Chapter 12: The Melodramatic Immortal Romance

Chapter 12: The Melodramatic Immortal Romance

Inside the Youdu sleeping chamber.

Chu Liyue began to feel a headache coming on.

He couldn't understand why, when it wasn't even the fifteenth yet, things were going awry at this moment.

The demonic energy surged violently within him, this bout of pain fiercer than ever before, encompassing both physical agony and an unbearable ache in his heart. The excruciating headache persisted, and this time, no one was there to care for him throughout the night.

Chu Liyue gasped for air, alleviating the suffocating sensation trapped in his chest.

Clutching the river lantern that should have been released, along with the note, the sight of these items stirred tumultuous emotions once again.

It shouldn't be like this... it shouldn't be. He had already found the person he truly desired. So why... why did thoughts of her still haunt him?

He took a deep breath, then forced himself to stop, to stop thinking about it... Those memories should have been forgotten long ago...

With this thought, Chu Liyue exerted force in his hand, and the small paper with their names was instantly pulverized. As long as he couldn't see anything related to her, the pain should subside.

But when he saw that river lantern... his actions hesitated.

Throughout the entire hall, it seemed to be the only thing she left behind. If lost, even the traces of her existence would vanish.

Thinking of this, his headache worsened.

The lingering sentiment in his heart ultimately prevented him from discarding the river lantern. Instead, he smashed the inkstone on the table.

In his daze, those memories became clearer: it was the scene of He Nan Yan tenderly caring for him when his headache was unbearable...

……

He endured the whole night like this. By the next day, the pain was still so severe that he was somewhat disoriented, causing the maid attending him to become increasingly jittery.

Chu Li rubbed his slightly furrowed brow and asked hoarsely, "What is she doing?"

The young maid hurriedly reported honestly, "Fairy He hasn't done anything. She's been staying in her chamber, her mood is not good, and... she wants to meet with the Demon Lord."

The Demon Lord, in his confused state of mind, impatiently said, "I'm not asking about her."

This confused the maid.

If not Fairy He, then who could it be?

She was once specifically tasked with surveilling He Nan Yan, but wasn't the lady... already sent away?

Could it be that the Demon Lord... still harbors thoughts of the lady?

How could this be?

Realizing this thought, the young maid became even more nervous, fearing that she might be silenced for prying into the Demon Lord's inner thoughts.

Thus, she could only reply cautiously and anxiously, "My Lord... have you forgotten? The lady... she's been sent away. She's no longer in Youdu, and we servants don’t know her current whereabouts."

Upon hearing these words, Chu Liyue instantly snapped back to awareness, followed by a trembling sensation in his chest, uncontrollably clutching at his heart…

Yes, He Nanyan had long left Youdu, sent away by his own hands. What was he thinking? Why did her image keep inappropriately surfacing in his mind…

No, he must stop thinking about her.

Chu Liyue pursed his lips, trying to banish all memories of He Nanyan from his mind, but the more he tried not to think of her, the more she filled his thoughts...

Her appearance when she cried, her pitiful eyes when pleading, and the way she carefully mimicked He Nanwan to please him, every memory, every fragment, was all her...

The more he thought, the more agitated Chu Liyue became, his grip on his chest growing tighter until he couldn’t take it anymore and struck the cabinet beside him. The treasures and oddities atop it scattered all over the floor in disarray.

"Get out! Get out!"

The maid, trembling all over, knelt and begged for mercy. Even hearing the word "get out" felt like a reprieve, and she hurriedly scrambled out of the room.

Left alone in the hall, Chu Liyue seemed to exert all his strength to suppress the overwhelming pain and stifling emotions welling up in his chest.

He had wanted He Nanwan all along, he had even taken her back, so why was he so distracted, still… preoccupied with that impostor... She had clearly deceived him, hadn’t she? She was just a substitute, wasn't she? She was not important at all, was she?

But why... couldn't he help it?

Chu Liyue’s head began to ache again. No, this couldn’t continue.

Suppressing the increasingly suffocating pain in his heart, he pressed his brows twice and then turned to go to He Nanwan's chamber.

……

He Nanwan had pondered all of last night, feeling responsible for Chu Liyue’s current state.

In fact… she shouldn’t have fled on their wedding day. Otherwise, this situation wouldn’t have arisen.

Half of the current cold, paranoid, and volatile Chu Liyue was her responsibility, her actions exacerbating the hatred and misunderstanding between Chu Liyue and Ye Shixiong, something she should have clarified earlier.

There was nothing between her and Ye Shixiong.

When Chu Liyue arrived, He Nanwan had already decided that if she wanted to leave, she must first appease A Yue and avoid saying things that would provoke him; otherwise, with his temperament, he would keep her confined.

"You wanted to see me?"

He Nanwan took a deep breath, "Yes, I want to clarify things with you. Our relationship shouldn't be like this."

Chu Liyue pursed his lips, his face expressionless, but inwardly somewhat impatient, "What do you want to say?"

"Should we get married?" After much thought, He Nanwan still felt this was the best way to calm Chu Liyue's emotions and her only chance to leave.

Upon hearing this, Chu Liyue's expression turned peculiar. He never expected to hear such words coming from He Nanwan.

After all, she had slapped him hard on their wedding day.

It's not surprising, considering that in the original story, Chu Liyue planned to remarry after rescuing someone, but it was he who initiated it. Now, the situation hasn't changed, but the one proposing marriage is He Nanwan.

"I know running away from our wedding was wrong...it was my fault, but nothing ever happened between Ye Shixiong and me. I've always seen him as a brother, and our marriage in the mortal world was fake, so...I want to make up for that mistake. Can we remarry?"

Chu Liyue didn't know why, but suddenly felt a sense of irony in his heart.

He looked over at He Nanwan and saw her hesitant expression. He immediately understood she had more to say, "What request do you want me to agree to?"

"I want to visit Ye Shixiong..." He Nanwan noticed his instantly cold expression and quickly explained, "Don't be angry, it's just out of camaraderie."

"After all, he was seriously injured, and I bear some responsibility. If you're worried, you can come with me. Is that okay?"

Initially, upon hearing her mention visiting Ye Qingsang, Chu Liyue's expression turned cold, but when she suggested he join her...

Chu Liyue suddenly felt a tremor in his heart, as if some repressed emotion was about to burst from his chest, instinctively touching his chest before saying, "Okay, I agree."

He Nanwan, hearing his agreement, thought she had soothed his emotions, believing he still had feelings for her. Relieved yet also slightly troubled.

If only his possessiveness weren't so strong, she wouldn't mind being with him.

……

The two in the mortal world's wooden cabin had also eased into a more comfortable way of interacting.

Although Nan Yan still occasionally spoke sarcastically, to Ye Qingsang, it became the motivation to keep living.

And after hearing it for a while, Ye Qingsang became immune to it. Mainly because Nan Yan's attitude was too casual, as if his disability made no difference from an ordinary person.

People sometimes have this mindset, especially those who were once revered immortals. It's harder for them to accept the pitying gazes after their core energy is destroyed. They prefer to be treated normally by others.

Ye Qingsang is probably experiencing this same sentiment right now.

Outside, the night has deepened.

While giving Ye Qingsang the last bowl of medicine, Nan Yan brought up the matter directly.

"We've run out of money to buy herbs."

Hearing this, Ye Qingsang was momentarily stunned, then realized the situation. Without his spiritual power, he couldn't access his storage bag, and it was normal for a mortal like the woman in front of him to lack the funds for medicine.

What should be done then?

Seeing his clueless expression, Nan Yan extended her empty wrist, "Look at my hand. I pawned my jewelry and hairpins to pay for your doctor that day. As a man, you wouldn't expect me to support you, would you?"

So... shouldn't you make some gesture?

Observing the woman's bare wrist and hair, Ye Qingsang fell silent for a moment. He hadn't realized that being ill and needing medicine cost money.

Things are different now; he's no longer the esteemed immortal he used to be.

He glanced at the Qingguang sword hanging on the wall, pausing before saying, "Take that sword and sell it. It should fetch some silver for emergencies."

Nan Yan was hoping for this outcome but still feigned surprise, "But isn't that your sword? The one that's been with you for so long, are you really willing to sell it?"

For a sword cultivator, selling one's personal sword signifies the loss of their most important dignity.

Ye Qingsang was aware of this but after a moment of silence, nodded slowly, "Yes, sell it. With my current state, I can't use it anyway."

Nan Yan stepped forward to take down the sword. Being a treasure of the cultivation world, it was no ordinary item. Perhaps sensing its impending fate, the sword trembled and emitted a faint, mournful whine.

She placed the sword on the table, "Alright, I'll sell it tomorrow and buy some medicine with the money."

Ye Qingsang glanced at it but said nothing more.

Nan Yan knew he was feeling down, but this was the outcome she wanted. In the original story, He Nanyan embroiders and works hard every day to save up and redeem his sword, believing that her sincerity would be met with genuine appreciation.

Yet, when he saw the sword, he accused her of mocking him, taunting him for keeping the sword as a disabled person. He interpreted her actions with the worst intentions... In short, when someone despises you, no matter how considerate you are, they'll suspect you have ulterior motives.

With the money issue resolved, Nan Yan was relieved.

Seeing that it was getting late, she began to untie her belt, preparing to go to bed.

This action caused Ye Qingsang, who was on the bed, to twitch his eyelid. He immediately turned his face away, frowning, "What are you doing?"

Nan Yan, not the least bit uncomfortable, glanced at him and replied naturally, "I'm going to rest. What did you think I was doing?"

Ye Qingsang's eyelids twitched more violently, his face slightly reddening, and he dared not lift his head, "But why are you in my room? I recall this cottage has two bedrooms. As a woman, how can you share a room with a man?"

How could this woman be so bold…

When he was with He Nanwan, they also slept in separate rooms, keeping their relationship pure and untainted.

Hearing this, Nan Yan couldn't help but glare at him, "You have the nerve to mention the other room? When you two were fighting, you nearly demolished the whole yard. That other cottage is in ruins. Do you expect me to sleep there?"

Ye Qingsang had forgotten about that incident, but it wasn't a reason for them to share a bed. He shook his head in refusal, "No, it's inappropriate for men and women to be so close. How can we... share a room?"

Nan Yan blinked, then narrowed her eyes with a smile, "Indeed, you make a good point. How about this? You sleep on the floor, and I'll take the bed. Is that acceptable?"

Ye Qingsang stiffened for a moment, his face turning even redder, accompanied by an awkward glance at her, "You know I can't..."

Before he could finish speaking, she sharply interrupted him. Nan Yan laughed lightly, deliberately provoking him, "So, Ye Xianjun, you mean to have a frail young woman like me sleep on the cold floor while you, a man, take the bed? Ye Qingsang, I never thought you would be so ungrateful and bully a weak woman who can't even truss a chicken."

"I am not!"

Ye Qingsang felt a pang in his chest from anger. He shouldn't have spoken with her. This woman was adept at twisting the truth and playing the victim.

Nan Yan continued to challenge him, "Alright then, in that case, you sleep on the floor?"

Ye Qingsang gritted his teeth, nearly driven mad by her, "You clearly know... I can't move my body. How am I supposed to sleep on the floor?"

Nan Yan swiftly covered his mouth with a slap, then climbed onto the bed with a look of entitlement, "Since that's the case, just be quiet and go to sleep..."

She looked him over disdainfully, then disdainfully withdrew her hand, "Besides, you're in such a sorry state now. Do you really think I'd do anything to you?"

Ye Qingsang was left speechless with indignation.

He had never been so scorned and insulted before. This woman was utterly unreasonable!

He watched helplessly as she climbed onto the bed, stepping on him without a moment's hesitation, and settled down comfortably.

Ye Qingsang's body tensed, lying rigidly at the edge of the wooden bed, not daring to move, fearful of accidentally touching her.

He had never been this close to a woman before. He had a beloved, but his relationship with He Nanwan was never this intimate; even their mock marriage was a result of his selfish desires.

He Nanwan never liked him, only seeing him as a brother. So, his feelings were always restrained, hidden, never daring to overstep, afraid of losing even her friendship if she knew his true feelings.

But now, lying so close to this woman, he was at a loss. As her subtle fragrance wafted over, Ye Qingsang's mind went blank, turning him into a statue.

He remained tense and rigid, only relaxing slightly when he heard the steady breathing of the woman beside him.

His gaze then involuntarily fell on her face. Despite their similar looks, their personalities were so different. He remembered He Nanwan mentioning her sister, describing their communication as difficult due to "different perspectives." It seemed true; communication was indeed challenging.

Because she never listened to what he said!