The fake Lin Yan glanced at Mu Anxiao and said, "Master, she's asleep."
"Uh, that was too quick," Feng Qishi said, standing up and walking around the chair to Mu Anxiao's side. "I'll take her back, you continue here." He bent down and took Mu Anxiao's arm.
A few minutes later.
Feng Qishi carried Mu Anxiao on his back as they walked back to the dilapidated temple.
"Mu the fool, you're faking it, aren't you?" he said, tilting his head.
Swinging around, Mu Anxiao opened her eyes. "You figured it out." Her face was pressed against Feng Qishi's shoulder.
Feng Qishi didn't stop walking, still carrying Mu Anxiao on his back as he said, "Mm, you were moved by my disciple, weren't you?"
"Why do you say that?"
"My disciple came back, and he's obviously become much more obedient, and incredibly polite to those people. However, if it were in the past, he wouldn't have been like this at all."
"...." Mu Anxiao thought, of course he's different. In the eyes of that imposter, Lin Yan had always been a perfect gentleman. She wondered if he knew anything about Lin Yan's past.
"Why aren't you talking anymore?"
Mu Anxiao took a deep breath and said, "Alright, put me down." She straightened up.
Feng Qishi: "It's fine, I'll carry you."
"Don't you find me heavy?"
"You are quite heavy."
Mu Anxiao's expression froze, and she pushed Feng Qishi's shoulder. "Put me down."
Feng Qishi knew that if he didn't stop, given Mu Anxiao's personality, she would definitely jump down.
Thus, he stopped walking and bent down slightly.
Then, Mu Anxiao got down from his back, tidied her wrinkled clothes, and said, "Alright, you go back and continue."
"Where are you going?"
"That kind of situation isn't suitable for me. I'm returning to the dilapidated temple." As she spoke, she walked around Feng Qishi towards the temple.
It was less that the situation was unsuitable, and more that she didn't want to be there.
Sometimes, when she quieted her mind, she was also afraid. She was afraid of returning to her hometown, and even more afraid of her childhood playmates calling out her name.
Because she wasn't young anymore. If she hadn't met Shen Yan, she probably would have been an old woman by now.
At this age, she should have experienced farewells, she should have...
Thinking of this, she lost the courage to think any further.
Returning to the dilapidated temple.
Mu Anxiao walked to her bedside and stared at her neatly folded quilt, frowning. "Who told you to touch my bedding?" she asked, turning her head towards the pillar.
The next second, Yin Ye walked through the pillar towards Mu Anxiao. "I thought you had forgotten all about me."
"You say that every time you appear. You must be bored," Mu Anxiao said, turning to Yin Ye.
Yin Ye: "You're not angry?"
"What?"
"I took advantage of Feng Qishi's grief and irrationality at his place to sow discord between you and him. Aren't you angry?"
"If I get angry at a liar, what does that make me?"
"You..."
"Those soul spirits, you released them, didn't you."
Yin Ye's eyes sank. "...."
"I say, this is what they call biting off more than you can chew."
"What right do you have to say that to me? If I hadn't done that, I would have been finished. You..."
"You're not finished now either."
"...." Yin Ye felt guilty and lowered his head.
"Lin Yan died for everyone. You should..."
"I witnessed Lin Yan's death. He was a savior, but we," Yin Ye shook his head slightly, "this was our chance, but we lost it. So, I didn't think of any other way. Everyone would have been doomed."
"Why didn't you leave."
"I..." Yin Ye averted his gaze.
"Stop pretending. You let them go, but you stayed behind. Are you trying to report them, or are you truly trying to save them? I'm sure you know better than I do."
"I want to reincarnate."
"...."
"Why aren't you talking anymore? You can't do it, can you?"
Mu Anxiao: "You don't trust me at all, yet you want me to help you. Don't you think," she gave a bitter smile, "you're very contradictory?"
"Do you know why I stayed?"
"Don't tell me, it was for them?"
"They left, and I stayed. That makes me the one who trusts you. This way, the chance is mine. So, I did this, but to prevent you from going back on your word, I had to win Feng Qishi's trust. That way, I would have more security."
"So, you brainwashed him."
"Yes."
"Truly clever, but," Mu Anxiao said, "you no longer have that chance. In my eyes, you are just a liar."
"You..."
"You treated my trust in you like a pile of mud. Have you ever considered how I feel?"
"I..."
"You should leave. The next time we meet, I will arrest you without any hesitation. I'll let you go this time."
"You gave me a chance to reincarnate."
Mu Anxiao: "...." She shook her head.
"Please, I want to reincarnate, I don't want..." Yin Ye walked towards Mu Anxiao frantically, grabbing her arm. "I don't want to go down, I don't want to leave, I don't want..."
"Go," Mu Anxiao said mercilessly, pushing Yin Ye's hand away.
Yin Ye was stunned.
Mu Anxiao: "Yin Ye, your fate is quite bitter. I pity you, but you used my pity to hurt me." She stared into Yin Ye's eyes. "Do you know what I hate the most?"
"What?"
"I hate being misunderstood for no reason the most."
"Are you referring to Feng Qishi?"
"Yes. Because of you, I experienced that feeling of being inexplicably misunderstood again yesterday."
Outside the temple.
Feng Qishi listened to Mu Anxiao's words and thought about his attitude towards her yesterday, his eyes sinking.
Inside the temple.
Yin Ye looked at Mu Anxiao with tears in his eyes and said, "I was wrong, please give me the chance."
"If I say there's no chance to reincarnate, will you leave then?"
Yin Ye's gaze flickered.
"Go," Mu Anxiao said, turning her back.
Yin Ye stared at the back of Mu Anxiao's head and said, "Is there any way I can reincarnate? I'm willing to do anything."
"Where are you going now?"
"If I have to go, I'll definitely go back to the vine spirit."
Hearing Yin Ye's words, Mu Anxiao remembered the five women and the matter with Lin Yan.
So, she lowered her eyes, thought for a moment, turned around, and said, "Come here." She beckoned.
"..." Yin Ye stepped forward and leaned in slightly.
Mu Anxiao whispered something into his ear, then straightened up and said, "Investigate these things for me, and I'll give you a chance. Remember, if you dare to betray me, I'll give you the same fate as Gui Xiao. I mean what I say."
Yin Ye: "I know. I'll do whatever you tell me to do." After speaking, he turned and disappeared.
Mu Anxiao: "...." She turned her head to look at the temple door.
On the other side of the temple door, Feng Qishi had not heard Mu Anxiao's instructions to Yin Ye.
On the contrary, he realized that he had indeed hurt Mu Anxiao.
At that moment, he felt guilty towards her.