Chapter 235 - 234: Cultivation World: Please Call Me Cui Hua, Thank You

"Lord Demon King~ I’m leaving. Why are you being so harsh with me!"

The Female Demon was clearly unhappy. She glanced at Chu Liangyu, huffed, and then turned to leave.

The Demon King’s gaze shifted back to Chu Liangyu. The coldness he’d used to dismiss the other demon was gone, replaced by a gentle smile. "Little Crow, this spring water isn’t free, you know. You’ll have to do something for me."

His temperament and personality were the complete opposite of the Jiang Li from the Beast World, which immediately allowed Chu Liangyu to tell the two of them apart.

For a moment, the wariness on Chu Liangyu’s face lessened slightly. She asked him hesitantly, "What do you want me to do?"

"I haven’t decided yet. But if you can make me happy, Little Crow, I might just be willing to give you the spring water."

The Demon King’s eyes curved like crescent moons. He looked easy to get along with, but Chu Liangyu had just seen how he’d ordered the other demon away.

Because of this, Chu Liangyu wasn’t fooled by his affable appearance.

"I’ve placed a Barrier around this spring. Don’t even think about stealing it, Little Crow."

Seeing Chu Liangyu’s silence, the Demon King added a reminder.

"Alright, Little Crow. Come back to my place with me for now. I think there’s some laundry that needs to be done."

Chu Liangyu had wanted to ask the Heavenly Dao if it could help her open the Barrier on the spring. However, the Heavenly Dao said it could not directly interfere with anything in the Cultivation World.

The only exception was if Chu Liangyu’s life was in danger. In that case, the Heavenly Dao would help her undo some of the seals on her body, allowing her to escape on her own.

At any other time, especially if it involved individuals from the Cultivation World, the Heavenly Dao could not take direct action.

Especially since this Demon King’s cultivation was already at the Mahayana Late Stage, nearing the power of Ascension. If the Heavenly Dao were to act, he would certainly be able to detect it.

After all, Li Jingxuan was only at the Divinity Transformation Stage; he would only reach the Mahayana Realm after his next breakthrough. A cultivation level this high made one a veritable old monster in the Cultivation World.

Therefore, it was best not to provoke him if it could be helped.

Chu Liangyu’s eyes, however, suddenly brightened. She posed a crucial question. ’If I fought the Demon King with my full power restored, who would have a better chance of winning?’

’You.’

The Heavenly Dao’s answer was simple and certain. Then, she added, ’However, I’m not going to give you the chance to fight him.’

Chu Liangyu pouted but could understand the Heavenly Dao’s reasoning. After all, no one wanted their world laid to waste by a battle between two powerhouses.

"Little Crow, what are you thinking about? You’re about to walk into a tree."

Chu Liangyu stopped in her tracks. Hearing his words, she instinctively looked up. However, there was no tree in front of her—only a flash of red.

The Demon King was standing extremely close to her; from a distance, it looked as if he were holding her in his arms. At that moment, he was looking down, studying the expression on her face with great interest.

’For some reason,’ Chu Liangyu thought, ’this Jiang Li is a little too bewitching. He has this captivating aura that pulls you in. Just the way he looks at you makes you feel like you’re his entire world.’

’It’s deeply affectionate without feeling promiscuous; instead, it gives you a sense of security.’

"Lord Demon King, please be respectful."

Chu Liangyu coughed in embarrassment and instinctively took a few steps back.

Unexpectedly, the Demon King wrapped an arm around her waist. He raised an eyebrow and said, "You were the one who threw yourself into my arms. How did I become the one who needs to be respectful, hmm?"

"Since you know my name, Little Crow, you don’t have to call me Demon King."

His voice was exceptionally alluring, yet it also held an imperious undertone that brooked no refusal.

Chu Liangyu shifted uncomfortably, trying to break free from his embrace, but his grip was simply too strong.

Resigned, Chu Liangyu had no choice but to give in. "Jiang Li."

A satisfied smile touched Jiang Li’s lips, and the strength in his arm lessened. Seeing her chance, Chu Liangyu immediately wriggled free from his embrace.

After that small interlude, Jiang Li continued to lead her forward.

The palaces of the Demon Realm weren’t like the architecture of Cultivators, which was always orderly and carried a somewhat stodgy air.

On the contrary, though this was supposedly the Demon King’s palace, it looked more like a simple farmhouse courtyard—plain, yet comforting.

The path was lined with a few scattered fruit-bearing shrubs of various colors. They exuded a faint, fruity fragrance that cleared the mind and refreshed the senses.

With nothing else to do, Chu Liangyu took in her surroundings. Just as she’d gotten a good look at everything, they arrived at an exceptionally spacious courtyard.

Everything was constructed from bamboo, and the layout was surprisingly similar to Chu Liangyu’s own courtyard.

"Well, Little Crow, the clothes are over there. I’ll leave them to you."

Jiang Li jerked his chin, indicating a corner of the courtyard.

"Oh, right. I hear Human Cultivators have something called a Dust Cleaning Skill. We don’t go in for that sort of thing here, so don’t even think about using any tricks you learned from them, Little Crow."

After speaking, Jiang Li produced a stool from somewhere and sat down leisurely in the courtyard.

He didn’t do anything; he just watched Chu Liangyu.

Chu Liangyu fell silent for a moment. ’He must have too much time on his hands,’ she thought, ’to actually be interested in watching me wash clothes.’

But she had no choice. She was the one asking for a favor, after all. Chu Liangyu chose to submit and obediently began to scrub the clothes.

Jiang Li rested his chin in his hand, watching her. Perhaps out of boredom, he started making idle conversation.

"Little Crow, the first time I saw you—through the eyes of my clone in Lan Yue Pavilion—I felt as if I’d seen you somewhere before. Don’t you think we’re bound by fate?"

’Sometimes, the intuition of a mighty Cultivator is frighteningly accurate. They can even perceive things that others would never notice.’

’It wasn’t like Wen Yan’s hazy premonitions. If the Demon King was asking, he must have genuinely sensed something.’

Chu Liangyu lowered her gaze, her long lashes trembling with her turbulent emotions.

"Perhaps," she said, "but I can’t rule out the possibility that you’re just acting on lust."

Jiang Li, who had been resting his chin in his hand, froze for a second. He clearly hadn’t expected her to say that. A hint of amusement entered his tone. "You have a sharp tongue, Little Crow. That Female Demon who left the pavilion earlier—how do you think she compares to you?"

Chu Liangyu raised an eyebrow and met his gaze, stating bluntly, "She’s quite attractive, but I’m not lacking either."

"Oh... is that so?"

He drew out the last word, the amusement in his eyes unwavering as he gave Chu Liangyu a slow look up and down.

Then he nodded in praise. "Such a confident Little Crow. But you’re telling the truth."

"By the way, what’s your name?"

Chu Liangyu hesitated. Worried about exposing her identity, she said offhandedly, "Lord Demon King can just call me Cui Hua."

The smile that had been on Jiang Li’s face suddenly vanished. He gave her a strange look and said, "That name of yours..."

"What’s wrong, Lord Demon King? Is it not a nice name?"

Jiang Li’s lips moved as if he were tentatively trying to say her name, but it just felt too strange.

"That’s certainly the first time I’ve ever heard a name like that."