Chapter 8: I Don’t Want to Date My Ex, Ahhhh…

Of course, whether Jiang Chen was cold or not had nothing to do with him.

Zhao Lixuan reined in his thoughts and continued channeling spiritual power. Throughout the rest of the ritual, which lasted the time it took for an incense stick to burn, he didn’t glance at Jiang Chen even once.

Jiang Chen kept his eyes downcast as well.

The surging emotion in his gaze gradually faded, leaving only weary detachment and numbness.

Finally, once the spiritual power infusion was complete, Zhao Lixuan eagerly withdrew his hand first.

“Done. Let’s go back!”

The Contract Domain was eternal night, devoid of stars or moonlight. Apart from the pale, faintly glowing path beneath their feet, there was only suffocating ink-black darkness.

Zhao Lixuan hurried down the jade steps. This time, he stayed ahead the entire way, robes fluttering, without so much as looking back!

All to avoid any suspicion.

He only hoped it could reduce that unfounded misunderstanding in the other’s heart, even just a little!

…

They exited the Contract Domain and returned to the crowd’s view.

Before Zhao Lixuan could steady himself, a massive pressure crashed down like a mountain! Wild winds erupted, kicking up flying sand and stones. The sharp airflow left the assembled immortals momentarily unable to breathe.

Even Lu Ziyuan and Xia Yunjie couldn’t help furrowing their brows slightly.

The fierce gale howled, carrying cyan array inscriptions. In an instant, proof of the successful contract was forcibly branded into the sea of consciousness of every immortal present, in a way that brooked no resistance.

…Actually, publicizing the contract results was standard procedure.

But Jiang Chen could have done it more gently, more in line with propriety.

The proper way should have been a harmonious display, not this brute-force slamming into everyone’s minds like a show of military might—especially not with his current sullen, icy expression laced with menace?

His approach made many faces change slightly. Some protective fellow disciples from Fu Xi Palace had even lightly touched their sword hilts.

Only the culprit’s eyes remained dark as deep wells, utterly calm and unmoving.

No. What the hell does this guy mean?

Almost simultaneously, Xia Yunjie’s secret transmission entered Zhao Lixuan’s mind: “Li Xuan, what’s going on?”

What’s going on? Zhao Lixuan wanted to know too!

“Palace Head! I just formed the contract with him inside—abided by every etiquette, didn’t do a single extra thing! I have no idea why he suddenly… lost his mind!”

“…”

Xia Yunjie had one great quality: he was fiercely protective of his own and always believed in his people unconditionally. “Forget it. Everyone knows Jiang Immortal Lord’s temperament is eccentric and hard to get along with. Sorry you had to put up with so much.”

“The Demon Hunting Moon Hunt will end in at most two months. If he won’t be reasonable, just… endure it as best you can, steer clear of his edge.”

Zhao Lixuan: “…”

The problem was, hadn’t he already steered clear in the Contract Domain?

All these years, Zhao Lixuan had never shied away from one fact: back then, he had been at fault first.

He’d been the fool, shouldn’t have unilaterally “liked” the guy. Even though he’d had no intent to bully or coerce, Jiang Chen saw it as forcible seizure, a profound humiliation—an indelible stain on the noble life of the Sword-Wielding Immortal Lord. Zhao Lixuan had nothing to say to that.

He could only accept it, stand at attention, admit his wrong, and take the punishment.

Jiang Chen had cursed him out, hacked at him—it was supposed to be “even” after that—

So what was with dragging it up years later with this deep-seated grudge?

They were all prominent figures in the Immortal Realm now, after all.

Even if old grudges lingered, couldn’t they negotiate compensation privately? Did he have to throw a childish tantrum in public? How dignified was that?

Ridiculous. Twenty years had passed, and he’d thought both sides had transformed.

Could it be Jiang Chen hadn’t grown at all, still that prickly, foul-tempered guy?

“…”

Life demanded reciprocity in courtesy.

Zhao Lixuan was known as the good-tempered Immortal Lord, but even good temper had its limits. Since Jiang Chen hadn’t given him face first, he naturally stopped being polite. His gaze sharpened as he glared straight back at the man.

Jiang Chen initially continued ignoring him.

Only when stared down so relentlessly did he finally deign to look over.

Of course, Zhao Lixuan’s gaze was hostile, so Jiang Chen’s instantly grew even icier and more intimidating.

His black pupils were bottomless, the chill bone-deep—enough to freeze three feet of ice.

Even twenty years ago, Zhao Lixuan didn’t remember Jiang Chen ever looking at him with such overtly frigid menace.

“…”

Fine, got it.

He nodded, fully understanding the man’s attitude.

He’s dead set on not getting along peacefully, huh?

…

Twenty years ago, right after they parted, Zhao Lixuan had often blamed himself.

Foolishly thinking, It’s all my fault, If only we could start over. He’d secretly wipe away tears now and then, and even on the streets, he’d instinctively pick ingredients to Jiang Chen’s taste; spotting some novel trinket, his first thought was still to stock up for little Jiang.

Back then, he’d been naive and stupid.

Fortunately, twenty years had flown by, and Immortal Lord Li Xuan had grown—

Why should I keep reflecting on myself? Why take all the blame?

In life, if you won’t even defend yourself or play favorites for your own sake, what’s the point of living?

Not to mention, setting aside the facts—hadn’t Jiang Linyuan been without fault back then?

“Jiang Immortal Venerable, please hold.”

Outside Fu Xi Palace, under the clear skies of public view.

Twilight was falling, clouds aglow and flickering. Zhao Lixuan figured that with cultivators from both realms gathered in harmony, Jiang Chen wouldn’t dare deny him face entirely.

Sure enough, that tall figure paused unwillingly.

Leading him to a secluded spot, Zhao Lixuan offered a perfunctory salute and cut to the chase: “Might I ask, Jiang Immortal Venerable, if Li Xuan acted improperly just now and offended you?”

He raised his eyes, gaze clear and level: “You seemed quite resentful toward Li Xuan earlier. Pray, enlighten me.”

“…”

Silence.

After so many years, Zhao Lixuan hadn’t wanted things this blunt and awkward.

But who’d made Jiang Chen rude first?

Now, he looked straight at the man again. Jiang Immortal Lord stood quietly in the shadow of the corridor, sunset clouds spreading behind him—yet failing to warm the biting aura around him, or the fathomless black eyes churning with emotion.

The stagnant atmosphere was suffocating. Just as Zhao Lixuan thought he wouldn’t speak, Jiang Chen finally broke the silence, slow and halting.

His voice was even lower and raspier than twenty years ago, each word laced with near-grudging pauses:

“Li Xuan… Immortal Lord… these years… seem to have… been… doing well.”

“…”

Zhao Lixuan blinked, momentarily stunned.

It had been so long; he’d almost forgotten…

Yes, Jiang Chen had always spoken like this, haltingly.

Even when they first met, it had been far worse. Back then, Jiang Chen could only manage hoarse whispers from his throat.

Orphaned young and left to the streets, he’d been abducted by thugs and forced to beg. Those villains, to better control the kid, had cruelly snipped a bit of his tongue root and force-fed him mute poison, ruining his voice.

Later, even after Zhao Lixuan took him in and sought renowned healers to treat him, he still labored over every two or three words, needing pauses.

But back then, Zhao Lixuan’s world had revolved around him.

He hadn’t seen it as a flaw—only felt more heartbroken. Pitied his childhood suffering, wished he could gather the world’s best treasures in his hands for him.

“…”

But those days were long gone!

Today’s Zhao Lixuan felt no such pity. He only replied coolly, “Thanks for your concern, Jiang Immortal Venerable. These years in the Unstained Immortal Realm, I’ve been fairly carefree.”

Then he smiled: “Just as you’ve been thriving these years, by all accounts—smooth sailing and illustrious.”

“…”

“Me?”

The air carried a waft of wine, seeming to thicken for a moment. Zhao Lixuan blinked, and suddenly Jiang Chen was right in front of him.

Unrestrained demonic energy roiled menacingly, heavy with pressure.

“Naturally… very… well.”

The demonic aura was ominous, but his face showed little change—just the usual sullen chill. “Better… than… before… by… far too much.”

“Does this… answer… satisfy… Immortal Lord?”

“…”

What could Zhao Lixuan say?

If Jiang Chen said he was doing well, then he was. Who was he to question satisfaction?

Yes, yes—Your Jiang Immortal Lord is thriving, a cause for universal celebration! With your meteoric rise in the Mortal Realm these years, your fame spreading far—it’s impossible not to know how boundless your glory is now!

As for rushing over to flaunt how vast the skies are now that you’re rid of me?

Making it seem like I’m the petty one nursing old flames, can’t stand to see you succeed!

…

If not for this damn Demon Hunting Moon Hunt, Zhao Lixuan would’ve snapped back right there.

Instead, he tossed and turned on his bed that night, fuming more the longer he thought—what the hell?

Twenty years, and you think I’m still hung up on you?

Delusional!

Zhao Lixuan was so angry he couldn’t sleep.

But with the immortals from the Mortal Realm housed in Fu Xi Palace, Xia Yunjie had repeatedly stressed in private meetings: “Unity is key—must stay harmonious!”

Harmonious my ass!

In the following days, to uphold harmony, Xia Yunjie personally escorted Lu Ziyuan sightseeing daily. Yu Rumu whipped up gourmet feasts for Chu Fusheng each day. The other Immortal Lords pulled out all stops too—admiring flowers, playing chess, reciting poetry under the moon with their assigned guests. A picture of perfect host-guest revelry.

Only Zhao Lixuan kept Jiang Chen on ice!

It wasn’t pettiness or defying the “friendly neighbor” directive. His priority was making Jiang Chen crystal clear on one thing—

His sole wish right now was for the Demon Hunting Moon Hunt to go off without a hitch. He had zero interest in secretly rekindling anything!!!

Yet, as the ever-watched Immortal Lord Li Xuan, with all those eyes on him…

After just two days of “illness” to avoid Jiang Chen—gifts still sent dutifully—rumors flew of “discord between them.”

Of course, rumors there were.

But Zhao Lixuan’s mild, upright image was ingrained, while Jiang Chen’s cold, unapproachable nature was consensus on both sides. So public opinion overwhelmingly pinned it on Jiang Chen’s bullying ways gassing the good-tempered Immortal Lord Li Xuan into sickness.

Zhao Lixuan: “…”

Fine, fine—let it spread.

Best if those gifts get shredded and tossed back like before. Then he could really shift the blame to Jiang Chen, cement the rumors.

But it didn’t pan out.

Perhaps pressured by Xia Yunjie on his end, and reined in by Lu Ziyuan on hers, Jiang Immortal Lord quietly accepted every gift.

Meanwhile, Xia Yunjie nagged daily: hurry up, take Jiang Chen out for a stroll, put on the show, clear the air—don’t let it affect the grand unity!

What a nightmare.

Faking illness hadn’t worked—what with this cursed sense of the bigger picture!