Shen Yan glanced at Mu Anxiao, who was being led away, and sighed softly. She then turned to the panicked white-robed man watching Mu Anxiao's retreating back and said, "Let's go."
The white-robed man, surprised by Shen Yan's apparent heartlessness, lowered his gaze. After a moment's thought, he turned back to Shen Yan and said, "That girl was right. You should have saved her."
"But you wanted to kill her?" Shen Yan asked coldly.
The white-robed man fell silent for a few seconds. "If she hadn't thrown that chain, my soul would have been devoured by the vine spirit. So, in a way, she saved me."
"I can't do anything," Shen Yan stated plainly.
"Why not?" the white-robed man frowned.
"I only have the ability to bring you here, but I don't have the right to interfere in their affairs. Even if I cast a spell, they wouldn't see me. As for Mu Anxiao," Shen Yan continued, "that was her innate ability. I suspect only she can do that. But she's just a mortal. This matter is likely difficult to resolve."
"If I possess my own body, can I temporarily come back to life?" the white-robed man asked.
"This..." Shen Yan glanced at the middle-aged man kneeling beside the white-robed man and asked, "What do you plan to do?"
"This matter was caused by me, and I will be the one to set it right. If possible, I hope you will help me deal with that vine spirit."
"Neither you nor I have the ability to change the past. If it were changed, everything would be different."
"I wish to atone," the white-robed man said with determination.
"If you wish to save Mu Anxiao, I agree. But you are forbidden from attempting to alter the past."
"I..." The white-robed man hesitated, contemplating his sins over the past few decades. He finally nodded in resignation to Shen Yan's decision.
Mu Anxiao was pushed into the woodshed by the two servants.
"You demon," the first servant sneered before closing the door and affixing a talisman to it.
Mu Anxiao watched their retreating figures through the papered window, a slight curl of her lip. She retreated to a corner and sat down.
In the courtyard, the white-robed man slowly floated over to his own side. "I'll try," he said.
"Mm," Shen Yan nodded.
The white-robed man took a deep breath and slowly lowered himself into his body.
Shen Yan looked down at the body, which remained still for a long time, and frowned. After counting to three, the white-robed man's fingers twitched. His eyelids fluttered, and he opened his eyes.
"Son," the middle-aged man exclaimed, his face breaking into a smile.
Ever since he had been separated from his father that year, the white-robed man had not heard his father's voice. Looking at his father now, his heart ached.
"Father," his eyes began to water.
The middle-aged man clapped a hand on the white-robed man's shoulder. "You scoundrel, I told you not to come out, but you insisted. And now look what happened."
Ye Yin glanced at the booklet in his hand, a wry smile playing on his lips, and departed.
Shen Yan passed through the woodshed door and stood before Mu Anxiao. "I've gained a new understanding of you today."
"What new understanding?" Mu Anxiao asked, looking up.
"You are the first mortal I have ever witnessed who can speak with the past," Shen Yan said. She crouched down to meet Mu Anxiao's eyes. "From now on, listen to me. Don't spout nonsense anymore."
"They say I killed someone, so I had to defend myself," Mu Anxiao said, feeling wronged.
"From this point on, the people here have begun to despise demons. No matter how much you say, they won't listen. It's better for you not to speak."
"Then let's go," Mu Anxiao said, pushing herself up against the wall.