Chapter 24 You Can't Stop Me Even though she knew she was there to stop him, she still…
(24)
It wasn't until just before lunch that Mr. Liu took Xiao Liu and left. Before leaving, the two little ones said goodbye to each other reluctantly, looking like two soft, fragrant white dough balls. Chu Li's heart softened at the sight, and she wanted to take a bite.
"Don't be sad, Xiaoliu can come and play whenever she wants." She patted Xiaoliu's head and said gently, "The mountain road is difficult to walk, so Yinyin can go down to find you."
Xiao Liu nodded, a bright smile spreading across her face. "Thank you, Madam Chu! I'll come visit often!"
Looking at the smile on her face, Chu Li was slightly taken aback. She had always admired girls who smiled beautifully, whose clothes were clean, and whose manners were proper and graceful.
very nice.
Before leaving, Mr. Liu couldn't help but look at Chu Li and whispered, "Madam Chu, that family member of yours... I don't know why, but he seems somewhat familiar. Have I ever met him before?"
Chu Li's expression froze slightly, and she shook her head. "He just arrived a while ago, how could you possibly know him?"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Liu seemed relieved and smiled, "It must have been my imagination. Madam Chu, you can bring Yinyin to my house another day. If you are willing, you can entrust this child to me for education in the future."
Chu Li politely declined, saying, "I'd rather not trouble you."
"What's so troublesome about this..."
Mr. Liu wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by a cold voice.
“Achu.”
Chu Li subconsciously turned around and saw that Shang Xinglan was standing behind her at some point, pulling her to her side. "The guests haven't left yet, why don't you stay and have dinner together?"
Sensing the hint in his words that he wanted to send them away, Mr. Liu's lips darkened. He took Xiao Liu's hand and bowed, saying, "No, I've already bothered you for too long today. I have other things to do this afternoon, so I'll head back now. Next time Madam Chu comes down the mountain, I'll personally cook some dishes for you and Yinyin."
Xiaoliu also waved goodbye to Yinyin.
Yinyin watched her until she was out of sight before turning back to look at Chu Li. "Mother, shall we go down the mountain tomorrow?"
Chu Li burst out laughing and pinched his cheek. "Why are you in such a hurry? They just left."
She looked up and saw Shang Xinglan take off his straw hat, his eyes cold.
No matter how many times I look at him, I still think his face is very beautiful. He clearly has the appearance of someone of unattainable talent and high status, yet he has an extremely good temper, which makes people feel an urge to win him over and possess him.
Chu Li couldn't help but move closer to him and take his hand.
Shang Xinglan subtly dodged the attack and said calmly, "I should go too."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Li looked slightly taken aback. "Where to?"
"The Cangshan Sect is located several hundred miles from here. We'll leave tomorrow."
His tone was extremely calm, as if he had only come to inform Chu Li.
Chu Li's expression gradually darkened. She forcefully grabbed his hand, their fingers intertwined. "Where are you going?"
Didn't we agree that I would stay here and settle accounts with her slowly?
It's over so quickly?
"You don't need to know." Shang Xinglan suddenly frowned and looked at her, her grip on his hand tightening as if she wanted to crush him. He paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Go and cleanse yourself of the demonic energy."
The force suddenly loosened, and Chu Li said in surprise, "Why didn't you say so earlier? Yin Yin and I will go with you. Wait for me, I'll go pack up now..."
Seeing her turn and leave, Shang Xinglan lowered her eyes and stood silently in place.
"After cleansing myself of the demonic energy, I will start cultivating again."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Li stopped abruptly and turned to look at him in astonishment.
The world seemed to be blank, with only the two of them remaining. Shang Xinglan slowly raised his eyes to look at her, his eyes filled with an almost resolute obsession.
"You can't stop me."
Chu Li's heart clenched as she watched him turn and leave, as if she were seeing Shang Xinglan walking further and further away from her under the moonlight many years ago.
Given another chance, he was still determined to ascend to immortality.
That inescapable, predetermined calamity will kill Shang Xinglan and also Chu Li.
Perhaps he won't be able to cleanse himself of the demonic energy? Or perhaps, even if he does cleanse himself of the demonic energy, he still won't be able to cultivate to the point of ascension?
Even the most gifted person couldn't ascend to immortality in just six months, could they?
Her mind was in turmoil, and she was shivering with cold. It wasn't until the little boy took her hand that Chu Li finally came back to her senses.
"Mother, are we really going to the Cangshan Sect?" the little boy asked softly, a little reluctantly. "But we just told Xiaoliu that we could play together often, and it's not the act of a gentleman to break his promise."
Chu Li bent down and whispered tremblingly, "We have to go, Yin Yin, if we don't go..." Mother will never see you and Xiao Liu again.
She couldn't bring herself to say the second half of the sentence, so she swallowed the words and made up a lie on the spot, "If we don't go, the monk brother will be sad. He's the one who invited us."
The little boy paused, hesitating, "But..."
"Brother cultivator saved our lives and reformed the demon. Do you think we should go?" Chu Li didn't want to deceive him, but she really had no other choice.
The little boy pursed his lips and whispered, "Alright, I'll write to Xiao Liu." Mother was right. The cultivator brother was their benefactor, and they couldn't refuse his kindness. Besides, they weren't going home forever; they would see Xiao Liu again sooner or later.
He obediently went to pack his luggage.
Seeing that he agreed, Chu Li felt a little relieved, but then she thought of Shang Xinglan and felt another wave of worry.
what to do.
Shang Xinglan was "killed" once by her, and now she is even more determined to cultivate, and she can't stop her at all.
Threatening suicide? Would Shang Xinglan let her die? One immobilization spell would render her unable to move. Besides, she didn't really want to die. What if she held a knife and Shang Xinglan didn't even glance at her? Wouldn't she be in a bind?
Just as Chu Li was struggling with her worries, Yan Xinbai walked in from outside the courtyard gate with a nonchalant air, carrying a bag of crabs he had bought from who-knows-where, ignoring them and walking straight past.
She was already annoyed, and seeing him made her even more annoyed.
His master must be very happy to be leaving, so he bought crabs to celebrate?
"stop."
Yan Xinbai paused slightly, turned around to look at her, and asked, "What is it?"
Chu Li snatched the crab from his hand and said in a deep voice, "I still have a score to settle with you. Why did you deliberately lie and say that someone was interested in him, trying to make me back down? Or do you think I'm not good enough for your master?"
Yan Xinbai was silent for a moment, then said, "I bought those crabs."
“This crab died in your hands, it’s incredibly unlucky,” Chu Li stared straight at him. “Tell me, did you secretly sow discord and send your master to the Cangshan Sect?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Xinbai frowned. "What?"
Chu Li sneered and moved closer to him. "What are you pretending for? Why would he suddenly want to leave Xiaofushan and go to Cangshan Sect to cleanse himself of demonic energy? He's been doing just fine all along. It was you who instigated him!"
She finally understood: Yan Xinbai just didn't like her, hated her, and thought she wasn't good enough for Shang Xinglan!
Yan Xinbai's brows furrowed even more, her anger flaring slightly. He said in an unfriendly tone, "Cleanse the demonic energy? No one has ever succeeded in doing so. They either die or are half-dead. How could I possibly ask him to do such a stupid thing!"
Upon hearing this, Chu Li crossed his arms and scoffed, "Maybe you just want to kill him so you can become the boss."
Hearing her words, Yan Xinbai's eyes narrowed slightly, and a cold aura emanated from him. "I don't need to do that."
He willingly relinquished that position in the first place, so why should he try to take it back? The title of Demon Lord is nothing but an empty name, completely irrelevant to him.
He was willing to follow Wuming because Wuming had told him that those who cultivate the righteous path all revere bloodline talent, destiny, and immortal fate.
Why should those without talent or family wealth be destined to be mediocre, struggling in the mundane world, or even forced to fall into the demonic path to become stronger, making them universally hated and killed?
Wuming wanted to enable the poor people of the world, regardless of their talent or social status, to cultivate like righteous cultivators, defy fate, and fight for fairness for all living beings.
Cultivating demonic powers is the best way; anyone can cultivate demonic powers.
However, those who cultivate demonic arts will gradually lose their minds and become cold-blooded and ruthless killers.
Wuming came to the Demon Realm in order to find a way to restore the mind of a demonic cultivator, and that's how he met Yan Xinbai. It was because he learned of Wuming's thoughts that Yan Xinbai decided to follow him, help him cure his illness, and fulfill this long-cherished wish.
Unexpectedly, Wuming now wants to cleanse himself of demonic energy and do something that no one has ever succeeded at before. Isn't that just courting death?
What should be done about their ambitions?
Yan Xinbai's face was gloomy. He turned to leave, but Chu Li called him back again, "You really don't know his plan?"
He said coldly, "What do you think?"
Chu Li stared at him for a while, then coaxed him gently, "So you don't want him to go either? Then you should stop him. It would be so pitiful if he died in the Cangshan Sect. He's so young."
Yan Xinbai paused slightly, then turned his head to look at her. "No."
Chu Li: "?"
"Go and say it yourself." Yan Xinbai snatched the crab back from her hand and said calmly, "I can cook crab. If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it."
To think you can use him as a weapon is far too naive.
Chu Li watched him walk away, gritting her teeth.
This person is even more insane!
Before long, the little boy came out of the east room with difficulty, dragging his luggage. "Mother, I'm all packed. Do you need me to help you pack?"
Chu Li pinched her aching temple, and after a long while, sighed, "No need, I can do it myself."
There's nothing else we can do but take it one step at a time.
Perhaps Shang Xinglan will back down once he arrives at the Cangshan Sect?
The next morning.
Xie Liyi, who had finished cultivating in the west room, slowly opened her eyes. There was still a bruise on the corner of her lips, from being hit by Gu Ye.
He has been trapped here for several days. The sect should have realized something is wrong by now and will probably send someone to rescue him soon.
Fortunately, he left some marks along the way, and as long as someone can understand his marks, they can follow the clues to find this place.
These demons want to trap him forever, but that's impossible unless he dies.
Xie Liyi let out a long breath and pushed open the door.
The courtyard was empty; even the chicks were gone.
He frowned, walked around the house, but Chu Li and Yin Yin were nowhere to be found. Undeterred, he searched the small hill outside again.
After a while, Xie Liyi, who was standing at the foot of the mountain, was surprised to find that the formation that had trapped him had disappeared.
Those demons, they wouldn't actually go to the Cangshan Sect, would they?
They didn't take him with them?
*
On the carriage.
Shang Xinglan leaned against the window, a hint of ambiguous emotion flashing in her eyes.
“I didn’t say you had to come along.”
Chu Li held the little one on her lap, took a bite of the apple in his palm, and said without looking up, "I want to come along, and you can't stop me. Even if you don't take me, I will find my own way."
Upon hearing this, Shang Xinglan turned to look at her and the child.
"Yinyin, we're going to the city to play! Aren't you excited?"
"Great! I heard there are calligraphy and painting shops in the city, I really want to go and have a look..."
"I'll take you to the city when we get there. You can buy whatever you want. Mom has plenty of money. Ta-da! Look how bulging Mom's purse is!"
"Wow! We're so rich!"
He slowly withdrew his gaze, a gentle smile curving his lips before silently pursing them away.
Even though he knew she was there to stop him, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed.
It's truly tragic.
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Author's note: There will be a second update.
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