"They all wish for their daughters to achieve immortality quickly, so that they won't fear those ghosts anymore. No," the aunt said with a smile, "then none of us will have to be afraid."
"Then I'll go take a look," Mu Anxiao said politely.
"Go ahead, we're counting on you, young man," the aunt patted Mu Anxiao's shoulder.
Mu Anxiao gave an awkward chuckle and turned to run in the direction the aunt had pointed.
Watching Mu Anxiao sprint away, the aunt smiled, "This young man, he's truly..." Her words trailed off as a pair of hands pierced through her body. She slowly turned her head to look at the green-faced man behind her, let out a short "Ah," and her head lolled to the side as her eyes closed.
"To dare spread this news is truly seeking death," the green-faced man said, withdrawing his blood-stained hands.
The aunt fell to the ground with a thud.
The green-faced man lightly waved an arm at the aunt, and she vanished.
Immediately, the green-faced man looked with an evil smile in the direction Mu Anxiao had run, waved an arm, and transformed into the aunt's appearance.
"That girl, she really knows how to hide her gender," he said, walking forward with interest.
At this moment, Mu Anxiao knocked on all the courtyard gates, but the response she received from inside was always: "Come back tomorrow, tonight, it's better not to."
These replies echoed in Mu Anxiao's ears. Stopping and leaning against the grey dirt wall, she felt troubled: "What should I do? How will I explain when I go back? Ye Yin definitely won't listen to me. Perhaps," she looked up at the darkening sky, pouting, "he'll throw me back into the dry well."
"Young master, what troubles you?"
Hearing the voice, Mu Anxiao looked up in surprise at the fake aunt slowly walking towards her. "Auntie, aren't you afraid of ghosts?"
"I have an amulet to ward off demons." The fake aunt smiled and tugged at the chain around her neck.
Mu Anxiao glanced at the chain the fake aunt was holding and smiled, "So that's what an amulet to ward off demons looks like."
The fake aunt's expression stiffened for a moment, and she replied with a smile, "Yes." She glanced at Mu Anxiao's face and asked, "By the way, young master, do you have a place to stay tonight?"
"Young master?" Mu Anxiao took notice of the fake aunt's address. "That's not right, Auntie. You were calling me young man just now, why are you suddenly calling me young master?"
The fake aunt tilted her head and smiled, explaining, "Oh, I see how handsome you are. I thought calling you just 'young man' wasn't quite fitting for your status, so I changed the address. Don't you like it?"
"No, I just... I've never been called 'young master' before, so I'm a bit surprised," Mu Anxiao said dryly.
"Is that so? By the way," the fake aunt pointed at the closed doors and asked, "why are you the only one here tonight?"
"Oh, they said they don't open their doors at night," Mu Anxiao gave an awkward smile.
"Is that so?" The fake aunt scratched her face, her eyes darting around. She suddenly reached out and placed her hands on Mu Anxiao's shoulders. "Young master, if you don't mind, would you like to come and stay at my place?"
Mu Anxiao's body stiffened, but she smiled politely, "No thank you, Auntie, I have a place to stay."
"You..."
The fake aunt had only spoken one word when Shen Yan appeared.
"You're the rattan spirit, aren't you?" he said, grabbing the fake aunt's hand that was on Mu Anxiao's shoulder.