“My mother was a close friend of my Master. She died shortly after giving birth to me and entrusted me to his care. My Master brought me to Cang Lan Sect, concealing my identity to protect me from prejudice, even from myself. The techniques he taught me and the Ling Jing he bestowed upon me were all to suppress my demonic energy, so well that I never suspected I was different from anyone else.
“Three centuries ago, during the mission at Jing Mountain, Shi Li, the leader of the Fu Mountain demon clan, sensed the demonic energy in my blood during our fight. He recognized me as one of his clan and used my lineage to lure me away. As a result, none of the Cang Lan disciples survived that battle.”
I was horrified. The Cang Lan disciples… none of them survived?
Including the female disciple who tended to my wounds? Including Mu Jue?
I couldn’t imagine how Mu Xuan must have felt when he returned to Cang Lan Sect and saw the lifeless bodies of his fellow disciples. I glanced at the Demon Lord, but his expression remained cold and detached, as though he were recounting someone else’s story.
“Afterward, I returned to Cang Lan Mountain alone. The Immortal Lord confined me to the Celestial Summit. It was then that my master revealed the truth: my biological father was the former king of the Fu Mountain demon clan, long deceased, just like my mother. My master knew my identity could no longer be hidden. Just as he prepared to reveal the truth, Shi Li smeared my name, accusing me of colluding with the demon clan to harm my peers. He orchestrated my master’s death and left the world believing the worst of me. Wracked with anger, I fell into demonic cultivation. Though I sought revenge on Shi Li, I was sealed beneath the Ling Jing Lake before I could kill him.”
In a few words, he sketched the story of his past life—a life marred by helplessness and resentment.
“So… you sustained all these injuries and massacred the Fu Mountain demon clan just to ensure Mu Xuan wouldn’t experience these things?”
The Demon Lord nodded. “I killed Shi Li.” There was no satisfaction in his voice, not even a hint of emotion.
It made sense.
After all, he was altering the life of a different “Mu Xuan.” But he himself had already lived through this despair and regret. Even if he returned to his rightful timeline, the demons of his past still awaited him, unchanged.
“I don’t need to stay here any longer,” the Demon Lord said suddenly. “Once he leaves the Celestial Summit, I should be fully recovered and able to activate the Ling Jing. At that point, you can ask him for it—he’ll likely give it to you.” He paused. “Until then… keep trying.”
“I’ve been trying,” I muttered, clutching my head. “I’ve been trying so hard I’ve practically thrown my whole self into it.”
The Demon Lord remained silent.
The next day, I made my usual visit to the Celestial Summit. When Mu Xuan saw me, he frowned slightly. I pretended not to notice and walked straight to his side.
“Didn’t I tell you not to come today?”
“I said I wouldn’t come looking for you today, not that I wouldn’t come at all.” I sat against the wall, hugging my knees. “I’m not here to bother you, Master. Just to sit.”
Mu Xuan said nothing.
The Demon Lord had told me that Zhen Ren Cheng Su had already revealed Mu Xuan’s lineage to him. Now I understood why Mu Xuan’s demeanor had been so despondent these past few days.
From a young age, he had been the shining star of Cang Lan Sect, only to discover one day that he was a half-demon—something the world detested. I could empathize deeply with how awkward and painful that realization must have been. But unlike Mu Xuan, I had come to terms with my dual nature early in life. He had to endure the pain of having his worldview shattered.
In times like this, no words could truly ease his suffering. But simply having someone by his side was surely better than leaving him to brood alone.
“The day I met you,” Mu Xuan suddenly said, “there was indeed a group chasing someone in Cang Lan Mountain. But the one being hunted was a boy—it had nothing to do with you. I investigated your background but found nothing. Who are you?”
His face was so close, his deep eyes reflecting my own. “What do you want?”
I wanted the Ling Jing.
“If you tell me,” he said, “perhaps you won’t need to go to such lengths. I might even give it to you.”
I wanted the Ling Jing.
I wanted to be honest with Mu Xuan. I didn’t want to deceive him anymore. So, without thinking, the words slipped from my lips.
“I want you.”
The cave fell into utter silence, the sound of my voice reverberating faintly.
Mu Xuan stared at me, stunned. In his eyes, I saw my own dumbfounded expression reflected back.
What did I just say…?
I seemed to have blurted out the unfiltered truth buried in my heart.
“So,” Mu Xuan finally said, his voice tinged with disbelief, “to achieve that, you… became my disciple?”
His gaze was still fixed on me, as though he couldn’t believe what he’d heard. I opened my mouth, trying to explain, but no words came out. Mu Xuan turned his face slightly, and a soft chuckle escaped him.
“Truly outrageous.”
His tone carried the faintest trace of amusement.
I stammered, “I… I would never hurt you…”
The moment the words left my mouth, guilt surged within me. That wasn’t entirely true. The Ling Jing suppressed the demonic energy within him. If I took it, Mu Xuan would struggle to control his magic. While a half-demon’s nature was not easily detectable, any unforeseen event requiring him to use significant power would undoubtedly expose his identity in a place like Cang Lan Sect, dedicated to the cultivation of immortality.
“Hmm.” Mu Xuan’s nonchalant response only deepened my guilt.
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