In the Celestial Realm, Zhang Yan had also learned the news that Mu Anxiao was alive, and he subsequently relaxed, sitting down in the old gentleman's immortal hall.
The old gentleman stood before the alchemy furnace, counted with his fingers, and said, "The sealed memory, he still remembered."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan glanced at the old gentleman, who had inexplicably uttered these words, and asked, "You sensed your disciple?"
"Mhm."
"How is he?"
"He's been imprisoned in the Demon Realm by my eldest disciple."
"Why can we only see the ghost cave but not the interior of the Demon Realm?"
Hearing this, the old gentleman's face stiffened. He turned to look at Zhang Yan, who had asked this foolish question, and said, "I want to see the interior of your residence now, are you willing?"
"What's so special about my residence?"
"I'm asking if you're willing."
"Of course not. Naturally, it's precisely because I fear being spied on by outsiders that I specifically set up a barrier for my residence. No one can see it, I..." Zhang Yan chuckled halfway through his sentence. "You old fellow, you're playing coy with me."
The old gentleman looked at Zhang Yan's youthful face, then listened to how he addressed him, let out a cold snort, and averted his gaze.
Zhang Yan said, "You don't like me calling you that."
"Disrespectful."
"....." Zhang Yan shrugged. "With our relationship, do we still need to distinguish between seniority? If this were to get out, wouldn't it be a laughing matter?"
Listening to Zhang Yan's words, the old gentleman couldn't help but recall the close relationship between Shen Xian and Shen Yan back then.
He slightly lowered his eyelids and sighed.
Zhang Yan understood the old gentleman's feelings and didn't provoke him further. "....."
The Demon Realm.
Mu Anxiao looked down at the stove, contemplating Xiang Nang's words, and said, "Do you know how Shen Xian lost his sense of taste?"
Xiang Nang said, "I don't know. Only... Master knows."
"Didn't your master tell you?"
"That's a matter between them as a couple. How could she possibly tell me?"
"Oh, I see."
Immediately after, Xiang Nang looked up at Mu Anxiao, who looked exactly like Gu An, and then thought about the relationship between Mu Anxiao and Gu An. She pouted.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao was startled. "Why are you crying?"
Xiang Nang said, "Seeing your face makes me want to cry."
"Seeing me..." Mu Anxiao paused halfway through her sentence, suddenly recalling how Xiang Nang had suddenly shed tears after helping her in the ghost cave. "Um, back then, were you crying because I looked like your master?"
Mu Anxiao had asked her the same question back then, but she hadn't given an answer.
Now, hearing her words, Mu Anxiao thought she might answer.
Xiang Nang: "....."
Alright! Mu Anxiao had thought too much; she still refused to say.
Thus, to alleviate her own awkwardness, Mu Anxiao stretched and said, "I haven't eaten yet."
"I don't know how to cook normal food."
"What?" Mu Anxiao's mouth twitched. "You seemed quite skilled with your movements!"
"I really don't know how."
"So, you mean I have to go out and buy it myself?"
"I have some snacks, but I don't know if they'll suit your taste."
"As long as there's food."
Then, Xiang Nang spread her hands and conjured several pastries, saying, "These are what Master loved to eat the most before she passed. Try them." She offered her hand to Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao smiled. "As long as there's food, it's fine. Anyway, I think the taste will definitely be better than the food I made for Shen Xian." With that, she took several pieces in quick succession and stuffed them into her mouth.
Xiang Nang asked, "Are they delicious?"
Mu Anxiao's cheeks puffed out as she chewed and nodded.
Xiang Nang smiled.
Immediately after, as Xiang Nang smiled, Mu Anxiao's expression drastically changed. She patted her chest forcefully and, in a single, choked word, exclaimed, "Choked."
"Choked? Do you want some water?"
"...." Mu Anxiao nodded.
In the past, Gu An was also like this, losing all restraint when eating pastries, stuffing them in by the handfuls.
Only after filling her mouth did she realize the dangerous nature of such an action.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's behavior, Xiang Nang couldn't help but be reminded of the past, and her eyes began to redden.
However, for Mu Anxiao at this moment, Xiang Nang's emotional reflection was detrimental to her.
But seeing Xiang Nang's sorrowful expression, she didn't want to disturb her. So, she quickly passed by Xiang Nang and ran out of the kitchen.
"...." Xiang Nang sobbed twice, raised her arm to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and turned to chase after her.
A few minutes later...
Mu Anxiao sat by the well, holding a water dipper in one hand and wiping the water from her mouth with the other. She said, "I'm fine now. Can you stop crying?" As she spoke, she looked up at Xiang Nang, who stood beside her.
Because Mu Anxiao's actions and mannerisms were too similar to Gu An's, Xiang Nang truly couldn't control her emotions anymore.
Especially with what Mu Anxiao had just said, it made her think of Gu An again.
Therefore, she cried even louder.
Mu Anxiao: "....." She covered one ear.
At the same time, Shen Xian arrived. "What's wrong?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao had no intention of getting up. "....."
Seeing that Mu Anxiao was ignoring him, Shen Xian smiled helplessly and walked to Xiang Nang's side. "What's wrong with you?"
Xiang Nang said, "I miss Master."
"Isn't your Master right here?" Shen Xian pointed at Mu Anxiao.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao stood up and turned to Shen Xian, saying, "Can we compare? I am a reincarnation."
"....." Shen Xian shifted his gaze to Mu Anxiao's face, and then his eyes also began to redden.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao was instantly on the verge of collapse. "Uh, you're a grown man, don't tell me you're going to cry in front of me too."
Gu An had said the same thing to him back then, and she had had the same expression.
Naturally, Shen Xian and Xiang Nang found common ground.
Xiang Nang asked, "Is she very similar?"
Shen Xian looked down at Xiang Nang and nodded. "Too similar."
Shen Xian's and Xiang Nang's gazes made Mu Anxiao recall the zoo in the present world.
Recalling that time, the way people looked at the animals was just like that.
Back then, Mu Anxiao had felt pity for those animals being looked at.
Thinking about it now, she felt she was even more pitiable than them. At least they received food when they were looked at, whereas she only got a new name, Gu An!
"Have you seen enough?" Mu Anxiao asked impatiently.
Subsequently, Xiang Nang, with Shen Xian's appearance, found solace.
"Yes, I've seen enough," she said.
Shen Xian said, "You're really feeding my junior brother like a pig."
"You know?" Mu Anxiao took half a step back.
Shen Xian smiled. "Indeed, thanks to your feeding, he's remembered what he should have. Tell me what you want, and I'll give it to you."
"What can you give me?"
"Whatever you want, I'll give it to you, except for releasing them."
"....." Mu Anxiao had originally wanted to ask him to release them, but unexpectedly, he had seen through her.
Helpless, she thought for a moment and said, "Don't lock them in the woodshed anymore."
"Alright."
"You actually agreed?"
"Why not? My servants here are all resting, so they can fill in. Anyway, my junior brother," Shen Xian looked around, smiling, "is quite good at cleaning yards."
When Shen Xian hadn't mentioned it, Mu Anxiao hadn't noticed. But now that he said it, and she looked again, the yard was indeed... so clean!