Xie Xuechen walked back in a daze, his mind filled with Mu Xuanling’s face. He encountered Fu Lansheng and Nan Xuyue on the way. Fu Lansheng’s spirit-binding chains were restraining an unconscious person, and the two were discussing something with serious expressions. Seeing Xie Xuechen approach, they immediately went to meet him.

“Sect Leader Xie, there may be unusual activity in Yongxue City,” Fu Lansheng said solemnly. “We just detected fluctuations in the formation outside the residence of the Five Elders of the Immortal Alliance. Someone has entered.”

Xie Xuechen came to his senses and said, “Yongxue City has barrier protection. A one-way formation cannot enter. It must be activated from inside the city first to open a two-way formation before people outside can come in. Did you see who activated the formation?”

Fu Lansheng shook his head and said, “When we arrived, there was no one here.”

Nan Xuyue said, “Not all formations need to be activated immediately. As long as the materials required for the formation are prepared, it can also be activated with a delay.”

Nan Xuyue implied that anyone not present at the scene could be suspected, including the Five Elders and the sect leaders who were in the Righteous Hall for the Immortal Alliance assembly.

Fu Lansheng continued, “At that time, Miss Lingr and I were the first to arrive. She has a treasure-sniffing rat that can sense treasure aura fluctuations. We followed the rat’s guidance and found the suspect.” Fu Lansheng pointed at the person on the ground with his toe. “I restrained this person with the spirit-binding chains, but he seems to know nothing. It doesn’t look like he’s pretending, but if we caught the wrong person, why did he run?”

Fu Lansheng was a bit frustrated. Then he remembered something and teasingly smiled at Nan Xuyue, “Nan Xuyue, your cousin is quite hidden. She managed to keep up with my speed.”

Nan Xuyue smiled faintly.

Fu Lansheng said, “Well, everyone has secrets. I’m sure she can’t fool a clever person like you.”

Nan Xuyue said, “I wonder if Lingr has caught up with the other mysterious person.”

Xie Xuechen felt something was off when he heard this: “Another one?”

Fu Lansheng said, “Yes, this person had an accomplice who escaped. He was even faster than this one. Miss Lingr has her treasure-sniffing rat, so she went after him.”

Xie Xuechen’s expression changed. Before the other two could understand what had happened, Xie Xuechen had already vanished.

Mu Xuanling had fallen into unconsciousness, surrounded by impenetrable darkness, thick enough to suffocate. At first, she was a little scared, but then she felt relieved—great, unconscious means no more pain. But soon, she became confused—why was she in pain?

Her consciousness began to scatter, not knowing when or where she was, or who she was.

“Xuanling, come here.”

In the darkness, she heard a voice that made her tremble.

“Master!” Mu Xuanling shuddered, instinctively standing up.

“It’s time to practice,” Sang Qi’s voice was cold and emotionless. Hearing his voice was like having icicles pierce Mu Xuanling’s marrow, the bone-chilling cold and pain making her limbs numb and stiff.

She feared approaching him but feared even more the punishment for failing to escape.

She didn’t know which way to go, groping forward in the darkness. She vaguely saw her master’s silhouette, hidden under a black robe, with a few strands of silver hair faintly visible, emitting a ghostly silver light.

He reached out a hand towards Mu Xuanling, a hand cast in silver metal, engraved with bizarre runes, possessing the power to bewilder one’s mind.

“Master.” Mu Xuanling trembled as she knelt.

That hand pressed on top of her head, and in the next moment, surging demonic energy poured into her body, raging through her meridians and flesh, invading every inch of her body like countless tiny venomous insects gnawing at her.

She shook violently in pain, cold sweat pouring like rain.

“It hurts…”

Sang Qi’s voice came from above her head: “Do you want power? Do you want revenge?”

Mu Xuanling bit her lip until it bled, not answering, but she remained kneeling. Her silence was her answer.

“Feel the demonic energy, take it into your body.”

“Don’t reject it, demonic energy is the source of your power.”

“People will betray you, emotions will betray you. The only thing you can rely on is power.”

Mu Xuanling followed her master’s teachings. She tried to absorb the overflowing demonic energy into her body but felt it was infinitely more difficult than before. Whether absorbing or dispersing demonic energy, for a half-demon, it was torture worse than death.

—Master, why is the cultivation of half-demons so painful?

—Because we are born sinful.

“Miss Mu accelerated the dispersal of demonic energy during battle and then suffered several external blows. Although not severe, they left her powerless to control her mind and contain the demonic energy,” Nan Xuyue said, looking at Mu Xuanling lying on the bed, her face as white as paper. “Although I’m skilled in medicine, I’m helpless against demonic cultivation techniques.”

Xie Xuechen’s face was cold as he said, “I understand. You may leave. I’ll think of a way.”

Mu Xuanling was a half-demon with a demonic body. This fact couldn’t be known by others. Nan Xuyue could be trusted, but even Fu Lansheng had to be kept in the dark. Nan Xuyue understood Xie Xuechen’s concerns and nodded gravely before quietly leaving the room.

When Xie Xuechen returned to the snowy ground, she had already completely lost consciousness. She feared sunlight the most, and at that moment, she curled up as if trying to bury herself in the snow, too weak to pull up her fallen hood. Xie Xuechen hurriedly took her in his arms, using his own body to shield her from the light, and returned to the room at the fastest speed. Mu Xuanling’s breathing was alternately slow and rapid, her body shaking slightly, seemingly enduring great pain.

Xie Xuechen couldn’t help but think wildly—she had called his name at that time…

If only he had turned back then.

If only he hadn’t left.

Even if she had deceived him again, and played another prank, it wouldn’t have been a big deal.

Such thoughts swirled in his mind. His state of mind had always been clear and pure, just like his straightforward sword technique. It had never been this chaotic and complex, filled with hesitation, regret, confusion, doubt…

What if she died from her severe injuries?

You didn’t kill her, she’s just a half-demon witch.

She…

“It hurts…” A faint, indistinct moan escaped from Mu Xuanling’s lips.

Xie Xuechen quickly bent down to check on her.

Mu Xuanling’s eyes opened slightly, her thick curled eyelashes wet with tears. Her pupils were unfocused, not see the person in front of her, still unconscious.

“Ling…” Xie Xuechen called softly.

She probably didn’t hear him. Her eyes closed again, her breathing becoming even weaker.

Xie Xuechen’s throat tightened. He found a black demon pill in Mu Xuanling’s spatial pouch. It contained one-third of the demonic energy of a Lust Demon. If she took this pill, she would be spared from this torture.

But…

This went against his principles.

Xie Xuechen held the demon pill, placing it on Mu Xuanling’s lips, but hesitated. Mu Xuanling’s usually lush and full lips were now devoid of color, her lower lip bearing teeth marks, like withered flower petals.

Either violate his principles or watch her die.

Xie Xuechen closed his eyes briefly, sighing inwardly, and gently pushed the demon pill between her soft lips.

The demon pill instantly turned into a vast amount of demonic energy, surging into Mu Xuanling’s body. It was as if there was a whirlpool inside her, frantically absorbing the demonic energy—an instinct honed over years of cultivation, and the desire of a dying person to survive. Before Xie Xuechen could react, his fingertip was bitten by Mu Xuanling. Her unconscious sucking couldn’t harm his Dharma body, only giving him a strange tingling sensation, from his fingertip to his heart.

Xie Xuechen suppressed the inexplicable palpitations in his heart and quickly turned to set up a barrier. He was worried that the unusual demonic energy movement here would alarm others.

“Huff…” A hot breath blew on the back of his ear, and a pair of slender, pale arms wrapped around his shoulders from behind, tightly embracing him.

Xie Xuechen froze.

Mu Xuanling’s body was burning hot. The Lust Demon’s energy was running wild inside her, seemingly trying to find an outlet. She felt both comfortable and uncomfortable, letting out stifled moans.

“Xie Xuechen…” She hugged him tightly, rubbing her head on his shoulder, and said in a thick nasal voice, “I hurt…”

Her head hurt, her chest hurt, her limbs hurt—everything hurt.

Xie Xuechen let out a long sigh, pulled down Mu Xuanling’s hands, and faced her. Seeing that the paleness had left her face, replaced by an unnatural flush, her eyes misty with tears, exuding charm, he guessed it was due to the Lust Demon’s energy.

“Where are you uncomfortable?” Xie Xuechen pressed her back onto the bed.

Mu Xuanling raised her misty eyes and said with a sob, “My body hurts.”

As she spoke, she raised her hand to tear at her clothes, as if even the clothes touching her skin felt like being cut by knives.

Xie Xuechen firmly grasped her hands, pinning them to her sides, and said in a deep voice, “If you circulate your energy to absorb the demonic energy, you won’t hurt anymore.”

But Mu Xuanling couldn’t hear what he was saying at this moment. She only knew that she was in pain, hot, numb, and itchy as if she had been poisoned. Yes, poisoned, she needed an antidote. Where was the antidote?

As Mu Xuanling raised her eyes, she saw her antidote – the person she had been longing for all these years! The surging demonic energy in her body gave her strength while eroding her will. Her peach blossom eyes swirled with desire, deep and mesmerizing. She suddenly broke free from Xie Xuechen’s restraint and, catching him off guard, climbed onto his shoulders, pulling him towards herself.

She bit Xie Xuechen’s lips, greedily drinking in his breath.

It tasted like the antidote.

Cool and soft, like snowflakes melting in her mouth, sweet.

She wanted more of the antidote, her eyes reddening with desire. Using both hands, she tore open the intricate white robes, feeling the warm, smooth skin beneath. There was a cool air that could extinguish the fire in her heart. Panting and sobbing, she called out the name in her heart: “Xie Xuechen, Xie Xuechen, Xie Xuechen…”

Xie Xuechen supported himself with his hands, the delicate body beneath him burning hot enough to melt the thousand-year-old snow of Yongxue City. Her lips moved aimlessly over his lips and face, leaving small kisses, wanting to be closer to him, inseparable.

Xie Xuechen’s hands grasped her rounded shoulders, his movements gentle. Those hands, undefeated in wielding swords, showed hesitation for the first time, trembling slightly. The skin under his palms was smooth and delicate, shivering lightly at his touch.

Xie Xuechen suddenly remembered her gleeful words – “You could have dodged…”

In her daze, Mu Xuanling heard a sigh, followed by a numbing sensation on the back of her neck, causing her to fall unconscious again.

Xie Xuechen looked at the sleeping Mu Xuanling with a complex expression. Her face was flushed, her lips swollen, her chest heaving violently, clothes in disarray. He was probably in an even worse state, his clothes torn to shreds.

He could have dodged, but dodging was not the way of a sword cultivator.

Xie Xuechen carefully placed Mu Xuanling back on the bed and took out a Liuli Mingxin Pill from his spatial pouch. This precious pill was used by cultivators to save themselves when facing demonic deviation, able to control inner demons and restore clarity.

Xie Xuechen fed the pill to Mu Xuanling. Soon, her breathing became steady, and her aura gradually stabilized.

Practicing demonic techniques was not the right path for a half-demon. She had endured too much.

Xie Xuechen tidied Mu Xuanling’s disheveled clothes, and covered her with a blanket, and only after her breathing was completely stable did he change into a new set of clothes and walk out of the room.

Nan Xuyue was just entering from the outer room. Seeing Xie Xuechen come out, he quickened his pace and said, “Brother Xie, I think I might have a way to alleviate her pain.”

Xie Xuechen said, “She’s better now.”

Nan Xuyue was slightly taken aback.

“Watch over her. I’m going out for a while.”

Nan Xuyue watched Xie Xuechen’s departing figure with some confusion.

– How did he cure her?

– Why did he suddenly change clothes?

At Wenxue Cliff, the snow had just stopped, and the sky was clearing.

However, with a sword dance, the wind and snow rose again.

A solitary figure stood silently in the wind and snow, a long sword thrust obliquely into the rock.

Xie Xuechen closed his eyes, feeling the fine snow falling on his face, unable to extinguish the warmth in his heart.

Twenty-one years ago, on Wenxue Cliff, he questioned the Dao, the sword, questioned his heart.

To establish destiny for all living beings, to serve the supreme, and to forget emotions.

For what did his sword ring?

For what did his heart move?

Closing his eyes, only one voice remained in his mind.

Someone was calling his name earnestly, with a thousand turns and a hundred twists, tender affection around their finger.

Whether she was human, demon, or devil no longer mattered.

He shouldn’t have fallen so easily, but he couldn’t help himself. He even thought that it wasn’t her intentional seduction that made him fall deeper step by step, but that he liked such a vibrant life. She was different from him, able to express her likes passionately and sincerely, with only one person in her eyes and heart. If that person wasn’t him, perhaps he would have felt envious…

And when he saw her in danger, he lost his way.

Ling…

Xie Xuechen opened his eyes slightly, looking towards the continuous, majestic snow-capped mountains in the distance.

He suddenly understood the meaning of his father’s words from twenty-one years ago.

Between all living beings and her, he could only choose one.

He could only give his life to one of them.

Mu Xuanling’s consciousness kept floating in a black sea. In her haze, she felt she had grabbed a hand, holding onto it tightly like a lifesaving buoy, unwilling to let go. After an unknown amount of time, she finally had the strength to open her eyelids. Her thick eyelashes fluttered lightly, and the scene before her eyes went from blurry to clear.

It was already dark, but no candles were lit in the room. The doors and windows were closed, but moonlight still seeped through the cracks in the window lattice, faintly outlining the contours of the room.

Mu Xuanling felt that she was holding onto a hand, cool and slender to the touch. Because of the long grip, her palm was even slightly damp with sweat. The person sat by the bed, their vague outline traced by the moonlight. Mu Xuanling called out in a hoarse voice, “Xie Xuechen…”

The person moved slightly, turning to look at her.

“Miss Mu, you’re awake.”

Mu Xuanling was startled, and her hand unconsciously loosened.

“Young Master Nan.”

In the darkness, Nan Xuyue let out a low chuckle, seemingly a bit helpless, but also relieved.

“It’s me. I came to check on you. You seemed to be having a nightmare and held onto my hand tightly. I had no choice but to sit down and keep you company. I meant no offense,” Nan Xuyue explained gently.

“No, I’m the one who offended…” Mu Xuanling said hoarsely.

Nan Xuyue moved, leaving the bedside. He slowly walked to the table, lit an oil lamp with a fire stick, and the light slowly spread throughout the room. He then took a kettle from the table, lit a small stove nearby, and placed it on the stove to heat. Mu Xuanling had no strength in her body and could only lie there, watching his slender and tall figure doing these trivial things at the table.

“The water was cold. I thought it would be better to heat it before drinking,” Nan Xuyue’s gentle voice came from over there.

Mu Xuanling was a bit dazed and only responded after a moment, “Okay.”

It took her a while to remember what had happened, to recall falling in the snow, the dispersing demonic energy, the unbearable pain, Xie Xuechen…

The image of his departing figure floated in her mind again.

Nan Xuyue returned to the bedside with a warm cup of tea and softly asked, “Do you have the strength to sit up?”

Mu Xuanling smiled weakly, “I can manage.”

She supported herself to sit up, her back propped up by several pillows and took the cup from Nan Xuyue’s hand. The cup had a warmth similar to human body temperature, just right. The hand that passed it over was fair and slender but with red marks like fingerprints that seemed out of place. Mu Xuanling knew at a glance that these were marks left by her tight grip, and she felt both guilty and embarrassed.

She lowered her head sheepishly, sipping the water in small gulps. The water in Yongxue City had a unique sweetness not found elsewhere, gradually moistening her lips and throat, though there was still an indescribable sourness in her heart.

Nan Xuyue seemed to see through her thoughts and suddenly said, “It was Brother Xie who carried you back.”

Mu Xuanling was startled and raised her eyes to look at him.

The candlelight illuminated Nan Xuyue’s handsome and elegant face. He seemed to be smiling, though half his face was in light and half in shadow.

“I don’t know what method he used to resolve your pain from the dispersing demonic energy, but from the looks of it now, you should be fine. Brother Xie had other urgent matters to attend to, so he asked me to stay and look after you.”

Knowing that Xie Xuechen hadn’t truly abandoned her, Mu Xuanling felt her heart warm up again. She lowered her head, the corners of her lips unconsciously curling into a slight smile. “I see,” she said softly.

Nan Xuyue quietly observed the slight upturn of her lips and the light rekindled in her eyes, his gaze distant and profound.

“Miss Mu, you like Brother Xie very much.” His tone was very certain.

Mu Xuanling didn’t deny it. She nodded.

“Why?” He seemed somewhat puzzled and also doubtful. “I did indeed suspect that you had other motives for approaching him but breathing and heartbeats can’t lie. I think… that’s why Brother Xie believes in you too.”

Those born with ten orifices indeed had supernatural perceptive abilities. He could tell whose heart her heartbeat quickened for, who it raced for.

Mu Xuanling pressed her lips together, unable to answer Nan Xuyue’s question.

Nan Xuyue gazed at her exquisitely beautiful face as if seeing another person through it.

“Perhaps, you knew him much earlier.”

Mu Xuanling’s breath caught.

“Your breathing tells me the answer.” Nan Xuyue chuckled softly, “I was wondering why your gaze toward him held nostalgia and sadness, not just fondness and admiration. Your eyes hide many stories. Those involved are often blind to it, but bystanders see clearly.”

“Young Master Nan, you’re too clever,” Mu Xuanling closed her eyes and sighed lightly. “I have nowhere to hide.”

“He doesn’t remember. Why don’t you tell him?” Nan Xuyue asked.

“He doesn’t need to remember,” Mu Xuanling’s eyes held a gentle and lingering smile. “I owe him. It’s enough that I remember.”

“Is that so…” Nan Xuyue’s voice was as light as a sigh. “Then what about me? Do you remember me too?”

The smile froze in Mu Xuanling’s eyes. She struggled to raise her head and look at Nan Xuyue.

Nan Xuyue’s eyes held a faint smile, but like a black whirlpool, slowly drawing her in.

“Your heartbeat tells me the answer too,” Nan Xuyue chuckled softly. “When we first met, it felt like an old friend returning. A heart like the bright moon at the end of the sky, thinking of each other from dawn to dusk.”

“Though your appearance has changed, I still sense a familiar aura from you.” He suddenly reached out to ruffle her hair, his long fingers running through her soft, smooth black hair, tracing her slightly sweaty temples, finally resting on her cheek. “Only, at that time, I didn’t know your name, but I still remember, you had a bell anklet on your foot, and on your face, there was a mark of the demon clan.”

Nan Xuyue drew closer, a faint scent of agarwood emanating from him, enveloping Mu Xuanling.

The cup had fallen from her hand at some point, water soaking the bedding. Mu Xuanling’s hands tightly gripped the bed sheets beneath her, her eyes flashing with panic and confusion, her heartbeat suddenly becoming erratic.

He… he recognized her!