Xie Xuechen had no greed, and Mu Xuanling knew this best. The projection of the Desire Demon had tried this trick on him before, to no avail. However, the Desire Demon’s true form didn’t possess the memories of its projection, unaware of this fact. Thus, the true form foolishly employed the same tactic against Xie Xuechen.

This is why they say demons lack intelligence!

What angered Mu Xuanling even more was that the Desire Demon had dragged her into this as well!

After receiving the demon pill bestowed by Sang Qi, the Desire Demon’s power greatly increased, surpassing its former self. To break free from the Cage of Greed, one must either kill the Desire Demon or overcome their inner demons, slaying the desires within the cage and reducing it to ruins. Only then could one escape.

When Mu Xuanling regained her vision from the darkness, she found herself at Question Snow Cliff. However, it differed from the illusion she had seen before. This time, the snowstorm was particularly fierce, reminiscent of the Mingyue Manor seven years ago when she first met Xie Xuechen amidst a similar heavy snowfall.

A snowflake blurred her vision. Mu Xuanling blinked, rubbing away the moisture on her eyelashes. Through the blizzard, she saw a familiar silhouette.

Xie Xuechen still stood there, under that snow-covered tree. But the man before her was not the four-year-old boy from that time. The tall, slender figure looked particularly desolate as if melding into the snowstorm yet somehow at odds with this world.

Mu Xuanling wasn’t quite sure why she had been pulled into Xie Xuechen’s Cage of Greed, nor did she know what her greed was. However, she wasn’t in a hurry now, as haste would be of no use. Outside the cage, a Cultivator of unknown strength was waiting for her. The Desire Demon’s power was probably on par with that Cultivator. If the Desire Demon could deal with the Cultivator first, it would be advantageous for her. If the Demon were defeated by the Cultivator, the cage would naturally break, and she would have no choice but to surrender when facing Xie Xuechen and the Yuan Ying Cultivator.

Mu Xuanling unconsciously softened her breathing, intending to slip away quietly. But Xie Xuechen had already noticed her presence. Just as she was about to move, a strange force entwined around her slender waist. With a gentle pull, her body flew uncontrollably towards the cliff’s edge, falling into a solid embrace. Looking up, she saw Xie Xuechen’s cold features.

Xie Xuechen’s hand rested on her waist. His long black hair cascaded down his back, dotted with snowflakes that slightly dampened the strands. His long eyelashes half-veiled his phoenix eyes, which were usually sharp and indifferent, now surged with inscrutable darkness, as if a storm lurked beneath dense clouds.

A strong sense of unease welled up in Mu Xuanling’s heart, and the urge to escape grew more intense. She said tremblingly, “Sect Leader Xie, this blizzard is perfect for sword practice. I won’t disturb your cultivation.”

As she spoke, she struggled lightly, but the arm around her waist didn’t budge.

Xie Xuechen seemed not to hear her words. Mu Xuanling noticed his spirit appeared somewhat dazed, as if truly affected by the demonic realm’s power, losing his mind. Xie Xuechen’s resolve was firm, his mind clear; to drag him into the Cage of Greed was extremely difficult. The last time Xie Xuechen fell into the Cage of Greed was because his divine aperture was sealed, greatly diminishing his power. This time…

It seemed that when he saw that broken hairpin, his mind revealed a weakness.

Another snowflake fell on the corner of her eye. Mu Xuanling couldn’t help but frown and squint, then felt Xie Xuechen’s cool fingertip touch the corner of her eye. The calloused pad of his finger gently wiped away the moisture, lingering there. He tucked a strand of her wind-blown hair behind her ear, then turned slightly, letting her lean against the tree trunk, shielding her from the blizzard with his body.

Amidst the swirling snow, he created a small world between his arms, inexplicably comforting.

“Not disturbing,” Xie Xuechen said.

Mu Xuanling was stunned for a moment before realizing he was answering her previous statement.

Xie Xuechen pulled out a white jade hairpin from his robes. His hand, accustomed to wielding a sword, held the smooth mutton-fat jade hairpin with exceptional care and gentleness. In a slightly hoarse voice, he said, “That night, I went to redeem this hairpin, intending to return it to you.”

Mu Xuanling lowered her eyes, staring blankly at the jade hairpin in his hand, momentarily forgetting to escape.

“Return it to me, then send me away, is that right?” Mu Xuanling said coldly, but her heart seemed to feel a twinge of grievance, and emptiness. She didn’t know where this grievance came from, as if a large piece was missing, making her feel uncomfortable and inexplicably sad.

Xie Xuechen said, “But I couldn’t bear to. This hairpin… and you.”

Mu Xuanling’s heart jolted, and she looked up at Xie Xuechen. His eyes seemed to be suppressing something, the dark pupils roiling with emotions about to burst forth.

“Xie Xuechen,” Mu Xuanling’s heart beat painfully, mercilessly puncturing his illusion, “This is false. The hairpin broke, I don’t want it anymore.”

The hairpin in his palm shattered at her words.

A string that had been taut in his heart for so long suddenly snapped. An unfamiliar pain spread from his chest. The hand that should have been the most steadfast in the world involuntarily trembled. He slowly clenched the jade hairpin, instantly crushing the white clouds into fine jade sand that fell through his fingers.

“You don’t want it anymore, is that so?” he asked in a hoarse voice.

Mu Xuanling was startled and instinctively wanted to retreat, but there was nowhere to go. Her back pressed tightly against the tree trunk, trapped in Xie Xuechen’s embrace. His intimidating aura enveloped her, making her tremble involuntarily.

“I…”

Xie Xuechen released his hand, his palm now empty. He raised his hand to gently caress Mu Xuanling’s cheek, interrupting what she was about to say: “Those who abandoned me, yesterday’s days cannot be retained…” Xie Xuechen smiled bitterly, “I was wrong, Ling’er. Will you stay?”

Mu Xuanling gazed at the man before her, losing herself. The Xie Xuechen in her memory was aloof, cold, unyielding. Yet now, he easily revealed his vulnerable side to her. He was an immortal seated high in the clouds, yet she had dragged him into the mortal realm. He was stained with dust, and she abandoned him.

Mu Xuanling felt a sharp pain in her chest. Her lips parted slightly as if an invisible force was pressing on her, preventing her from speaking.

“Xie…” she began hoarsely.

Then he silenced her with his lips.

He didn’t want to hear her cold rejection.

His cool, thin lips covered hers, inexpertly sucking and nibbling. His long fingers held the back of her head, leaving her nowhere to escape. His other hand pressed against her lower back, holding her tightly in his arms, their bodies closely intertwined. His kiss was clumsy yet eager, plundering the sweetness in her mouth, their breaths mingling, entangled in passion.

Even someone usually so dignified, restrained, cold, and noble could have a moment of losing control. Their raven-black hair intertwined in the wind and snow. The iciness and sharpness in his brow and eyes were quietly melting, softening, then becoming scorching hot. His phoenix eyes, having lost their clarity, surged with deep desire. The slightly upturned corners of his eyes were tinged with a rosy hue. He was an immortal standing high in the clouds, yet at this moment, he had fallen into the rolling mortal world.

He had dedicated his life to the way of the sword, knowing little about love and desire. All he knew came from her teachings. Now their positions were reversed; what she had done to him, he was now doing to her. He learned extremely well, even going beyond.

Her lips were slightly swollen and painful, a hint of iron spreading on her tongue, reminding her of their time in the Melting Abyss, when she had done the same to him…

Mu Xuanling suddenly understood.

— She was Xie Xuechen’s greed.

The Cage of Greed could evoke the deepest desires in one’s heart, making people sink into it, unable to extricate themselves.

One might deceive oneself, deceive the world, but couldn’t deceive that trace of desire hidden deep in the heart.

Xie Xuechen indulged in his desire, pursuing and plundering the sweetness between her lips and tongue. Scenes flashed through his mind, all of her face etched in his heart.

She angrily said — You’re just taking advantage of the fact that I like you.

She said with a grievance — If I had used demonic techniques, you would have died.

She said eagerly — Except for Xie Xuechen, everyone else is just others.

When she was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment, before dispersing her powers, she still asked him — Xie Xuechen, have your injuries healed?

Full of admiration, she carefully planted a kiss on his lips.

When her demonic energy went out of control, she displayed her allure, pleading for his affection.

Without complaint or regret, she only wanted to stay by his side, even if it meant lifelong imprisonment as a slave.

Xie Xuechen cared for the world, but in her heart, there was only Xie Xuechen.

His heart was not of stone, it had long been deeply engraved, without him realizing it.

He should have been snow that never melted, yet he willingly melted in her palm.

She forcefully entered his world, then mercilessly withdrew, causing a corner of his world to suddenly collapse. Only then did he realize that she had become an inseparable part of him.

He had originally thought that since he couldn’t respond to her devotion, and didn’t want to wrong her by keeping her as a slave in Yong Xue City for life, he would send her to Yun Xiu Mountain Manor, letting better people take care of her. He believed this was the best arrangement for her.

But he regretted it at some point.

Perhaps it was when he saw her cough blood after blocking Sang Qi’s attack meant for Nan Xuyue. Or maybe when Sang Qi kidnapped her he was powerless to give chase.

Perhaps even earlier, he regretted it the moment those words left his lips.

When clear-headed, he keenly felt the heavy burden on his shoulders. Between the masses and her, he could only choose the former. But at this moment, only one thought remained in his mind—to keep her.

“Ling’er, don’t go…” he murmured against her lips, his deep, hoarse voice suppressing pain and desire.

Mu Xuanling’s breath and strength were stolen by his domineering yet tender kiss. Her body softened in his embrace, her hands weakly pressed against his chest, relying solely on the hand at her waist to support her entire weight. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she gazed at Xie Xuechen in bewilderment. It felt as if a piece was missing from her heart, leaving it empty, unable to grasp anything. She seemed torn in two—half awake, half intoxicated—as if floating between sleep and wakefulness. An inexplicable sense of detachment made her feel panicked and suffocated. Her heart suddenly constricted in intense pain, color draining from her face. She began to tremble uncontrollably, tears streaming from her eyes.

Xie Xuechen heard her heartbeat stop for an instant, followed by unstoppable tears flowing from her vacant eyes. The hazy desire dissipated in an instant. He held Mu Xuanling’s limp body tightly, fear gripping him as he called out tremblingly, “Ling’er, what’s wrong!”

Mu Xuanling’s lips parted slightly, but no sound escaped. Pain made her face pale, and her brows furrowed. Xie Xuechen’s call seemed both at her ear and far away. She collapsed weakly, carefully cradled in Xie Xuechen’s arms. Her breathing alternated between rapid and slow, but her heartbeat suddenly became violent, as if about to explode.

The world around them suddenly distorted and shook. Xie Xuechen had already realized that everything they were experiencing was an illusion of the Cage of Greed. Question Snow Cliff was fake, Mu Xuanling was his greed, and to break free from the Cage of Greed, he had to extinguish his desires. The cage was trembling now because his desire was dissipating…

Xie Xuechen didn’t know why Mu Xuanling had suddenly changed. He desperately injected spiritual power into her divine aperture, but it was clearly of no use.

At that moment, the blizzard suddenly dissipated, replaced by a valley filled with the fragrance of herbs. The only constant was Mu Xuanling, still barely breathing in his arms.

Xie Xuechen’s heart sank. He would have preferred if the Mu Xuanling he had held in the previous illusion was just a figment of his imagination, even if she was still cold and hating him, rather than seeing her in such danger.

The young cultivator, hands clasped, had the Desire Demon bound by golden chains formed of spiritual power. The demon was on its last breath. Seeing Xie Xuechen emerge from the Cage of Greed holding the pale-faced Mu Xuanling, he was also stunned for a moment. However, in the next instant, Xie Xuechen’s sharp killing intent was directed at him.

“Why is she like this?” Xie Xuechen’s phoenix eyes, filled with anger and killing intent, coldly stared at the Desire Demon, his voice barely concealing a tremor.

“I don’t know…” the Desire Demon trembled, “How dare I harm the Holy Maiden.”

“You dragged her into the Cage of Greed!” Xie Xuechen said coldly.

The Desire Demon said tremblingly, “The Cage of Greed never traps two people in the same cage, unless…”

“Unless what?”

The Desire Demon swallowed hard: “Unless those two people are each other’s greed.”

Xie Xuechen was stunned.

Ling’er’s greed… was he?

The cultivator’s gaze fell on Mu Xuanling’s face, suddenly pausing, letting out a soft “Hm?”

Xie Xuechen noticed the cultivator’s unusual reaction and looked at him, asking, “Does Master Xuanxin know something?”

This young cultivator was Xuanxin, the most gifted practitioner in a thousand years at Xuan Tian Temple. He was considered to be born with innate knowledge, second only to Xie Xuechen as a reincarnated divine being. In his early twenties, he was just one step away from the Fa Xiang realm. If not for the sudden passing of Venerable Yi Nian, he would have been the next head of the sect in a few years. But Venerable Yi Nian’s departure was hasty, and now Xuan Tian Temple was in chaos. Although many supported Xuanxin’s succession, he had not yet entered the Fa Xiang realm and couldn’t convince everyone.

Xie Xuechen knew this person was born with extraordinary wisdom and insight. For this trap in Mirror Flower Valley, he had asked for his help in exorcising demons.

Xuanxin’s clear eyes fixed on the unconscious Mu Xuanling. He frowned slightly, his voice like jade, clear and pleasing to the ear.

“Sect Leader Xie, look, there’s a small gray teardrop-shaped mole at the corner of her eye.”

Following Xuanxin’s words, Xie Xuechen looked closely and indeed saw an inconspicuous gray mark below Mu Xuanling’s left eye corner. He gently rubbed it with his index finger, feeling only smooth, delicate skin with no raised texture.

Xuanxin said, “This small mole is called the ‘Tear of All Beings.’ It’s a symptom that appears after taking the Heart Enlightenment Water.”

Xie Xuechen was slightly startled, as he had heard about the Heart Enlightenment Water from Nan Xuyue. It was a secret drug of Xuan Tian Temple, rare and precious, but it wasn’t surprising that Xuanxin knew about it. His heart sank slightly as he said hoarsely, “Taking the Heart Enlightenment Water… severs emotions and love…”

Xuanxin nodded and said, “The Heart Enlightenment Water is a minor path. When our temple’s Yuan Ying cultivators ascend to the Fa Xiang realm, they are most prone to developing heart demons. If they can’t break through the barrier of emotions, they ultimately fall into the demonic path, even to the point of dying and their Dao being destroyed. That’s why our ancestors developed this drug. After taking it, one forgets emotions and love, reducing the heart demons during ascension. However, relying on this drug to ascend is ultimately not the right path. It’s an external force, unable to truly forget emotions, and may instead backfire on one’s heart.”

Xie Xuechen unconsciously clenched his fist: “How does it backfire?”

Xuanxin sighed lightly, clasping his hands: “Enlightenment of the heart arises from the heart and must be extinguished by the heart. If forcibly erased, it will damage the spirit. With a weakened spirit, evil spirits easily invade, like Venerable Yi Nian, whose heart demons raged, leading him astray. In mild cases, it leads to madness; in severe cases, death and destruction of the Dao.”

Xie Xuechen asked hoarsely, “Her heart is now beating like thunder, yet her breath is weak. Is this related to the Heart Enlightenment Water?”

Xuanxin said, “No outsider has ever taken the Heart Enlightenment Water, so I dare not speak carelessly. I only have a guess.”

Xie Xuechen said, “Please, Master, speak freely.”

“The Heart Enlightenment Water extinguishes human nature and kills emotions, while the Cage of Greed evokes desire and obsession in the heart. Perhaps her inner desire was too strong, and the Heart Enlightenment Water forcibly suppressed it, causing a clash in her divine aperture, leading to damage to her heart meridians,” Xuanxin said.

“Is there any way to treat it?” Xie Xuechen asked.

Xuanxin replied, “The Cage of Greed has been broken. The desire in her heart will soon be suppressed by the effects of the Heart Enlightenment Water. She should wake up shortly.”

At this point, Xie Xuechen, holding Mu Xuanling, could already feel her heartbeat gradually calming down, though she remained unconscious. Xuanxin’s words made him feel slightly relieved, but his heart remained heavy. Because this was only a reprieve, endless troubles still lay ahead.

Xie Xuechen asked, “Is there any way to counteract the Heart Enlightenment Water?”

Xuanxin said, “The Dao heart established by Xuan Tian Temple’s practitioners is the Way of Forgetting Emotions. Therefore, the effects of the Heart Enlightenment Water align with their Dao’s heart. After ascending to the Fa Xiang realm, the drug’s effects naturally dissipate, and the Tear of All Beings disappears. But the Demon Clan’s Holy Maiden cultivates the Way of Emotions. The Heart Enlightenment Water is of no benefit to her ascension and contradicts her Dao’s heart. When she tries to break through to the Fa Xiang realm in the future, it will be extremely dangerous due to the conflict between the drug’s effects and her Dao heart. Therefore, the method to counteract the Heart Enlightenment Water is not suitable for her.”

“Is there no other way?” Xie Xuechen’s fingers holding Mu Xuanling turned white.

Xuanxin remained silent for a long time before saying, “There is one method that might work, but no one has ever tried it…”

“Please, Master, tell me.”

Xuanxin glanced at the Desire Demon, and suddenly raised his hand to draw a semicircular barrier enclosing him and Xie Xuechen, preventing others from eavesdropping.

The Desire Demon stared blankly as Xuanxin, with his back turned, said something to Xie Xuechen. Xie Xuechen nodded with a grave expression, then suddenly smiled faintly.

Xie Xuechen said, “I understand. Thank you for telling me, Master.”

Xuanxin said, “This method is also dangerous. Moreover, she is the Demon Clan’s Holy Maiden. The Immortal Alliance will not tolerate her.”

Xie Xuechen calmly said, “She has already betrayed the Demon Clan and come to me. That day, it was I who abandoned her, letting her fall into Sang Qi’s hands and suffer this ordeal. The fault lies entirely with me. I abandoned her once; there won’t be a second time. If the Immortal Alliance won’t tolerate her, I will protect her.”

Xuanxin said gravely, “Sect Leader Xie, this means opposing the Immortal Alliance.”

Xie Xuechen said, “Then so be it.”

Xuanxin stared at him for a long time before sighing softly: “Sect Leader Xie, you have already developed a heart demon.”

His Dao’s heart had ultimately been disturbed because of one person.