Feng Qishi put down his teacup as the wind picked up, glancing at Mu Anxiao, who had fallen into unprovoked contemplation, without speaking.
"Strange, why can't I move?" Mu Anxiao stared at the ground, looking perplexed.
Feng Qishi watched Mu Anxiao's confused expression with amusement. He sighed and said, "You don't know the Earth Escape technique, and you still want to go down? This is sheer delusion." He then set down his teacup.
"You do," Mu Anxiao looked at Feng Qishi with expectant eyes.
Feng Qishi paused, then replied, "I don't."
"I thought you were quite capable, but all you've managed is less than half a pound." Mu Anxiao glanced at Feng Qishi and sat down.
Feng Qishi asked, puzzled, "Aren't you continuing?"
"I've tried so many times, and continuing like this is pointless," Mu Anxiao said, pointing at the teacup Feng Qishi had picked up. "Give it to me."
"This is mine. Pour it yourself."
"Give it to me," Mu Anxiao said seriously.
Seeing Mu Anxiao like this, Feng Qishi's heart tightened. "Don't be so serious. I'll give it to you." He then handed the tea to Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao took the teacup, blew away the steam, and drank it in one gulp.
Feng Qishi was surprised. "Aren't you afraid it's too hot?"
"It's not hot," Mu Anxiao replied, putting down the teacup and exhaling.
Feng Qishi propped his head with one hand. "Are you still going?"
"Going where? I don't know the Earth Escape technique, how can I go?" Mu Anxiao sighed, propping her head with one hand.
"So, you're not going then," Feng Qishi said, sitting up.
"Speaking of which," Mu Anxiao fixed her gaze on Feng Qishi. "Can you go down?"
"I should go?"
"Help me get my light rope back. It's a really good thing," Mu Anxiao said, raising an eyebrow.
Feng Qishi hesitated for a few seconds. "That rope was given to you by your master."
"Yes."
"Did your master tell you anything about it?"
"He said it was specifically used for capturing women," Mu Anxiao replied earnestly.
"Capturing women..." Feng Qishi repeated, sighing softly. "So, he didn't tell you it was your Dharma artifact."
"My master's expression was rather subtle. The other meaning was actually," Mu Anxiao removed her hand from her cheek and sat up straight. "Disciple, this is your Dharma artifact, use it."
"..." Feng Qishi's mouth twitched.
Mu Anxiao frowned. "What's with that expression? Isn't that what it means?"
"Your master isn't like that at all."
"I know, I'm just imitating my master's inner self."
"You can't even see his outer self clearly, let alone his inner self," Feng Qishi picked up another teacup. "The way you talk sometimes is truly amusing."
"What do you mean amusing? I can clearly see his inner thoughts." Mu Anxiao was firm.
Feng Qishi picked up the teacup, refilling it with water as he spoke. "Do you want more? I'll pour you another cup."
"No," Mu Anxiao pushed the cup away and emphasized, "I can clearly see his inner thoughts, that's exactly what he's thinking." She looked determined.
Feng Qishi smiled. "Then believe whatever you want. Just don't be disappointed later."
"You..."
"Drink your water," Feng Qishi interrupted, refilling Mu Anxiao's cup.
"I won't drink," Mu Anxiao said, sighing. "My light rope, I miss it so much."
"You just want to use it," Feng Qishi stated.
"What do you mean I want to use it? I simply want my own Dharma artifact. Look, my spiritual energy is rising. With my esteemed status, shouldn't I have a handy Dharma artifact? Now the opportunity has come," Mu Anxiao said. "I must seize it."
"But the fact is, your Dharma artifact is not in your hands. In other words, you don't even know if it's alive or dead."
"How can you speak like that? What do you mean, alive or dead?" Mu Anxiao glared at Feng Qishi. "Maybe Jia will bring it to me soon."
"Jia..." Feng Qishi uttered the name, pondered for a moment, and then said, "I remember your master's Dharma artifacts are all made from special materials. He might not be able to unlock it."
"What do you mean by that?" Mu Anxiao's gaze immediately fell upon Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi replied, "It means, he might not be able to bring it back for you, unless," he smiled, "he also brings back the woman."
"The woman..." Mu Anxiao repeated, a sudden thought striking her. "Then according to you, a woman can't unlock the rope."
"Yes."
"Then, according to that, the woman didn't come back." Mu Anxiao said calmly.
Feng Qishi nodded upon hearing this. "Exactly, she didn't come back."
"She didn't come back, then whose voice was that?" Mu Anxiao asked, her eyes falling as she sank into thought.
Feng Qishi suggested, "Perhaps the voices are the same."
"The voices are the same, but I deeply feel that the owner of that voice, the one like the woman, is also a demon soul. This..."
"Twins."
"What do you mean?" Mu Anxiao shifted her gaze to Feng Qishi's face.
Feng Qishi explained seriously, "When I was in school, there was a pair of twins. Their voices were almost identical. So," he mused, "could it be the woman's sister, or her sister's twin?"
"The sisters have both become demon souls," Mu Anxiao said, raising a hand to touch her head. "That's too outrageous."
"What's outrageous about it? Perhaps the sisters helped each other, together..."
"Together to die," Mu Anxiao interrupted with a cold laugh. "Shen Fengzi, what strange things are always in your head? I'd better think for myself."
"My idea might actually be correct."
"How is it correct? I think you're just talking nonsense, even more so than Jia."
"Perhaps one avenged the other. Just like now, you captured the woman, and the owner of the voice is still out there."
"How so?" Mu Anxiao was drawn in by Feng Qishi's words.
Feng Qishi said, "This is how I see it," he stated earnestly. "Let's assume the woman is the elder sister. The elder sister died, and the younger sister, seeking revenge, also died. This way, the younger sister became a demon soul later than the elder sister. Later, the younger sister comes to find her elder sister and discovers... you've captured her. So she comes for you for revenge. Does that sound reasonable?"
"At this point, shouldn't she be looking for the killer? Why is she looking for me?" Mu Anxiao asked, somewhat confused.
Feng Qishi spread his hands. "She originally intended to seek revenge with her sister. Who knew you captured her sister, so she comes to settle accounts with you, to save her sister."
Mu Anxiao: "..." She blinked.
Feng Qishi asked, "Why aren't you speaking anymore?" He looked puzzled.
Mu Anxiao curled her lips. "It's not that I'm not speaking, it's that I find your rambling to be too much."
"My words are all based on evidence."
"I didn't hear any," Mu Anxiao shook her head, picked up the teacup, and blew away the steam.
Seeing that Mu Anxiao didn't believe him, Feng Qishi decided to stop. He also picked up his teacup, took a sip of water, and added, "I think my analysis is sound."
"Drink water," Mu Anxiao gestured to Feng Qishi.