Piao glanced at Feng Qishi's clenched fists, his heart sinking. He looked back at the door, wondering if Mu Anxiao would actually agree to him.
As he was pondering this question, Yue Ci couldn't help but say, "Fiancée, Mu Anxiao isn't that good-looking. Why do you all like her?" He looked at Piao and Feng Qishi in turn.
Feng Qishi didn't react.
Instead, Piao was provoked by Yue Ci's words and quickly turned to explain to Yue Ci, "I don't like her. I just want to take her as my disciple. She's truly a good candidate for becoming a demon."
"Based on my experience, you definitely like her," Yue Ci insisted.
Yue Ci had been observing Piao's reactions all along, his every expression and action deeply conveying endless concern and respect for Mu Anxiao.
Therefore, Yue Ci believed his intuition was correct.
Piao: "I don't like her."
"Then why do you care about her? Don't say she's a good candidate for becoming a demon, because there are many good candidates for becoming a demon," Yue Ci completely blocked off what Piao was about to say.
Piao was embarrassed.
Feng Qishi relaxed his hands, turned to look at Yue Ci, and said, "He really does want to be Mu Xiaazi's master. Don't overthink it." As he spoke, he glanced at Piao, then looked back at the door.
Piao's eyes darkened.
Yue Ci glanced at Feng Qishi, then turned to Hei Feng, "What do you think?"
"This guy has indeed been persistent about being Mu Anxiao's master. Don't be silly," Hei Feng said, walking behind Feng Qishi. "Mu Anxiao won't agree, don't worry."
"Why are you so sure?" Feng Qishi didn't even look at Hei Feng, his mind filled with Ouyang Ye's words, including Mu Anxiao's own words of dislike.
"I've worked with her for longer than you have," Hei Feng pointed out the key issue.
Feng Qishi gave a bitter smile, "Yes, I'm only realizing now..." He finally looked at Hei Feng, "I don't understand her at all. I suddenly feel like I'm not worthy of being her partner."
"What's wrong with you?" Hei Feng felt that Feng Qishi was not quite right.
Feng Qishi: "She doesn't like me, but I like her. In that case," he said, "will it put pressure on her?"
"Feng Qishi, I think you're overthinking it," Hei Feng had also heard Mu Anxiao's "dislike." However, as an observer, he heard a forced tone in Mu Anxiao's words. He didn't know what Feng Qishi was thinking, but judging from Feng Qishi's current state, he felt Feng Qishi might have misunderstood something.
"How am I overthinking it? I just feel," Feng Qishi suddenly became emotional, "that I'm her stumbling block. If I hadn't called out just now, she wouldn't have cried, nor would she be in this situation..."
Before he could finish, Piao, unable to bear it any longer, grabbed Feng Qishi's arm and swung his fist towards his face.
Seeing this, Hei Feng took a step back in fright.
Feng Qishi's face was turned aside by Piao's blow.
Piao lowered his hand, looked at Feng Qishi with anger, and said, "I don't know what's wrong with you, but you're really annoying like this."
From Mu Anxiao's words, Piao sensed that Mu Anxiao had feelings for Feng Qishi, because only with affection would one be unwilling to hurt the other. Mu Anxiao had clearly choked up just now. He didn't know if Feng Qishi had heard it, but he had.
"I know I'm annoying, and I hate myself like this," Feng Qishi turned back, meeting Piao's eyes.
Piao was taken aback, realizing... Feng Qishi wasn't just like this because of Mu Anxiao's words.
"You..."
"I'm truly useless. I'm her partner, yet I can only hide here, listening to the movements outside and anxiously waiting," Feng Qishi interrupted, his voice choked with emotion, "I'm truly a failure."
"Failure?" Piao was startled. Looking at himself and Yue Ci, he gave a dry laugh, "No, aren't you just being emotional because Mu Anxiao doesn't like you?"
"Her words were indeed quite hurtful," Feng Qishi said in a low voice, "but I resent my own uselessness even more."
"..." Piao was speechless.
Yue Ci: "I also thought you were like this because of Mu Anxiao's words of dislike. After all this time," he twitched his mouth, "it's just because of this."
Feng Qishi sighed faintly.
Yue Ci glanced at Hei Feng and said nothing.
Hei Feng: "Then just say it directly. Why are you talking so much nonsense?" He also thought Feng Qishi was dejected because of 'mundane affairs'. Now it seemed he felt a bit awkward.
Feng Qishi: "I like foreshadowing." With that, he turned to look at the door again.
They were speechless.
Mu Xi (impersonating Mu Long) watched Feng Qishi and the others discussing Mu Anxiao. He then gently placed Sister-in-law Mu Xiang on the ground and stood up. Just as he took a step forward, Mu Xiang came to him holding her child, "I know, you are Mu Xi."
Mu Xi was startled, "Sister."
"I want Mu Long. I ask you," Mu Xiang didn't know Mu Xi had compromised, "to leave his body."
"..." Mu Xi remained silent, looking down at Mu Xin in Mu Xiang's arms, and said, "This is your sister-in-law's child."
"Yes," Mu Xiang nodded.
Immediately after, Mu Xin began to cry as if she had a nightmare, "Wuwu, Mother, don't abandon Xin'er, Mother... Wuwuwu."
Hearing the child's cry, Mu Xi's heart sank, "What has she been through?"
Back then, little Mu Anxiao was just like this. Whenever she took a nap, she would cry and call out. Every time Mu Xi saw her like that, he felt immense pain, but for the sake of the mission, he had to be heartless.
Looking at Mu Xin's appearance now, he suddenly felt the same way as before.
Mu Xiang: "My older sisters are all partial to boys." As she spoke, she looked down at Mu Xin, "She, like me, is not liked by her family. But she's luckier than me because she has a younger brother. I believe she..."
"Brother?" Mu Xi interrupted, his gaze falling on Mu Liang, who was held in Wan Sha's arms, "It's him."
"Yes," Mu Xiang shifted slightly.
Immediately, Mu Xi walked up to Wan Sha and was about to reach out to shake hands with Mu Liang when Wan Sha took a step back, "Don't touch him." she said, her eyes filled only with loathing for Mu Xi.
Mu Xi lowered his hand, recalling that when he was Mu Yu (the old man), he often heard the maids passing by his room saying things like, "How about the young master?"
At that time, he hadn't paid attention to this matter. Now, thinking back, he realized what they had been talking about all this time was... this child, Sister-in-law Mu Xiang's darling, Mu Liang.
Thinking this, he gave a bitter smile, "After all this time, the young master is... you."
Mu Liang smiled.
Mu Xi pursed his lips and smiled. Just as he turned, Mu Liang suddenly called out, "Daddy."
Hearing this, Mu Xi was startled and turned to look at Mu Liang, who was reaching out his little arms towards him, and said, "You're calling me."
"Daddy... Daddy, hold." Mu Liang became anxious.
Wan Sha looked down at Mu Liang, who was eagerly wanting to be held by Mu Xi, and said gently, "Can't sister hold you?"
Hearing this, Mu Liang turned his little head and pouted at Wan Sha.
Seeing this, Wan Sha stepped forward and said, "Do you know how to hold a child?"
Hearing Wan Sha's words, Mu Xi's heart grew tense. He had never held a child before, and now facing Mu Liang, he was instantly at a loss.
"I..." He reached out, then withdrew his hand, "I don't know how."
"Daddy, Daddy... hold." Mu Liang cried.
Seeing Mu Liang cry, Mu Xi instinctively reached out and took Mu Liang. Mu Liang, perhaps knowing his "father" was inexperienced, hugged Mu Xi's neck tightly and giggled, "Daddy."
Being called "Daddy" by Mu Liang melted Mu Xi's heart. He had chosen to "give birth" precisely because he wanted a family, and now he had achieved it.
"Good son," he called out awkwardly.
Then, as if sensing something, Mu Liang pouted and started to cry.
Wan Sha quickly stepped forward and took Mu Liang.
Mu Xi's body froze. He looked at Mu Liang crying on Wan Sha's body, his eyes sinking. He turned to look at Mu Xiang and said, "Don't worry, I will return your brother to you."
"Your words are enough," Mu Xiang said. After speaking, she looked down at Mu Xin, who had opened her eyes.
Mu Xin rubbed her eyes and cried, "Auntie, a monster, I'm scared."
"Xin'er, there's no monster. You had a nightmare," Mu Xiang tried to comfort Mu Xin, squatting down and letting Mu Xin down.
Mu Xin stood still, her eyes glazed as she thought about what she had just seen, and said, "Blood, it's all blood." As she spoke, she cried.
Mu Xi looked down at Mu Xin, who was scared by the monster, and his heart sank. He said, "You get up for a moment." He walked over to Mu Xiang.
Mu Xiang looked up at him, "What do you want to do?"
"Don't worry, I won't hurt this child."
"..." Mu Xiang couldn't say anything seeing Mu Xi's determined expression and voluntarily stood up.
Immediately after, Mu Xi squatted in front of Mu Xin, "Xin'er, don't be afraid, Daddy is here."
From Mu Xiang's brief introduction, Mu Xi could see that Mu Xin was very much like Mu Xiang, and conversely, she was more like little Mu Anxiao. Back then, it was just one sentence from him that made little Mu Anxiao cheerful.
He thought that if he could make Mu Anxiao happy then, he should be able to do the same for this child now.
Hearing this, Mu Xin looked at Mu Xi's face and was so scared that she took half a step back, "Don't hit me."
"Hit you?" Mu Xi frowned, "When has Daddy ever hit you?"
Mu Xin lowered her head.
Mu Xiang: "Mu Long hit her whenever he saw her. She's had a shadow since she was little."
Hearing this, Mu Xi looked up at Mu Xiang, put down his hands, and looked at Mu Xin cautiously, saying, "Xin'er, don't be afraid, Daddy..."
"You'd better not do this. When Mu Long returns, she'll still fall back into nightmares. Rather than this, it's better to let her stay in nightmares," Mu Xiang said in a low voice.
"Don't worry, she won't have nightmares anymore." With that, Mu Xi reached out his hand again, "Daddy was wrong, Xin'er, come here."
Mu Xin, sobbing, looked at Mu Xi, "Daddy..."
"Be good, come here," Mu Xi opened his arms.
Mu Xin was still a little scared, but seeing Mu Xi's gentle side, she cast all her fear aside and walked forward, hugging Mu Xi.
Mu Xi slowly lowered his hands, afraid of scaring the child, "Don't be afraid, Daddy is here, the monsters have all disappeared." As he spoke, he gently patted Mu Xin's little back.
Mu Xin: "Daddy, Xin'er is scared."
"Don't be afraid, Daddy is here," Mu Xi said. He looked down at Mu Xin's neck and was stunned, "..."
In the past, Xin'er had a black birthmark on her neck, and now Mu Xin also had one. And she was Sister-in-law Mu Xiang's child.
Thinking this, he looked shocked and slowly stood up, staring at Mu Xin's face.
At the same time, Hei Feng walked over, "Mu Xi, it looks familiar."
Hearing this, Mu Xi looked up at Hei Feng, "..." He didn't know what to say.
Hei Feng smiled, "It seems you've really been frightened."
"What exactly is going on?" Mu Xi asked, turning to look at Mu Xin, who was staring blankly at him, "Who... who is she?" He had a feeling... a delusion that little Mu Xin was Xin'er reincarnated.
Hei Feng: "Get up, I'll tell you."
"..." Mu Xi frowned, lowered his hand, and stood up.
"Come here," Hei Feng said, turning towards the pillar.
Mu Xi looked down at Mu Xin and followed Hei Feng.
Mu Xin looked at Mu Xi's retreating back reluctantly, pouted, and lowered her head.
The next moment, Hei Feng and Mu Xi stopped behind the pillar. Hei Feng said, "She is Xin'er, do you believe me?"
"How is that possible? Her mother looks just like Xin'er."
"Who says a reincarnation has to look the same?" Hei Feng said, peeking towards Mu Xin, "To tell you the truth, the reason her mother looks like Xin'er is because her maternal grandmother... is Xin'er's older sister."
"What?" Mu Xi had never heard of Xin'er having an older sister. Hearing Hei Feng say this so suddenly, he couldn't help but feel it was melodramatic.
Hei Feng: "I only found out recently. Xin'er waited for you for decades, enduring all sorts of hardships in the underworld. Four years ago, we gave her a chance to reincarnate. Who knew," he spread his hands, "it would be this family."
"Xin'er was human in life, and you deal with demon souls. What does that have to do with you?" Mu Xi asked in surprise.
"Xin'er was killed by Xi'er's demonic arts. Her soul was full of demonic energy, and it should have been handed over to us. As for you," Hei Feng pointed at Mu Xi, "you were supposed to be taken by us."
"..." Mu Xi was speechless.
Hei Feng: "Alright, before you leave, you've at least seen Xin'er. You should be satisfied."
"But..." Mu Xi still couldn't understand.
Hei Feng: "What do you mean 'but'? Don't you think about it? If Xin'er had reincarnated that year, counting from the year you died, Xin'er would be almost old. Look how young Sister-in-law Mu Xiang is now." As he spoke, he was about to push Mu Xi, but then remembered Mu Xi was a physical entity and put his hand down.
Mu Xi: "I can't let Xin'er suffer again in this life." With that, he turned to look at Mu Xin, who was being comforted by Mu Xiang.
"If you don't want to, then go and try to win over Mu Xiang. Perhaps she will take Mu Xin with her. Although life will be a bit harder, it's better than following her parents who favor sons over daughters."
"You're right," Mu Xi nodded.
"Go, I'll give you a chance to fulfill your last wish," Hei Feng said calmly.
Mu Xi: "Thank you." With that, he turned and walked towards them.
Hei Feng sighed.
Outside the reception hall.
Mu Anxiao had been sobbing for a long time, and Ouyang Ye hadn't said a word.
As such, Mu Anxiao's sobbing gradually lost its momentum. "Why aren't you saying anything?" her voice hoarse, she looked up at Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye smiled, "I'll speak after you've finished crying." As he spoke, he reached out to wipe away the tears from Mu Anxiao's eyes, "I thought you would be weeping profusely, but you only have this many tears."
"I like it," Mu Anxiao pushed Ouyang Ye's hand away and took half a step back.
Ouyang Ye smiled.