Mu Anxiao: "...." She didn't know how to explain the situation to Lin Yan.
Hei Feng: "...." He quietly watched Lin Yan, daring not to say much, fearing that any wrong word might hurt him.
Lin Yan looked at the silent Hei Feng and Mu Anxiao, then at the gaping hole in himself. He asked, "Tell me, why is this happening? Why is there a hole here?"
"...." Mu Anxiao glanced at Hei Feng.
Hei Feng also glanced at Mu Anxiao, then took a deep breath. "This is the price for saving yourself."
"Saving myself?" Mu Anxiao was startled.
Hei Feng gave Mu Anxiao a sideways glance, then looked back at Lin Yan. "Don't worry, once those who thank you have prepared your final arrangements, this hole of yours will heal."
Mu Anxiao: "No, what do you mean by that?"
"It means he is the savior, and this represents the proof of his salvation. If I'm not mistaken, Feng Qishi set this up for him."
"What?" Mu Anxiao didn't react immediately. Then, remembering her promise to the demon soul, she realized it could no longer be fulfilled.
"...." Hei Feng sighed, looking down at the ground. "We should go too. They're coming."
"Who?"
"Those who will take him away."
"Can't he see Feng Qishi one last time?"
After so many years, Feng Qishi had finally taken in a disciple, and now the disciple was dead. Mu Anxiao thought he must be the most heartbroken.
Therefore, she believed Lin Yan should have a final meeting with him, which might bring him some comfort.
However, Hei Feng's thoughts were completely different from Mu Anxiao's.
He believed that if Lin Yan met Feng Qishi again, it might bring Feng Qishi a second wave of grief, as he had seen too many such secondary partings.
Sometimes, the second parting was much more painful than the first.
"No."
"Why?"
"Why do you have so many 'whys'? Just convey the message."
"But..."
"The underworld officials on their side already dislike us. If we unilaterally take him to see Feng Qishi, they will come looking for him again. At that time, they won't be moved by your reasons. Instead, they'll think we're playing a prank. So," Hei Feng continued, "don't add unnecessary trouble for yourself."
Mu Anxiao: "...."
Although Lin Yan also wanted to see Feng Qishi, he gave up after hearing Hei Feng's words.
Because he knew that the feeling of a second parting was indeed not good.
So, he said, "Since I cannot be resurrected, there is no meaning in my returning."
Mu Anxiao: "Lin Yan." She looked at Lin Yan.
Lin Yan: "Mu Anxiao, do me one last favor."
"What favor do you want me to do?"
"Well, I put the property deeds in a iron box and buried it next to the well. You can dig it out when you get back. All the silver inside is for you. As for the dilapidated temple," Lin Yan smiled, "I'll give it to Master. This is my only wish."
"But without your handprint and no deed of transfer, how can I do it?"
"My body is still here. Just press your finger on it. As for the proof, I've already written it and placed it inside. You just need to follow the handwriting and add my master's name."
"Uh, if someone sees this, I'll definitely be misunderstood."
"It doesn't matter, I've agreed to it."
"But you're already dead. If I do this, isn't it..." Halfway through her sentence, Mu Anxiao suddenly remembered the five women and her heart sank. "Alright, I understand."
"Then, we bid farewell."
"Mm." Mu Anxiao nodded, stepped back a few paces, and left with Hei Feng.
Immediately after they left, those underworld officials arrived and took Lin Yan away.
Back at the location.
Mu Anxiao glanced at the blood-stained ground, then at Feng Qishi standing beside Lin Yan's body. Her heart sank. "I'm coming over."
Hei Feng: "I'm coming too."
"..." Mu Anxiao glanced at Hei Feng and stepped towards Feng Qishi.
At the same time, Yin Ye, who was standing next to Feng Qishi, turned to look at Mu Anxiao. "You're back."
Mu Anxiao: "Yes, I'm back." As she spoke, she walked towards Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi, however, was indifferent to Mu Anxiao's return.
This surprised Mu Anxiao.
"Why are you ignoring me?" She stopped behind Feng Qishi and nudged his shoulder.
Feng Qishi, with his face covered in dried blood, stared blankly at Lin Yan. "Unlike you, I'm not heartless."
Heartless?
Mu Anxiao was also suffering, but if she cried in front of these demon souls, her authority would immediately be lost. She had verified this.
So, to avoid such a situation, she rarely cried easily. Even if she saw something heartbreaking, she could hold back.
Just like with Lin Yan, she wanted to cry, but because they had met before, she couldn't.
"...."
Then, Feng Qishi turned his head to Mu Anxiao. "I thought you would cry."
Mu Anxiao looked up at Feng Qishi. "What do you mean by that?"
"You didn't cry even though you knew I was dead, let alone Lin Yan..." Feng Qishi said with a cold face, "You're truly heartless."
For no reason, Mu Anxiao had intended to return and comfort Feng Qishi.
But unexpectedly, he spoke to her like this.
She felt speechless.
Hei Feng: "Where are the demon souls?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao's heart sank. She turned to Hei Feng. "Over there, didn't you see?"
Hei Feng: "I only see these two, and this one." He pointed to Gu Xiao, A Xia, and Yin Ye respectively.
Mu Anxiao was taken aback. "What's going on?" She looked at Yin Ye.
Yin Ye: "I don't know. Just now, they wanted to go to the latrine, went, and never came back."
"Latrine?" Mu Anxiao repeated, frowning. "Did they need to?"
Yin Ye: "I don't know." She shook her head.
Feng Qishi: "Can you stop talking next to Lin Yan? You're annoying, Mu the Fool." He glared at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao: "...." She turned her back.
Now, Feng Qishi's gaze made Mu Anxiao feel as if everything was her fault, that she had killed Lin Yan. It was like the feeling she had when she returned from the wolf demon sixty years ago and saw Shen Yan; his gaze made her feel weary.
"Get lost."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao's body stiffened. She turned to Feng Qishi. "I understand your grief. I've just returned, and I just want to..."
"I don't want to hear you speak."
Mu Anxiao: "...." She turned her face slightly, then looked at Gu Xiao and A Xia. "Where's Piao?"
Gu Xiao: "He's helping mortals with their business."
Immediately, Mu Anxiao turned around and said, "Hei Feng, let's go."
Hei Feng: "I'll take them..."
"Wait a moment," Mu Anxiao looked at Yin Ye, who was standing with Feng Qishi. "Let her comfort him."