Chapter 48:

Mu Xuanling was amused by Fu Lansheng’s words. She steadied Bao before replying with a smile, “Young Master, this is Bao!”

As soon as Mu Xuanling let go, Bao couldn’t help but crouch down and crawl, saying in her childish voice, “Brother, don’t you recognize me anymore?”

Fu Lansheng’s suspicious gaze shifted among the three before finally settling on Bao.

“It does sound somewhat familiar…” Fu muttered as he approached to examine her more closely.

Mu Xuanling, half-amused and half-exasperated, pulled Bao up from the ground again. “Bao, you’ve taken human form now; you can’t behave like a rat anymore.”

Bao twisted her skirt, wrinkled her nose, and her big black eyes clouded with distress. “But it’s so tiring to stand on two legs. Why can’t I crawl?”

In his heart, Fu Lansheng thought, this definitely is Bao…

“How did Bao turn into this form?” Fu Lansheng couldn’t resist pinching the bun on top of her head. “Aren’t you half-demon?”

Mu Xuanling replied, “I transmitted the Yuque Sutra to Bao. She now has a divine aperture, and thus transformed into human form.”

Fu Lansheng was stunned. “The Yuque Sutra is actually this miraculous? It’s hard to believe. Can someone really be born with ten divine apertures?”

This not only overturned his understanding but fundamentally changed the essence of life itself. It was no exaggeration to call it divine power—how could human ability possibly achieve such transformation?

Xie Xuechen was also puzzled.

Seven years ago, he had been critically injured at Mingyue Village, unconscious for months, and had attained enlightenment of divine skills in his dreams. Since then, his cultivation had progressed rapidly. He knew the Yuque Sutra was profound, but even he hadn’t expected such a transformation. Fu Lansheng looked at him curiously and in astonishment, but he had no explanation to offer.

“Bao,” Mu Xuanling lectured, “you must act like a human now. Remember, don’t jump on people randomly, walk upright on two legs, not crawl, and use chopsticks when you eat…”

Bao said, “Sister, you can talk all you want, but why do you keep pinching my face?”

“Hmm…” Mu Xuanling pinched Bao’s chubby, rosy cheeks and chuckled, “Because I like you.”

Bao nodded vaguely—it was true, her sister used to pinch her head all the time.

She stood on tiptoe and reached out to touch Mu Xuanling’s face, solemnly saying, “I like you too, sister.”

Mu Xuanling smiled and pulled her hand down. “There’s one more important thing. From now on, only your sister and mother can pinch your cheeks. No one else is allowed!”

“Not even my brother?” Bao asked in confusion.

“Especially him!” Mu Xuanling said sternly, shooting Fu Lansheng a glare. “Young Master, stop saying things that will corrupt the child in front of Bao!”

Fu Lansheng was filled with grievance. “What did I even say?”

Bao answered honestly, “You talked about ‘lust in broad daylight.’ I just asked Master Xie what it meant.”

Mu Xuanling blushed, Fu Lansheng turned pale, and he choked on his saliva, coughing violently—why did she have to ask Master Xie?

“Misunderstanding, misunderstanding! I absolutely didn’t mean you two!” Fu Lansheng’s handsome face flushed and paled alternately as he weakly defended himself. “Ah, right, I came to tell you that the Floating Cloud Vessel will soon depart for Liangjieshan. I have nothing else to say, so I’ll be going now…”

As soon as Fu Lansheng finished speaking, he turned to leave, but paused at the door and glanced back at Bao.

“Bao, I brought you a lot of fun things…”

Bao’s eyes lit up, and she was about to pounce on Fu Lansheng’s shoulder with all fours, but Mu Xuanling grabbed her sleeve. She came to her senses, remembering Mu Xuanling’s warning, and forced herself to walk upright toward Fu Lansheng in a stiff manner.

“Brother, what did you bring me?”

“Just some little toys that demon cubs like… You might not need them anymore…”

“I can use them! Give them to me, give them to me!”

“They’re in my room. Hurry up.”

“Brother, walking on two legs is so tiring. Maybe I should go back to my old form and you can carry me.”

“Carry you? Do you think I’m your mount?”

“Then can I hide in your space bag?”

“…You’re so lazy and greedy, just like me back in the day. You’re practically my half-sibling from a different mother.”

“Brother, are you complimenting me?”

“Yeah, Fu Bao…”

Although the door was closed, their conversation outside was clearly heard by the two inside. Mu Xuanling couldn’t help but laugh, covering her forehead and saying, “Bao seems to be picking up bad habits from Fu Lansheng.”

Xie Xuechen said, “It’s easy to pick up bad habits.”

Mu Xuanling’s eyes sparkled as she hooked her arms around Xie Xuechen’s neck, her red lips lightly brushing the corner of his mouth, teasingly saying, “Master Xie has picked up quite a few bad habits from me…”

Xie Xuechen wrapped one arm around her slim waist, his sharp phoenix eyes softening by seven parts, his cold voice tinged with amusement, “Still thinking about ‘lust in broad daylight’?”

Mu Xuanling’s eyes shimmered with affection, her expression tender and loving as she smiled. “I’m afraid it might damage Master Xie’s reputation.”

“I don’t really care about others’ opinions, but I’m worried about your health,” Xie Xuechen said solemnly, his upright demeanor making the listener blush.

Xie Xuechen gripped Mu Xuanling’s wrist, sending a thread of spiritual energy into her meridians. He noticed her energy was much weaker.

“You’ve suffered a lot from transferring your power to Bao. You need to cultivate properly to recover,” Xie Xuechen frowned slightly.

—So that’s what he meant by “can’t take it”…

Mu Xuanling smiled slightly, resting her head against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. “Xie Xuechen… You must have been even more exhausted when you transferred your power to me. At that time, I had scattered my demonic power and my energy was chaotic. You not only had to save my life but also transfer your power to me. I heard you stayed in my room for three days and nights.”

Xie Xuechen was taken aback, tightening his arms around her and lowering his head to laugh softly. “Three days and nights… It seems my reputation was already ruined long ago.”

“You were repeatedly injured, and then you transferred your power to me, losing half of your strength. No wonder that demonic dragon hurt you so badly,” Mu Xuanling said. At that time, she was nearly unconscious, but she still remembered the last scene she saw—his white robes stained with blood as he rushed to save her. “You went into seclusion for a month. The situation must have been extremely dangerous…”

“Xuanling, it’s all in the past,” Xie Xuechen gently patted her back, his voice warm. “Don’t be sad anymore.”

Mu Xuanling held Xie Xuechen tightly and whispered, “I’m not sad… I just feel heartbroken for you…”

She lifted her head and gently kissed Xie Xuechen’s chin. Xie Xuechen’s lips curved slightly as he lowered his head to capture her warm, soft lips, lingering and savoring until her legs grew weak. Then he scooped her up in his arms and laid her on the bed.

“Shuangxiu?” He asked with a smile in his voice, his tone husky. “It’ll help replenish your energy.”

Mu Xuanling’s eyes were filled with spring water, her face blushing like peach blossoms, but she shook her head with a bite of her lip.

Xie Xuechen was taken aback.

“Your cultivation is much higher than mine. Although Shuangxiu benefits me, it won’t benefit you. Moreover, you always transfer your power to me, which harms your cultivation,” Mu Xuanling’s voice was sweet and soft yet firm with concern. “Sang Qi has been in seclusion, cultivating. You will inevitably have a confrontation with him. At this time, you must not expend any more of your cultivation for me.”

Xie Xuechen realized what she was thinking about, and his heart was instantly filled with tenderness. He smiled and ruffled her hair, his long fingers tracing her loving gaze. She always loved him with passion, thinking about him in every way, making it impossible for him not to be moved, not to love her…

He bent down and gently kissed her luscious, red lips, not going deeper, just rubbing against the soft lips, tender and restrained.

Mu Xuanling swallowed hard, her heart racing, her breathing ragged. Her soft fingers unconsciously caressed the skin on his neck, greedily looking at his handsome, smiling face, and finally pushed him away with difficulty.

“Don’t tempt me anymore. I don’t have much self-control,” she said in a sweet, trembling voice.

Xie Xuechen’s lips curved upward, and he lowered his head to her neck, unable to help laughing softly. Her tightly embraced body clearly felt the vibration of his chest. Her hands wrapped around his shoulders, hugging him tightly with satisfaction.

Xie Xuechen tightened his arms, his hands gently caressing her slender, warm body. Compared to him, she seemed so petite, like a magnificent gem perfectly nestled in his embrace—as if they were destined to belong together from the very beginning. He was addicted to her sweet and tender presence, intoxicated by the joy she brought him, yet he also treasured this quiet moment of holding her close.

Suddenly, he heard Mu Xuanling speak softly, “Xie Xuechen, do you ever want to have a child?”

Xie Xuechen looked at her in slight surprise, noticing that her bright and intelligent eyes were tinged with a hint of melancholy.

Was it because of Fu Lansheng’s words…

Or because she saw how adorable Bao was…

“In this world of cultivators, aside from those who practice celibacy, most cultivators have dozens of children. You were born with ten divine apertures; your descendants will surely be extraordinary. Many people would love to have children with you…” Mu Xuanling muttered, thinking of Gao Qiumin, one of the women who coveted Xie Xuechen. She feared he would be taken away and instinctively hugged him tighter.

“What others do has nothing to do with me,” Xie Xuechen smiled faintly, sensing her unease. He held the person in his arms tighter and spoke gently, “Xuanling, before I met you, I only wanted to live alone, never thinking of forming a cultivation partnership with anyone, nor did I ever think of having children. Having you by my side in this life is enough; what more could I ask for?”

His voice was steady and powerful, each word weighing a thousand catties, smoothing the creases of her anxiety, yet unable to completely ease her heart. “But I want to have many children with you, half like me, half like you,” she thought of the little Xie Xuechen she had seen in the illusion—his soft black hair, his delicate, childlike face, his innocent and determined phoenix eyes—and her heart softened further, a smile tugging at her lips. “Little Xie Xuechen must be so adorable…”

In Xie Xuechen’s heart, naturally, little Xuanling would be even cuter, but…

He sighed inwardly, yet said, “Since half-demons can open divine apertures, perhaps one day we too can have children. After defeating Sang Qi, I will resign as Sect Leader and guard the Ten-Thousand Immortals Formation. Will you stay with me?”

“Wherever you are, I will be there,” Mu Xuanling said without hesitation.

Xie Xuechen chuckled softly, affectionately kissing her eyes and eyebrows. “Then we have a thousand years to try slowly…”

Mu Xuanling bit her lip gently, her eyes soft enough to drip water, her delicate fingertips wandering and teasing his chest and abdomen, hooking his waistband.

“So let’s try now…” she said.

Xie Xuechen suppressed a smile, pressed her boneless hand gently, and huskily asked, “Didn’t you say no Shuangxiu?”

Mu Xuanling hummed softly, her voice soft and enticing. “Not Shuangxiu… but we can still share a bed…”

That was indeed very reasonable. Truly worthy of her…

Xie Xuechen couldn’t help but smile, skillfully unfastening her collar, and indulging in her sweetness and softness.

The Floating Cloud Vessel soared above the sea of clouds, the sunlight unobstructed and shining on the barrier, emitting dazzling brilliance. Thanks to the protective barrier, the interior of the Floating Cloud Vessel could maintain a warm and peaceful spring-like atmosphere all year round.

It would take two to three days to travel from Lingju Island to Liangjieshan, depending on the weather. If the weather was good, they could arrive even faster. Fu Lansheng found it fascinating that Bao had taken human form, and every day he patiently taught her how to behave like a human. To encourage her to walk upright more actively, he even used a bag of rare treasures to entice her.

“Bao, you have to use chopsticks when eating!” Fu Lansheng grabbed her little hand reaching out, his face serious. “You just crawled on the ground with your hands, and now you’re eating with your hands again. Isn’t that dirty?”

Bao’s face fell unhappily. “Chopsticks are too hard. I want a spoon.”

“How old are you…”

“I’m two and a half.” Bao held up three chubby fingers, then bent one down halfway.

“Hmm.” Nan Xuyue couldn’t help but cover her lips and softly laugh. “That really is quite young.”

“Uh…” Fu Lansheng paused. Looking at Bao’s appearance, which seemed about seven or eight years old, he often forgot that her real age was only over two. “Even at two and a half, you should be able to use chopsticks. Otherwise, when you go out with me, people will say my sister doesn’t know manners.”

Bao pouted. “I heard Sister Axiang whispering that I’m not your sister, but your illegitimate daughter. What’s an illegitimate daughter?”

Fu Lansheng’s handsome eyebrows twitched. Nan Xuyue smiled gently and said, “Aobao is really smart. She always asks the right questions.”

Fu Lansheng shot Nan Xuyue a glare—why bring up the sore spot? He even suspected Aobao did it on purpose!

Aobao said seriously, “Sister Axiang said that you must have owed some romantic debts in the demon clan, and this time you came to take me back to acknowledge your lineage.”

Those maids really loved to gossip. Although he was flirtatious, he still had his limits and was definitely not a reckless man or a irresponsible scoundrel. He guessed they had heard him call her Fu Aobao…

Her father was Fu Cangli, so it wasn’t wrong for him to call her Fu Aobao.

“Aobao,” Fu Lansheng didn’t know how to explain the adult world to a two-and-a-half-year-old treasure-sniffing rat. “Some things, you’ll understand when you grow up…”

“Then can I wait until I grow up to understand chopsticks too…”

“No!”

Aobao teared up and ran to wash her hands, bumping into Xie Xuechen and Mu Xuanling at the door.

Seeing her face full of grievance and her dark eyes misty, Mu Xuanling couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache and gently stroked her cheek. “What’s wrong with Aobao?”

Aobao pouted. “Brother won’t let me eat.”

Mu Xuanling shot a glare, and Fu Lansheng hurried to explain, “I just stopped her from eating with her hands.”

Aobao stuck out her tongue and ran past Mu Xuanling’s side.

Mu Xuanling chuckled and walked into the room. “I just heard you yelling at her, Young Master. Aobao is still young. Please be more tolerant.”

Fu Lansheng smiled bitterly. “I suspect she’s deliberately making things hard for me.” He rose to greet Xie Xuechen with a bow. Though he was a free-spirited and unrestrained person, he always had a bit of reverence for Xie Xuechen.

Nan Xuyue also stood up, nodding with a smile, her expression calm, though her hand unconsciously tightened around her folding fan. “Master Xie’s personal visit—could there be something important?” he asked with a smile.

Xie Xuechen had already stopped eating grains and had no appetite, so he couldn’t have come for a meal.

Xie Xuechen nodded. “I want to borrow the Blood Mirror from the Young Master.”

Fu Lansheng was somewhat surprised but quickly retrieved the Blood Mirror from his space bag.

Xie Xuechen took the Blood Mirror and looked at Mu Xuanling. “Do you want to see where your parents are?”

Nan Xuyue looked at Mu Xuanling in astonishment, thoughtfully asking, “Xuanling, are you looking for your birth parents?”

Mu Xuanling lowered her gaze, feeling some pain and fear inside. She didn’t know what she would see in the mirror…

When she was very young, she had imagined what her parents looked like. Later, from the words of other half-demons, she pieced together her imagination—her mother should have been an ordinary human woman who abandoned her after giving birth, finding her ugly, while her father was a irresponsible demon who might have raped a human woman on a whim, not even knowing of her existence… Gradually, she stopped having any fantasies…

But Xie Xuechen’s words made her curious. What kind of demon was the other half of her? Unlike other half-demons, she had no demon core and no divine aperture, yet her natural constitution was far stronger than ordinary people, and she carried an inexplicable demonic aura. When she was young, there were strange demonic markings on her face. People from Mingyue Village guessed her father might be a vine demon or a tree demon, but seven years ago, the demonic markings also disappeared, and she looked no different from a human, except for the lingering demonic aura.

Xie Xuechen said that perhaps she was not a half-demon…

If she wasn’t a half-demon, there was a possibility that she could have children with Xie Xuechen. This possibility made her heart flutter, and she wanted to find out about her origins.

Mu Xuanling trembled slightly as she stretched out her hand, her fingertips touching the cool mirror surface. She took a deep breath and nodded. “I want to see.”

Xie Xuechen placed the mirror on the table, took Mu Xuanling’s wrist with his left hand, and with his right fingertip, he formed a sharp thread of spiritual energy, gently cutting the skin of her fingertip. A drop of bright red blood soon seeped from her pale, delicate fingertip and fell into the dark mirror surface.

The four held their breath and looked at the mirror. The drop of blood fell onto the mirror and seemed to ripple like water. The blood was quickly absorbed by the mirror, and red light emanated from the edges of the mirror, but the surface remained pitch black, revealing nothing…

“Could it be broken?” Fu Lansheng muttered, cautiously glancing at Mu Xuanling. “Or…”

Or they were dead.

The words were left unspoken, but everyone understood.

After a few breaths, the red light around the mirror flickered suddenly, and the mirror surface seemed to change, yet it remained pitch black.

“I think it’s broken,” Fu Lansheng whispered, but at that moment, the red light flickered again, and the mirror lit up.

Mu Xuanling’s pupils contracted, and she stepped forward to support the table.

On the mirror surface appeared a simple room. The view shifted, moving from the table to the bed, where a pale and sorrowful woman sat cross-legged. The scene moved closer, showing someone approaching the bed.

Suddenly, the mirror darkened, and the red light completely disappeared.

The woman sitting cross-legged was Su Ningzhen.

The eyes that the Blood Mirror passed through belonged to… Gao Qiumin!

“Gao Qiumin?” Mu Xuanling suspected the Blood Mirror was broken. She frowned tightly. “How could this be… she and I…”

Fu Lansheng said, “She does bear some resemblance to you. Could it be that you two are actually sisters?”

Gao Qiumin resembled Mu Xuanling. She was also a famous icy beauty in the cultivation world. But compared to Mu Xuanling, she seemed pale and dull, lacking her radiant charm and enchanting smile. They had thought it was just a case of people looking similar, never imagining the two could be sisters. After all, Mu Xuanling was a half-demon, and they were about the same age. Su Ningzhen had died in childbirth giving birth to Gao Qiumin—how could she have had time to give birth to another half-demon?

Xie Xuechen suspected the entanglement between Sang Qi and Su Ningzhen. Sang Qi had taken Mu Xuanling as his disciple—could it be that Mu Xuanling was actually Sang Qi and Su Ningzhen’s child?

“To Mirrorflower Valley,” Xie Xuechen said solemnly. “Su Ningzhen knows the truth.”