Futile Devices Scans

Fortunately, Yun Yazi did not voice those thoughts aloud—otherwise Chen Yixin would not have shown him any pleasant expression. The reason he could remain so calm now was because Wenren Li, whom he had lost and regained, was sitting beside him.

After many twists and turns, they were finally still together. He still hated what Yun Yazi had done to him, yet he could not completely forget the kindness Yun Yazi had once shown. As for whether this meeting would end in a falling-out, whether they would truly clash—Chen Yixin himself could not be certain.

“Thirteen, how do you intend to deal with me?”

Chen Yixin’s gaze shifted from Yun Yazi to Jing Zhihua, staring until Jing Zhihua became embarrassed and enraged. One thing was certain—he truly disliked being called “Thirteen.” Erasing his name was equivalent to erasing all their past.

Jing Zhihua did not respond, but Chen Yixin, who knew him well enough, could easily see through the source of his composure.

He believed Yun Yazi and Yun Zhenzi had come to seek justice for him—to punish Wenren Li for abducting him, and to punish Chen Yixin for auctioning him off without regard for his dignity.

“Most likely, you’ll cripple my cultivation again, plant a curse into my divine soul that makes life worse than death, and torment me until I die—only then would the Divine Son be satisfied.”

Chen Yixin spoke with a faint smile, as if joking. Yet everything he said had truly happened to him before. If not for Wenren Li, even if he were still alive now, he would merely be lingering on his last breath.

After saying this, his tone paused, and he looked back at Yun Yazi. “Master, what do you think?”

What could Yun Yazi possibly say? Jing Zhihua and the Jade Cauldron Sect had undoubtedly wronged Chen Yixin. And he himself, as Chen Yixin’s master, had been the instigator of this tragedy. He could not argue, nor could he defend himself.

“What I did before was indeed excessive, but this time… I never intended to take your life. I wanted to protect you.”

Just as everyone fell silent, Jing Zhihua spoke again, his expression tinged with urgency. Perhaps this was truly what he meant—but the look in his eyes made Wenren Li and Han Zichuang, who watched him coldly, understand the real reason behind his change of attitude.

He had set his sights on Chen Yixin once more.

Yet how could he still dare to think this way? The vanity brought by the title of Divine Son had completely blinded him, making him ten times, a hundred times more arrogant than before.

But the higher he placed himself now, the harder he would fall when the truth came out.

“Slap!”

Chen Yixin struck out with his hand, spiritual power landing on Jing Zhihua’s face and sending him tumbling. Yun Yazi did not move; Yun Zhenzi frowned slightly and stepped forward half a pace, but ultimately said nothing.

“What are you? Do you think I’m someone you can ‘protect’ just because you want to?”

Chen Yixin’s expression turned cold. One slap was not enough—he went straight into mockery.

“Disgusting. You’d better shut up, or next time it won’t be your face I hit—I’ll cut out your tongue.”

If Jing Zhihua still had some use, Chen Yixin might have restrained himself—but any affection or devotion coming from anyone other than Wenren Li only disgusted him.

Chen Yixin’s gaze lowered further. Jing Zhihua retreated awkwardly. It was clear—Chen Yixin not only wanted to cut out his tongue, but something else as well.

His gaze grew increasingly dangerous. Yun Zhenzi lightly tugged at Yun Yazi’s sleeve—they could not allow Chen Yixin to continue humiliating the Divine Son like this, or they themselves would be implicated.

Wenren Li raised his hand to cover Chen Yixin’s eyes, guiding him to turn his head away. Only then did he remove his hand. It was obvious—Wenren Li did not like Chen Yixin staring at that part of others, even if Chen Yixin’s intent was malicious, wanting to cut it off.

Chen Yixin met Wenren Li’s gaze, and the danger in his eyes faded. He draped an arm over Wenren Li and leaned directly into his embrace. “So disgusting. I need to hold A-Li a little longer—look at A-Li a bit more to cleanse my eyes.”

“Alright,” Wenren Li replied, gently rubbing Chen Yixin’s hair. There was no need to elaborate on that indulgent tenderness. Han Zichuang and Yun Yazi both silently withdrew their gazes—there was no room for anyone else between these two.

“We didn’t come here to stop your transaction.”

Wenren Li continued to stroke Chen Yixin’s hair as he spoke to Yun Yazi. Once everything was settled—once all those who made Chen Yixin unhappy were driven out of Yan Province—only then could they return in peace to their bridal chamber and dual cultivate.

“But you—you broke the agreement you made with me and even tampered with A-Rong’s memories. What explanation do you have for me and A-Rong?”

Yun Yazi owed Chen Yixin an explanation, and he owed Wenren Li one as well. Back then, they had stood together to protect Chen Yixin. At the final moment, Wenren Li took on all enemies himself, only asking Yun Yazi to pass along a message to Chen Yixin—but Yun Yazi had broken his word.

“I broke my promise.”

Yun Yazi lowered his gaze again. Wenren Li awakening so early meant his plan had completely failed. And now it had indeed come to this—Chen Yixin had already chosen Wenren Li. He might have stopped it once, but he could not stop it a second time.

“I have nothing to say. I only hope the Demon Lord will treat Yixin well in the future.”

“Heh…” Chen Yixin let out a cold laugh from where he was buried against Wenren Li’s neck. He turned to look at Yun Yazi, his eyes filled with unconcealed disappointment. “Master is truly heartless. You have nothing to say, yet I lost a hundred years with A-Li—and even ended up raising such an ungrateful wretch…”

Jing Zhihua’s face flushed slightly, as if he wanted to speak again, but Yun Yazi flicked a finger and knocked him unconscious. If Jing Zhihua continued provoking Chen Yixin, this would no longer end as a simple conversation.

“What are you afraid of, Master? Let him speak. Hasn’t he humiliated me like this plenty of times before?” Chen Yixin said with a cold smile. He finally looked at Yun Zhenzi. “Isn’t that right, Martial Uncle?”

Before he was sent back to the Chen clan of Zhenhai, Jing Zhihua had displayed such ugliness more times than could be counted. Back then, he had spoken even more bluntly—he had even wanted Chen Yixin to become his male concubine.

The more he spoke, the more disgusted he felt, and his killing intent grew stronger.

“The Divine Son is young and hot-tempered—his temper is indeed somewhat excessive. But it was you who humiliated him first with the marriage contract. The matter is already in the past; there is no point revisiting it,” Yun Zhenzi said. His tone carried a trace of refinement, but at this moment, spoken so self-righteously, that refinement turned into sheer hypocrisy.

So all those years Chen Yixin had protected and doted on Jing Zhihua were now considered humiliation?

“Junior brother!” Yun Yazi warned.

They were not confronting Chen Yixin alone—Wenren Li stood beside him, and there was also Han Zichuang, the sect master of the Heaven’s Secret Sect, whose stance and strength remained unclear.

Yun Zhenzi did not think he had said anything wrong. He stepped forward, lifting Jing Zhihua. “Senior Brother, continue reminiscing with your disciple. I will take the Divine Son and leave first.”

This was no longer mere hypocrisy—it was outright disregard for others.

“Fellow Daoist Yun Zhenzi, if you pay me two hundred fifty thousand middle-grade spirit stones, you may take him—I have no objection. But I, Han, have yet to see even a single stone…”

As they spoke, they had completely forgotten that Han Zichuang had already purchased Jing Zhihua. Yet Yun Zhenzi was already trying to leave with him—such scheming was truly shameless.

“Or will Fellow Daoist Yun Yazi pay Han on his behalf?”

“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you something—any transactions conducted in my Yan Province should at least pay A-Li and me a… venue fee. Not much, not little—exactly fifty thousand middle-grade spirit stones.” Chen Yixin’s extortion had truly become second nature—just a few words and he was already demanding fifty thousand middle-grade spirit stones. Converted to lower-grade spirit stones, that would be five million—no longer something that could be described as merely asking an exorbitant price.

But he simply found Yun Zhenzi and the Jade Cauldron Sect displeasing—whatever amount of spirit stones he could squeeze out of them, he would squeeze to the very end.

When Chen Yixin spoke, his expression was cold and stern, leaving no room for negotiation. Yun Zhenzi had already been stifled by Han Zichuang, and now being provoked again by Chen Yixin, his face flushed red. He wanted to lash out but didn’t know how—his frustration had almost become oddly satisfying to watch.

“Then that makes three hundred thousand middle-grade spirit stones,” Han Zichuang said. He had no intention of covering the extra fifty thousand for a fake Divine Son. Even if it would please Chen Yixin, there were many other ways to do that.

“Rest assured, Sect Master Han—we will deliver it to Heavenly Lake Mountain in a few days,” Yun Yazi spoke up, breaking the increasingly awkward atmosphere. After addressing Han Zichuang, his gaze lifted and returned to Chen Yixin, his tone carrying a trace of desolation.

“The Divine Son concerns the future of Taixuan. Some decisions—I had no choice. I do not expect you to understand, nor do I ask you to forgive. As master and disciple, we—”

“Where is Zhou Yan?” Chen Yixin cut him off before Yun Yazi could grow any more sentimental. He found it irritating and had no desire to continue this “reminiscing.” “Hand him over to me. If we meet again in the future, I might still call you Master.”

Jing Zhihua was a fool—half ruined by Chen Yixin’s indulgence, and the other half deliberately led astray by Zhou Yan. Moreover, based on Chen Yixin and Wenren Li’s deductions, Zhou Yan was almost certainly connected to the otherworldly demon that had appeared earlier in their hall.

“Yixin, Zhou Yan is your senior brother. If he has done wrong, I will punish him. Handing him over to you—”

“Would handing him over to this Sovereign’s Demon Consort be inappropriate?” As soon as Wenren Li spoke, Yun Yazi felt the pressure emanating from him—far greater than it had been a hundred years ago in the Burning Heaven Nether Palace. After a century of slumber, Wenren Li’s power had grown even more formidable.

“It seems you are unwilling,” Chen Yixin concluded after Yun Yazi’s moment of silence. It wasn’t just that Yun Yazi was reluctant to give up Zhou Yan—perhaps, in his eyes, this was a bottom line Chen Yixin had no right to cross.

“I’ll call you Master one last time,” Chen Yixin said as he stood, his gaze fixed directly on Yun Yazi. Today, this meeting was meant to bring a complete end to their hundred-year master-disciple bond.

“Master, be careful of Zhou Yan.” Chen Yixin’s tone was neither heavy nor light, yet it made both Yun Yazi and Han Zichuang fall into deep thought.

“And one more thing—once Sect Master Han and the Jade Cauldroj Sect have discussed it, have someone deliver the fifty thousand middle-grade spirit stones to the demon palace. If A-Li and I have to come collect it personally, the price won’t stay this low.”

With that, Chen Yixin turned away. Wenren Li also rose and reached out, pulling Chen Yixin into his embrace. “A-Rong, rest assured. From now on, what is mine is yours. Wherever we are—that is our home.”

The Jade Cauldron Sect was no longer Chen Yixin’s home—but the Li Kui Demon Palace always would be.

“Mm,” Chen Yixin responded, wrapping his arms around Wenren Li’s waist. The faint trace of sorrow that had surfaced in his heart dissipated with Wenren Li’s words.

“Today is this Sovereign’s and A-Rong’s joyous day. Matters of settling scores will be postponed for now. In three months, we will come to the Jade Cauldron Sect to demand an answer. If you do not give A-Rong and me an explanation by then, we will come take it ourselves.”

What had happened to Chen Yixin in the Jade Cauldron Sect had not passed. Everyone involved—including Zhou Yan—would face his reckoning. Back then, he had set it aside out of concern for Chen Yixin’s injuries. Now that Chen Yixin had recovered, it was time to return and settle everything.

“And there is one more thing you will soon learn—after today, the Hidden Moon Sect will be erased from Taixuan.”

On the very day of Chen Yixin and Wenren Li’s wedding—while countless figures from both righteous and demonic paths had gathered—the Hidden Moon Sect, which had not appeared, had already been uprooted and annihilated. All of this had been arranged by Chen Yixin through Wu Fei and the others.

A hundred years ago, Wenren Li had killed their elders. This time, he had slain their sect master and detained their vice sect master. Miaoyin had openly declared that the Hidden Moon Sect and the Li Kui Demon Palance were irreconcilable enemies—so why wait for them to gather their forces for revenge? Naturally, it was better to strike first.

All the major figures of the various immortal sects had been drawn to Yan Province, and the Li Kui Demon Palance faced the Hidden Moon Sect alone, requiring very little expenditure. Even their distress signals had not managed to reach Yan Province before they were already completely annihilated.

But to Yun Yazi and Yun Zhenzi, Wenren Li’s words were far more than a simple statement. It was a warning—a warning to the Jade Cauldron Sect not to follow in the Hidden Moon Sect’s footsteps.

“A-Rong, let’s go back.”

After speaking, Wenren Li paid no mind to their reactions. With a step forward, he carried Chen Yixin back to the small courtyard in front of their bedchamber in the Li Kui Demon Palance. He originally intended to take Chen Yixin straight into the main chamber, but Chen Yixin instead pulled him toward a side hall.

Inside the side hall was a lake of wine. The once-full wine had already dropped by half, and a silvery skin floated on the surface. With a lift of Chen Yixin’s spiritual power, Yinzi was lifted out—completely drunk and collapsed inside the pool.

Chen Yixin tugged Yinzi’s long whiskers in mild disgust, placed it onto the large bed in the side hall, and even covered it with a Weaving Cloud blanket. Only then did he pull Wenren Li back out.

“The palace spirit said Yinzi was a gift from A-Li to me,” Chen Yixin said as he stepped out of the side hall, glancing at Wenren Li. So even the way he treated Yinzi well was, to a large extent, because of Wenren Li.

To love someone was to love everything associated with them. Before falling for Wenren Li, Chen Yixin had never imagined he would fall this deeply.

“A-Li must have given me many other things too… it’s a pity I don’t remember any of them.”

At first, Chen Yixin had resisted his past life, feeling that it wasn’t truly him. But after learning about the connection between his past self and Wenren Li, that resistance had turned into anticipation. He wanted to know more about them—whether those memories were beautiful or not, they were undeniably special.

Wenren Li’s expression softened along with Chen Yixin’s words. His thoughts mirrored Chen Yixin’s—perhaps even more strongly. He longed to recover those memories, because everything Chen Yixin had once done for him deserved to be remembered at all costs.

“And also, when A-Li said those things just now…”

“Mm?” Wenren Li waited, only to find Chen Yixin pressing his lips together, eyes bright and gleaming. Those shining eyes drew closer and closer—until, right at the doorway of their bedchamber, Chen Yixin leaned in and bit lightly against his lips.

“It made me want to kiss A-Li.” Only after kissing him did Chen Yixin finish his sentence. He didn’t just want to—he actually did it.

Wenren Li’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He pushed the door open, his steps slightly hurried as he pulled Chen Yixin inside. The door shut behind them, and he pressed Chen Yixin against it, his body closing in, his breathing already unsteady.

They held each other’s gaze for a moment. Wenren Li lowered his head, and Chen Yixin tilted his chin up to meet him—their lips meeting in a kiss.

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