Chapter 606 - 493: You Can’t Say Things Like That

「The next morning.」

On Lingyun Peak of Cold Mountain Academy, a considerable commotion suddenly erupted.

Xu Chu, the son of the Wuyue Sect’s Sect Leader, was cornered at the gate of his own courtyard by a young woman.

"Xu Chu! Get out here!"

The young woman stood outside the courtyard, hands on her hips, her clear voice ringing out as she shouted without the slightest reservation.

"What? You had the guts to write that annulment letter and call off the engagement with my entire Haiyue Sect all by yourself, but now you don’t have the courage to show your face?"

"Xu Chu! Get out here!"

Xu Bei’er stood outside Xu Chu’s courtyard, radiating fury. Her almond-shaped eyes were wide as she glared at the tightly shut wicker gate.

Before long, a crowd had gathered, drawn by the sound. They milled about outside the courtyard in twos and threes, craning their necks to watch the spectacle, whispering and murmuring to one another.

After all, Lingyun Peak was mostly inhabited by men. A woman showing up to cause a scene like this was a rare sight indeed.

And although Xu Chu was of the Demon Race, his temperament was quite scholarly and gentle. This was perhaps due to his innate disposition, combined with years of dedicated study at Cold Mountain Academy, where he truly did apply himself to his books and cultivation.

One could even say that whenever he encountered unexpected situations that fell outside the bounds of propriety, he would become flustered and lose his composure.

Just like now. When Xu Bei’er was shouting his name so loudly outside the courtyard, Xu Chu was genuinely startled.

"Miss Xu, something like this... how can you say it so loudly... We... let’s talk somewhere else..."

He rushed out of the house in a panic, reaching out to pull Xu Bei’er away.

He wasn’t worried about his own reputation, but about the reputation of the woman he loved.

’I sent the annulment letter to the Haiyue Sect in secret.’

’We never had a formal engagement ceremony, so very few people knew about our marriage arrangement. If the contract was broken, it was broken. That should have been the end of it.’

’But now Bei’er is making such a scene here... This won’t do at all...’

"Why can’t I talk about it? Why should we go somewhere else? I’m going to say it right here!"

Xu Bei’er flung her sleeve, shaking off his hand. Her almond-shaped eyes stared directly at Xu Chu as she spoke with grave sincerity.

"Xu Chu, let me tell you something! I don’t accept that annulment letter of yours!"

"The Wuyue Sect is gone, but you’re not! What? Are you afraid of dragging me down? Afraid I’ll suffer if I’m with you?"

"Xu Chu! Are you the one who wants to marry me, or is it your family that wants to marry me?!"

As she spoke, the rims of Xu Bei’er’s eyes reddened, the corners already wet with tears. Glistening teardrops welled up, threatening to fall at any moment.

But she clenched her jaw, stubbornly raised a hand, and wiped the tears away completely, tilting her head back defiantly.

"Let me tell you, I’m sticking with you for life! If you dare to abandon me, you can prepare to collect my corpse!"

"Either you marry me, or you watch me die! You choose!"

"..."

The crowd that had gathered to watch the spectacle was struck speechless by this scene, standing rooted to the spot in a daze.

Everyone stared at the defiant young woman, her head held high, tear tracks still wet on her face but her gaze burning, and at the flustered, red-faced young Demon.

All of Lingyun Peak fell silent, leaving only the rustling of wind through the treetops.

At first, seeing Xu Bei’er shouting so loudly outside the courtyard, the onlookers had assumed she was a jilted lover who had been cheated of her money and virtue by some heartless scoundrel, and had come in a rage to demand an explanation.

But who would have thought that as they listened, this would turn out to be the truth of the matter?

The two were already betrothed. It was just that the man, feeling his Sect had fallen and his family was in decline, believed he was no longer worthy of marrying her. He didn’t want her to suffer with him, nor did he want her to bear a bad reputation, so he took the initiative to write the annulment letter.

But the woman refused to accept his reasoning, refusing to make a clean break no matter what.

Even though his Sect was gone, even if her own family objected, even if the road ahead was fraught with hardship, she was dead set on being with him and refused to let go.

The onlookers felt like clowns being made fools of on a stage, or like dogs that had been tricked into watching a show only to be force-fed a mouthful of sweet romance.

This couple was absolutely shameless!

And so, after this shameless couple went back and forth for the better part of an hour, Xu Chu finally understood Xu Bei’er’s intentions, and the two reconciled.

After playing the part of the fool for a while, the crowd lost interest and gradually dispersed.

Xu Bei’er stayed at Xu Chu’s courtyard for the entire morning.

After lunch, the two of them went to the Steward Hall of Cold Mountain Academy. Once they had taken care of some paperwork, they made their way to Tushan Jing Ci’s courtyard.

They were there to say goodbye to Tushan Jing Ci.

"Huh? Bei’er, you two are leaving?"

Tushan Jing Ci looked at Xu Bei’er, who stood before her, her eyes filled with reluctance to see them go.

"Mhm, we’ve already spoken with our teacher. We plan to be away for a while." Xu Bei’er smiled gently, her hand tightly clasped in Xu Chu’s larger one, their fingers intertwined in a display of deep affection.

"I plan to make a trip to the Haiyue Sect to have a proper talk with Bei’er’s father. I hope to ask for his blessing for our marriage."

Xu Chu released Xu Bei’er’s hand and gave Tushan Jing Ci a solemn bow.

"Thank you for everything, Miss Tushan. If Bei’er hadn’t come looking for me, I’m afraid I would have continued down the wrong path, failed the one who is right for me, and ended up regretting it for the rest of my life."

Tushan Jing Ci smiled faintly and shook her head. "I didn’t really do anything. What’s important is that Bei’er has a fiery personality and figured things out on her own. I merely supported her decision."

"That was more than enough," Xu Bei’er chimed in, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. "If you hadn’t supported me, Jing Ci, I wouldn’t have been so determined."

"This time when I go back to the Sect, it won’t matter even if my father disagrees. I won’t separate from Xu Chu no matter what. If worst comes to worst... we’ll elope."

She paused for a moment before continuing.

"I heard that recently in the Demon Race’s World, a Confucian School Sword Immortal from the World of Ten Thousand Laws also eloped with a Demon and came here. If they can elope, why can’t we?"

"Bei’er, you can’t talk like that," Xu Chu said quickly, his expression turning serious and his tone earnest. "Don’t worry, I would never let you end up in that kind of situation."

In Xu Chu’s mind, he wasn’t afraid of eloping, of course.

But that was, after all, a last resort for a desperate situation.

Because it would mean forcing Bei’er to choose between the man she loved and her own clan.

Xu Chu was unwilling to let the woman he loved be pushed to that point, and even less willing to see her suffer the agony of being caught in such a dilemma because of him.