In Wei Jie’s view, the Tang surname was quite sensible, not saying anything stupid like he only needed rest and blood replenishment with no serious harm.

Otherwise, seeing Xiaoxiao’s attitude of settling scores after autumn, if he were fine, she might very well hold a grudge and abandon him to leave on her own.

However, Wei Jie’s current weakness was also real. After all, having shed so much heartblood, even someone as strong as an ox would collapse.

Tang Youshu hurriedly took out medicine to feed his master, but Wei Jie found his clumsy hands distasteful and insisted that Xiaoxiao feed him.

Xiaoxiao was too lazy to look at that pair of fraudulent master and disciple, only saying coldly, “You’re not a child—eat it or don’t!”

After speaking, she took Ling’er to gather some dry wood and started a campfire.

Earlier, when she had touched Wei Jie’s body, it was extremely cold—a symptom of excessive blood loss.

If he lost too much body heat, his blood and qi couldn’t circulate properly.

Too many things had happened recently, mixed with too many conspiracies and schemes. She was also using the time of building the fire and adding wood, warming herself by the campfire, to properly sort through her thoughts.

At this time, dawn was approaching, and the red moon that had shrouded them all night was gradually losing its bloody color.

The cold moonlight was scattered by the riverside. The four members of the Talisman Sect had fought fiercely all night—three had become demons, struggling between life and death in a tragic battle.

Wei Jie took the medicine and began circulating his energy to dissolve the pills. The four people each meditated, guarding their hearts and minds.

Tang Youshu had immersed himself in medical arts for a hundred years, so the pills he prepared were naturally not ordinary. After half a gourd of medicine was poured down, Wei Jie finally recovered some spirit. But after meditating for a moment, he slowly opened his eyes and stared intently at Cui Xiaoxiao, who had her back to him, afraid she might secretly slip away.

But Xiaoxiao didn’t look at him, facing the broad river and tides alone, lost in thought.

When the sky brightened slightly, Yu Ling’er, who had been dozing while meditating, finally had enough sleep.

Seeing that Wei Jie was still giving Tang Youshu the cold shoulder with his sarcastic attitude, afraid he might cause trouble for Young Master Tang again, she quickly made an excuse about being hungry and pulled Tang Youshu away to find food.

After half a night of meditation, Xiaoxiao felt her spiritual platform had become much clearer.

The fox clan’s spirit stone helped her greatly, actually softening the Demon Pearl’s demonic nature quite well, and also harmonizing the five phoenixes’ spiritual power, allowing the incompatible demons and phoenixes to awaken simultaneously without conflicting within her body.

However, to blend these two completely different, even conflicting spiritual powers still required some magical techniques.

Otherwise, in the next encounter with strong enemies, if the Demon Pearl’s demonic nature and the five phoenixes’ spiritual energy canceled each other out, she would be the first to burn out again.

But before returning to her era, she needed to find a way to remove all these things from her body.

Otherwise, given more time, she didn’t know if these “treasures” might turn against their rightful owner.

By now, the sky had brightened, and Ling’er and Tang Youshu hadn’t returned from finding food.

Xiaoxiao didn’t particularly want to talk to Wei Jie, so she went alone to the riverside to wash up.

She was washing her handkerchief by the river when the man in black robes also crouched down beside her.

As he used to serve his master, he helped Xiaoxiao roll up her sleeves and made small talk, asking if the water was too cold.

Xiaoxiao didn’t even look at him, just focused on washing her face.

After washing, while wiping her face with the handkerchief, Xiaoxiao said: “Now that the Talisman Sect has also split up, Ling’er and I won’t disturb you, master and disciple, any longer. Since it’s daylight now, whether you go to the Wei family or return to Luoyi, please decide for yourself. Let’s part ways here… Hey… what are you doing!”

Before Xiaoxiao could finish her polite farewell speech, Wei Jie’s large palm scooped up and splashed a string of water droplets on Xiaoxiao’s face.

Xiaoxiao’s just-dried face became wet again, making her angrily wipe her face while glaring fiercely at Wei Jie.

Wei Jie tilted his head with a roguish attitude: “Oh, so those big eyes can see people! I thought people from two hundred years later all used the backs of their round heads to look at people when talking!”

Xiaoxiao hadn’t expected that she would miss the Demon Lord Wei Jie, who spoke coldly.

At least that one with his icy, sharp tongue was direct, not this infuriating!

She said fiercely, “Yes, those born two hundred years later are all fools, not having as many schemes as the old things from two hundred years ago—each one excelling at calculations, emphasizing making the best use of everything!”

Wei Jie rubbed his face somewhat helplessly: “Xiaoxiao, be reasonable. The person who plotted everything with Tang Youshu… wasn’t me either! When have I ever thought about becoming an immortal or a god? If it were about getting married and entering the bridal chamber, that could be considered.”

What kind of nonsense was he talking about? Who wanted to enter a bridal chamber with him?

Last night, after blowing in the river wind for half the night, she became even more determined to stick to the original plan and part ways with Wei Jie and the others.

Tang Youshu’s initial scheming had caused her to lose both her beloved master and cherished disciple all at once.

Especially Wei Jie, who seemed to have become a different person, willing to pay any price for immortal ascension, making one suspect that this was the real Wei Jie.

Now, after going through so many twists and turns, Xiaoxiao had finally found Jie’er again.

But when she wanted to throw herself into those long-missed arms and cry about all the grievances she had suffered, she discovered that the person who had bullied and schemed against her was him!

Xiaoxiao was truly stuck in frustration, unable to go up or down—whether Demon Lord or Jie’er, they were all birds of a feather! They could all go to hell!

These two faces—one passionate and caring, the other cold as ice and heartlessly turning against her—were probably just like men’s two attitudes in bed and out, before and after tricking a girl!

After thinking this way, Xiaoxiao immediately had something of an epiphany—she had been quite badly hurt by betrayal recently, barely managing to support herself by forcing herself to eat, drink, and make merry to numb the pain.

If she experienced it again, just thinking about the process of tearing apart their relationship made her heart ache.

Wei Jie’s current genuine feelings toward her were real, but he was still too young, unlike the Wei Jie from the previous life, who had experienced many trials and become mature and worldly-wise.

But even the youngest man would grow up someday. Perhaps after he had loved her for a while, after a few years, one day, he would have a great awakening, realizing he had wasted time on a woman and delayed his golden years for immortal ascension!

When that time came and he revealed the heartless face of a Demon Lord again, Xiaoxiao recognized she probably couldn’t bear it a second time.

Romance was indeed somewhat luxurious for someone with a fate as hard as “Ten Wounds.”

Since she was destined to a life of loneliness, why harm Wei Jie, this divine seedling?

While everyone had everything out in the open and understood that they were originally two lines that should never intersect, it was better to part amicably, exchange some parting words, and leave each other with some complete memories.

As for who had deceived her… it no longer mattered.

However, Xiaoxiao’s magnanimity didn’t infect Wei Jie.

After hearing Xiaoxiao hint about her fate of “Ten Wounds” and unsuitability for having a man, Wei Jie raised his eyebrows: “Did that bastard Tang Youshu calculate this fate for you too? Then ask him if he calculated that he’d get a beating today and lose that troublemaking tongue of his?”

Xiaoxiao wrung out the handkerchief in her hand, handed it to the sullen-faced Wei Jie, and sighed: “Master… Young Master Tang did indeed deceive me quite badly. But his feelings toward you are sincere and filial. Don’t look for trouble and treat him rudely anymore. Know that some relationships can’t be bought with money—don’t regret it only after losing them…”

But Wei Jie didn’t think so, snorting coldly: “He reveres his Demon Lord master—what does that have to do with me?”

The Tang surname had personally witnessed every bit of his and Xiaoxiao’s acquaintance, so naturally knew what he valued most now.

If Tang Youshu were a good person, how could he have torn apart him and Xiaoxiao alive?

So Tang Youshu was just like Ling Zhishan and others who suffered from unrequited love—self-righteous pests who only added unnecessary troubles!

As for the old debts from the original trajectory, Wei Jie didn’t plan to acknowledge any of them!

He wasn’t stupid. If he acknowledged the old debts of the Demon Lord, Xiaoxiao would sever all ties with him!

Xiaoxiao had never been able to out-argue Wei Jie in such unreasonable debates. Just as she was about to get up, Xiaoxiao noticed that Wei Jie had washed away the blood from his forehead, and the scar on his forehead resembled the previous blue flame.

However, the cold blue representing a banished immortal had now been replaced by black-red blood color, adding endless demonic charm to Wei Jie’s entire being.

Xiaoxiao didn’t know what this mark represented—whether it meant Wei Jie’s divine nature had been destroyed and he could no longer ascend to immortality.

She gently touched the man’s forehead with her slender finger, lost in thought, not knowing that such an unconscious gesture could easily ignite the heart fire of a man who had fallen into heart demons.

When Wei Jie grasped her wrist and lowered his head to kiss Xiaoxiao, she turned her head to avoid him.

Wei Jie’s purple eyes showed a faint black, his voice low: “Are you still angry with me?”

Xiaoxiao didn’t want to look at his eyes, only slightly lowering her head and turning to one side, gently biting her lip and saying softly: “You’re seriously injured now with troubles all around, yet you still have the leisure to flirt with people. No wonder immortal ascension requires severing emotions and desires—otherwise… it delays people…”

Wei Jie couldn’t help but tighten his grip on her slender waist, embedding her in his embrace: “I was possessed by that damn divine nature then, talking complete nonsense. Since it was nonsense, why did you take it to heart after hearing it?”

Xiaoxiao turned to look at Wei Jie with a serious expression: “Since you know I’m someone who traveled here from two hundred years later, you should know that all this isn’t nonsense, but your step-by-step crisis of fate! That Lord Can harbors evil intentions and wants to occupy your immortal position. Only by severing emotions and desires can you ascend to immortality quickly. I don’t belong here either—I’ll have to return to two hundred years later eventually… Two hundred years! Even if you become an immortal or a god, too many variables will occur in these two hundred years. Even if you become an immortal, you’ll encounter many female cultivation partners better than me! Since that’s the case, why continue this mistake and add unnecessary pain to both of us? Better to take advantage of now…”

This time, before she could finish, Wei Jie had already covered her mouth with his hand.

Although Wei Jie had recovered his reason, he had ultimately become a demon. The demonic nature that could shatter divine nature was not to be underestimated.

Though he carefully hid it, Xiaoxiao still saw the flash of inky black in his eyes.

What was a demon? A demon was having obsessions in the heart, insatiable desires, and unsatisfied cravings!

Wei Jie’s path to immortality had originally been smooth in this life, yet he still fell into demonhood with a single thought.

Now hearing Xiaoxiao talking about reality and wanting to sever ties with him, the man’s inner demonic nature immediately arose.

At that moment, Xiaoxiao definitely wouldn’t want to know what he was thinking.

However, Wei Jie still properly concealed his emotions, slowly releasing his hand, looking at Xiaoxiao’s autumn-water eyes, then slowly moving his gaze downward with some meaningful intent: “Indeed a bit small, doesn’t quite meet my requirements… Don’t worry, I won’t mind that you’re small…”

Xiaoxiao followed his gaze and looked down. Oh my, she had accidentally wet the fabric at her chest when washing her face earlier!

Angrily crossing her arms to protect her body, she retorted: “Where am I small? I’m just right! Are you blind?”

She didn’t dare boast about being devastatingly beautiful, but even the little fox praised her figure! It was hardly his turn to find fault!

Wei Jie looked innocent again: “I meant you’re more than two hundred years younger than me! Isn’t that small… Oh, so that’s where your mind went… Cui Xiaoxiao, so this is the kind of person you are!”

Cui Xiaoxiao’s mouth hung half open—she was about to be driven to heaven by this rascal’s anger!

But with his unreasonable troublemaking, Xiaoxiao couldn’t even remember where she had left off in her farewell speech.

Wei Jie took the opportunity to put his arm around Xiaoxiao’s shoulder, saying softly, “I feel chest pain again. Could you help me lie down for a while?”

Now Wei Jie’s magic weapon for keeping his little master was pretending to be weak—if he could be paralyzed and unable to care for himself, that would be even better.

No matter how angry Xiaoxiao was with him, she wouldn’t abandon him. If only he had known this earlier, he should have shed more of that heartblood!

As for what Xiaoxiao had said, Wei Jie had thought about it.

But just thinking about Cui Xiaoxiao possibly disappearing before his eyes one day made the deep black ink in Wei Jie’s eyes surge.

Afraid of frightening Xiaoxiao, he pulled her into his embrace, lowering his gaze to hide the darkness in his eyes, whispering in her ear: “Don’t worry, this time I’ll never lose you again…”

He had known Xiaoxiao for so long, but she never mentioned her past.

Finally, Wei Jie learned more about Xiaoxiao’s past from Tang Youshu’s mouth.

It turned out that this girl, who seemed naturally optimistic and lively to him, had once been wary and stubborn, carefully protecting herself like a hedgehog afraid of being hurt, struggling to survive on the streets.

Wei Jie couldn’t even imagine how bewildered and desperate she must have been when her mother sold her at such a young age.

But when such a Xiaoxiao was wholeheartedly trusting Tang Youshu and him, she suffered betrayal from both simultaneously.

The tears Xiaoxiao had shed then still seemed to be before his eyes, like heavy punches hammering down, making Wei Jie’s heart ache with spasms.

But he was precisely one of the culprits who had caused Xiaoxiao’s heartbreak. Wei Jie couldn’t help but tighten his arms, as if loosening them slightly would make the person in his arms slip away like a fish and disappear…

When Yu Ling’er pulled Tang Youshu by the hand out of the nearby woods, they happened to see Wei Jie tightly embracing Xiaoxiao.

The two tactfully didn’t go over to disturb them.

Yu Ling’er was even moved to the point of tears.

She had had such a hard time these days! With Xiaoxiao and the Talisman Sect master and disciple having a falling out, she was caught in the middle, having to accompany Xiaoxiao while missing Young Master Tang.

She was like a child whose parents had divorced, living quite miserably.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but turn to admonish Tang Youshu: “Did you see? Interfering with others’ romance brings retribution. Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie are mutually in love—stop meddling! After all, your Talisman Sect isn’t exactly respectable. Master and disciple being together isn’t such a big deal!”

It seemed Yu Ling’er still thought Young Master Tang was upright and wanted to uphold justice, couldn’t stand seeing the grandmaster and master having an affair, which is why he had sabotaged Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie.

But Tang Youshu knew this karmic entanglement was truly beyond words, and the future was unpredictable.

Now he could only take things one step at a time. After all, he had offended both his master and his youngest disciple simultaneously and could only keep his tail between his legs.

After a night of chaos, the original Talisman Sect members could finally sit down together and eat breakfast relatively peacefully.

Watching Tang Youshu deliberately trying to please her everywhere—peeling fruits for her, providing cushions—Xiaoxiao felt somewhat helpless.

Although she didn’t want to pay attention to Tang Youshu, she also didn’t want to stimulate him into slapping his skull again.

So during the meal, she simply changed the subject and talked about how she and Yu Ling’er had been deceived.

Wei Jie’s eyes narrowed slightly as he listened—to lure living people into the underworld was probably something even ordinary gods couldn’t accomplish.

What was the background of Princess Yongning’s fiancé? How could he have underworld demonic flowers in his hands?

It seemed very necessary to find Young Master Ye Yi and investigate thoroughly.

But hearing Xiaoxiao and the others describe Young Master Ye, Wei Jie, and Tang Youshu, this pair of master and disciple who had fallen out, couldn’t help but look at each other.

For such cunning villains who lured people to the Yellow Springs, the two victims should have been cursing angrily.

But earlier, when Wei Jie asked about Young Master Ye’s appearance, the two women had simultaneously gazed into space, as if savoring fine wine and heavenly nectar, carefully describing Young Master Ye’s extraordinary excellence and jade-like gentleness.

From that scene, these two seemed to regret their lack of education, unable to describe even one ten-thousandth of Young Master Ye’s brilliance.

For a moment, the two master and disciple listeners looked at each other with somewhat subtle expressions.

Wei Jie unceremoniously interrupted Yu Ling’er’s increasingly enthusiastic description, saying coldly: “Could it be that you two weren’t bewitched by demonic flowers, but were seduced by male beauty onto the path to the Yellow Springs?”

Xiaoxiao seriously thought about it and felt that Young Master Ye’s flawless, jade-like appearance would be tainted by using the word “beauty” to describe it.

With such good looks, even knowing he was a villain with hidden evil intentions, she still felt this refined gentleman was rare in the world. What a pity that such a gentleman turned out to be a scoundrel—such a waste!

Wei Jie hadn’t expected Xiaoxiao would have no intention of refuting, still looking dazed as if she had inhaled demonic flowers.

It was clear this Young Master Ye was truly no ordinary person!

Wei Jie sneered. Just when he was trapped by his divine nature, clearly missing Xiaoxiao but unable to see her, she hadn’t been idle, even having the mood to be infatuated with a beautiful villain’s looks.

This made him angry too, as he sneered and said sideways: “No wonder you wanted to start Hehuan Sect—you are enjoying it…”

Xiaoxiao also looked at him sideways, biting into a wild fruit: “Since you brought this up, I need to say something. I separated from your Talisman Sect long ago. When should we settle the detailed accounts and divide the family property so we can each go our separate ways?”

Wei Jie was angered by this talk of dividing the family, but after a moment of silence, he said: “Take whatever you want.”

He had always been accommodating to Xiaoxiao. Since Xiaoxiao found the Talisman Sect boring, she put up the Hehuan Sect sign.

As her disciple, it was the same job wherever he went. At worst, he could transform and become the chief senior disciple of Hehuan Sect, continuing to support the scene and warm the bed for his little master…

However, hearing Xiaoxiao’s words still implying separation from him, Wei Jie’s heart demon was triggered again, his eyes showing indissoluble darkness.

Just then, Xiaoxiao felt the ground trembling slightly, as if something was rolling underground, even causing the river water to surge with great waves.

The four people stood up in unison, on guard.

At this time, Xiaoxiao looked up and saw that Wei Jie’s eye color had changed. Being someone who had also become a demon, she naturally understood what was happening to Wei Jie. Frightened, she quickly reached out to grasp Wei Jie’s large hand, saying tensely: “What’s wrong?”

The moment Xiaoxiao’s hand grasped Wei Jie’s, the darkness in his eyes faded considerably. He didn’t speak, only gripped Xiaoxiao’s hand more tightly in return.

Just then, the Wei family’s twin sisters suddenly ran to them at full speed.

They, too, had felt the earth’s trembling. Their faces, which rarely showed expression, seemed to have some indescribable tension beyond their usual wooden demeanor.

“Cousin, grandmother summons you back, and requests Sect Master Cui to accompany you!”

Wei Jie knew he had previously injured many Wei family guards. Last night, the Talisman Sect had essentially caused a great disturbance at Qilao Mountain, especially with Xiaoxiao and Ling’er appearing within the forbidden gates—this violated the Wei family’s greatest taboo, and they would inevitably have to go up the mountain to apologize to their grandmother.

However, Wei Jie didn’t want Xiaoxiao to go.

He understood the Wei family’s way of doing things too well—ancestral rules were paramount, sometimes inflexible. Otherwise, the tragedy of his father being forced to commit suicide wouldn’t have happened.

Grandmother specifically naming Xiaoxiao to come probably wasn’t good news. Wei Jie naturally wanted to prevent this.

However, Xiaoxiao was also worried about Wei Jie going alone. She had just seen his eyes turn black again.

He had a fate of killing relatives—who knew if this disaster had passed?

She had blocked demons and evil for him until now, yet saw he had still walked the path of demonization, which was depressing enough. If he got confused and caused more trouble, she could spit up blood and die of anger!

Thinking this, Xiaoxiao said: “Since the old lady wants to see me, how could I not go?”

Although Xiaoxiao had now separated from the Talisman Sect, as the sect master of Hehuan Sect, her words to the Talisman Sect members were still like imperial edicts.

Since she had spoken, Wei Jie agreed.

Wei Jie had caused plenty of trouble since childhood and had always been fearless. Since Xiaoxiao said she wanted to meet, he would accompany her back. If the Wei family wanted to make things difficult for Xiaoxiao, he absolutely wouldn’t let her suffer.

Anyway, he didn’t want to separate from Xiaoxiao now, or she might slip away and disappear back to two hundred years later.

Xiaoxiao understood propriety. Since she was going to apologize to the Wei family, she should bring some suitable gifts.

But leaving in haste, she simply filled Tang Youshu’s back basket with wild fruits to let grandmother refresh her palate and taste something fresh.

The old grandmother looked at the evil demonic woman who last night had been surrounded by five phoenixes with red eyes and black hair, looking down on all directions with a murderous aura, but today had transformed into a well-behaved girl-next-door, carrying a basket of wild fruits and smiling sweetly to pay her respects.

In this way, the silver-armored army she had prepared throughout the hall seemed a bit too “grand.”