Chapter 37:

The incident at Mirror Blossom Valley could not be concealed from the world, and Nan Xuyue learned of it the very next day.

Mu Xuanling’s night raid on Mirror Blossom Valley had resulted in her being taken away by Xie Xuechen.

He was momentarily dazed before Fu Lansheng snapped him back to reality.

At that moment, he was a guest at Bi Xiao Palace. Fu Lansheng had sent him a paper crane talisman with urgent news, though it didn’t specify the matter, only stating it was a life-or-death emergency. Concerned for his easygoing friend, Nan Xuyue immediately traveled from Liangjieshan to Bi Xiao Palace.

As soon as Nan Xuyue arrived at Bi Xiao Palace and before he had even met Fu Yuan Ting, Fu Lansheng dragged him into the backyard with a mix of persuasion and deception.

“This is improper,” Nan Xuyue said with a helpless wave of his fan. “After all, I am the master of a manor, equal in status to your father. How can I visit without meeting the host?”

“That’s not important,” Fu Lansheng pushed Nan Xuyue into the room, shut the door, and grinned. “My parents are both currently in retreat and don’t have time to see you. As the young master of the palace, I’m in charge now, so meeting with me is the same thing.”

Nan Xuyue raised his eyebrows in mild surprise but complied, sitting down in the chair Fu Lansheng pushed him toward. He then turned and saw a large wooden structure nearby. Made of high-quality pine wood, it had five levels with slides, rollers, swings, and springboards. A fluffy Treasure-sniffing rat was happily hopping about on it.

“Abao,” Nan Xuyue called gently.

Abao pushed off from the springboard and landed on the table in front of Nan Xuyue, her paws neatly folded before her as she happily greeted, “Master Nan, you’re here! Has your sister come too?”

Abao had clearly been living quite well under Fu Lansheng’s care. In just over a month, she had grown noticeably larger, her fur softer and shinier, and her aura more stable. Although half-demons find cultivation difficult, being close to treasures and maintaining good health can extend their lives.

“My sister couldn’t come, so she sent me to check on you,” Nan Xuyue said, folding his fan and gently stroking Abao’s head with a smile. “Have you learned anything bad from Brother Lansheng?”

Fu Lansheng frowned in protest and tapped the table, giving Abao a threatening glance. “I’m full of good qualities. How could Abao possibly learn anything bad from me?”

Abao blinked her wide, moist eyes in confusion. “What’s something bad? Does liking men count?”

Fu Lansheng coughed violently, grabbed Abao, and started squeezing her in his palm, looking fierce. “What nonsense are you spouting!”

Abao hugged her head and whimpered, “Brother is being mean to me!”

Nan Xuyue couldn’t help but smile. He tapped Fu Lansheng’s wrist with his folding fan, rescuing Abao from his “clutches.” Abao immediately jumped into Nan Xuyue’s palm and turned her face away from Fu Lansheng.

“Brother Fu, you’re the only young master of Bi Xiao Palace. You really shouldn’t go down the wrong path. The responsibility of continuing the Bi Xiao lineage rests solely on your shoulders,” Nan Xuyue teased deliberately.

Fu Lansheng poured two cups of tea and drank one in one gulp, his handsome face darkening. “Don’t listen to this little brat’s nonsense. He just learned a word and is using it randomly. I was only doing it to help her find my father, but it caused my mother to misunderstand me.”

Nan Xuyue laughed. “A mother knows her son best. Elder Duan is well aware of your flirtatious nature. Seeing how you dote on a man, she couldn’t help but make some colorful guesses.”

“Others may not know, but surely you understand me?” Fu Lansheng sighed. “It’s not that I’m naturally flirtatious. It’s just that beautiful women are often emotional, and I hate to see them cry. I have no choice but to sacrifice myself, like feeding a tiger, to save all beings.”

Nan Xuyue said, “Haha, how unfortunate for you.”

During her time with Fu Lansheng, Abao had indeed seen many female cultivators who threw themselves at him. Fu Lansheng was most adept at handling these emotionally expressive female cultivators. With his handsome looks, noble background, and being the sole heir of Bi Xiao Palace, he didn’t even need to say much before female cultivators flocked to him like bees and butterflies. Moreover, he was always sweet-tongued and generous, calling them “sisters” and “little sisters,” making him even more popular than the gentle and refined Nan Xuyue. It was only recently, with a little Treasure-sniffing rat constantly by his side, that he had been reluctant to reveal his true nature, turning down many “evening rendezvous,” fearing that Abao might learn bad habits and go around spreading them.

Hearing their conversation, Abao couldn’t help but mutter, “Brother doesn’t look the least bit unhappy. He seems really happy.”

Fu Lansheng gritted his teeth and said, “I’ve been too kind to you.”

Abao’s round ears trembled slightly as she grabbed Nan Xuyue’s slender fingers for protection.

Nan Xuyue smiled and tapped her head gently before turning to Fu Lansheng and asking, “What urgent matter made you call me here?”

Fu Lansheng glanced at Abao, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes, but he forced a laugh. “Abao, go play somewhere else. Your brothers have serious matters to discuss.”

Abao looked at him doubtfully—she felt this unserious older brother probably didn’t have anything serious to say.

But she obediently went to play on the pine wood structure nearby.

Fu Lansheng drew a circle with his right hand and set up a barrier to block Abao’s sight and hearing before turning to Nan Xuyue. “I recently obtained a magical artifact.” He said, taking out a palm-sized mirror from his storage pouch. “This mirror is called ‘Blood Mirror.'”

Nan Xuyue took the mirror from Fu Lansheng’s hand. The mirror was made of strange material, resembling silver but not quite, with an oval-shaped black mirror surface. Around its edges were engraved magical array symbols.

“This was obtained from a heretical cultivator who practiced blood sacrifice techniques. He used his own blood as bait, inducing others to drink it. Then, using this Blood Mirror, he could access the senses of those connected by blood, seeing what they saw,” Fu Lansheng explained. “I was curious and added a drop of my own blood. What I saw in the mirror was my mother practicing cultivation.”

Nan Xuyue’s mind stirred. “What you saw was the scene from your mother’s perspective.”

Fu Lansheng nodded. “The image only lasted five breaths before changing to my father practicing cultivation.”

That day was precisely when Fu Yuanting and Duan Xiaorong were cultivating.

“Did you only see the two of them?” Nan Xuyue pondered. “Although Madam Fu and Elder Duan have only you as their son, they still have other blood relatives. It seems the Blood Mirror can only access the senses of direct blood relatives. The more distant the blood relation, the weaker the connection.”

“I suspect the same,” Fu Lansheng said. “But if I had other siblings, I might be able to see them too.”

Nan Xuyue gently stroked the cold mirror surface. “So, you tried it with Abao? What did you see?”

Fu Lansheng’s expression grew increasingly serious, his breathing also slowing slightly. “First, I saw Yunxiu Manor…”

“That should be Abao’s mother, Xiu Xiu’s perspective,” Nan Xuyue said.

“Then, I saw… a red moon,” Fu Lansheng said gravely. “That was the Demon Realm.”

Nan Xuyue was stunned, tightening his grip on the mirror. “Abao’s father is in the Demon Realm? Abao’s father should be human. Why would he be in the Demon Realm?”

“That’s why I urgently summoned you. I feel this matter is highly unusual,” Fu Lansheng said, his mood becoming increasingly anxious and uneasy. “How could an ordinary human appear in the Demon Realm? Therefore, I have doubts about Abao’s father’s identity.”

“Have you tried looking again afterward?” Nan Xuyue asked.

“The first time I saw the crimson moon of the Demon Realm, the mirror surface suddenly turned pitch black after less than five breaths. I suspect he sensed someone peering at him,” Fu Lansheng said. “I tried again later, but I couldn’t see anything.”

“It’s possible. If that person could sense the intrusion and conceal the heavenly mechanism, then his identity and strength are not to be underestimated,” Nan Xuyue said gravely, stroking the edge of the mirror. “Actually, Xiu Xiu initially sought my help. I also once divined for Fu Cangli. But Xiu Xiu knew little about Fu Cangli, only his name, making it extremely difficult to obtain a clear result. I tried several times without success, so I deduced that Fu Cangli was not that person’s real name. A person might have many names in their lifetime, but only the first name given has a fundamental connection to the person. False names cannot be divined. So I changed my approach… I used Abao’s birth date and time to calculate her karmic connection with her father.”

Fu Lansheng asked anxiously, “What was the result?”

Nan Xuyue was silent for a moment before saying, “The connection between father and daughter is shallow, only four words—’a single meeting.'”

“A single meeting…” Fu Lansheng murmured. “How should this be interpreted?”

“It means Abao will only meet her father once in her lifetime,” Nan Xuyue said solemnly. “Divination results are usually ambiguous. What will happen after this meeting, I cannot know. It might be detrimental to Abao or to her father. But according to the omen, it is not auspicious. Therefore, I have not actively helped Abao find Fu Cangli. Perhaps it would be better to delay this meeting, or even avoid it altogether.”

Fu Lansheng’s heart sank, his gaze involuntarily falling on the carefree Abao nearby. She was merely a three-year-old Treasure-sniffing rat, and in terms of mentality, perhaps equivalent to a human girl of six or seven. She had never seen her father and was determined to find him, yet the likely outcome was a parting of life and death.

Abao was innocent and naive, yet sweet and adorable, always calling him “brother.” She was different from those female cultivators outside who also addressed him as “brother.” Fu Lansheng had never had siblings, and after hearing it so often, he had grown fond of Abao, treating her as if she were truly his younger sister. He always wanted to indulge and spoil her, sometimes even teasing her, but if she were ever genuinely sad or upset, he would feel heartache.

“Nan Xuyue…” Fu Lansheng said resolutely, “Then let’s not meet him. Help me keep this from Abao.”

Nan Xuyue sighed. “If she doesn’t ask, I won’t say anything. But Fu Xiong, if fate decrees a single meeting, that meeting will inevitably happen sooner or later.”

Fu Lansheng rubbed his temples in frustration. “Then let’s put it off for now. We can deal with it later. However, if that person is truly in the Demon Realm, maybe we can ask Mu Xuanling to help investigate. Although the Immortal and Demon realms are sworn enemies, at least Abao calls her ‘sister,’ so she shouldn’t be heartless toward Abao.”

“She…” Nan Xuyue’s eyes darkened slightly. “I just heard that she has fallen into the hands of Sect Leader Xie.”

Fu Lansheng’s expression turned strange, a mix of sympathy and amusement. “Nan Xuyue, your beloved is already with someone else. She’s quite safe under Sect Leader Xie’s protection, but are you really not bothered at all?”

Nan Xuyue gave a self-mocking smile. “Fu Xiong, my liking her is my own affair. Her loving someone else doesn’t affect me.”

Fu Lansheng clicked his tongue in astonishment. “Nan Xuyue, those words sound rather shameless, not like something you’d say, more like something I’d say. The sweetness of a forcibly obtained melon—you know how sweet it is only after tasting it.”

Nan Xuyue’s long, pale index finger gently stroked the warm teacup, his eyes lowered as he gazed at the light-colored tea, smiling. “Even if it’s bitter, it doesn’t matter.”

Some bitterness, like the tea in this cup, eventually turns sweet.

He had long divined that she and Xie Xuechen were destined to be together in this life but fated to remain apart.

So what harm is there in waiting a little longer?

Mu Xuanling was powerless to resist as Xie Xuechen half-dragged her away from Mirror Blossom Valley. Xie Xuechen activated the teleportation formation left by Nan Xuyue. Mu Xuanling assumed Xie Xuechen was taking her back to Liangjieshan as a hostage to threaten Sang Qi. However, after a brief moment of dizziness, she realized her surroundings were definitely not Liangjieshan.

The slightly humid air carried the fragrance of earth and herbs. As far as the eye could see, everything was fresh green, full of vitality, invigorating the spirit.

“What place is this?” Mu Xuanling asked, frowning.

” Lingju Island,” Xie Xuechen answered.

“Why did you bring me to Lingju Island?” Mu Xuanling asked warily, eyeing Xie Xuechen.

Among the countless islands scattered like stars across the Eastern Sea, Lingju Island stood as the most spiritually potent. A millennium ago, its founding master established a sect there, which flourished over time and has now become the most formidable immortal sect in the Eastern Sea. Six of the remaining islands are ruled by demon kings, while the others serve as the abodes of powerful rogue cultivators. The demon race holds absolute dominance over the Eastern Sea. Their relationship with the Five Sects of the Immortal Alliance has seen both harmony and strife, yet among these sects, Lingju Island maintains the most amicable ties with the demon race. Even the Eastern Sea’s Demon King shows a measure of deference to Lingju Island.

Xie Xuechen said, “Our destination isn’t Lingju Island, but the neighboring Qiongju Island.”

If they flew there directly, it would take a day and risk exposing their trail. Using a formation would allow them to arrive at Lingju Island instantly, and from there, reaching Qiongju Island would only take a short while.

“Who said ‘we’?” Mu Xuanling muttered unhappily and asked again, “What are you going to Qiongju Island for?”

“I’m going to find a flower on Luo Wu Mountain on Qiongju Island. It’s called the Everlasting Lotus,” Xie Xuechen said.

He was looking for a flower, which seemed unrelated to her. Mu Xuanling had studied alchemy and artifact forging and had heard of the Everlasting Lotus. Legend says that in ancient times, there were ten suns in the sky. Nine were shot down, and Luo Wu Mountain was where the nine suns were buried. Located in the eastern part of Qiongju Island, Luo Wu Mountain spans a thousand miles and is perpetually shrouded in toxic miasma. Even demon kings dare not set foot there, fearing they might never return. The Everlasting Lotus grows in the waterless lands of Luo Wu Mountain. Its color is as white as snow, blooming once every hundred years, and once it blooms, it lasts for a hundred years. Legend says the Everlasting Lotus is one of the main ingredients of the Elixir of Immortality, but no one has successfully refined it to date.

Mu Xuanling sneered, “Master Xie, so young, and already seeking immortality?”

Xie Xuechen did not deny it. He recalled what Xuan Xin had said—

“The main ingredient of the Heart-Understanding Water is Heart-Understanding Grass, which grows in Luo Wu Mountain alongside the Everlasting Lotus. Heart-Understanding Grass can numb one’s perception of the seven emotions and six desires, while the lotus seeds of the Everlasting Lotus are the purest and bitterest substances in the world. These two ingredients are mutually reinforcing and counteracting. The bitterness of the lotus seeds can break the effects of the Heart-Understanding Grass, weakening the pressure of the Heart-Understanding Water on the heart.”

“However, this method is only a hypothesis and has never been proven. But the Everlasting Lotus is harmless. Even if it cannot neutralize the effects, it will at least not cause harm.”

“For now, don’t let her know about this. She currently holds only hostility toward you. Telling her too much will only raise her defenses, making treatment even more difficult.”

Xie Xuechen expressed his gratitude to Xuan Xin for his help, but Xuan Xin sighed softly, “Master Xie, Sang Qi deliberately sent her to your side to distract you, wear you down, and provoke your heart demons, while he himself took the opportunity to enhance his cultivation.”

Xie Xuechen was as clear as a mirror, his phoenix eyes bright and clear, showing no trace of resentment or hatred. He tightened his arm around Mu Xuanling, his voice unconsciously softening, “At least she has returned…”

Sang Qi’s scheme was both a hidden plot and an open challenge. He saw through Xie Xuechen’s desires, forcing him to enter the trap knowingly.

During the night raid on Yongxue City, Sang Qi knew Xie Xuechen valued the lives of the people more than anything else, so he lured Xie Xuechen away by summoning a demonic dragon, seizing the opportunity to abduct Mu Xuanling.

Later, Sang Qi rescued Mu Xuanling from Liangjieshan again, only to discover that even after Xie Xuechen learned the truth, he still adjusted her inner energy and helped her cultivate.

Thus, he knew what the best weapon against Xie Xuechen was…

And Xie Xuechen could not possibly refuse.

Greed, anger, and delusion, regret, sorrow, and fear—his once spotless Dao heart was ultimately invaded by heart demons.

Seeing Xie Xuechen fall silent, his phoenix eyes dark and different from before, though she couldn’t tell exactly what had changed, Mu Xuanling felt an even greater sense of unease and an even stronger urge to escape.

But under Xie Xuechen’s watchful eyes, it was difficult for her to make any small moves. Xie Xuechen’s perception was far sharper than others’, and his speed was lightning-fast. The moment she had the thought, he would sense it.

Mu Xuanling reluctantly followed Xie Xuechen, who held her waist as they flew toward Qiongju Island on the wind.

The sun was setting. The sea surface rippled in the breeze, shimmering with golden light. Gazing down at the East Sea, one could see islands of varying sizes scattered near and far, lush and verdant, like emeralds strewn across golden sand—a scene of dazzling beauty.

Mu Xuanling had grown up in Mingyue Manor and later lived in the Demon Realm for seven years. This was her first time seeing the sea, and for a moment, she was captivated by the beautiful scenery before her. Her mouth slightly open, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “How beautiful…”

Xie Xuechen looked down at her. The soft contours of her pale face were outlined by the evening glow. Her lively, beautiful peach-blossom eyes reflected the water merging with the sky, black with specks of golden light, shimmering like ripples. Her slightly parted red lips were full and tempting, with a faint tooth mark on the lower lip.

A mark he had left.

Xie Xuechen’s eyes darkened slightly, his lips curling into a faint smile. In a deep voice, he said, “Yes, it’s beautiful.”

She was enchanted by the scenery and didn’t notice that the “beauty” in the man’s words was not the same as what she was thinking.

He deliberately slowed his speed, perhaps to let her enjoy the beautiful view a little longer, or perhaps out of greed for this brief moment of warmth when she forgot to escape and guard against him. He tightened his arm around her waist, removed the barrier, and let the gentle, moist sea breeze brush against his cheeks. Leaning down slightly, he could smell the fragrance in her hair.

Unfortunately, the sun would inevitably set.