The extent to which Feng Qi Shi refused the use of healing techniques when the wind started to stir was something Mu An Xiao had come to understand. Yet now, he was proactively offering to use his healing skills to treat Amei.
This suggestion surprised Mu An Xiao. "Are you joking with me?" she asked.
Feng Qi Shi replied, "No, seeing as you're begging me, I… might as well help you."
"I'm not begging you," Mu An Xiao stated directly.
Feng Qi Shi’s gaze flickered away. "I meant before," he said, then walked to the bedside.
"Me before… you sure remember a long time ago," Mu An Xiao commented, leaning forward slightly. "If you can't, don't force yourself. Let me do it."
"You should just forget it," Feng Qi Shi said. He extended his hands, palms facing upwards towards Amei’s body, and then began to cast the spell, synchronizing with Amei's breathing.
Mu An Xiao stood in place, looking down at the residual poison mist in her palm, wondering, how should I handle this?
As she pondered, she glanced at Feng Qi Shi's back. Then, before she could even take a step, a loud noise suddenly erupted behind her.
Startled by the sound, Mu An Xiao quickly turned around. Her eyes fell upon Feng Qi Shi's trembling back, and she softly asked, "What's wrong?" After asking, she walked to Feng Qi Shi’s side.
However, Feng Qi Shi coldly told her, "Go away."
Mu An Xiao's body stiffened. She glanced down at Amei, still lying safely on the bed, then looked up at Feng Qi Shi, who had his hands covering his head. "Are you sure you're alright?" she asked.
Feng Qi Shi stared blankly ahead, shaking his head slightly. "I still can't do it," he said. He then lowered his hands and turned towards Mu An Xiao.
Mu An Xiao looked up at Feng Qi Shi and asked, "What is really wrong with you?"
"I used to think my healing technique was very powerful, but the result…" Feng Qi Shi stared intently at Mu An Xiao’s face, his demeanor becoming increasingly erratic. "…was that it killed so many people. Mu An Xiao, tell me, am I a failure?"
"A failure?" Mu An Xiao said, intentionally hiding her hand clutching the poison mist behind her back. She asked gently, "What exactly did you go through?" She became even more curious about his experiences over the past year.
"It's nothing…"
"Shen Fengzi, do you still have secrets from me?" Mu An Xiao interrupted, her face filled with sincerity.
Feng Qi Shi replied coldly, "I can't say. It's too humiliating."
"No matter what you do, I won't think you're humiliating, but…" Mu An Xiao looked down at Feng Qi Shi's hands and continued, "In my opinion, your current condition is very serious. You… you might lose your healing skills today, and tomorrow, you'll face setbacks. Won't you lose yourself? Shen Fengzi, do you understand what I'm saying?"
At this moment, she realized that whatever Feng Qi Shi had experienced might have a profound impact on his future. It was precisely because of this that she conceived the idea of saving him.
"…" Feng Qi Shi lowered his gaze. "I can't."
"You…"
"I'll give you the secret to my healing technique. You…"
"No, this must be done by you," Mu An Xiao stated firmly.
Feng Qi Shi wore a helpless expression. "You saw it, I can't do it. You… if you entrust this matter to me, she will die," he said with a distressed look. "Mu An Xiao, I am just a general in the mortal realm now. Shen Mo Yun, I am no longer the Feng Qi Shi I once was. I think you understand what I mean."
Mu An Xiao understood how painful it was to fall from hope into despair. She understood even more how devastating it was to have one's beliefs and abilities shattered.
Mu An Xiao had experienced these feelings countless times, each time feeling an urge to abandon everything.
Even after her Soul Sword, dagger, and spiritual energy disappeared, she sank into deep despair. Every night, lying on the hard bed, she wanted to cry. She even asked herself, what was the meaning of living?
However, every morning, when she opened her eyes and saw the sun, and heard the birds chirp, her hope would return.
Repeatedly, Mu An Xiao had grown accustomed to the process of transforming from a strong person to a nobody. But even so, she always told herself that as long as she was alive, there was hope. As long as she was alive, she could become strong again.
At this moment, Mu An Xiao felt a pang of sympathy seeing Feng Qi Shi crushed by his past experiences.
However, while she felt sympathy, she was actually relieved that Feng Qi Shi could finally voice these thoughts. To her, this was progress.
Thus, she suddenly asked, "Do you have spiritual energy?"
Feng Qi Shi's gaze flickered away. "…"
"Do you have a master?" Mu An Xiao asked again.
Feng Qi Shi lowered his head.
Mu An Xiao continued, "Do you have me by your side?"
This time, Feng Qi Shi's body stiffened, and he slowly looked up, meeting Mu An Xiao's eyes. "…"
Mu An Xiao raised her chin. "Answer me."
"Your question is redundant. You're already by my side," Feng Qi Shi said coldly.
"Yes, I am by your side. What are you afraid of?" Mu An Xiao said, reaching out to steady Feng Qi Shi's shoulder. "Tell me, I'll analyze your situation."
"You don't need to know about my situation," Feng Qi Shi said, pushing away Mu An Xiao's hand.
Mu An Xiao blinked, then looked at the hand Feng Qi Shi had unceremoniously pushed away. "You're really too much," she said, her face hardening.
Feng Qi Shi turned his back.
Mu An Xiao glanced at Amei and said softly, "If you won't help, fine. I'll take her away from here, alright?" As she spoke, she stepped forward and bent down to take Amei's arm.
Feng Qi Shi asked, "I already offered to teach you the healing technique. Why are you still doing this?" He turned back to face Mu An Xiao.
Mu An Xiao replied, "My spiritual energy is greatly depleted, I can't use it."
"It doesn't matter. I'll give you my spiritual energy," Feng Qi Shi said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Mu An Xiao immediately released Amei's hand, stood up, and looked at Feng Qi Shi. "I don't want your spiritual energy. I don't want your charity. Even if I have nothing, I will save her through my own efforts."
"You…"
"What 'you'? I hate people who always say they can't do it the most. From now on, I never want to see you again."
"Mu An Xiao, is this meaningful to you?"
"Meaningful?" Mu An Xiao scoffed. "If someone in the mortal realm were in your situation, I might attribute it to a mental illness. But for you, a great immortal, to be like this, I just can't comprehend it."
"You even know about mental illness?" Feng Qi Shi asked, surprised.
"I've lived in the modern world, after all. In short," Mu An Xiao said, "you're quite melodramatic in my eyes. Since you don't want to talk about it, then keep everything bottled up forever. It's your burden, not mine. In the future, even if you want to tell me, I won't listen anymore."
Feng Qi Shi frowned and retorted, "Do you think your goading will work on me?"
Mu An Xiao sneered, "I don't have time to goad you." With that, she turned and took Amei's arm again.
A subtle smile began to form on Mu An Xiao’s lips. She knew that what Feng Qi Shi did was not necessarily to hurt her, but perhaps to test her and to see if she would indeed be there for him.
A wry smile bloomed as the wind began to stir.
A wry smile bloomed as the wind began to stir.
A wry smile bloomed as the wind began to stir.
A wry smile bloomed as the wind began to stir.
A wry smile bloomed as the wind began to stir.
A wry smile bloomed as the wind began to stir.
A wry smile bloomed as the wind began to stir.