A wry smile bloomed as the wind began to stir. He lowered his eyes, watching Yan’s retreating back. He dared not pry as deeply as he did with Mu Anxiao, thinking, ‘Forget it, I won’t ask her. She’s not like that silly Mu.’ He looked up at the sky, “The sky here is truly beautiful.”
“Yes, I’ve never seen it before,” Yan said, tilting her head up.
Feng Qishi said, “Since you haven’t seen it, look a few more times. That way, there will be no regrets.”
“I really want to see my mother,” Yan suddenly said.
Feng Qishi was startled. “That… might be difficult?”
Hearing this, Yan quickly turned to Feng Qishi and asked, “Why is it difficult?”
“You don’t even know what your mother looks like. If you say you want to see her, it’s bound to be difficult,” Feng Qishi said, looking down at Yan.
Yan thought for a moment and said, “I know what my mother looks like. I…”
“Your mother was released from below by the vine spirit. At this time, she must be different from how you saw her,” Feng Qishi interrupted.
“Is that so?” Yan lowered her voice.
Feng Qishi said, “Don’t think about it. When Mu Anxiao returns, tell her the teapot has poison, alright?”
“Where are you going?” Yan asked.
Feng Qishi looked around and said, “I’m going to see the old man who was struck by lightning.”
“Don’t go,” Yan suddenly said.
“Why?”
“Because,” Yan lowered her eyelids, “I don’t want to be here alone. I’m scared.”
“What are you afraid of?” Feng Qishi asked, puzzled.
“I’m afraid…” Yan took a breath and said, “I’m afraid I’ll impulsively go look for my mother, and then it will be a whole mess.”
“Alright… then,” Feng Qishi agreed.
“Let’s go inside,” Yan said, pointing towards the room.
“Okay,” Feng Qishi nodded and turned to walk ahead.
Yan followed Feng Qishi’s footsteps.
At the tavern, Mu Anxiao sat at a table, looking at Tian Jiang, who had finished eating. “Are you leaving now?”
“Yes, I’m going now. Perhaps I’ll find her before tonight,” Tian Jiang said, looking at Xiao Nian. “Don’t worry, I will bring your mother back.”
“We,” Bi Hu emphasized.
Tian Jiang hesitated for a moment and said, “Yes, we.”
“Thank you for your trouble,” Xiao Nian said softly.
“Take good care of yourself and wait for us to return,” Bi Hu instructed.
Xiao Nian nodded.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Queen Tu, saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Xiao Nian for you. I definitely won’t let anything happen to her.”
“I believe you,” Bi Hu said.
Mu Anxiao smiled slightly, put on her black cloth again, and said, “Then let’s go back.” She stood up.
Xiao Nian also jumped off her chair.
Queen Tu stopped beside Mu Anxiao and said, “I advise you not to get involved. Quickly reject the gecko spirit, or there will be trouble later.”
Mu Anxiao ignored Queen Tu and directly took Xiao Nian’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“Mm,” Xiao Nian nodded.
Tian Jiang put down her cup and stood up. “I’ll go down from here,” she said, pointing to the window.
Mu Anxiao glanced sideways at the window and said, “Are you afraid I’ll make you pay the bill?”
“Yes,” Tian Jiang admitted. She walked past Mu Anxiao to the window and said, “I’m jumping.”
Mu Anxiao casually said, “As you wish.”
Tian Jiang’s lips curved, and she jumped down.
Bi Hu looked sideways at the window and said, “Then I’m off.”
“Can you walk down with us?” Xiao Nian asked.
Bi Hu said, “I’m afraid she’ll run away. Don’t worry, your mother will definitely come back.” With that, he turned, ran to the window, and jumped down.
Mu Anxiao watched Tian Jiang and Bi Hu’s actions and looked down at Xiao Nian. “You must not imitate them. Jumping down like this is very dangerous.”
“Of course, I know that,” Xiao Nian said.
“That’s good,” Mu Anxiao said, recalling several foolish people she had met. “Xiao Nian, Auntie tells you, in the past, when those idiots and fools I met saw me jump out the window, they followed without a second thought. In the end, their legs were broken. Fortunately, there were no life-threatening injuries, otherwise, it would have been my responsibility.”
“Why is it your responsibility if they died? They chose to follow and jump,” Xiao Nian said with innocent surprise. “Besides, I believe you. You warned them.”
Mu Anxiao looked at Xiao Nian’s earnest expression, then at the window, and said, “It’s just that I wouldn’t feel at peace. If they had really died, I would never be at ease.”
“Okay, I don’t understand,” Xiao Nian said, looking up at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao smiled. “Am I cool?”
“Not cool. I think you’re very tired. Why should you be responsible for other people’s choices?” Xiao Nian still didn’t understand Mu Anxiao’s thinking.
Initially, Mu Anxiao didn’t think her own thoughts were problematic. But now, being asked by Xiao Nian, she no longer knew why she thought that way. With a faint sigh, she considered that those people had indeed followed her jump on their own, and she had warned them before jumping. Why… did they still resent her?
“What’s wrong?” Xiao Nian asked, looking up at the suddenly silent Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao shook her head. “It’s nothing. That matter is in the past. Let’s not talk about it anymore, not at all.”
“Mm,” Xiao Nian nodded, walked out of the room with Mu Anxiao, and then went downstairs to the counter.
“Customer, have you finished eating?” the waiter asked, looking at Mu Anxiao’s back.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao turned to the waiter. “Yes, I’m finished. Here’s the money.” She handed the money to the waiter.
The waiter took the money, weighed it in his hand, and said, “Customer, why didn’t you call for me?”
“I was in a hurry to leave, and you seemed busy, so I came down,” Mu Anxiao said indifferently.
The waiter smiled. “Thank you. Please take care,” he said, stepping aside.
Mu Anxiao looked down at Xiao Nian. “Let’s go.”
Xiao Nian nodded, and together with Mu Anxiao, they passed the waiter and left the tavern.
Then, Mu Anxiao led Xiao Nian to a jewelry shop opposite the tavern.
“Auntie, what are you doing?” Xiao Nian asked, looking up at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao said, “I’m buying you a bracelet.” She pointed to a silver bracelet in a box in front of her. “I want this one.”
“Right away,” the proprietress agreed with a smile and asked, “Would you like it put on the child directly, or wrapped?”
“Auntie, no need. Mother said I shouldn’t take other people’s things,” Xiao Nian said.
Mu Anxiao reached out and stroked Xiao Nian’s head. “Xiao Nian, this is a gift from me. You must accept it, or I’ll be sad.”
“Ah…”
As Xiao Nian spoke the first syllable, Mu Anxiao looked at the proprietress. “Put it on directly.”
“You can take it yourself. Ten taels of silver,” the proprietress said with a smile, quoting the price.
“So expensive?” Mu Anxiao exclaimed.