Gao Qiumin's mood was incredibly complicated—not just complicated, but also embarrassing. She realized that while she and Mu Xuanling shared about five parts similarity in appearance, the other five parts where they differed were where Mu Xuanling completely surpassed her. She'd always been proud of her beauty, even choosing to wear a thin veil when going out, fearing that her beauty would attract too much attention. However, standing in front of Mu Xuanling, she suddenly felt that her concealment was just a joke, like treasuring a worn-out broom.
The guard cultivator was momentarily dazzled, and after a moment, he came to his senses. He bowed to Xie Xuechen and respectfully said, "South Manor Lord, please wait a moment. We'll invite you in after the inner barrier is removed. This person is…?"
The guard cultivator glanced at Mu Xuanling.
Mu Xuanling smiled slightly: "I am the South Manor Lord's cousin, Ling'er."
Nan Xuyue nodded with a smile, confirming her identity.
This was what they'd agreed upon earlier, using Nan Xuyue to cover Mu Xuanling's identity, separating the relationship between Xie Xuechen and Mu Xuanling. Otherwise, the mole in the Immortal Alliance would easily guess who the woman by Xie Xuechen's side was.
As they spoke, the barrier inside the mansion had been removed. The guard cultivator opened the door and welcomed the three in.
Gao Qiumin felt like she had thorns in her back, quickening her pace without thinking. Seeing someone walking out from the courtyard, she immediately sped up and ran over. The first person she saw was Su Ningzhen with an angry expression.
"Master!" Gao Qiumin exclaimed like she'd found a pillar of support, the weight in her heart lightening.
Seeing it was Gao Qiumin, the anger on Su Ningzhen's face faded a bit, and she asked gently, "You weren't hurt, were you?"
Gao Qiumin shook her head and said, "Fortunately, a man intervened and stopped that demoness. My junior brothers and sisters and I are all fine." She paused, then couldn't help but look behind Su Ningzhen, tentatively asking, "Master, I heard that Sect Leader Xie has returned. Is he... is he all right?"
"Mm, he's fine."
The sealing of Xie Xuechen's divine apertures was confidential and absolutely couldn't be leaked. Even to her most beloved disciple, Su Ningzhen couldn't let her know.
As they spoke, others gradually walked out, but Xie Xuechen was nowhere to be seen. Gao Qiumin couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed, and Su Ningzhen saw all of this, silently sighing in her heart.
Several sect leaders walked to the courtyard and immediately noticed Nan Xuyue. A few years ago, when Nan Wujiu passed away, they'd all met Nan Xuyue and left a deep impression. So they recognized him at a glance. After years of tempering, the young man was like polished jade, becoming increasingly refined and deep.
If only...
Everyone sighed inwardly while smiling and walking toward Nan Xuyue.
"Palace Master Fu, Valley Master Su, Island Master He, Venerable Fajian, it's been a long time. I hope you've been well?" Nan Xuyue smiled and bowed. In terms of age and seniority, he was the junior and should bow first.
"South Manor Lord, I hope you've been well too." Everyone returned the greeting, and then their gazes fell on the woman behind Nan Xuyue, all slightly startled.
Among them, several had lived for hundreds of years and had seen all kinds of beauties, having grown indifferent to appearances. They weren't about to be captivated by a woman's beauty, but they were surprised that the woman behind Nan Xuyue somewhat resembled Su Ningzhen's disciple, Gao Qiumin. No, it should be said that she was even more stunning than Gao Qiumin. When first seeing Gao Qiumin, they thought her beauty was rare in the world, but when comparing the two, Gao Qiumin's beauty seemed so thin and pale, far inferior to the other young lady's lively and vibrant charm. It was like her mere presence brought life and color to everything around her.
"This is my cousin, Ling'er. Ling'er is very curious about cultivation matters. When she heard I was coming to Snow Embracing City to visit Sect Leader Xie, she begged me to bring her along," Nan Xuyue explained with a forced smile, sighing, "It was hard for me to refuse."
Everyone showed knowing smiles.
Only Su Ningzhen and Gao Qiumin couldn't smile.
"Sect Leader Xie should still be in the Righteous Qi Hall. Since you're here to catch up with the Sect Leader, we won't disturb you," Fu Yuanting kindly pointed out the way, and the sect leaders returned to their respective residences.
Nan Xuyue led Mu Xuanling into the Righteous Qi Hall, where Xie Xuechen was indeed still present. Nan Xuyue and Mu Xuanling immediately noticed the mess in the hall. Nan Xuyue asked in surprise, "Was there a fight here earlier?"
Xie Xuechen said, "He Xianwo provoked Su Ningzhen, and the two fought. They were suppressed by Venerable Fajian's Amrita Hope Sound."
Mu Xuanling was startled and immediately said, "Then they must know about the loss of spiritual power."
Nan Xuyue frowned slightly: "You suspect one of these three is a spy, deliberately testing if you're injured."
"It's possible, but not necessarily," Xie Xuechen said. "I told them that the demon realm's internal defenses are weak now, and my divine apertures will recover in seven days. After recovery, I will attack the demon realm, but before that, we must find the mole."
Nan Xuyue said, "Then the mole will leak the information and try to take action within seven days, preventing you from starting the war."
Mu Xuanling's eyes twinkled, her gaze flowing meaningfully as she smiled: "But Sect Leader Xie can recover in four days."
Nan Xuyue said, "However, with the four sect leaders and the Five Elders of the Immortal Alliance watching closely, it will be difficult for that person to find a chance to act within four days."
Mu Xuanling said, "After four days, waiting for them will be the invincible Sect Leader Xie."
Nan Xuyue suddenly sighed: "I used to think Brother Xie was a person who wouldn't lie."
Mu Xuanling said, "Because there's nothing in this world that Xie Xuechen can't solve with one sword strike. If there is, then two strikes."
Nan Xuyue suddenly realized: "So the reason I overthink is just because I'm too weak."
Mu Xuanling also sighed: "Aren't I the same?"
Xie Xuechen only said two words: "Noisy."
Xie Xuechen had never deceived anyone, nor had he been deceived. But after being tricked by Mu Xuanling too many times, he suddenly felt that deceiving others wasn't so bad.
This is probably what they call "close to demons, turning black."
Sigh...
Snow Embracing City had short days and long nights, which was most comfortable for Mu Xuanling. In the City Lord's mansion where everyone was at least at the Golden Core stage, Mu Xuanling and Nan Xuyue, who appeared to be the weakest ordinary people, were arranged in the side rooms closest to the Snow Blowing Tower.
Naturally, Mu Xuanling wouldn't stay obediently in her room. The darker it got, the more excited she became, and she skillfully sneaked off to the Snow Blowing Tower.
The Snow Blowing Tower was Xie Xuechen's residence. The courtyard was really simple and clear, with only a vast open space for sword practice, without even a single flower or plant—just like its owner.
When Mu Xuanling entered the Snow Blowing Tower, Xie Xuechen was practicing his sword. It was a full moon night, and the moon seen from Snow Embracing City seemed much larger than in other places. The cold and bright moonlight scattered on the ground, reflected by the snow, making the whole garden bright. Under the full moon, the immortal's clothes fluttered, his body like a swimming dragon, sword energy crisscrossing, with the momentum of a long rainbow, making observers hold their breath without thinking and gaze, their chests surging.
Xie Xuechen's natal sword was the Juntian Sword. The Juntian Sword had no physical form; it was said to be formed from the energy of the Heaven-Opening Axe. After Xie Xuechen comprehended the Jade Threshold Scripture, the Juntian Sword energy recognized him as its master. The Juntian Sword was unparalleled in its power, but it also had a drawback: it couldn't be wielded without driving spiritual power. Xie Xuechen could only choose another sword from his collection of treasured weapons.
"This sword is called Spring Birth. The blade is as thin as a piece of ice. When wielding it, it's like the beginning of spring, the ice sword melting, transforming from a tangible sword to an intangible one."
The speaker was Nan Xuyue, who was observing the sword practice from a corner. Though he didn't understand swordsmanship, he knew the divine weapons of the world like the back of his hand.
Seeing Xie Xuechen sheathe his sword, Mu Xuanling came back to her senses and stepped forward, saying, "Though Spring Birth is good, it doesn't suit you. Spring birth means snow melting; the sword intent has gained some gentleness but lost your original decisive and resolute aura."
Mu Xuanling's words hit the nail on the head. Xie Xuechen looked at her with some surprise: "You understand swordsmanship too?"
"I don't understand swordsmanship," Mu Xuanling smiled charmingly, "but I understand you."
A low chuckle came from beside them. Mu Xuanling turned her head to see Nan Xuyue had opened his folding fan again, half-covering his smile.
"In the ice and snow of Snow Embracing City, you still need to fan yourself. Is the wind not strong enough, or is the snow not cold enough?" Mu Xuanling teased.
Nan Xuyue said, "Ling'er doesn't know, this is my weapon, named 'Folding Wind'."
When addressing each other as siblings in public, even in private, Nan Xuyue called her Ling'er.
Though Nan Xuyue couldn't cultivate, he'd learned some martial arts and had forged a magical weapon for himself, engraving magical formations on it. While he couldn't compete with true powerhouses, if an ordinary Golden Core cultivator faced him unprepared, they would definitely suffer and might even be defeated by the Folding Wind.
Mu Xuanling said, "As expected of Young Master Nan's weapon, truly as elegant as its owner."
Nan Xuyue smiled and said, "Since Ling'er understands Brother Xie so well, why don't you help him choose a suitable sword?"
Mu Xuanling looked up, her gaze burning as she looked at Xie Xuechen: "May I?"
Xie Xuechen nodded slightly.
Mu Xuanling happily took small steps to the weapon rack to admire Xie Xuechen's collection. Most of these were swords Xie Xuechen had used as a child. Since he obtained the Juntian Sword, he hadn't used these weapons again, but he still treasured them on the weapon rack, carefully polishing them when he had free time.
Mu Xuanling's gaze fell on the short sword on the far left. She'd seen that sword before, in Xie Xuechen's illusion, where the four-year-old him wielded a sword taller than himself, swinging it ten thousand times day after day. Her hand touched the cold blade without thinking. The sword's body was like a mirror, reflecting her slightly dazed face.
"Sect Leader Xie." A woman's voice came from behind. Mu Xuanling suddenly came back to her senses and turned to look back.
The woman who'd been smiling froze when she saw Mu Xuanling.
Gao Qiumin hadn't expected Nan Xuyue's cousin to be here, and to be touching Xie Xuechen's sword. All sword cultivators regarded their swords as partners and would never allow others to touch them casually. This woman had just met Xie Xuechen, so why was she allowed to touch his sword?
Gao Qiumin pushed down the surprise and doubt in her heart, immediately composing herself. She nodded to Nan Xuyue in greeting: "Greetings, South Manor Lord." Then she nodded to Mu Xuanling, "Miss Ling is here too."
A glimmer of interest flashed in Nan Xuyue's eyes as he politely returned Gao Qiumin's greeting. Mu Xuanling smiled sweetly and said, "This must be Elder Sister Gao from Mirror Flower Valley. Do you have urgent matters to report to the Sect Leader so late?"
Gao Qiumin coldly thought: You know it's late too.
"We cultivators, after forming our Golden Core, have bodies different from ordinary people. Day or night makes no difference to us. But Miss Ling, with your mortal body, you should get more rest."
Gao Qiumin: You mortal, don't meddle in our cultivation world's affairs!
Mu Xuanling, with an air of innocence, smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Elder Sister Gao. I was so engrossed in discussing swordsmanship with Sect Leader Xie that I forgot about the time."
"I didn't realize Miss Ling was also a sword expert." Gao Qiumin didn't believe at all that Xie Xuechen would discuss swordsmanship with an ordinary woman. What could she possibly understand?
"How could I dare call myself an expert in front of Sect Leader Xie?" Mu Xuanling said with a smile. "But listening to his guidance has been truly enlightening."
"As it happens, I came to find Sect Leader Xie with some questions about swordsmanship as well," Gao Qiumin said, taking the opportunity. She looked at Xie Xuechen with a shy yet bitter gaze. "I wonder if Sect Leader Xie has time?"
Xie Xuechen said coolly, "Mirror Flower Valley's techniques are too soft and yielding, not suitable for swordsmanship."
Gao Qiumin knew this, of course, but she still studied swordsmanship just to have something to talk about with Xie Xuechen, to cater to his interests.
Gao Qiumin said softly, "I know, but I like swordsmanship, and there's no one in the valley who can teach me. I know you're the world's greatest sword cultivator, and it's rare to have a chance to meet you. If I could receive even a little guidance from you, Qiumin would be incredibly grateful."
Mu Xuanling said, "It's getting late. Cousin, let's go back. We shouldn't disturb Sect Leader Xie's rest."
Nan Xuyue raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, not only because Mu Xuanling had called him "cousin," but also because just as the two women's battle was heating up, Mu Xuanling was retreating from the field.
Gao Qiumin was also surprised, but then felt joy in her heart, thinking that Mu Xuanling knew her place and was backing down.
Mu Xuanling sighed softly and said, "I heard Sect Leader Xie had a great battle with the demon race, then rushed back here for days. Even for a Fashen realm expert, he must be exhausted. Today he also convened the Immortal Alliance council, and so many people came to him for decisions on city matters. Sigh... how could they do this, not letting the Sect Leader rest more? Not like me, I only care about the Sect Leader's well-being."
Hearing this, Gao Qiumin's face suddenly twisted slightly, and she cursed inwardly: Bitch!
Nan Xuyue thought: This folding fan is really useful, otherwise I would have burst out laughing.
Xie Xuechen thought: Why does she care about me?
With Mu Xuanling's words reaching this point, Gao Qiumin could only force a smile and say to Xie Xuechen, "If that's the case, I wouldn't dare disturb the Sect Leader's rest."
As Mu Xuanling and Nan Xuyue left the Snow Blowing Tower, Gao Qiumin followed close behind. The two women's gazes met briefly before quickly parting, each coldly going their separate ways.
Nan Xuyue smiled and said, "Your swordsmanship is not bad."
Mu Xuanling gritted her teeth and said, "Use the right method for the right person."
Xie Xuechen was polishing his sword when he heard faint footsteps from afar. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was. He stood the long sword up, and in its reflection, he saw the petite figure standing behind him. She had her head slightly lowered, her bangs hiding her expression. He didn't know what she was thinking, but her footsteps became heavy and slow, stopping three steps behind him, suddenly motionless.
This wasn't like her—Xie Xuechen thought.
However, Xie Xuechen, who would think this way, had also become unlike himself.
Xie Xuechen turned around to see Mu Xuanling standing in the snow. The moonlight illuminated her clean, small face, giving it a halo-like glow, pure and flawless. Her usually lively and clever eyes had become silent and deep for some unknown reason.
"What's wrong?" Xie Xuechen asked.
His voice softened without him noticing, carrying a carefulness he hadn't noticed.
Mu Xuanling blinked, the mist in her eyes suddenly clearing as if the sadness from just now had been merely his imagination.
"Just now we were interrupted by some irrelevant people, and I remembered there's one thing I haven't done yet," Mu Xuanling said as she walked toward Xie Xuechen, standing beside him, her gaze turning to the weapon rack. "I just saw a sword."
Xie Xuechen thought she'd seen the sword from the illusion, but Mu Xuanling's hand reached for another one. That sword looked ancient and heavy, with magical formations engraved on its blade. However, the blade was covered in dense cracks, clearly having been through really fierce battles and suffered great damage, to the point where its spiritual energy had disappeared and was difficult to repair.
"This sword is called Ten Thousand Cliffs," Xie Xuechen said, seeing Mu Xuanling trying to lift the sword but struggling a bit. He stepped forward to help her hold the hilt. "This sword weighs three hundred and sixty catties, forged from celestial meteorite iron over thirty years. It's a Heaven-grade magical weapon, incredibly powerful."
Ten Thousand Cliffs was the heavy sword his father had given him when he came of age, and it had once been his most relied-upon friend.
"But it still broke," Mu Xuanling sighed softly, stroking the cracks on the blade. "You must have been through a really brutal battle."
Xie Xuechen was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Seven years ago, the Demon-Monster Alliance bloodied Bright Moon Manor. I happened to be passing by."
"They say you saved Gao Qiumin and even suffered serious injuries because of it," Mu Xuanling looked up at him.
Xie Xuechen frowned slightly and said, "I don't remember."
"Don't remember?" Mu Xuanling's eyes flickered.
"Su Ningzhen received Gao Qiumin's distress call and rushed to Bright Moon Manor. By the time she arrived, I was already unconscious from severe injuries, hanging by a thread, and Ten Thousand Cliffs was completely shattered. She brought me back to Snow Embracing City and left behind a Nine Revolutions Life-Creating Golden Pill, saying it was to repay the life-saving grace toward Gao Qiumin. I took the pill and was in a coma for half a month before waking up. But what happened at Bright Moon Manor, I don't remember at all. It's all from what others have said."
Bright Moon Manor had relatively distant relationships with other sects, only having a deeper connection with Mirror Flower Valley. The first wife of Bright Moon Manor's lord, Gao Fengxu, was Su Ningxi, the twin sister of the current Valley Master Su Ningzhen. However, Su Ningxi was short-lived, dying due to complications during childbirth. By rights, as a Golden Core cultivator at the time, she shouldn't have died so easily in childbirth. But rumors say that when Gao Qiumin was born, there were unusual phenomena, with spiritual energy surging, which probably caused Su Ningxi's core to shatter and her life to end. Su Ningzhen and Su Ningxi were deeply close as sisters. After her sister's death, she showered Gao Qiumin with love and care. When Gao Qiumin lost her family, she became Su Ningzhen's disciple. Gao Qiumin had extraordinary talent, born with nine apertures, opening her divine aperture at the age of three. Before she was twenty, she'd formed her Golden Core, and reaching the Yuanying Fashen realm was just a matter of time. In the cultivation world, Gao Qiumin's admirers were countless, even including some Fashen realm experts of lofty status. But everyone knew that in her heart and eyes, there was only Xie Xuechen.
Mu Xuanling felt a bit sour inside. She was still upset about how Xie Xuechen had protected Gao Qiumin in the forest that day. Even knowing that Xie Xuechen had no romantic feelings for Gao Qiumin, for cultivators, dual cultivation didn't necessarily require emotions. Many cultivators chose partners based solely on cultivation level because children born to two Fashen realm experts would definitely have far stronger innate qualities than ordinary people.
Mu Xuanling was a half-demon, and half-demons couldn't reproduce. Xie Xuechen, with his ten apertures, had countless female cultivators wanting to have his children...
"Hmph!" Mu Xuanling angrily stomped her foot. "You're not allowed to have children with anyone else!"
Xie Xuechen: "..."
Where did children come from?
He couldn't quite follow Mu Xuanling's train of thought, and even less understood her sudden anger. Didn't she just say she cared about him?
Indeed, practicing demonic techniques can easily lead to mental instability and mood swings.
"You've already saved her, yet she still wants to take advantage of you. It's simply too much!" Mu Xuanling said indignantly.
Xie Xuechen asked confusedly and hesitantly, "She... who?"
Wasn't the one plotting and pushing boundaries only the half-demon in front of him?
"Gao Qiumin, of course!" Mu Xuanling made no effort to hide her hostility, completely unconcerned about showing her jealous and domineering side in front of her love interest. "Calling you 'Sect Leader Xie' so intimately."
Xie Xuechen said seriously, "I am the Sect Leader of the Immortal Alliance. Everyone in the world calls me that. Even the Demon Lord would have to address me as Sect Leader Xie to my face."
He thought that only Mu Xuanling would call him by his full name to his face.
"You're even speaking up for her!" Mu Xuanling said, both bitter and angry. "Do you think she's pretty? They all say Gao Qiumin and I look very similar."
Xie Xuechen frowned in confusion, but quickly said, "Not similar."
He never looked at people's appearances but observed their aura, examined their complexion, listened to their heartbeat, and smelled their breath. Outer appearances were easily disguised false facades; only one's aura, complexion, heartbeat, and breath were truly unique characteristics of each person.
In his eyes, Gao Qiumin and Mu Xuanling were completely different people, with no basis for comparison.
When he first encountered Mu Xuanling, he was wary of her identity, only seeing the demon and magical aura about her. But after a few days, he discovered that her aura was pure and unclouded, the kind of aura only someone with an open and sincere heart would have. He gradually let go of his prejudices toward her, even developing a kind of indulgence he didn't quite understand himself.
However, Mu Xuanling was indeed, as she said, easy to please. Just the two words "not similar" turned her anger into joy, making her smile.
"Then you can't mistake me for someone else in the future," Mu Xuanling said seriously.
The moonlight flowed in her eyes, shining brightly. Both the moonlight and the snow couldn't compare to even a third of her beauty.
How could he mistake her for someone else?
Xie Xuechen nodded slightly and said, "All right."
Mu Xuanling's eyes curved in a smile. Suddenly, she stood on her tiptoes and raised her face to place a kiss on Xie Xuechen's lips. Her nose caught the scent of snow and pine from his body, crisp and clean, just like him. His seemingly cold exterior hid a heart and lips as soft as his appearance.
Xie Xuechen felt like his heart had been gently struck. Looking down, he saw a snowflake had somehow landed on her thick eyelashes, quickly melting from the rising heat, turning into tiny droplets of moisture at the corners of her eyes.
Her kiss was like a snowflake brushing against his lips, soft and light, brief and fleeting.
Her peach blossom eyes were filled with laughter, her rouge-colored lips slightly upturned. Mu Xuanling revealed a mischievous smile of accomplishment: "I can't control my desires. When I want to kiss you, I will."
Xie Xuechen slightly pressed his lips together, his voice a bit hoarse, and said, "Don't let it happen again."
Hearing Xie Xuechen's words, Mu Xuanling didn't get angry. Instead, her smile deepened, her eyes twinkling.
"Xie Xuechen..." she said softly, with a smile in her voice, "But just now... you could have easily dodged."
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