Chapter 10:

The main gate of Yunxiu Manor was knocked open in the dead of night.

An unexpected visit at such an hour could only mean unwelcome guests. The guards eyed the two visitors warily. Among them were cultivators, none beyond the Golden Core stage, so they couldn’t see through Mu Xuanling and Xie Xuechen’s disguises. They only knew the two weren’t cultivators, yet they sensed something ominous about them.

“Report to the Manor Lord immediately!”

Before the head guard could finish speaking, a familiar and gentle voice came from not far behind them: “I already know.”

Everyone was startled. The guards, who had formed a tight circle, all turned and bowed respectfully to the newcomer. Their expressions and movements clearly showed their deep respect and admiration for their Manor Lord.

“Greetings, Manor Lord!”

The crowd parted, and a young man in a plain cloud-patterned robe approached slowly from the moonlight. He walked slowly—so slowly that an ordinary person might hardly notice—but to the sharp senses of cultivators, it was obvious that he had difficulty walking. Yet even so, his demeanor remained unimpaired, poised and graceful.

“I couldn’t sleep tonight, so I observed the stars and knew that noble guests were coming,” Nanshu Yue nodded with a smile toward Xie Xuechen. “It’s been a while.” He then turned to Mu Xuanling. “We meet again.”

Mu Xuanling was slightly surprised. It was understandable that he recognized her—after all, she had worn a magical artifact to conceal her appearance both times they met. But how could he, a non-cultivator, see through Xie Xuechen’s disguise?

“These two are friends of mine. There’s no need for caution.”

With those words from Nanshu Yue, the tense atmosphere quickly dissipated. The guards dispersed in order, and Nanshu Yue gestured politely for Xie and Mu to follow him inside.

“Brother Xie, please come in for a chat.”

By addressing Xie Xuechen as “Brother Xie,” Nanshu Yue seemed to imply a close relationship.

Mu Xuanling pondered this silently as she and Xie Xuechen followed Nanshu Yue into the manor.

Inside the manor, the scenery was elegant and serene—rockeries stood in artistic disorder, flowers bloomed in abundance, and the gentle sound of flowing water could be faintly heard. Passing the rockeries, they saw a pond of night lotuses. Such a paradise quietly soothed the guests’ anxiety and unease, bringing a sense of peace and ease.

Even the host’s slow pace seemed unimportant.

Nanshu Yue led the two to a waterside pavilion in the center of the pond. The pavilion was open on all sides, with a table in the middle, a game of chess, tea, a zither, and flowers. Though small, the space was refined and tranquil.

“This place is protected by a formation. Even if the Demon Sovereign himself came, he couldn’t eavesdrop.”

Nanshu Yue invited them to sit, then took tea leaves from a wooden box and poured boiling water over them. The aroma of the tea quickly filled the air, invigorating the senses.

“Brother Xie, judging by your condition, you must have been gravely injured in the Demon Realm,” Nanshu Yue poured tea to eight-tenths full for both guests, his bright eyes smiling toward Xie Xuechen. “Was it this young lady, Miss Mu, who saved you?”

Xie Xuechen raised his teacup and sipped calmly. “You’re always so sharp. I’m sure you’ve already figured everything out.”

Mu Xuanling eyed Nanshu Yue suspiciously. “How did you know?”

“The bloodstains on the Linglong Collar.”

Mu Xuanling was still puzzled. “The bloodstains on the Linglong Collar can indeed reveal that the blood belongs to a Nascent Soul cultivator, but how could you identify it as Xie Xuechen’s?”

Xie Xuechen looked at Nanshu Yue. “So you were the one who removed the Linglong Collar from her.”

Nanshu Yue smiled. “I may not be able to recognize someone by their blood, but I can recognize someone by their handwriting. I’m quite familiar with Brother Xie’s script.”

Mu Xuanling turned to Xie Xuechen, who said, “The Linglong Collar was taught to me by him.”

Mu Xuanling realized that the relationship between these two must be deeper than mere acquaintances. Such a private matter—her master probably didn’t even know.

Sensing Mu Xuanling’s curiosity, Nanshu Yue patiently explained, “A few years ago, my father passed away. Brother Xie came to pay his respects and stayed for half a month. We had many pleasant conversations. When Brother Xie said that I taught him the Linglong Collar, he was being modest. Without his guidance, the formation wouldn’t have been completed.”

Mu Xuanling doubted the phrase “pleasant conversations”—Xie Xuechen was a man of few words; it was probably all Nanshu Yue doing the talking. Yet Xie Xuechen, known for his cold detachment, had spent half a month discussing cultivation with Nanshu Yue. This showed that Nanshu Yue was not only knowledgeable but also exceptionally skilled at understanding others’ interests.

“I heard that Yunxiu Manor has now become a secular force, no longer part of the Immortal Alliance. Yet your information network remains sharp. Few in the Immortal Alliance even know that the Sect Leader Xie was attacked by the Demon Race. How did you come by this information, Young Master Nanshu?” Mu Xuanling asked cautiously.

Nanshu Yue didn’t seem to mind her veiled hostility and suspicion. His smile remained warm as he replied, “Though Yunxiu Manor has been removed from the Immortal Alliance, my father was well-connected in his lifetime, maintaining good relations with the five sects. It wasn’t difficult to ask old friends for non-sensitive information. Yesterday, when I saw Brother Xie’s handwriting on the Linglong Collar, I had my suspicions, so I sent him a spiritual message, but received no reply. I then discreetly inquired at other sects and learned that the elders and leaders of the five major sects were all away from their sects. Meanwhile, the defenses in Ongxue City were unusually tight, which made me suspect that Brother Xie was in trouble, and that the Linglong Collar must have been set by him.

Brother Xie can sever any technique with a single sword stroke. He would never harm himself unless absolutely forced, let alone use Nascent Soul blood to set up an array. I suspect he must have been severely wounded or had his spiritual apertures sealed. Observing the celestial signs, I noticed an unusual surge of demonic energy from Liangjieshan, far exceeding normal levels, which led me to believe Brother Xie’s misfortune was connected to the Demon Realm. I also considered that Miss Mu might have been pursuing him, and I feared her involvement might bring further calamity upon Brother Xie. Thus, just as I was about to divine Brother Xie’s whereabouts, I sensed that two distinguished guests would arrive this evening.

He paused, glancing between Xie Xuechen and Mu Xuanling with a light smile. “Brother Xie is known for his hatred of evil and his ruthless extermination of demons. Yet he treats Miss Mu with unusual warmth. If it weren’t for a life-saving favor, I can’t think of any other reason.”

Mu Xuanling hadn’t expected that the blood talisman on the Linglong Collar could allow Nanshu Yue to deduce everything as if he had witnessed it himself. She felt both admiration and unease.

She had thought herself clever, but now she realized it was only because she was surrounded by foolish demons. Compared to a truly intelligent person like Nanshu Yue, she was nothing.

But he did say nice things. Xie Xuechen treated her specially, with unusual warmth—Mu Xuanling thought with a touch of sweetness.

Though Xie Xuechen had only known Nanshu Yue for half a month, he had already seen his extraordinary abilities, so he wasn’t surprised that Nanshu Yue could deduce everything.

Xie Xuechen was a year older than Nanshu Yue. Both were born with ten spiritual passageways, so people inevitably compared them. However, after the age of ten, three of Nanshu Yue’s passageways were destroyed, leaving Xie Xuechen as the only one left.

Six years ago, Nanshu Yue’s father, Nanshu Wujiu, passed away when Nanshu Yue was eighteen. Nascent Soul cultivators usually live for a thousand years and have many children, but Nanshu Wujiu was a war-loving man who didn’t care much for women, so his offspring were few, and many died young. In the end, the burden fell on Nanshu Yue, who was called a cripple.

Dressed in white mourning clothes, Nanshu Yue knelt beside the funeral hall. His youthful, slender face bore the sorrow of great grief, his eyes clearer from weeping. He calmly and meticulously arranged his father’s funeral, shouldering the operation of Yunxiu Manor with his frail shoulders. Elders from other sects in the Immortal Alliance came to pay their respects, all sighing that Yunxiu Manor’s decline was inevitable. The child who once amazed the heavens, the boy the cultivation world had high hopes for—Nanshu Yue—was now just a cripple.

Meanwhile, nineteen-year-old Xie Xuechen stood quietly nearby, like a majestic snow-capped peak, awe-inspiring and unshakable, like a peerless divine weapon, radiating sharp brilliance.

The contrast made people feel even more pity for the boy.

Xie Xuechen glanced at Nanshu Yue. For some reason, he felt that the boy everyone pitied didn’t think he needed pity. Though he seemed young, he had the maturity and steadiness of an adult. Though frail in appearance, his spiritual power was exceptionally strong.

As fellow practitioners of the Ten Natural Orifices, Xie Xuechen understood the distinction between those born with the Ten Natural Orifices and those who opened their meridians later. The world they perceived was fundamentally different from that of others.

Perhaps out of respect for the other, when Nanshu Yue greeted him, Xie Xuechen didn’t coldly reject him. After conversing with Nanshu Yue, he was amazed by his vast knowledge, but Nanshu Yue only smiled and said, “I merely spent my time on poetry, music, and various techniques because I couldn’t cultivate. If Brother Xie truly wished to, he would do even better.”

Xie Xuechen replied, “Though you can’t cultivate, you can still set formations using spiritual artifacts to protect yourself and harm enemies.”

Because of that conversation, the two began to study formations together, and in half a month, they devised dozens of formations.

Nanshu Yue said happily, “I’m glad that Brother Xie doesn’t pity me.”

Xie Xuechen replied, “Why would you need pity?”

Nanshu Yue smiled. “Someone once said the same thing. I was born with too much, and even after losing some, I’m still better off than billions of people in the world. Why should I pity myself, and why should others pity me?”

He didn’t think himself pitiful. Walking slowly was just an excuse to enjoy the scenery of this world a little longer.

“Nanshu Yue, I need to return to Ongxue City. I’ll borrow your teleportation formation,” Xie Xuechen said bluntly.

“Fine. But activating the formation takes two hours. You’ve come a long way. Why not rest here for a while?” Nanshu Yue agreed readily, then hesitated and added, “Brother Xie, Miss Mu has a half-demon body. If she goes to Ongxue City with you, she may face great danger.”

Mu Xuanling tightly gripped Xie Xuechen’s hand, determinedly saying, “I’m going.”

Xie Xuechen recalled her words about dispersing her cultivation, realizing her firm resolve. He found himself involuntarily considering how to help her hide.

Nanshu Yue’s gaze fell on their entwined hands, and a flicker of something passed through his eyes.

“If Miss Mu is worried about her demonic aura being detected, I have a method,” Nanshu Yue said. “We can engrave the formation into a personal item, using the formation’s power to conceal her presence.”

“I also know a little about formations,” Mu Xuanling said. She couldn’t claim expertise in front of him. “I used this method to avoid the demons on the way here.”

Nanshu Yue nodded slightly. “Brother Xie’s hairpin and Miss Mu’s ring are indeed excellent artifacts, but hiding from Nascent Soul cultivators is no easy task.”

Nanshu Yue instantly saw through their disguising artifacts, making Mu Xuanling feel uneasy. Though he couldn’t cultivate, as a natural-born ten-aperture prodigy, his vision was incredibly sharp, with unmatched attention to detail.

“In recent years, I’ve studied formations in my spare time and gained some insights. There’s a formation that might hide you from Nascent Soul cultivators.”

Upon hearing this, Mu Xuanling’s eyes lit up. “Really? Can you teach me?”

Such an important formation shouldn’t be passed to a demon, for if demons mastered it, they could infiltrate the human world unnoticed, causing great harm. Yet these two—one daring to ask, the other daring to give—were exceptions. Nanshu Yue smiled and said, “Of course. I don’t have spiritual power, so you’ll need to engrave it yourself.”

Whether human spiritual energy, demonic energy, or beastly power, all could power formations. That was why the half-beast Sangqi could become a master of formations. Having been personally taught by Sangqi, Mu Xuanling’s understanding of formations far surpassed others’. The formation Nanshu Yue taught was extremely complex, but Mu Xuanling, with her sharp mind, memorized it perfectly on the first try.

Nanshu Yue sighed. “Miss Mu, your intelligence is admirable. It’s a pity you’re a half-demon, making your cultivation path difficult. Otherwise, your achievements could rival Brother Xie’s.”

“Master Nanshu flatters me,” Mu Xuanling smiled and waved her hand. “Sect Leader Xie focuses on a single path to reach the peak, and his care for the world earns him the respect of thousands. As for me, I’m just a little clever, with no great ambitions—I only wish to be with the one I love.”

Mu Xuanling’s gaze shifted to Xie Xuechen.

She had always been this way—passionate and sincere, unafraid of being seen, afraid only of being unnoticed.

Nanshu Yue saw it clearly but didn’t speak of it. He smiled and asked, “Miss Mu can choose a personal accessory to engrave the formation. If you don’t have a suitable treasure, I have many rare ones to offer.”

“I wouldn’t dare trouble Master Nanshu further,” Mu Xuanling politely declined. “Aobao has many powerful treasures. I’ve already chosen one I like.”

As she spoke, she took out a jade bracelet inlaid with gold from her spatial pouch. The bracelet was entirely emerald green, though it was broken. However, its most precious feature was the golden repair, done by a Nascent Soul cultivator. Thus, this ordinary treasure gained spiritual energy, its vibrant green color brimming with life.

Mu Xuanling removed the ring that concealed her demonic and beastly aura. Immediately, her demonic and beastly energy surged outward. However, Nanshu Yue, being an ordinary human, couldn’t see demonic or beastly energy. What he saw was only Mu Xuanling’s true appearance.

The Lust Demon had said that hers was a rare beauty unseen even in the three realms. He had seen countless lustful hearts but never found a face as beautiful as hers.

Nanshu Yue was slightly taken aback. Mu Xuanling keenly noticed his reaction. If it were mere admiration for beauty, that wouldn’t be unusual. What was strange was that his emotion was surprise.

Her eyes sparkling with curiosity, Mu Xuanling looked at Nanshu Yue. “Master Nanshu, you seem surprised to see me?”

Nanshu Yue didn’t avoid the question. He carefully examined Mu Xuanling for a moment before gently shaking his head. “At first glance, your true appearance reminded me of an old friend of mine.”

“Oh?” Mu Xuanling smiled. “I’m curious—who was it? Or was it even a person?”

Nanshu Yue unfolded his folding fan, hiding the amused smile at the corner of his lips.

“Upon closer inspection, it doesn’t resemble her. I must have mistaken her for someone else. Please forgive my rudeness. I’ll go ahead and prepare the formation. If you two feel tired, you may rest in the western chamber of the pavilion.”

With that, Nanshu Yue left.

After watching Nanshu Yue’s figure disappear around the corner, Mu Xuanling turned to Xie Xuechen. “He’s not telling the truth. Sect Leader Xie, are there people in the human realm as beautiful as me?”

Xie Xuanling looked straight ahead, sipping his tea calmly. “Beauty is an illusion. In a hundred years, all beauty turns to dust.”

Exactly the kind of thing Xie Xuechen would say.

Mu Xuanling smiled. “In your eyes, Sect Leader, people differ only by good and evil, strong and weak. Do you know how I see people?”

Xie Xuechen glanced sideways slightly, his cold phoenix eyes reflecting Mu Xuanling’s suddenly close face. She leaned in, whispering softly by his ear, “To me, everyone is just ‘not Xie Xuechen.'”

They were too close. Her warm breath, carrying a faint fragrance, brushed against his cheek. A slight turn of the head would bring their lips together.

But she quickly pulled away, a satisfied, mischievous smile on her lips as she pretended to focus on engraving the formation into the bracelet.

Xie Xuechen turned his gaze away, unconsciously tracing the white porcelain teacup, beginning to seriously ponder something.

He had lived for twenty-five years, and few questions had ever troubled him. There were only three questions that he had pondered deeply, seeking answers high and low.

The first question was: What is the heart of the Dao?

The second question was: What is the heart of the sword?

The third question was: Why is Mu Xuanling so determined to be with him?