“You don’t want him to die either.”
“Absolutely not.”
As Shen Xian heard Mu Anxiao’s firm affirmation of those three words, an inexplicable anger arose in his heart. But to achieve his goal, he had no choice but to endure.
“I don’t want him to die either.”
“I can see that.” Mu Anxiao smiled.
“What are you smiling at?”
Mu Anxiao: “Just now, I saw you having a rather serious spat with Shen the Madman. Now seeing you concerned for him, I don’t know why, but I feel incredibly relieved.”
Shen Xian: “……”
If it weren’t for his desire to awaken Mu Anxiao’s past life memories, thereby transforming Mu Anxiao back into Gu An, he would never have tolerated Feng Qishi’s life. At this moment, seeing Mu Anxiao’s concern for Feng Qishi, he couldn’t help but feel infuriated.
At the same time, Mu Anxiao’s sharp eyes caught the anger in Shen Xian’s gaze. She retracted the relieved expression from her face and, with a trembling voice, asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Shen Xian forced a smile.
Mu Anxiao: “That’s good then. I’ll go back and prepare, and we’ll depart tonight.”
“Alright.” Shen Xian smiled.
Mu Anxiao nodded and turned to leave.
After she had left the room, Shen Xian clenched his fists tightly, then turned to look at the reappearing Vine Spirit. “Why haven’t you left?”
The Vine Spirit chuckled. “I took a stroll around and found this place to be the most comfortable.” He glanced towards the door. “Mu Anxiao has already discovered me.”
Shen Xian remained calm. “Since you’ve been discovered, your staying here is only going to spoil my plans.”
“You can’t say that. I was merely…” the Vine Spirit’s lips curled into a smile, “…helping you.”
“Helping me?”
“Yes. In a moment, I’m going to meet her.” The Vine Spirit grabbed Shen Xian’s arm.
Shen Xian winced in pain and hissed, “What are you doing?”
“I told you, Mu Anxiao is cunning. If you don’t want her to suspect anything, you have to feign weakness, act pitiful.” The Vine Spirit intentionally increased the pressure.
Shen Xian found sense in the Vine Spirit’s words and endured the pain. “You want me to lure her here.”
“Smart.” The Vine Spirit smiled, then suddenly turned serious. “Remember, don’t let her act tonight.”
“Why?” Shen Xian gasped.
“Because there are some things I haven’t prepared yet. If she goes tonight, your intentions will be too obvious.”
“……” After considering the Vine Spirit’s words, Shen Xian compromised. “Fine, I’ll listen to you.”
“Very good. Now, shout!”
Immediately, after a few gasps of pain, Shen Xian let out a heart-wrenching cry.
Outside the door, Mu Anxiao, who had been standing in the center of the courtyard sensing the surrounding demonic energy, heard Shen Xian’s voice. Her eyes widened, and she quickly turned to look. “Not good, he’s in Shen Xian’s room!” she exclaimed, and then hurried towards the room.
Inside, the Vine Spirit released his grip. “Curse me. The nastier, the better.”
Shen Xian’s hand trembled as he touched his wound. “Vine Spirit, you ungrateful wretch, you…”
“I am not ungrateful. I thank you for saving me ten years ago, and half a year ago, I was repaying your kindness by easing your burden. How can you speak to me like this?”
Hearing the Vine Spirit’s excuses, Shen Xian couldn’t help but recall the subordinates the Vine Spirit had killed.
Instantly, the resentment in his heart surged. “I’ll kill you!” he declared, clenching his fist.
The Vine Spirit blinked in surprise. “You’re serious.”
Taking this opportunity, Shen Xian acted as if it were real. “You have the nerve to say such things!” he exclaimed, enduring the pain and suddenly throwing a punch at the Vine Spirit.
Seeing this, the Vine Spirit dodged swiftly. “Shen Xian, I am trying to help you!”
“This is just an act. You don’t need to take it seriously.”
Although Shen Xian said this, in reality, he had genuinely begun to consider beating him up.
“An act, you…”
“Enough nonsense.” Shen Xian interrupted, stepping back, slowly raising his injured arm, and beginning to cast a spell.
The Vine Spirit stared at Shen Xian’s hands, which were glowing with black light, in astonishment. “This isn’t…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Shen Xian unleashed his palm.
Instantly, streaks of black light struck the Vine Spirit’s body. His eyes widened, and before he could steady himself, he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily against the wall.
Shen Xian let out a sigh of relief, hastily supporting himself on the table, his legs giving way as he slumped to the floor.
At that moment, Mu Anxiao pushed open the door and burst in. Her eyes immediately fell on Shen Xian, who was sitting on the ground. “You’re injured.” After speaking, she turned her head and saw the Vine Spirit looking at her in pain.
“It was you, after all.” she stated. As she was about to turn and confront him, Shen Xian began to cough incessantly.
Hearing the sound, Mu Anxiao turned back to look at Shen Xian, exclaiming in surprise, “Your wound has reopened!” She then quickly moved forward and knelt beside Shen Xian.
Seeing this situation, the Vine Spirit hastily raised two fingers, transforming back into a chain, and vanished.
Shen Xian narrowed his eyes, watching the disappearing Vine Spirit with a sigh of relief. “You know him.”
“Gu Xiao and the others were released by him from the underworld.” Mu Anxiao said, while tending to Shen Xian’s wound again.
Shen Xian, seeing Mu Anxiao’s genuine concern, asked, “You heard my voice?”
“I did. I was worried the Vine Spirit might find you. As expected, he came.” Mu Anxiao gently helped Shen Xian to his feet and had him sit on a chair.
Shen Xian took a breath. “He was lurking here the whole time. Damn it, I didn’t…” He inhaled sharply, “…realize.”
“You shouldn’t move. That fellow is extremely insidious.”
“I can see that.”
“Be careful tonight.”
“I know.” Mu Anxiao gently unwrapped the blood-soaked cloth.
Hearing Mu Anxiao’s reply, Shen Xian suddenly remembered the Vine Spirit’s earlier instructions and hesitated. “Uh… perhaps, you should postpone your trip for tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you to take care of me.” Shen Xian held Mu Anxiao’s hand with his good one.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao’s body stiffened. She quickly withdrew her hand. “I understand.”
Shen Xian felt a moment of awkwardness, thinking, “Gu An will surely return.” With this thought, he fixed his gaze on Mu Anxiao’s profile.
Mu Anxiao became increasingly uncomfortable under his gaze. “Can you stop looking at me? If you keep looking at me like this, I won’t care about you anymore.” She glanced at Shen Xian.
Shen Xian asked, “If your junior brother stared at you like this, would you react the same way?”
Mu Anxiao paused. “If he dared to stare at me like this, I’d poke his eyes out. You,” she looked at Shen Xian, “does he dare?”
“……” Shen Xian lowered his eyes and smiled.
“……” Mu Anxiao pursed her lips, and then Shen Yan’s image surfaced in her mind.
In her memory, Shen Yan often liked to stare at her for a few extra moments. Whenever she asked him why he was looking at her, he would simply say, “You’re so ugly!”
Because of this, she was left speechless.