“Shed your worries,” Feng Qishi said as the wind began to stir. “If you need anything, I’ll help you.”
“How do you plan to help me?” Mu Anxiao countered.
Feng Qishi looked down at Mu Anxiao for a few seconds before replying, “I have it all figured out. In any case, you’ll be fine. Once you’re in the palace, just focus on completing your mission.”
“You’re really set on not using your healing spells to help me.”
In the past, Feng Qishi would have immediately used his healing spells to tend to Mu Anxiao’s injuries. Yet, in less than a year, he had completely changed.
At first, she hadn’t noticed, but after spending this short time with Feng Qishi, a hint of disappointment had crept into her heart.
“I’ve said all I need to say. You just don’t understand,” Feng Qishi said plainly.
Mu Anxiao replied, “I understand, but you could at least help me a little…”
“I’ve already bandaged you,” Feng Qishi interrupted callously. He turned his head towards the door and asked, “Who is it?”
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao sighed softly and lowered her head.
At the bottom of the steps outside the door, the maid was startled by Feng Qishi’s sudden question. “It’s me,” she replied simply, her voice trembling slightly.
Feng Qishi frowned, looked down at Mu Anxiao, and whispered, “Stay here and don’t move.”
“…” Mu Anxiao remained silent.
Feng Qishi knew Mu Anxiao was angry. He didn’t waste any more words, turned, walked gracefully to the door, opened it, and looked at the maid standing on the steps. “What is it?”
“General, Master requests that Miss come to the reception hall.”
“How did your master know… that Mu Xiao was here?”
“Madam sent someone to say.”
“Madam…” Feng Qishi chuckled softly. “Your madam’s ability to send messages is truly impressive.”
The maid pursed her lips, not daring to say anything more.
Seeing the maid’s silence and considering Mu Anxiao’s current injuries, Feng Qishi said, “Tell your master she’s not available.”
“But…”
“Your madam asked me to teach her etiquette. I am currently teaching her, and if she were to go now, it would be a waste of time. In the end, she would learn nothing, and the Mu Manor would suffer the consequences, which would be troublesome.”
“But… Master…”
“Just relay my exact words to your master. He will understand,” Feng Qishi interrupted.
The maid saw Feng Qishi’s serious demeanor and dared not say anything further. She turned and left.
After the maid left, Feng Qishi stepped back, closed the door, turned, and looked at Mu Anxiao, who had lifted her head. “…”
“Why didn’t you let me go?” Mu Anxiao stood up.
Feng Qishi turned and walked in front of Mu Anxiao, saying, “What good could your father have to say to you? It would be nothing more than instructing you on some common knowledge for entering the palace, and then…” He paused intentionally.
Mu Anxiao looked curious. “And then what?”
“And then instructing you on how to curry favor with Prince Jin.”
“How did you know?”
“I know almost everything that goes on in this Mu Manor. Fortunately, your father and the others are timid, and their actions are never reliable. Otherwise, I would have apprehended him long ago,” Feng Qishi said in a low voice.
Mu Anxiao frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
“There are some things you don’t understand,” Feng Qishi said, then looked down at Jia.
Jia spoke, “It seems you’ve investigated the entire Mu Manor.”
“…” Feng Qishi remained deliberately silent, then turned back to Mu Anxiao. “Alright, let’s begin learning etiquette.”
However, Mu Anxiao had always thought Feng Qishi was merely putting on a show for the madam when he said he would teach her etiquette. Little did she know… she was being naive.
“You’re really going to teach me etiquette?” she asked.
Feng Qishi replied, “Otherwise? There are some rules you must understand.”
“I’m just going to complete…”
“That Empress is a demon soul. Even if she can’t take your entire life, she can take your spiritual energy. Furthermore, from what I know, that demon soul likes girls who understand etiquette. As long as you follow the rules, your life with her will be easier. Conversely,” Feng Qishi became deliberately serious, “if you don’t understand the rules, then you can expect to depart from her.”
“She’s just a demon soul…”
“Every demon soul has their own story, and they also have their own desires. These,” Feng Qishi blinked his eyes, “you should know better than I do, right?”
“…” Mu Anxiao nodded.
“Since you understand, let’s begin,” Feng Qishi said, looking at Jia, who had a furrowed brow. “What’s with that expression?”
“You’re a man, and she’s a woman. Are you sure you can teach her etiquette properly?” Jia asked with concern.
Feng Qishi narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean by that?”
“What I mean is… do you know women’s etiquette?” Jia retorted.
Feng Qishi’s expression stiffened. He looked down at his own attire and then at Mu Anxiao’s female clothing, realizing, “I forgot.”
“Forgot what?” Mu Anxiao’s lips twitched. She was truly taken aback by Feng Qishi’s words.
Feng Qishi touched the back of his head. “I only learned men’s etiquette; I’ve never learned women’s etiquette. This… might be difficult.”
“…” Mu Anxiao was speechless at Feng Qishi’s words.
Feng Qishi lowered his gaze.
Immediately after, beams of black light descended from the ceiling. The three of them simultaneously raised their faces with vigilance.
Jia exclaimed, “It’s demonic energy.”
Mu Anxiao glanced at Jia. “…” She quietly moved and hid beside Feng Qishi, then reached out with her good hand and grabbed Feng Qishi’s sleeve.
Feng Qishi stiffened, looked down at Mu Anxiao, who was leaning on him intentionally, and said, “Let go.”
“I won’t,” Mu Anxiao tightened her grip.
Feng Qishi frowned. Just as he was about to speak, Mu Anxiao quickly pulled him aside, then looked at the male demon soul, who had suddenly appeared in their spot, and said, “It’s you.”
The first male demon soul heard this, turned, looked at Mu Anxiao, who was still holding Feng Qishi’s arm, and smiled.
The next second, the second male demon soul appeared beside the first.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao was startled. “Why are you two here?”
Conversely, the two of them ignored Mu Anxiao and turned their gazes to Feng Qishi. The first male demon soul said, “Shen Moyun, General Shen, you’ve come here.”
“…” Mu Anxiao was astonished that these two fellows didn’t recognize her at all.
Jia glanced at both of them, intentionally put on airs, and said not a word.
Feng Qishi didn’t even look at Mu Anxiao, frowning. “Shi Yan, Shi Kuai, what are you two doing here?” After asking, he glanced at the first and second male demon souls.
Immediately, the first demon soul, Shi Yan, said, “Didn’t you ask us to help you investigate? Well, we’ve come to report to you.”
Mu Anxiao’s body stiffened as she heard Shi Yan’s reply, thinking, What’s going on?
Feng Qishi asked, “How many demon souls are there in this vicinity?”
“…” Shi Yan let out a sheepish chuckle.
Shi Kuai, seeing Shi Yan chuckle, also chuckled along.
And so, the room was filled with the sound of their sheepish laughter.
Mu Anxiao and Jia looked at each other, and Mu Anxiao couldn’t help but speak, “Can you two stop laughing?”
Hearing this, Shi Kuai and Shi Yan stopped laughing simultaneously and turned their gazes to Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao: “…” She deliberately remained silent, wondering what they would say.
Subsequently, seeing Mu Anxiao’s silence, Shi Kuai and Shi Yan exchanged glances. Shi Kuai said, “Shen Moyun, she can see us.” He kept his gaze fixed on Feng Qishi.
Mu Anxiao frowned upon hearing Shi Kuai’s address to Feng Qishi, and began to wonder… did they really not know his other name, Feng Qishi?
In response, Feng Qishi glanced at Mu Anxiao, then at Shi Kuai, who had asked the question, and said, “She’s like me; she can see you.”
“Like…” Shi Kuai said, looking at Mu Anxiao and smiling, “Hello, my name is Shi Kuai.”
“My name is Shi Yan,” Shi Yan volunteered.
Mu Anxiao looked at the two demon souls in front of her, feeling bewildered, then looked at Feng Qishi. She gave a dry laugh.
Shi Yan asked, “Oh, right, what’s your name?”
“My name is…”
“She’s the young lady of this manor who got lost. We met her on the battlefield. Her name is Mu Xiao,” Feng Qishi said, covering for her, fearing they might recognize Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao’s expression stiffened. She truly didn’t know what role Feng Qishi was playing.
The next moment, Jia intentionally put on airs and said, “You two are demon souls.”
Hearing this, Shi Kuai and Shi Yan were stunned. After looking around the surroundings, Shi Kuai asked, “Who’s speaking?” He looked at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi cleared his throat, looked down at Jia, whom demon souls could not easily see, and said, “Let me introduce him. He is a Yin Messenger from the underworld, named Jia.”
“…” The two of them turned their gazes to Jia.
Jia concealed his inner awkwardness and maintained his serious demeanor, saying, “That’s right, I’m the Messenger specifically here to capture you.”
“You?” Shi Kuai uttered a single word and laughed. “You little brat, a Messenger? What a joke. If you have nothing else to do, go home and eat.”
“You…”
Shi Yan laughed, “Are you going to cry?” He looked at Jia with a mocking expression.
Jia’s brow furrowed.
In the next instant.
Shi Kuai and Shi Yan were bound to a pillar with silver ropes.
Jia, holding the silver ropes, looked up at Shi Kuai and Shi Yan, who had been mocking him earlier, and said, “Keep laughing, why aren’t you laughing anymore?” His eyes were cold.
Shi Kuai’s face contorted in fear. He looked down at the silver rope binding him, recalling Mu Anxiao capturing them in the past. “You stole her silver rope after Mu Anxiao died. How despicable of you.”
“Don’t try to sow discord. This silver rope is mine,” Jia said righteously. He turned to look at Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi, who were standing calmly, and said, “You two go about your business. These two are mine.”
“You can’t capture them,” Feng Qishi suddenly said.
Mu Anxiao looked up at Feng Qishi and suddenly realized… there must be an unusual connection between them.
Jia frowned. “Why? Aren’t they here because…”
“You must have heard, they are my scouts. If you capture them, who will help me investigate?”
“They are demon souls,” Jia stated earnestly.
“They are different from those demon souls.”
“Yes, we are different from them,” Shi Kuai said excitedly.
Shi Yan also added, “We are different from them.”
Hearing this, Jia turned to look at them, his expression becoming serious. “In that case, you are good demon souls?”
Shi Kuai and Shi Yan both nodded.
Jia narrowed his eyes. “If that’s the case, then you first promise not to look down on me.”
“Promise, promise.”
“We were wrong, sir,” Shi Kuai echoed Shi Yan.
Jia was quite satisfied with Shi Kuai and Shi Yan’s reaction and retracted the silver ropes.
Shi Kuai and Shi Yan both chuckled sheepishly at Jia.
Mu Anxiao watched Shi Kuai and Shi Yan, thinking about Feng Qishi’s words, and was stunned.
“Come here, sit and talk,” Feng Qishi said. He glanced at Mu Anxiao, turned, and sat down at the table.
Mu Anxiao snapped back to attention, took a deep breath, turned, and walked to Feng Qishi’s side, but did not sit down.
Subsequently, Shi Yan and Shi Kuai walked to the table with Jia and sat down.
Reception Hall.
The maid walked up to Mu Gui and recounted Feng Qishi’s words word for word.
After hearing this, Mu Gui pondered for a few seconds before saying, “I understand. You may go now.”
“Master, aren’t you going to call her?” the maid inquired.
Mu Gui thought for a moment and said, “No need. I think… General must have discovered something. If we summon her now, it will only cause more trouble.” He then looked up at the maid and said, “Don’t speak of this, and definitely don’t tell Madam, understand?”
“Master, Madam asked…”
“If she asks, tell her that I have already spoken to Mu Xiao,” Mu Gui interrupted.
The maid replied, “Yes, Master.”
“You may leave now,” Mu Gui said coldly.
The maid nodded slightly, took a few steps back, turned, and left.
Mu Gui sat alone in the reception hall, thinking of his sister, whose life or death was unknown, and a sudden anxiety arose in his heart. Guest Room.
Feng Qishi and the others sat around the table. Mu Anxiao stood beside Feng Qishi. They all glanced at Shi Kuai and Shi Yan, who were tangible and could be touched, and Mu Anxiao asked, “How do you two… know him?” Feeling the atmosphere was awkward, she spoke first.
Shi Kuai looked up. “This, you…” He stopped midway, his brow suddenly furrowing.
Mu Anxiao looked at Shi Kuai’s expression, her gaze unwavering, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“You look quite familiar,” Shi Kuai said honestly.
“…” Feng Qishi’s heart sank. He looked up at Shi Kuai and said, “I recall you saying I looked familiar when we first met.”
“Did I?” Shi Kuai smiled.
Feng Qishi nodded slightly. “Yes.”
Shi Kuai continued to smile. “There are so many people who look alike these days.”
“I think so too,” Shi Yan chimed in.
Mu Anxiao continued to stare at Shi Kuai, smiled, and asked, “You say I look familiar, so tell me, who do I resemble?”
“You…” Shi Kuai’s eyes darkened. “You resemble a bad person.”
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao involuntarily clenched her fist and said, “I don’t like what you’re saying.”
“She’s bad, but…” Shi Kuai didn’t pay attention to Mu Anxiao’s words and continued, “but she’s also a pretty good person, no, she’s an immortal.”
“Is that so?” Mu Anxiao’s anger subsided.
“Mm, it’s a pity though…” Shi Kuai lowered his gaze.
Mu Anxiao feigned confusion. “A pity for what?” She wanted to hear what Shi Kuai would say about her!