“Keep working hard, Feng Qishi.”
Every day, Er Mei would report her progress to Feng Qishi. Although failures outnumbered successes, Feng Qishi never discouraged her.
On the contrary, he was always encouraging.
It was because of this that Er Mei liked to seek out Feng Qishi. Hearing Feng Qishi's words now, she couldn't help but become full of confidence. "I will," she nodded.
Feng Qishi nodded slightly, a sudden unease stirring within him.
The Underworld.
Mu An Xiao ran to Xu Lan's residence.
"Xu Lan, come out here."
Inside the room.
Xu Lan sat at his desk and glanced at the candle burning with green flames. He said, "You may come in." He waved his hand towards the door, and it opened.
Immediately, Mu An Xiao, without a second thought, dropped the lantern in her hand, crossed the threshold, and stood beside Xu Lan, asking, "How did things go?"
Xu Lan replied, "The matter is resolved."
"Resolved?" Mu An Xiao pondered for a moment, then asked, "What about the demon soul I was trying to save?"
"You'll have to go back and ask. I don't know. In any case, those five women are to remain here forever."
"Haven't our two sides restored relations? Surely they've sent you messages too?"
"Why are you asking so much?"
"My purpose for coming here was to clear the demon soul's name. If you don't give me an explanation, how can I..."
"I am merely an underworld messenger here. Asking me so much is useless," Xu Lan interrupted.
Mu An Xiao: "..." She lowered her eyes and quietly looked at Xu Lan, who was completely different from before. She asked, "Did something happen to you?"
Xu Lan: "..."
"I'm asking you a question," Mu An Xiao nudged Xu Lan's arm.
Xu Lan lowered his gaze and said, "You are not an underworld messenger."
Mu An Xiao: "..." She averted her gaze and replied, "Who says I'm not?"
"You only came with an agenda, a celestial being trying to clear a demon soul's name. And your spiritual energy," Xu Lan turned his head to look at Mu An Xiao, "is impure."
"How is my spiritual energy impure?"
"As a celestial being, your spiritual energy contains demonic essence. And your soul sword obeys your command, which shows you are no good person either."
Before returning, Xu Lan had thanked Mu An Xiao all the way. Yet, after just a few days, his attitude had completely changed.
This surprised Mu An Xiao as well.
"If I'm not an underworld messenger, does that mean my apologies are useless?"
"Yes."
For several days, Mu An Xiao had been apologizing to the underworld messengers here, apologizing incessantly.
Just as she finished, Xu Lan uttered these words.
Clearly, this dealt a significant blow to Mu An Xiao's heart.
But even so, she still had to ask for clarification. "What was the crime of those five women?"
"Murdering an underworld messenger."
"And the victim?"
"..." Xu Lan sighed. "No one."
"Why?"
"Because of you."
"Didn't they tell you verbally?"
"They said they didn't harm anyone. Those women who committed suicide were all acted upon by the demon Yang Tai. They also said that Yang Tai had brainwashed them and forced them to do those things."
"...."
This time, Mu An Xiao was truly speechless.
At the inn, Mu An Xiao had personally witnessed the five women confessing their crimes, feeling quite relieved. She had even thought that Yang Tai was surely fine.
At that time, Feng Qishi had asked her to check the situation over there and listen to what they had to say.
Because of her trust, Mu An Xiao had not hesitated to follow Feng Qishi's instructions.
Who would have thought that, as Feng Qishi had predicted, it was a trap!
Xu Lan glanced at the silent Mu An Xiao and continued, "Mu An Xiao, you even took their wealth."
"..." Mu An Xiao frowned and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"They said you coerced them into telling you the locations where they buried their silver in life. You truly are..." Xu Lan shook his head slightly, "too much."
"They broke the red threads I was connected to, causing me to bear undeserved infamy. Is it wrong for me to ask for something from them?"
"Human thinking."
"How am I thinking like a human? Didn't you also come from being a mortal?"
"In any case, I thank you for your help, but tomorrow, Xu Lan," Xu Lan said, "you must leave!"
Mu An Xiao sneered, "My business isn't finished yet, why should I leave?"
"The matter is as it is. That demon soul of yours should..."
"Stop. Those five troublemakers were harmed by the demon soul I'm trying to save. So I ask you, if that's the case, why have they been here for so long without returning to the mortal realm?"
Xu Lan: "..."
"You can't speak now, can you? I see you are all covering up. You just see that the one I want to save is a demon soul, and you are prejudiced against demon souls."
"That demon soul also killed them, so this debt is settled."
"That demon soul eliminated harm for the people."
"Eliminated harm for the people," Xu Lan sneered and abruptly stood up, "Then, according to you, all demon souls who kill mortals have a reason."
"I didn't say that."
"The demon soul you want to save has killed people."
"You..." Mu An Xiao stopped speaking, "As expected, you've been tainted by the vile aura of those troublemakers. You just like how good-looking those five troublemakers are, don't you?"
"You..."
"What do you mean, you? Lü Hua escaped, and you pursued relentlessly. Yet, those five women were fleeing with them, and you paid no attention. It's clear," Mu An Xiao chuckled, "that you all indeed took a liking to their faces."
"Mu An Xiao, I advise you not to spout nonsense."
"You've hit a nerve, feeling guilty, haven't you?"
"I don't want to talk to you. Get out."
"If it weren't for that demon soul, I wouldn't bother talking to an ungrateful person like you."
"I thank you."
"Thank me?" Mu An Xiao sneered, "Thank me? By tricking me like this, harming me like this, exposing me like this, and not listening to me like this? If that's the case, I don't accept your thanks."
"Whether you accept it or not is your business."
Mu An Xiao: "..." She glared fiercely at Xu Lan, then turned to Xu Lan, who stood at the door holding the lantern, and said, "This is your good master."
Xu Lan: "..." She glanced at Xu Lan in her heart, then looked at Mu An Xiao and said, "Go back and rest!"
Mu An Xiao: "..."
A quarter of an hour later.
Mu An Xiao sat at the table, staring at the normal candlelight, and yawned.
Xu Lan stood by the door, looking worriedly, "You can't light this candle."
Mu An Xiao: "..." She simply didn't want to pay attention to Xu Lan.
Xu Lan continued, "If you do this, you will bring trouble..."
Mu An Xiao interrupted, "Don't worry, I won't harm you. I will take all the responsibility."
"You... I didn't mean that. I just don't want you to attract trouble."
Mu An Xiao said disdainfully, "What trouble? You've already caused enough trouble for me."