The Beautiful Pariah Thought He Could Be Loved - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: “Waiting to Attend Your Wedding.”

Before Xu Qiyao could say a word, He Lüqing let out a scoffing laugh. “What a clumsy tactic.”

Xu Qiyao was mortified. “Qishu, how can you say that? We’ve always had an engagement; it’s just that we only informed everyone today.”

Xin Qishu said, “But I already broke off the engagement before. The fact that I married… him, is known throughout the four seas.”

Xu Qiyao stared at him. “And now the news of your separation is also known throughout the four seas. He is gone; shouldn’t it finally be my turn? Or have you fallen for someone else?”

“He hasn’t necessarily fallen for someone else, but as for you—he definitely doesn’t like you,” He Lüqing interjected coldly, leaning against a pillar.

“Ye… Yes, I don’t like you. I don’t want to be your Daoist partner.” With the opening He Lüqing provided, Xin Qishu finally managed to voice those words.

He Lüqing glanced at Xin Qishu, his lips curling in displeasure. Just don’t want to be Daoist partners? Does that mean he still wants to be friends? Xin Qishu was indeed falling back into his old habits.

“Do you think He Lüqing will back you up?” Xu Qiyao said chillingly. “Even if he backs you up today, what about tomorrow? Or the day after? Who will support you then?”

“Regarding your broken engagement—it’s not just me; Palace Master Xin Sha doesn’t agree either. Your marriage to He Lüqing was merely the result of your own willful acting.”

Xin Qishu retorted agitatedly, “Xin Sha agreed to it!”

“So many important figures from the Blood Capacity Palace are present today. Could I have invited them all by myself?” Xu Qiyao said calmly, his expression overcast.

Xin Qishu’s heart tightened. He couldn’t believe it; back then, Xin Sha had clearly said he would grant him anything except for that one thing.

How had it changed to “disagreeing” now?

Xu Qiyao had a point. Even if Xin Sha didn’t know the details, Qing Qianqian knew. She knew perfectly well that he and He Lüqing hadn’t truly severed ties.

“The cultivation sects are watching us like hawks; only an alliance between our two factions can stabilize the current situation.” Xu Qiyao’s words were meant to persuade Xin Qishu to be reasonable, but his eyes were fixed on He Lüqing—the foremost figure of the righteous cultivation path who looked entirely out of place here in the Demon Abyss.

“Sword Master, how much longer do you plan on staying in the Demon Abyss?”

“I don’t know,” He Lüqing replied, arms crossed.

Xu Qiyao’s temper flared instantly. He shouted, “He Lüqing! Don’t be so arrogant! Do you really think you can take on a hundred by yourself?!”

Lüqing looked at him quietly, his pale green eyes devoid of anger or joy. “If they all have your level of cultivation, then it won’t be a problem.”

Xu Qiyao furiously released his demonic pressure. He Lüqing remained unmoved, but Xin Qishu let out a suppressed groan under the strain.

Startled, Xu Qiyao closed his eyes and retracted the pressure. When he opened them again, He Lüqing had already taken Xin Qishu away.

…

After many days, the two returned to the house.

The house remained exactly as it was when He Lüqing left. The blue flowers that had been tossed onto the courtyard ground and ignored had rooted themselves into the soil; their petals were slightly wrinkled, on the verge of dying.

Xin Qishu leaned against the stone table, his face pale. The moment Xu Qiyao released his pressure, it felt as though his heart was being squeezed and was about to be crushed.

He Lüqing picked up the wooden sword and sat down nearby. “Have you learned to read yet?”

Xin Qishu’s temples throbbed with pain. Hearing this, he nodded.

He Lüqing traced a few characters on the ground with the wooden sword. “What words are these?”

“Yang Li.”

“Mm. On the fifth day of the sixth month, he has asked to meet you at the ‘old place’.”

“Oh.” Today was already the fourth. Xin Qishu clutched his chest.

He Lüqing asked again, “Where is the ‘old place’?”

“The wonton stall by the Yunzi River.”

The Yunzi River was a famous spot for couples. Fragments of memories flashed through He Lüqing’s mind, and he fell into a pensive silence.

“Where are you staying now?” Xin Qishu couldn’t help but ask.

Lüqing lifted his eyelids and gave him a faint glance, the corners of his eyes tilted upward. His pale green eyes held no emotion. “What do you want?”

“Why aren’t you going back to the Fayu Pavilion?”

There was no wind tonight; the sweltering air invaded every pore. Xin Qishu stared at the floor, waiting for He Lüqing’s answer.

“Waiting to attend your wedding,” He Lüqing replied, then asked, “Are you inviting me?”

Choking on his words, Xin Qishu said loudly, “I am not marrying Xu Qiyao!”

“Why so defensive? You didn’t even attend our wedding.”

On their wedding day, He Lüqing had only made a brief appearance at the start; Xin Qishu had completed the rest of the ceremony alone.

“As long as you remember. If you don’t plan on marrying him, leave no room for misunderstanding in your words or actions,” He Lüqing stood up. “The leeway you leave him will eventually lead you into an abyss you do not wish to enter.”

Xin Qishu looked up at his flawless face, which appeared even more beautiful under the moonlight, knowing he was about to leave. He took a jade bracelet out of his storage space and said earnestly, “Please, wear this.”

Lüqing recognized the bracelet. He was surprised that Xin Qishu would give it to him, but his voice remained steady. “Aren’t you afraid that if I recover my power, I’ll kill people?”

“I’m more afraid of you being killed by someone else.” Xin Qishu’s eyes shimmered with tears.

His blunt words shook He Lüqing’s heart. “It might be more appropriate to give this to someone else.”

“There is no one more appropriate. I only want to give it to you.” Under the moonlight, the youth was fair and beautiful, his almond eyes brimming with moisture. In this moment, he possessed a sense of infatuation that was both lovely and poignant. His delicate, petal-like lips were slightly parted, revealing white teeth and a red tongue.

Lüqing remained silent.

Xin Qishu took his hand and slipped the cold object onto his wrist.

Lüqing turned his head away. “I’m leaving. Remember your appointment.”

…

Xin Qishu returned to his sleeping quarters in silence. He pushed open the door to find the lights on; Xu Qiyao was actually there waiting for him.

Xin Qishu took a half-step back. “Who let you in?!”

“Anyone could have let me in, because I am already half-master of this place.” The lamplight only illuminated half of Xu Qiyao’s face; the other half was hidden in deep darkness.

Xin Qishu clenched his fists. “Leave. Regardless of who agreed to this marriage, I will not marry you.”

“I only like He Lüqing.”

“Why? Because he can make you feel good? I can do that too.” Xu Qiyao tilted his head.

Xin Qishu was horrified. On the table in front of Xu Qiyao lay the hidden manual: Secret Arts of the Bedchamber.

“You went through my things?” Xin Qishu aggressively snatched the book and shoved it into his storage space.

Xu Qiyao said, “I told you, I am half-master here. You can look through my things as well.”

“What ‘half-master’? I am the sole master of my own things!”

“It’s been so long—does he even like you? You’re still rushing to press your warm face against his cold backside.”

“Do you know how long you spent staring at him today?” Xu Qiyao questioned coldly.

“Did I ask you to come just so you could look at him?” I was practically preening like a peacock next to you, and you didn’t even look.

“You’ve already signed the Severance of Fate document; being so entangled is a bit unseemly, Qishu,” Xu Qiyao said, struggling to stay composed.

“He and I never signed the Severance of Fate.” Xin Qishu couldn’t help but take a step back.

“What?” Xu Qiyao stepped forward and grabbed Xin Qishu’s hand with a distorted expression.

He probed into Xin Qishu’s sea of consciousness.

Since Xin Qishu had not formed a Golden Core, deep within his consciousness, there was only a massive, faintly glowing red Marriage Contract.

Xu Qiyao gritted his teeth as he met Xin Qishu’s eyes. “Fine. It doesn’t matter. I can be the ‘third wheel’.”

“You want to be what?” Xin Qishu was shocked.

“I don’t need to form a bond; I just want the title.”

Xin Qishu scanned Xu Qiyao from head to toe—it was the first time he had ever looked at him this way.

Xu Qiyao’s face was flushed, and he glared back fiercely.

Xin Qishu turned his head away. “I can’t accept that. Just go.”

Xu Qiyao’s pride wouldn’t allow him to beg any further. He stood up. “So, you plan on living your life chasing after He Lüqing?”

“How many years can he let you chase him?”

“So many new talents have emerged these past few years. Once he leaves the Demon Abyss, he’ll find true love in a heartbeat. When that happens, you can cry all you want—I won’t want you either.”

Xu Qiyao’s words were like blades, leaving Xin Qishu bruised and battered. It felt as though the blood in his veins had burst out, cooling the moment it touched the air.

Those words hit exactly on the fears Xin Qishu had been harboring.

“I’m tired. Please leave,” Xin Qishu said, head lowered.

“Don’t be like this. Listen to me.”

Xu Qiyao tried to turn his face toward him. “The Blood Capacity Palace won’t be given to you in the future. If you don’t want me and can’t find a backer, what will you do later? Are you a mortal who can just die after a few decades?”

“I’m doing this for your own good. First: you need to improve. I know your situation is special—if you don’t enter the Blood Demon Ring’s secret realm to train, you won’t be able to raise your cultivation realm.”

Xin Qishu looked up sharply. “How do you know the Blood Demon Ring has a secret realm?”

The Blood Demon Ring was an immortal artifact and the symbol of the Blood Capacity Palace’s Master. If one wasn’t recognized by the ring, they couldn’t become the Palace Master. Passing the secret realm was part of gaining that recognition.

While the Blood Capacity Palace had an alliance with the Diting clan, Xu Qiyao shouldn’t have known such specific details.

Xu Qiyao stammered.

A name suddenly flashed in Xin Qishu’s mind. He found it unbelievable, yet he couldn’t think of anyone else. His head spun. He bypassed Xu Qiyao and sat down in a chair.

Xin Qishu tried his best to remain calm, his eyes rimmed with red. “I don’t doubt that you want what’s best for me.”

Regardless of Xu Qiyao’s feelings, the kindness he had shown was real. Although today’s events had nearly exhausted all his goodwill, Xin Qishu didn’t mind talking a bit more.

“Since you’ve put it that way, I’ll be honest with you. When I first found out about this, I volunteered myself. Xin Sha… explicitly said he wouldn’t let me enter the secret realm.”

His voice was thick with nasal congestion.

This matter was a thorn buried deep in Xin Qishu’s heart. Pulling it out today didn’t even bring blood—it just left a dark, hollow hole.

Xu Qiyao was momentarily speechless.

Xin Qishu gazed at Xu Qiyao, his dark eyes shimmering with fragmented light. He asked softly, “Did Fei Jia not tell you all this?”

Xu Qiyao lowered his head.

It was a silent admission. Xin Qishu began to cry again, crystal tears wetting his cheeks. Xu Qiyao left dejectedly.

Fei Jia’s parents were pure-blood demons. From birth, Fei Jia possessed a cultivation level equivalent to the Golden Core stage.

During the era of demon clan infighting, the interior of the Blood Capacity Palace wasn’t safe. To hide his birth, the elders had him act as Xin Qishu’s guard, living with him in the Kuangjin Realm. The people sent there were nominally to protect Xin Qishu—the sole heir—but in reality, it was to raise Fei Jia to adulthood.