Seeing this, Feng Qishi quickly jumped down from the tree, stepped forward, and grabbed the man's fist before he could strike. "Let's talk things through. It's not good to resort to violence."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao breathed a sigh of relief. She immediately opened her eyes, looked at Feng Qishi, and smiled, "Thanks."
"..." Feng Qishi didn't look at Mu Anxiao and continued to stare at the man who was glaring at him. "Let go of your hand."
The man said, "You're the one who should let go." He glanced pointedly at Feng Qishi's hand.
Feng Qishi also looked down at the man's hand tightly gripping Mu Anxiao's collar and said, "You first."
"You..." The man uttered a single word. After feeling the strength in Feng Qishi's hand, he finally let go.
Immediately, Feng Qishi also let go. "..."
Seeing that Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi were two people, the man dared not act rashly again. He said, "She was the one who cursed my mother first. My mother is doing very well." After saying this, he averted his gaze.
Mu Anxiao listened to the man's agitated tone and recalled her own words. Her eyes darkened, and she said, "I was also wrong just now. Then tell me, is your father's name You Ping?"
"Yes," the man replied properly.
Mu Anxiao continued, "Then your mother, is her name... You Lian?"
At this moment, Feng Qishi couldn't help but admire Mu Anxiao's intellect. He thought that if it were him, he would have already forgotten these two names.
The man asked, "How do you know my mother's name?"
Seeing the man's serious reply, Mu Anxiao thought that if she explained this matter in a mystical way, given the man's temperament, he would certainly not believe her.
Of course, even with the foundation of a demon soul, she doubted he would believe her.
Therefore, she took this opportunity to think quickly and said, "Actually, I was sent by those above to help you."
"Which above?" the man asked, confused.
Mu Anxiao thought for a moment and said, "Just... the authorities."
"The authorities?" the man repeated, looking down and thinking, "We never deal with people from the authorities. We are a family that usually keeps to ourselves and doesn't cause trouble. Why would the authorities look for us?"
Mu Anxiao replied, "Actually, it's nothing much, it's just, your father..."
"My father is alive and well."
"Eh?"
"My father," the man said, his gaze darting away, "my father is doing better than anyone. He's been doing business outside the passes recently and hasn't returned. Why are you looking for my father?"
"Your father..." Mu Anxiao looked at the man's agitated explanation and thought he must not know that the elder had already passed away. She hesitated for a moment and then said, "Did your father buy medicine for someone for your mother?"
"Someone..." the man thought for a moment and said, "I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Yes, to be honest," the man said, intimidated by Feng Qishi's presence and no longer daring to be as irascible as before, "I just got home. My second brother said my father hasn't been back for a long time. I thought he might be doing business outside the passes."
Mu Anxiao did not doubt the man's words.
Conversely, Feng Qishi became suspicious. "That's not right."
Hearing this, the man visibly stiffened and then looked at Feng Qishi with a cautious expression. "How is it not right?"
Seeing the man's odd demeanor, Feng Qishi took a deep breath and paused for a few seconds. "Isn't your father senile?"
"My father..."
"Your father has a habit of fishing. He's retired..."
Before Feng Qishi could finish speaking, Mu Anxiao suddenly realized something was wrong and quickly elbowed him, whispering, "Say something this guy can understand."
Hearing this, Feng Qishi glanced at Mu Anxiao, cleared his throat, and repeated, "Your father has a habit of fishing, and he's sometimes confused and sometimes clear. Also, your father isn't a businessman. Your father is clearly a night watchman. Tell me, why are you lying?"
Because of what the man had said, Mu Anxiao had forgotten all about the elder's past. Upon hearing Feng Qishi's sharp question, she suddenly had an epiphany and chimed in, "Yes, isn't your father a night watchman? Why are you lying? Speak." She said, her face growing cold.
Seeing Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi's similar cold expressions, the man stiffened, took a step back, and reached for the door. "I have nothing to do with him. I always thought he was in business."
"You think so, but are you his son?" Mu Anxiao asked impatiently.
The man affirmed, "Of course I am his son. However," he darted his eyes, "not biologically."
"Not biologically?"
"Yes, I have no blood relation with him, so naturally, I don't know what kind of person he is or what he did. As for where he is now," the man began to move the creaking door panel back and forth, "I don't know." With that, he slammed the door shut.
Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi were thus shut out by this man who was full of suspicious behavior.
"There's something wrong," she said.
Feng Qishi nodded slightly. "I also feel he's problematic."
"What should we do?" Mu Anxiao turned to look at Feng Qishi, thinking he surely had a plan.
Feng Qishi looked down at Mu Anxiao's eyes and smiled. "You think I have a solution."
"You managed to render him speechless, so you must have a way."
"..." Feng Qishi smiled at Mu Anxiao. "Actually, I don't have a solution."
"You..." Mu Anxiao didn't want to waste more time on Feng Qishi. She pouted, stepped back a few paces, and looked at the small courtyard gate, pondering the man's suspicious attitude. "How could a confused old man buy medicine for himself?"
"What are you trying to say?" Feng Qishi asked, turning towards Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes. "There's something wrong."
"Mu the fool, what are you getting worked up about?" Feng Qishi gestured with his chin.
"You're the one getting worked up," Mu Anxiao shot Feng Qishi a fierce glare and said, "This son is suspicious. I suspect he's capable of domestic violence."
"Mu the fool, I'm telling you seriously, your time is running out."
"...."
"Your time is really running out, so don't waste it. Just climb over the wall and go in."
"We can't climb over the wall."
Just moments ago, Mu Anxiao had been so anxious, but now she was so calm, which made Feng Qishi feel rather speechless.
However, considering Mu Anxiao's dwindling time, he still said, "Then what do you plan to do? Less than an hour remains until your time is up."
"I know," Mu Anxiao nodded, took a deep breath, stepped forward, and raised her hand to knock on the door again.
In the courtyard.
A Long sat cross-legged in the center of the courtyard, looking in pain at the yellow paper pasted all over the doors of the nearby house. She said, "I still can't move." She took a few gasps.
"What is this stuff?" The elder also looked at the yellow paper on the door in pain and asked.
A Long replied, "I don't know. I still can't move. What about you?" She didn't look at the elder.