Chapter 28:

Among the human race, no one else but Nan Xuyue could have such divine mastery over formations.

Mu Xuanling rested her chin on her hand, watching the handsome man before her with a smile. When she saw the Fanyin Formation, the man’s face immediately surfaced in her mind. With the green formation rising again, she became even more certain of her guess.

Compared to her expected reunion, Nan Xuyue was filled with astonishment and joy upon seeing her.

“Xuanling, you’re alright?” He stepped forward, standing before her, his bright eyes reflecting her smiling face.

“Of course I’m fine,” she replied, slightly frowning as she poked her forehead with her bent index finger. “But Nan, what you’re doing really troubles me.”

“What’s wrong?” He asked, puzzled.

Mu Xuanling sighed softly. “I don’t want to fight you, so you should dismantle the formation. Otherwise, if I break it by force, you’ll be hurt.”

Only now did Nan Xuyue notice something strange about Mu Xuanling. Although her lips curled into a faint smile, her eyes were indifferent and cold, making people feel fearful.

“Xuanling, what’s wrong with you?” Nan Xuyue hesitantly reached out to touch her. “I came to save you.”

She tilted her head slightly, dodging his hand, her smile fading a bit. “Nan, when did I ever need saving? Perhaps you’ve mistaken my identity? I was trapped in Yongxue City, and my master brought me home.”

“Home?” Nan Xuyue thought he had misheard.

“I was ordered by my master to eliminate human cultivators. Since you’re not a cultivator, I can avoid fighting you. But if you insist on helping the human cultivators and obstructing me, I won’t be able to show you leniency,” her expression gradually turned cold.

Although Nan Xuyue had taken care of her, she could not ignore her master’s orders or be overly lenient toward him.

Nan Xuyue grabbed her slender wrist and said gravely, “Xuanling, come back with me to Yunxiu Villa.”

No matter what Sangqi had done to her, he would find a way to restore Xuanling to her former self.

Mu Xuanling slightly furrowed her brows as she glanced at her captured wrist, suddenly recalling something—he seemed to have romantic feelings for her, although she had never reciprocated.

It might be nice to win him over—she pondered.

She lifted her delicate face and sweetly smiled at Nan Xuyue. Nan Xuyue was momentarily dazed. He felt himself being pulled forward by her sudden grip. Instinctively, he leaned forward, his hand resting on the back of the chair, trapping Mu Xuanling within his arm. He felt her slender arm wrap around his neck, her soft fingertips caressing his nape, and her tender voice whispered in his ear.

“Come back with me to the demon realm.”

Mu Xuanling’s voice resonated with the bone bell, sending a tremor through Nan Xuyue’s heart, making him catch his breath and almost instinctively agree.

But he quickly regained his clarity, for the pair of peach-shaped eyes so close to him held only cold calculation, and her heartbeat remained completely calm.

He knew that when she truly liked someone, her eyes would shine, and her heart would race like a startled deer.

The romantic feelings in his heart were instantly pierced by pain. He clenched his fists, lowered his eyes, and said bitterly, “Xuanling, you’re sick.”

Mu Xuanling frowned and snapped, “You’re the one who’s sick!”

She hadn’t expected Nan Xuyue to be so resolute and clear-minded. Didn’t he like her? How could he resist her seduction and the power of the soul-stealing bell? It was bad enough that he didn’t fall for it, but he even insulted her. A gentleman, as gentle as jade, how could he say such things! Was she not beautiful enough, or had he changed his heart?

As her master had said, human hearts are fickle.

“If you don’t come with me, I’ll kill you!” Mu Xuanling threatened fiercely. “Although you can’t cultivate, if you side with the human cultivators, you’ll cause us great trouble. For the sake of our past friendship, I’m giving you a final chance. Think carefully before you answer.”

She glanced outward and coldly said, “I’ll count to ten.”

“Ten, nine, eight…” Her hand gripped his long neck, feeling the pulse beneath her fingertips.

Suddenly, she remembered the day in the dungeon of Yongxue City, when he had applied medicine to her wounds, holding her hand gently and saying, “It’ll be better in twenty more breaths.”

The counting paused momentarily due to the sudden memory flashing through her mind.

“Xuanling…” His Adam’s apple gently vibrated under her palm. She looked up and saw the mingling light in his eyes—both sorrowful and longing, but without any desperation for survival. His warm fingertips brushed over her eyebrows, and the coldness in her eyes softened slightly.

Maybe I’ll count another ten—she thought dazedly.

Nan Xuyue sensed her hesitation and felt a surge of hope—perhaps Xuanling hadn’t completely forgotten their feelings?

At that moment, however, Mu Xuanling felt a tremor in her heart, a chill crawling up her spine. The danger warning made her body tense. Looking past Nan Xuyue’s shoulder, she saw that the tent’s curtain had somehow been lifted open. Before the slightly trembling curtain stood a familiar white-clothed figure, silently descending like a snowflake, while an icy chill spread across the sky.

—Xie Xuechen!

Mu Xuanling’s pupils constricted, panic rising in her heart. This was someone she absolutely couldn’t defeat! She had no idea how long Xie Xuechen had been here, but since he had intentionally concealed his presence, she couldn’t have detected him. His dark phoenix eyes swirled with indescribable emotions, his gaze heavily sweeping over her and Nan Xuyue’s entwined arms. Instinctively, Mu Xuanling released her grip on Nan Xuyue, choosing to flee rather than hold him hostage. She extended her right palm outward, wanting to recall Duan Nian, but received no response.

—Damn, it must have been silently controlled by Xie Xuechen.

Mu Xuanling had no time to ponder why Xie Xuechen, who should still be in retreat, suddenly appeared. Her mind was filled with only one thought—escape!

She darted away the moment she pushed Nan Xuyue aside, but Xie Xuechen reacted even faster. As she turned, a golden light suddenly appeared before her. At the same time, the other three directions were blocked, trapping her within a cage formed by golden sword qi. The sharp sword qi easily sliced through a piece of her sleeve, which slowly drifted downward. Holding her breath, Mu Xuanling warily watched the man approaching step by step. He carried a faint, cold fragrance of winter snow and plum blossoms, his refined and solitary demeanor transcending the ordinary. Despite concealing his aura, he still made Mu Xuanling feel his current strength. After a month of retreat, he had not only regained his peak but seemed even stronger. With herself in his grasp, escape seemed nearly impossible.

“Master Xie,” Mu Xuanling’s lips curved slightly, her nerves taut as a bowstring, yet she managed a seductive smile on her face. “Long time no see.”

Xie Xuechen gazed at her deeply, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

Suddenly, Nan Xuyue stepped in front of him.

“Master Xie, I don’t know what Sangqi did to Xuanling, but she’s acting strangely. Please don’t hurt her.”

Mu Xuanling glanced at Nan Xuyue’s back and, as if on cue, shed a few tears. Her beautiful eyes brimmed with sorrow, making her look pitifully charming. She wept, saying, “Master Xie, I was forced into this. I didn’t mean to harm those human cultivators.”

Both Xie Xuechen and Nan Xuyue frowned, for obvious reasons—before a person with ten innate spiritual passages, the heartbeat was the most honest language. Mu Xuanling was clearly pretending.

“Step aside. I won’t hurt him,” Xie Xuechen said calmly to Nan Xuyue.

Mu Xuanling covered her face in tears, watching Xie Xuechen approach, her heart filled with alarm and unease.

“Xuanling, after Sangqi took you away, did he harm you?” Xie Xuechen’s voice unconsciously softened slightly, as if afraid to scare her.

Mu Xuanling sobbed, “He locked me up and poisoned me, forcing me to kill those human cultivators.”

That wasn’t true. Her master had taught her cultivation techniques and even refined new magical artifacts for her, making her the saintess second only to the Demon Sovereign.

Xie Xuechen’s eyebrows slightly furrowed, his heart growing heavier.

Because of Mu Xuanling, all the human cultivators outside had been injured. For both emotional and rational reasons, he had to detain her, but he also didn’t want her to suffer further harm.

That day, he had chosen to rescue Yongxue City and engaged in a fierce battle with the demonic jiao, which allowed Sangqi to capture Mu Xuanling first. Subsequently, he exhausted his spiritual energy, sustained severe injuries, and nearly perished. After nearly a month of seclusion, a single regret took root in his heart, growing and eroding his Dao heart.

He had chosen between the human race and Xuanling, knowing this choice was right and did not violate his Dao heart, but it was a betrayal of her.

He wished for her well-being, but seeing her today, he knew she was not well.

“Master Xie, please let me go. I won’t dare to do it again,” Mu Xuanling pleaded pitifully. “Please withdraw the Jun Tian sword. Its qi is hurting me.”

As she spoke, she lifted her left hand. The torn sleeve fell, revealing a smooth, tender arm. A glaring red mark from the sword qi marred her delicate skin like congealed fat. If she hadn’t dodged quickly, she would have been bleeding by now. Seeing no reaction from Xie Xuechen, she turned her gaze to Nan Xuyue, sobbing weakly, “Nan Xuyue, I’m injured…”

Nan Xuyue’s heart ached as he turned to look at her, but the Jun Tian cage blocked his way. He looked at Xie Xuechen’s icy expression and said gravely, “Master Xie, release her.”

Nan Xuyue addressed him coldly as Master Xie when he held grievances against him. He had resolved to oppose the Immortal Alliance for Mu Xuanling.

Yunxiu Villa had long since left the Immortal Alliance, and Nan Xuyue usually ignored the conflicts between immortals and demons. This time, however, he had unexpectedly gone to Liangjieshan to fight the demons, and the only reason was Mu Xuanling.

That night, Sangqi had tried to kill Nan Xuyue, but Mu Xuanling had fearlessly pushed him aside, taking the blow herself. A few drops of warm blood splattered onto Nan Xuyue’s face, scalding his heart.

Xie Xuechen saw too much obsession in Nan Xuyue’s eyes, just like he saw in himself.

His phoenix eyes slightly lowered, shifting from Nan Xuyue to the glaring red mark on Mu Xuanling’s arm. In the next moment, the golden light dissipated, returning to his palm. Seeing this, Mu Xuanling was overjoyed and disappeared like a gust of wind, rushing outward. Xie Xuechen was faster. As she just stepped out the door, she collided with Xie Xuechen’s solid chest, being trapped in his arm. The familiar, crisp scent immediately enveloped her tightly.

Mu Xuanling struggled fiercely but couldn’t budge the arm around her waist. Angrily, she stomped on his foot, but to a body in the Dharma form, it was painless and merely an outlet for her frustration.

“Let me go!” Mu Xuanling angrily pushed against his chest, but he remained unmoved. “Men and women shouldn’t touch. How can the leader of a sect of immortals act like a hooligan!”

Xie Xuechen thought to himself that compared to her actions of stripping clothes and forceful kissing, this was already very gentlemanly.

He had used Jun Tian sword to imprison her out of fear of hurting her, so letting her strike his flesh body a few times was no big deal.

Xie Xuechen was determined not to let Mu Xuanling leave. He didn’t know what tricks Sangqi had used on her, but keeping her by his side was the best way to protect her. His arm tightly encircled her slender, soft waist, allowing her to struggle in his embrace.

Nan Xuyue pushed the door open and saw this scene, slightly stunned. Before he could say anything, he heard Xie Xuechen say, “The cultivators in the camp were injured by her, but I have confiscated the artifact. Others are only unconscious and not in life danger. Master Nan, your medical skills are superb. I hope you can take good care of them.”

Mu Xuanling’s breathing quickened, her small face flushed with anger as she narrowed her eyes and asked, “I wonder what Master Xie plans to do with me? Execute me as a warning?”

“No,” Xie Xuechen paused and said, “But I can only keep you confined here for now.”

Nan Xuyue stared solemnly at Xie Xuechen and said, “Master Xie, may I be the one to watch over her?”

Xie Xuechen glanced at him indifferently and decisively rejected his request.

“I’m afraid Master Nan might be too soft-hearted and secretly release the prisoner.”

Mu Xuanling sneered, “It’s rare for Master Xie to have such self-awareness. When it comes to being ruthless and heartless, who can compare to you?”

Xie Xuechen slightly lowered his head and saw the indifferent eyes of the person in his arms. He had originally thought that Mu Xuanling still resented him for driving her away, perhaps holding either resentment or hatred toward him. But when they were pressed together, her heartbeat was transmitted more clearly—her heart was extremely calm and indifferent. The only emotions she had toward him were wariness and caution.

No love, no hate, as if facing a complete stranger.

Even though she spoke sarcastically at this moment, it was only coldly testing his emotions.

Xie Xuechen suppressed his doubts and distress, and said to Nan Xuyue, “I will personally guard her, there will be no mistakes, and I won’t hurt her. The demonic energy has changed abnormally. Tomorrow, cultivators from other sects will gather here to discuss important matters.”

Nan Xuyue clenched his fists and could only accept Xie Xuechen’s words, personally going to deal with the mess caused by Mu Xuanling.

Xie Xuechen carried her into an empty tent, casually setting up a barrier to block others from sensing what was happening. As soon as he loosened his grip, Mu Xuanling quickly moved to the corner, only to bounce back after hitting the invisible barrier.

She furrowed her brows slightly, reluctantly turning to face Xie Xuechen.

“What exactly does Sect Leader Xie want?” She acknowledged the situation and ceased unnecessary resistance, finding a chair and settling into it comfortably.

What bad luck—why did she have to run into the toughest opponent in the Immortal Alliance, Mu Xuanling silently cursed herself for being careless.

That fellow Xie Xuechen had become even more cunning. He must have intentionally exaggerated his retreat duration to make his enemies let their guard down.

Xie Xuechen’s figure slowly approached and stood before her. Mu Xuanling’s breath caught in her throat, her nerves tensed. Seeing him lean closer, she instinctively struck toward his neck, but Xie Xuechen effortlessly caught her wrist, rendering her immobile. His slightly cool fingertips pressed against her forehead, and a stream of refreshing spiritual energy gradually flowed into her spiritual gateway through their point of contact.

Startled, she lifted her head, her beautiful peach-shaped eyes gazing in confusion at his close, handsome face. Her mind felt simultaneously clear and hazy—what was he doing?

Xie Xuechen’s cool voice carried an unexpected softness: “You’re too eager for quick results. Cultivation must not be rushed, or else your inner energy will become chaotic and leave lingering problems.”

Her spiritual energy originated from the same source as Xie Xuechen’s, encountering no resistance and even welcoming his intrusion warmly, allowing his energy to enter her spiritual gateway, flowing through every limb and organ, smoothing her turbulent and restless inner energy.

Mu Xuanling sensed no hostility in Xie Xuechen’s aura. She clearly understood that he was helping her, which only deepened her confusion.

“Focus your mind and stop thinking randomly,” Xie Xuechen murmured.

Understanding the seriousness of the situation, Mu Xuanling immediately closed her eyes, concentrated her mind, and followed Xie Xuechen’s spiritual energy to circulate the Yuque Sutra.

Looking down at her thick, curled lashes fluttering lightly like butterfly wings with each breath, Xie Xuechen felt that although she seemed the same, something was different. When she looked at him now, her eyes no longer held that intense warmth.

Had he hurt her that deeply?

Suppressing a sigh, Xie Xuechen focused on regulating her inner energy. After a while, he withdrew his hand and slowly straightened up.

Mu Xuanling took a deep breath, feeling her spiritual energy surge powerfully yet calmly within her. Xie Xuechen was indeed helping her cultivate. However, such intimate cultivation methods—allowing another’s spiritual energy to invade one’s body—were extremely rare even between master and apprentice or cultivation partners, let alone between enemies. Xie Xuechen had acted too quickly, catching her off guard and allowing his energy to enter her spiritual gateway. Since his power far exceeded hers, she dared not resist and could only submit. But the moment he withdrew, she immediately retreated far from him, heightening her vigilance.

However, she knew in her heart that such precautions were practically useless. Against his overwhelming strength, she would be utterly helpless if he truly intended her harm.

“What exactly is your purpose, Sect Leader Xie?” Mu Xuanling coldly asked. “Failing intimidation, are you now trying to entice me?”

Xie Xuechen clearly saw Mu Xuanling’s defensive posture. She resembled a cat whose territory had been invaded, fiercely displaying her sharp claws at him. Xie Xuechen made no further attempt to approach. In fact, even at this slight distance, she remained within his reach.

“There’s no need for you to be on guard. I won’t hurt you,” Xie Xuechen stated.

Mu Xuanling narrowed her eyes slightly, scrutinizing Xie Xuechen’s expression. He remained as indifferent and cold as always, making it difficult to discern his thoughts, which only increased her irritation. “Oh? I didn’t know Sect Leader Xie was such a forgiving and magnanimous person.” Her tone dripped with sarcasm. “Don’t you understand by now that I only approached you on my master’s orders, feigning affection to gain your trust? My sole purpose was the Yuque Sutra.”

“Whether your feelings are genuine or not, I have my own judgment. I judge people by their aura and heart,” Xie Xuechen calmly gazed at Mu Xuanling with his phoenix eyes, unshaken by her words. “You’re different from Sang Qi.”

Mu Xuanling scoffed, crossing her arms and challenging him with a smirk: “You humans love deceiving yourselves. To be honest, you’re cold and heartless, with few words, nothing like Nan Xuyue, who’s warm, considerate, and understanding. What makes you think I genuinely like you? If you hadn’t interrupted earlier, I might have already lured him to the Demon Realm. The reason I stuck around you before was solely for the Yuque Sutra. If I had known you would pass it to me, I wouldn’t have stayed in Yongxue City as a demon slave.”

Mu Xuanling’s words brought back memories of what Xie Xuechen had witnessed earlier. He recalled how intimately she had embraced Nan Xuyue’s neck, her eyes filled with a hazy allure like a seductive spirit. He knew Nan Xuyue harbored deep feelings for Mu Xuanling and was willing to support their relationship, yet seeing them so close still caused him chest pain and unease.

What troubled him even more was that Mu Xuanling still seemed to hold some affection for Nan Xuyue but treated him with complete indifference, as if she had become someone else entirely. Could it be, as she claimed, that her initial approach was purely for ulterior motives, and she had never truly invested her heart?

No.

He could genuinely feel her sincere and passionate emotions. Her aura was pure and unblemished, even after being tempered by demonic energy, remaining free of any impurity or evil. Among human cultivators, such an aura would signify a firm Dao heart, unwavering and consistent. He had passed his cultivation techniques to her not only because of his own fleeting tenderness and compassion but also because he believed in her inherent goodness and lack of malice.

If she had only been pretending, how could her aura be so clear and fervent?

Xie Xuechen saw clearly that the Mu Xuanling of that time had truly loved him, and he also knew that the current Mu Xuanling was not lying.

“Sect Leader Xie, I am the same as my master—we half-demons are different from you,” Mu Xuanling said coldly. “You pity all sentient beings, but we half-demons are not among your ‘sentient beings.'”

“Your ‘sentient beings’ are the human race. Since humans have treated me poorly, I don’t love these ‘sentient beings,’ nor will I ever love you.”