Mù Ànxiào, enduring the bitterness in her mouth, opened her eyes. After a moment of blurry vision, she saw the Yin Messenger's face.
"Aaaahhhh."
The Yin Messenger was startled. "What are you screaming about?"
"You look..." Mù Ànxiào pursed her lips and leaned in to examine the Yin Messenger, whose appearance was no different from a human's. She then composed herself and said, "You look just like a human."
"Of course, I came from the human realm too," the Yin Messenger replied with a sigh.
"You came from the human realm, so if I eat what you gave me, will I also become like you..." Mù Ànxiào pondered for a moment, then excitedly uttered the word: "A ghost?"
"No, I just gave you a little reward," the Yin Messenger said, standing up.
Mù Ànxiào followed the Yin Messenger as he stood, and asked, "A reward? What did I do to deserve a reward from you?"
"You are a cultivator, and you can only see us when you reach a certain realm. But you," the Yin Messenger pointed at Mù Ànxiào, "with the special privilege I gave you, have bypassed that step."
"How long does it usually take for people to cultivate to see monsters?" Mù Ànxiào felt a surge of excitement.
"How old are you this year?" the Yin Messenger suddenly asked.
Mù Ànxiào blinked. "It's very impolite of you to ask my age like that."
"If you don't tell me, I won't answer your question," the Yin Messenger stated calmly.
Seeing the Yin Messenger's demeanor, Mù Ànxiào thought, 'Cultivators of both sects and ghosts are truly abnormal.' Reluctantly, she revealed her age: "I am eighteen this year."
"Eighteen." The Yin Messenger exclaimed in surprise and looked at Mù Ànxiào. "This particular spell takes at least half a lifetime to master. Your friend, Shen Yan, has indeed given you a special privilege."
"I wish I didn't have it," Mù Ànxiào mumbled.
The Yin Messenger clearly heard Mù Ànxiào's words and a smile touched his lips. "From now on, we are friends."
"I don't want to be," Mù Ànxiào refused with all her soul.
"This is the only one of its kind, and you ate it. So, we are friends." The Yin Messenger extended his hand, which was wrapped in a black cloth, towards Mù Ànxiào.
Mù Ànxiào looked at his covered hand and her mind conjured the temperature of his touch, causing her to quickly shake her head. "No, I won't see you much in this life, and besides..."
Before she could finish, the Yin Messenger leaned down and grasped Mù Ànxiào's hand. "What I decide, humans cannot change. Friends." With that, he tightened his grip on Mù Ànxiào's hand.
'As expected, his hand is freezing,' Mù Ànxiào's scalp tingled. A stiff smile curved her lips as she reluctantly forced out two words: "Friends."
"Alright, I will tell you my name in the future." The Yin Messenger released her hand and turned to the other Yin Messengers who were already apprehending the monster, saying, "I will visit you often, friend." Then, he left.
Mù Ànxiào looked down at her single hand, which was now frozen, and pouted. "Why am I so unlucky?" With teary eyes, she looked at Yè Yín.
Yè Yín, knowing it was his fault, averted his gaze.
Mù Ànxiào looked at Yè Yín, and her previously tense mood began to relax. "Yè Yín, where did that fellow Shen Yan go?" As she spoke, she glanced behind Yè Yín and then let out a loud yell.
Yè Yín was suddenly startled by Mù Ànxiào's cry and turned to look in the direction she was staring. "What's there to be afraid of?"