Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

Inside the Broken Heart Residence, the charcoal fire was burning brightly.

Outside the window, the north wind howled, whipping up large snowflakes that pattered against the windowpane. Inside, however, it was warm and cozy, with steam rising from the medicine stove and a bittersweet aroma filling the air.

Chen Xuan leaned against the headboard, the gauze wrapped around his body seeping through with specks of crimson. His face was still pale, but his spirits were much better than when he had just returned from the ruins yesterday.

Su Chang'an sat on the edge of the bed with a white jade bowl in his hand, gently stirring the dark medicine in the bowl with a spoon.

Open your mouth.

Su Chang'an scooped up a spoonful and brought it to Chen Xuan's lips.

Chen Xuan didn't move, he just stared straight at her.

"What are you looking at? Is there something on your face?" Su Chang'an glared at him irritably, pushing the spoon forward, almost hitting Chen Xuan's nose. "Hurry up and drink it. This is made with the three-thousand-year-old blood ginseng. I'd be heartbroken if even a drop spilled."

Chen Xuan shrank back, his gaze falling on Su Chang'an's hands.

Those hands were fair and slender, with a faint pink tinge at the fingertips. But at this moment, there was a very faint red mark on the back of that hand, a burn from the medicine furnace.

"What happened to your hand?" Chen Xuan asked.

Su Chang'an subconsciously withdrew his hand and switched the bowl to his other hand: "I accidentally bumped into the stove, what's with the fuss? I'm a demon, this little injury will heal in a bit."

Chen Xuan frowned.

He reached out and grabbed Su Chang'an's wrist.

"Let go, the medicine is spilling!" Su Chang'an shouted, but didn't dare to struggle too hard, afraid of touching his wounds.

Chen Xuan did not let go.

He lowered his head and gently blew on the red mark.

The warm breath brushed against the back of his hand, and Su Chang'an felt the heat seep into his heart through his pores, making him feel itchy and tingly.

"From now on, let Zhao Tiezhu do these rough jobs." Chen Xuan raised his head, his tone somewhat domineering. "You're a fox, not a fire-starting girl."

Su Chang'an rolled his eyes and pulled his hand back: "Zhao Tiezhu is a body cultivator, his hands are clumsier than his feet. If you let him brew medicine, he could set this Broken Heart Residence on fire. Enough nonsense, drink your medicine."

This time, Chen Xuan did not refuse.

He opened his mouth and drank the medicine that Su Chang'an fed him, sip by sip.

The medicine was very bitter, but he felt a sweet taste in his throat.

After he finished taking the medicine, Su Chang'an took out a piece of candied fruit and stuffed it into his mouth, then got up to clear the dishes.

"Chang'an".

Chen Xuan suddenly called out to her.

"What is it now, my ancestor?" Su Chang'an turned around and looked at him helplessly.

Chen Xuan pointed to the jade box on the bedside table.

That was a box containing the Holy Spirit Blood Crystal.

"This thing is filled with malevolent energy, so don't touch it directly with your hands," Chen Xuan instructed. "Once I'm healed, I'll refine the resentment on it and then use it to break the seal."

Su Chang'an looked at the box with a complicated expression.

She walked over, picked up the box, and weighed it in her hand: "Chen Xuan, do you know this thing will shorten your lifespan? Is it worth it to save me?"

"worth."

Chen Xuan answered quickly, without the slightest hesitation.

He looked at Su Chang'an, his gaze calm: "Eighteen years ago, you severed one of your tails to prolong my life. Five years ago, you exhausted your life force to help me escape. I've always remembered this debt."

"I'm raising you because of a system mission..." Su Chang'an muttered to herself, but said aloud, "That's what I wanted to do. Who told you to be the brat I raised?"

"I don't just want to be your son."

Chen Xuan suddenly said.

Su Chang'an joked, "So what do you want to be? A father?"

Chen Xuan didn't respond to that.

He threw off the covers and, ignoring Su Chang'an's attempts to stop him, forcibly got out of bed.

He walked to the window and opened it.

A cold wind blew in, dispersing the smell of medicine in the room.

Chen Xuan looked at the swirling snow outside, his figure appearing somewhat desolate.

"The cultivation method of the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect emphasizes severing the seven emotions and six desires in order to attain the Great Dao," Chen Xuan said slowly, his voice somewhat low. "Our ancestor said that emotions are poison, a stumbling block on the path of cultivation."

Su Chang'an walked behind him and draped a cloak over his shoulders: "What does the old man know? He can't even forget that red fox himself, yet he teaches others to forget their feelings."

Chen Xuan turned around and looked at Su Chang'an.

He reached out and gently tidied the stray hairs around her ears.

"I used to think that as long as I was cold and ruthless enough, I could become stronger and protect the people I wanted to protect."

"But later I realized I was wrong."

Chen Xuan's fingers traced Su Chang'an's cheek, the movement as gentle as if he were touching a fragile treasure.

"During those years in the sealed cave, without you, I would have frozen and starved to death long ago. You taught me cultivation, taught me how to repay kindness, and taught me how to survive in this cannibalistic world."

"You gave me my life, you nurtured my bones."

"If cultivating immortality means forgetting you, then I'd rather not cultivate at all."

Chen Xuan's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, striking Su Chang'an's heart.

Su Chang'an looked at the boy in front of him who was a head taller than him.

His eyes no longer held the dependent, affectionate look of before, but rather a possessive, aggressive gaze.

That was the look in the eyes of someone who loved them dearly.

"You..." Su Chang'an opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Chen Xuan suddenly smiled.

That smile melted away the ice and snow.

"Chang'an, let's go to Zhongzhou once the seal is broken."

"Go get my bones back, then find a beautiful place with clear waters and lush mountains, and build a big courtyard. I'll raise chickens for you, roast meat for you, and groom your feathers for the rest of your life."

"Don't you like living off women?"

Chen Xuan took a step forward, cornering Su Chang'an against the wall.

He lowered his head, his forehead touching Su Chang'an's, their breaths mingling.

"I'll take care of you for the rest of your life."

"As long as I live, no one can lay a finger on you. Not even the Heavenly King himself."

Su Chang'an's heart skipped a beat.

She looked at the face so close to hers.

He was still the same rebellious son she had bullied since childhood, but at this moment, she felt her legs go weak.

This is hardly the behavior of a rebellious son.

This is clearly a wolf cub who wants to devour her whole.

"You...you're committing a heinous crime!" Su Chang'an cursed, his voice trembling with fear, but his face involuntarily flushed red.

Chen Xuan chuckled softly and reached out to pull her into his arms.

"So be it, it's treasonous."

"Anyway, I'm the demon you raised."

He tightened his arms around her, buried his head in Su Chang'an's neck, and greedily inhaled her scent.

That unique scent that belonged to her, with a faint milky fragrance and a cool plum blossom aroma.

In that very instant.

A series of urgent notification sounds suddenly rang in Su Chang'an's mind.

【Ding! 】

[Detection indicates a significant fluctuation in the target individual Chen Xuan's mental state!]

[The Supreme Forgetfulness Technique has been reversed!]

[The ruthless foundation of Dao... has completely collapsed!]

[Current fragmentation level: 100%!]

[Congratulations, host! The first stage of the SSS-level hidden quest "The Traitor's Redemption" is complete!]

[Chen Xuan's favorability has broken through the bottleneck, current favorability: 90% (Unwavering until death)!]

[System rewards are being processed...]

Su Chang'an's body stiffened.

Broken?

That Supreme Forgetfulness Dao Foundation, known as the number one taboo in the Northern Region, which would cause one to lose all their offspring if practiced, has been shattered just like that?

Before she could react, she felt the person holding her suddenly shudder.

A terrifying aura erupted from Chen Xuan's body.

The aura that had initially weakened due to injury was now beginning to rise rapidly.

The wind and snow outside the window suddenly stopped.

The spiritual energy of the entire Supreme Forgetfulness Sect seemed to be summoned by some force, and it frantically converged towards the Broken Heart Residence.

The natal cauldron inside Chen Xuan's body emitted a crisp cracking sound.

Immediately afterwards, a brand new Daoist aura, carrying endless warmth and a sense of protection, re-condensed within his body.

Break and stand.

Enter the Tao through emotion.

Chen Xuan released Su Chang'an and looked at his own hands.

He could feel that the cold shackles that had been suppressing his emotions had completely disappeared.

Instead, there was an unprecedented clarity and power.

"Is this... my path?"

Chen Xuan muttered to himself.

He looked up at Su Chang'an, who was completely bewildered, and his smile deepened.

"It seems that being a kept man really does provide a good living."

Su Chang'an came to his senses and, looking at Chen Xuan whose aura had changed drastically, couldn't help but swallow.

Why is this not quite what she expected?

What happened to the promise that the collapse of the Ruthless Path would result in the complete loss of cultivation?

How did it get upgraded?

"Are you... alright?" Su Chang'an asked tentatively.

Chen Xuan shook his head.

He pulled Su Chang'an back into his arms, rested his chin on the top of her head, and watched the snowflakes fall again outside the window.

"fine."

"I just feel that the wind and snow in the northern region aren't so cold anymore."

The charcoal fire crackled and popped inside the room.

The two stood embracing.

Hearing Chen Xuan's strong heartbeat, Su Chang'an finally felt completely relieved.

[Poetic title of this chapter]

The broken path was rebuilt, startling even ghosts and gods; the secluded dwelling housed idlers.

It's always hardest to swallow a woman's rice; only a rebellious son is willing to sacrifice himself for her.