Feng Qishi watched Mu Anxiao's retreating back, sighed, and followed.
A quarter of an hour later.
Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi stood by the bed. Xie Xin was sitting cross-legged on the bed, chatting with the fake Lin Yan with such great enjoyment that it surprised Mu Anxiao.
"They get along quite well," she said, arms crossed, watching Xie Xin and the fake Lin Yan, who were beaming.
Feng Qishi nodded. "Indeed." He looked around. "Piao and the others have gone out."
Mu Anxiao: "Mm, out for a stroll."
"A stroll?" Feng Qishi narrowed his eyes. "You've given them a task, haven't you?"
As Feng Qishi surmised, a quarter of an hour earlier, Mu Anxiao, to save trouble, had taken it upon herself to tell Piao about the place where the Yin Messenger used to live. Upon hearing this, Piao took Chen along to investigate.
Of course, Piao had agreed to help for a reason, and that reason was Mu Anxiao's consideration.
"Yes," she nodded.
Feng Qishi: "What means did you use?"
"I just considered becoming his disciple, and then he agreed."
"You're betraying Zhang Yan."
"I did accept Xu Lan's money after all. If I don't deliver, it won't look good."
"Just because of money, you're going to become Piao's disciple?"
"..." Mu Anxiao glanced at Feng Qishi, deliberately changing the subject. "They're chatting quite well."
"I'm talking to you."
Mu Anxiao: "I don't want to discuss this topic with you."
"I'm going to report you."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao's eyes widened, and she grabbed Feng Qishi's arm. "Don't! If you dare, I won't cooperate with you anymore."
"Zhang Yan will be heartbroken if you do this."
"I only considered it, I didn't actually become his disciple. Why are you so agitated?"
"If you consider it, he'll take it seriously. Of course," Feng Qishi said seriously, "if he hasn't become your master yet, it's fine. But if he does, what will you do?"
"..." Mu Anxiao sighed. "Shen Fengzi, you talk too much."
"You..."
"You'd better go look after your disciple," Mu Anxiao said, glancing at Feng Qishi, and walked past him.
Feng Qishi: "Where are you going?"
"I'm hungry, going to find something to eat." Mu Anxiao stopped at the temple gate, turned her head to look at the fake Lin Yan and Xie Xin, who had also turned their attention to her. "Why are you looking at me?"
Xie Xin: "I'm hungry too."
"Let's go."
"Are you treating me?" Xie Xin quickly put on her shoes and stood up.
Mu Anxiao: "You treat me."
"Why?" Xie Xin asked as she walked forward.
Mu Anxiao: "Why else? You asked me to find you a divine husband, but now you haven't given me a single coin. Naturally, you should treat me to a meal."
Ever since they returned, Mu Anxiao had been talking about money, which made Feng Qishi speechless. "..."
"You..." Xie Xin uttered a word and lowered her head. "Then I won't eat."
"If you don't eat, I'm leaving."
"But I'm hungry."
"If you treat, I'll take you," Mu Anxiao said, recalling Xie Xin's words from a moment ago. "You said you weren't eating, but now you're hungry. Don't you think you're very contradictory?"
"I..." Xie Xin's eyes darted around. She looked up at Mu Anxiao. "I have no money."
"Didn't you bring a hundred taels?" Mu Anxiao asked, thinking to herself that it was indeed wise to keep the money in her embrace.
"If you find me a husband, I can take you to my home, and my parents will definitely give you something."
"Really?"
From Xie Xin's hundred taels to now, Mu Anxiao truly had lost all trust in this immortal-destined woman.
"Of course, it's true." Xie Xin's eyes were sincere.
Feng Qishi looked at Xie Xin's wronged expression and then at Mu Anxiao. He said, "Xie Xin, you're lying to people, aren't you?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Xin turned to Feng Qishi. "What do you mean by that?"
"You know what I mean. You know it yourself." Feng Qishi still suspected that Xie Xin was not a human, but a demon.
Mu Anxiao: "Why are you talking to her like that?"
Xie Xin: "..." She looked at Mu Anxiao, her eyes turning red.
Feng Qishi glanced at Xie Xin, then at Mu Anxiao. "Mu Shazi, you're a powerful figure, aren't you? Is it really good for you to be tricked around by this demon?"
"She's an immortal-destined woman."
"She is not."
"Say that again," Mu Anxiao pointed at Feng Qishi.
At the same time, Xie Xin glanced at both Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi. "Please don't quarrel over me." She looked at Feng Qishi. "I don't know why you hate me, but I am truly a mortal. If you don't believe me, you can investigate me."
"Investigate you?" Feng Qishi glared at Mu Anxiao, then looked at Xie Xin. "Alright, tell me, how should I investigate you?"
Xie Xin took a deep breath. "I've heard that demons have marks on them." She began to unfasten her sash. "I'll let you have a good look and see if I have any marks."
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao said coldly, "Do you need to debase yourself like this?"
Xie Xin choked back a sob. "He called me a demon. I have to prove my innocence, don't I?"
Mu Anxiao: "Isn't it enough that I believe you? Why go through all this? Come with me." Saying that, she gave Feng Qishi a sideways glance and walked away first.
Immediately after, Xie Xin glanced at Feng Qishi with a complex expression, re-tied her sash, and followed Mu Anxiao.
The next moment.
After the two of them had completely left, Feng Qishi breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to look at the fake Lin Yan, who was covering his face with a blanket. "Disciple, that was quite an act."
Upon hearing this, the fake Lin Yan removed the blanket, looked around, and asked, "Master, have they left?"
"Yes," Feng Qishi nodded and walked to the fake Lin Yan. "What were you chatting about with her just now?"
"Oh, in the past, when I was young, my family and I passed through a town. All the residents there were immortal-destined women, and she lived there."
"What?" Feng Qishi was shocked, thinking, "No way? Isn't she a demon?"
Seeing Feng Qishi lost in thought, the fake Lin Yan asked, "Master, what's wrong?"
Feng Qishi came to his senses and casually said, "Then... you've met her before too."
"Yes, I've met her."
"You..." Feng Qishi was a little disbelieving. "You've met her."
"Yes, I clearly remember that night. There was a strong wind, so my father and the others went to her doorstep. Her family heard the commotion and opened the door. Then my father gave them some silver, and they let us stay for the night."
"What was her home environment like?"
The fake Lin Yan thought for a moment. "It was quite good."
"Were they rich people?"
"Sort of, but not entirely."
Feng Qishi listened to the fake Lin Yan's words and thought about Lin Yan's former distinguished identity. He said, "Not compared to your family."
"Then, yes."
"Then, it seems, her family could afford to give out silver."