In the teahouse, a group of cultivators sat there.

There were remnants in the Lingdong Prefecture, it was said to be the cave mansion of Lingbo Dao from a thousand years ago. Lingbo Dao was best at refining artifacts, and there must be many treasures inside the remnants. Therefore, cultivators from both the immortal and demonic paths flocked here upon hearing the news.

But unlike the past when fire and water couldn't coexist, at this moment, cultivators from both the righteous and demonic paths sat in a teahouse together. Although there was a clear distinction between them, they didn't start fighting upon meeting each other, so things were relatively peaceful.

*

A hundred years ago.

At that time, although the Demon Lord spared the remaining hands of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance after killing the Holy Venerable, his past deeds still cast a shadow over the hearts of the spiritual realm. Even though the Demon Lord temporarily tolerated them, who could say what would happen in the future? The Demon Lord's temper was unpredictable. What if he changed his mind and wanted to deal with them? The spiritual realm was fundamentally defenceless.

At that time, the righteous immortal sects of the spiritual realm were both fearful and uneasy about the Demon Lord. They were in a state of panic for a while.

At this moment, the Cloudbank Sect went to Hollow Ridge to attend the Demon Lord's wedding. When the righteous immortal sects learned of this, there was an uproar, and many couldn't accept this, even though they were afraid of the Demon Lord. They didn't want to antagonize him, but they were still righteous sects. How could they compromise their principles and associate with the demonic path?

Many clamoured that the Cloudbank Sect had joined the demonic path and demanded that they be expelled from the righteous immortal sects. The Cloudbank Sect became the target of public criticism, and the spiritual realm seethed with unrest.

However, what none of them expected was that the first decree issued by the Demon Lord and the Jade Gentleman after their wedding was to prohibit demonic cultivators from harming mortals, with violators to be executed.

In fact, this was the only decree issued by the Demon Lord in the past hundred years.

When the decree was first issued, both the righteous and demonic paths found it absurd and couldn't fathom the Demon Lord's intentions.

Some demonic cultivators didn't believe it and secretly disobeyed.

But whether openly or secretly, none could escape the eyes of the Black-Clad Sleeper. Those who violated the decree were all executed, and for a while, the entire demonic path trembled with fear.

Demonic cultivators were trembling with fear, and the righteous cultivators were confused. Was the Demon Lord serious?

Because of this decree, dissatisfaction with the Demon Lord spread in the demonic path, but out of fear of his authority, no one dared to openly oppose him. Some secretly sought refuge with the Jade Gentleman, but the usually arrogant Jade Gentleman obediently followed the order this time, tail tucked between its legs, making sure its subordinates didn't harm the common people.

The dissatisfied demonic cultivators, seeing that even the Jade Gentleman didn't dare to rebel, had no choice but to obey the decree, even if they were still unhappy.

For a whole decade.

Countless demonic cultivators died at the hands of the Black-Clad Sleeper, and demonic cultivators trembled with fear.

This decree deeply affected them.

Finally, everyone realized that the Demon Lord's decree was not empty talk. Demonic cultivators no longer dared to harm mortals at will. Even if they needed concubines or servants, they would honestly buy and sell them. At least on the surface, they dared not arbitrarily kill, plunder, or rob mortals.

Moreover, they gradually discovered that as long as they didn't harm mortals, the Demon Lord didn't interfere in other matters.

Whether it was fighting against the righteous path or seizing resources, the Demon Lord never intervened in the conflicts between cultivators.

As time went by, demonic cultivators gradually got used to it. As long as they didn't kill, rob, or plunder, they could continue living as they did before...

*

Time passed in the blink of an eye.

 

The decree of the Demon Lord had been in effect for a hundred years, and apart from that, the Demon Lord had never again involved himself in worldly affairs.

Only time can prove everything.

The once anxious and uneasy righteous sects finally breathed a sigh of relief. Even the most stubborn sects had to admit the merit of the Demon Lord's actions. Those who had initially criticized Yun Jianque gradually fell silent, and there began to be praise for him. They admired his broad-mindedness and far-sightedness, his ability to reconcile with the Demon Lord, and turn hostility into friendship, truly benefiting the spiritual immortal realm.

Yun Jianque continued to save lives and help the people in the following years. Being the mentor of Jade Gentleman, he gradually became the leader of the righteous path in the spiritual immortal realm.

As for the Demon Lord and Jade Gentleman, they lived secluded from the world for many years. However, they remained the legends in the hearts of all in the spiritual immortal realm, the most revered beings.

In a teahouse, several cultivators from different sects sat together.

One of them said, "Nowadays, there is peace in the spiritual immortal realm, and the common people live in peace and happiness, all thanks to Jade Gentleman. If it weren't for Jade Gentleman sacrificing himself to the Demon Lord, how could the Demon Lord have issued such a decree, forbidding demonic cultivators from harming mortals?"

"It is said that Jade Gentleman often goes into seclusion with the Demon Lord and does not emerge for months. Jade Gentleman sacrifice for the spiritual immortal realm is truly immense..."

"In the beginning, the Demon Lord fell in love with Jade Gentleman at first sight and forcibly took him away. Although Jade Gentleman later willingly followed the Demon Lord, if it weren't for the Demon Lord's relentless pursuit, how could Jade Gentleman have been moved?"

At another table, a group of demonic cultivators became displeased and couldn't help but retort, "The goodness of the Demon Lord and Jade Gentleman is evident to all. It's clear that Jade Gentleman has bewitched the Demon Lord, causing the Demon Lord to lose his senses."

"Even the Demon Lord is swayed by his emotions. He issued such a decree for Jade Gentleman's sake. You demonic cultivators are benefiting from it, yet you still argue. Have you no shame?"

"If Jade Gentleman 's sacrifice was so great, why doesn't he leave? The Demon Lord didn't imprison him. Who can he blame if he's unhappy? Heh."

The several righteous cultivators looked very displeased. "Jade Gentleman did it for the sake of the common people. What do you demonic cultivators know?"

"Darn it, stop the nonsense. If it weren't for Jade Gentleman, would the Demon Lord be where he is today?"

Both sides argued fiercely, neither conceding to the other. It seemed they were about to start a fight right then and there. Suddenly, they remembered that there were mortals in the teahouse, and it wouldn't be good if they got involved.

A cultivator from the righteous sect said, "Let's take this outside the city."

A demonic cultivator snorted, "Who's afraid of who? Today, whoever loses is the grand son."

With that, they grabbed their weapons and angrily marched towards the city.

Seeing the two sides about to come to blows, the teahouse attendants were accustomed to such scenes. As long as they didn't fight inside, it was fine.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, on Hollow Ridge, several demonic servants sat lazily in the palace dormitory, idly chatting.

Since the Demon Lord and Jade Gentleman's grand wedding, they had sent away all the residents on the mountain. However, Wu Yimei, considering the status of the Demon Lord, insisted that there should be attendants by his side. Moreover, the vast Hollow Ridge Mountain would feel too desolate with just the two of them. So, a few demonic servants were left behind to attend to their needs.

They were assigned to stay on Hollow Ridge Mountain by the Demon Lord's orders, or so they thought. But the Demon Lord never actually gave them any orders! The Demon Lord either went out with Jade Gentleman to enjoy nature or secluded himself in the palace for cultivation. They were treated as if they were insignificant. They hardly saw the Demon Lord throughout the year. Over time, they got used to this lazy lifestyle. After all, the demon palace was so spacious, and there were only a few of them.

 

Several demon cultivators sat together, one of them took out a storage ring and slammed it on the table, saying, "I bet the Demon Lord and Jade Gentleman will retreat this time for twenty days. Here's a hundred high-grade spirit stones."

Another demon cultivator immediately joined in, saying, "I bet eighteen days, with a hundred high-grade spirit stones."

One demon cultivator chuckled, "You guys underestimate the Demon Lord. He's vigorous and strong. He hasn't tired of the Jade Gentleman for over a hundred years. I say it'll be at least thirty days this time."

"Thirty days is too long."

"We've had three months before, don't you remember? When the Demon Lord came out, his face was pale, eyes tinged with blue, and he was unsteady on his feet. Clearly, he had been drained by the Jade Gentleman. Tsk tsk tsk..."

"The Jade Gentleman, with such a celestial appearance, being tossed around by the Demon Lord like that, it's a bit heartbreaking."

"Heh, I don't feel sorry for the Jade Gentleman. Life used to be so carefree. If not for the Jade Gentleman, would we need to be so cautious now?"

"It's a pity the barrier in the chamber is so strong, we can't hear anything inside. I'm really curious what the Jade Gentleman, so cool and aloof, looks like on the Demon Lord's bed..."

Inside the chamber, the sound transmitted clearly to Fang Li's ears. As a Daoist Immortal, even the slightest sound couldn't escape his notice. His expression changed slightly, thinking to himself, "Could you guys please tone it down a bit!"

Xie Huai leaned in closer, chuckling softly in his ear, "Which side do you want to win?"

Fang Li: "?"

Xie Huai made a decision and said gently, "Let's go with thirty days. He's quite persuasive. Let him handle the bet."

Fang Li: "…"

Are you the bookmaker here? Do you understand the implications?

Fang Li felt his legs trembling but remained calm, coughing lightly and saying, "Thirty days seems too long, doesn't it? Besides, don't you feel like it's chatty inside the chamber?"

Xie Huai's eyes flickered slightly. "True, why don't we go to the bamboo forest behind?"

Fang Li: "…It's nice here, spacious and bright, no need to move."

But Xie Huai seemed disappointed, slowly saying, "I remember you mentioning a plot like this in a book, where the Jade Gentleman displeased the Demon Lord, and in a fit of anger, the latter took the Jade Gentleman to the forbidden bamboo forest, where…"

Fang Li's expression froze, giving a wry smile. "Can we not talk about that?"

Xie Huai's lips curled slightly, his eyes darkening, "Why can't we talk about it?"

Fang Li's expression turned melancholic.

When they had confessed their identities to each other, Fang Li had actually concealed a little… that is, the numerous scenes between the Demon Lord and Xie Huai from the original book. Though it was the main plot of the novella, Fang Li found it difficult to mention, and fearing that Xie Huai might feel uncomfortable, he simply glossed over it.

At the time, Xie Huai hadn't asked, so Fang Li thought the matter was settled. Little did he know that Xie Huai had always kept it in mind. With his keen perception, he naturally noticed the flaw in Fang Li's words. Fang Li was reluctant to discuss it, but under Xie Huai's 'interrogation', he had no choice but to tearfully reveal the truth to Xie Huai.

And now, Xie Huai was ready to follow the plot in the book.

The plot had ended a hundred years ago, so what was the point of following a plot now? Fang Li immediately refused, but Xie Huai believed that Fang Li had disregarded his wishes in the past, forcing him into the plot, so now Fang Li had an obligation to cooperate with him in following the plot for fairness's sake.

Furthermore, if they stuck to the original plot, it wouldn't be interesting. With their roles reversed this time, he would play the Demon Lord, and Fang Li would play him. Fang Li had no choice but to accompany Xie Huai in "acting out the plot".

This made Fang Li regretful for a moment. Why were there so many twists and turns in this novella!

Fang Li's eyes were scattered, "We're both old now, we should be content with tranquillity..."

Xie Huai said lightly, "As a Daoist Immortal, you have at least five thousand years of life expectancy. A hundred years is nothing. In our Immortal Realm, any cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage can live for a hundred years."

Fang Li stubbornly said, "...But in our world, a hundred years is nearing the end."

Xie Huai gave him a deep look, a faint smile playing at his lips, his voice low and gentle, "So be it."

Fang Li felt relieved, about to get up.

But then Xie Huai suddenly said, "There's a gift to be given to the Demon Lord."

With a wave of his hand, a pile of books fell to the ground like a small mountain. Fang Li scanned them with a dazed expression.

As a Daoist Immortal, his eyes were exceptionally sharp. At a glance, he saw one book with a dark green cover, bearing the title "Refining Emotions". It was the brainless romance novel he and Xie Huai had read when they came down the mountain, discovered from a pile of travel notes. The author had concealed it quite well, even using a pseudonym.

After a hundred years, had their shared reading progressed to this extent?!

Fang Li took a deep breath, wondering what Xie Huai was up to.

Xie Huai reached out and took a book, his voice cool and indifferent as he read, "...Though the Jade Gentleman was forcibly abducted, he refused to submit to the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord threatened him with the destruction of his sect. Unable to resist, the Jade Gentleman... Forget it, this book is too cliché, lacks originality."

Fang Li thought the shared reading was getting out of hand. They weren't even changing the names now!

Xie Huai changed several books in succession, finally finding one that seemed decent. His eyebrows raised slightly, he began to read slowly, "The Demon Lord took the Jade Gentleman to a paradise, where they revelled in music and dance every night. The Jade Gentleman, enduring humiliation, seized the opportunity to escape while the Demon Lord was distracted. Enraged, the Demon Lord lost control of himself, and his cultivation was lost. Upon learning of this, the Jade Gentleman couldn't bear to strike him, realizing the Demon Lord ‘s mixed feelings of hatred and love, so he imprisoned the Demon Lord in a stone chamber…"

Fang Li: ?

This nonsense was getting more absurd.

Xie Huai closed the book with a satisfied smile, planting a gentle kiss on Fang Li's forehead, his voice gentle and charming, "Today, let's act out a scene where your cultivation is lost and you're captured. How about it?"

Fang Li: ...

Xie Huai smiled slightly, meaningfully adding, "The Demon Lord 's acting skills have always been good. I believe it will be a sure win."

It seemed they had no choice but to act it out now. However, Fang Li's mouth still refused to concede, hmph-ing, "Next time, I'll choose the script."

Xie Huai's gaze was profound, chuckling softly, "Alright."

Fang Li also smiled.

Life is long, but with you by my side, I'll never be alone.

 

Translator : DarNan