PID Chapter 13

Xiao Mo involuntarily retreated a bit. Though he was in front of Chu Jinglan, Madam Chu’s expression and words seemed directed at him too.

 

If it were just ordinary malice, he would have sneered or mocked back. But Madam Chu’s innocent yet confused expression only made his skin crawl.

 

Chu Jinglan’s hand paused. He calmly put down his chopsticks and was about to say something when his mother’s hand suddenly curled into a claw, lunging straight for his face!

 

Chu Jinglan’s mother, Wan Yu, was a cultivator at the early Golden Core stage, born in the Middle Realm. Used as a tool by her family, she had never enjoyed care or concern.

 

Fate had never favored her. The first half of her life was mired in family suffering; the latter half was ruined by a heartless man.

 

Chu Jinglan’s scoundrel father, Chu Tianshi, had shown Wan Yu attentive care when they first met. Experiencing unprecedented warmth from him, she believed his vows, thinking she had found true love. She quickly fell for him and desperately escaped her family to follow her dao partner to the Lower Realm.

 

She thought she had finally escaped her clan’s nightmare and could have a harmonious family, unaware she had merely jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

 

After Chu Tianshi brought her back to the Chu family in the Lower Realm and they became dao partners, his true nature gradually emerged, no longer hidden. He was extravagant, lustful, lazy, and constantly sought other women. When Wan Yu discovered this, he would weep and promise to change.

 

Wan Yu went from shock to pain, forgiving him time and again, only to be met with endless transgressions. Through countless disappointments and despair, she finally had to admit that what she thought was the world’s rarest warmth had all been lies.

 

No one truly loved her. No one cared about her.

 

Wan Yu was finally driven mad.

 

Before she went insane, Chu Tianshi would often sweet-talk her, as Wan Yu was beautiful. But after she went mad, even though she was still pretty, Chu Tianshi no longer wanted to deal with an unpredictable madwoman. He set up a separate courtyard for her and never visited again.

 

If not for Chu Jinglan’s astonishing talent and his demand that the Chu family treat his mother’s illness, who in the Chu family would have bothered with her?

 

By holding Wan Yu, they could make Chu Jinglan contribute to the family. After all, Wan Yu’s medicine wasn’t cheap; each day’s dose cost a fortune. They had also placed a charm on Wan Yu, preventing her from easily leaving the Chu family.

 

Seeing Chu Jinglan or the scoundrel Chu Tianshi easily triggered Wan Yu, so Chu Jinglan often only dared to secretly glance at her from afar, fearing his presence might plunge his mother into madness.

 

After taking her medicine, Wan Yu’s cultivation was greatly suppressed. Even if she acted up, the servants wouldn’t be hurt.

 

Chu Jinglan raised his hand, catching Wan Yu’s wrist, stopping her attack midway.

 

“Why won’t you die? Why don’t you go and die!”

 

Wan Yu struggled, veins bulging on her frail hands. Chu Jinglan restrained her without using too much force, afraid of hurting her. His mother’s vicious words seemed commonplace to him, not causing a ripple in his demeanor.

 

Xiao Mo didn’t dare perch on the dining table today. After hesitating, he tentatively floated onto Chu Jinglan’s shoulder.

 

The little ball bounced on Chu Jinglan’s shoulder, as if patting it.

 

When a child who deeply loves his mother hears her tell him to die, Xiao Mo couldn’t believe Chu Jinglan was as calm as he appeared.

 

Even if he knew these weren’t his mother’s true feelings… no, perhaps precisely because he knew, it was even more painful.

 

His mother had gone mad, mad to the point where she couldn’t even tolerate him.

 

Usually, Chu Jinglan would have long since driven the inner demon away, but now he really couldn’t spare the effort and had to temporarily tolerate the inner demon on his body.

 

Wan Yu’s expression was ferocious, her beautiful face twisted horrifically. She struggled while muttering “go die, go die,” occasionally cursing “bastard.” Chu Jinglan endured all these words.

 

After struggling for a while, Wan Yu tired, her strength gradually diminishing. She began to cry.

 

“Jinglan, Jinglan, why did I have to bear you with him? You have his blood, it’s dirty, so dirty. Go die, and then mother will accompany you, okay? Mother will go with you, hmm?”

 

She was coaxing a child, but coaxing the child and herself to die. Xiao Mo felt suffocated. He could barely watch or listen anymore, but stubbornly remained on Chu Jinglan’s shoulder, not retreating to the sea of consciousness.

 

Chu Jinglan slowly lowered her hands and said softly: “Mother, we won’t die. We’ll live. It’s not us who should suffer. Give me a little more time. It’ll be over soon. Just wait for me a bit longer.”

 

The servants dared not acknowledge hearing this and came forward to help take Wan Yu away. Perhaps the medicine had finally taken effect. Wan Yu looked bewildered for a moment, carefully examining Chu Jinglan’s face, then suddenly jerked her hand back, stumbling backward.

 

Chu Jinglan tried to support her but was avoided.

 

“Why are you here! Did I hurt you again? I don’t want to hurt you. Go, leave quickly! Don’t look at me, don’t look at me. You must be well, be well…”

 

Chu Jinglan’s hand froze in mid-air. The restraint and strength in his eyes melted away at her words, turning to sorrow. He took two soft breaths and slowly backed away from his mother.

 

“Alright, I’m leaving. You… you take care too. I’ll come again next time.”

 

Wan Yu was helped back to her room. Chu Jinglan stepped out of the courtyard. His back remained straight, but he couldn’t hide his physical and mental exhaustion. After walking a long way, when no one was around, Chu Jinglan finally spoke: “…How long do you plan to stay on my shoulder?”

 

Given the choice between hitching a ride and floating on his own, Xiao Mo chose the less effortful option: “I’ll get off when we reach the courtyard.”

 

Unless Chu Jinglan insisted on driving him away, Xiao Mo decided to ride this free lift to the destination. He settled comfortably on the shoulder: “Just treat me like air.”

 

Chu Jinglan half-mockingly said: “…Aren’t you already air?”

 

In the outside world, no one could perceive Xiao Mo. Whether perched on a small cat or Chu Jinglan’s shoulder, he was indeed like air.

 

Even his mockery sounded hoarse, his voice revealing exhaustion. Considering the emotional rollercoaster Chu Jinglan had just experienced, Xiao Mo magnanimously chose not to argue.

 

Xiao Mo remained silent until they reached the courtyard. It was very quiet; Chu Jinglan didn’t usually keep servants attending him constantly. They stayed in the side courtyard, only coming when called.

 

As the courtyard gate closed, a heavy silence fell.

 

Chu Jinglan’s breathing became slightly heavier: “Why aren’t you arguing with me anymore?”

 

Xiao Mo was speechless: “Isn’t it better if I don’t argue? Are you addicted to arguing or something? You’re too spoiled—Hey!”

 

Before Xiao Mo could finish, Chu Jinglan suddenly leaned against the door, slowly sliding to the ground. He clutched his abdomen, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Only then did Xiao Mo notice how deathly pale he was.

 

“Chu Jinglan!”

 

Xiao Mo was so startled that his mist ball bounced: Could he be poisoned? Didn’t he say it wouldn’t affect him!?

 

The inner demon’s cry of alarm was followed by frantic spinning in the air, looking very anxious.

 

Chu Jinglan found it absurd and bizarre: At this moment, the one most concerned about him was actually an inner demon.

 

…But it made sense. If he died now, the inner demon would disappear too. Sharing life and death, of course it should be worried about him.

 

Inner demon: “Didn’t you say Shadowbane doesn’t affect you? Could it be some other poison!”

 

Chu Jinglan was in too much pain to speak, leaning against the door and enduring silently.

 

Chu Jinglan had completely misunderstood. Xiao Mo knew he couldn’t die at this point in time, but seeing a perfectly healthy person suddenly collapse in front of him would startle anyone.

 

With Chu Jinglan not responding, Xiao Mo had no choice but to quickly summon the system.

 

After all, he was just a black mist, unable to touch or feel anything, let alone help someone up.

 

The system, living up to its reputation as the strongest support, scanned Chu Jinglan’s body and concluded: “The poison isn’t fatal to him, but it still causes pain.”

 

Is this what Chu Jinglan meant by it not affecting him? Xiao Mo sighed inwardly, about to say “Are you stupid?” But as the words reached his lips, seeing Chu Jinglan’s bloodless face and remembering the joy that leaked from his eyes when he first heard his mother wanted to see him…

 

Xiao Mo seemed to suddenly understand something.

 

He stopped his frantic floating and returned to Chu Jinglan’s shoulder, the mist ball gently patting it.

 

“Chu Jinglan.”

 

“Was your mother’s cooking delicious?”

 

Chu Jinglan’s eyes flickered.

 

He had long grown accustomed to having no one around who could speak honestly or keep up with his thoughts. He never expected that one day, the one who could understand him best would be an inner demon.

 

Oh, right, if an inner demon didn’t understand, it wouldn’t be called an inner demon.

 

Chu Jinglan looked up at the distant sky from under the eaves and said softly: “It was very delicious.”

 

Xiao Mo, also nestled on his shoulder, gazed at the distant sky: “Your mother cares about you in her heart.”

 

When Wan Yu was slightly more lucid, she hurriedly pushed Chu Jinglan away, afraid of hurting him. If she weren’t mad, Wan Yu, who most longed for a family, would have treasured Chu Jinglan, giving him her best tenderness.

 

Enduring the pain, Chu Jinglan followed Xiao Mo’s words, lost in memories of his mother before she was driven mad. Unfortunately, he was too young then, unable to remember clearly or protect his mother. But he always remembered the sweet soup on winter days and his mother’s warm hands.

 

Wan Yu held his little hand, smiling by his ear: “Not cold anymore.”

 

It felt like yesterday, yet also like a day too distant to reach.

 

Then he heard the inner demon sigh wistfully: “Unlike me, I don’t have a mother.”

 

Chu Jinglan: “…”

 

Chu Jinglan: ?

 

He had only been lost in thought for a moment before being jolted back by the inner demon’s words.

 

What did that mean? An inner demon saying it had no mother?

 

As everyone knows, in this world there are only inner demons and their hosts, not inner demons and their mothers.

 

Inner demons are born from their host’s sea of consciousness.

 

Chu Jinglan was no longer lost in thought or melancholic. Combined with the pain in his abdomen, his expression became incredibly complex, stunned to the core.

 

He clutched his abdomen and slowly stood up, enduring the pain.

 

Just as he took a step, Xiao Mo spoke again in a wistful tone: “I…”

 

Chu Jinglan enunciated each word: “I don’t want to discuss with you whether or not you have a mother.”

 

Xiao Mo, dejected: “Oh.”

 

Xiao Mo: “Sigh.”

 

After his moment of melancholy, Xiao Mo flew down from Chu Jinglan’s shoulder. When he floated in front of him, he finally saw Chu Jinglan’s expression, as if he had swallowed a sword. He was stunned for a moment before realizing his earlier words might have been inappropriate.

 

Indeed, as an inner demon, telling his host “I don’t have a mother”?

 

So that’s why Chu Jinglan had emphasized his words so strongly.

 

Not wanting Chu Jinglan to misunderstand, he quickly clarified: “Oh, I guess what I said earlier might have sounded strange to you, but don’t worry, you’re definitely not my mother.”

 

A vein throbbed on Chu Jinglan’s forehead as he endured.

 

The Xiao inner demon thought for a moment and very rigorously added: “Nor my father.”

 

Chu Jinglan couldn’t bear it anymore: “…Get lost!”

 

[Mental attack successful, +6 points!]

 

Xiao Mo: Wow, impressive. Although he had argued with Chu Jinglan before, this was the first time he heard him swear so bluntly.

 

Being able to say “Get lost” was already pushing the limits of Young Master Chu’s cultivation of refinement.

 

But this time, Xiao Mo truly hadn’t intended to provoke him. He perched on Chu Jinglan’s shoulder: Uh, was he really that angry?

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter