Lin Muci was, in fact, disappointed.
She knew, of course, that the demon wouldn't change so easily, but hearing it with her own ears was different.
If it were Ling Qianhe...
No matter what she said, he would surely agree, wouldn't he?
Even if he put up a fight with his words, he ultimately couldn't bear to see her unhappy.
Lin Muci understood this well.
Then, a small system's voice reached Lin Muci's ears.
"Host, what you said to him, was it truly to complete the mission and prevent him from becoming a demon, or did it come from your genuine heart?"
When asked by the system like this, Lin Muci's expression turned grave. She didn't quite understand; was there a difference?
"What if it were from my heart?"
The little system merely said.
"Even if he truly has no heart and no love, would you still be willing to save him from the bottom of your heart?"
"This is very important—it will decide many things."
Lin Muci didn't understand why the system was suddenly being so indecisive. Was her sincerity that important? This was acting, not reality.
However, her chest still ached faintly. Thinking of the boy's defiant eyes, she took a deep breath, the air filling her lungs with a chill that pierced to the bone.
"He's so much like Ling Qianhe."
"If people have past lives, perhaps Qianhe was like this in his past life..."
"Didn't you tell me before that Ling Qianhe was the destined villain, the hardest target to conquer? He's cold-hearted, but he's not without emotions."
She lowered her head and said,
"Must the world be saved by sacrificing a demon?"
The little system remained silent for a long moment before replying.
"So, Host, you've... softened."
"You feel Ling Qianhe is a solitary star, never having received a moment of love from anyone, and that's why you've softened."
"But have you considered what he desires? He's tyrannical, cruel, and cold-blooded. If you could truly teach him what love is, as you imagine... would he truly be able to let go?"
Lin Muci had already made up her mind.
"Whether he can let go is his business. But I cannot go against my own heart."
"If the script dictates his downfall, then I will rewrite that script."
She was quite resolute.
The little system remained silent, perhaps engaged in some complex calculation. After a while, it finally said.
"Host, it won't just be Zi Yanling who comes to trouble you."
"There's also Helian Lanyue's Qingque... That Qingque has used the demon god's divine stone to nurture perfect wings. If she knows you're in the human realm, she will definitely come looking for trouble."
Lin Muci let out a scoff, finding the other party ridiculous.
"She dares to come?"
"If she comes, I don't mind clipping her wings again!"
Her tone was fierce and sharp. The little system in her mind suddenly became flustered and quickly spoke.
"Host—don't, don't be impulsive."
"That Qingque isn't that simple... Listen to me, that Qingque is very cunning. Otherwise, she wouldn't have tricked Helian Lanyue into stealing your spiritual meridians. And your spiritual meridians are still with her."
"She's very much like a white lotus; you must be extremely careful not to fall into her schemes."
Lin Muci wasn't worried at all.
"With you, how could I fall into any schemes?"
The little system couldn't help but mutter.
"That's hard to say, and not necessarily true. If that Qingque comes looking for you, you absolutely must not be impulsive."
Lin Muci nodded carelessly, thinking that if she came, she would make her utterly perish!
...
Ling Qianhe inherited the dynasty.
He personally imprisoned his father and ascended the throne that day. The old courtiers spat curses, calling him disloyal and unfilial, predicting his eventual demise without a burial place.
A hint of cold, mocking amusement flickered in his eyes as he listened impassively to the pedantic ministers speak of his tragic fate. His expression remained unchanged, and he coldly questioned the speaker.
"Is that all?"
"A demise without a burial place... But if I don't die, wouldn't that suffice?"
The white-haired, aged minister opposite him was completely stunned by his words, unable to comprehend his underlying meaning. Deep within his eyes, a chilling, scornful smile welled up.
It was snowing outside, with snowflakes swirling down. He stood on a nine-foot-high platform, surveying the imperial city. Surrounding him, prostrate, were those who had once cursed him as despicable. Eunnuchs in black robes looked up at him from his side.
They saw him as a god.
His power was so immense it inspired trembling. Those who had witnessed him slaughter immortals knew that no one in the dynasty could possibly resist him. Furthermore, he possessed a mysterious ability to see through people's hearts.
All darkness was exposed before him; he knew all the hidden darkness in the world. He sneered, looking down upon the masses, and they all bowed their heads.
The youth stood coldly in the imperial city and then heard someone report to him.
"Your Majesty... we've found the person you were looking for."
"Her name is Xue Zhizhi."
"We found her on the outskirts. She is blind and was adopted by a farming family for many years. We have already brought her into the imperial city. Your Majesty, do you wish to see her?"
...
Lin Muci heard the sound of snow falling outside. A clamor arose from the palace maids, saying His Majesty had found his childhood white moonlight, the one who had saved him once, and might even make her the Empress.
Lin Muci felt bewildered. What was this plot? Why hadn't the little system mentioned it?
The maids praised the maiden's beauty, saying she was as lovely as a celestial being, far surpassing even the celestial beings who had descended before.
They lamented that her eyes were injured, rendering her blind.
Otherwise, if her eyes were intact, she would surely possess peerless beauty; no woman in this world could compare to her.
The more Lin Muci listened, the stranger she felt. This woman's appearance... why did it strike her as so familiar?
She pondered for a moment.
She asked the little system.
"Is it that Qingque? But wasn't she with the Demon Emperor Helian Lanyue? How could she have had the time to accrue favor with Ling Qianhe? This doesn't make sense."
"This script is really falling apart."
Perhaps feeling guilty, the little system told her in a very faint voice.
"She didn't really save him; it's just that this Qingque has an ability. They Qingque can drag people into illusions, making them believe the fabricated illusions are real. She never saved Ling Qianhe, but since she's here, she's targeting you."
"She's repeating her old tricks, intending to use this method to make Ling Qianhe believe she's his white moonlight."
"She must have entered Ling Qianhe's dreams and fabricated a lie that she saved him."
"In his dreams, Ling Qianhe will mistakenly believe that she saved him."
"Thus, he will develop feelings for her and favor her greatly."
"Then, under the guise of his white moonlight, she will calmly appear before Ling Qianhe, gaining his trust."
"She's using this method to calmly gain an advantage, to approach Ling Qianhe. Gradually infiltrating his heart, making him fall in love with her."
"To deliver a heavy blow to you, making that demon sacrifice you for her..."
Lin Muci felt so exasperated she wanted to curse.
However, the term "repeating old tricks" made Lin Muci feel a bit suspicious.
Repeating old tricks—had she used this crooked method once before?
She wasn't Helian Lanyue's, the true white moonlight?
Everything was just a lie fabricated by her innate skill.
Unfortunately, Helian Lanyue had fallen for this Qingque's ploy.
She had genuinely believed her to be the white moonlight.
For her, she could even harm her sister, with whom she had spent a millennium, digging out her spiritual meridians, claiming that the Qingque, who appeared frail and pitiable, would die without her spiritual meridians.
But it was fine for her; she had phoenix bloodline and could be reborn through nirvana.
She delivered a gentle stab.
And still claimed she had no choice.
She couldn't help but feel a cold laugh rising.
The system then cautiously told her.
"Host, you must not be careless. Even Helian Lanyue was no match for her; being drawn into illusions by her innate skill, he truly believed she had sacrificed her future for him and that she was the one who saved him in his desperate moment."
"He stole your spiritual meridians for Qingque back then, and now Qingque wants to use the same illusion on Ling Qianhe."
"He might also be instigated to do something bad to you."
"You need to be vigilant."
The little system warned her earnestly, but Lin Muci didn't hesitate even for a moment. She confidently told the little system.
"He won't."
"Anyone in this world can be deceived by Qingque, but only Ling Qianhe won't."
"He is a born demon; he can distinguish between good and evil, truth and falsehood."
"I don't believe he will be deceived by Qingque into harming me."
"Besides, I truly never intended to harm him; he understands."
The little system was so anxious it wished it had hands to scratch its head.
"You say he understands—but how do you know if he truly does? I don't have such high hopes for this demon."
Lin Muci remained silent. The snow outside continued to fall heavily.
Then, someone came to invite her, saying His Majesty wished to see her.
The palace maid lit the palace lanterns. The wind and snow were vast outside. She walked through a long corridor blanketed by wind and snow to a palace with a warm brazier.
In the clear and cold palace, the youth in dark robes walked up to her, grasping her wrist.
"Muci elder sister?"
"Is it very cold outside?"
In fact, his palm was also cold.
Having cultivated demonic arts, his body temperature would naturally be lower than that of ordinary men if he were falling into demonhood.
But he seemed to have warmed his palm with a brazier beforehand. Holding her, his hand was warm and comforting. Yet, he still seemed displeased, looking at the surrounding servants with a surge of anger in his eyes.
"Is this how you serve?"
"What, you didn't even give her a brazier?"
The servants trembled in fear, kneeling in a row. They thought this capricious young monarch didn't care much for this maid, especially since she was just a maid. How could she compare to the Emperor's youthful white moonlight? Of course, warmth belonged there.
As for whether Lin Muci was enduring the cold.
These servants didn't really care. But now, unexpectedly, this young monarch erupted in furious anger.
Instead, Lin Muci patted his shoulder, leaning her face against his in a comforting gesture.
"It's okay."
"I'm not cold."
Ling Qianhe's gaze remained fixed on her. Then he said.
"Elder sister, don't lie. Sister's lips are so cold they've turned a little pale."
His fingertips slowly caressed her lips, then he drew closer. He attempted to warm her with the temperature of his own lips. Lin Muci coughed, thinking to herself.
That Qingque isn't good enough.
What, the trick of fabricating illusions to make a man fall madly in love no longer works?