Chapter 20:

Seeing that the wounds on Mu Xuanling’s body had gradually stopped bleeding, Nan Xuyue finally exhaled in relief and turned to look at Gao Qiumin.

“Gao Cultivator, Master Xie has issued an order temporarily detaining Mu girl. Before the decision from the assembly, no one is allowed to take private punitive actions,” Nan Xuyue said coldly. “By violating the Master’s order, is Mirror Flower Valley considering leaving the Immortal Alliance?”

Gao Qiumin snorted. “Nan Manor Lord, Yunxiu Manor has already been expelled from the Immortal Alliance. You’re not in a position to give orders here.”

“I’ve long heard of Gao Cultivator’s arrogance, looking down on everyone. But your Mingyue Manor was also expelled from the Immortal Alliance, just like Yunxiu Manor. With Mingyue Manor destroyed, where does your confidence come from to act so high and mighty before me?” Nan Xuyue smiled faintly, though his eyes remained cold. “Though Yunxiu Manor is no longer in the Immortal Alliance, it’s not a place for a mere Golden Core cultivator to act recklessly.”

Gao Qiumin’s face turned slightly pale, knowing that what Xie Xuechen said was true. Although the Manor Lord of Yunxiu Manor couldn’t cultivate, Nan Xuyue had extensive connections and was skilled in formations and medical techniques. Many in the cultivation world owed him favors, and even the five sect leaders treated him with respect. She regretted her disrespectful words toward Nan Xuyue in a moment of anger but refused to show weakness in front of Mu Xuanling.

“For the sake of Yunxiu Manor, I shall overlook this demoness’s actions. Do not forget your position, Manor Lord Nan—consorting with demons is beneath you!”

After saying this, Gao Qiumin turned and quickly left.

Listening to her footsteps, Mu Xuanling could tell she was panicking and her breath was weak. She couldn’t help but tease, “Brave yet cowardly.”

Nan Xuyue turned his head to look at her pale face and sighed, “Being harsh on others is better than being harsh on yourself.”

He said this while taking several medicine bottles and white gauze from his pouch, “You certainly don’t hold back your words. She already hated you and couldn’t withstand provocation, hence she injured you. Fortunately, neither of your wounds hit vital points. I’ll apply some medicine for you. In a few days, the scars will be gone, though it might hurt a bit.”

“It shouldn’t be worse than demonic energy entering the body or spreading, right?” Mu Xuanling joked. Nan Xuyue gently poured white powder onto the wound on her arm, and her face immediately changed. She bit her lip to suppress the urge to cry out.

Nan Xuyue held her arm with one hand, seemingly gentle but firmly keeping it still, while the other hand calmly poured the medicine, explaining leisurely, “This is Regenerating Powder, which accelerates wound healing. However, it will be both painful and itchy, like being bitten by insects.”

Mu Xuanling frowned tightly, her voice trembling weakly, “Maybe you can just leave it untreated… Scars are the badge of a half-demon…”

Nan Xuyue chuckled, “Oh? What about trying Corrosive Powder? It can make your badge even more beautiful.”

Mu Xuanling frowned, “Young Master Nan, how can someone as bright and noble as you be afflicted with such a vile poison?”

Nan Xuyue looked down at Mu Xuanling’s arm wound slowly healing, saying slowly, “That’s naturally because I am not as noble as a lotus.”

Mu Xuanling didn’t take Nan Xuyue’s words seriously. Her attention was entirely on the wound. The pain wasn’t too bad, but the itchiness was unbearable, reaching into the marrow of her bones. She couldn’t help wanting to scratch it, but Nan Xuyue quickly caught her wrist.

“Just wait twenty more breaths and it’ll be done,” Nan Xuyue said gently.

Mu Xuanling whimpered, her breathing quick and irregular. She heard Nan Xuyue’s gentle voice beside her ear, “Twenty, nineteen, eighteen…”

His voice seemed to have a magical effect, calming her heart slightly. She finally endured until the last count. The itching sensation on her wound instantly vanished, and her tense nerves relaxed. Nan Xuyue then took a small amount of light green ointment from a compact jar, warmed it with his fingertip, and spread it. A refreshing medicinal fragrance immediately spread. He gently applied the ointment to the wound, and the coolness soothed the burning pain, making her sigh in relief.

Finally, Nan Xuyue carefully bandaged the wound and looked up at Mu Xuanling, who now looked relaxed. He spoke gently, “There’s still the wound on your neck.”

Mu Xuanling: “…”

Nan Xuyue grabbed her shoulders, smiling helplessly, “Where do you think you can run to?”

Mu Xuanling looked like she was about to cry, “I bet you have some medicine to make people unconscious and unaware of everything!”

Regenerating Powder was practically torture; the pain was bearable, but the itch was unbearable!

Nan Xuyue laughed, “The wound on your neck isn’t deep, so we don’t need Regenerating Powder.”

Mu Xuanling finally relaxed and smiled, “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Mu Xuanling sat on a haystack, lifting her long hair to one side, revealing a swan-like slender and delicate neck. There was a one-inch sword wound on the left side, which had previously bled heavily, staining the collar red.

Nan Xuyue slightly frowned and carefully wiped the blood off the wound. Mu Xuanling looked at the flickering fire outside the cell, lost in thought, her eyes slowly showing tenderness.

She was often injured, but always treated her own wounds, just like those small beasts living alone in the wild. But one day, she met a white-robed youth. He also carefully wiped her wounds and gently applied medicine.

At that time, she had an absurd thought—what if I get injured every day, he would apply medicine for me every day.

When he heard that, he smiled and ruffled her hair, saying, “As long as I am by your side every day, I won’t let you get hurt.”

Nan Xuyue’s fingertip gently pressed on the pulsing spot on her neck, delicate and elegant, fragile and enchanting.

“You’re thinking of him again,” Nan Xuyue whispered.

“Again my heartbeat betrayed me,” Mu Xuanling arched her eyebrows and didn’t deny it.

Nan Xuyue’s deep gaze fell on her neck. His faint breath brushed past her ear, making her earlobe unconsciously turn a light pink. Her ear twitched involuntarily, like a sensitive little beast.

It was said that beasts are the most loyal to their masters, while human hearts are ever-changing.

The itch near her ear made Mu Xuanling unable to resist the urge to scratch, but Nan Xuyue stopped her once more, gripping her wrist and pressing it firmly to her side.

“Just finished bandaging, don’t remove it for two days. Don’t scratch it before then,” Nan Xuyue reminded her.

Mu Xuanling reluctantly put her hand down, saying, “I know.”

“Next time, endure the immediate loss, or you’ll only hurt yourself. If Gao Qiumin accidentally kills you, what then?” Nan Xuyue frowned, reprimanding her.

Mu Xuanling smiled cunningly, “But you’re here.”

Nan Xuyue laughed and shook his head, “What if I can’t stop her?”

“Then we can only die together under her sword,” Mu Xuanling blurted out.

Nan Xuyue was slightly taken aback but said, “Okay.”

“No, no,” Mu Xuanling hurriedly waved her hand, “Don’t drag you down.”

“I don’t mind,” Nan Xuyue said earnestly.

“I don’t want to burden you,” Mu Xuanling sighed, resting her chin on her hand, “And I don’t want to show weakness or bow before Gao Qiumin.”

“I understand,” Nan Xuyue’s hand slightly lifted, as if wanting to caress her hair, but he put it down, “You’ve suffered a lot under her, haven’t you?”

Her long eyelashes fluttered. Mu Xuanling smiled faintly, unwilling to recall unhappy memories.

“Prince Nan, have you seen Xie Xuechen?” Mu Xuanling inquired.

Nan Xuyue replied, “He’s secluded himself, probably recuperating. I shouldn’t disturb him.”

“He took the backlash of a Fazang’s self-destruction, so his injuries must be serious,” Mu Xuanling recalled Xie Xuechen blocking Su Ningzhen’s sword strike, frowning, “The Jun Heaven Sword was almost shattered by the World-Cleansing Dust. At that time, he was already at his limit, barely holding on. If Su Ningzhen insisted on killing me, he… wouldn’t have been able to stop her.”

Nan Xuyue’s eyes flickered slightly, “So, you don’t resent him for locking you up here.”

“He’s just buying time to protect me,” Mu Xuanling’s eyes held a faint smile, yet sadness lingered, “Young Master Nan, I don’t understand human love. You’re the smartest person in the world. May I ask you a question?”

Nan Xuyue said, “I’m not worthy of that, but if you ask, I’ll do my best to answer.”

“What should one do if they love someone very much?” Mu Xuanling’s face was full of confusion, “I originally wanted to stay by his side, but I found out he doesn’t need my company. I wanted to protect him with my life, but now… he doesn’t need my protection or my life. I once hoped he would remember me a little and like me, but now I hesitate… I don’t want to see him struggle because he likes me.”

“Why do you think that?” Nan Xuyue asked.

Mu Xuanling gently leaned her head against the stone wall, her gaze distant, recalling a snowy night when she tiptoed to kiss him on the lips. She thought he would dodge, but he didn’t. Although he was always cold and silent, she knew his heart was the softest and warmest. He… liked her a little, which was once her heart’s desire, but now she hesitated to accept it.

“I fear he might abandon me, yet I also fear he would defy the world to shield me,” Mu Xuanling’s beautiful eyes darkened. “Young Master Nan, if you were in my place, what would you do?”

Nan Xuyue quietly looked at her delicate and beautiful face. Even in the dim light, she had a radiant glow that captivated the eye.

“I’ll take you away. Are you willing?” Nan Xuyue asked.

Her thick eyelashes lowered her gaze.

Nan Xuyue smiled faintly, “You’re reluctant to leave him.”

“Love in the world is nothing but being unable to pick up, let go, forget, or part. It’s going against all odds, doing the impossible. The strong become weak because of it, and the wise become foolish,” Nan Xuyue’s voice echoed in the dim light, heavily settling on Mu Xuanling’s heart like a deep sigh, “Staying might mean death. Even though he’s the Master of the Immortal Alliance, he can’t protect you against the world.”

Mu Xuanling remained silent for a long time before speaking, “Young Master Nan, to me, life itself holds little meaning. Before, I lived only to avenge him. Later, when I discovered he wasn’t dead, I wished to be with him. If there truly is no way to have both, my death wouldn’t matter. In that case, I hope he doesn’t like me at all—so my passing wouldn’t bring him even the slightest sorrow.”

Beside her, Nan Xuyue’s helpless and bitter chuckle reached her ears. His warm palm landed on her head, gently ruffling her hair, “Ling’er.”

It was the first time Mu Xuanling had heard him call her name like this when no one else was around. She looked up at him in slight surprise.

In Nan Xuyue’s black, deep eyes, there was a flicker of firelight. His handsome, elegant face bore a sorrowful smile.

“I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

He left with a cryptic statement, his footsteps slow yet resolute as he departed.

As Nan Xuyue passed the cell of the Obsession Demon, the demon creature, bound by countless formations and unable to move except for its mouth, let out a strange laugh.

“Nan Manor Lord, hehehehehe…” the Obsession Demon cackled, “I’ve seen your heart demon.”

Nan Xuyue paused briefly, turning his head to look at the demon in the darkness.

“Your heart is truly bitter. Why can you still smile?” the Obsession Demon said, “Humans are such hypocritical creatures.”

“You’ve seen so many human hearts yet learned nothing,” Nan Xuyue coldly replied, “Is it because demons are foolish, or human hearts are too complicated?”

“If you weren’t an ordinary human, I’d really want to possess you and experience what it’s like to have a brain,” the Obsession Demon sighed, “But your obsession is so strong. For a moment, I even thought you were possessing me.”

The Obsession Demon looked at Nan Xuyue curiously, “I’m curious. You have such deep regret. Is it because of the people you’ve killed, or the people you’ve missed?”

But Nan Xuyue didn’t answer him, his footsteps already gradually fading away.

Nan Xuyue had a dream. Long-forgotten memories suddenly became clear. He could recall every detail of the little girl’s gorgeous demonic markings.

Nan Xuyue remembered the first time he met Mu Xuanling, when he was eleven years old. It was the darkest time of his life, when he thought he had lost everything. After Nan Wujie tried every method without success in restoring his spiritual senses, he turned his gaze to the Chaos Pearl. Legend said that Chaos energy defied causality and had the power to change fate. Thus, he took Nan Xuyue to Mingyue Manor to borrow the Chaos Pearl.

Nan Xuyue didn’t hold any expectations. He sat quietly in his wheelchair, enduring the stares of unfamiliar faces. Those gazes, whether pitying, sympathetic, or gloating, could no longer stir any emotion in his heart. Yet he still disliked being watched, so he went alone to a secluded place.

It was the season of falling petals, and the wind already carried a slight chill. He sat under a tree, letting the fallen flowers land on his shoulders and lap. A thin figure fell from the treetops with a cry, interrupting his thoughts. He slowly turned his head and saw a ragged child and an iron mask lying nearby.

The child looked about six or seven years old, with somewhat messy hair, wearing ill-fitting tattered clothes that exposed her thin wrists and pale skin with various old and new scars. She frowned and looked up, noticing someone beside her. In a hurry, she picked up the iron mask and put it on, revealing a pair of bright, beautiful eyes.

“Y-You, who are you?” She moved quickly, hiding behind the tree trunk, only peeking out a small head.

Nan Xuyue immediately recognized her identity. Faint golden demonic markings adorned her face, and a spirit-locking ring bound her ankle—clear signs of a demon slave. Nearly every sect kept demon slaves, typically evil demons who had committed crimes or half-demons abandoned at birth. Their bones were naturally stronger than those of ordinary humans, making them ideal for heavy labor. However, to prevent them from misusing their demonic powers, their masters would fasten spirit-locking rings around their ankles. Once they activated their demonic energy, the rings would constrict, releasing spirit thorns that pierced into their marrow, inflicting unbearable agony.

This little demon servant, perhaps due to her rebellious nature or perhaps because she couldn’t control her demonic powers well, had her spirit-locking ring tightly bound around her ankle, leaving it bloody and mangled.

Seeing Nan Xuyue remain silent, the little demon servant scrutinized him carefully, blinked, and suddenly exclaimed, “I heard that the Master of Yunxiu Villa brought Young Master Nan here. Are you Young Master Nan?”

Nan Xuyue ignored her and turned his head to gaze at the lake surface rippling slightly.

Footsteps approached from afar, and the little demon servant quickly hid herself, whispering, “Young Master Nan, don’t say you saw me!”

The newcomers were servants from Mingyue Villa. They bowed to Nan Xuyue and inquired if he had seen a little demon slave. Nan Xuyue shook his head, and they hastily departed.

Once they were far away, the little demon servant let out a sigh of relief and crawled out from the bushes, a fallen leaf still clinging to her hair.

“Thank you, Nan Gongzi.” She grinned at him, revealing teeth like broken jade pieces. “If they caught me again, I would be punished.”

It was clear she had been punished many times. Her clothes were mismatched — the top was too short, exposing a thin wrist, while the pants were too long, making it easy to trip. Despite her lively personality, Nan Xuyue remained silent, but she didn’t feel embarrassed and continued chatting.

“They captured me half a year ago,” the little demon servant sighed as he sat on a lakeside rock. “They accused me of hurting someone and being an evil demon. But I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to play with them, but I couldn’t control my strength. That older brother called me ugly and tried to push me, so I blocked him—he flew away on his own.”

Uncomfortably, she touched the iron mask on her face. “I fell asleep on the tree earlier and accidentally dropped down, breaking my mask. I hope I didn’t scare you. I didn’t mean to. I haven’t slept for two days because they gave me too much work to do.”

Nan Xuyue had exceptional eyesight. With just one glance, she had already memorized the pattern on her face—faint golden demonic markings shimmering like a living spirit snake coiled into a flower, covering half of her face.

“The steward made me wear this mask so I wouldn’t scare others,” the little yao slave muttered unhappily. “They say my father might be a snake yao or a vine yao. I don’t know. I was abandoned since childhood.”

Many half-human, half-demon beings shared similar fates. Born to human mothers, they were abandoned by their clans due to their demonic features, eventually becoming demon slaves who served various households, enduring a lifetime of servitude.

Resting her chin on her hands, she pouted slightly. “I heard people in the villa say mothers are the greatest and won’t dislike their children for being ugly—unless they’re half-demons. My mother must have been scared by my face and abandoned me. If I looked as handsome as Young Master Nan, maybe she would have raised me.”

“And how am I different from you?” Nan Xuyue’s voice was childish yet carried a hint of weariness.

The little demon servant hadn’t expected Nan Xuyue to speak to her. She turned her head in surprise, feeling both happy and nervous. She cautiously moved closer and whispered, “You’re Young Master Nan. How could you be the same as me?”

Even she knew that Nan Gongzi of Yunxiu Villa was born with ten spiritual passages, extraordinary and unique.

“Three of my passages are already destroyed. I’m practically useless,” Nan Xuyue said.

“But it just means you can’t cultivate. What’s the big deal?” the little demon servant asked in bewilderment.

Nan Xuyue found it difficult, and unwilling, to explain to her — without cultivation, life held no meaning.

Though she didn’t understand Nan Xuyue’s thoughts, she saw his unhappiness and didn’t know how to comfort this gentle and handsome older brother. Among everyone she had met, only this older brother was willing to speak to her calmly, so she hoped he wouldn’t be so sad.

Awkwardly, she began, “Nan Gongzi, you were born with everything. Now you’re just missing a little bit. You’re still much better off than many people. Please don’t be sad. Look at me, I have nothing, yet I’m still living happily.”

Nan Xuyue spoke softly, “It’s precisely because you were born with nothing that you don’t understand loss. But I once…” He closed his eyes, a mocking curve forming on his lips. “Now I realize I never truly possessed anything. That so-called familial affection was merely a false illusion.”

The little demon servant gazed at him and whispered, “Don’t your parents love you anymore?”

“I can’t cultivate, and my leg is broken,” Nan Xuyue looked down at his knees. His long robe covered his disability, but he knew the imperfection always remained.

“I thought my foot was about to break too,” the little yao slave lifted her overly long pant leg, revealing a bloodied ankle. “Because I always struggle to control my yao power, my spirit-locking ring is bound very tightly. Walking hurts a lot. Other half-yaos say I’ll get used to it eventually. Our bones aren’t that easy to break. I just need to walk more slowly.”

Nan Xuyue’s gaze shifted from her injured ankle to her face, meeting a pair of clear, dark eyes.

“Just walk more slowly?” he softly echoed her words.

“Mm.” She gently leaned against his wheelchair, unknowingly closing the distance between them. “Now I walk slowly, and I realize the scenery around me is beautiful. But this makes me often late in completing the steward’s tasks, and I get beaten.”

“Aren’t you sad?” He was curious—how could this little demon slave, covered in wounds, still have such clear and bright eyes?

“I do feel sad… But I’m used to being beaten and going hungry. When I was younger and didn’t understand, I always wanted to play with them. Now I know — I’m a half-demon. Humans don’t like half-demons.”

She lowered her thick eyelashes, concealing her sorrow and disappointment. After a pause, she raised her eyes again, her dark gaze brimming with stubbornness and defiance. She pressed her lips together. “If they don’t like me, then forget it. But I don’t like them either. I’ll keep all my love for myself. Hmm… Maybe I can spare a little for you. I could like you just a bit. But would you despise me for being half-demon?”

Her voice gradually weakened as she looked somewhat shyly at the young master before her. He was beautiful and noble, while she was hideous—a lowly demon slave. Who would care about a demon slave’s affection?

Nan Xuyue slightly lowered his head, gazing at her. A flicker of light seemed to appear in his pitch-black eyes. He softly laughed — whether it was mockery of her overestimation of herself, he didn’t know. Suddenly, he reached out and removed the withered leaf stuck in her hair.

“Ahh.” The little demon servant let out a soft exclamation, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Th-thank you.”

Nan Xuyue didn’t respond. Between his two fingers, he held the half-withered leaf, contemplating it thoughtfully.

The little demon servant looked at the leaf, then raised her head to gaze at Nan Xuyue’s delicate and handsome profile.

“Nan Gongzi, even if you can’t cultivate, you can still do many things,” the little demon servant said earnestly. “Even if no one likes you, you mustn’t hate yourself.”

Suddenly, Nan Xuyue turned his head to look at her. “What’s your name?”

The little demon servant was startled. “I don’t have a name. There’s only a number on my spirit-locking ring — Ling Ling. The previous demon servant who wore this ring died.”

“Come with me, okay?” Nan Xuyue asked.

The little demon servant blinked in disbelief and asked, “To Yunxiu Villa as a demon servant?”

Nan Xuyue smiled. “You don’t have to be a demon slave.”

She didn’t understand—what else could she be besides a demon servant? But she thought, following this gentle young master would surely be better than staying at Moonlight Villa. So her eyes lit up as she nodded eagerly.

Nan Xuyue always remembered that smile — it suddenly brightened that bleak season and tore a clear patch through the gloom that had long covered his heart.

He carried his hope and asked his father if he could take that demon slave away.

If back then Nan Wujiu had borrowed the Chaos Pearl, if back then he was still the extraordinary Nan Xuyue with ten innate spiritual passages, perhaps the answer would have been different.

But at that time, his father had impatiently refused outright — a nobody cripple didn’t even have the qualification to speak.

Nan Xuyue lowered his head in disappointment. He dared not look back, fearing to see those hopeful bright eyes gradually losing their light. He always remembered her words — even as a cripple, he could still accomplish many things. Only one thing he wanted to do had already become too late.

The Moonlight Villa had turned to ruins, and he could never find that little demon servant again. In his heart, there lingered a faint sense of regret and remorse.

When had that remorse quietly grown into a towering tree, overshadowing the sky?

Nan Xuyue slowly opened his eyes, staring into the pitch-black night. He had awakened from a nightmare, only to fall into another reality just as nightmarish.

He thought he had regained what he lost, but in reality, it was merely another loss.