"Nothing, they just asked me about my relationship with him, and I said we were master and disciple. Then I truthfully told them how I killed him."
"Did they say anything?"
"They didn't talk to me at all, except for the one asking the questions. He only asked me a few things."
"That makes sense. You are human, so they naturally wouldn't want to talk to you."
"Indeed." Miyai nodded.
Mu Anxiao asked, "By the way, is that old man still alive?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Mmm, I haven't been back since I left there."
"Is that so?" Mu Anxiao nodded slightly, then thought for a moment and asked, "Right, how did you kill him?"
"If I had to fight him head-on, it would have been impossible. I didn't have the basic strength, so," Miyai said cautiously, "I made my move in the middle of the night."
"Middle of the night?"
"Yes," Miyai nodded and took out a bunched-up white silk ribbon from her embrace, saying, "I strangled him while he was asleep."
"Strangled him?" Mu Anxiao repeated, looking down at the white silk ribbon in Miyai's hand. She couldn't help but picture the scene of Miyai strangling her master and touched her own neck, casually saying, "You wouldn't secretly kill me, would you?"
"Why would I kill you?"
"Then why are you still carrying this?"
"I forgot to throw it away."
"This is your evidence. Since you didn't think of throwing it away..."
"I just didn't think I would be caught. Who knew," Miyai's eyes were filled with hatred, "that dead man had such a trick up his sleeve? I never expected someone like that to be a cultivator from a sect. It's too hateful."
Mu Anxiao watched Miyai's fierce expression calmly. Then she glanced at the white silk ribbon in Miyai's hand and said, "I advise you to curb your resentment. If you continue like this, it won't do you any good."
"What do you mean?" Miyai came back to her senses and looked at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao sighed, took a step forward, and reached out to take the white silk ribbon from Miyai's hand. "The moment you decided to kill him, you were already at a disadvantage."
Initially, Mu Anxiao chose to side with Miyai. However, the instant she saw the white silk ribbon, and the ruthless look in Miyai's eyes, Mu Anxiao realized that Miyai was not as simple as she seemed.
Mu Anxiao even worried that Miyai might become addicted and harm more people.
Therefore, to prevent such a thing from happening, Mu Anxiao said those words to provoke her.
"I did it for the people..."
"Don't talk about eliminating evil for the people. I once captured a demon soul who was just like you."
"Like me?"
"Mmm, in other words, he had it much worse than you. But he still endured them for a long time." Mu Anxiao forgot how many years Yang Tai had followed those five women and said it.
"How long is a long time?"
"Ten years." Mu Anxiao said casually, seeing Miyai's persistent questioning.
"One year of enduring is enough for me."
"He, a monster, could endure for so long, yet you, after only a year, did that to him..."
"Who are you speaking for?"
"You already have evil thoughts."
"Me?" Miyai shifted her gaze.
"Be honest, is there someone you can't stand?" Mu Anxiao sensed that Miyai had developed a strong desire for revenge.
"..." Miyai lowered her head.
Mu Anxiao watched Miyai calmly and sighed, "Life is not easy for anyone. Everyone will meet people they dislike, or people who dislike them..."
"Can you stop spouting this nonsense?" Miyai suddenly raised her face and glared at Mu Anxiao. "I understand all theιη, I can endure for a while, but I can't endure for a lifetime. Why do they all bully me?" She clenched her fists.
"Do you want to become a murderer?"
"If I could, I would kill everyone I hate."
"..."
Mu Anxiao had been worried that Miyai would have such thoughts, and indeed, she had, and it was worse than Mu Anxiao had imagined.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
Mu Anxiao took a deep breath and said, "Are you starting to hate me for saying all this?"
"I..."
"If you hate me," Mu Anxiao handed the white silk ribbon back to Miyai, "then kill me! Strangle me with the same method you used to kill your deceitful master. Anyway, you won't feel any guilt and will only think you're eliminating evil for the people."
"You..."
"Kill me." Mu Anxiao widened her eyes.
Miyai met Mu Anxiao's gaze, and her heart sank. "Why are you forcing me?"
"Some words, once spoken, must be taken responsibility for. Everyone is unique. You have no right to end anyone's life, including your own."
"My own?"
"Yes. I advise you to retract those wicked thoughts. Some things might feel satisfying in the moment, but ask yourself, after you killed your master," Mu Anxiao asked, "don't you feel any guilt?"
"I felt liberated."
"And then?"
"..." Miyai lowered her eyes to Mu Anxiao's white silk ribbon. The entire process of her strangling that man flashed through her mind. She said, "And then... I got scared."
"You are a kind girl."
"Why do you say that?" Miyai looked up at Mu Anxiao.
"Because you are afraid. Fear means you regret it."
"I..."
"Don't say you don't. I'm asking you, did you really want to kill him?"
"I... I didn't."
"Then tell me, what was your intention when you went?"
"I just wanted to scare him, but I didn't expect..." Miyai said tearfully, looking down at her hands, "his life to be so fragile."
"When wicked thoughts arise, it's hard to take them back. Sometimes people lose control when fighting and forget their strength, let alone," Mu Anxiao said, glancing deliberately at Miyai's hands, "when you do something like this."
"I... I regret it." Miyai started crying.
Mu Anxiao: "Unfortunately, there's no medicine for regret in this world."
"It was just a moment of impulsiveness."
"There are not a few people who ruin themselves seeking momentary pleasure. And how many people, though forced by life, are born without an easy path, experiencing various things and enduring various people? Most people just endure and move on. But you," Mu Anxiao shook her head slightly, "ultimately couldn't endure."
Miyai: "...."
Mu Anxiao saw Miyai's silence and sighed, "All these rambling words are just to tell you not to have wicked thoughts anymore. You can't make everyone like you, and you certainly can't avoid having people you dislike. Since you were unlucky enough to meet a deceiver this time, next time you encounter such a person, just avoid them. If you ask me," Mu Anxiao said, "instead of thinking about cultivating immortality, you might as well live a down-to-earth life."
"My grandfather said I have a connection to immortality."
Mu Anxiao's eyes darkened. "Speaking of which, after your grandfather woke up, did he seem like a changed person?"
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Chapter 1 The Beginning