"Don't you already know? The woman our second son married had a husband before, but our second son didn't know she was a widow."
"You arranged it."
"What else could I do? Most of the women in our village are what you'd call 'immortal destiny' women. They said our child didn't have that destiny, so I couldn't. Through a matchmaker, I met a young widow and introduced her to our son."
The elder hadn't known about his son's affairs; his wife had never mentioned them. So, hearing his wife say this now, he was startled.
However, thinking of how virtuous his second daughter-in-law was, he didn't say anything more.
"No, how many things have you kept from me?" the elder asked.
His wife pursed her lips. "Some things, there's no point in talking about. Talking too much will only lead to resentment, and I don't like resentment." As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something the man had said earlier. "Oh, right, what did you mean when you called our son a bastard?"
Bastard?
The elder did have an impression of those words, but due to his confusion, he couldn't recall the details of that day clearly.
Still, in his heart, his eldest son was always his most beloved, so it was quite unexpected for his eldest son to have said that.
"..."
"I'm talking to you, why are you being silent?"
Hearing this, the elder snapped back to attention and said, "Am I not senile? Sometimes a wire gets crossed, and I don't even know what I've said."
"You'd better think hard about it. Later, when our son wakes up, you need to explain it to him properly."
"Understood." The elder nodded, and while pondering, he walked towards the area with his wife.
Over there.
Along, who had been paying attention to the elder and his wife, quickly turned around and grabbed Mu Anxiao's arm as they approached.
Mu Anxiao stiffened and turned to look at Along, asking, "Why are you grabbing me?"
"Thank you," Along suddenly said.
Mu Anxiao was perplexed. "Why are you thanking me? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. What you just did was to save me, so..." she bit her lip, "thank you."
However, Mu Anxiao didn't believe Along would suddenly compromise and thank her.
So, she turned her head to stare at Along's face and then thought about the elder blocking Along's path. She realized, "You used me as a shield, didn't you?" As she spoke, she glanced at his wife and the elder who were approaching.
Upon hearing this, Along earnestly said, "I am genuinely thanking you."
"Stop pretending. You were watching them just now, and when they came over, you had nowhere to hide, so you grabbed me. Because my question was too awkward for you, you just casually said thank you to ease your own embarrassment, that must be it." Mu Anxiao was convinced.
Contrary to Mu Anxiao's thoughts, Along was indeed sincerely thanking her. But since she didn't believe it, Along couldn't do anything. Along knew she was from a cultivation sect, and Mu Anxiao detested people from cultivation sects.
Thinking this, Along made no further explanation. "It's your business how you want to think. I've said what I had to say; believe it or not." As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently fell on Feng Qishi, who was clearly struggling to hold on. She exclaimed, "Look." She nudged Mu Anxiao's arm with her elbow.
Hearing Along's anxious tone, Mu Anxiao didn't ask further. Following her gaze, she looked directly at Feng Qishi, who was forcefully casting a spell. "Uh, what's going on?"
"He looks like he's about to go into qi deviation."
"That's not qi deviation, he's about to collapse," the elder corrected, his gaze fixed on the soul that was gradually drifting out of the man's body. He exclaimed, "Not good, he's going to die."
Upon hearing this, the elder and his wife hurried to Mu Anxiao's side. The wife grabbed Mu Anxiao's arm and said, "You're going to kill my son." She pulled at Mu Anxiao.
In contrast, Mu Anxiao, no matter how the wife pulled her, kept her gaze fixed on Feng Qishi. "Shen Fengzi, are you alright?"
Feng Qishi couldn't reply weakly. He quickly withdrew his hand, knelt beside the man, took his pulse, and then began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Mu Anxiao didn't understand what Feng Qishi was doing.
So, she flung the wife's hand away, shouted, "It's my fault," and then limped forward. Ignoring the pain of her wounds tearing open, she knelt beside Feng Qishi. "What are you doing?"
While operating, Feng Qishi said breathlessly, "The spell didn't work. I'm doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on him."
Mu Anxiao watched Feng Qishi's strenuous efforts and then looked at the man's peaceful face. Her heart sank. She looked down at her own palm and suddenly remembered what Zhang Yan had said before.
The electric shock spell, if it hits someone, the electricity will remain in that person's body, gradually electrocuting them to death. At that time, all you can do is waste spiritual energy, using it to draw out the electricity retained in their body and throw it into the air. Therefore, do not use any spells on mortals; the trouble will only be for yourself in the end.
Recalling Zhang Yan's reminder, Mu Anxiao regretted her actions towards the man even more. Especially now, seeing Feng Qishi's urgent efforts to save the man, she felt a pang of guilt. She said in a low voice, "Move aside."
"I can't stop."
"I told you to move aside," Mu Anxiao pushed Feng Qishi's arm and lowered her voice, "Let me."
Upon hearing this, the wife cried out excitedly, "Don't touch my son!" As she moved forward, Along grabbed her arm.
The elder said, "Don't go." He held the wife's other arm.
The wife, looking indignant, glared at Along and the elder on either side and shouted, "She will kill my son."
Hearing the wife's fierce shouts from behind, Mu Anxiao stiffened.
Then, without a word, Feng Qishi pushed Mu Anxiao's hand away and continued to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the man.
Along said, "She can save him. She definitely won't harm him."
"She's the one who injured my son! She definitely won't..."
"She already regrets it. Can't you see?" Along interrupted agitatedly.
The wife continued to struggle.
Before this, Mu Anxiao had always believed that as someone from a cultivation sect, Along's words were likely to be false. Especially at a critical moment like this, she certainly wouldn't speak up for her, and would definitely try her best to harm her.
But reality was the opposite of what she thought. Along's words brought her a sliver of comfort.
Then, she hesitated for a moment, stood up, and looked at her wife, who was still struggling to break free, and said calmly, "Madam, I can definitely save your son. Please believe me."
"You..." The wife stopped struggling and looked at Mu Anxiao's calm expression. Her tone softened. "He can't even save my son. Can you really do it?" As she asked, she couldn't help but glance at Feng Qishi, who was still performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the man.