Chapter 5: Melodramatic Immortal Fantasy

Chapter 5: Melodramatic Immortal Fantasy

When Chu Liyue woke up the next day, his headache was splitting.

His chest still felt stuffy, as if a heavy stone was pressing down, making it hard to breathe or move.

He instinctively reached to clutch his chest, only to unexpectedly touch a fluffy head. The head's owner was snuggled tightly against his chest, sleeping very peacefully.

Chu Liyue frowned, looking down at the person lying on his chest. The woman’s unguarded, serene, and gentle sleeping face entered his view.

The soft color of her lips, slightly moist, caused a momentary daze.

Chu Liyue hesitated briefly, realizing that the woman before him was not the one he longed for.

His gaze immediately darkened and became dangerous. Why was this woman here?

He pushed the person on top of him away, and Nanyan, clearly caught off guard, was pushed to the ground.

This push also gradually brought back some memories of the previous night, fragments lingering in his mind, like him holding this woman's wrist, unwilling to let go.

It seemed he mistook her for He Nanwan amidst the chaos.

Last night… it was her who took care of him.

Chu Liyue's expression suddenly turned strange, and then he heard a hiss. The woman seemed to have woken up, accidentally knocking her arm against the broken fragments on the floor.

Nanyan rubbed her sore eyes, clearly unaware of what had happened, but upon looking up, she saw Chu Liyue sitting up in bed, supporting his body.

She appeared momentarily stunned, then quickly smiled joyously at him.

"My husband has finally woken up."

This address caused Chu Liyue's eyes to narrow displeasedly.

Nanyan, oblivious to his expression and not minding the wound on her arm, instinctively got up from the ground.

She then sat on the edge of the bed, and before he could react, her warm palms were already on his forehead, expertly checking his temperature.

"As she gently touched it, she softly asked, 'How are you feeling, my lord? Does your head still hurt? Any discomfort elsewhere?'"

"After ensuring his forehead’s temperature had cooled, she smiled gently at Chu Liyue, 'That’s good, it’s not hot anymore.'"

"Nanyan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, gently helping him sit up and thoughtfully placing a soft pillow behind him, whispering attentively, 'My lord, don’t rush to get up. Rest against the pillow for a while. You had a long headache last night; there might still be some lingering pain even though you’re awake now.'"

"Chu Liyue’s eyes darkened, his gaze dangerously fixed on the woman who dared to touch him."

"'What did you call me?'"

"'My l... No, that’s not right,' Nanyan realized her slip of the tongue, looked up awkwardly at him, and stammered, '...I meant to say, Lord Demon, how are you feeling now?'"

"Her tone was cautious, as if afraid of angering him."

"Chu Liyue sneered, not overly concerned about the minor slip in address, but rather displeased with her presumption."

"Yet, seeing her worried expression, he couldn’t help but feel an unusual emotion stirring within. What exactly was this woman trying to do?"

"Did she think these actions would soften his heart?"

"Chu Liyue’s face tightened, and he rubbed his aching brow. He was uncomfortable with these unfamiliar feelings, disliking anything that slipped from his control."

"Nanyan, noticing him massaging his brow, mistakenly thought his headache had returned. She moved gently and skillfully to the edge of the bed, apparently intending to help ease his pain."

"'You’re frowning again, Lord Demon. Is your head hurting? Let me massage it for you...' Her eyes were full of concern, her words and demeanor expressing her anxiety for him."

"But before she could finish, her wrist was abruptly swept aside. Chu Liyue looked at her with irritation and disdain, 'Who allowed you to touch me?'"

"Nanyan’s hand froze in place, seemingly baffled by his sudden ferocity. She lifted her head, her expression bewildered, taking a moment to regain her composure."

"'Alright, I won't touch. But Lord Demon, please speak up if you feel uncomfortable.'"

"She wasn’t angry; instead, her face showed a clean, compliant smile, yet it seemed to mask a hint of subdued sadness."

Chu Liyue also noticed the hint of disappointment in her eyes. He involuntarily furrowed his brows, unsure why her reaction made him feel for the first time that perhaps his attitude had been too harsh. After all, this woman had tirelessly taken care of him throughout the night.

But he quickly regained his composure, his gaze turning cold and mocking. If it weren't for this woman's collusion with the He family to deceive him, the person beside him now would be his true love. Her actions were merely compensation, something she rightfully owed him.

Nanyan on the other side had also calmed her emotions, looking at Chu Liyue's pained expression with a concerned look on her face.

She suddenly remembered something. The previous night, Chu Liyue had suffered a severe headache, and the medicine prescribed by the demonic healer had not yet been administered.

"Oh right, I almost forgot, the Demon Lord's medicine hasn't been taken yet."

Nanyan tapped her forehead, seemingly annoyed at herself for forgetting, then said to Chu Liyue, "Wait for me a moment. I'll fetch your medicine. The demonic healer mentioned last night that it could alleviate the headache upon waking."

She turned to go to the kitchen for the medicine, unaware of the increasingly strange look in Chu Liyue's eyes behind her.

The medicine, prepared by a dedicated maid, was ready by the time she returned, with Chu Liyue deep in thought, leaning on the bed.

Nanyan carefully approached with a porcelain bowl in hand, and Chu Liyue fixed his gaze on it, asking, "What medicine is this?"

His tone clearly conveyed his suspicion of her.

Nanyan, unbothered, explained softly with a light smile, "The demonic healer said that the Demon Lord's headache is due to the chaotic impact of the demonic energy in your body. Ordinary elixirs from the cultivation world are ineffective. This medicine, brewed from the spiritual plants of Youdou, can suppress the demonic energy in your body, thus relieving the headache."

After hearing the explanation, Chu Liyue remained unconvinced, his gaze intensely fixed on the medicine bowl, skepticism fleeting in his eyes.

Nanyan carefully dissipated the steam from the medicine, and seeing Chu Liyue hesitant to take the bowl, she pursed her lips, revealing a teasing smile.

"Is the Demon Lord worried about the bitterness of the medicine?"

She blinked, her smile more pronounced, "It might be a bit bitter. Herbal extracts are like that, different from the usual elixirs refined by immortal sects. However, its effect dissipates faster."

"If the Demon Lord fears bitterness, I can fetch some candied fruit for you."

Hearing this, Chu Liyue scoffed lightly. Afraid of bitterness? What nonsense was she speaking? What did she take him for?

He then took the porcelain bowl from her hand and drank all the medicine in one go. The moment it touched his mouth, the bitter and unpleasant taste instantly spread throughout his mouth, lingering all the way down his throat to his stomach.

His handsome brows twisted strangely, wondering how could there be such a bitter medicine?

Chu Liyue coughed lightly, yet his face remained expressionless.

Nanyan thought to herself that the system had secretly tripled the dose of extremely bitter Huanglian. That should be bitter enough.

Seeing that he had indeed finished the drink, Nanyan pursed her lips and chuckled, quickly slipping a piece of candied fruit into his mouth while he was coughing and frowning.

Her cool fingertips accidentally brushed his warm lips. Nanyan seemed oblivious, but Chu Liyue's expression turned stern, about to get angry.

Nanyan's voice explained near his ear, offering a cup of fragrant spiritual tea, "That was a sweet candy to counteract the bitterness. When I was sick as a child and refused medicine, my mother used it to coax me. If the Demon Lord finds it too sweet, perhaps some refreshing spiritual tea would help."

She held out the tea with hopeful eyes.

But as she raised her hand, the tea cup was knocked over, and her wrists were suddenly grasped firmly.

Chu Liyue's face darkened, his eyes showing a dangerous glint, "Who allowed you to do this? Do you really think I wouldn't dare to kill you?"

He was referring to her boldness in stuffing the candied fruit into his mouth, a liberty no one except He Nanwan had ever taken with him.

Nanyan looked up at him, her expression somewhat bewildered, "I didn't mean to... I just wanted to ease your discomfort."

Chu Liyue's face remained cold and silent, his grip not loosening in the slightest.

As his hand tightened, Nanyan's face turned pale, biting her lip, "Ouch... it hurts, Demon Lord, please be gentler..."

Her eyes reddened from the pain, her gaze towards him filled with unease and tension.

Chu Liyue realized that this woman was different from He Nanwan and most cultivators in the cultivation world, appearing fragile and defenseless.

She had no trace of spiritual power in her, incapable of posing any real threat. With this realization, his suspicions began to fade...

Hearing her soft, faint cries...

Chu Liyue then noticed he was pressing on a wounded spot on her wrist, an injury from a broken porcelain piece when she had fallen earlier, the wound still unattended and bleeding.

His fingers paused, feeling the warm liquid on his palm. The injury had gone unnoticed because she was wearing a red dress.

Chu Liyue abruptly let go of her hand, suppressing the impatience in his heart, "Don't do such presumptuous things again in the future. I don't like people touching me carelessly."

Nanyan pursed her lips, noticing his apparent anger. Without arguing, she looked up and gently nodded, "I understand, I won't do it again."

The emotion in her eyes left Chu Liyue momentarily puzzled. She seemed not to be angry at all. How could she harbor no resentment towards him after how he treated her?

What could be the reason for this?

Could this woman really be so naive, hoping to use such tactics to make him overlook her foolish involvement with the He family?

Chu Liyue narrowed his eyes, sensing that something was amiss.

It seemed ever since he spared her life, things had been increasingly off. What exactly did this woman want to do? Did she really see herself as the Demon Queen of Youdou?

These thoughts brought a wave of scornful amusement to Chu Liyue's mind.

Meanwhile, Nanyan, oblivious to his thoughts, was squatting down, carefully cleaning up the tea that had spilled everywhere.

Her fair and clean fingers touched the sharp broken porcelain pieces, with marks from grass blades on the back of her hand... they looked particularly jarring.

Chu Liyue unintentionally noticed the bleeding wound on her arm, which inexplicably irritated him.

He wasn't sure why he felt this way, perhaps because she had taken care of him all night, and the injury was caused by him, which made him feel somewhat troubled.

"What are you dawdling here for?"

"Aren't you going to clean your bleeding wound? Do you intend to soil my chamber?"

These blunt words were rather hurtful.

Yet, Nanyan was not angered.

She slowly stopped her cleaning, and after a long while, she looked up at the man before her.

Her face bore a bright, untroubled smile, she looked at him cheerfully and innocently, "Demon Lord, are you... concerned about my injury?"

Chu Liyue paused for a moment, frowning as he looked directly at her, clearly not expecting her to think so, and retorted coldly, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

However, his icy scorn did not anger Nanyan.

She smiled at him, her eyes curving in a look of conviction, "The Demon Lord is clearly concerned about me."

Nanyan's eyes sparkled with joyous laughter, her face showing a hint of understanding, as if she was pleased to have discerned his inner thoughts.

"I've always known the Demon Lord to be a stern yet kind-hearted person. Those fierce words are just to persuade me to tend to my wound. In reality, you're not that harsh."

Her endless prattle was indeed noisy.

Chu Liyue furrowed his brows, feeling extremely impatient.

What absurd thinking is this? She's known him only for a few days, and she thinks the Demon Lord of Youdou, who has slain so many righteous cultivators, is a good person? Such naivety could only come from someone overly sheltered and secure within their family.

It was utterly ridiculous.

He simply didn't want her to dirty his chamber. Had it not been for her tireless care throughout the night, he would have sent her off to meet the Buddha in the West long ago.

Nanyan paid no heed to Chu Liyue's murderous expression, smiling as if in high spirits, and even winked at him.

"Why is the Demon Lord silent? Is it because I've guessed your thoughts, and you're too embarrassed to refute?"

Chu Liyue's hand slowly tightened into a fist, visibly annoyed, "If you dare utter such nonsense again, I'll end your life with a single strike."

Startled by his words, Nanyan's eyes instantly filled with hurt. Under the threat of this "evil force," she obediently closed her mouth.

However, she quickly regained her composure, her dark eyes moving as she sized up the figure before her, seemingly amused and surprised.

In her eyes, the Demon Lord's reaction indicated that she had hit a nerve, leading to his angry outburst.

The laughter in her eyes deepened, "Alright, alright, if it displeases the Demon Lord, I'll say no more."

"But really, it's not good for the Demon Lord to always say one thing and mean another. Next time you want to show concern, perhaps a gentler approach would be better, to avoid misunderstandings."

She offered Chu Liyue a sincere smile.

Her eyes were clear and lucid, free of any fear, gently and calmly looking at him.

Faced with such a gaze, Chu Liyue found his anger dissolving, his brow involuntarily furrowing as he felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest...

Never before had anyone spoken to him like this.

Perhaps it was because she had touched upon a strange and deep-seated emotion within him, making Chu Liyue's mood even more irritable.

……