Chapter 35:

Xie Xuechen had no greed, which Mu Xuanling knew best. The Lust Demon’s projection had once used this trick against him, but it was completely ineffective. However, the Lust Demon’s true body lacked the projection’s memories and thus foolishly employed the same tactic against Xie Xuechen.

That’s why people say demons lack intelligence!

What angered Mu Xuanling even more was that the Lust Demon dragged her into this mess too!

After receiving the demonic pill granted by Sang Qi, the Lust Demon’s power surged beyond its previous strength. To break free from the Greed Prison, one must either kill the Lust Demon or eliminate the heart’s demons, slaying the desires within the prison and reducing it to ruins, thereby escaping its grasp.

When Mu Xuanling’s vision recovered from the darkness, she realized she was at Wenshui Cliff. Yet this time, it was somewhat different from the previous illusion she had seen. The snowstorm this time was particularly fierce, vaguely reminding her of the Mingyue Manor seven years ago, when she first met Xie Xuechen amidst a similar blizzard.

A snowflake drifted into her eye, and Mu Xuanling blinked, raising her hand to rub the moisture from her lashes. Through the blizzard, she saw a familiar back figure.

Xie Xuechen still stood there beneath the snow-laden tree, but the figure before her was not the four-year-old version. This tall, slender back appeared especially lonely, as if merging into the storm yet remaining incompatible with the world itself.

Mu Xuanling wasn’t quite sure why she had been drawn into Xie Xuechen’s Greed Prison or even what her own greed might be. However, she wasn’t in a hurry now because urgency wouldn’t help. Outside the prison, there was still an unknown traveler waiting for her. The Lust Demon’s strength was roughly equal to that of the traveler. If the Lust Demon could deal with the traveler first, the situation would be favorable for her. If the traveler defeated the Lust Demon, then the prison would naturally collapse, and at that point, facing Xie Xuechen and the Yuan Ying traveler, she would have no choice but to surrender.

Mu Xuanling couldn’t help but soften her breathing, attempting to slip away quietly. However, Xie Xuechen had already sensed her presence. As she moved, a strange force coiled around her slender waist, gently tugging her body uncontrollably toward the cliff’s edge, where she landed in a firm embrace. Looking up, she met Xie Xuechen’s cold and sharp gaze.

Xie Xuechen’s hand supported her waist. His long black hair was draped behind him, slightly dampened by the snowflakes clinging to it. His long lashes half-covered his phoenix eyes, which usually radiated sharpness and indifference but now swirled with unfathomable darkness, as if a storm lurked beneath dense clouds.

A strong sense of unease surged within Mu Xuanling, and her urge to escape intensified. She trembled and said, “Master Xie, this blizzard weather is perfect for sword practice. I won’t disturb your cultivation.”

As she spoke, she gently struggled, but the hand around her waist remained unmoved.

Xie Xuechen seemed to ignore her words entirely. Mu Xuanling noticed his somewhat dazed state, seemingly genuinely affected by the demonic realm’s power, losing his clarity of mind. Xie Xuechen’s Dao heart was firm, his spirit clear and bright. It was extremely difficult to drag him into the Greed Prison. The last time Xie Xuechen fell into the Greed Prison was because his spiritual seal was blocked, causing a significant loss of power. What about this time…

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

Another snowflake landed at the corner of her eye, and Mu Xuanling couldn’t help but furrow her brow and squint slightly. She then felt Xie Xuechen’s cool fingertips touch her eye corner. His calloused fingertip gently wiped away the moisture at the corner of her eye but lingered there. He brushed aside the strands of hair blown by the wind and tucked them behind her ear, then turned slightly, positioning her to lean against the tree and sheltering her from the storm with his body.

Amidst the blizzard, his arms enclosed a small, peaceful space, bringing an inexplicable sense of calm.

“Not disturbing,” Xie Xuechen said.

Mu Xuanling paused for a moment before realizing he was responding to her earlier words.

Xie Xuechen withdrew a white jade hairpin from his robe. His hand, accustomed to holding a sword, held the warm, smooth mutton-fat jade hairpin with unusual care and gentleness. In a slightly hoarse voice, he said, “That night, I went to redeem this hairpin. I originally wanted to return it to you.”

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

“Return it to me, and then chase me away, is that it?” Mu Xuanling said coldly, yet something in her heart felt wronged and hollow, unsure where this sense of grievance came from, as if a large piece were missing, making her feel discomfort and confusion.

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

Mu Xuanling’s heart trembled, and she looked up at Xie Xuechen. There seemed to be something suppressed in his eyes, his dark pupils swirling with something about to erupt.

“Xie Xuechen,” Mu Xuanling’s heart pounded painfully as she ruthlessly pierced through his illusion, “This is fake. The hairpin is broken. I don’t want it anymore.”

The hairpin in his palm snapped in response.

A taut string in his heart suddenly snapped, and an unfamiliar pain spread from his chest. The hand that should have been the firmest in the world involuntarily trembled. He slowly clenched the jade hairpin, and the white clouds were instantly shattered, turning into a handful of fine jade sand that fell from his fingers.

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

Mu Xuanling was startled and instinctively wanted to retreat but found no way back. Her back was tightly pressed against the tree trunk, trapped in Xie Xuechen’s embrace, his overwhelming aura enveloping her, causing her to tremble involuntarily.

“I…”

Xie Xuechen loosened his grip, and his palm was already empty. He raised his hand to gently caress Mu Xuanling’s cheek, interrupting whatever she was about to say: “Those who abandon me, yesterday’s days cannot stay…” Xie Xuechen gave a bitter smile. “I was wrong, Ling’er. Will you stay with me?”

Mu Xuanling stared blankly at the man before her. In her memory, Xie Xuechen was a solitary, cold, and unyielding person. Yet now, he was revealing his vulnerability so easily before her. He was a celestial immortal perched high in the clouds, dragged into the mundane world by her, stained with dust, while she abandoned him.

A sharp pain gripped Mu Xuanling’s heart. Her lips parted slightly, as if an invisible force was pressing on her, rendering her unable to speak.

“Xie…” she rasped.

Then his lips sealed hers.

He did not want to hear her cold rejection.

His cool, thin lips pressed against hers, awkwardly savoring and sucking, his long fingers gripping the back of her head, leaving her nowhere to escape. His other hand pressed against her lower back, pulling her tightly into his embrace. His kiss was clumsy yet fervent, plundering her sweetness, their breaths entwining, entangled and lingering.

A man always dignified and reserved, cold and noble, could also lose control. His raven-black hair intertwined amidst the storm, the coldness and sharpness in his eyes quietly melting away, softening, then burning. His once-clear phoenix eyes swirled with deep desire, the corners of his eyes slightly flushed. He was a celestial immortal standing high in the clouds, yet at this moment, he had fallen into the mortal world.

He had devoted his life to the sword path, knowing little about love, all of which came from her teachings. Now the situation had reversed; the things she had done to him, he was now repaying her in kind. He learned well, even intensifying it.

Her lips slightly swollen and aching, a hint of blood’s sweetness spread on her tongue, making her vaguely recall the time in Rongyuan when she had done the same to him…

Mu Xuanling suddenly understood.

—She was Xie Xuechen’s greed.

The Greed Prison could stir the deepest desires in one’s heart, trapping people in endless indulgence.

She could deceive herself, deceive the world, but not the slightest desire hidden deep within her heart.

Xie Xuechen surrendered to his desires, chasing and plundering her sweetness. In his mind, scenes flashed by, all of her images etched into his heart.

She angrily said—”You’re just relying on my affection for you.”

She said with grievance, “If I use demonic techniques, you will die.”

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

She was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment and, before dispersing her power, still asked him—”Xie Xuechen, are you healed?”

She was full of admiration, carefully placing a kiss at the corner of his lips.

She lost control of her demonic energy, displaying alluring gestures, passionately begging him for intimacy.

She had no regrets, only wanting to stay by his side, even if it meant lifelong imprisonment and servitude.

Xie Xuechen carried the world on his shoulders, while in her heart, there was only Xie Xuechen.

My heart is not stone, but it had already been carved deeply, without my knowing.

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

She had forcefully entered his world, then ruthlessly withdrew, making his world collapse at one corner. Only then did he realize she had become an inseparable part of him.

He had originally thought he couldn’t respond to her affection, unwilling to let her suffer as a servant in Yongsue City for life, so he sent her to Yunxiu Manor, letting better people take care of her, which he believed was the best arrangement for her.

But he began to regret it at some point.

Perhaps it was when he saw her coughing blood after blocking Sang Qi’s attack for Nan Xuyue. Or maybe it was when Sang Qi abducted her and he was powerless to pursue.

Perhaps it was even earlier, the moment he spoke those words.

When he was sober, he clearly felt the heavy burden on his shoulders. Between all beings and her, he could only choose the former. But at this moment, there was only one thought in his heart—keep her.

“Ling’er, don’t leave…” He murmured against her lips, his deep, hoarse voice restrained with pain and desire.

Mu Xuanling’s breath and strength were stolen by his domineering and lingering kiss. Her body weakly leaned against his chest, her hands powerless against him, relying only on the hand at her waist to support her weight. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as she blankly stared at Xie Xuechen. Her heart felt hollow, as if torn in two—half awake, half intoxicated, floating between sleep and wakefulness. The strange sense of detachment filled her with panic and suffocation. Suddenly, her heart throbbed violently, her face drained of color. She couldn’t stop trembling as tears streamed down her face.

Xie Xuechen heard her heartbeat stop in that instant, followed by an unstoppable flow of tears from her hollow eyes. The chaotic desires instantly vanished. He fearfully tightened his embrace around Mu Xuanling’s limp body, calling out in a trembling voice, “Ling’er, what’s wrong with you!”

Mu Xuanling’s lips parted slightly, but no sound escaped. The pain drained the color from her face, her brows knitting together tightly. Xie Xuechen’s voice seemed both near and far—as if whispering in her ear yet echoing from the heavens. Weakly, she collapsed into Xie Xuechen’s arms, her breathing alternating between rapid and shallow, her heartbeat suddenly surging with such intensity it threatened to burst from her chest.

Suddenly, the world around them began to distort and tremble. Xie Xuechen quickly realized that everything they were experiencing was an illusion of the Greed Prison. Wenshui Cliff was fake; Mu Xuanling was his greed. To break free from the Greed Prison, he must destroy the desires in his heart. At this moment, the trembling of the prison indicated that his desires were fading…

Xie Xuechen didn’t know why Mu Xuanling suddenly changed. He poured spiritual energy into her spiritual seal without hesitation, but it was clearly ineffective.

At that moment, the blizzard abruptly dissipated, replaced by a valley filled with the fragrance of grass. The only thing that remained unchanged was that he still held Mu Xuanling, who was barely breathing, in his arms.

Xie Xuechen’s heart sank. He would rather believe that the Mu Xuanling he had seen and held in the illusion was merely his imagination, even if she still remained cold and hateful toward him, than see her in danger.

The young traveler clasped his hands together, and the Lust Demon was bound by golden chains of spiritual energy, barely alive. Seeing Xie Xuechen emerge from the Greed Prison holding Mu Xuanling’s pale face, he was momentarily stunned. However, the next moment, Xie Xuechen’s sharp killing intent surged toward him.

“Why is she like this?” Xie Xuechen’s phoenix eyes, filled with anger and killing intent, coldly stared at the Lust Demon, his voice trembling with barely concealed emotion.

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

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

The Lust Demon trembled and said, “The Greed Prison never locks two people in the same prison unless…”

“Unless what?”

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

Xie Xuechen was stunned.

Ling’er’s greed… was him?

The traveler’s gaze fell on Mu Xuanling’s face, and he suddenly paused, softly exclaiming in surprise.

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

This young traveler was indeed the most insightful practitioner in Xuantian Temple for a thousand years—Xuanxin. He was considered a person born with wisdom, a reincarnation of a divine being, second only to Xie Xuechen. At just over twenty, he was only a step away from achieving the Dharmakaya. If it weren’t for the sudden death of Master Yinian, he would have become the next sect leader in a few years. However, Master Yinnian passed away hastily, leaving Xuantian Temple in chaos. Although many supported Xuanxin’s succession, he had not yet reached the Dharmakaya stage, making it difficult to gain universal acceptance.

Xie Xuechen knew this person was born with insight and extraordinary knowledge. Thus, he had invited him to help exorcise demons during the Mirrorflower Valley scheme.

Xuanxin’s clear and wise eyes fixed on the unconscious Mu Xuanling, his brows slightly furrowed. His voice was like the sound of jade, clear and pleasant.

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

Following Xuanxin’s words, Xie Xuechen lowered his gaze and indeed saw a faint gray mark below Mu Xuanling’s left eye corner. His fingertip gently rubbed it, but the skin felt smooth and delicate, with no raised sensation.

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

Xie Xuechen was slightly startled because he had heard Nan Xuyue mention the Enlightenment Water. It was a rare secret medicine of Xuantian Temple, but it wasn’t surprising that Xuanxin knew about it. His heart sank slightly, and he asked hoarsely, “Consuming the Enlightenment Water will sever all emotions and love…”

Xuanxin nodded and said, “The Enlightenment Water is a minor path. When our temple practitioners ascend to the Dharmakaya stage, they are most susceptible to heart demons and often fail to overcome emotional obstacles, ultimately falling into demonic paths and even dying. Therefore, our ancestors developed this medicine. After consuming it, one forgets emotions and love, reducing the interference of heart demons during ascension. However, relying on this medicine for ascension is not the true path. Since it is achieved through external means, it cannot truly erase emotions but will instead backfire on the mind.”

Xie Xuechen unconsciously clenched his fists and asked, “How does it backfire?”

Xuanxin sighed lightly, clasping his hands together. “Enlightenment arises from the heart and must be extinguished by the heart. If forcibly erased, it will damage the spiritual consciousness. A weakened spiritual consciousness makes one vulnerable to evil influences, just like Master Yinnian, whose heart demons became rampant, leading him astray. Mild cases result in madness, while severe cases lead to death and spiritual destruction.”

Xie Xuechen asked hoarsely, “Is her current condition, with a racing heartbeat yet weak breath, related to the Enlightenment Water?”

Xuanxin replied, “No one outside the temple has ever consumed the Enlightenment Water, so I dare not make assumptions, but I have a theory.”

Xie Xuechen said, “Master, please continue.”

“The Enlightenment Water suppresses humanity and destroys emotional thoughts, while the Greed Prison stirs up inner greed and desires. Perhaps her inner desires were too strong, and the Enlightenment Water forcibly suppressed them, resulting in a clash within her spiritual seal, damaging her heart meridians,” Xuanxin explained.

“Is there a way to heal her?” Xie Xuechen asked.

Xuanxin replied, “The Greed Prison has been broken, and her inner desires will soon be suppressed by the effects of the Enlightenment Water. She should awaken soon.”

At this moment, Xie Xuechen held Mu Xuanling in his arms and had already felt her heartbeat gradually calming, though she remained unconscious. Xuanxin’s words eased his mind slightly, but his heart remained heavy. Because this was only temporary relief, with endless future dangers.

Xie Xuechen asked, “Is there an antidote for the Enlightenment Water?”

Xuanxin replied, “The path of the practitioners of Xuantian Temple is the path of forgetting emotions, so the effects of the Enlightenment Water align with their spiritual path. After ascending to the Dharmakaya, the effects of the Enlightenment Water naturally dissipate, and the ‘Tear of Beings’ will also disappear. However, the Holy Maiden of the Demon Clan cultivates the path of emotions. The Enlightenment Water offers no benefit for ascension and conflicts with her spiritual path. When she attempts to break through to the Dharmakaya stage in the future, the conflict between the medicine’s effects and her spiritual path will pose a grave danger. Therefore, the antidote for the Enlightenment Water is not applicable to 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 possible method, though no one has ever tried it…”

“Master, please explain.”

Xuanxin glanced at the Lust Demon, then suddenly raised his hand, forming a semicircular barrier around himself and Xie Xuechen to prevent eavesdropping.

The Lust Demon stared blankly at Xuanxin’s back as he whispered something to Xie Xuechen. Xie Xuechen’s face grew serious, then he suddenly smiled faintly.

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

Xuanxin said, “This method is also dangerous. Moreover, she is the Holy Maiden of the Demon Clan, and the Immortal Alliance will not accept her.”

Xie Xuechen said calmly, “She has already betrayed the Demon Clan and joined me. That day, I abandoned her, allowing her to fall into Sang Qi’s hands and endure this suffering. The fault is mine. I abandoned her once, but I will never do it again. If the Immortal Alliance does not accept her, I will protect her.”

Xuanxin said solemnly, “Master Xie, this means opposing the Immortal Alliance.”

Xie Xuechen said, “Then I will oppose the Immortal Alliance.”

Xuanxin gazed at him for a long time before sighing softly, “Master Xie, you have already developed a heart demon.”

His Dao heart had ultimately been disrupted by one person.