The Demon Lord and I: Frenemies - Chapter 10

Lu Hewei saw that she was stubborn and unyielding, and anger surged in his chest as he choked out, “You are the Sect Leader’s Daughter, yet for the sake of a male cultivator, you can’t even distinguish right from wrong.”

Chu Zaishuang was sketching out her plan in her mind and had no intention of conversing with him. She replied perfunctorily, “There’s nothing I can do, I’m just a useless person.”

“When a man is infatuated, it can still be discussed; when a woman is infatuated, it cannot be spoken of. I only say these things to you because I consider you one of my own!”

“Mm, thank you.” She looked sincere. “Your advice is good, I’ll recommend it right away.”

“Truly stubborn!”

Lu Hewei had calculated everything, but never expected her to be so lovesick, willing to let Fei Wanghuai use her. Frustrated and unable to persuade her, he simply flicked his sleeve and left.

Once he was gone, Chu Zaishuang spun in place, seriously pondering, “How should I recommend him?”

Xiao Shi: [Just toss him to your dad.]

“But if I say he wants to be the Sect Leader’s disciple, both my father and mother are Sect Leaders.” Chu Zaishuang said, “My father has high cultivation, but he’s only the Vice Sect Leader. My mother manages the Lotus Flower Sect and teaches more thoroughly.”

[Are you afraid your dad isn’t strict enough, and he’ll run off in the middle?]

“Right, but Nine Leaves cultivators are rare, and outsiders seem to only care about cultivation.” Chu Zaishuang didn’t dare to rashly decide her desk mate’s future. She had no thoughts about cultivation, but seeing that he always had his own ideas, maybe he already had a plan.

Xiao Shi saw through her indecision and decisively said: [Then let him choose for himself.]

“Makes sense.” Chu Zaishuang blinked her bright eyes, thinking, “It’d be best if I didn’t ask him myself.”

*

The next day, it was drizzling in front of the Lecture Hall, and disciples occasionally entered, stepping through the rain. Amidst the mist, Fei Wanghuai stood at the doorway for a long time, his ebony hair dampened by the rain, his gaze sweeping the corridor back and forth, but he never saw the person he was waiting for.

She hadn’t come to class again, and this time it wasn’t just skipping-she had completely broken her promise.

Fei Wanghuai’s brows furrowed slightly, his lips pressed tight, and a cold light flashed in his deep black eyes. For once, he felt a trace of displeasure. Rain clung to his whole body as he swept his sleeve and entered the warm room. He glanced at the empty seat beside him and casually tossed the paper bag onto the desk.

The Osmanthus Bun inside hadn’t been soaked by the rain and was still warm, but it quickly grew cold.

Li Jingjie asked in confusion, “Zaishuang didn’t come?”

“Mm.”

Fei Wanghuai sat alone at the table, not even bothering to smile, his response cold. Li Jingjie sensed his low mood and quickly shrank his neck, afraid of being affected.

After a while, Chu Bingxiao began the lesson, but Chu Zaishuang never appeared.

Fei Wanghuai’s long fingers tapped the table again and again; he wasn’t listening at all, still thinking about the details.

Yesterday, he had made an agreement with her at the Training Ground: if he showed up at the Lecture Hall on time, he would get an Osmanthus Bun. She had happily agreed, but now she was nowhere to be found, making his trip in vain.

Logically, she might be vague, but she wouldn’t break a promise. She might not agree, but if she did, she would come.

Unless something disrupted her plans, making her feel the promise no longer mattered.

But for now, he couldn’t think of what that might be.

After class, Fei Wanghuai got up, ready to go find her. But as he hurried to the door, before he could step out, someone called to him.

“Wanghuai, wait a moment.” Chu Bingxiao picked up a scroll. “Come with me over here.”

They walked one after the other to a secluded corner.

“Senior Brother Chu, what is it?”

“Your cultivation has progressed quickly. Have you thought about your future development?” Chu Bingxiao said, “Once the introductory lessons are over, you’ll need to apprentice under different Elders. Do you have any thoughts about that?”

“Not at the moment.”

Fei Wanghuai was not an Immortal Sect cultivator; he had his own methods of cultivation. By day, he followed the Lotus Flower Sect’s training, by night he listened to Bone Elder and others, directing his mother’s former subordinates to build his power. Truthfully, he worked tirelessly all year round.

He had come to Lotus Peak Mountain, first to hide, second to investigate Chu Zaishuang. He wasn’t here for the lessons.

He had even planned that, once the introductory lessons ended, he would choose an obscure Elder to better conceal himself. If he chose a powerful cultivator, they might see through his true identity, notice how he transformed demonic energy into spiritual energy-too risky.

Chu Bingxiao seemed thoughtful and nodded, “I see. If you had to choose between the two Sect Leaders, which would you prefer?”

Fei Wanghuai: “?”

Definitely neither!

Especially Su Tingyun, a mid-stage Nine Leaves cultivator-wouldn’t that be walking into a trap?

Fei Wanghuai had just been distracted, planning how to catch Chu Zaishuang, but now his nerves tightened. He feigned calm and probed casually, “Senior Brother Chu, what do you mean by that?”

Chu Bingxiao said, “You’ve always been diligent and inquisitive, I’ve noticed. The introductory lessons are ending soon, and I don’t have much more to teach you. It’s better to connect you with a good teacher early, so you don’t fall behind in your cultivation. Shuang’er mentioned it to me briefly, but she didn’t know what you wanted, so I said I’d ask you myself.”
Fei Wanghuai hurriedly said, “This isn’t appropriate…”

Chu Bingxiao’s eyes were clear and calm as he replied, “In previous years, there have always been disciples who finished the introductory courses early and began studying under an Elder ahead of time. There’s already precedent for this, so you don’t need to worry. Your abilities are plain to see, and it’s not as if you’re taking shortcuts-this is what it means to teach according to one’s aptitude.”

“…”

A cultivator insisting on teaching a demonic cultivator-how is that teaching according to one’s aptitude?

At this point, how could Fei Wanghuai not know whose idea this was? He took a deep breath and said in a muffled voice, “Senior Brother Chu, this doesn’t seem proper. I’d rather follow the usual process and attend classes in the Lecture Hall.”

“Sorry, I’m feeling a bit unwell today. I’d like to go back and rest for a while.” His long lashes drooped, casting a small shadow, as he silently decided whom he would settle accounts with.

Chu Bingxiao was taken aback and didn’t press further: “Alright, then go rest. If you change your mind, come talk to me.”

The frost-white figure disappeared at the end of the corridor. Fei Wanghuai left with quick steps, like the heavy snow and ice piled up on the mountainside-just a few more branches falling would bring it all crashing down in silence, brewing a storm.

*

Raindrops clung to the leaves, sparkling, and every now and then two or three would fall, splashing onto the black-and-white chessboard. Chu Zaishuang held a black piece, looked up at the clearing sky, and wondered aloud, “I wonder how my brother’s talk with him went?”

After the rain, the familiar pond, the familiar ancient tree, the familiar game of chess.

After speaking with Chu Bingxiao, she felt her mission was accomplished and didn’t show up at the Lecture Hall again. Anyway, Fei Wanghuai had achieved his goal, so her previous words no longer counted-there was no need to stick to them.

[Why didn’t you go talk to him yourself?]

“That would be so awkward. What could I say-beg him to use me?” Chu Zaishuang raised an eyebrow. “Some things are better left unsaid. It’s more appropriate to have someone else as a go-between, and my brother is a better choice.”

She felt she had done her utmost and had a clear conscience. Fei Wanghuai got what he wanted, so he wouldn’t have to curry favor with her anymore. There was no need for a gradual cooling of relations; it was dignified.

He always wore a smile, but his personality was forceful and meticulous. She figured he must have swallowed a lot of frustration when dealing with her, but now there’d be no need for that.

Everyone would go their separate ways, and they probably wouldn’t even run into each other in the Lotus Flower Sect. The only pity was that no one would fetch Osmanthus Buns for her anymore.

Chu Zaishuang sighed softly, thinking she’d have to go down the mountain herself someday, when she suddenly heard a cold male voice behind her.

“Chu Zaishuang.”

The deep, chilly voice was like a fine string being plucked, sending a tremor through her heart.

Chu Zaishuang’s body stiffened and her back straightened as she slowly turned around. She saw Fei Wanghuai’s face adorned with a smile, as if he wore a mask of ice, making anyone in his presence feel as if they were sitting on pins and needles.

“Do you think I approached you just to become the Sect Leader’s disciple?” Fei Wanghuai held a fan in one hand, let out a cold laugh, and pressed on, “Someone spoke ill of me to you, and you believed them so easily?”

Fei Wanghuai had asked around before coming and learned that Lu Hewei had sought her out. That man was a petty clown, always targeting him since the entrance, and had nearly ruined his plans!

If he’d known earlier, he should have dealt with Lu Hewei during the entrance assessment, saving himself from this trouble-he’d almost been exposed.

Chu Zaishuang sensed a storm brewing. It was the first time she’d seen him so angry, not even bothering to pretend. His handsome face was darker than storm clouds. Her heart skipped a beat as she stammered, “I didn’t believe his gossip, it’s just that his suggestion made sense, so I thought I could take it. You were going to seek a master sooner or later…”

“You ignore everything I say, but listen to him after just one sentence?” Fei Wanghuai’s eyes were as cold as a pool in winter. He sneered, “His suggestion is reasonable, but mine is just wind in your ears!”

Thinking back to when she was in the Lecture Hall, he could say a thousand words and she might not listen to even one. The comparison only made him want to get rid of Lu Hewei even more.

“…”

Well, this was not how she’d imagined things would go. The one who always pretended to be good-tempered was actually angry.

Xiao Shi blinked in confusion: [Oh no, it seems he really wasn’t after that. Did we outsmart ourselves?]

This whole thing was based on the idea that Fei Wanghuai had ulterior motives, but now it seemed he wasn’t after becoming a disciple at all. The situation had suddenly become complicated. If they’d misunderstood each other, it would certainly hurt their relationship-no wonder he was so harsh.

Chu Zaishuang racked her brains but couldn’t figure out where things had gone wrong. After thinking it over, she felt her greatest value was her family background, so logically her new deskmate must have been after that.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Aren’t you usually quite talkative?” Fei Wanghuai pressed his advantage, his tone icy. “Is it because you almost got engaged to him, so you listen to him more and can’t be bothered with me?”

Chu Zaishuang’s eyes widened in shock, at a loss. “What are you even talking about!?”

He sneered, “Heh, who doesn’t know that Island Lord Lu once proposed a marriage alliance between our families, only to be flatly refused by the Sect Leader.”
The Lu Family was renowned for their spiritual herbs. Back then, in order to consolidate their power, they came up with this idea, but the Sect Leader did not agree. Although there were quite a few grassroots disciples in the Lecture Hall, as they entered the Lotus Flower Sect, they also heard some old stories about Lotus Peak Mountain.

Fei Wanghuai had dug into every detail about Chu Zaishuang, so naturally he had heard of this matter. He had even considered starting with the Lu Family, but later discovered that she was only close to Chu Bingxiao.

“Unreasonable! You’re so gossipy, stop making trouble for no reason!” Chu Zaishuang waved her hand slightly, turning aside, inexplicably feeling guilty.

Fei Wanghuai mocked, “Is it me making trouble for no reason, or are you still hung up on old feelings?”

Xiao Shi, hearing this, exclaimed in surprise, [Oh my, could it be that he’s after you!]

Chu Zaishuang was provoked by these words, and instantly became both angry and embarrassed, facing him head-on: “What right do you have to say that about me? Someone with your temperament suddenly coming to befriend me is already very strange. Isn’t it normal for me to misunderstand?”

“Besides, I haven’t done anything to you. If I’ve misinterpreted your kindness, I’ll apologize right now, but you yourself aren’t being honest either.” She tore through the pretense, simply becoming frank, meeting his gaze directly. “Just tell me what you want-why bother hiding and making things unpleasant for both of us?”

Fei Wanghuai frowned deeply, his voice low: “Why do you insist that I have ulterior motives?”

He prided himself on treating her decently; there was no reason for his identity to be condemned so quickly.

“Because that’s the kind of person you are!” Chu Zaishuang shot back, seeing his face turn cold, and said helplessly, “I absolutely don’t mean to insult you, I’m just stating the facts. You’re very goal-oriented; you wouldn’t waste your efforts for nothing!”

Fei Wanghuai fell silent.

It had to be said, her powers of observation were sharp. As he gradually unraveled her, she had also seen through him completely.

Chu Zaishuang was not vain enough to think her beauty could make Fei Wanghuai fall in love at first sight; the whole situation was suspicious from the start. She sighed, her emotions settling, and gently advised, “It’s better if people are sincere with each other. We’ve gotten along fairly well-just say what you need, and if I can help, I will.”

“I don’t need anything.”

What he wanted was her life, and that was something she couldn’t give.

“Still lying!” she said, brows furrowed in displeasure. “Then why did you come looking for me?”

Chu Zaishuang was usually like soft dough-anyone could come and knead her, and even if forced to do something, she wouldn’t get angry. But that didn’t mean she lacked opinions. In fact, her gentleness and weakness were more like a way to avoid trouble and reduce unnecessary conflict, but once a sharp confrontation erupted, she instantly transformed into a sword, piercing straight through her opponent!

She wasn’t afraid to tear off the mask, nor was she afraid of having no way out. She was utterly confident in her own judgment, and her ability to see through people was almost terrifying.

She was childish, lazy, and simple, but because she lived so simply, she could see people with uncanny accuracy-was this some kind of animal instinct?

The clouds in the sky dispersed and the rain ceased, letting in some light. Yet Fei Wanghuai felt an even greater dark cloud covering his heart, waves of turmoil surging in his chest. He was like a helmsman caught in a storm, suddenly swept up by a giant wave, with nowhere to hide-he would have to carve out a path with his own flesh, or else he was bound to be swallowed by the vast ocean.

She kept her gaze fixed on him, unyielding, those beautiful apricot eyes finally resembling the ones in his dreams, brimming with unstoppable resolve and fearlessness. Her skin was like white jade, her eyes like stars, shining brilliantly in the sunlight.

Concealment and lies were clearly useless now. If he wanted to settle things with her, he would have to show his true heart. It was said that when someone met the gaze of a spirit beast in the forest, if they truly showed sincerity, the spirit beast would willingly take a step back.

Fei Wanghuai composed himself, his thick black lashes finally lifting as he looked back at her calmly: “If I tell the truth, will you believe me?”

Chu Zaishuang replied, “As long as it’s the truth.”

“What if I said, I believe that in this world, only you can truly be my equal?” He looked her up and down, his obsidian eyes clear and bright, leaving no trace of darkness. “Perhaps one day, you will be the number one under heaven, the Supreme Immortal Realm Sovereign, with no one in the immortal world above your cultivation.”

His words were light and seemingly far-fetched, but because of his attitude, they suddenly carried great weight.

Chu Zaishuang had made many guesses before, but never expected him to say this, and he seemed to be serious.

After Fei Wanghuai finished speaking, he fell silent, as if he were a mortal outside the courthouse, patiently awaiting the verdict.

Chu Zaishuang was quiet for a long time, then suddenly rubbed her hands together, looking uneasy, as if she couldn’t keep confronting him.

After a moment, her expression became solemn, and she asked tactfully, “How long have you had this condition?”