No one knew how dangerous it was for a half-demon to disperse their powers, because no half-demon would willingly do so. When captured by cultivators, half-demons were usually killed outright, as it wasn’t worth the effort to carefully disperse their powers without causing death – a task that required great precision.
After dispersing her powers, Mu Xuanling fell into a high fever. Her body alternated between feeling like ice and fire, her heartbeat fluctuated erratically, and she even began vomiting blood. Despite Xie Xuechen’s utmost efforts in dispersing her powers, he couldn’t control the physical deterioration that followed. All he could do was stay by her bedside, continuously transferring spiritual energy to her and searching for that rampaging qi within her body. That qi was incredibly domineering, unlike anything Xie Xuechen had encountered before. It seemed like demonic energy, yet far stronger than usual. However, when it encountered Xie Xuechen’s spiritual energy, it became surprisingly docile, softly following his guidance to return to its proper place in her meridians.
Xie Xuechen focused all his attention on controlling his spiritual energy, only resting briefly when completely exhausted. Yet Mu Xuanling’s condition remained unstable, forcing him to stay alert and continue caring for her. Mu Xuanling remained unconscious, eventually stabilizing somewhat but then beginning to mumble in her delirium. Her lips moved slightly, producing intermittent, indistinct syllables that even Xie Xuechen’s keen hearing couldn’t decipher. Worried she might be trying to express discomfort, he leaned close to her lips to listen, only to hear her murmuring what sounded like “Brother…”
Did she have a brother?
Xie Xuechen was puzzled, but before he could think it through, he saw Mu Xuanling’s eyes open slightly, unfocused.
“Lingling?” Xie Xuechen called out.
Mu Xuanling, either seeing him or some illusion, parted her sickly red lips and softly called out, “Big brother, hug me…”
Xie Xuechen was stunned.
Mu Xuanling’s slender, soft arms had already encircled his neck, her hands resting weakly on his shoulders. He couldn’t bring himself to push her away, especially when she trembled and said, “I’m cold.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Xie Xuechen embraced her. His hand, separated only by thin cloth, rested on her back as he channeled spiritual energy into her acupoints, circulating it throughout her body. Mu Xuanling nestled obediently in his arms, her head resting in the crook of his neck, her gentle breath brushing against his Adam’s apple as she unconsciously murmured, “Big brother, don’t go…”
Xie Xuechen wondered who she was mistaking him for.
She always called him Xie Xuechen, never “big brother.” This “big brother” she spoke of… could it be someone who resembled him?
Perhaps her feelings for him were meant for that “big brother.”
Xie Xuechen forced himself to ignore the slight unease in his heart and focused on channeling his spiritual energy.
In Mu Xuanling’s short twenty years in this life, she had few happy days. Counting carefully, there was only one truly joyful day. Yet the happiness of that single day was enough to sustain her through seven years of darkness and unbearable pain in the demon realm.
In her darkest moments, she would replay that day over and over, savoring it like a plum kept in her mouth for seven years, desperately trying to extract a hint of sweetness.
Her first taste of sweetness came when her big brother bought her a candied haw stick.
When she was very young, she saw other children eating them, looking so happy. Watching from afar, she only knew that the fruit inside was called hawthorn. She searched the mountains until she finally found a hawthorn tree, excitedly plucking a fruit and putting it in her mouth, only to spit it out with a grimace.
It was sour and astringent, not good at all.
Hearing this, her big brother couldn’t help but smile, though there seemed to be a hint of sadness in his expression. He bought all the candied haw sticks, watching her devour them as he patted her back, saying—
“Lingling, slow down.”
“How do you know my name is Zero-zero?” She raised her ankle with the spirit-locking ring, which had long since grown into her flesh, but the number “00” was still visible.
Big brother crouched down in front of her, lifting her pant leg to reveal her thin calf and the crisscrossing new and old injuries on it. She tried to withdraw her foot in embarrassment, afraid he would see the ugly scars, but he gently held her barefoot in his palm.
He took out a medicine jar from his storage bag and carefully applied the ointment to her wounds. The medicine was very valuable, as her pain immediately subsided and the wounds began to visibly heal as soon as it was applied.
“Big brother, this medicine is too precious. Don’t use it on me. My wounds will heal in a few days anyway, and even if they heal now, I’ll just get hurt again in a few days,” she said softly, biting her lip.
Big brother kept his head lowered, and though she couldn’t see his expression, she somehow felt that he was hurting her.
It was a strange feeling—to think that someone would care about her pain.
If she got hurt every day, would someone care about her every day?
Big brother gently ruffled her hair, saying softly, “Lingling, as long as I’m by your side, I won’t let you get hurt.”
She pretended to be annoyed to hide her blushing cheeks: “You messed up my hair!”
Though it had never been neat to begin with. She was clumsy and often had to do a lot of hard work, so her hair was always simply tied into two messy buns.
Big brother undid her messy buns and gently combed through her unruly long hair with a brush.
“I’ll comb your hair for you. Sit still,” he said, standing behind her.
She sat obediently, the sour-sweet candied haw in her mouth, feeling happier than she had ever been since birth.
She smelled a fragrance coming from behind her, clean and elegant, reminding her of snow in the twelfth lunar month and plum blossoms in the snow.
“Big brother, what’s your name?” she asked curiously.
The person behind her suddenly paused but didn’t answer for a long time.
Her heart slowly sank, and suddenly the candied haw didn’t taste sweet anymore, just sour and astringent—he didn’t want to tell her his name, was he afraid she would cling to him?
She didn’t want to leave Mingyue Manor that much. She was a half-demon; she would be a demon slave anywhere she went. She remembered many years ago, a handsome and gentle young master said he would take her away. She had felt a glimmer of hope then, but in the end, he didn’t keep his promise. She wasn’t that disappointed though, because it was a perfectly normal thing. She was just a demon slave, after all. Who would truly care about her? The fact that he had listened to her talk kindly was already rare enough.
She lowered her head listlessly, the sourness on her tongue spreading to her heart.
Suddenly, a pair of arms embraced her from behind. His head rested against her thin, weak back, his voice seeming to transmit through her bones and flesh, resonating dully in her chest.
“Lingling, you must take care of yourself.”
Mu Xuanling struggled to open her eyes. She smelled the scent that made her feel nostalgic and safe, burying herself deeper into that embrace.
A warm energy circulated through her body, gently enveloping her, soothing away the pain and heat.
“Big brother, you must take care of yourself too…”
Everyone knew that after Xie Xuechen carried Mu Xuanling into the room, he didn’t leave for three days and nights. Some people were already quietly speculating: would Yongxue City have a new mistress of half-demon blood?
For the dignified Immortal Alliance Leader to be so infatuated with a half-demon would be utterly disgraceful if word got out.
Even the unconventional He Xianwo would feel that the Immortal Alliance Leader’s entanglement with the former Demon Realm Holy Maiden would damage the morale of the Immortal Alliance.
Xie Xuechen, although he hadn’t left his room, received all the news from outside. An important message came from Liangjieshi Mountain—the demon race suddenly recalled all half-demons and demon soldiers, closing all portals. It was unknown what had happened in the demon realm.
Xie Xuechen walked out of his room and reconvened the council in the Hall of Righteousness.
“The defeat of Chi Mo and Zhan Mo has greatly weakened the demon realm. This should be the reason for their withdrawal,” Fu Yuanting analyzed. “With Sang Qi’s plan failing and their ranks in disarray, now is the perfect time for us to launch an attack.”
Su Ningzhen agreed with Fu Yuanting’s words and immediately said, “I request the Sect Leader to order an immediate attack on Liangjieshi Mountain.”
He Xianwo was more cautious: “Sang Qi’s grand display seems designed to attract attention. I fear there might be a trap inside.”
“It’s merely a show of force,” Su Ningzhen scoffed. “If Lingji Island is afraid, then let our Jinghua Valley lead the charge.”
He Xianwo didn’t bother arguing with her and coldly averted his gaze.
Xie Xuechen was also very wary of Sang Qi, always feeling that Sang Qi had other plans. The ambush at the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation that day also seemed to have questionable intentions. But he didn’t know much about Sang Qi, who always seemed to be shrouded in a black robe, making it impossible to discern truth from falsehood, mysterious and unfathomable.
“There are already thousands of cultivators waiting at Liangjieshi Mountain. It would be unwise to attack rashly,” Xie Xuechen looked at He Xianwo. “I’ll trouble Lingji Island’s demon soldiers to go and investigate.”
The demon soldiers included many insect beasts, which could both avoid enemy detection and infiltrate enemy ranks. They were most suitable for gathering intelligence and spying on the enemy.
He Xianwo saw that Xie Xuechen wasn’t acting impulsively and nodded in approval, respectfully accepting the order.
Su Ningzhen frowned slightly but didn’t say anything more.
“There are no major issues in Yongxue City now. The various sect leaders can return to their sects to handle affairs, and the Five Elders should proceed to Liangjieshi Mountain to await orders,” Xie Xuechen commanded.
Su Ningzhen asked, “When does the Sect Leader plan to depart?”
Xie Xuechen replied, “We’ll make an attack plan after Island Master He reports back on the enemy situation in the demon realm.”
Xie Xuechen had used his spiritual power to maintain Mu Xuanling’s life force for three days and three nights, almost without sleep or rest. Others saw him as if nothing was wrong, but he knew he was at his limit, his mind even becoming fuzzy.
He needed to rest and meditate, but still worried about Mu Xuanling’s condition. After leaving the Hall of Righteousness, he still walked towards Mu Xuanling’s residence.
However, before he entered the courtyard, he heard Mu Xuanling’s voice. Through the sparse snow pines, he saw two figures standing in the garden.
“It’s been seven years since I’ve basked in the sun like this. It’s so warm, not uncomfortable at all,” Mu Xuanling’s voice was very weak, but there was a hint of joy.
The man standing beside her wore a green robe, as verdant as a pine, tall and straight. He gently draped a white fur coat over her shoulders, his long, slender fingers deftly tying the two silk ribbons as he said softly, “You’ve just woken up and your body is still very weak. You should rest a bit more.”
“Master Nan, I heard earlier that you’re returning to Yunxiu Mountain Manor,” Mu Xuanling looked up at him.
The handsome young man nodded slightly and smiled, “Would you like to come with me?”
“The Immortal Alliance won’t let me leave. They want to imprison me here for three hundred years,” Mu Xuanling said.
“As long as you’re willing, I have a way,” Nan Xuyue’s voice was gentle yet firm, making one instinctively trust him. “Ling’er, back then I couldn’t take you away. Have you ever resented me?”
Mu Xuanling shook her head gently: “You spoke to me so kindly back then, I was already grateful. I’m just a half-demon, wherever I go I’m just a demon slave. What difference does it make?”
Nan Xuyue’s deep eyes couldn’t conceal his sadness. He suddenly reached out and embraced her. Mu Xuanling fell into the gentle yet firm embrace without warning. When she realized and tried to break free, she had no strength left.
“It’s different,” Nan Xuyue’s actions were restrained yet determined, afraid to use too much force for fear of hurting her, yet unwilling to let go for fear she might escape. “At Yunxiu Mountain Manor, you won’t be a demon slave. You can be the mistress of Yunxiu Mountain Manor.”
Mu Xuanling’s struggle suddenly stiffened. She doubted if she had heard correctly.
What did Nan Xuyue mean by that?
She had never thought Nan Xuyue would have any special feelings for her. Although he was always gentle and kind to her, he was like that with others too. He could rush a hundred miles at night at Xiu Xiu’s request to save someone, and he could set up formations for Xie Xuechen regardless of the cost. He was just a humble gentleman who made people feel like they were bathed in spring breeze. Therefore, in Mu Xuanling’s view, his meticulous care was just politeness towards a friend.
“I don’t understand…” She pressed her hands against his chest, her eyes showing confusion and bewilderment.
“I don’t need you to answer me now. When you’re feeling better, I’ll come see you again,” Nan Xuyue gently stroked her soft, long hair and released his arms that were holding her.
“Brother Xie, you saw everything just now.” Nan Xuyue walked out of the courtyard and saw Xie Xuechen not far away.
Mu Xuanling had lost her demonic powers and her keen perception, but he had long sensed Xie Xuechen’s approach.
Xie Xuechen looked at Nan Xuyue almost scrutinizingly. The latter’s handsome face bore the same warm smile as always, like a gentle spring breeze and warm sun, but his jet-black eyes showed no trace of a smile.
“You and her were already acquainted,” Xie Xuechen said.
Nan Xuyue didn’t conceal it, because this was what he wanted to tell Xie Xuechen: “Yes, I met her more than ten years ago, but later lost contact. I didn’t know she had been taken as a disciple by Sang Qi.”
Xie Xuechen remembered that Nan Xuyue had visited Mu Xuanling in the dungeon before, carefully bandaging her wounds, and the “big brother” Mu Xuanling called out in her dreams…
Could the person she called in her dream be Nan Xuyue?
Nan Xuyue slowly walked in front of Xie Xuechen and smiled, “Brother Xie, you care for the world and have cut off emotions and love. In your heart, her importance is negligible. When her demonic energy dispersed and she fell into the snow, you left without looking back because you felt that as a demon, her nature was evil and you didn’t trust her. When she betrayed the demon race and exposed her identity, yet was ordered by the Immortal Alliance to disperse her powers, you put righteousness first and didn’t protect her. You only wanted to keep her alive, but she’s imprisoned in Yongxue City for three hundred years. Even if she’s alive, what difference is there from being dead?”
Nan Xuyue had always been gentle and polite. Xie Xuechen had never seen him lose composure like this and speak such sharp words. Each word struck at the heart, hitting the mark.
But was Mu Xuanling just negligible to him, Xie Xuechen?
He knew clearly in his heart that she already meant much more to him than he had imagined.
But Xie Xuechen didn’t correct Nan Xuyue’s words, because he knew that no matter how much he valued Mu Xuanling, his final decision was still to remove her from his heart.
“You are the Sect Leader of the Immortal Alliance, a respected figure of the law, with a lifespan of thousands of years. I am just an ordinary mortal, with at most a hundred years,” Nan Xuyue said. “I will use the rest of my life to protect her.”
“And you can’t do that.”
In Shenshen Palace.
Sang Qi sat on the Demon Lord’s throne, his slightly closed eyes suddenly trembled, the silver-gray pupils flashing with a strange light, revealing a look of joy.
“Hmm… it succeeded…”
Desire Demon knelt respectfully below, smiling and asking, “Great Priest, is there good news?”
Sang Qi’s smile was cold and cruel, like a wolf that had caught its prey but was in no hurry to eat it, instead toying with it slowly, deriving pleasure and satisfaction from the torture.
“It’s time to bring back the Holy Maiden,” Sang Qi said.
Desire Demon was stunned and cautiously asked, “But didn’t Infatuation Demon say that the Holy Maiden betrayed the demon race and joined the human race? Infatuation Demon also said that the Holy Maiden had my demonic energy, and that projection of mine was probably refined into a demon pill and eaten by her.”
“So what?” Sang Qi waved his hand dismissively, “She was just confused for a moment. I am her master, she will eventually return.”
“The Great Priest is magnanimous,” Desire Demon flattered hypocritically.
Desire Demon had heard that War Demon was obliterated by Xie Xuechen and Infatuation Demon was imprisoned for life. He couldn’t help but feel fortunate that he had been seriously injured earlier and couldn’t join the battle. He had thought the Great Priest would be furious at the setback of his plan, but the Great Priest remained calm and composed as if everything was under control. Desire Demon knew he was too stupid to guess the Great Priest’s thoughts, but he understood one thing: they, these demon gods, were just pawns of the Great Priest. Losing two of them was inconsequential to him.
New demon soldiers were born in the Void Sea every day. With War Demon’s fall, there was an even more condensed cluster of demonic energy in the Void Sea. In a hundred or eighty years, or even less time, a new War Demon would be born.
This was the immortality of the demon race.