"I don't think you're joking with me," Feng Qi Shi said.
From his understanding of Mu An Xiao, she wasn't someone who dwelled on issues of family. Hearing her suddenly ask such a question, he was deeply puzzled and even suspected that Mu An Xiao was hiding something from him.
"...."
"Is something wrong?" Feng Qi Shi asked again when Mu An Xiao remained silent.
Mu An Xiao had been relentlessly criticizing the fake Lin Yan, even arguing with Feng Qi Shi multiple times over him. Now, the fake Lin Yan was her brother. Faced with this reality, she found herself at a loss for words with Feng Qi Shi.
"Nothing," she replied perfunctorily.
"We're partners."
"And then?" Mu An Xiao feigned nonchalance.
"And then, you tell me if something is wrong."
"I..." Mu An Xiao chuckled. "What could be wrong with me? You're strange, dragging me out here to ask such questions. Are you sick?" She hit Feng Qi Shi's arm again.
Feng Qi Shi looked down at his arm, then back at Mu An Xiao, his gaze sharp and demanding. "The facts prove you're definitely up to something."
"I..." Mu An Xiao knew Feng Qi Shi was persistent and wouldn't back down. She decided to stop beating around the bush and retorted, "Tell me, what could I possibly be hiding from you?"
"I wouldn't be asking you if I knew. You're clever," Feng Qi Shi chuckled. "Turning the tables on me."
"What are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing at you, for being exposed yet pretending everything is fine. Silly Mu, you're hilarious."
"You're the hilarious one. I don't have the time..."
"Silly Mu, honestly, why do you always fall for imposters?" Feng Qi Shi interrupted again.
As expected, Feng Qi Shi was a man of perseverance. Seeing him like this, Mu An Xiao sighed in resignation.
"Speak," Feng Qi Shi urged.
Mu An Xiao lowered her head and said, "The imposter, he's my brother."
"...." Feng Qi Shi hadn't heard clearly. He leaned closer and asked, "What did you say?"
Mu An Xiao swallowed, then met Feng Qi Shi's eyes. "I said, he..."
"What are you two doing?"
Feng Qi Shi froze at the sound of the voice. He turned to see Yuan Ye standing behind him, looking as if he'd been through something. "Nothing much. Why did you come out?" he asked calmly.
"He went to the latrine," Yuan Ye said, glancing cautiously at Mu An Xiao.
"Who?" Feng Qi Shi didn't understand Yuan Ye's meaning.
Yuan Ye looked at Mu An Xiao, then back at Feng Qi Shi. "Your disciple. After drinking a cup of water, he couldn't hold it. He's gone to the latrine now."
"Latrine..."
"Not good," Mu An Xiao interrupted directly. She skirted around Feng Qi Shi and Yuan Ye and ran back into the shop.
Not long ago, the fake Lin Yan had escaped from the kitchen. Based on past experience, the fake Lin Yan would surely use his sorcery to leave, reunite with the ghosts, and cause more trouble. The thought filled Mu An Xiao with a sense of foreboding.
Yuan Ye and Feng Qi Shi exchanged glances, then turned and followed Mu An Xiao.
Minutes later.
Mu An Xiao stood panting before the door leading to the backyard, ignoring the stench behind her. "He's gone," she said, looking up at Feng Qi Shi.
Feng Qi Shi asked, "Where do you think he went?"
"I don't know," Mu An Xiao said. The wall suddenly appeared in her mind. She lowered her gaze and thought for a moment. "There must be a way on the other side of that wall."
"What?"
"Follow me," Mu An Xiao said, looking at Lin Yan and A Long.
The two of them promptly stood up in coordination.
However, the way Mu An Xiao and Feng Qi Shi had looked at each other outside had sparked Yuan Ye's imagination. He looked at them, his eyes flickering evasively. "I'll follow you."
"You can't," Mu An Xiao refused outright.
Feng Qi Shi seconded, "Yes, it's dangerous there. You can't go."
Seeing Feng Qi Shi and Mu An Xiao cooperating so well, Yuan Ye shifted his gaze uncomfortably and conceded, "Alright, I'll wait for you here."
Mu An Xiao: "..." She didn't say anything and walked ahead.
Feng Qi Shi glanced at Yuan Ye, then turned and followed Mu An Xiao.
In the blink of an eye.
They arrived at the wall.
Feng Qi Shi looked at the dilapidated wall before him and then at Mu An Xiao. "Why are we here?" he asked.
"He must be on the other side."
"How do you know?" Feng Qi Shi asked, full of questions.
Mu An Xiao didn't turn her gaze to Feng Qi Shi's face. Instead, she continued to stare at the wall. "That ghost just passed through here."
"What?" Feng Qi Shi exclaimed, patting the wall.
Then, Mu An Xiao glanced at Feng Qi Shi, and then at Lin Yan and A Long, who were waiting for their task. "Lin Yan, go through there and see if there's a path."
"Okay." Lin Yan agreed immediately, ran forward, passed through the wall, and stood on the street. "It's a street," he murmured, his eyes widening as he looked towards the city wall not far away.
On the other side of the wall, Mu An Xiao called out, "What is it?"
Hearing this, Lin Yan pulled his gaze away from the city wall. As he turned to go back, a female ghost in black suddenly appeared before him. "It's you."
Lin Yan froze. "Who are you?"
"You came out of your body," the female ghost in black said inexplicably, grabbing Lin Yan's arm. "Don't forget your promise to us." As she spoke, just as she was about to take Lin Yan away, Lin Yan shouted, "There's a path!"
The female ghost didn't suspect Lin Yan's action at all and then disappeared with him.
Over there.
The moment Mu An Xiao heard Lin Yan's voice, her eyes widened. "Go and see," she said, turning to A Long.
A Long nodded, quickly passed through the wall, and stood firm on the street. After looking around, he turned and passed back through the wall, returning to Mu An Xiao. "He's gone, but yes, there is a path."
"He was captured," Mu An Xiao said nervously.
A Long nodded. "It's possible."
Feng Qi Shi listened to A Long's words and couldn't help but recall the entire process of Lin Yan dying for him. A look of shock crossed his face as he looked at Mu An Xiao. "Something definitely happened."
"What's over there?" Mu An Xiao, knowing she couldn't act rashly, ignored Feng Qi Shi and asked again.
Feng Qi Shi: "...." He frowned and temporarily shifted his gaze to A Long.
A Long said, "Straight ahead is the city wall. The road is wider than this side, but the houses over there are similar to the ones here." He pointed to the abandoned house on the right.
Seeing this, Mu An Xiao couldn't help but recall the ghost's words earlier about his formidable sorcery. Thinking this, she walked gracefully to the wall, raised her hand, and gently touched the surface of the wall. "...."