The stolen magic is a bit magical

As the wind blew, the lone figure slowly faded away.

As the wind blew, the last melody of the zither blended into the flowers.

Peach blossoms fall, scattered on the yellow mud.

Her eyes, shimmering like spring water...

The dam in Lin Xiaosu's heart collapsed at this moment. He took a deep breath and said, "Let me also sing you a song, this one is 'Farewell to Tonight'!"

The beauty of the song is beyond words...

The moon demon was carried away by the beautiful melody and could never return.

Han Yan stared blankly at the flute, listening to his song; her entire worldview shattered at that moment.

She was the one who felt most strongly about Mr. Lin.

However, today's music still broke out of her pre-set framework.

This piece is so full of emotion and so full of musicality.

Every note struck her heart.

It's so captivating that you can't look back.

For her, finding joy in the Way was the path to enlightenment; she never actually found joy in the Way to be beautiful.

But tonight's music, with its poignant beauty, its exquisite charm, and its touch of human emotion, is so deeply moving.

This proud and carefree girl, who had gradually distanced herself from the mortal world after entering the capital, seemed to be pulled back into the human realm at this moment, experiencing her thoughts, feelings, and sorrows once again in the mortal world...

This is essentially an impact on the Dao realm.

However, she suddenly felt that her Dao realm had become abundant, and there was no sign of damage to her Dao realm at all.

The Heavenly Capital's cultivation rules dictate that one must not approach the mortal world.

All the cultivation practices in Tiandu were telling her to stay away from the mortal world, even further away.

Is it wrong?
Is it really wrong?
This was Han Yan's surprise, but also her unease.

The surprise stemmed from the fact that any upheaval in the Dao realm is, in fact, an opportunity; the unease arose from the fact that, upon examining her past path, she questioned for the first time in her life whether that path was right or wrong…

As the last lingering sound merged into the remaining moonlight outside, the two looked at each other, and for a moment, they had no eyes for each other.

"It's late, young master, let me escort you to your rest," Yue Yao said softly.

"it is good!"

Upon entering his room, Han Yan sat alone in the small hut. Her eyes were closed, as if she had entered seclusion, or perhaps she was trying to adjust the surging waves within her Dao realm.

“She wasn’t injured, and your music even had the effect of soothing her injuries.” Yue Yao’s gaze fell on the small house.

"I can tell!" Lin Xiaosu said.

“Young master, I…” Yue Yao gently grasped his hand; her hand was very soft.

"Fairy, what do you want to say?" Lin Xiaosu's heart was also beating fast. If her premonition was correct, the dam in her heart should have collapsed as well.

"I...I've fallen in love with a man, but he's leaving tomorrow. I don't know how to keep him here. All I know is that I can't accept that I'll never, ever be without him in the years to come." Yue Yao slowly raised her eyes and bravely faced Lin Xiaosu.

Lin Xiaosu looked quietly into her eyes, slowly raised her hand, and released her hand.

A hint of disappointment flickered in the moon demon's eyes...

He finally let go of her hand.

Is this their fate?
However, with a gentle lift of his hands, he placed them on her waist and embraced her, drawing the Moon Demon into his arms.

At this moment, the Moon Demon's heart completely stopped beating.

For the first time, her mind soared into the sky under the bright moon.

"I don't actually have the habit of spending Chinese New Year at the homes of completely unrelated members of the opposite sex." Lin Xiaosu's lips were close to her ear: "I'm spending Chinese New Year here with you, simply because you are you!"

"Young Master!" Yue Yao raised her hand and hugged his neck, as if she had completely melted into his embrace.

"You just asked me if I was coming back to the Demon Realm, and I didn't answer because I couldn't find a reason to return," Lin Xiaosu said. "But now I can answer you: I will come back, because you're here!"

The Moon Demon said happily, "Someone once told me that my Moon of the Sky would meet its end because I fell in love with you. That's not true. The Moon of the Sky is a moon of love. If it has no goal, my moonlight will lack a reason to cross the Demon Realm and enter the world. Now that I have this reason, my Moon of the Sky has the hope of crossing the border of the Demon Realm and coming to my husband."

"Husband?" Lin Xiaosu looked at her lips and softly uttered two words.

The moon demon's eyes flickered slightly: "Husband, please don't take my body tonight, or the 'Moon of the Sky' that I will eventually achieve will not be full. Please kiss me, okay?"

"it is good!"

The moment the lips touched the ground, it was as if a seal had been stamped on the lips.

As for his health, please spare him for now.

Because her Celestial Moon truly needs to maintain physical purity, once the Celestial Moon is fully formed, everything will be fine.

The Moon that Soars Through the Heavens is the symbol of her entering the realm of the Demon Emperor.

On that day, her moon will be able to cross the boundary of the demon realm and truly reach the threshold of "sky patrol".

Their time together was actually short. During one of Han Yan's moments of mental confusion, they broke through the barrier between them, and then Yue Yao left the room satisfied.

Just then, Han Yan woke up from her daze in the Dao Realm.

Han Yan glanced at the teapot on the stove, estimated the time, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Her enlightenment lasted only a short time, at most a quarter of an hour. In such a short time, it was impossible for the two of them to have done anything.

My best friend managed to hold onto this bottom line on the eve of this jerk's departure; that's no small feat.

I finally completed my New Year's mission; it wasn't easy at all.

However, after taking a closer look at her best friend, she suddenly had a question: why did her best friend look like a newly blooming flower, without the sadness and melancholy she had just shown?
what happened?

This is not a good sign!

This is a very dangerous sign!

It seems we need to make a quick decision...

"Lord Su, New Year's Eve has passed, and dawn is approaching. It's time for us to set off!"

"Okay!" Lin Xiaosu left the room.

At this very moment, dawn is almost breaking.

"Sister Yue, farewell!" Han Yan said.

"Mm!" Moon Demon nodded gently.

"Let's go!" Han Yan waved her hand, and a jade hairpin fell to the ground, transforming into a flying shuttle.

Lin Xiaosu stepped onto the platform, her gaze meeting Yue Yao's: "Baby, I'm leaving."

"Husband, don't separate from her on the road!" Yue Yao transmitted her voice.

The shuttle soared into the sky, carrying Han Yan and Lin Xiaosu away from the Demon Realm and back to the Desolate Capital.

As dawn broke, a red sun leaped out of the clouds, and golden light pierced the barrier of night, illuminating the world.

Han Yan glanced back slightly: "Do you know why she wanted us to travel together?"

Lin Xiaosu turned her gaze from the distance to her face, cautiously guessing, "Does she want us to have a harmonious relationship?"

Han Yan curled her lips: "Hope we can get along? We two enemies have spent the Spring Festival together. It's already an achievement that we haven't fought to the death. How can we get along? She just knows that you've become a taboo in the world and is worried that people from the Heart Gate might ambush you. So she dragged me out to use the power of the capital to add another layer of deterrence to potential assassins."

That's true!
Lin Xiaosu is suspected to have a background with Cangyuan.

This is also a deterrent.

Under normal circumstances, most people wouldn't dare to have any ulterior motives towards him.

However, at this moment, his hatred for Xindao and Xinmen was no ordinary hatred.

In the early stages, he attacked the Heart Pavilion and destroyed two Heart Pavilions, thus forging a deep enmity. However, compared to what the Demon Realm had done, this was nothing more than child's play.

Within the Demon Realm, the Heart Gate's layout in relation to the Demon Emperor's Palace is a matter of great importance, involving the top three powers, and arguably the top four powers in a power struggle.

Which four?
There are the Demon Gate, the Ancient Gate, the Heart Gate, and an even more terrifying "Heart Path"—the "Heart Path" among the "Six Paths and Nine Gates".

The revelation of this top secret by Lin Xiaosu in public had an unprecedented impact.

The Heart Gate's plan within the Demon Gate was completely destroyed, the Demon Emperor's Palace was wiped out, and the ecosystem of the Demon Realm was completely changed. It is estimated that none of the "Dark Demons" who were used as "seeds" to enter the Demon Gate will survive.

All the hard-won achievements of so many years were ruined by him.

Do you think Xinmen and Xindao hate him?
Even worse, the fact that the Heart Gate is so openly and publicly revealing its infiltration of top-level forces will surely cause many forces to feel insecure.

When everyone is in a state of fear, the mind and the way of the heart will become taboo and will be completely isolated.

People can't afford to mess with you, so they can only avoid you.

This will make it ten or a hundred times more difficult for it to do things in the future.

All of this was blamed on Su Lin, and Xinmen and Xindao wished they could kill him immediately.

Even with Cang Yuan's background, were they really scared?

Xin Dao has great ambitions and many tricks up his sleeve. Although Cang Yuan is strong, his reach in this world is not yet extensive enough, and he may not be able to intimidate these two giants with just his reputation.

How to do it?

Introducing a superpower with more reach and more reliable real-world power in this world: Tiandu!

Tiandu is the head of the three sects. Although it is not as famous as Cangyuan, it has the advantage of being rooted in the local area. Its mountain gate is visible and tangible, and it has more direct control over real crises.

Even if Lin Xiaosu and the two Holy Maidens of Tiandu were arrogant, they still had to consider whether they could withstand the joint retaliation from Cangyuan, the "one," and Tiandu, the leader of the three sects.

This was the Moon Demon's scheme.

Although this girl dared not give her body to her lover because of her cultivation path, she had kissed him and touched his body, and her heart had fallen for him. She started calling him "husband" and had long regarded him as her true husband.

The first step in the plan was to increase the safety factor of his return journey.

Does this plan actually have any real significance?

Lin Xiaosu sat on the flying shuttle, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings. At this moment, the Dao flower of the spatial laws was already quite withered, seemingly only one step away from the result. He could see hundreds of miles away at a glance.

Everywhere you look, there are hidden secrets.

However, he was not certain whether these mysteries were related to the Way of the Heart or the Gate of the Heart.

Anyway, nobody came near.

Thus, they successfully traversed hundreds of thousands of miles and entered the Great Wilderness.

Moon Lake is just ahead.

"You're home!" Lin Xiaosu said. "It's time for us to part ways."

The shuttle swooped down and landed on Moon Lake, transforming into a small boat.

Han Yan slowly turned to the side and looked at Lin Xiaosu.

"What? You can't bear to part with me?" Lin Xiaosu smiled.

Han Yan bit her lip: "Before we part, I have two things to tell you." "Go ahead!"

"First of all, I lost our bet, and I admit it! When you arrive in Tiandu, give me my name, and I'll take you to see the Capital Lord. But let me make this clear from the start: this is only our wish. I have no idea whether the Capital Lord will be willing to see you," Han Yan said.

"Okay! What's the second sentence?"

Han Yan said, "My second piece of advice is still the same: you'd better forget about Yue Yao and stop thinking about going to the Demon Realm. If you insist on disturbing her Dao heart, I will still consider you my enemy!"

Lin Xiaosu looked at her quietly, her expression showing a hint of hesitation...

Han Yan glanced at him: "What's wrong? Is this matter causing you a lot of trouble?"

Lin Xiaosu let out a soft sigh: "I am indeed a little conflicted, but the conflict is not whether or not I should go to the Demon Realm, but whether or not I should talk to you about the so-called 'Dao Heart'."

Han Yan was slightly startled: "Discussing the Dao? With me?"

Lin Xiaosu smiled faintly: "Are you interested?"

Han Yan smiled: "Discussing the Dao is the proper path for cultivators, how can I not be interested? I am quite looking forward to Lord Su's discourse, please!"

Lin Xiaosu said, "Let's start our discussion from the past! I'll play you a piece!"

With a stretch of his hand, the flute appeared in his grasp.

A glint flashed in Han Yan's eyes: "What tune do you wish to play? Joy, sorrow, or stillness?"

"It's an old song, 'Spring River Flower Moon Night'!"

Han Yan's face shifted dramatically...

She was too sensitive about the Spring River Flower Moon Night.

On that same day, also on Moon Lake, she sang a song that brought her to tears.

They traveled to the Demon Realm for the joyous gathering of all races, all in order to find a cure for their Dao wounds.

Her Dao injury has now healed by 90%, but upon hearing this familiar name, her Dao realm spiritual platform is in turmoil.

You bastard, you really can't stand to see me doing well! I've just started to get a little better, and you're already trying to stab me again...

The flute has begun to play.

The clear, bright daylight seemed to have instantly transformed into a spring night.

The bright moon hangs in the sky, people are on the riverbank, a breeze rises on the Pearl River, and the moonlight shines on Moon Lake...

Han Yan was instantly drawn into this wondrous realm...

Music flowed past my ears, the bright moon shone across the sky, and endless charm flowed through my mind.

Time seemed to stand still.

The space seemed to have shifted.

Only the spring water above her spiritual platform complemented her Dao of Joy, allowing her Dao of Joy to deepen step by step. She did not notice that her Dao wounds were healing rapidly.

Until the wound was almost healed and only one thread remained.

The music for "Spring River Flower Moon Night" is now silent.

Han Yan stepped out of this special realm, and her primordial spirit swept across her spiritual platform, only to be greatly surprised.

The injury did not worsen; on the contrary, it healed considerably.

Lin Xiaosu flipped her hand, and the flute disappeared. She raised her eyes, a mysterious look in them: "Your Dao injury has almost healed, right?"

"Yes!" Han Yan uttered a single word.

Lin Xiaosu said, "Doesn't it seem strange? When you first heard 'Spring River,' you said your wounds were hard to heal, but when you heard it again, you said your wounds were healing?"

"Yes!" Han Yan uttered another word.

Lin Xiaosu said, "The music hasn't changed, the people haven't changed, and even the Moon Lake beneath our feet hasn't changed, yet the result has changed. Have you ever thought about why?"

"Your mindset has changed!" Han Yan said, "Back then, it was you and me who were enemies. When you were strong, you would harm me. Now, we are just discussing the Dao. You enjoy the profound Dao, and I am happy to hear it."

As soon as she uttered those words, her spiritual wounds were truly healed. The last thread of healing was broken, and her spiritual realm became clear and transparent.

“That’s right!” Lin Xiaosu laughed: “This is the ‘Dao Heart’ that you’ve emphasized so many times!”

Han Yan's body trembled slightly.

She finally grasped the most crucial point in this discussion: the Dao heart.

In the cultivation of the Heavenly Capital, the most important thing is the heart of the Dao.

The Heavenly Way is said to be closest to immortality, and the Daoist heart advocates utmost purity and cleanliness.

Regarding the Dao Heart, not to mention a saintly figure like her, even ordinary disciples could discuss it for three days and three nights, and their pronouncements would be regarded as profound truths by their sects.

He actually discussed the Dao with her?
"Many practitioners understand the Dao heart too rigidly, even stubbornly. They define anything that doesn't align with their 'Great Dao View' as impure and avoid it like the plague. In reality, they've strayed from the true path! The Dao heart is simply a matter of mindset. The same thing viewed with different mindsets yields completely different perceptions—that's the principle. You need to know that in the universe, there are three thousand Great Daos: blooming flowers are the Dao, falling flowers are the Dao, clear skies are the Dao, rain and snow are the Dao, the purity of blue skies and white clouds is the Dao, and isn't a ditch overflowing with sewage also the Dao? The existence of all things in the world is the Dao. The so-called Dao heart being clear-headed means seeing through things, seeing what you don't like, but being able to accept it calmly. This is what is meant by 'when the heart is free of impurity, the Dao heart is naturally pure; all worldly affairs are natural'..."

“This isn’t a discussion of the Dao, it’s just spouting nonsense! Admittedly, there are three thousand great Daos, but cultivators each have their own standards. What is right is right, and what is wrong is wrong. Your ramblings are just worldly arguments and have nothing to do with the Dao,” Han Yan said.

"Fine! You're stubborn and persistent! Let me ask you a question..." Lin Xiaosu said, "In your eyes, is it sacred or obscene for men and women to take off their clothes and do that thing?"

Han Yan glared at him fiercely: "If you can't win the argument, are you resorting to being a scoundrel? If you bring up such vulgar topics again, don't blame me for walking away!"

"Vulgar! That's your definition! That's also the gap in your understanding of the Dao!" Lin Xiaosu said, "You only see the filthy side of men and women undressing and having sex, but you can't see that this is the sacredness of life's reproduction, the intersection of the Yin and Yang Daos, an important link in the cycle of reincarnation, the beginning of the Dao of Life, and an indispensable cornerstone of the entire Heavenly Dao. Not to mention all things in the world, even the Dao Ancestor himself was imprinted with life from this behavior. Without this link that you see as filthy, how could there be the Great Dao of the world? How could the Heavenly Dao be complete?"

Han Yan was completely dumbfounded.

She suddenly felt that her Taoist beliefs were shattered...

"Do you still think that thing was completely unacceptable?" Lin Xiaosu stared at her.

Han Yan's lips trembled slightly: "This...this is your reason for insisting on harming her?"

"Look at what you're saying. Did you think I only ruined her? What about you? Don't get me wrong, the worst I did to you was shatter your Daoist beliefs..." Lin Xiaosu said, "Haha, going home for the New Year. See you later..."

His laughter still echoed in the air.

His figure had vanished without a trace with the Yin-Yang Step.

Han Yan sat on the flying shuttle, disheveled in the cold wind...

Every word he uttered was utterly absurd.

However, upon closer reflection, she found herself caught in a persistent sense of confusion.

When the heart is free from defilement, the mind of Tao is naturally pure; all worldly affairs are naturally so.

These sixteen words lingered in her ears for a long time...

There will always be impurities in the world, but as long as you don't see them as impurities, they are not impurities and will not affect your Daoist heart.

Take, for example, the most shameless example he gave.

That makes perfect sense.

Any decent woman would consider such a sordid affair filthy, but from another perspective, can this matter be condemned outright? If you kill the Dao Ancestor's parents, would the Dao Ancestor still exist? If you prevent your own parents from engaging in such a sordid act, would Han Yan still exist?
If you don't do it, I don't do it, and nobody does it, won't the world collapse?

Is this truly the ultimate truth of Heaven?
Is this just another excuse that bastard made up to toy with Sister Yueyao?
It's so hard to guess...

Lin Xiaosu arrived in the capital in just half an hour.

Another quarter of an hour later, he entered the Marquis's residence.

Yes, the golden signboard bestowed by His Majesty on the Su family mansion has been changed again, now bearing five characters: Xueyi Marquis's Mansion.

Add one more character below: Su.

It is also a signboard bestowed by the emperor.

Moreover, His Majesty's writing skills have improved.

Lin Xiaosu, impatient with knocking, simply stepped over the courtyard wall.

The steward, who was turning the corner ahead, spotted him and shouted, his voice echoing throughout the entire manor: "The Marquis is back! Everyone, welcome him!"

In a flash, dozens of people rushed over and knelt down at the same time, saying, "Greetings, Lord Marquis!"

The voices were perfectly synchronized, filled with immense joy.

"It's the first day of the Lunar New Year! According to tradition, we should give red envelopes when we visit people for the New Year." Lin Xiaosu said, "Butler, give each person ten gold coins!"

what?
Ten?!
My goodness, the Marquis went mad the moment he returned home, giving so much...

All the servants were stunned.

The steward, beaming, replied, "By order of the Marquis!"

Lin Xiaosu glanced around: "Butler, why isn't there any New Year's atmosphere in the mansion?"

“My lord, you are never home, and we don’t know where you are suffering. How can your servants forget their master and indulge in worldly pleasures?” The steward’s voice was choked with emotion.

"You're being a bit paranoid!" Lin Xiaosu said. "Who is your lord? You're worried I won't be able to afford a New Year's Eve dinner? Come on, let's celebrate the New Year together..."

Everyone was happy.

The New Year's goods had already been bought, but since the head of the household was not here, the steward did not allow them to be brought out, and the old man's reason was quite valid.

The head of the household is probably suffering somewhere right now, while we're enjoying the New Year feast at home. Is that reasonable?
Now it's alright. The head of the household has returned, lively and refreshed, and has given instructions to start celebrating the New Year.

Then let's put up the couplets, cut out paper-cuts for the windows, cook the food and wine, and change into new clothes...

The belated festive atmosphere of the Marquis's mansion began the moment the bright red lanterns were hung up.

A figure glided through the air and landed beside him.

Lin Xiaosu's heart skipped a beat. The person who came was Qingying!

"Greetings, Your Excellency!" Qingying bowed.

"When did you return?" Lin Xiaosu asked.

"We'll return on the 26th of the twelfth lunar month," Qingying said.

"Let's go to the gauze pavilion."

"Yes!"

Lin Xiaosu walked towards the gauze pavilion.

In the gauze pavilion, Xiao Hong and Xiao Qing were setting out fruit platters and tea. Lin Xiaosu sat down directly and gently extended her hand, saying, "You sit down too!"

Qingying also sat down.

Xiao Hong and Xiao Qing exchanged a glance, bowed simultaneously, and left the gauze pavilion.

Lin Xiaosu flicked her finger lightly, and a drop of tea flew out, creating a soundproof effect.

Qingying stood up: "My lord, I have been listening to your legend in faraway Lanzhou. I really wanted to come back and congratulate you in person, but I didn't finish the things you asked me to do and dared not return to the capital."

Lin Xiaosu laughed: "It's just a promotion and a title, what's the big deal?"

"I believe what you say, Lord Marquis, but in the whole world, I'm afraid only you, Lord Marquis, are so indifferent to fame and fortune."

Lin Xiaosu tapped her finger lightly: "Sit down and tell me what interests me."

Qingying sat down: "The two things the Marquis instructed me to do that day, the more I investigate, the more terrified I become..." (End of this chapter)