"Well, I suspect that gecko spirit did betray its master, but I don't think the one who captured it was very powerful," Feng Qishi said.
Yan sighed, "Not necessarily. If she could capture a spirit, she must have her own skills."
"You have a point there," Feng Qishi agreed with a nod.
"The young madam probably won't be coming here anytime soon," Piao said, walking up to the dilapidated bed and stopping.
"She definitely won't. It'll take her a while to lodge her complaint, won't it?" Feng Qishi replied.
Yan nodded and turned to leave the room.
The thirty-something man's room...
"Sir, that fellow is too arrogant," the woman said, standing indignantly before the thirty-something man.
The thirty-something man put down his teacup and said, "Didn't your sister put a demon in that girl Xiao Nian's room? Just let that demon deal with her."
"You know?" the woman asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"When you asked your sister to come that day, I knew you two were plotting something," the thirty-something man said calmly.
"Sir, aren't you angry?" the woman asked cautiously.
The thirty-something man smiled, "I've grown tired of that girl ages ago. Seeing her every time just infuriates me."
"Sir, anger harms the body," the woman said softly.
"It's precisely because I thought of that that I didn't stop you," the thirty-something man replied.
Hearing his words, the woman pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "Sir, I thought saying that would scare Mu Anxiao. But who knew, she didn't react at all. Instead, she said she was the master of that demon, and that," she paused deliberately, "she said you should taste what it's like to be struck by lightning again."
Upon hearing this, the thirty-something man couldn't help but recall the sensation from earlier. "It seems that Mu Anxiao cannot stay in my mansion."
"Yes, and Xiao Nian can't either," the woman exclaimed excitedly.
The thirty-something man listened to her words, lowered his gaze, and mused, "You arrange it."
"Sir, can I take Xiao Nian's life?" the woman asked, crouching down and tugging at the thirty-something man's sleeve.
The thirty-something man looked down at the woman and smiled, "You arrange it as you see fit."
"Yes, sir," the woman grinned.
At that moment, a black light flew away as the thirty-something man and the woman finished speaking.
In the marketplace, Mu Anxiao held Xiao Nian's hand, looking at the bustling shops on either side, then at the people passing by. She exclaimed, "Wow, so many people!"
"Yes, the market is very lively, isn't it?" Xiao Nian said, tilting her head up to look at Mu Anxiao.
"Lively, I feel like I haven't seen so many people in ages." As Mu Anxiao finished speaking, a child holding candied hawthorn passed by them. Xiao Nian stopped and turned to look at the child's retreating back.
Mu Anxiao asked, "Do you want to eat some?"
"Yes, when I was very young, my mother often bought them for me. Even though she only let me eat two, the sour and sweet taste would linger in my mouth for a long time," Xiao Nian said, smiling.
Mu Anxiao looked at Xiao Nian's happy smile and said, "Whatever you want to eat, I'll buy it for you."
"Really?" Xiao Nian quickly tilted her head up to ask Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao replied, "Of course. I brought you out, so naturally, your food, drinks, and entertainment are all my responsibility."
"Thank you," Xiao Nian smiled.
Mu Anxiao shook her head. "You're welcome." She then looked at the gecko beside Xiao Nian, who appeared lost in thought, and asked, "What's wrong with you? You've had a long face since we came out. People can't even see you."
"Why are you covering your face?" the gecko asked.
Mu Anxiao replied, "I like it. Don't change the subject. Why the long face? Aren't you happy coming out with us?"
"I'm sorry," the gecko suddenly said.
Mu Anxiao frowned, "What do you mean by that?"
"Abi, what are you saying?" Xiao Nian asked.
The gecko glanced at Xiao Nian and said, "I didn't want to say anything, but the moment we came out with you, I felt I had to."
"Then perhaps it's best not to say it," Mu Anxiao suddenly interjected.
Xiao Nian looked up at Mu Anxiao, then back at the gecko. "Yes, if you don't want to say it, then don't. Mother always said it's pointless to worry about such trivial matters; it only makes you unhappy."
"I..."
"Alright," Mu Anxiao deliberately interrupted the gecko, "What do you want to eat? I'll buy it for you."
"If you buy it for me, I can eat it," the gecko glanced at the passersby who weren't looking in their direction, then turned back and said, "But these people are also frightened."
"We can go to a deserted alley and eat it quietly," Mu Anxiao said with a smile.
The gecko looked at Mu Anxiao's smiling eyes and hesitated.
Mu Anxiao said, "Okay, it's a deal then." With that, she pulled Xiao Nian towards the candied hawthorn vendor.
The gecko smiled wryly and followed.
A few minutes later...
"Where are we going?" Xiao Nian asked, holding her candied hawthorn and looking around.
Mu Anxiao surveyed the surroundings, then looked down at the gecko and said, "Remember my kindness. I'm going to have to spend a bit."
"You're going inside?" the gecko was taken aback, pointing a finger at the luxurious tavern beside them.
"Yes, the three of us need a private room so you can eat," Mu Anxiao said, reaching out to pat the gecko's head.
The gecko looked embarrassed. "Don't touch me."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao withdrew her hand and casually remarked, "As if I'd want to touch you." She then looked down at Xiao Nian, who was looking up at the woman in floral clothes, and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Gecko spirit, you're truly ungrateful," the woman in floral clothes said, not looking at Xiao Nian but glaring at the gecko spirit.
At the sound of her voice, Mu Anxiao's eyes shot up, and she looked at the woman in floral clothes standing before them, her eyes widening. "It's you."
However, the woman in floral clothes didn't linger on Mu Anxiao's face. She walked up to the gecko spirit and said, "Turn back."
"What are you talking about?" Xiao Nian asked, looking up.
The woman in floral clothes heard this and finally looked down at Xiao Nian. "Aren't you the daughter of your sister's husband's ex-wife?"
Mu Anxiao looked at the woman in floral clothes' attire and thought, *I didn't realize the proprietress my junior brother Shen Yan knew was actually a spirit catcher.*
"Are you the little madam's sister?" Xiao Nian recognized her immediately, her candied hawthorn wobbling.
"Are you afraid of me?" the woman in floral clothes asked, looking down at Xiao Nian.
Xiao Nian nodded.
"To be able to win over a demon's heart at such a young age, impressive," the woman in floral clothes crouched down to look at Xiao Nian.
Mu Anxiao said, "An adult is standing right here. Ignoring me like this is quite rude, isn't it?" She then lowered her head to look at the woman in floral clothes.
The woman in floral clothes looked up at Mu Anxiao, who was still covering her face, and asked, "You weren't speaking, so I hadn't even noticed you."
"Get lost," Mu Anxiao spat out the two words coldly.