?

How can that thing compare to her, a living, breathing woman?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Yu Wanwan raised her hand and tapped his fingertip.

A soft green light flashed, and within moments, a wisp of black smoke was drawn out.

The black smoke emitted a foul stench and struggled under the green light.

Without even looking, Yu Wanwan pinched her fingers together, and the inner demon vanished completely, leaving no trace.

When Xu Qingzhou woke up again, he was lying on a soft bed.

It was already dark, and there was some noise outside the room, as if someone was talking.

As consciousness returned, the events of the past echoed in my mind.

Her inner demons were discovered, and she... knocked him unconscious?

Xu Qingzhou's heart tightened, and without even putting on her shoes, she ran out barefoot.

"Xiaowan!"

Does she dislike him?

Don't want to be with him anymore?!

He won't allow it!

The door opened, and the living room light slanted in.

Several familiar figures were sitting on the sofa.

His parents, sister, and...

she.

Hearing the noise, the group stopped talking and turned around to look.

"We're not going to steal your wife! Why are you in such a hurry?"

Mr. Xu's expression was rather unpleasant as he stared at Xu Qingzhou, who was still confused, disheveled, and barefoot.

"Go put on your shoes and tidy yourself up! What kind of appearance is this!"

Xu's mother and younger sister exchanged a glance, both somewhat bewildered.

"Qingzhou, are you feeling unwell?"

Why is her face so pale? Xu Qingzhou didn't care about their reactions.

His gaze was fixed on Yu Wanwan, ignoring Xu's father's disdain and Xu's mother's worries.

He rushed to Yu Wanwan's side and hugged her tightly.

"I thought...you didn't want me anymore..."

"..."

Under the strange gazes of the three Xu family members, Yu Wanwan remained calm and touched his hair.

"Don't talk nonsense. Your uncle and aunt are here. Go and get ready."

"Alright."

Mr. Xu sighed and ignored Xu Qingzhou, who was clearly having another episode.

"Now that we've met, we won't disturb you any longer. Please take care of this kid."

Yu Wanwan shifted her gaze from Xu Qingzhou, met Xu's father's serious eyes, and smiled gently.

"Of course."

The three members of the Xu family left.

Now only the two of them were left in the living room.

Yu Wanwan patted his shoulder.

"You've already overcome your inner demons, why are you still going crazy?"

It was only then that Xu Qingzhou belatedly realized his situation.

I felt a long-lost sense of ease.

The annoying temptation was gone from my mind.

He straightened up blankly, his mouth moving slightly.

Before he could even utter a sound, he was already pinned down by the little girl in front of him.

She pinched his chin, her eyes smiling, yet exuding a dangerous aura.

"Xu Qingzhou, remember this: I am me, and the inner demon is the inner demon. Don't even think about using that disgusting and filthy thing to occupy a place in your heart."

A slender finger touched his heart, causing him to tremble.

"There can only be one me here."

For a very long time, so long that Yu Wanwan thought he wouldn't answer.

He spoke in a hoarse, low voice.

"good."

She wiped away the tears welling up in the corners of his eyes and leaned down to kiss his lips.

"Be good."

After a long separation, their love was like dry wood meeting a raging fire.

That light kiss instantly ignited the air in the house.

An atmosphere of ambiguity continued to spread.

Xu Qingzhou curled up, constantly shrinking to the side, refusing her approach.

"Xiaowan..."

"Um."

"Don't do this..."

"Didn't you say you've grown up and that I should look at you with new respect?"

"..."

"What are you hiding for, brave warrior!"

"..."

"You...you're still young..."

"Where is it small?"

"……age."

"Ha! I'm older than all my ancestors combined, come here!"

"Hmm..."

Author's note: Turn off the light manually!