My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1439 Discovery
Although Ling Xue possessed exceptional martial arts skills, she was outnumbered. Just as she was in dire straits, a poisoned arrow struck her right shoulder. The intense pain caused her vision to blur, and she nearly fainted.

The torrential rain poured down, as if the heavens were weeping for her. Ling Xue ran desperately through the rain, her clothes stained crimson with blood. She didn't know how much longer she could hold on, only that the hope of life was slowly slipping away.

Zhou Xing was a failed scholar, but kind-hearted by nature. One day, while gathering herbs in the mountains, he accidentally discovered Ling Xue lying by the stream.

Zhou Xing was startled and rushed forward to check on her. He discovered that Ling Xue had been poisoned and was in critical condition. So, he quickly carried Ling Xue back to his thatched hut.

Zhou Xing applied his family's hemostatic powder to Ling Xue's wounds, then used silver needles to draw out the poison. During this process, he noticed that the birthmark on Ling Xue's neck matched the portrait on the wanted poster in the palace. However, he didn't dwell on it; his only thought was to save the poor woman before him.

In the dead of night, Ling Xue awoke from a nightmare. She dreamt of her experiences in the palace, and remembering her own ordeal, tears streamed down her face. She got up to run away, but Zhou Xing caught her.

In the chaos, Ling Xue knocked over the medicine stove. Zhou Xing rushed forward and grabbed her wrist. When he saw the old scar on Ling Xue's wrist, his heart ached. It turned out that it was a mark left when he, as the son of a physician, bandaged the princess during a fire in the Eastern Palace when she was young.

“Girl, don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you. The poison in your body hasn’t been cleared yet, you need to take good care of your injuries,” Zhou Xing said softly.

Looking into Zhou Xing's sincere eyes, Ling Xue lowered her guard slightly. However, she still dared not easily trust others and could only remain silent.

After that, Ling Xue stayed at Zhou Xing's thatched hut. Every day, Zhou Xing would go up the mountain to gather herbs and then go to the private school to teach. Ling Xue would stay home and brew tea to wait for his return.

One day, Zhou Xing happened to catch a wild rabbit on the mountain. After he returned home, Ling Xue took the rabbit and started cooking it in the kitchen. Soon, the aroma of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar filled the entire thatched hut.

Zhou Xing sat in the courtyard, watching Ling Xue busily working, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. He had never imagined that a failed scholar like himself could have such a heartwarming moment.

At night, while Zhou Xing was grading students' assignments, Ling Xue was grinding ink beside him. Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing them in a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere. Ling Xue inadvertently glanced at Zhou Xing's copy of "Discourses on Salt and Iron," which included nine strategies for governing the country, and couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for this scholar.

During the autumn harvest season, the village headman led government officials to collect taxes. Ling Xue immediately recognized them as imposters. Holding a carrying pole, she easily drove them away.

Zhou Xing watched Ling Xue's retreating figure, his heart filled with heartache. That night, he secretly modified the memorial template, hoping to alleviate some of the burden on the people.

The peaceful days did not last long. One day, the former general's old subordinates found the thatched hut where Ling Xue lived. They brought with them a secret edict from the late emperor and a tiger tally, and knelt down to beg Ling Xue to lead the suppression of the rebellion.

Ling Xue looked at the tiger tally and secret edict in her hand, her heart filled with struggle. On one hand, she was well aware of the corruption of the court and the suffering of the people, and wanted to do something for the country and the people; on the other hand, she was afraid of being drawn into the court struggles again and losing her current peaceful life.

Zhou Xing noticed Ling Xue's hesitation. He silently packed his bags and stuffed his ancestral copy of "Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases" into his bundle.

“My wife, whatever decision you make, I will support you. Besides, we can’t just stand by and watch the people suffer,” Zhou Xing said.

Looking into Zhou Xing's determined eyes, Ling Xue made her decision. She changed into night clothes, preparing to infiltrate the prefect's mansion to assassinate the corrupt official.

However, things didn't go so smoothly. When they infiltrated the prefect's mansion, they were trapped in a trap. Just at the last moment, Zhou Xing threw out a magnet he was carrying, disrupting the mechanism.

After their successful escape, Zhou Xing bandaged Ling Xue's wounds during their flight. Ling Xue was deeply moved by Zhou Xing's focused expression.

Ling Xue used the tiger tally to mobilize the militia, while Zhou Xing improved the catapult blueprints. On the battlefield, the couple fought side by side, commanding with composure.

During a battle, enemy rockets ignited the supply depot. The fire spread rapidly, and the situation became extremely critical. Disregarding her own safety, Ling Xue risked her life to rush into the inferno and retrieve the military register.

Zhou Xing saw Ling Xue's figure outside the fire and was extremely anxious. When Ling Xue escaped the inferno, Zhou Xing immediately wrapped her in his soaked raincoat. The two intertwined their fingers amidst the swirling sparks, each feeling the warmth and strength in the other's hands.

At the victory banquet, the generals proposed to enthrone a new emperor. Ling Xue drew her sword and pointed it towards the capital, saying with a firm look in her eyes, "What I want is not the throne, but for the people to be able to eat a peaceful meal."

Zhou Xing was deeply moved upon hearing this. He tied the jade pendant he had given as a marriage proposal to the tassel of Lingxue's sword and said softly, "Once the world is at peace, we will retire to the mountains."

After the battle, Zhou Xing found the emperor unconscious from poisoning in the Imperial Garden. While administering acupuncture, he discovered the emperor was carrying the imperial edict from years ago that had granted him marriage. Ling Xue arrived and smashed a nearby Taihu stone. She angrily declared, "My consort is here, on the first page of the household register!"

At the new emperor's enthronement ceremony, an imperial envoy arrived carrying a phoenix crown. Ling Xue stood atop the city tower and publicly burned the crown. Looking at the people below, she declared loudly, "I wish to compile 'Convenient Medical Prescriptions' with my husband, and from then on, we will live in seclusion in the mountains."

Zhou Xing played "Longing for You" on his scorched-tail zither, a register of commoners' household registration lying on the table. Outside the window, the green mountains remained unchanged, while inside, the firelight illuminated their graying temples. They had weathered storms together and finally ushered in a peaceful and happy life.

Twilight hung heavily over the summit of Qingluan Peak, and a biting wind whipped up fine snowflakes that danced wildly. Ling Xue, dressed in a simple white gauze robe, moved with the lightness of a swallow, darting through the steep cliffs to gather herbs. A descendant of Nuwa, she had studied medicine and magic with her elders since childhood, and with a heart full of compassion for all living beings, she often ventured deep into the mountains to find rare herbs to heal the people.

Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound pierced the silent sky, followed by a horde of demons surging forth from the depths of the forest. These demons were of various shapes and sizes, ferocious and terrifying, emanating a thick black mist that withered everything in their path. Ling Xue's brows furrowed slightly as she drew her longsword, its blade gleaming with a soft, clear light. She moved swiftly, her swordplay sharp yet elegant, each strike precisely aimed at the demons' vital points. However, the demons were numerous and exceptionally ferocious, gradually pushing her into a desperate situation.

Just then, a dark figure swept across the battlefield like a ghost. It was none other than Zhou Xing, the demon prince. His black hair flew wildly, and his eyes were deep and unfathomable, exuding an air of untamed arrogance. He swiftly formed hand seals, and immense demonic power surged from his body, transforming into a sea of ​​fire that swept towards the demons. Wherever the flames touched, the demons howled in agony and collapsed to the ground.

Seeing this, Ling Xue was startled, mistakenly thinking he was another evil person causing trouble. She immediately shouted, "You audacious fiend, how dare you run wild here!" With that, she thrust her sword at Zhou Xing. Zhou Xing easily dodged, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "Little fairy, you misunderstand. I'm here to deal with these filthy things too."

Although the two were on the same side fighting the demons, their wariness of each other remained. After a fierce battle, all the demons were annihilated. Ling Xue sheathed her sword and coldly looked at Zhou Xing: "Who exactly are you? Why are you here?" Zhou Xing stood with his arms crossed, staring intently at her: "I am Zhou Xing, a prince of the demon race. I was passing by today and saw some demons causing trouble, so I took care of them."

Upon hearing the words "demon race," Ling Xue instinctively gripped her sword hilt, her eyes filled with wariness. In her understanding, demons were always enemies of the righteous path, committing countless atrocities such as burning, killing, and looting. Yet, this man had just helped her, making it difficult for her to discern his true intentions.

Through this battle, Ling Xue discovered that although Zhou Xing was a demon, he was not as cruel and ruthless as she had imagined. On the contrary, she secretly admired his superb strength and decisiveness in battle. Zhou Xing was also attracted by Ling Xue's kindness and courage, especially by the pure and powerful spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from her, which inexplicably made him want to get closer and investigate.

Just then, news spread that an ancient artifact had appeared in the world. This artifact was said to possess the power to overturn heaven and earth, and both the righteous and the evil factions coveted it. Ling Xue received orders from her sect to go and investigate the truth, to prevent it from falling into the hands of villains and harming the world. Upon learning this, Zhou Xing offered to go with her: "I'm also quite interested in this thing, and I can protect you along the way."

At first, Ling Xue firmly refused his offer, after all, humans and demons are different. But under Zhou Xing's insistence, and considering the dangers of the journey, she figured having an extra helper would always be beneficial, so she reluctantly agreed. Thus, the human and the demon embarked on a journey filled with unknown dangers.

Along the way, they encountered various hardships and dangers. Sometimes, treacherous mountains and valleys blocked their path; other times, sudden storms tested their perseverance. Whenever they faced difficulties, the two would cooperate tacitly to overcome them together. Once, while traversing a dark and dense forest, an eerie atmosphere permeated the surroundings, and countless poisonous miasmas silently approached. Ling Xue hurriedly cast a purification spell to dispel the poisonous gas, while Zhou Xing used demonic fire to illuminate the path ahead, protecting her from being ambushed by lurking enemies.

As they spent more time together, Ling Xue gradually let go of her prejudices and began to try to understand the real Zhou Xing. She discovered that he was not as cold-hearted as the rumors suggested; on the contrary, he cared about the vulnerable. For example, when he encountered injured animals, he would carefully treat their wounds; when passing through impoverished villages, he would secretly leave some food and valuables to help the villagers through their difficulties.

When they finally arrived at the legendary location of the divine artifact—an ancient ruin—they found it already filled with representatives from various factions. Among them were ambitious individuals plotting to monopolize the artifact and dominate the world, as well as chivalrous individuals upholding justice and wanting to prevent disaster. The scene was chaotic, and a great battle was imminent.

Just as everyone was locked in a fierce battle, a mysterious figure suddenly appeared on the platform and grasped the divine artifact that radiated dazzling light. Instantly, the entire space was filled with intense energy fluctuations, forcing everyone to stop what they were doing and watch in shock.

To Ling Xue's utter surprise, the person who seized the divine artifact was Zhou Xing! Her eyes widened in disbelief as she exclaimed, "Why did you do this? Didn't you say you were just here to take a look?" Zhou Xing looked at her with a complex expression, hesitant to speak. At that moment, the surrounding enemies seized the opportunity to launch an attack, attempting to take advantage of the chaos to steal the divine artifact.

Faced with the overwhelming attack, Zhou Xing put the divine artifact into his pocket, then pulled Ling Xue into a hidden teleportation array and disappeared. The next moment, the two appeared in a desolate desert. Ling Xue broke free from his hand and angrily questioned, "What exactly is your purpose? Why did you steal the divine artifact?" Zhou Xing took a deep breath and slowly said, "This matter is complicated, but I can assure you, I will never use it for evil."

Despite Zhou Xing's repeated explanations, Ling Xue remained unconvinced. In her view, demons were always cunning and unpredictable, and his suspicious actions suggested he must be hiding something. Thinking this, she drew her longsword and pointed it at Zhou Xing: "If you don't hand over the divine artifact today, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, a group of pursuers arrived in the desert. These people were clearly hired by some unscrupulous forces, wanting to retrieve the divine artifact to present to its master and claim credit. Left with no other choice, the two had to temporarily set aside their dispute and join forces to fight the enemy.

During the battle, Ling Xue noticed that Zhou Xing seemed to be intentionally guiding the enemy's attack, as if using them to achieve some specific goal. Sure enough, after some skillful maneuvering, Zhou Xing led Ling Xue to the entrance of a hidden cave. Upon entering, the scene before her stunned her—it turned out that many innocent beings, controlled by evil forces, were imprisoned here!

Zhou Xing said heavily, "Actually, I've been looking for an opportunity to rescue them. That divine artifact is the key to breaking the seal; only by obtaining it can these poor souls be released." With that, he took the artifact from his robes, placed it on the stone platform, and activated the mechanism. A dazzling light flashed, and those long-bound lives regained their freedom.

Seeing this, Ling Xue's doubts vanished instantly. She felt extremely guilty for her previous misunderstanding: "I'm sorry, I misunderstood you..." Zhou Xing gently shook his head: "It's okay, anyone in your position would think the same way."

However, their actions attracted wider attention. As the news spread, even more powerful figures rushed to vie for the artifact. Among them were many highly skilled and unfathomable individuals, even elders and esteemed figures from Ling Xue's sect. The situation became even more complex and delicate.

One side advocated for the immediate destruction of the divine artifact to prevent it from falling into the hands of villains and causing catastrophe; the other side believed that its power should be properly utilized to benefit all living beings. The two sides were at loggerheads, and the atmosphere was extremely tense. Ling Xue, one of the parties involved, was caught in a deep dilemma—on one side were the place where she grew up and her respected teachers and companions; on the other side were her partners with whom she had just established a relationship of trust and the many lives waiting to be rescued.

At this critical moment, Zhou Xing stepped forward: "Everyone, listen to me! Let's swear a blood oath together, regardless of our different races, that we will all take it upon ourselves to protect the world!" His proposal received a response and support from some people. After intense discussion and negotiation, everyone finally reached a consensus: representatives from all sides would form a temporary alliance to oversee the use of the divine artifact.