Xie Xuechen walked back in a daze, his mind filled with Mu Xuanling’s face. He encountered Fu Lansheng and Nan Xuyue on the way. Fu Lansheng’s spirit-binding chains were restraining an unconscious person, and the two were discussing something with serious expressions. Seeing Xie Xuechen approach, they immediately went to meet him.
“Sect Leader Xie, there may be unusual activity in Yongxue City,” Fu Lansheng said solemnly. “We just detected fluctuations in the formation outside the residence of the Five Elders of the Immortal Alliance. Someone has entered.”
Xie Xuechen came to his senses and said, “Yongxue City has barrier protection. A one-way formation cannot enter. It must be activated from inside the city first to open a two-way formation before people outside can come in. Did you see who activated the formation?”
Fu Lansheng shook his head and said, “When we arrived, there was no one here.”
Nan Xuyue said, “Not all formations need to be activated immediately. As long as the materials required for the formation are prepared, it can also be activated with a delay.”
Nan Xuyue implied that anyone not present at the scene could be suspected, including the Five Elders and the sect leaders who were in the Righteous Hall for the Immortal Alliance assembly.
Fu Lansheng continued, “At that time, Miss Lingr and I were the first to arrive. She has a treasure-sniffing rat that can sense treasure aura fluctuations. We followed the rat’s guidance and found the suspect.” Fu Lansheng pointed at the person on the ground with his toe. “I restrained this person with the spirit-binding chains, but he seems to know nothing. It doesn’t look like he’s pretending, but if we caught the wrong person, why did he run?”
Fu Lansheng was a bit frustrated. Then he remembered something and teasingly smiled at Nan Xuyue, “Nan Xuyue, your cousin is quite hidden. She managed to keep up with my speed.”
Nan Xuyue smiled faintly.
Fu Lansheng said, “Well, everyone has secrets. I’m sure she can’t fool a clever person like you.”
Nan Xuyue said, “I wonder if Lingr has caught up with the other mysterious person.”
Xie Xuechen felt something was off when he heard this: “Another one?”
Fu Lansheng said, “Yes, this person had an accomplice who escaped. He was even faster than this one. Miss Lingr has her treasure-sniffing rat, so she went after him.”
Xie Xuechen’s expression changed. Before the other two could understand what had happened, Xie Xuechen had already vanished.
Mu Xuanling had fallen into unconsciousness, surrounded by impenetrable darkness, thick enough to suffocate. At first, she was a little scared, but then she felt relieved—great, unconscious means no more pain. But soon, she became confused—why was she in pain?
Her consciousness began to scatter, not knowing when or where she was, or who she was.
“Xuanling, come here.”
In the darkness, she heard a voice that made her tremble.
“Master!” Mu Xuanling shuddered, instinctively standing up.
“It’s time to practice,” Sang Qi’s voice was cold and emotionless. Hearing his voice was like having icicles pierce Mu Xuanling’s marrow, the bone-chilling cold and pain making her limbs numb and stiff.
She feared approaching him but feared even more the punishment for failing to escape.
She didn’t know which way to go, groping forward in the darkness. She vaguely saw her master’s silhouette, hidden under a black robe, with a few strands of silver hair faintly visible, emitting a ghostly silver light.
He reached out a hand towards Mu Xuanling, a hand cast in silver metal, engraved with bizarre runes, possessing the power to bewilder one’s mind.
“Master.” Mu Xuanling trembled as she knelt.
That hand pressed on top of her head, and in the next moment, surging demonic energy poured into her body, raging through her meridians and flesh, invading every inch of her body like countless tiny venomous insects gnawing at her.
She shook violently in pain, cold sweat pouring like rain.
“It hurts…”
Sang Qi’s voice came from above her head: “Do you want power? Do you want revenge?”
Mu Xuanling bit her lip until it bled, not answering, but she remained kneeling. Her silence was her answer.
“Feel the demonic energy, take it into your body.”
“Don’t reject it, demonic energy is the source of your power.”
“People will betray you, emotions will betray you. The only thing you can rely on is power.”
Mu Xuanling followed her master’s teachings. She tried to absorb the overflowing demonic energy into her body but felt it was infinitely more difficult than before. Whether absorbing or dispersing demonic energy, for a half-demon, it was torture worse than death.
—Master, why is the cultivation of half-demons so painful?
—Because we are born sinful.
“Miss Mu accelerated the dispersal of demonic energy during battle and then suffered several external blows. Although not severe, they left her powerless to control her mind and contain the demonic energy,” Nan Xuyue said, looking at Mu Xuanling lying on the bed, her face as white as paper. “Although I’m skilled in medicine, I’m helpless against demonic cultivation techniques.”
Xie Xuechen’s face was cold as he said, “I understand. You may leave. I’ll think of a way.”
Mu Xuanling was a half-demon with a demonic body. This fact couldn’t be known by others. Nan Xuyue could be trusted, but even Fu Lansheng had to be kept in the dark. Nan Xuyue understood Xie Xuechen’s concerns and nodded gravely before quietly leaving the room.
When Xie Xuechen returned to the snowy ground, she had already completely lost consciousness. She feared sunlight the most, and at that moment, she curled up as if trying to bury herself in the snow, too weak to pull up her fallen hood. Xie Xuechen hurriedly took her in his arms, using his own body to shield her from the light, and returned to the room at the fastest speed. Mu Xuanling’s breathing was alternately slow and rapid, her body shaking slightly, seemingly enduring great pain.
Xie Xuechen couldn’t help but think wildly—she had called his name at that time…
If only he had turned back then.
If only he hadn’t left.
Even if she had deceived him again, and played another prank, it wouldn’t have been a big deal.
Such thoughts swirled in his mind. His state of mind had always been clear and pure, just like his straightforward sword technique. It had never been this chaotic and complex, filled with hesitation, regret, confusion, doubt…
What if she died from her severe injuries?
You didn’t kill her, she’s just a half-demon witch.
She…
“It hurts…” A faint, indistinct moan escaped from Mu Xuanling’s lips.
Xie Xuechen quickly bent down to check on her.
Mu Xuanling’s eyes opened slightly, her thick curled eyelashes wet with tears. Her pupils were unfocused, not see the person in front of her, still unconscious.