Feng Qishi looked up at the beggar as the wind picked up, recalling the beggar's previously terrified demeanor. He sighed and decided not to press further, pulling out some broken silver from his sleeve and offering it to the beggar. "Here."
The beggar took the silver and smiled. "Thank you. Can I stay here for the night?"
"Why?" Feng Qishi asked in return.
The beggar forced a smile. "I'm afraid of the green fire."
Piao heard the beggar's words and looked at the expression on his face, clearing his throat. "..." He glanced meaningfully at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi hadn't noticed Piao's expression. After a moment's hesitation, he reached out and took the broken silver from the beggar's hand. "Alright, stay then."
Seeing this, the beggar's eyes widened. He glanced at the indifferent expressions on Mu Anxiao and Piao's faces, and startled, said, "Never mind, I'll leave." He snatched back the silver.
Feng Qishi asked, "Aren't you afraid of the green fire?"
"Perhaps I was mistaken," the beggar reassured himself, turned, and ran away.
Piao remarked, "He's quite money-grubbing." As he said this, he looked meaningfully at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao glared at Piao and then turned to Feng Qishi. "Get up."
"What for?"
"We're going out." Mu Anxiao stood up.
Chen asked, "What are you doing?"
Driven by her own motives, Chen wanted to understand the relationship between the wolf demon and Mu Anxiao. She believed that as long as she stayed close to Mu Anxiao, she would surely be safe.
Piao, however, was different. Judging by the wolf demon's apparent dislike for Piao, she felt that if she chose Piao at this moment, he would certainly not protect her. Therefore, she placed all her hopes on Mu Anxiao.
Piao looked at Chen's dependence on Mu Anxiao with bewilderment. "Chen, didn't you want to be my disciple? Now you're clinging to Mu Anxiao. What do you mean? You don't trust me?"
Chen replied, "Since you weren't willing to take me, I..." She stood up and tightly linked her arm with Mu Anxiao's. "...can only choose her."
Hearing Chen's words, Piao's heart sank. "You don't want me to be your master anymore?"
"..." Chen avoided his gaze.
Piao saw Chen's unnatural expression and recalled her fear of the wolf demon earlier. He said lightly, "I understand. You're afraid of the wolf demon."
"Yes, I am afraid," Chen admitted readily.
At the same time, Xie Xin, who had not been interested in their conversation, became agitated upon hearing the words "wolf demon." She quickly sat up and asked, "Mu Anxiao, where is the wolf demon?" She got out of bed and quickly walked to Mu Anxiao's side.
Mu Anxiao: "..." She looked at Xie Xin, speechless.
Xie Xin: "I'm asking you, where is the wolf demon?" She tugged Mu Anxiao's arm.
Mu Anxiao: "I don't know."
"You clearly know..."
"I finally know why the wolf demon disappeared so suddenly," Mu Anxiao interrupted.
Xie Xin frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
Mu Anxiao explained, "To be frank, the wolf demon was supposed to stay here. He probably sensed your presence, so he... left." She shrugged helplessly.
"He dislikes me?" Xie Xin immediately put on a disappointed expression.
As far as Mu Anxiao was concerned, Xie Xin held absolutely no place in her heart.
Therefore, she said without reservation, "You could say that. He dislikes you."
Hearing this, Xie Xin pouted.
Piao looked at Xie Xin's expression and was surprised. "Uh, is she about to cry?"
Chen added, "The wolf demon eats people. If you're so concerned about him, and he eats you later, you'll have no one to cry to."
Immediately, Xie Xin began to cry.
The next second.
They listened to Xie Xin's dry, tearless crying and were speechless.
Simultaneously, the fake Lin Yan was woken by Xie Xin's crying and sat up. "Can you shut up?"
Hearing this, they were startled and all looked at the fake Lin Yan.
Xie Xin retorted, "It's none of your business." She looked at the fake Lin Yan.
The fake Lin Yan continued, "Your wailing is disturbing my sleep. Stop crying." He leaned forward, squinted at Xie Xin's face, and then said, "If you're going to cry, at least shed some tears. You're being too fake like this." After saying that, he lay down and covered his head with the blanket.
Seeing this, Feng Qishi and Mu Anxiao exchanged glances. Mu Anxiao said, "He's talking in his sleep."
Feng Qishi replied, "Probably not."
"Uh, then your disciple has really had enough of her," Mu Anxiao said, glancing meaningfully at Xie Xin.
Xie Xin: "..." She dared not speak.
Mu Anxiao: "..." She looked at Feng Qishi and raised an eyebrow.
Feng Qishi understood Mu Anxiao's meaning. "I think it's better if we go out tomorrow. It's dark tonight, and doesn't it creep you out?"
Mu Anxiao: "..."
At the same time, Piao recalled Chen's words from earlier and said softly, "Chen, I will protect you."
Chen asked, "Huh? Didn't you not want to take me as a disciple?"
"Protecting you and taking you as a disciple are two different things."
Chen: "....." She lowered her head.
Mu Anxiao had intended to look for the wolf demon with Feng Qishi. However, after hearing Feng Qishi's suggestion and feeling the cool breeze blowing in from outside, she shivered and compromised immediately. "Alright then, tomorrow."
Meanwhile, the fake Lin Yan opened his eyes, lightly touched the dagger at his waist, and thought, the time is almost right.
Early morning.
Mu Anxiao stood by the well, stretching lazily. Just as she was about to draw water to wash her face, a voice suddenly came from behind her.
"Bad news, bad news."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao turned to look at the villagers who had rushed into the dilapidated temple, ignoring her. She curled her lips. "He actually ignored me." Saying this, she paid them no mind and went to draw water to wash her face.
Inside the dilapidated temple.
Feng Qishi walked up to the villager and asked, "What is it?"
The villager panted, "Someone's dead. Someone's dead."
Feng Qishi reached out and grabbed the villager's arm, asking, "How did someone die? Was it an elder... or..."
"A beggar."
"Beggar?"
"Yes," the villager continued after catching his breath. "It was a beggar. He... died near the dilapidated temple, by a tree. He was covered in blood, his lips were purple, and his appearance was very ugly. I saw him just as I passed by, and came here. I haven't reported it to the authorities yet."
"Take me to see."
"Okay." The villager nodded, turned, and led the way.
By the well, Mu Anxiao's face was still wet with water droplets. She stood up and looked at the villager and Feng Qishi. "Hey, what's going on?" Sensing something was wrong, she walked to Feng Qishi's side.
Feng Qishi replied, "Someone's dead."
"Dead person?" Mu Anxiao walked along, glancing at the villager's retreating back, and asked softly, "What does this have to do with you?"
"He died near the dilapidated temple. It was a beggar."
"Beg..." Mu Anxiao uttered the first syllable, her eyes widening. "Could it be last night's..."
Feng Qishi interrupted, "I don't know. It's best if you say less."
"Oh." Mu Anxiao nodded and quickened her pace.
The dilapidated temple.
Piao and Gu Xiao had left before dawn. Now, only the fake Lin Yan, Xie Xin, and Zeng San remained in the dilapidated temple.
After Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi left, the fake Lin Yan walked to Xie Xin's bed, narrowed his eyes, and pulled out a dagger from his embrace.