Chapter 9

Li You looked up, his gaze cold and severe, his face no longer as gentle as before.

“What is Immortal Master Lan Ruo saying? I don’t quite understand.”

Li You’s expression remained as cold as ever, impossible to read.

“The day Yu Wu fainted, I followed and saw you running out from the direction of the back mountain with my own eyes.”

Li You slowly stood up, putting his hands behind his back, but still holding the night-blooming jasmine leaf Yu Wu had given him.

“Immortal Master Lan Ruo just said you saw me running out from the direction of the back mountain, but didn’t actually see me coming out of the restricted area. So how can you be sure I trespassed there?

Moreover, on the day I arrived, Yu Wu already told me the back mountain is a restricted area of Qingluan Sect, even non-direct disciples are not allowed to enter.

Immortal Master Lan Ruo has already slandered me once at the hot springs of Phoenix Perch Palace. Are you trying to slander me a second time now that we’re on your own territory?”

Lan Ruo was left speechless by Li You’s words. Indeed, Li You was eloquent, and Lan Ruo knew she was no match for him in a war of words.

Moreover, Li You kept calling her “Immortal Master” while directly using Yu Wu’s name. This made Lan Ruo even more displeased.

“You… if Master hadn’t forbidden speaking of the night Yu Wu fainted, your glib tongue would be useless.

Li You, this is Qingluan Sect. If I catch you breaking rules again, I won’t let you off so easily with clever words.”

Lan Ruo stormed off. Li You turned and went back into the room, frowning.

He curved his fingers behind his back into an orchid shape, gathering silver spiritual energy. With a light tap, he sent the energy chasing after Lan Ruo, hitting her directly on the back of the head.

“Ow!”

Lan Ruo cried out in pain, clutching her head as she looked back. But Li You who had just been standing in the doorway had already disappeared.

Lan Ruo suspected it was Li You’s doing, surely because he had a guilty conscience. But as she rubbed her sore head, she suddenly couldn’t remember what Li You supposedly felt guilty about.

Li You watched through a gap in the window as Lan Ruo stood there looking confused. The corner of his mouth curved up slightly. He looked at the night-blooming jasmine leaf in his hand, then tucked it into the gold-threaded sachet he wore.

Meanwhile, Yu Wu hurried to the main hall. As soon as she entered, she saw her mother and the so-called deity from the Celestial Realm sitting imposingly.

Yu Wu swallowed and caught her breath before stepping inside.

She bowed properly and greeted them: “Mother, Deity.”

“Mm…”

Her mother responded, turning to look at the deity beside her.

While Lan Ruo had gone to find Yu Wu earlier, Yu Wu’s mother had already inquired about changing the person for the marriage alliance.

But upon hearing this, the deity immediately became angry, scolding Yu Wu’s mother that such an important matter as a marriage alliance with the Demon Realm could not be changed so casually.

Yu Wu’s mother then understood that the message she had sent to the Celestial Realm had been directly rejected, yet she had been waiting in vain all this time.

Yu Wu’s mother dared not say more, but was still very puzzled. If the Celestial Realm was unwilling to change the person, why had they specifically asked to see Yu Wu?

“Deity, this is my daughter Yu Wu.”

The deity nodded, standing up from the chair and walking over to Yu Wu, looking her up and down.

The Celestial Realm was fully aware that Yu Wu lacked spiritual roots.

Although Yu Wu had regained spiritual power now, as long as she didn’t use it, even a Celestial deity could not detect that her damaged spiritual roots had been restored.

“Though the eldest daughter of Sect Leader Yu lacks spiritual roots, she has moth-like eyebrows, white teeth, rosy lips and starry eyes – quite a beautiful appearance.”

Though the words were praise for Yu Wu, she felt the deity was secretly mocking her, implying she had nothing to offer but looks.

“The deity is too kind to my daughter.”

Yu Wu’s mother forced a somewhat fake smile. The deity had seen Yu Wu but still wouldn’t say what this was about, making her mother anxious.

“It is not this deity being kind, but rather Sect Leader Yu who is blessed. The Celestial Emperor initially chose your eldest daughter to represent the Celestial Realm in a marriage alliance with the Demon Realm, but the new Demon Lord suddenly went into seclusion, so the matter has been delayed.

But a few days ago, the Celestial Emperor received news from the Demon Lord. Upon hearing of the marriage alliance, he personally requested your eldest daughter Yu Wu. You have only two daughters – one favored by the Celestial Realm, one by the Demon Lord.

Because of this, before this deity came, the Celestial Emperor specifically instructed that when Yu Wu goes to the Demon Realm for marriage, the Celestial Realm will bestow gifts according to the customs for marrying a son-in-law. You three, mother and daughters, are truly blessed.”

Yu Wu’s mother had not expected things to develop this way at all. She couldn’t help but look at Yu Wu.

Yu Wu also wore an expression of disbelief. The Demon Lord had personally requested her? What was going on?

She had never met the Demon Lord, and moreover, she had no reputation in the immortal and celestial realms. How would the mighty Demon Lord know of someone as insignificant as her? It seemed unrealistic.

Yu Wu’s mother smiled stiffly and bowed, saying:

“May I ask, Deity, is there some misunderstanding? How could Yu Wu be personally requested by the Demon Lord?”

The deity lowered his gaze, looking contemptuously at Yu Wu’s mother:

“What do you mean, Sect Leader Yu? Are you questioning this deity’s words? Moreover, you were the one who first sent word to the Celestial Realm saying you wanted to substitute Yu Wu for Yu Tong.

Now that the Demon Lord has personally requested her, fulfilling your wishes, you should properly prepare for this ‘promising’ eldest daughter of yours. When the Demon Lord emerges from seclusion, it will be time for Yu Wu to ascend to immortality and go to the Demon Realm for marriage.”

With those words, the deity left with a loud laugh. Yu Wu’s mother escorted him out, leaving Yu Wu standing alone.

‘This isn’t how things were supposed to go!’

Yu Wu had thought of herself as cannon fodder. Her willingness to go to the Demon Realm for marriage was to leave a good name for herself in the righteous sects, to be remembered fondly.

But now it was the Demon Lord requesting her, which indirectly implicated Yu Wu in wrongdoing.

Yu Wu didn’t know what her character had done before she transmigrated. Her mother or the Qingluan Sect elders would surely question her soon. If she said she knew nothing…

Would they believe her?

Before Yu Wu could think further, her mother had already returned.

“Mother, I…”

Yu Wu was about to explain that she had never met the Demon Lord, but her mother raised a hand to stop her.

Yu Wu nervously licked her lips, not knowing what her frowning mother would say.

“This newly appointed Demon Lord has certainly calculated well. Out of so many women in the immortal and celestial realms, he specifically requests you. It seems he’s targeting your lack of spiritual roots, so that once you’re in the Demon Realm, he can completely control and bully you.”

Her mother sat back down, slamming her left fist on the table.

‘Eh?’

Listening to her mother’s words, Yu Wu had thought she would be questioned, but what she said completely absolved Yu Wu of responsibility.

Seeing her mother so worried, Yu Wu also felt anxious:

“Mother, that Demon Lord is still a man after all. How could he bully me? In the end, won’t he be the one giving birth to children?”

Yu Wu’s casual words to comfort her mother made her mother’s eyes light up.

Her mother stood up and grabbed Yu Wu’s arm.

“Ah Wu, not only do you have spiritual power now, but your mind seems sharper than before. Your marriage alliance can’t be undone, but as you said, you can make the Demon Lord pregnant!

He’s a man, so as long as you’re married, he’ll eventually conceive. Men are most vulnerable during pregnancy and can only rest quietly. That will be your chance to turn things around.”

Yu Wu found her mother’s words increasingly absurd, but she could only smile awkwardly and go along with it.

Her mother seemed to have grasped the only way to turn the situation around. Not knowing when the Demon Lord would emerge from seclusion, she immediately went to prepare things Yu Wu would need for the marriage alliance.

Though this was considered marrying into the husband’s family, Yu Wu’s mother didn’t want her to appear too shabby in the Demon Realm. Although the Celestial Realm had prepared gifts for Yu Wu, her mother still wanted to prepare more to save face for Yu Wu.

Yu Wu felt somewhat empty inside, but didn’t know why she felt that way.

She walked back without realizing it, forgetting she had promised Li You she would return to continue making incense.

She had just opened the door to her room when Li You, who had come out upon hearing her footsteps, called out to her in time.

“Yu Wu…”

Yu Wu slowly turned her head, unable to hide the disappointment on her face. Seeing Li You, she suddenly remembered she hadn’t finished what she’d promised him.

She returned to his room with Li You. Although Yu Wu forced herself to concentrate, she kept getting distracted while measuring the incense ingredients, spilling them several times.

At first Li You just watched quietly, but later, seeing Yu Wu wasting so much, he stopped her.

“Why do you seem so absent-minded since returning? Did you not perform well in front of the deity and get scolded by your mother?”

Yu Wu shook her head and glanced at Li You. She had so much to say but couldn’t tell him.

Yu Wu suddenly thought that if it were Silver Dragon in front of her, she could speak freely without worrying about saying the wrong thing.

But since that night, Yu Wu hadn’t seen Silver Dragon again. It was as if he had vanished.

Li You seemed to notice Yu Wu’s unhappiness and gradually furrowed his brow as well.

“That day at Prince Ning An’s place, I overheard Immortal Master Yu Tong telling Prince Ning An about your marriage alliance with the Demon Realm. Did the people from the Celestial Realm just discuss this matter with you?”

Yu Wu nodded. Though she wanted to speak, she held back and lowered her head to continue making incense.

Yu Wu was acting too strangely. In the past, though she would worry, her attitude was always good. But now…

“Actually, in the mortal realm, I heard people on the streets saying the newly appointed Demon Lord isn’t ugly, and isn’t very fierce either…”

Li You’s voice was somewhat uncertain as he spoke softly, glancing at Yu Wu.

“I’ve never met that Demon Lord. Asking me to marry a complete stranger – wouldn’t anyone feel uneasy about such a thing?”

Yu Wu couldn’t hold back anymore. Since Li You had brought it up first, and she hadn’t said anything she shouldn’t, she really couldn’t contain herself.

Li You was stunned, the corner of his eye showing a hint of disappointment.

Author’s Note:

Yu Wu: If that Demon Lord disdains me, how will I have a future of husband, children and a warm kang bed?

Total word count of this book: 567,301