Chapter 48: Bloodlines and Mirrors

                     

Mu Xuanling couldn't help but laugh at Fu Lansheng's theatrical reaction. After steadying A Bao on her feet, she explained with amusement, "Young Palace Master, this is A Bao!"

The moment Mu Xuanling released her, A Bao instinctively dropped to all fours, her childish voice piping up earnestly. "Big Brother, don't you recognize me?"

Fu Lansheng's suspicious gaze darted between the three of them before finally settling on the little girl crouched like a mouse on the floor.

"The voice does sound very similar…" He approached cautiously, studying her features.

Caught between laughter and exasperation, Mu Xuanling pulled A Bao upright again. "A Bao, you're in human form now. You can't act like a mouse anymore."

A Bao wrinkled her nose, fidgeting with her skirt hem. Her large, dark eyes clouded with worry. "But standing on two legs is so tiring. Why can't I stay on all fours?"

This is definitely A Bao, Fu Lansheng thought with certainty.

"How did A Bao turn into this form?" He couldn't resist reaching out to pinch one of the bun-shaped hairstyles on her head. "Weren't you a half-demon?"

Mu Xuanling explained patiently, "I passed on the Jade Threshold Scripture to A Bao. She developed divine apertures, and then… she transformed into human form."

Fu Lansheng stood frozen, genuinely stunned. "The Jade Threshold Scripture is so miraculous? This is truly beyond comprehension." His mind raced through the implications. "Are those born with ten apertures gods? This doesn't just overturn our understanding—it changes the very essence of life itself. It would be less surprising if it were divine power, but how can human ability achieve such a transformation?"

Xie Xuechen shared his bewilderment. Seven years ago, he'd been gravely injured and near death at Moonlight Mountain Villa. After months in a coma, he'd gained enlightenment of divine skills in his dreams. His cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds ever since. He knew the Jade Threshold Scripture was profound—but he hadn't known it could cause such fundamental changes.

Fu Lansheng looked at him with curiosity and surprise written across his face. Xie Xuechen had no explanation to offer.

"A Bao, you need to act like a proper human now." Mu Xuanling launched into instructor mode, ticking off rules on her fingers. "Remember: don't jump on people randomly, walk on two legs instead of all fours, use chopsticks when eating…"

A Bao's voice emerged muffled. "Sister, you can say all that, but why are you squishing my face?"

"Ahem…" Mu Xuanling laughed awkwardly, continuing to knead A Bao's chubby, rosy cheeks with obvious delight. "Because I like you."

A Bao nodded with the solemn understanding of a very young child—after all, her sister used to rub her head all the time before.

She stood on tiptoes, reaching up to pat Mu Xuanling's face with tiny hands. "I like you too, Sister."

Mu Xuanling smiled warmly, gently lowering A Bao's hands. "There's one more important thing: from now on, only Sister and Mother can touch your cheeks. No one else is allowed!"

"Not even Big Brother?" A Bao looked genuinely confused.

"Especially not him!" Mu Xuanling said with stern emphasis, shooting a warning glare at Fu Lansheng. "Young Palace Master, don't say things that will corrupt the child!"

Fu Lansheng looked wounded. "What did I say?"

A Bao answered with complete honesty, "You said 'daylight indecency.' I just asked Sect Leader Xie what it meant."

Mu Xuanling's face flushed crimson. Fu Lansheng turned pale, choking on his own saliva and coughing violently. Why did you have to ask Sect Leader Xie of all people?!

"It's a misunderstanding! I wasn't talking about you two!" His handsome face alternated between red and white as he scrambled to defend himself. "Oh right—I came to tell you that the Yun Xiao Ship will be departing for Two Realms Mountain soon. I don't have anything else to say, so I'll be going now…"

He turned to leave but paused at the door, glancing back at A Bao with barely concealed fondness.

"A Bao, I brought you lots of fun things…"

A Bao's eyes lit up like lanterns. She was about to pounce on Fu Lansheng's shoulder on all fours when Mu Xuanling caught her sleeve. Remembering the instructions, A Bao tried to adopt a proper human posture, walking stiffly toward Fu Lansheng like a wooden puppet.

"Big Brother, what did you bring?"

"Just some trinkets that young demons like… You might not need them anymore…"

"I do! Give them to me!"

"They're in the room. Come on, walk faster."

"Big Brother, walking on two legs is so tiring. Can I change back to my old form? You can carry me."

"Carry you? Do you think I'm a mount?"

"Then can I hide in your qiezi bag?"

"…Your lazy and greedy nature reminds me of myself when I was younger. You're practically my sister from a different father and mother."

"Is Big Brother praising me?"

"Of course, Fu A Bao…"

Though the door had closed, their conversation drifted back clearly. Mu Xuanling shook her head with an affectionate smile, covering her forehead. "It seems A Bao has picked up some bad habits from Fu Lansheng."

Xie Xuechen's lips quirked. "It's easy to learn bad habits."

Mu Xuanling's eyes glinted with mischief as she hooked her arms around his neck. Her red lips barely grazed the corner of his mouth, voice dropping to something suggestive. "Sect Leader Xie has learned quite a few bad habits from me…"

Xie Xuechen wrapped an arm around her slender waist, his sharp phoenix eyes softening with warmth. His cool voice carried a hint of amusement. "Still want to engage in daylight indecency?"

Her eyes sparkled with affection as she smiled coyly. "I'm worried about damaging Sect Leader Xie's reputation."

"I don't care about others' opinions." He said this with a completely solemn face and righteous air, yet his next words made the listener blush. "I'm more concerned about whether your body can handle it."

Xie Xuechen grasped her wrist, sending a thread of spiritual energy through her meridians. He sensed her energy was significantly depleted.

"You've expended a lot of energy passing on the scripture to A Bao. You need to cultivate diligently to recover." His brows furrowed with concern.

Oh. So that's what he meant by "handle it"…

Mu Xuanling smiled, resting her head against his chest to listen to his strong, steady heartbeat. "Xie Xuechen… you must have been even more exhausted when you passed on your skills to me before. I had dispersed my demonic energy then, and my qi was in chaos. You had to save my life and transfer your power to me." Her voice softened with remembered worry. "I heard you stayed in my room for three days and nights."

Xie Xuechen paused, then tightened his arms around her. He lowered his head with a soft chuckle. "Three days and nights? It seems my reputation was compromised long ago."

"You had suffered severe injuries repeatedly, then depleted more than half of your energy to help me. No wonder that demon dragon injured you so badly." Her consciousness had been nearly gone at the time, but she still remembered the last image—him in blood-stained white robes, rushing desperately to save her. "You went into seclusion for a month. The situation must have been extremely dangerous then…"

"Ling'er, it's all in the past." Xie Xuechen's palm gently patted her back, soothing. "Don't be sad anymore."

Mu Xuanling hugged him tighter, her voice dropping to something small and fierce. "I'm not sad… I just feel sorry for you…"

She raised her head and pressed a gentle kiss to his chin. Xie Xuechen's lips curved into a smile as he captured her mouth with his, lingering and entwining until her legs went weak. Only then did he lift her in his arms and place her carefully on the bed.

"Shall we practice dual cultivation?" His voice emerged husky, eyes warm with invitation. "It'll help replenish your energy."

Mu Xuanling's eyes filled with tender affection, her face flushed like a peach blossom. But she bit her lip and shook her head firmly.

Xie Xuechen froze, genuinely taken aback.

"The gap between our cultivation levels is too great. While dual cultivation would benefit me enormously, it wouldn't help you at all." Her voice was sweet and soft, yet carried unwavering resolve. "Moreover, you always transfer your power to me, which harms your cultivation." Worry creased her brow. "Sang Qi has been in seclusion, cultivating. You and he will inevitably have a battle. At this time, you can't afford to deplete your cultivation for my sake."

Understanding dawned, and Xie Xuechen's heart flooded with tender affection. He smiled, rubbing her head fondly. His long fingers traced her impassioned features with infinite gentleness.

She always loves with such fervor, considering my needs in everything. How could I not be moved? How could I not adore her?

He leaned down and lightly pecked her moist, alluring lips. He didn't deepen the kiss—only gently caressing and nibbling her soft mouth, tender and restrained.

Mu Xuanling swallowed hard, her heart racing and breath quickening. Her fingers unconsciously caressed the skin of his neck as she greedily drank in his handsome, smiling features. With difficulty, she pushed him away.

"Stop tempting me. I don't have much self-control." Her voice emerged sweet and trembling.

Xie Xuechen's lips curved wider as he buried his face in her neck, unable to suppress a low laugh. Their closely embraced bodies allowed her to feel the vibrations in his chest. Her arms encircled his shoulders, hugging him contentedly.

He tightened his hold, palms gently caressing her slender, soft form. Compared to him, she seemed so petite—like an exquisite gem perfectly inlaid in his embrace, as if they were born to belong together. He craved the sweet softness of her body, was intoxicated by the pleasure she gave him, yet also savored this moment of silent, complete connection.

Suddenly, he heard her speak softly. "Xie Xuechen, do you want to have a child?"

He looked at her with slight surprise, catching a hint of melancholy in her bright, lively eyes.

Was it because of what Fu Lansheng said?

Or because she saw how adorable A Bao was?

"In this world of cultivators, except for those who renounce emotions and love, most high-level practitioners have over a dozen children." She mumbled the words, thinking unwillingly. "You were born with ten apertures, so your offspring would undoubtedly be extraordinary. Many people would want to have children with you…"

Images of Gao Qiumin and others coveting Xie Xuechen flashed through her mind. Afraid of losing him, she unconsciously hugged him tighter.

"What others do is of no concern to me." Xie Xuechen smiled faintly. Sensing her insecurity, he held her close and spoke with quiet conviction. "Ling'er, before I met you, I only wanted to live alone. I never thought about having a Dao partner, let alone offspring. Having you by my side in this life is enough. What more could I ask for?"

His voice was steady and powerful, each word carrying weight. It smoothed out the wrinkles of unease in her heart, yet couldn't completely settle her worries.

"But I want to have many children with you. Half like me, half like you." She thought of the little Xie Xuechen she'd seen in the illusion—soft black hair in a small bun, jade-like tender face, innocent yet determined phoenix eyes. Her heart melted. "Little Xie Xuechen must be so cute…"

In Xie Xuechen's heart, little Ling'er would naturally be even cuter, but…

He sighed inwardly, though his expression remained gentle. "Since a half-demon can open divine apertures, perhaps one day we can have offspring too. After defeating Sang Qi, I will resign from my position as Sect Leader and guard the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation." He paused meaningfully. "Will you accompany me?"

"Wherever you are, that's where I'll be." Her answer came without hesitation.

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

Mu Xuanling bit her lip gently, her eyes so soft they could drip water. Her delicate fingertips roamed teasingly over his chest and abdomen, hooking onto his waist sash with clear intent.

"Then let's try now…" she whispered.

Xie Xuechen suppressed a smile, capturing her soft, boneless hand. His voice emerged husky. "I thought we weren't dual cultivating?"

Mu Xuanling let out a soft, enticing sound. "We don't have to dual cultivate… we can just share a bed…"

How very logical. Truly worthy of her.

Xie Xuechen couldn't help but smile, skillfully undoing her clothes and immersing himself in her sweet softness.

---

The Yun Xiao Ship flew above the sea of clouds, sunlight shining unobstructed on the barrier and casting dazzling brilliance across the deck. Thanks to the defensive formation, the interior maintained a warm, tranquil spring-like atmosphere year-round.

The journey from Lingji Island to Two Realms Mountain would take two days at the fastest, three at the slowest. With good weather, they might arrive even quicker.

Fu Lansheng, encountering A Bao's human form for the first time, patiently taught her how to behave like a proper person every day. To encourage her to walk upright more diligently, he even took out a bag of precious materials as temptation.

"A Bao, you must use chopsticks to eat!" Fu Lansheng caught her small hand mid-reach, his tone stern. "You were just crawling on the ground with those hands. Now you want to use them to grab food? Isn't that dirty?"

A Bao's face fell dramatically. "Chopsticks are so hard to use. I want a spoon."

"How old are you now…"

"Two and a half." A Bao held up three chubby fingers, then bent one halfway down with concentration.

Nan Xuyue couldn't help covering his mouth, laughing softly. "She is indeed quite young."

"Uh…" Fu Lansheng paused, suddenly remembering. He kept forgetting that despite appearing seven or eight years old, A Bao's true form was barely over two years old. "Even at two and a half, you should know how to use chopsticks. Otherwise, when you go out with me, people will say my sister doesn't know how to behave."

A Bao pouted. "I heard Sister Axiang and the others whispering that I'm not your sister, but your illegitimate daughter. What's an illegitimate daughter?"

Fu Lansheng's handsome brows twitched violently.

Nan Xuyue curved his lips slightly, voice gentle as silk. "A Bao is so clever, always asking the right questions."

Fu Lansheng glared at Nan Xuyue. Always bringing up the most sensitive topics—I'm starting to suspect she does this on purpose!

A Bao continued with complete seriousness, "Sister Axiang said that you must have left behind some romantic debts in the demon realm, and now you've brought me back to acknowledge my ancestry."

Those maids love to gossip. Fu Lansheng felt wronged. Although he was indeed a flirt, he had his principles. He wasn't irresponsible or a scumbag. They must have heard him call her Fu A Bao…

Her father was Fu Cangrui, so calling her Fu A Bao isn't wrong.

"A Bao, some things…" Fu Lansheng struggled for words. "You'll understand when you're older…"

A Bao sighed with surprising world-weariness for a toddler. "Then can I wait until I'm older to understand chopsticks too…"

"No!"

A Bao ran off to wash her hands with tears in her eyes, bumping straight into Xie Xuechen and Mu Xuanling at the door.

Seeing her dejected expression and misty black eyes, Mu Xuanling couldn't help gently rubbing her cheek in sympathy. "What's wrong, A Bao?"

A Bao pouted dramatically. "Big Brother won't let me eat."

Mu Xuanling shot a reproachful glare at Fu Lansheng, who quickly defended himself. "I just won't let her eat with her hands."

A Bao stuck out her tongue and scampered out, dodging around Mu Xuanling with mouse-like agility.

Mu Xuanling laughed, shaking her head as she entered. "I heard you shouting at her just now, Young Palace Master. A Bao is still young—please be more patient with her."

Fu Lansheng smiled wryly. "I suspect she's deliberately giving me a hard time." He stood and bowed slightly to Xie Xuechen. Though usually carefree and unrestrained, he always showed reverence toward Xie Xuechen.

Nan Xuyue also rose, smiling and nodding to the couple. His face showed no abnormality, though his hand gripping the folding fan tightened imperceptibly. "Sect Leader Xie has come in person—is there an important matter?"

Xie Xuechen had transcended the need for food. He couldn't be here for a meal.

Xie Xuechen nodded. "I wanted to borrow the Blood Mirror from the Young Palace Master."

Fu Lansheng looked surprised but immediately retrieved the Blood Mirror from his qiezi bag.

Xie Xuechen accepted the mirror and looked at Mu Xuanling. "Do you want to see where your parents are?"

Nan Xuyue's gaze snapped to Mu Xuanling with undisguised surprise. "Ling'er, you want to find your birth parents?"

Mu Xuanling lowered her eyes, feeling hurt and frightened in equal measure. She didn't know what she would see in that mirror…

When she was very young, she'd imagined her parents' appearances constantly. Later, piecing together information from other half-demons, she'd constructed a likely story: her mother had been an ordinary human woman who abandoned her for being ugly. Her father was an irresponsible demon who'd perhaps forced himself on a human woman—who might not even know of her existence.

Gradually, she'd stopped harboring such fantasies. They hurt too much.

But Xie Xuechen's words rekindled that old curiosity. What kind of demon was her other half? Like other half-demons, she had no demon core or divine apertures, yet was born with a physique far stronger than ordinary humans. She carried an inexplicable demonic aura. As a child, strange demonic markings had covered her face, leading people at Moonlight Mountain Villa to guess her father might have been a vine or tree demon.

But seven years ago, even those markings had disappeared. Now she looked no different from humans—except for the lingering demonic aura.

Xie Xuechen had said that perhaps she wasn't a half-demon at all…

If I'm not a half-demon, there's a possibility I could bear children with Xie Xuechen.

That possibility made her heart race. She wanted desperately to uncover her origins.

Mu Xuanling extended a trembling hand, fingertips touching the cold mirror surface. She took a deep breath and nodded. "I want to see."

Xie Xuechen placed the mirror on the table, holding her wrist gently with his left hand. With his right, he formed a sharp edge with spiritual energy and carefully pricked her fingertip. A drop of crimson blood welled up from her fair, delicate finger and fell onto the dark mirror surface.

All four held their breath, watching intently.

The blood drop created ripples as if falling into a still lake. The mirror absorbed it instantly, and red light emanated from its edges. But the surface remained pitch black, showing nothing…

"Could it be broken?" Fu Lansheng muttered nervously, then glanced carefully at Mu Xuanling. "Or…"

Or they're dead.

The words hung unspoken, but everyone understood.

After several tense moments, the red light suddenly flashed brighter. The surface seemed to shift, though it remained black.

"It must be broken." Fu Lansheng murmured—but just then, the red light flashed again, and the mirror blazed to life.

Mu Xuanling's pupils constricted. She stepped forward, gripping the table edge for support.

A simple room materialized on the mirror's surface. The view shifted from tabletop to bed, where a woman with a cold, pale face sat cross-legged in meditation. The image moved closer, as if someone was walking toward the bed.

Suddenly, the mirror went dark. The red light dissipated completely.

The woman sitting in meditation was Su Ningzhen.

And the eyes through which the Blood Mirror had shown the scene belonged to… Gao Qiumin.

"Gao Qiumin?" Mu Xuanling stared at the darkened mirror, suspecting malfunction. Her brow furrowed deeply. "How is this possible… She and I…"

Fu Lansheng ventured carefully, "She does resemble you somewhat. Could you be sisters?"

Gao Qiumin did look like Mu Xuanling. She was known as an ice beauty in the cultivation world, but next to Mu Xuanling, she appeared plain—lacking Mu Xuanling's radiance and charming vitality. They'd always thought the resemblance coincidental, never imagining a blood connection.

After all, Mu Xuanling was a half-demon. They were about the same age. Su Ningzhen had died in childbirth after bearing Gao Qiumin—how could she have had time to bear another child, let alone a half-demon?

Xie Xuechen's mind raced through the puzzle pieces. He'd guessed at the entanglement between Sang Qi and Su Ningxi. Sang Qi had taken Mu Xuanling as his disciple. Could Mu Xuanling be the child of Sang Qi and Su Ningxi?

His voice dropped, heavy with certainty. "Let's go to Mirror Flower Valley. Su Ningzhen knows the truth."

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