Failure, for Mu Anxiao, had long been a commonplace occurrence. Yet, to lose so much at once was an experience entirely new.
Lying on the ground, she forgot the pain from her wounds, shut out all surrounding sounds, and stared blankly at the trees not far away. Suddenly, the image of her own death flashed through her mind.
Following this, she recalled every moment spent with Feng Qishi, from their previous life to the present. Then, she let her tears soak into the earth, her hands relaxed by her sides. Closing her eyes, using her last vestiges of spiritual energy, she tried to call out to Feng Qishi with her heart.
Meanwhile, Ouyang Ye stopped at Mu Anxiao’s head, saying nothing.
Inside the mansion.
Feng Qishi yawned, listening to the people trying to brainwash him. Just as he was about to speak, Mu Anxiao’s weak voice reached his ears.
“Shen Fengzi, can you hear me?”
Immediately, Feng Qishi recognized Mu Anxiao’s weakness. He swallowed the words he was about to say to reprimand them, lowered his head, and focused his attention on Mu Anxiao. “Mu Shazi, what’s wrong?” he asked, his voice filled with urgency.
However, the moment Mu Anxiao heard Feng Qishi’s voice, the corners of her mouth turned up. She spoke with her heart, “Shen Fengzi, after this, we go our separate ways. In a moment, you should leave here. You…”
“What are you talking about?” Feng Qishi interrupted with his thoughts.
Mu Anxiao: “Shen Fengzi, my soul sword is gone, my spiritual energy is wasted, and even the silver rope for catching demons is destroyed. I am now a complete good-for-nothing. You…” She knew that if she didn’t explain clearly, Feng Qishi would pester her endlessly, only making him more anxious. So, she chose to confess honestly. “Take care of yourself. In a moment, you should go find your master. He can definitely help you detoxify. If there is an afterlife, I… I will still find you a celestial maiden. Next time, I definitely won’t drink your immortal blood. Definitely… not.” She began to ramble. Her mind was now filled with the scene from years ago, when she was sent flying by a wolf demon.
Feng Qishi knew that Mu Anxiao was not one to complain about her hardships. Even if she was suffering immensely, she wouldn’t tell him the truth. Therefore, hearing her words now, he deeply realized… she was in danger.
“Mu Shazi, wake up.” He said mentally, his expression anxious.
Mu Anxiao gently clutched at the weeds, gritting her teeth to endure the pain throughout her body, and spoke with her heart, “I’m very clear-headed, Shen Fengzi. Remember, you must cultivate properly. I… I can’t go on.” She didn’t want to deceive Feng Qishi anymore. She knew it was better to let him accept the fact of her passing than to leave him with the news of her departure.
This way, she and he could clear their names. He wouldn’t be so desperately waiting for her.
“…” Feng Qishi clenched his fists.
Hearing Feng Qishi fall silent, Mu Anxiao spoke again with her heart, “Shen Fengzi, don’t feel sad for me. Someone like me isn’t worth your…”
“Mu Shazi, open your eyes.” Feng Qishi interrupted, deciding to try the soul-detaching technique that had caused him to lose consciousness before, to find Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao frowned upon hearing this. “That technique can only be used by great gods. If you use it, you’ll die.” She said, her eyes remaining closed.
Feng Qishi: “I don’t care. Open your eyes.” He spoke with his mind, then looked up at Shi Jia and the others, who stood before him with their mouths shut. “You all should leave here quickly.”
Shi Jia: “What are you going to do?”
“I have something to do.” Feng Qishi’s attitude was cold. He turned to face the two young men blocking his path and said, “Move aside.”
The two young men didn’t know what was wrong with Feng Qishi, but seeing that he was unhappy, they dared not say anything. They uniformly moved aside for Feng Qishi.
Those people were also intimidated by Feng Qishi’s ‘aura’, and no one dared to speak further.
Mu Anxiao remained silent.
Feng Qishi knew Mu Anxiao needed time to think, so he didn’t force the issue. He walked to Mu Miyang and the others and said, “I’m going to find Mu Shazi.”
Shu Jia: “She’ll be fine…”
“Something has happened to her.” Feng Qishi interrupted.
Shu Jia’s eyes widened. “How is that possible? Even if the silver rope doesn’t work, the soul sword should still be useful.” He didn’t believe Feng Qishi’s words were true.
“I’m not sure about her specific condition, but I have a feeling,” Feng Qishi said seriously, “something has happened to her.”
“Something must not have happened to her.” Yuan Yan said emotionally.
Feng Qishi looked at Yuan Yan. “Do you know where Yuan Ye and the others are?”
“…” Yuan Yan frowned.
Feng Qishi frowned. “Answer.”
Yuan Yan was startled by Feng Qishi’s tone. He exchanged glances with Shu Jia and Mu Miyang, then said, “Yes.”
“Yuan Ye should have found Piao and the others by now. You should take these people to find them immediately,” Feng Qishi arranged.
Yuan Yan was confused. “Are you really going to establish a sect for cultivation?”
“No. If these people leave on their own, they will definitely be discovered. In a moment, you…” He paused midway, suddenly remembering those who had been expelled from Mu Anxiao’s side. “Shu Jia, can you help?” he asked Shu Jia.
Shu Jia: “No, I need to go see Mu Anxiao.”
“Can you find Mu Anxiao?” Feng Qishi retorted.
Shu Jia shook his head.
“Then that’s right. Just tell me, are you willing to help?” Feng Qishi’s attitude was serious.
Shu Jia’s eyes darted away. “You haven’t even told me what you need my help with. How can I answer?” She had accepted reality.
Feng Qishi: “Assist Yuan Yan in taking them to where they need to go.”
“Assist…” Shu Jia said, glancing at those who were staring at them. He chuckled foolishly. “Are you kidding me? How could I possibly lead so many people away?”
“You can.” Feng Qishi was firm.
“Even I don’t think I can. How do you know I can?” Shu Jia was intimidated.
Feng Qishi remained firm. “You definitely can, because you saved Lin Yan.”
“…” Shu Jia was rarely praised. Hearing Feng Qishi say this, he gained some confidence. “What you said makes a lot of sense.”
“Help me.” Feng Qishi said again.
Shu Jia looked at Feng Qishi, cleared his throat, and said, “Alright, I’ll try.” He glanced at Mu Miyang, walked around Feng Qishi, and stepped towards them.
Feng Qishi then looked sideways at Shu Jia, and turned back to Yuan Yan and Mu Miyang. “You two go too.”
“Then what about you?” Yuan Yan asked curiously.
“I…” Feng Qishi said, looking at Mu Miyang, who looked dejected, and said, “I’m going to find her master.”
Upon hearing this, Mu Miyang raised her face to meet Feng Qishi’s eyes. “Can you take me with you?”
“No.” Feng Qishi flatly refused.
Tears welled up in Mu Miyang’s eyes. “I want to save my master too.”
“If you follow me, you’ll only be a burden,” Feng Qishi said directly, his eyes devoid of any gentleness, only concern. “Follow them, and wait for my news.”
“My master will be alright, right?” Mu Miyang comforted herself.
Feng Qishi nodded slightly.
Mu Miyang: “That’s good.” She said, glancing at Yuan Yan, walked past Feng Qishi, and headed towards Shu Jia.
Then, Feng Qishi looked at Yuan Yan again. “Take them, I’m counting on you.”
“Mu Anxiao is injured…” Yuan Yan saw something unusual in Feng Qishi’s eyes. “Is it very serious?”
“..” Feng Qishi’s eyes darkened, and he shook his head slightly.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I’m not sure either.” Feng Qishi didn’t want to tell Yuan Yan what Mu Anxiao had told him, so he gave a vague answer.
“How did you get in touch with her?” Yuan Yan was curious.
Feng Qishi: “We are partners. We have our own ways of contacting each other.”
“That’s true.” Yuan Yan nodded.
“Alright,” Feng Qishi calculated the time, looked sideways at the more than twenty people who were quietly standing behind him, and said, “Go.”
Yuan Yan knew Feng Qishi had his reasons for doing this, so he didn’t say anything more. “I’ll wait for you to come back,” he said casually and left.
Thus, the group left with the help of Yuan Yan and Shu Jia.
Feng Qishi looked up at the beam of light that took them away and called out with his heart, “Mu Shazi.”
Hearing Feng Qishi’s voice, Mu Anxiao kept her eyes closed and spoke with her heart, “Shen Fengzi, I won’t open my eyes.”
Upon hearing this, Feng Qishi’s eyes darkened. “If you die, I won’t live either.”
“You’re crazy.” Mu Anxiao didn’t expect Feng Qishi to have such thoughts, and her heart became agitated.
Feng Qishi: “I’m not crazy, Mu Shazi. You are the one who brought me here, and you are the one I like. If you die, my life will have no meaning.”
“You…”
“Mu Shazi, if you don’t want me to die, then save yourself first.” Feng Qishi said, “Open your eyes.”
“You…”
“Open your eyes.”
“That’s a great god…”
“Failing last time doesn’t mean failing this time, Mu Shazi, trust me.” Feng Qishi was firm.
Trust!
For decades, the one thing Mu Anxiao wanted most was Shen Yan’s word of ‘I trust you’.
She knew better than anyone how exhausting the process of waiting for someone you cared about to believe in you was.
Therefore, she chose to believe him. “If something happens, hurry back.”
“You trust me?” Feng Qishi tested.
Mu Anxiao let out a ‘hmm’ and opened her eyes, just in time to see Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye simply smiled and said nothing.
At the same time, Feng Qishi closed his eyes and began to cast his spell.
In the next moment, Feng Qishi followed Mu Anxiao’s gaze and stared at Ouyang Ye’s face. “It’s him.” He said, feeling inexplicably relieved.
Mu Anxiao turned her face away, not responding to Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi clenched his fists and, looking vaguely in the direction Mu Anxiao was looking, made a few gestures with his hands in front of him. His body was enveloped in blue light. He opened his eyes and looked down to assess his situation.
Forbidden Forest.
Ouyang Ye cupped Mu Anxiao’s chin and asked, “Why aren’t you looking at me?” As he spoke, he forcefully turned Mu Anxiao’s face towards himself.
Mu Anxiao had no strength and allowed Ouyang Ye to torment her. “I hate you.”
“Hate me? It’s not like I made him…”
“It was you! Do you think I don’t have memories?” Mu Anxiao interrupted. She vividly remembered that it was Ouyang Ye who had ordered the vine spirit to deal with her. If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.
Ouyang Ye laughed.
Mu Anxiao glared at Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye said, “Your soul sword is gone, so your demonic energy…” He grabbed Mu Anxiao’s neck, “is also gone.”
“…” Mu Anxiao was stunned.
Ouyang Ye retorted, “Didn’t you hear me talking to the vine spirit?” He stared intently into Mu Anxiao’s eyes.
Earlier, due to pain and despair, Mu Anxiao had unintentionally blocked out all surrounding sounds. In other words, she had only assumed Ouyang Ye had just arrived.
Now, upon hearing his words, she widened her eyes. “It was you, you told him…”
“It was me who infused demonic energy into that vine. Otherwise, that second vine wouldn’t have recovered, would it?” He intentionally wanted to tell the truth, aiming to make Mu Anxiao even more desperate.
Conversely, Mu Anxiao already knew Ouyang Ye’s character well. So, she merely let out a cold laugh.
“Aren’t you angry?” Ouyang Ye asked again.
Mu Anxiao: “From the moment you ordered him to chase me, I stopped caring about you. Whether you want to kill me or torture me, do as you please.” After saying this, she closed her eyes.
“Marry me, and I’ll give you demonic arts.” Ouyang Ye, still holding Mu Anxiao’s chin, said.
Mu Anxiao: “…” She intentionally remained silent.
The vine spirit looked at the stubborn Mu Anxiao and became angry. “You’re still so stubborn even after becoming like this, Mu Anxiao. You might as well die.”
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao endured the immense pain throughout her body, closed her eyes, and shouted, “Kill me then.”
Ouyang Ye’s eyes darkened. He released his grip and turned to look at the vine spirit.
The vine spirit pursed his lips tightly upon seeing this.
Shortly after, Mu Anxiao felt her restraints lifted and pressed her right cheek back onto the ground. “Since you’re not killing me, I’ll wait to die. Ouyang Ye, I’ll remember you.”
Ouyang Ye looked down at Mu Anxiao’s appearance, sneered, and was about to speak when Feng Qishi appeared beside the vine spirit. Then, as his eyes fell on Mu Anxiao, he widened his eyes in shock.
The vine spirit was also startled by Feng Qishi’s sudden appearance. He then deliberately took two steps aside and, about to turn and flee, Feng Qishi turned his head to look at him. “Vine spirit.”
Ouyang Ye turned to look at Feng Qishi.
The vine spirit gave a dry laugh. “It’s not my doing. I was just following orders.” He pointed at Ouyang Ye and then looked down at the blue flame between Feng Qishi’s hands, startled.
The moment Mu Anxiao heard Feng Qishi’s voice, she felt at ease.
Feng Qishi: “Following orders…” he said, looking back at Ouyang Ye, who was completely blocking Mu Anxiao. “Ouyang Ye, go to hell.” He said, extending his hand and conjuring a long sword.
Ouyang Ye: “You want to fight me?”
“As long as I defeat you, you’ll let Mu Anxiao go.” Feng Qishi knew that Ouyang Ye’s motive for doing this was solely to possess Mu Anxiao exclusively. Naturally, he wouldn’t let Mu Anxiao die like this.
Therefore, Feng Qishi knew he couldn’t go head-to-head with him.
“Are you trying to bargain with me?” Ouyang Ye retorted.
Feng Qishi nodded. “You could say that. I am making a deal with you.” He didn’t want to hide anything.
“Do you think you’re worthy?”
“Do you think you’re worthy?” Feng Qishi countered.
Ouyang Ye wasn’t angry. Instead, he smiled and said, “Feng Qishi, it’s not worth it to do this for a woman.” He raised his chin.
Feng Qishi’s expression was blank. “I think it is.”