Chapter 15 Don't even think about bullying her; this is how she survives. ...
(fifteen)
Chu Li's hand was being held tightly. She tried to pull it back but couldn't. She stared angrily at the side of Shang Xinglan's face.
What's wrong with him this time?
She had never seen this cultivator before, and he looked extraordinary, not someone to be trifled with. How could she possibly know such a person?
As if sensing her dissatisfaction, Shang Xinglan turned to look at Chu Li, staring intently at the expression on her face, "And you, Chu, does the name Xie Liyi sound familiar?"
Chu Li frowned, about to retort with a curt "familiar my foot!" but before she could finish speaking, she suddenly froze.
Xie Liyi?
Cangshan Sect, Xie Liyi.
A tingling sensation ran down Chu Li's spine, and her chest tightened slightly. She hurriedly lowered her eyes and said, "Never heard of it."
What a coincidence, it had to be Xie Liyi.
lie.
That expression clearly shows that she knows the name.
Shang Xinglan's gaze turned cold. He didn't expose her, but simply let go of her hand, walked up to Xie Liyi, and personally poured him a glass of wine.
The other person stood up to take the wine and gently clinked glasses with him.
Xie Liyi still felt that something was wrong with this family. The day before yesterday, he received news that a disciple had discovered a clue that resembled the Demon Lord Wuming and was heading towards Shuiliu City. He rushed over immediately but found no trace of any demonic cultivators along the way.
Only when he arrived here did he hear a strange story in Jixiang Village at the foot of the mountain: a local bully named Zhao Lao Er and several of his henchmen had mysteriously disappeared overnight.
Some say that their last appearance was at Kofukuyama.
Therefore, Xie Liyi suspected that the Demon Lord and his entourage were likely passing by Xiaofushan and killed those bullies on the way.
I was just trying my luck to find some other clues, but I never expected to meet such a strange family.
Such an important event as a wedding was held without any guests, and everything felt rushed and eerie.
He lowered his eyes and subtly evaporated the wine in his cup with his spiritual energy. "Congratulations on your marriage, young master. May I ask your name?"
Shang Xinglan downed the wine in his cup in one gulp and said calmly, "My surname is Shang, you can just call me Brother Shang."
Xie Liyi suddenly froze, "Surname Shang?"
Is this the businessman he was thinking of?
How could that be? How could a merchant end up in such a remote place?
If it really was a merchant, he would feel more at ease, since that was the universally recognized benchmark of the righteous path in the cultivation world.
Chu Li's anger intensified as she listened to their conversation.
That damned nameless bastard, how dare he steal her husband's name? Does he even deserve it? If it weren't for that damned "peace lock" around the little brat's neck, she would have exposed his identity immediately so that Xie Liyi could chop him into a bloody mist.
Xie Liyi, that's Xie Liyi! He can definitely win. Let alone a mere Wuming, he could definitely beat ten Wumings. After all, he was a cultivation genius whom the Sword Immortal spotted in a beggar's den and took as his closed-door disciple.
She had to find a way to tell Xie Liyi that there were three demons; this was probably their only chance to escape. Heaven was truly kind to her, sending Xie Liyi to her side even in such dire straits.
The little boy tugged at Chu Li's sleeve and whispered, "Mother, he said congratulations on your wedding. Who is getting married?"
Chu Li paused slightly and made a shushing gesture.
Remembering her instructions, the little boy obediently shut his mouth, a hint of worry in his eyes.
Actually, he wasn't ignorant; he just knew he couldn't change anything.
If Father were still alive...
Forget it, there's no point in living anyway. Maybe they'll have to rely on themselves.
Chu Li gently rubbed his head and comforted him in a low voice, "Don't overthink it, everything will be alright. Just watch your mother's expression later."
The little boy nodded, then sadly took her hand.
Chu Li led him toward Xie Liyi, and poured a glass of wine in the same manner as Shang Xinglan. "My son Yinyin is five years old this year. I plan to let him become a cultivator in the future. Brother Xie, could you please take a look at Yinyin's aptitude?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Liyi slowly raised his eyes to look at her. She was an ordinary mortal woman. While the others seemed a bit off, this woman and her child looked quite normal. Her palms were slightly rough, suggesting that she usually did farm work.
If he were truly a merchant, it wouldn't be surprising if he married a peasant woman, since it's rumored that the eldest son of a merchant family once married a beggar, suggesting that he probably didn't care about social status when it came to marriage.
He then turned his gaze to the slightly timid little boy and held out his hand, "Give me your hand."
The little boy pursed his lips and obediently offered his hand.
Xie Liyi pinched his wrist, squeezing upwards inch by inch, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, "Good physique, abundant spiritual energy in the body, and it is a rare pure spiritual energy."
Chu Li's eyes lit up, and he continued, "Brother Xie, please give Yin Yin a couple of pointers so we can see if he has any talent."
She gave the cub a look, and the cub immediately understood, picking up a wooden branch from the ground to use as a longsword.
Upon hearing her words, Shang Xinglan's fingers, hidden inside her sleeve, curled slightly.
Absolutely stupid.
This heartless beast has completely forgotten about her, and is even trying to please her with a smile.
"Didn't I say I would teach him?"
Shang Xinglan's voice suddenly rang out.
Chu Li paused slightly, then looked at Xie Liyi without turning her head and said, "Yes, Yinyin learned some moves before, which were taught by him. But he is not a proper cultivator like Brother Xie, so I thought we should let Brother Xie take another look."
Shang Xinglan opened her eyes, her breathing rapid.
And so it is.
In Chu Li's eyes, he was inferior to Xie Liyi in every way.
"Have you learned some?" Xie Liyi's gaze swept over them, then fell on the little boy's face. "Then I'll just show you a couple of moves. Don't delay your wedding ceremony."
The little boy nodded, gripped the wooden branch, and began to wield his sword. Although he had only learned the basics, it was enough to show his innate talent. His movements were fluid and effortless, crisp and precise.
Xie Liyi stared at it for a while, and finally became completely convinced of Shang Xinglan's identity.
The move the little boy demonstrated was the first move of the Merchant's Flowing Water Destroys Leaves. There are many Merchant disciples in the Cangshan Sect, so he knows this move.
I never expected to meet other cultivators here, but this also means that the Demon Lord is not here, otherwise Brother Shang would not have been unaware of it.
"How is it?" Chu Li looked at Xie Liyi with hopeful eyes, hoping that he would discover that there were three inhumane devils who forcibly took women here.
Xie Liyi pondered for a moment, then gave a rather fair assessment, "You have excellent talent, and your husband's teaching is also good, but your movements are still a bit clumsy and you need to practice more."
The smile on Chu Li's face gradually disappeared. "That's it?"
Xie Liyi glanced at her, paused for a moment, and said, "I'm not good with words and I don't know how to force compliments. I'm sorry."
"..." Chu Li's heart sank.
Xie Liyi is no good either. Not only did he not recognize the demon's identity, he could not even see the demon's moves. What is the Cangshan Sect doing?
Disappointed, she looked away, but when she turned her head, she met a pair of cold, gloomy eyes.
Chu Li's heart skipped a beat, thinking that he had discovered her intentions, and she quickly reached out to take his hand, "Husband, Brother Xie praised Yin Yin for her talent."
Shang Xinglan stared at her intently, then grasped her hand, which was damp with cold sweat.
She's incredibly cunning; she only calls him "husband" at times like this.
It's okay, they can settle their scores after they get married.
"We haven't had the wedding ceremony yet, so we can't call you that," he said calmly, pulling Chu Li towards the house.
Chu Li felt like she was going to her execution with every step she took. If she was destined to die, why did God send Xie Liyi to her side?
The two entered the house, and Shang Xinglan placed the bridal veil over her head, just as he had done when he married her.
A sea of crimson filled her vision; Chu Li could only see the tips of her boots and Shang Xinglan's hand tightly clasped around hers. In a daze, she thought it was a scene from the past, and that the person beside her wasn't a demon, but her true husband.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth."
Gu Ye readily took on the role of matchmaker.
Getting married is quite fun. It wouldn't be interesting if it were someone else, but the groom is nameless, and he finds it all very amusing.
If word got out that the Demon Lord was getting married, countless stories would be born among the common people.
Shang Xinglan led her to turn around and face the heavens and earth, gently released Chu Li's hand, and bowed deeply.
He glanced at Chu Li out of the corner of his eye and saw that he hadn't moved. He narrowed his eyes and whispered, "Peace Lock."
Chu Li gritted her teeth and had no choice but to bow down in worship.
Heaven and earth can bear witness, she did not do it willingly!
"Bowing to the parents twice."
Shang Xinglan turned her around and said calmly, "Next."
With parents gone, what is there to worship?
"Yes." Gu Ye smiled, then raised his voice, "Husband and wife bow to each other—"
Chu Li took a deep breath, faced the person next to her, and gave a perfunctory bow.
Shang Xinglan slowly bent down, his gaze falling on the bridal veil on her head, a dark undercurrent surging in his eyes.
Whether my heart is filled with joy or sorrow, I cannot say for sure.
How could they have fallen to such a state in the blink of an eye?
He calmly stood up and said in a low voice, "You really don't know Xie Liyi?"
Chu Li was slightly taken aback and looked at him, puzzled.
"I'll give you a chance. Go ask him again if he remembers who you are." Shang Xinglan closed her eyes and said softly, "The Peace Lock doesn't have any formations. It's just an ordinary golden lock. You don't need to worry. Go ask him."
Chu Li gritted her teeth. "What are you going to do now? I already told you we don't know each other."
He goes crazy all day long, always saying nonsensical things.
After a brief silence, Shang Xinglan said casually, "If you hadn't asked, I would have killed him directly."
He slowly turned his head, leaned closer to Chu Li, and said in an even softer voice, "You can see for yourself whether I am inferior to him or he is inferior to me?"
The cultivation world is full of experts, and countless talented individuals are like fleeting clouds. Yet, no one dares to claim genius in front of Shang Xinglan.
Xie Liyi, someone who could be crushed with a single finger, is not worthy of being compared to him.
He had wanted to say this for a long time.
If it weren't for the fact that Chu Li genuinely regarded Xie Liyi as an older brother, he wouldn't have even remembered the name.
Upon hearing this, Chu Li stared at him in astonishment, having never seen such a shameless and arrogant person. "You think too highly of yourself. Who do you think you are? That's Xie Liyi..."
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly realized that she had let something slip, and her heart skipped a beat.
Shang Xinglan turned her gaze away slowly.
"Didn't you say you didn't know each other?"
Chu Li felt like she wanted to disappear into a crack in the ground; her face was burning hot, and she involuntarily gripped the hem of her clothes tightly.
"Yes! I know him, what's it to you?"
Shang Xinglan's pent-up anger was ignited by her, and he sneered, "I am your husband now."
Chu Li paused slightly, then looked at him as if suddenly realizing something. "You're angry because of this? Because I said you're not as good as him, and you're jealous?"
No, she was just saying it casually. Why does this person get jealous so easily? It never ends!
Shang Xinglan remained silent, her expression cold.
Chu Li glared at him, feeling stifled, and gritted her teeth as she uttered a few words, "I recognize him, but he doesn't recognize me."
"Is that so?" Shang Xinglan said indifferently. "Since he has forgotten you, then I will help you get revenge on this treacherous villain, how about that?"
Seeing him turn to leave, Chu Li quickly removed her veil, grabbed his wrist, and stopped him. "Who told you he broke his promise?"
Shang Xinglan: "I guessed."
Chu Li was both anxious and angry, fearing that he would really kill Xie Liyi. He spoke so confidently, and if he really had the strength to defeat Xie Liyi, then her hope of escaping would be shattered again.
"He never knew me from the beginning!"
The words had barely left his mouth when Shang Xinglan froze.
He slowly turned his head and looked at Chu Li.
Chu Li sighed helplessly and said resignedly, "Can you stop imagining things? Who told you we knew each other before? This is the first time I've met him. I've only heard his name from people before."
She didn't know Xie Liyi at all; she had only heard of a very powerful cultivator who had once been a beggar, and she fantasized that he might be her brother who could protect her.
After marrying into a wealthy and extravagant merchant family, she encountered countless powerful cultivators and a husband with great magical abilities. The only way she could protect herself from harm was to lie and deceive.
Bringing up Xie Liyi during the argument was meant to tell Shang Xinglan that she wasn't without options or support, and that she shouldn't be bullied.
Only Chu Li herself knew that she had nothing.
Trembling and hesitant, they put on a seemingly strong and indestructible shell to protect their fragile and helpless selves.
She was only sixteen years old at the time, and that was how she survived.
The lie was clumsy and full of loopholes, yet her husband failed to notice.
In an instant, Shang Xinglan's mind went blank.
He was bewildered for a long time.
The scene of Chu Li first mentioning Xie Liyi to him seemed to appear before his eyes.
Her evasive gaze, weak voice, and guilty expression gradually became clearer.
So that's how it is.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com