Gu Xiao was also startled by the look in Xiang Nang’s eyes. “…..”
Mu Anxiao had long anticipated that Shen Xian would take his anger out on them if he didn’t see her upon his return.
Thus, at first, to prevent such a situation, she had planned to return ahead of them after leaving that place, which would have avoided all subsequent events.
Who would have thought they would encounter such a predicament?
Helplessly, she had no choice but to return dressed like this, to prove her lack of involvement with them.
“I understand,” she said, tearing off the fake beard around her mouth and handing it to Xiang Nang.
Xiang Nang looked confused. “What are you doing?” She still caught it.
“For you, as a souvenir,” Mu Anxiao said, walking past Xiang Nang and heading inside.
At the main gate.
Feng Qishi and Piao stood side by side. Piao glanced at the figures faintly visible inside the gate and said, “I wonder what Mu Anxiao is thinking.”
“What’s wrong?” Feng Qishi glanced at Piao.
Piao said, “She’s wearing your clothes. Even if she goes in, Shen Xian will surely recognize at a glance that she was with us. She…”
“You don’t understand this. When Shen Xian is anxious, he speaks his true feelings. If we had gone in, Mu Shazi would not have heard his honest words.”
“I really don’t understand what you people are thinking,” Piao expressed her confusion.
“Just thinking wildly. Let’s wait here for a while before going in, to avoid trouble,” Feng Qishi yawned.
Piao stretched her muscles and said, “I’m so tired, I really want to go in and sleep well.”
Feng Qishi: “…”
The courtyard.
Hearing the commotion, Shen Xian walked out of his room.
“You go…” He uttered two words, then glanced at Mu Anxiao’s attire. His eyes widened. “You were with Feng Qishi?”
“Yes, don’t I look familiar?” Mu Anxiao stopped in front of him, tilting her chin up.
Shen Xian blinked in surprise, then exclaimed, “You’re Ergou.”
“Shen Xian, I’ve truly seen through you today,” Mu Anxiao pointed at Shen Xian.
Shen Xian: “…”
Immediately after, the rattan spirit walked out of the room and stopped beside Shen Xian, his eyes wide. “Mu Anxiao, that Ergou was you all along.”
“…” Mu Anxiao glared fiercely at the rattan spirit and then looked at Shen Xian. “Thanks to you all, I had a chance to spar with those monsters. It felt pretty good. If there are more, bring them on.” She pointed at the rattan spirit.
The rattan spirit: “…”
Shen Xian asked, “What do you mean?”
Mu Anxiao said, “No particular meaning.”
“No particular meaning? What does that mean?”
“Those monsters,” Mu Anxiao initially didn’t want to be so explicit, but seeing Shen Xian’s serious expression, she decided to say it. “You arranged them beforehand, didn’t you?”
“…..”
“Yes? Or… no?”
“…..” Shen Xian glanced at the rattan spirit.
The rattan spirit said, “Whether you did or not, aren’t you back? The matter is over. Why keep asking? Aren’t you tired?”
“I just want to ask.”
“You…”
Originally, Mu Anxiao had intended to use some words to trick Shen Xian and the rattan spirit into revealing their plot upon her return. However, facing them directly, she didn’t need to ask; she could already tell that the rattan spirit was definitely not as simple as he seemed.
As for Shen Xian’s motive, it was simple: he didn’t want her to meet Feng Qishi.
As for the reason behind it, she speculated that Shen Xian feared she would tell Feng Qishi that she had helped him find the cause of Gu An’s death among the monsters. Besides genuinely wanting the best for Feng Qishi, she guessed he must feel that matter was related to Gu An’s past and that he didn’t want anyone else to know.
She, however, was different. She was a descendant of Gu An, so knowing was not an issue, and naturally, his guard against her was not as high.
“Stop with the ‘you,’” Mu Anxiao interrupted the rattan spirit and looked at Shen Xian. “I chose to go out myself today. The reason is simple: I was just curious about where you all went?”
Shen Xian replied, “Curiosity killed the cat.”
“Unfortunately, I didn’t die,” Mu Anxiao shrugged.
“It’s good that you didn’t die. If you had, I wouldn’t let you rest even as a ghost.”
“…..”
Shen Xian: “…” He turned and went back into his room.
Mu Anxiao glanced sideways at Gu Xiao and the others, then walked past the rattan spirit and entered.
The rattan spirit thought for a moment but did not enter.
Mu Anxiao also did not intend to let the rattan spirit in, so she immediately closed the door upon entering.
“Speak,” she said after bolting the door, turning to face Shen Xian.
Shen Xian walked to the table, picked up a teacup, and said, “Tomorrow.”
“Okay, I understand.”
Shen Xian took a sip of tea. “I don’t want to see you wearing Feng Qishi’s clothes.”
“…..” Mu Anxiao twisted her mouth.
Subsequently, Shen Xian turned to look at Mu Anxiao. “You should understand what I mean.”
“…..”
“Can’t you understand what I’m saying?”
“I understand, but I don’t want to listen to you,” Mu Anxiao thought of the monsters’ terrifying moves and then her own scarred back. She said, “Is Feng Qishi your junior brother?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“What do I mean? You clearly knew that Feng Qishi and Piao didn’t have monster inner cores, yet you still made them stay there. I think you just didn’t want Feng Qishi to return, did you?”
Earlier, outside, due to Gu Xiao’s presence, Mu Anxiao had wanted to save Shen Xian some face and refrained from saying certain things.
Of course, after figuring things out, she had also decided not to ask these follow-up questions.
But just a moment ago, seeing Shen Xian’s commanding attitude, the anger within her couldn’t be contained.
At this moment, there were many things she wanted to clarify and ask him in one go.
Shen Xian: “…”
Mu Anxiao said, “I guessed correctly.”
“I only want to understand Gu An’s suffering myself. Others, none…”
“I knew you thought that way, but why did you want to harm Feng Qishi?” Mu Anxiao interrupted.
Shen Xian’s eyes darkened. He thought that if she knew about Gu An’s resurrection, she would definitely not agree and might even flee.
Therefore, he remained silent.
“Did I guess correctly?”
“I…” Shen Xian had a sudden idea and said, “I just wanted to train my junior brother. The way you’re speaking is too unpleasant.”
“Train?” Mu Anxiao snorted. “Train? You didn’t tell him what a monster inner core is? You clearly intended to kill him, talking all nice.”
“…” Shen Xian was momentarily speechless. He suddenly remembered that he hadn’t seen Feng Qishi and Piao just now, so he asked, “Where are they?”
Mu Anxiao feigned ignorance. “Who?”
Shen Xian said, “You should know who I’m talking about.”
“…..” Mu Anxiao pretended not to understand and looked down, playing with her fingers.
Shen Xian: “…” His face darkened.
Outside the residence.
Feng Qishi leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, yawning. “It seems we can go in now.”
Beside him, Piao maintained the same posture as Feng Qishi. “I think it’s about time we could go in.”
“Good,” Feng Qishi stood up and turned to Piao, instructing, “When we go in later, don’t say anything.”