29 Chapter Twenty-Nine
◎If we meet again, I will definitely kill you.◎
Lu Yue doesn't need to know Xue Ji's answer; regardless of whether he agrees or not, he will give his heart to Yan Qing.
She said indifferently, "Why don't you treat your injured hand?"
Xueji's icy expression softened slightly, startled, thinking she was still trying to numb herself with superficial warmth. But she couldn't help her heart; being young and lonely, she easily fell for any kindness offered.
"What does this have to do with you?"
"If you have a heart transplant, your body will be weak, and we cannot afford to make any mistakes."
"snort."
Xue Ji's eyes were filled with coldness. She realized that all those so-called sweet words he had spoken were just wishful thinking on his part. She probably preferred a well-behaved and lovable child like Yan Qing, just as she didn't dislike the sickly Wen Ruo at all.
"What if I die?"
How could Xueji be willing to give her heart to her so-called younger brother? Even if it meant mutual destruction, she was unwilling to let Yan Qing benefit from it.
Even if you die, your heart can still belong to Yan Qing.
Lu Yue had naturally considered this. If there truly was such a thing as cause and effect, then this heart should be given to Yan Qing. From birth, he had used his stronger physique to steal nutrients, which led to Yan Qing's weak body. In addition, after using forbidden techniques, Yan Qing's body simply could not withstand the dense demonic energy, so his health had always been poor.
Chongli disliked the two children but couldn't bear to kill them. He used the safest method to hide the children's background. Originally, Yanqing and Xueji would never meet again. Even though he knew that the monster had harmed the village where Yanqing lived, Chongli still did not take action.
Therefore, Lu Yue had no choice but to save Xue Ji under the identity of Wei Mengqiu.
Even if some people knew that Xue Ji was once a half-demon, no one would suspect Wei Mengqiu, which could be considered as helping her hide her past. Lu Yue originally thought that after handing the child over to Xie Shu, he would let other elders raise him, but he did not expect that Wei Mengqiu, knowing that Xue Ji was sent by him, would still take him as his personal disciple.
Even though she claimed to hate children back then, she probably couldn't let go of them.
Xueji is so lucky. Despite being twins, she lives a better life than Yanqing. She has her mother's love and her fellow disciples are friendly. Yanqing, on the other hand, has nothing. Even Chongli doesn't bother to say a word to him. Once, he was almost strangled to death by Chongli just for asking about his mother. He lives in constant fear and is not even allowed to look at his mother's portrait.
Only after Chongli's death could she truly take care of Yanqing. He was like a pitiful young animal, with nowhere to go but forced to rely on Chongli's protection. Fortunately, she became the Demon Lord. As Chongli's child, Yanqing was naturally her child as well.
Of course, she wouldn't tell Xueji these things, since even though they were blood relatives, Yan Qing was essentially unrelated to him.
Xue Ji closed her eyes and asked in a trembling voice, "Since you raised Yan Qing, who are his parents?"
Lu Yue didn't even blink: "They're all dead."
She wasn't lying; Chong Li died at her hands, and the woman he once knew died at Wei Mengqiu's own hands. Xue Ji knew he shouldn't cling to so-called false affections; he should cultivate the Path of Ruthlessness like his master, severing all emotions and desires.
"I can give my heart to Yan Qing, but on one condition." Xue Ji looked at Lu Yue in a deep voice, wanting to know what she would do for her so-called younger brother.
"Can."
Lu Yue didn't think Xue Ji would make any harsh demands. Although the child was cold-hearted, he was very much like his mother and could never bring himself to be ruthless. But he was still too vicious and almost hurt Yan Qing.
"When to make a move?"
"Tonight, after the change is successfully completed, I will send you back to Shangqing."
"Did you tell Yan Qing that I was brought here because of his heart?"
"He doesn't need to know about this, as long as he lives well. And you probably won't tell him about it either."
Xue Ji remained silent, simply enduring the excruciating pain in his heart. Blood continued to flow from his hands, dripping onto the ground. He never tried to please anyone; his reclusive nature at Shangqing meant he spent his days in the library, studying various ancient texts on formations.
He wasn't naturally gifted, so his master didn't allow him to learn swordsmanship. As a disciple of Shangqing, how could Xueji not yearn to become a sword cultivator? But because of his master's words, he had never touched a sword until he met Luyue and obtained his first sword. Ironically, this sword actually belonged to Yan Qing; he was merely taking what others didn't want.
Xue Ji watched Lu Yue leave with a cold eye. A bowl of Blood Demon Lotus appeared in the empty courtyard at some point. This should be the last bowl, and she was unwilling to pretend to feed herself as before.
When Lu Yue arrived at the secret realm, Yan Qing saw that the Venerable One had obediently stood up. Her slightly red eyes were filled with tears, and her pale expression showed panic as she said, "Venerable One, I shouldn't have disturbed my brother. It's all my fault."
Lu Yue said coldly, "Drink the medicine."
Yan Qing lowered his head and asked presumptuously, "May Your Excellency feed me?"
"How old are you? Do you still need me to feed you?"
Yan Qing's eyes dimmed. He knew he shouldn't compete with his brother for the emperor's favor; his brother was better than him in every way. The emperor naturally preferred him, and as a good-for-nothing, he shouldn't expect the emperor to have any feelings for him.
Yan Qing obediently drank all the medicine while holding the bowl. He wanted to say something to the Venerable One, but he fell asleep on the table in a daze.
Seeing Yan Qing fall asleep, Lu Yue's cold expression finally softened. She touched his tender cheek, a rare hint of joy appearing on her lips. From now on, Yan Qing would have a healthy body and would stay with her forever.
Wen Ruo entered the secret realm, her expression grim as she stared at the unsuspecting Yan Qing, and whispered, "Your Majesty, everything is ready."
Lu Yue affectionately stroked Yan Qing's long hair: "Then you can begin."
She had been waiting for this day for a long time. From the moment she painstakingly attacked Shangqing, she had been doing so in order to ensure that Yan Qing would live forever.
The lonely woman now has a child of her own. This is perhaps what she desires most, and it is also her inner demon. Overcoming this obstacle might allow her to become a dragon, or even a god.
Although Qunqing had informed her of the prophecy of Lu Yue, she still wouldn't give up. Even if she died, she would take Yan Qing with her. What belonged to her could only belong to her; no one else could take it away or touch it.
Wen Ruo began to act, the cold bone knife slicing across Xue Ji and Yan Qing's chests, revealing the beating hearts within. Having lived for ten thousand years, these things were very simple for him.
After an incense stick's time, Wen Ruo's slender fingers traced across his chest, and his heart was perfectly healed. Yan Qing's face was much rosier than before; although it was only half a heart, it made him even stronger.
When Xueji woke up, she was a little weak, but she still saw the woman by the bedside.
Lu Yue picked up the bowl and began to feed him the medicine: "Drink it quickly."
Do you still need to pretend like this?
"You're too weak right now, only I can feed you."
Extremely bored, Xueji still obediently let Luyue feed her one last time.
After feeding Yan Qing, Lu Yue stayed close by his side, waiting for him to wake up. Xue Ji had been waiting outside the courtyard until Lu Yue came out, at which point he knew it was time for him to leave as well.
They seemed to hate it when they came, but felt a little reluctant to leave.
Outside the Demon Realm, in the human world, snow was falling heavily, just like when his master brought him back to Shangqing. Fearing Xue Ji would catch a chill, Lu Yue draped Wen Ruo's fox fur over him. He didn't move, staring coldly at Lu Yue, trying to discern something.
As they approached the entrance to Shangqing, Xueji suddenly mentioned the past: "This is how Master carried me to Shangqing."
Xueji didn't know why she suddenly told Luyue this, perhaps because she had once mistaken her for her master.
"Really? Your master is so good to you, you should naturally be grateful."
Yes, since his master saved him, even if she ignored him and treated him coldly, she was still his master. He should be grateful. If it weren't for his master, he would have died on that snowy night long ago, so what else could he hope for?
Just like now. He was sent back to Shangqing by Luyue, so why should he still hope that she would take him back to the Demon Realm?
Xue Ji's eyelashes trembled slightly: "If we meet again, I will definitely kill you."
Lu Yue looked at his profile and chuckled, "You're quite ambitious, but we probably won't see each other again."
Qunqing's words were never wrong, and Luyue accepted her fate with equanimity. When death came, she would take Yanqing with her. As for Xueji, he would continue to stay by his mother's side, experiencing the camaraderie among his fellow disciples of Shangqing.
She really felt sorry for Yan Qing, who was also Wei Mengqiu's child, yet she almost killed him.
But she must have loved Xueji very much to have kept him by her side all these years.
Upon reaching the mountain gate, Xie Shu had already sensed the demonic energy and saw Lu Yue's face. He was somewhat surprised: "What are you doing here?"
"Xueji has been returned to you; he is no longer of any use to you."
Why did you come to see him off in person?
Xie Shu had already learned through secret reports that Lu Yue was very fond of Xue Ji, personally feeding him medicine. She even held a birthday celebration for him. Now, rumors were spreading throughout Shangqing that Xue Ji would become the new Demon Queen. Perhaps this was a good thing for Shangqing.
Lu Yue said impatiently, "If he wants to come back, then he should be sent back."
In Xie Shu's eyes, Lu Yue doted on Xue Ji, and even though she knew he wanted to come back, she was still willing to personally send him back.
"Wait, will you tell anyone about that?" Xie Shu was filled with apprehension. If Lu Yue were to inform other sects about his senior sister's demonic possession, the Shangqing Sect would be utterly disgraced among the immortal sects. For a highly respected Sword Master to have fallen into demonic possession was an immense shame.
Lu Yue stared at Xie Shu with her purple eyes, the moonlight flowing across her beautiful face, and said coldly, "Has Wei Mengqiu ever been to the Demon Realm?"
Xie Shu was relieved, but still curious why she hadn't told on him. Was it because of him?
He felt as if he had seen her a long, long time ago.
Looking at that familiar face, Lu Yue felt inexplicably irritated. Her past memories had become blurred, but one fact remained unchanged.
In his past life, the pitiful sword cultivator was Lu Yue's first love when she was innocent and naive. So seeing his reincarnation always evokes special feelings in her, as if his body has been etched with her name. Back then, the naive her forcefully kissed the equally naive him, and they indulged in tenderness under the moonlight.
But Xie Shu is Xie Shu, and the sword cultivator is long dead. Reincarnation is still reincarnation, even if the face looks the same as the previous life, it is still completely different.
Xie Shu noticed that Lu Yue's purple eyes were fixed on him, and he could see his reflection in them. He blushed, and when he came to his senses, Lu Yue was gone, and Xue Ji had collapsed on the snow.
The heavy snow fell on him, just like it had years ago. But this time, no one would come to save him.
[Author's Note]
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The most mysterious person in the Canglan Sect is the junior sister of Purple Bamboo Peak. She is said to possess extremely high talent, but no one has ever seen her. Outsiders believe she is diligently cultivating to improve her skills. In reality, she is inconsistent in her practice, sleeping from lunchtime to dinner every day.
When she appeared before outsiders, everyone exclaimed in surprise that this junior sister was indeed quite something.
Bai Xianyu: I'm just an ordinary, lazy bum.
The most notorious womanizer in the cultivation world is a certain elder of the Canglan Sect. It is said that this person is fickle and heartless, and the number of people she has wronged could circle the Canglan Sect ten times over. Until her disciple Bai Xianyu entered the mortal world, the number of people she provoked could blow the Canglan Sect up ten times over.
The proud senior sister volunteered to leave the sect to protect her.
Her junior sister, who despised her, didn't hesitate to draw her sword against her own master for Bai Xianyu.
The Buddhist monk from the Western Regions, after seeing her only once, willingly sacrificed himself to save others, transforming into relics.
The tyrannical demon lord abandoned his killing spree for her sake, and the war ended thereafter.
A certain great demon: No, why am I not in the rankings?
Bai Xianyu, with a naive and innocent expression, replied: "We're all good friends."
Everyone belatedly realized: Why is she like that to everyone?
Reading Guide: A coming-of-age story with a focus on character development and growth, featuring a small ensemble cast and a plot-driven narrative.
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