"Don't recognize her," Yin Ye repeated, quickly turning her head toward You Xian, who had finally shown some movement. "Get up," she said urgently. Her tone was fierce.
You Xian was startled and sprang to her feet.
The man in black watched Yin Ye's attitude towards You Xian and You Xian's startled expression. He felt indignant, "Hey, you asked her to get up, so she got up. Why are you being so harsh?"
Hearing this, Yin Ye shot the man in black a glare, stepped back half a pace, and firmly blocked You Xian, asking, "Are you rested enough?" She glanced at You Xian.
Following Yin Ye's gaze, You Xian glanced at the man in black opposite them and nodded, "I'm rested." She sensed danger.
Yin Ye: "Grab onto me."
You Xian froze, lowered her head to stare at Yin Ye's translucent arm, reached out a hand, then withdrew it. "I can't touch you, remember?"
"You forgot, *you* can't touch *me*, but *you* can touch *me*."
Yin Ye remembered what had happened when You Xian had 'contacted' the demon soul.
"You want to protect me?" You Xian asked, though she knew the answer.
"Nonsense, hurry up and grab me," Yin Ye said, thrusting her arm forward.
You Xian's eyes darkened, and she suddenly let out a bitter laugh.
Hearing the sound, Yin Ye frowned and tilted her head slightly to look at You Xian, who was inexplicably smiling bitterly. "What are you being crazy about now?" she said, still offering her arm.
In contrast, the man in black watched them with great interest, saying nothing.
You Xian: "I never thought I would be protected by a demon soul."
"Never..." Yin Ye frowned. "Sister, I've been with you for a while, and you're only thinking about this now. I really don't know what to say to you. Hurry and grab me."
Listening to Yin Ye's words, You Xian's nerves tightened, and without thinking, she grabbed Yin Ye's arm.
The man in black laughed. "You can take her away?"
Yin Ye heard this, turned to look at the man in black opposite her who was deliberately mocking her, and said, "I don't know who you are or where you came from, but I warn you, stay away from us, or don't blame me for being impolite."
"You, a mere demon soul, can be impolite to me." The man in black chuckled. "You're quite something."
"I am a demon soul, which is better than you..." Yin Ye stopped mid-sentence, suddenly sensing the aura of the man in black, and was stunned. "You're not human."
"He's a monster," You Xian said softly.
Using You Xian's words, Yin Ye carefully observed the man in black opposite her.
The man in black smiled as he watched Yin Ye's eyes fixed on him and said, "Demon soul, so you're a woman after all."
"..." Yin Ye's expression froze.
The man in black added, "You really look like a man."
Hearing this, You Xian cautiously observed Yin Ye's reaction.
Conversely, the man in black continued to look at Yin Ye's face, chuckled, and was about to speak when a gust of wind arose, and the sky instantly darkened. His expression stiffened, he tilted his head back, and then looked at Yin Ye, who, like him, was looking up at the sky. He said coldly, "You did this."
"..." Yin Ye was taken aback. She looked back at the man in black who had just insulted her and was now falsely accusing her, and said indignantly, "Don't talk nonsense."
"It's not you," the man in black said, glancing at You Xian behind Yin Ye, shaking his head. "It can't be her."
"What do you mean?" Yin Ye felt a deep malice from the man in black towards her.
This time, the man in black completely ignored Yin Ye. Instead, he turned his back and looked at clumps of black mist not far away. His eyes widened, and he muttered, "Not good." Then he quickly turned back to Yin Ye and said, "Take her up the tree."
"..." Yin Ye was stunned.
Seeing Yin Ye's confused expression, the man in black said urgently, "Can't you understand me? Hurry up the tree, the monsters are coming!" As he spoke, his gaze inadvertently fell on the short knife in You Xian's hand.
You Xian followed the man in black's gaze, looked down at the short knife in her hand, and asked, "What do you want?"
The man in black didn't answer for the moment. He quickly walked in front of Yin Ye, looked at You Xian standing behind Yin Ye, and said directly, "Lend me your short knife." He brushed past Yin Ye's arm and extended his hand next to You Xian.
You Xian shook her head.
The man in black: "If you don't give it to me, those monsters will eat you."
"You..."
"Hurry." The man in black urged.
You Xian had already experienced some 'hardship,' and the atmosphere around them was indeed eerie. Therefore, she didn't think much of it and obediently handed the short knife to him.
"Don't break it, my father gave this to me."
"..." The man in black smiled at You Xian, took the short knife, stepped back, and looked down at Yin Ye, who was glaring at him. "I am an Immortal. Take her up the tree." After saying this, he turned around.
Seeing this, Yin Ye quickly asked, "What's your name?"
"My name is Yue Ci." With that, Yue Ci dashed towards the monsters.
Following his words, Yin Ye, with You Xian about to call out, flew up into the tall tree as Yue Ci had instructed.
Meanwhile.
Mu An Xiao sat cross-legged by a tree, her eyes closed, blocking out everything around her, as she sank deep into a memory.
Zhang Yan stood opposite Mu An Xiao, feeling the gusts of demonic wind. "They're here," he said calmly.
At the same time, Feng Qi Shi also sensed the demonic wind. "It's monsters," he said, standing up.
Zhang Yan glanced at Feng Qi Shi and said, "Yes, but still far away. Her time," he looked down at Mu An Xiao, "should be enough."
"What do you mean 'should be'?" Feng Qi Shi sensed that Zhang Yan had something on his mind.
Zhang Yan: "I want her to practice." He said it earnestly.
Feng Qi Shi's eyes widened. "You're going to rush her immortal cultivation again. Do you know that you..."
"I need to stimulate the spiritual energy that belongs to her within her immortal destiny," Zhang Yan interrupted.
Regarding immortal destiny, Feng Qi Shi hadn't studied it 'broadly.' He only knew that immortal destiny had two functions: one was to gain the opportunity to become an immortal, and the other was to marry an immortal (this second point applied only to women). As for immortal destiny containing spiritual energy, this was the first time he had heard of it.
Therefore, he was a little confused.
"..." He frowned.
Zhang Yan calmly looked at Feng Qi Shi's confused expression, thought for a moment, and said, "You don't understand what I'm saying."
"..." Feng Qi Shi blinked and said, "Not only do I not understand what you're saying, but I also don't understand why there would be spiritual energy in immortal destiny... To be honest, I haven't understood anything since Mu Shazi started using immortal destiny... spiritual energy."
"There are still things you don't understand," Zhang Yan smiled.
Feng Qi Shi looked at Zhang Yan's smiling face and raised his hand to scratch the back of his head. "I actually do understand, but... I'm just a bit confused."
"Half-understanding, half-not understanding," Zhang Yan said.
Feng Qi Shi nodded. "Yes, that's it."
"Alright, I'll explain it to you," Zhang Yan said, looking down at Mu An Xiao. "My disciple is different from other people with immortal destiny. Their immortal destiny can be measured all at once, but hers cannot. Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because of your master," Zhang Yan pointed at Feng Qi Shi.
Feng Qi Shi's eyes darkened. "I understand."
"Your master was worried you would go to find her again, so she deliberately concealed her immortal destiny. That's why you didn't notice it at first and only treated her as someone to help you."
"My memories and hers were both erased by Master. I know about this," Feng Qi Shi said softly.
"Since you know, I can explain it simply," Zhang Yan said. "Actually, my disciple already liked you in the mortal world, she just didn't know it."
"Mortal world..." Feng Qi Shi was surprised and looked down at Mu An Xiao, who had always tried to push him away. "How is that possible?"
"I'm also surprised, but as it turns out, it's true. If she didn't like you, then Shen Yan's spiritual energy wouldn't have remained in her immortal destiny."
"Maybe she didn't want to..."
"That spiritual energy is your memory of you two in the mortal world. It has nothing to do with Shen Yan this time," Zhang Yan emphasized.
"She liked me back then already." Feng Qi Shi couldn't believe it and let out a secret smile.
Zhang Yan looked at Feng Qi Shi's secretly smiling expression without exposing him. "Of course, in this world, only she has such a situation, so it's understandable that you don't understand."
"I understand," Feng Qi Shi nodded.
"Good, as long as you understand," Zhang Yan said, clearing his throat. "Once a teacher, always a father. If you dare to bully my disciple in the future, I'll be the first one to not let you off."
"No, no," Feng Qi Shi shook his head and then asked, "You agree to me marrying her in the future?"
"I've already discussed this with your master," Zhang Yan said, his nose stinging. "Don't tell her yet. She's silly, and she'll realize some things later than us."
"But I want to tell her," Feng Qi Shi said faintly.
"If you want to tell her, then tell her. Anyway, if she doesn't hit you then, I'll take your surname."
"..." Feng Qi Shi's expression stiffened. "Then I won't say it for now."
"Some things can't be rushed. My disciple is career-minded. You just be her partner for now. Don't bring up marriage, as she won't marry anyone else anyway."
Feng Qi Shi smiled at Zhang Yan. "I understand." He then looked down and saw that Mu An Xiao had woken up. He quickly crouched down and said, "You're awake. How do you feel?" He was worried she had overheard his conversation with Zhang Yan, so he tried to change the subject.
"Much better," Mu An Xiao said, looking up at Zhang Yan, who had turned his face away. "Master, I have something I want to ask you?"
Hearing this, Zhang Yan raised his hand to wipe away the tears from the corner of his eyes and turned back to Mu An Xiao. "Go ahead."
"Master," Mu An Xiao looked up, staring intently at Zhang Yan's face, and frowned. "You're crying?"
"It's nothing, I got sand in my eye," Zhang Yan rubbed his eyes.
"Sand..." Mu An Xiao's mouth twitched. "Master, this is a forest, how can there be sand? You're crying, just admit it, alright?"
Zhang Yan felt a bit awkward. "Don't you have something to ask? Tell me," he rubbed his eyes.
"What's the difference between a woman with immortal destiny and a woman who has immortal destiny?" Mu An Xiao had inadvertently fallen into the memory of the mortal world during the process of activating that layer of spiritual energy. It was during that process that she inexplicably thought of this question.
So, she thought that since Zhang Yan was here, she might as well ask.
Conversely, Zhang Yan's expression stiffened. "You've stumped me with this question."
"Just tell me, are they the same?" Mu An Xiao said, leaning on Feng Qi Shi's arm.
Feng Qi Shi was taken aback. He naturally took Mu An Xiao's hand, helped her up, and tidied her robes.
Zhang Yan watched Feng Qi Shi's attentive actions towards Mu An Xiao and couldn't help but say, "A grown daughter can't be kept."
Hearing this, Feng Qi Shi was startled and quickly removed his hand from tidying Mu An Xiao's robes. "What do you mean a grown daughter can't be kept? What are you saying?" he asked, cautiously observing Mu An Xiao's reaction.
As Zhang Yan had said, Mu An Xiao didn't notice anything. Instead, she showed a disgusted expression. "Master, can you say something I can understand? Is it interesting to be so perfunctory with me?"
Feng Qi Shi was relieved.
At Feng Qi Shi's reminder, Zhang Yan realized his words were too suggestive and quickly became serious. "I am not being perfunctory with you."
"You still are. You said 'a grown daughter...' " Mu An Xiao stopped mid-sentence, thought for a moment, and then exclaimed excitedly, "I know! You mean a grown daughter can't be kept, referring to women with immortal destiny."
"..." Zhang Yan was dumbfounded by Mu An Xiao's words and cast a glance at Feng Qi Shi.
Feng Qi Shi didn't want Mu An Xiao to know that Zhang Yan had agreed to her marrying him yet. So, he thought for a moment and, using his understanding of immortal destiny, said, "There is no difference between a woman with immortal destiny and a woman who has immortal destiny." He looked down at Mu An Xiao.
Mu An Xiao looked up at Feng Qi Shi. "No difference, then which category do I belong to?"
"We already said there's no difference. Women with immortal destiny can cultivate immortality or marry, depending on their choice."
"Choice," Mu An Xiao said. "So, my choice is my career."
Feng Qi Shi felt a pang of bitterness. "Yes."
"However, many women still choose to marry immortals. But this path, which seems easy, is actually not," Zhang Yan added.
"I know that, because some immortals are also very picky," Mu An Xiao glanced at Feng Qi Shi.
Feng Qi Shi shifted his gaze.
Zhang Yan understood Mu An Xiao's meaning and added, "Disciple, let me give you a reminder. In the future, you are not allowed to find women with immortal destiny for him. That would be meddling in other people's affairs and is particularly immoral, do you understand?"
"How am I immoral? I'm just... looking out for him."
"You don't need to worry about this. Remember this one thing from your master: he is your partner. Given your current situation, you two cannot be separated, or you'll be waiting to die." Zhang Yan said intentionally, wanting Mu An Xiao to realize Feng Qi Shi's importance.
"Master, you're lying, aren't you?" Mu An Xiao said in a low voice.
Zhang Yan was serious. "You are not cultivating accelerated spiritual energy now, but fixed spiritual energy. This spiritual energy requires a process, and during this process, he is the only Immortal who can help you. If you separate from him, I can tell you, I won't be able to save you then."
"..." Mu An Xiao was frightened.
Zhang Yan: "Master is very serious, very sincere."
"I know," Mu An Xiao was intimidated.
Feng Qi Shi saw that Zhang Yan was helping him and let out a secret smile.
Then, Zhang Yan glanced at Feng Qi Shi and said, "In a moment, you will have a practical combat session. Prepare yourselves."