From Now On, You and I Have Nothing to Do With Each Other — I'll Hate You for the Rest of My Life
From Now On, You and I Have Nothing to Do With Each Other — I’ll Hate You for the Rest of My Life
“This time, with the establishment of the True Immortal Academy, given Gu-xiong’s talent, he should be heading there. I should be able to see Gu-xiong again soon — perfect timing to consult him about these matters.”
At this moment, within the Ancient Ye Family.
Ye Langtian, who was pacing back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back inside the great hall, had a contemplative look in his eyes, his expression extremely grave.
“Brother, if this matter is true, then it’s truly terrifying. One Successor of Demonic Arts is already horrifying enough...”
Beside him, Ye Liuli’s expression was equally solemn, her face clouded with worry, shaken by an incident from this recent period.
“Indeed, this matter is simply too shocking. Why else would I be so cautious?”
“Speaking of which, I’ll need to discuss this with Gu-xiong. Before that, it might even be connected to the Successor of Demonic Arts who appeared in the past.”
Hearing this, Ye Langtian sighed, his face unusually heavy as he rubbed his brow.
“But that possibility is far too small. Besides, Prince Ying hasn’t left Sky Emperor Mountain at all during this time, and the place where it happened is very far from Sky Emperor Mountain...”
Hearing this, even Ye Liuli couldn’t help but shudder, then asked, “Brother, do you think this could be related to that Successor of Demonic Arts’ organization?”
Ye Langtian shook his head. “No. Throughout the generations, there has only ever been one Successor of Demonic Arts. The people in the organization behind him at most know a few tricks, established by him to assist himself. It’s impossible for another inheritor of the Demonic Arts to suddenly appear.”
His mood grew even heavier.
The appearance of one Successor of Demonic Arts was already terrifying enough, stirring up monstrous waves across the Beyond, enough to make all living beings tremble in fear.
And now he had discovered traces of yet another Successor of Demonic Arts — one that very likely involved an existence recorded in ancient texts, with an origin frighteningly grand.
This matter sent chills down Ye Langtian’s spine; he didn’t know what to do.
Some time ago, he and Ye Liuli had gone to an auction venue in an ancient city, having heard that a certain ancient weapon had been unearthed and was being auctioned there.
But unexpectedly, they were half a step too slow — by the time they arrived, that ancient weapon had already been won by someone else.
The two of them didn’t want to give up on that ancient weapon, for it had deep origins and a significant background, so they followed the trail all the way.
But they never expected to stumble upon something that horrified them both.
In a stretch of desolate mountains and wilderness, they saw the mysterious person who had won the ancient weapon at auction cultivating using the essence of ancient corpses nearby, breathing in and out the moonlight of heaven and earth.
Seemingly sensing the two of them approaching, that mysterious person was extremely vigilant and quickly vanished without a trace.
This incident left both Ye Langtian and Ye Liuli chilled to the bone at the time, frozen in place, their limbs ice-cold.
If that kind of method wasn’t the legendary Taboo Demonic Arts, then what was it?
Fortunately, that mysterious person didn’t attack them and swiftly fled far away.
Otherwise, they had no confidence they could have survived at the hands of a Successor of Demonic Arts.
Other than Ye Langtian, the only person who knew of this matter was Ye Liuli — he hadn’t even told the elders of his clan.
Because this matter was of enormous consequence, he couldn’t make up his mind, and the only person he could think of now was Gu Changge.
After all, Gu Changge had dealt with the Successor of Demonic Arts quite a few times; he should understand them deeply and know what to do.
“The Beyond is growing ever more chaotic... all sorts of demons and monsters are crawling out of the woodwork...”
Ye Langtian sighed. “At a time like this, we still need Gu-xiong to serve as the backbone and take charge of the overall situation.”
Ye Liuli nodded, her expression in agreement.
......
“Fellow Daoists, you may see me off here. Next, I’m going to pay a visit to the Longevity Gu Family to see Young Master Changge — I hear he’s come out of seclusion.”
“It just so happens there are some matters I need to discuss with him.”
At this moment, aboard an incomparably massive divine ark stood Yan Ji, her features blurred and veiled by a layer of mist, as though she stood in another world entirely.
Her voice was calm and indifferent, like the music of the heavens, exceedingly pleasant to the ear, as she addressed the crowd of young prodigies behind her.
Among that group of young prodigies were both men and women, with no shortage of Young Prodigies, hailing from various sects and factions, their bodies shrouded in precious radiance, their strength formidable — they could be considered the finest of the current generation from all corners of the Beyond.
Having heard that the Successor of Mortal Palace had emerged into the world, traveling the lands in search of traces of the Reincarnation of the Mortal One while also investigating news of the Successor of Demonic Arts...
...they had all come uninvited, determined to serve as her protectors and escort, lest she be ambushed and killed by the deranged Successor of Demonic Arts.
And so, during this period, Young Prodigies of various races and orthodoxies could often be seen by Yan Ji’s side.
They all revered her immensely; even her admirers dared not act presumptuously or overstep in the slightest.
She could be admired from afar, but never approached.
As the Successor of Mortal Palace, her strength naturally went without saying — many Young Prodigies knew full well that no one could see through Yan Ji’s cultivation.
Even those harboring thoughts of challenging her were sent flying thousands of miles with a casual wave of her sleeve.
Such strength only made everyone revere her all the more!
Now, hearing Yan Ji’s words, many of the Young Prodigies felt a complicated mix of emotions — sour, envious, and jealous.
In their eyes, the Successor of Mortal Palace was a fairy maiden high above, existing only beyond the Nine Heavens, her status transcendent, her strength terrifying.
Even they, backed by great cults and ancient orthodoxies, capable of commanding terrifying power, could only watch from afar with reverence, never daring to draw near.
Yet this very Successor of Mortal Palace — someone whose mere word in conversation would leave them feeling overwhelmed with honor — held such high regard for a young man.
To the point that, upon hearing he had just come out of seclusion, she planned to visit him at his doorstep.
This filled them with envy and jealousy, their eyes practically turning red.
What virtue or ability did an ordinary man possess to deserve such treatment from a fairy maiden like her?
But that young man just happened to be Gu Changge — the publicly acknowledged number one of the younger generation. When it came to him, everyone had to revere him like a god!
All of this was perfectly reasonable, entirely as it should be!
And so, however unwilling they were, they could do nothing about it, only burying these emotions deep in their hearts.
On the surface, they still had to squeeze out smiles.
“In that case, we won’t disturb the Saintess any further. Just ahead lies the territory of the Longevity Gu Family.”
“If Young Master Changge has come out of seclusion, then the matter of the Successor of Demonic Arts should become much simpler.”
“Indeed — after all, that’s Young Master Changge. After this seclusion, who knows what terrifying heights his strength has reached? We probably couldn’t catch up to him even on horseback.”
The Young Prodigies all spoke up one after another, holding boundless awe for Gu Changge, not daring to utter the slightest disrespectful word.
“It seems Changge-daoxiong has already reached such a level in everyone’s hearts. When I see him, I’ll have to tell him about this.”
Hearing these words, Yan Ji smiled faintly, a rare smile gracing her lips.
At these words, many hearts stirred, sensing a certain closeness — it seemed the Successor of Mortal Palace and Young Master Changge were rather close?
Though that made sense. Gu Changge had expended considerable time and effort to crusade against the Successor of Demonic Arts.
The Successor of Mortal Palace, shouldering the heavy responsibility of the world, also had to deal with the Successor of Demonic Arts — it was quite normal for the two of them to be close.
However, even more people’s eyes lit up at her words, and they spoke up again, all manner of fawning and reverent words pouring forth endlessly.
They hoped that Yan Ji might mention them before Gu Changge when the time came.
This scene caused a strange glint to flash through Yan Ji’s eyes, the smile at the corners of her mouth deepening.
It seemed Gongzi’s prestige had, during this period, already taken deep root in the hearts of the younger generation of the outside world.
Soon, news of the Successor of Mortal Palace once again visiting Gu Changge spread across the lands, for both Gu Changge and the Successor of Mortal Palace drew extraordinary attention.
Their meeting and deliberation held no small significance for the current younger generation of the Beyond.
In the Longevity Wang Family, within an extremely grand and ancient great hall.
Wang Zijin sat by the window, looking somewhat bored, hugging her legs with her chin resting on her knees, her three thousand strands of dark hair cascading down softly.
“Given Jiang Chuchu’s temperament, she would actually take the initiative to visit Gu Changge again?”
She was somewhat surprised — naturally, she had heard the news.
That was precisely why she couldn’t figure it out.
In Jiang Chuchu’s eyes, apart from cultivation, there remained only the great responsibility of shouldering the fate of all living beings and the duty of being the Successor of Mortal Palace.
That was why Wang Zijin often joked about finding a man to marry Jiang Chuchu off to.
The two of them had, after all, cultivated together for over a decade — no matter what, they understood each other well.
“There’s something fishy about this.”
Wang Zijin’s brows furrowed slightly.
Or could it be that after Jiang Chuchu’s last visit to Gu Changge, she had actually learned quite a bit about the Successor of Demonic Arts, and that was why she planned to seek out Gu Changge again to discuss certain matters?
As a Transmigrator, Wang Zijin found that her brain was still not quite up to the task.
Or perhaps even a cold-faced iceberg like Jiang Chuchu had a day when she would melt?
Thinking this, Wang Zijin’s figure flickered, and she had already left the palace, intending to find Jiang Chuchu and ask about the situation.
Ever since she had left the Mortal Palace without permission, the two of them hadn’t met even once until now.
......
“Gongzi.”
“The events of this period are more or less as I’ve described. No one has doubted my identity, thanks to the Mortal One’s Token you bestowed upon me, Gongzi — though I feel I may have aroused some suspicion...”
“After all, I’m not the true Successor of Mortal Palace. All my actions seemed too aimless; I was busy running around for nothing.”
Inside the hall, Yan Ji softly reported on the events of this period.
Gu Changge listened quietly with a smile on his face.
“It must have been hard on you. Constantly impersonating someone else.”
“It wasn’t hard at all.”
Yan Ji’s glass-like eyes blinked gently, then she shook her head. “To be able to relieve Gongzi’s worries and solve his problems is my honor.”
“You say it wasn’t hard, but I know this sort of thing requires constant vigilance and caution — it’s not that easy.”
“I do feel for you, you know.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge smiled. “For the time ahead, you don’t need to go anywhere. Just stay by my side.”
As he spoke, he waved his sleeve, and numerous cultivation resources appeared — holy medicines hundreds of thousands of years old, large quantities of Sacred Realm pills, Celestial Spirits, and more — all things Yan Ji could use.
She had been handling matters for Gu Changge all this time; although she was at the Sacred Lord Realm and it would be difficult to advance further in a short time, she still needed time to cultivate.
It just so happened that Gu Changge had nothing to assign her during this period, so he gave her a vacation to cultivate in peace.
There was no principle in making someone work endlessly without giving them benefits — even with Yan Ji, who was utterly devoted to him, he couldn’t be so stingy.
“Thank you, Gongzi.”
Yan Ji naturally understood Gu Changge’s meaning and was somewhat moved.
Gu Changge treated her extremely well, always courteous and polite, never with the attitude of treating a servant or subordinate.
On the contrary, at all times, he maintained a magnanimous and considerate demeanor.
This was also the reason she followed Gu Changge willingly.
Sometimes Yan Ji wondered — if she hadn’t chosen to follow Gu Changge back then, where would she be now?
Afterward, Yan Ji left behind the Mortal One’s Token and departed.
Gu Changge, meanwhile, entered his Inner Universe.
“I’m giving this back to you.”
He waved the ancient, mysterious Mortal One’s Token in his hand, and looking at the wary-faced Jiang Chuchu, he couldn’t help but smile faintly. “Am I some kind of flood or savage beast? To make you look at me like that?”
Jiang Chuchu’s eyes fell on the Mortal One’s Token in his hand.
Back then, Gu Changge had seized it from her through despicable and shameless means.
And now he actually wanted to return it to her?
What scheme was he playing at? Did she not know perfectly well?
“I don’t want that thing. Gu Changge, you keep it for yourself.”
Jiang Chuchu stared at him coldly, not wanting the token at all anymore.
········Seeking flowers··········
Hearing this, Gu Changge put on a somewhat surprised expression and said to himself, “As the Successor of Mortal Palace, you actually don’t even want the Mortal One’s Token anymore.”
“Chuchu, this is the great crime of betraying your master and ancestors. If the many forebears of the Mortal Palace found out, wouldn’t they be angered to death by you all over again?”
“Listen to me — keep this thing. After all, it was yours before.”
“Shut up, Gu Changge. Your twisted logic and forced arguments really come in endless sets.”
Hearing his shameless words, Jiang Chuchu couldn’t help but flare up in anger, no longer able to maintain her earlier composure. “Don’t call me Chuchu. You and I aren’t that close.”
“Then what should I call you?”
The smile on Gu Changge’s face didn’t fade. “Besides, are you and I really not close?”
As he spoke, he waved the Mortal One’s Token before her eyes.
Jiang Chuchu glared at him coldly, unmoved.
“I thought you’d come to your senses during this time, and I was even planning to let you out. But with this attitude of yours, you’re making things very difficult for me.”
Seeing her demeanor, Gu Changge sighed, speaking with a somewhat troubled look. “I can’t bear to kill you, yet you insist on being disobedient.”
“You won’t even appreciate my good intentions...”
“What good intentions do you have?”
At these words, Jiang Chuchu’s attitude softened slightly, though her tone remained ice-cold — mainly because she had been angered by Gu Changge’s shameless words just now.
“Since you don’t believe in my good intentions, then forget it.”
“Have you thought it through? My patience is nearly exhausted.”
“From today onward, you’re free.”
“You’ll still be your Successor of Mortal Palace — upholding justice, purging the world of evil, returning peace to all living beings, continuing to search for the Reincarnation of the Mortal One, and incidentally tracking down the whereabouts of the Successor of Demonic Arts.”
“And I won’t concern myself with you anymore. Live or die, that’s up to you. Between you and me, there will be no further ties whatsoever.”
“Strangers from now on, or enemies — it doesn’t matter either way. If you want to expose my true identity, that’s fine too — provided you’ve thought through how you’re going to do it...”
........00
Gu Changge smiled with complete composure, paying no mind whatsoever to Jiang Chuchu’s increasingly pale face.
“Between you and me... no further ties?”
Hearing these words — especially that sentence — Jiang Chuchu’s face grew even paler, her five fingers involuntarily clutching at her dress.
Between her and Gu Changge, no further ties?
That meant from now on, Gu Changge would let her go, no longer concern himself with her, let her continue being her Successor of Mortal Palace, let her restore the Mortal Palace and do what she was supposed to do.
And Gu Changge would no longer care about her — which naturally included her life and death.
So whether she wanted to live on or sought death, Gu Changge wouldn’t care.
This was clearly what she had wanted all along — so why couldn’t she feel happy about it?
What did Gu Changge’s nonchalant attitude even mean?
In turn, Jiang Chuchu’s expression grew even colder. “Gu Changge, do you really think that after you let me go, everything that happened between you and me can simply be erased? Let me tell you — that’s impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible. What more do you want from me? Not killing you and instead letting you go is already my greatest mercy.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge wasn’t surprised, his expression remaining as indifferent as ever.
Jiang Chuchu looked at him coldly, snatched the Mortal One’s Token from his hand in one motion, and said, “I will hate you for the rest of my life.”
“There are plenty of people who hate me — one more won’t make a difference.”
Gu Changge smiled faintly, utterly unconcerned.
He knew Jiang Chuchu had actually already made her choice.
At this point, regardless of her attitude toward him, she had already decided to walk the path of betraying the Mortal Palace.
“Gu Changge, you’re nothing but a despicable villain — an irresponsible bastard!”
Jiang Chuchu gritted her teeth, her face very pale.
“If you had made your choice earlier, perhaps things wouldn’t have come to this today. After all, a person’s patience... is very limited.”
“Saintess Chuchu.”
The smile had already vanished from Gu Changge’s face. Having said this, he paid her no further heed.
A silver portal materialized in the space before him, and he was the first to step out through it.
Hearing these words, Jiang Chuchu remained frozen for a long time, somewhat lost and dazed — why, having gained her freedom, could she not feel happy?
Was Gu Changge’s remark referring to what happened that day? Someone like him truly couldn’t remain kind-hearted forever.
The Mortal One had already vanished.
The Mortal Palace could not fall, so a new Mortal One was needed — but this completely contradicted everything she had always believed in.
It was she who had made things difficult for Gu Changge.
That was why he said things like his patience being exhausted.
Afterward, Jiang Chuchu didn’t even know how she walked out of the Longevity Gu Family and arrived outside.
She looked back, not spotting Gu Changge’s figure — he had indeed let her go. To him, it really was like tossing aside a troublesome burden.
Why wouldn’t he be happy to do it?
Thinking of this, a trace of grievance actually appeared on Jiang Chuchu’s face.
A moment later, all these emotions quietly dissipated, and her face once again became like ice that would never melt for ten thousand years, exuding a chill that made one’s hair stand on end.
“Saintess?”
The old woman who had been following the Successor of Mortal Palace was somewhat shocked and puzzled at the sight — she had no idea that the previous Successor of Mortal Palace had been an impostor.
Seeing Jiang Chuchu’s appearance just now, she had thought she’d been bullied.
“Back to the Mortal Palace.”
Jiang Chuchu said calmly, not explaining or mentioning anything about what had happened before.
Just as Gu Changge had said, with her current abilities, she was completely incapable of shaking his position.
Was the only way to find the Reincarnation of the Mortal One?
But the Mortal One had already been killed by Gu Changge.
What else could she do?
Gu Changge calculated everything — he wouldn’t foolishly do something pointless for no reason.