Chapter 56: Mom and Dad, I’m Living Off Soft Money

Chapter 56: Mom and Dad, I'm a Kept Man

Upon hearing this, Chi Yu felt a pang of unease—it sounded suspiciously like entrapment.

But for entrapment to work, one had to be present to catch the culprit in the act. Having already left, by the time he returned, the person would surely have finished.

Chi Yu said no more, simply bypassing Senior Brother Xuan Ji and hurrying towards the tavern.

Xie Xiyi stood rooted to the spot, watching him run off. Xiao Qiu sidled up to him and asked, "Your Highness, why did you spare that demon in the first place?"

Xiao Qiu believed he understood his master well. His Highness was kind to his own, but excessively cold to outsiders. This detachment prevented him from utilizing many Buddhist techniques, which required a righteous heart and pure intent.

When he learned that His Highness had spared the demon, he found it incomprehensible, as it seemed uncharacteristic of him.

Xie Xiyi replied indifferently, "No particular reason."

It was simply because Long Aotian had been too decisive at the time, and Xie Xiyi wanted him to pause, nothing more.

Of course, there was also a minor consideration: the demon had not yet shed blood. With a half-human bloodline, it still possessed a certain innocence. If Long Aotian had forced himself to kill it, he might later have been plagued by regret, which would have hindered his cultivation.

Yet, it was Xie Xiyi who had spoken to spare the demon, and now it was also Xie Xiyi who harbored a desire to kill it.

Xie Xiyi was well aware of the reason for this shift in his mindset.

"Let's go back," Xie Xiyi said.

*

Chi Yu rushed back to the tavern. Not finding Wu Yunsu in the Crown Prince’s room, he went downstairs to inquire with an attendant.

The attendant remembered clearly and, as soon as Chi Yu spoke, immediately said, "That guest earlier left the little girl with the kitchen staff. She should be playing in the kitchen now."

Chi Yu hurried to the kitchen and saw Wu Yunsu sitting in the courtyard, holding a pancake, frowning at it but not eating.

When she saw him, her eyes lit up. She tossed the pancake aside, spread her arms, and demanded to be held.

The kitchen uncle came out with some pastries, saw the pancake on the ground, quickly picked it up, blew on it, and took a bite himself. He then offered the pastries to Wu Yunsu. "These are delicious. Be a good girl, eat these."

Wu Yunsu quickly glanced at Chi Yu, then reached out, took one, and bit into it. The uncle smiled. "Soft, right? Tasty?"

Chi Yu walked over, picked her up, and instructed her, "Say thank you."

Wu Yunsu obediently chirped, "Thank you."

Her voice was still sweet and childlike. The uncle laughed happily. "No need, no need."

He didn’t suspect that Chi Yu and the child weren’t family—they looked so alike, how could they not be related?

Chi Yu noticed the bandage on the uncle’s arm, stained with seeping blood, and asked nervously, "She didn't hurt you, did she?"

The uncle laughed. "No, no, how could a little girl like her hurt me? My apprentice nicked me with a knife. This child even felt sorry for me and licked the wound."

Chi Yu: "…"

Was that sympathy?

That was her wanting to eat you.

He looked down at Wu Yunsu, who rested her head on his shoulder, avoiding his death glare.

Chi Yu couldn't help but laugh. After bidding farewell to the uncle, he lowered his voice and said to Wu Yunsu, "Wu Yunsu, since you've acknowledged me as your father, I need to make something clear: you cannot eat people, and you cannot eat raw meat. If I catch you doing it even once, I will kill you."

Even as he said this, Wu Yunsu wasn't afraid.

What she feared was the man Chi Yu called Senior Brother Xuan Ji. He seemed young, but he was sharp-minded. That Xuan Ji had deliberately left her with an injured mortal, and the look he gave her before leaving was unmistakable.

Wu Yunsu understood—he wanted her to make a mistake.

This was just a preliminary test. If given the chance, he would definitely find a way to kill her.

Wu Yunsu didn’t quite understand: if he disliked her so much, why had he spared her in the first place?

Her thoughts raced, but her expression remained calm as she obediently replied, "I won't eat, Dad. I'll be good."

Chi Yu: Aww.

So adorable.

Regardless of anything else, the face Wu Yunsu had shapeshifted into was truly beautiful, a pleasure to behold. Such a pretty child was naturally likable.

Chi Yu didn’t really believe she would follow the demonic path. Five hundred years later, Wu Yunsu would be brimming with spiritual energy, clearly having cultivated as a human.

Because of this, he felt Wu Yunsu could still walk the righteous path. But if human desires were sometimes hard to suppress, how much more so for a demon, whose nature was difficult to change?

So Chi Yu didn’t quite agree with Senior Brother Xuan Ji’s baiting approach.

If human nature couldn’t withstand temptation, could demon nature?

Though he thought this, Chi Yu didn’t voice it. He could already imagine what Senior Brother Xuan Ji would say—he’d definitely reply, "If she can’t resist even this much temptation, how can she hope to cultivate the human path?"

Thinking of this, Chi Yu couldn't help but laugh, feeling like he already understood Senior Brother Xuan Ji quite well.

Senior Brother Xuan Ji was the sun within his reach, but Xie Xiyi was too distant.

The original novel described Xie Xiyi as gentle and refined, meticulous and considerate in every way—traits that aligned more with the current Senior Brother Xuan Ji.

As for this, he didn’t want to dwell on it too much. He had too many other things to think about; this didn’t even make the list.

Cultivation itself required a clear mind, free of distractions. Complicated thoughts would only interfere.

So Chi Yu stopped thinking about Xie Xiyi. For now, there was only his Senior Brother Xuan Ji.

*

The next day, Chi Yu found some time to tie Wu Yunsu’s shoulder-length hair into two little buns, one on each side, exactly like Nezha’s hairstyle. He couldn’t resist adding colorful ribbons and tying them into little bows.

Wu Yunsu let him dress her up without a hint of complaint. Chi Yu even went so far as to use a bit of red pigment to dot a vermilion mark on her forehead.

After finishing, he couldn’t help but praise, "So pretty! How are my hands so skilled? I’ve made you look like a heavenly attendant."

Chi Yu took out a mercury mirror and showed it to Wu Yunsu. "Well? How does it look? Pretty?"

Wu Yunsu looked left and right, then said in her childish voice, "Dad is pretty."

Chi Yu was taken aback, then laughed. "Such a sweet talker, huh?"

He put away the mirror and carried her out. Her skirt was long enough to completely conceal Wu Yunsu’s insect body, revealing only her delicate upper half.

Chi Yu went to knock on Xie Xiyi’s door. He had only knocked once when Xiao Qiu’s head popped out from the side. "Brother Aotian, His Highness left early this morning."

Chi Yu felt as if struck by lightning. "What? Senior Brother Xuan Ji left? Where did he go? Why didn’t he say anything to me?"

As he spoke, he opened the system panel. He hadn’t been checking it much lately, not wanting to become too reliant on it.

Chi Yu opened it and saw that Senior Brother Xuan Ji hadn't gone far, just a street away.

His emotions quickly settled, and he said, "That scared me to death. I thought he had abandoned us."

Xiao Qiu, seeing his demeanor, seemed to know where His Highness had gone. Recalling the secrets about him, he didn’t ask further and just said, "How could His Highness ever abandon us? Brother Aotian, why would you even think that?"

Chi Yu: "...Your His Highness has a history of this."

Xiao Qiu remembered, "Oh, right, His Highness just pulls this occasionally, but most of the time he’s very reliable."

They went downstairs and ordered a full spread of breakfast dishes. Just as they were about to eat, they overheard people nearby chatting: "The Chief of the Demon Suppression Department is returning to court today. The Emperor is hosting a banquet to receive him. I heard he hunted a demon dragon."

"A dragon? Really? Aren’t dragons only in storybooks?"

"You’re so uninformed. The world outside is chaotic now—there’s more than just dragons. Even auspicious beasts like *qilins* exist. But I overheard the officials from the Demon Suppression Department calling such auspicious beasts 'spirit beasts.' The Chief even uses one as his mount."

"When are they coming back? I want to go see."

"I heard the Chief of the Demon Suppression Department hasn’t been replaced. He’s been in his position for a hundred years now, but he’s still incredibly vigorous. He probably obtained some longevity method from the demons and presented it to the Emperor, which is why the Emperor remains youthful too."

Xiao Qiu couldn’t help chiming in: "Demons can indeed live very long, but if mortals want to live that long, they have to form a symbiotic contract. Only then can they share lifespans. But if the demon dies, the mortal dies too."

His chatter drew attention from others: "...Hey, kid, you know quite a lot."

Xiao Qiu said, "Of course, I’ve read extensively."

Someone asked, "Then how do you form this symbiotic contract with a demon?"

Xiao Qiu replied, "It requires the heart's blood of both the demon and the mortal. But a demon’s heart's blood is extremely potent. Most mortals can’t withstand it—it’s a gamble with death to succeed."

"Impossible! How could our Emperor form a symbiotic contract with a demon? Kid, where did you read this? You’re talking as if it’s real. Aren’t you afraid of sounding ridiculous?"

"Exactly! What symbiotic contract? Sounds like something out of a fantasy novel."

Chi Yu quickly covered Xiao Qiu’s mouth: "Alright, alright, no need to educate them. They’re just mortals."

Still, he said with some worry: "Xiao Qiu, you need to cultivate quickly. Even at the peak of Qi Refining, your lifespan is only 200 years. If you keep slacking off like this, soon you’ll be six feet under while I'm still above ground."

Xiao Qiu pried his hand off and whispered, "Brother Aotian, don’t worry. My family has a special cultivation method. Even with casual practice, I can reach the Golden Core Stage."

He continued, leaking secrets like a sieve: "My older siblings are all at the Golden Core Stage. The weakest is at Foundation Establishment. Cultivation isn’t that hard for us."

Chi Yu covered his mouth again: "Enough, stop talking. This is your family’s secret. Don’t spread it."

Xiao Qiu said, "It’s fine. I’m only telling you because you’re Brother Aotian."

As soon as he finished speaking, the surroundings suddenly grew noisy: "The city gates are opening! The Demon Suppression Department is back!"

"Wow, it really is a dragon! A dragon! A demon dragon! It’s huge!"

A few people rushed in from outside, pulling their friends and family who were still eating: "Stop eating! Come on, let’s go grab a spot! It’s a massive demon!"

"Hurry, come with me! I saved a spot up close to see the demon dragon!"

Most of the people in the restaurant rushed out. Some took the chance to dine and dash, leaving the owner shouting after them in vain, cursing in frustration.

Chi Yu pulled out a large gold ingot from his low-level storage pouch—one he’d prized from the floor of the Bliss Palace. He tossed it to the owner and said grandly, "Keep the change. I’m covering their bills."

The owner was shocked, repeatedly thanking him, clutching the hefty gold ingot with tears of joy.

Xiao Qiu couldn’t help sighing: "Morning mushrooms don’t know dusk and dawn; summer insects don’t know spring and autumn. They’ll never know that things like this are scattered on the ground in the cultivation world, and no one would even want them."

Chi Yu laughed and said, "You are not a fish; how do you know what brings joy to fish? Being content is true happiness. Those of us who cultivate, seeking the Dao, longevity, and ascension, are always chasing, always scrambling for resources. Perhaps we’re not as simply happy as mortals. Everyone has their own pursuits. But, as the saying goes, the way of heaven is to diminish excess and supplement deficiency; the way of man is to diminish deficiency and offer it to excess.【1】Moving gold and silver, useless in the cultivation world, to mortals who need it can also be considered a form of cultivation and merit."

Xiao Qiu pondered: "That makes sense. No wonder you have so much scrap metal in your storage bag, Brother Aotian."

Chi Yu: "..."

Calling it scrap metal is going too far, Xiao Qiu.

They followed the crowd into the street. The city’s layout was exceptionally beautiful, with broad streets capable of accommodating thousands upon thousands of people. At that moment, the central avenue was cleared by the crowd as a procession of black-armored soldiers entered from the distant city gate. They wore uniform black armor, each lean and muscular, with commanding and impressive appearances, full of presence.

The one leading them was likely the Chief of the Demon Suppression Department whom the mortals in the restaurant had been discussing. He was riding a... uh, ThousandLi Moonlight?

Setting that aside for now, this Chief gave Chi Yu a sense of foreboding.

The man was dressed entirely in black, tall and imposing, wearing a black mask with long hair tied into a thick braid. Large, delicate gold hoop earrings dangled from his ears, clinking faintly against his leather armor.

Chi Yu didn’t know why he felt this way. He couldn’t help but extend his Spiritual Sense, cautiously reaching out toward the man. The moment his Spiritual Sense touched the other’s body, a sharp pain shot through him, so intense that his legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed—

Just then, a strong arm reached out and steadied him. Xie Xiyi’s voice rang out: "What were you doing just now?"

Chi Yu was sweating from the pain, gripping Xie Xiyi’s arm to steady himself. He couldn’t hold onto Wu Yunsu, who tumbled from his grasp, but Xiao Qiu quickly caught her.

Chi Yu managed to say with difficulty: "Spiritual Sense... it hurts."

Xie Xiyi said: "Let it out slowly."

Chi Yu slowly extended his painfully retracted Spiritual Sense, and it was soon enveloped by Xie Xiyi’s warm Spiritual Sense. The pain eased significantly.

"It’s intent poison," Xie Xiyi said.

"Intent poison? What’s that?" Chi Yu finally caught his bearings.

Xie Xiyi explained: "It’s used to prevent cultivators from spying. If you touch it, you’re poisoned. If an antidote isn't administered, your Spiritual Sense will gradually atrophy."

Chi Yu: "..."

"Didn’t I tell you not to casually extend your Spiritual Sense?" Xie Xiyi asked sternly.

Chi Yu said dryly: "You can’t give up eating for fear of choking. If I avoid using it because of danger, I’ll never improve."

Xie Xiyi’s tone softened: "There’s no need to hurry."

He glanced at the slowly approaching procession and asked: "Who did you touch?"

Chi Yu said: "The one riding the ThousandLi Moonlight."

Xie Xiyi said: "We need to find him for the antidote."

The surroundings began to bustle with excitement: "It really is a dragon! A dragon! It looks just like in the paintings!"

"Not necessarily. The paintings show five-colored dragons. Why is this one so black?"

"It’s a demon dragon! It must be a demon dragon!"

Behind the leading soldiers was a long cart made of planks, carrying a thoroughly dead black demon dragon. Its body was enormous, with black fur along its spine. The dragon’s head was menacing, its eyes wide open. Black blood dripped from the cart onto the street bricks. Some citizens couldn’t resist trying to collect it in jars but were stopped by guarding soldiers who brandished their swords and shouted: "Demon blood is poisonous. Don’t touch it."

The citizens reluctantly backed away.

Chi Yu widened his eyes and couldn't help exclaiming, "Wow! It really is a dragon! This is my first time seeing one."

Xiao Qiu said, "I've heard that Wanqiong Continent has remnants of the dragon clan, so most of the spirit beasts there carry the bloodline of dragons and phoenixes. But this one clearly isn't a true dragon—it's just a spirit beast with a trace of dragon bloodline."

Chi Yu turned to Xie Xiyi: "Senior Brother Xuan Ji, take a look at that Chief. Doesn't he seem... off?"

Xie Xiyi retorted, "What do you think is wrong with him?"

Chi Yu said, "He gives me a very uncomfortable feeling—the kind that makes your hair stand on end."

Xie Xiyi said, "He's not a demon; he's a yao."

Chi Yu was taken aback, "A yao?"

It was the first time he had encountered one in all this time.

Chi Yu asked, "What's his original form?"

Xie Xiyi said, "A dragon."

Chi Yu: "..."

Chi Yu felt as if his brain was about to short-circuit and asked in astonishment, "He's a dragon?"

Xie Xiyi said, "Just a demon dragon with a trace of true dragon bloodline. If he cultivates properly and undergoes heavenly lightning tempering, he might actually undergo ancestral reversion and become a true dragon."

Chi Yu: "No, no, no—what I mean is, he's a yao, and a dragon at that, yet he's serving a mortal dynasty?"

Xiao Qiu stroked his chin, "It's not that strange. Look, isn't this demon dragon also our prisoner?"

Wu Yunsu called out in a soft, pleading voice: "Dad."

Chi Yu: "..."

Not daring to touch that subject, Chi Yu pretended not to hear and said, "Senior Brother Xuan Ji, let's hurry and ask him to get the antidote from him."

The crowd was too dense. Chi Yu and his companions struggled to push their way out, their hair thoroughly disheveled.

Fortunately, once they reached the Demon Suppression Department's headquarters, the common folk didn't dare approach anymore and only watched from a distance as the demon dragon was butchered on the spot and carried into the building.

Some defiant commoners, ignoring warnings, still stealthily used jars and shovels to scoop up the dragon blood that had seeped into the soil, taking the dirt along with it.

Chi Yu asked Xie Xiyi, "Is this blood poisonous?"

Xie Xiyi said, "The blood of spirit beasts is a great tonic for mortals, though most mortals' constitutions are too weak to handle such potent nourishment."

Chi Yu thought, let it be.

For mortals, this could be considered an opportunity.

As Chi Yu and the others approached the building, they were naturally stopped. It was only when Xiao Qiu presented a jade token that the leader's attitude immediately changed. He said to them, "Please wait a moment. I will inform the Chief."

With that, he entered the building.

They waited a short while before the man quickly returned and said, "The Chief invites you all inside."

Chi Yu and the others entered the main gate and were led by a soldier through a series of winding corridors until they finally arrived at a meeting hall.

The man inside was already seated at the head. An attendant served tea and then stood to the side.

"Sit," the man said.

His attitude was somewhat dismissive, as if he didn't take them seriously.

Chi Yu studied him carefully. The Chief of the Demon Suppression Department had now removed his mask, revealing an exceedingly handsome face. His features were sharp and exquisite, with very red lips and black pupils that held a trace of magnificent red, like a striking heterochromatic effect. His beautiful face created a strikingly bold contrast with the oversized golden earrings he wore.

Perhaps because Chi Yu had been staring at his face for too long, the Spiritual Sense that Xie Xiyi had been suppressing suddenly broke free. The pain surged, and Chi Yu yelled out in pain.

By the third cry, Xie Xiyi had once again enveloped his Spiritual Sense, and the pain instantly ceased.

Chi Yu’s eyes welled up with tears as he looked at Xie Xiyi. Xie Xiyi expressionlessly averted his gaze and said to the Chief in a calm tone, "Senior, my junior acted recklessly and offended you by using his Spiritual Sense. As a result, he has been poisoned by Intent Toxin. I humbly request that you detoxify him. We would be immensely grateful."

The Chief said leisurely, "They say a smiling face makes things easier. Yet you come to me stone-faced and expect me to help you?"

Chi Yu quickly tried to say something but was immediately silenced by Xie Xiyi. Xie Xiyi curled his lips, his golden eyes sharp, and said, "You used Intent Toxin to harm my junior, and I haven't even held you accountable. Yet here you are, acting high and mighty. Enough talk—let's fight."

With that, Xie Xiyi drew his long sword.

Chi Yu: "..."

Xiao Qiu: "..."

Chief: "..."

He nearly slid off his seat, exclaiming in disbelief, "I am in the Nascent Soul Realm, and you're only at Golden Core. You want to fight me? Are you sure?"

Xie Xiyi said calmly, "A mere Nascent Soul Realm—I will win. Why should I fear?"

Chief: "..."

There was no way he could fight him!

He realized that this cultivator was truly reckless, difficult to deal with, and not someone to make an enemy of.

So his attitude softened instead. "Wait, the detox is no problem. I bear no hostility toward any of you—please, put away your sword. As you can see, I serve mortals. I fulfill my duties in my position, and protecting the Yu Dynasty’s sovereignty is my lifelong pursuit. Therefore, I will not lightly engage in battle with you."

Chi Yu: "Mmph."

Xie Xiyi released the restraint on him. Chi Yu took a deep breath and asked curiously, "You're a yao. Why are you serving as the Chief of the Demon Suppression Department in a Mortal Dynasty?"

The Chief was startled. "You actually know I'm a yao?"

Chi Yu said, "Senior Brother Xuan Ji told me."

A flicker of apprehension crossed the Chief's beautiful face, though it quickly vanished. What background did this person have to see through his true form at a glance?

Fortunately, he hadn't acted on impulse and fought. Losing wasn't the issue, but if even a single brick or tile of the city were damaged, that person would inevitably be troubled.

The Chief said, "I will help you detoxify the Intent Toxin, but on one condition..."

Meeting Xie Xiyi's sharp golden eyes, the Chief quickly sped up his speech. "Don't worry, it's not something difficult. I hope you can give me a Hidden Fire Leaf—"

Xie Xiyi: "Enough talk. Let's fight."

"..." Chief: "The Hidden Fire Leaf is quite valuable, then how about a Nine Transformation Yin-Yang Flower?"

A sword flash swept past, and the partition the Chief reached toward was reduced to dust.

Chief: "..."

The Chief said, "At the very least, give me a Phantom Spirit Herb—young man, you have to show me some respect. I am, after all, at the Nascent Soul Realm!"

His beautiful face was strangely angry.

Xie Xiyi said, "Cure him. Now. Immediately."

The Chief insisted, "The Phantom Spirit Herb!"

Xie Xiyi suddenly laughed. "I have something even better than that, but you'll have to trade something else for it.—Now, cure him."

The Chief's gaze shifted. "You can't lie to me."

Xie Xiyi: "Three, two..."

The Chief immediately strode over, grabbed Chi Yu, pried his mouth open, and poured a handful of ash into it. "Swallow it, and it'll be detoxified," he said.

Chi Yu kept the ash in his mouth, looking first at Xie Xiyi.

His trusting gaze made Xie Xiyi feel pretty pleased, and the corners of his lips couldn't help but curl up. "It's the antidote," he said.

Only then did Chi Yu swallow it.

His Spiritual Sense was released by Xie Xiyi, and the burning sensation was no longer painful. Instead, it felt cool and soothing, very comfortable.

The Chief looked at Xie Xiyi. "Do you know what I want?"

Xie Xiyi said, "Blazing Secret Leaf, Yin-Yang Flower, Phantom Spirit Herb—they're all ingredients for the Longevity Pill. Do you think I wouldn't know what you want?"

The Chief's odd-colored eyes grew exceptionally bright. "You have the Longevity Pill?"

Xie Xiyi said, "I don't."

The light in the Chief's eyes immediately faded, and his beautiful face shifted to an expression of anger. "You lied to me?"

Xie Xiyi said, "I told you, you have to trade something for it."

The Chief looked at him with suspicious uncertainty, took a few steps back, and sat down again. "What do you have?"

Xie Xiyi said, "A spirit root."

The Chief was stunned, then said, "Impossible."

Xie Xiyi curled his lips. "The Longevity Pill, at most, extends life by five hundred years. But with a spirit root, as long as you reach the Golden Core Stage, you can extend your life by eight hundred years.—Of course, if you don't believe me, forget it."

Seeing how confident Xie Xiyi was, the Chief couldn't help but hesitate again. He asked for confirmation, "You can really give a mortal a spirit root?"

Xie Xiyi: "Yes."

After a moment of thought, the Chief replied, "If it's true, I'm willing to trade... my poison sac for it."

Xie Xiyi's lips curled. "You've got a deal."

The Chief: "...Wait, hold on a second. Aren't you going to ask what the poison sac is?"

Xie Xiyi said in a melodious voice, "I don't need to ask. This is what you value most, and it's also something that troubles you, isn't it?"

The Chief was taken aback, then gave a bitter smile. He removed the leather gauntlet from his hand and placed his snow-white hand on the table. The table immediately melted into a murky puddle.

Only then did Chi Yu notice that this person was completely covered up, not an inch of skin exposed.

The Chief said, "That's right. I've been troubled by this for many years. My entire body is extremely poisonous, all because of this poison sac. But at the same time, it's also my most precious treasure. With this, I could even poison natural enemies when I was young."

Xie Xiyi said, "I want this poison sac."

Chi Yu couldn't help but tug on his sleeve and ask, "Senior Brother Xuan Ji, why do you want this all of a sudden?"

Xie Xiyi looked down at him, his lips curling into a smirk. "You lack an effective means of attack. This poison sac from a Nascent Soul Stage poisonous dragon happens to be perfect for you."

The Chief: "...Hey." Since when was he a poisonous dragon?

Wait, this person even knows his true form? Terrifying.

Hearing this, Chi Yu's eyes widened in shock. "For me?"

Xie Xiyi: "Uh-huh."

Chi Yu: "..."

Mom, Dad, I'm being a kept man (lol)

Author's Note:

Xiao Yu: How do I pay him back? I can't afford to!