Chapter 3: Melodramatic Immortal Romance

Chapter 3: Melodramatic Immortal Romance

"They call me 'madam', so you must be my 'husband', right?" Nan Yan looked up at Chu Liyue, her eyes clear and bright, devoid of any fear.

Chu Liyue's face darkened as he narrowed his eyes.

Quite a fearless creature.

Just wondering, when he decides to kill her, will she still be able to call him "husband" with a smile?

Nan Yan had no idea what he was thinking.

Suddenly, she covered her chest with her hand, furrowing her brows slightly, and then her smile became more evident.

"If you remain silent, does that mean you agree?"

"I was wondering who I'd be the wife of. But seeing you, I knew it must be you."

"Otherwise, why does my heart beat so fast at the sight of you?"

Her fingers gently pressed against her chest, the rapid heartbeat due to fear for her life; the thought of falling for someone who harmed her was unthinkable.

Her smile, growing more similar to He Nanwan's, carried a hint of warmth in her eyes.

Nan Yan deliberately imitated the heroine's demeanor while speaking.

With the male protagonist devoted to the heroine, she had to find a breakthrough from the heroine's angle. Luckily, their similar looks meant she could feign a resemblance convincingly.

Chu Liyue, captivated by such a gaze, was momentarily lost in thought, struggling to discern if she truly had amnesia or was pretending.

Chu Liyue scrutinized her intently for a while. The woman didn’t seem to be lying, with genuine joy in her eyes, prompting him to impatiently release his grip.

Does she really not remember?

What about the affection in her eyes?

He couldn't recall meeting her before, except on their wedding day. How could she have fallen for him?

What game was this woman playing?

Chu Liyue was in a foul mood, disliking situations beyond his control.

Moreover, he didn't need the affection of an imitation; his heart was set on He Nanwan, and no one else could make him show mercy.

Chu Liyue's gaze grew more intense.

Nanyan, seemingly oblivious to the murderous intent in his eyes, slightly raised the corners of her eyes, naturally drawing closer to him, “I... I don’t remember your name, could you tell me what it is?”

Chu Liyue did not respond to her.

Nanyan then tilted her head, persistently asking, “So... everyone calls you the Demon Lord, do I have to address you as Demon Lord too?”

"But wouldn't this be a bit strange? I should be your wife, so it would only be right for me to call you my husband, wouldn't it?"

"When you think about it, there's not much difference. 'Demon Lord' and 'Husband' are only one character apart."

"...Chattering away, so annoying," Chu Liyue's gaze suddenly turned cold and impatient.

In a flash, he remembered his first encounter with He Nanwan, how she had approached him proactively, persistent like an unshakable sticky candy, relentlessly pursuing him.

He still recalled their first conversation vividly, as if it were just yesterday, "You're such a strange person, talking to you is really exhausting."

"Let it be, everyone calls you 'A-Yue', so can I call you 'A-Yue' as well?"

"But wouldn't that be too intimate? Well, it doesn't matter, after all, a name is just a label. Whatever's convenient works best."

……

When did we become so alike?

For some reason, this woman's every move always evokes memories of him with He Nanwan.

Chu Liyue's eyes narrowed, a murderous aura flickering, as he slowly raised his hand.

As his hand was gradually lifted.

Suddenly, Nan Yan began to cough uncontrollably, her slender and fragile body trembling slightly, as her other hand instinctively reached for his extended palm.

...Unintentionally hindering his movement.

Her soft palm gently touched his, Chu Liyue's fingertips paused momentarily, feeling a strange warmth, the first time someone dared to hold him like this.

After Nan Yan's coughing ceased, her cheeks were still slightly flushed.

Her eyes openly betrayed her surprise as she looked up at him. "Lord Demon, why are your hands so cold?"

The expression she wore while speaking bore a striking resemblance to He Nanwan. Seeing him unmoved, she cautiously moved herself a bit closer.

Her tone carried a hint of surprise, mixed with concern.

Then she tenderly pressed her face against his palm.

The soft touch gradually dissipated the murderous intent in Chu Liyue's eyes. After all, they're mere ants; how does one react to powerless creatures?

Chu Liyue looked down at her from his elevated position.

Yet, what surprised him was the trust she showed, a trust not even He Nanwan, despite their closeness, had ever exhibited, willingly exposing her vulnerable neck to him.

This was a gesture of deep trust, especially in the brutal world of cultivators where even dual cultivation partners might not share such intimacy.

Chu Liyue never expected this amnesiac woman to be so foolishly trusting, cozying up to someone who could easily end her life.

His gaze fell on her soft, fair neck, knowing that with just a little force, he could easily snap it.

……

But ultimately, Chu Liyue chose not to kill her. Taking the life of a defenseless woman held no meaning for him. Besides, this imitation wasn't entirely worthless.

At least, her smile resembled He Nanwan's to a great extent.

It wasn't until Chu Liyue turned to leave that Nan Yan finally restrained her smile.

"Men are so difficult," she thought, relieved that her efforts had eased his concerns.

Showing mercy once means he could do it again. Even if it's because she shared a face with the heroine, he's not an impenetrable stone.

As long as there's a crack, no matter how small, she was confident she could pry open his shell to reveal his most tender core.

Nan Yan's injuries healed quickly, signaling the time to initiate her mission.

She had pondered deeply; for someone as domineering and paranoid as Chu Liyue, it was hard to trust anyone unfamiliar. Showing even a hint of assertiveness would make him wary and prompt him to eliminate her.

"Dealing with such a person requires a gentle and proactive approach, slowly infiltrating his daily life to gain his affection and trust."

"She’s adept at taking initiative, but it has to be measured, lest the ungrateful man grows impatient and decides to cast her aside with a single blow."

"So, it seems the best strategy is to mimic the tactics used by the original female protagonist: a gentle advance, yet not an exact replica, or else he might treat her merely as a substitute, rendering all efforts futile."

"Having made up her mind, it was time to start making her presence felt."

"A few days later, Nanyan's injuries had almost completely healed."

"Inside the sleeping chamber."

"Nanyan changed into a clean, red dress, imitating the heroine's style. A substitute must be aware of her role. After getting ready, she wandered into the kitchen and casually took a bowl of Jade Snow Lotus Seed Soup, heading towards the Demon Lord's main hall."

"One needs a reason to meet someone, and now she had one."

"Nanyan cautiously entered the main hall, and as expected, was stopped by the demon guards outside. Unable to enter, she had to find a way to make him come out."

"Thus, Chu Liyue, engrossed in a painting inside, heard a buzzing of voices from outside the hall."

"'Can I really not go in?'"

"'I am here to see the Demon Lord. Isn’t he inside?'"

"'Does your silence imply consent?'"

……

"Seeing no one responding, she simply started chatting with the demon guards outside the hall."

"But it was a one-sided conversation; the guards were strictly vigilant, not even sparing her a glance."

"Chu Liyue was becoming unbearably annoyed by the noise."

"Constant calls for the Demon Lord..."

"He slapped towards the door, yet the force of his palm carried no intent to kill, only shattering the doors, 'Who allowed you to come here?'"

"However, in that instant when the door was pushed open inside, Nanyan had cleverly hidden behind a demon guard. Only after the commotion settled did she peek out, 'Are you angry?'"

"Chu Liyue stared at her icily, 'If you don’t want to die, stay away from me.'"

"Noisy, annoying, the incessant chatter was maddening."

"She's just a substitute. If she’s not obedient, there’s no need for her existence."

"Nanyan didn’t leave. She blinked twice and fearlessly looked inside the hall. Not only was she unafraid, her eyes seemed to carry a hint of joyful mirth."

"'Demon Lord… then I’m coming in.'"

"For someone as obsessive as Chu Liyue, not killing her instantly meant he didn't want her dead, at least for the moment."

"Besides, if he really found her annoying, that slap would have been lethal. No need for further words, it seems his actions and heart are not aligned."

"She knew there were people who, although not averse to company, relished solitude more, outwardly rejecting others’ approach, yet inwardly craving companionship."

"Such people are contradictory, but if one delves deep into their psyche, it's mostly about being timid. They fear contact with others, dread loss, and are terrified of getting hurt, so they wrap themselves tightly in a cold exterior."

"Chu Liyue exemplifies this to the extreme. He wants others to fear him, yet he doesn't want everyone to be afraid of him. He’s even more extreme and ruthless, likely to unleash havoc at the slightest disagreement."

"Dealing with someone as contradictory and passive as him requires a soft, slow approach."

"'My lord… Demon Lord, I’ve brought you something to eat.'"

"Nanyan, like offering a treasure, handed over the lotus seed soup she had taken from the kitchen, smiling at him as if dancing on the edge of a minefield."

"Chu Liyue sneered, 'Do you truly have no fear of death?'"

"After speaking, he forcefully overturned the dish. With a sweep of his long sleeve, he caused Nanyan to stagger, bumping into a nearby Huanghuali wood curio cabinet."

"A jade Ruyi fell down, and she hurried to catch it. Having barely caught the Ruyi, she accidentally knocked the table, causing the vase on it to wobble unstably, ready to fall."

"Caught between saving one thing and losing another, she managed to steady the vase, only to be hit on the head by an ancient book from the shelf, bringing tears to her eyes as she rubbed her head in pain."

"'Hiss… that hurts…'"

"Chu Liyue lifted his eyelids for a glance, his look cold and disdainful, as if he had never seen someone so clumsy and annoying, and utterly useless."

"'...Foolish.'"

"Just as he finished scolding, a delicate statue on the table also rolled down due to the impact."

"Nanyan instinctively caught it, a palm-sized painted wood carving."

"The figure of the carving was lifelike, with distinct eyes, nose, and mouth, clearly a woman in a red dress, with bold and charming features, expertly captured in the statue’s expression."

"This revealed the carver’s dedication and fondness for the subject of the wooden figure."

"The exquisitely carved wood fell right into the palm of her hand."

"She raised her eyebrows in surprise, holding the wood carving, and asked Chu Liyue, 'Hey… what is this?'"

"Chu Liyue looked at the wooden figure in her hand, his eyes betraying an unstoppable sarcasm."

"It was carved by a woodworker he met during a demon-slaying mission in the mortal world. Impressed by the lifelike craftsmanship, he had a similar figure carved for He Nanwan."

"Sadly... his beloved showed no interest in it."

"Even now, He Nanwan's words of admonition and impatience echoed in his ears:"

"'A-Yue, can you please be more present? We’re here to exorcise demons, and as cultivators, we shouldn’t be distracted by such frivolous objects.'"

"'I know you care for me, but remember, we have a mission...'"

"After saying this, she threw the wooden figure away without hesitation, perhaps feeling secure in being favored, knowing he couldn’t really do anything about her."

"His thoughts gradually returned to the present..."

"Chu Liyue couldn’t quite remember his feelings at that moment, but they were undoubtedly unpleasant."

"Perhaps by then, she already disliked him, hence her impatience. Thinking of this, Chu Liyue's expression turned colder, his gaze falling on the wood carving in He Nanyan's hands."

"Seeing his silence, Nanyan asked again, 'Did you… Did Lord Demon carve this? It’s beautiful.'"

"She turned the wood carving over in her hands, caressing the figure’s body with her fingertips, a picture of attachment. It took her a while to realize that the little figure resembled her quite closely."

"So, without waiting for Chu Liyue to respond, she smiled again."

"Holding the candy figure close to his face, she revealed a radiant smile identical to that of the candy, 'Look closely, isn’t this carving just like me? So, I appear this beautiful in the eyes of the Demon Lord.'"

"As she spoke, she glanced at him again, 'My lord… Demon Lord, may I keep this?'"

"Chu Liyue scoffed lightly, 'You want it?'"

"Indeed, it’s just an unworthy imitation, a fake. What He Nanwan disdained, she treasured like a gem. A fake will always be a fake, never equaling the real thing."

"Nanyan blinked her eyes, nodding earnestly, 'Actually, it’s not that... If it’s inconvenient for you, then I won’t…'"

"Before she could finish,"

"Chu Liyue sneered, snatching the wood carving and throwing it out of the hall with a flick of his sleeve, unhesitatingly."

"As he threw it, a sense of relief surged within him, as if venting all his resentment from He Nanwan onto her."

"His intent was to make her experience what he had felt. Nothing more than to see how far this woman could pretend."

"After all, he couldn’t bear to reproach He Nanwan, so the woman before him could serve as a substitute, bearing all his malice."

"Being a substitute, she ought to look the part."

"He looked at Nanyan with malice, pointing towards the hall’s exit, 'If you want it, you can have it. Go pick it up. If you find it, it’s yours.'"

"Disdain filled Chu Liyue’s eyes."

"A flawed item discarded by his beloved, keeping it was only a nuisance."

"Selfish and obsessive as he was, if He Nanwan discarded something, even if thrown away, he wouldn’t allow any Tom, Dick, or Harry to lay a finger on it."