Ouyang Ye's every action was both within and beyond Mu Anxiao's expectations. In Mu Anxiao's view, her exchange with Ouyang Ye was like a gamble on spiritual energy, on life and death, and even more so on her own destiny.
This time, she had won.
At the same time, Bi Shou and A Long exchanged a glance as they looked at the gradually dissipating demonic barrier. They then stepped towards Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao turned her head, staring at the completely vanished demonic barrier, then looked back at Bi Shou and A Long approaching. "You're here," she said.
A Long: "Are you alright?" She stopped in front of Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao thought about what had just happened with Ouyang Ye. She forced a smile. "I'm fine. He's gone now, so it's alright."
"How did you do it?" Bi Shou asked.
Earlier, Ouyang Ye had shielded all sound to prevent eavesdropping, a fact Mu Anxiao was aware of. Therefore, she didn't intend to tell them what had happened.
"I just did it like that," she said dismissively.
Bi Shou looked at Mu Anxiao's face and then thought about Ouyang Ye's actions. She asked inquisitively, "I know."
"Know what?" Mu Anxiao was genuinely startled by Bi Shou's smile.
Bi Shou: "Did you two make some kind of agreement? Or did you fall for him? Or did he move you, and he chose to respect you? Otherwise," she pointed towards the demonic barrier, "why would this thing disappear?"
"..." Mu Anxiao smiled at Bi Shou.
Seeing the smile on Mu Anxiao's face, Bi Shou’s eyes darted away. "Don't smile at me like that, okay? It's creepy." "Since you find it creepy, then don't talk nonsense or make wild guesses. That kind of person," Mu Anxiao's gaze was firm, "I would never like. As for why he gave up, it's because I found a way."
"What way did you use?"
"..." Mu Anxiao didn't want to reveal that she had almost lost her spiritual energy. She continued to be evasive. "You don't need to know about that." As she spoke, she pointed towards the reception hall.
Seeing this, Bi Shou quickly reverted to her original form and flew to Mu Anxiao's hand.
Mu Anxiao looked at Bi Shou and asked, "Aren't you going to go say hello to Mu Xi?"
"Better not. Even if that guy has improved, I still don't want to see him."
"Alright." Mu Anxiao nodded, reached out, and took Bi Shou, tucking her into her embrace.
A Long: "Are you really okay?" She felt that Mu Anxiao's complexion wasn't good.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao turned to look at the concerned A Long and smiled. "What could be wrong with me? It's just that guy, he's truly annoying. It took a lot of effort to get rid of him."
A Long: "..." She pursed her lips and smiled.
Mu Anxiao's gaze flickered slightly, then she pointed to the reception hall again, removing the barrier that had been shrouding the entrance.
That's right, as a member of 'Cherishing Life,' Mu Anxiao hadn't set up a full barrier around the reception hall. She even thought Feng Qi Shi would quickly see through her little thoughts.
Who knew... these were indeed her fantasies. Sometimes, relying entirely on oneself was the most correct choice.
Inside the reception hall, Feng Qi Shi felt the barrier disappear and quickly reached out to open the door. His eyes darkened as he looked at Mu Anxiao standing in the center of the courtyard looking her way, then he crossed the threshold and ran towards her.
Seeing Feng Qi Shi approach, Mu Anxiao said casually, "Shen the crazy, you've got some nerve speaking like that. What about my reputation?"
"Who told you to agree to him?" Feng Qi Shi stopped in front of Mu Anxiao, looking childlike.
Mu Anxiao looked up at Feng Qi Shi's jealous expression and thought about his shouting from inside. She said, "You brat, you want to restrict my freedom? Who do you think you are?"
"I..." Feng Qi Shi had shouted that impulsively. He thought Mu Anxiao had only sensed his emotions and hadn't taken it to heart. Thus, hearing Mu Anxiao say that suddenly made him awkward.
"Don't talk like that anymore," Mu Anxiao said sternly.
Feng Qi Shi had intended to scold Mu Anxiao and tell her not to do it again. But now, she was scolding him. He felt both speechless and helpless.
However, to make her happy, he had to reply, "Got it."
Mu Anxiao looked at Feng Qi Shi's obedient demeanor and thought about Ouyang Ye's last words as he left. Her eyes darkened, and she lowered her head.
"Mu the fool, what's wrong?" Feng Qi Shi asked, confused.
Mu Anxiao shook her head.
Hei Feng: "What did he say to you?" He walked up to Feng Qi Shi. Piao and Yue Ci also came over.
As soon as Hei Feng spoke, Mu Anxiao's secret was bound to be revealed. It had always been this way for decades.
So, when Hei Feng asked this, she turned her back. "He didn't say anything."
"Didn't say anything?" Hei Feng, with an attitude of digging for the truth, continued, "I don't believe it."
Mu Anxiao tilted her head. "Hei Feng, as long as the matter is resolved, that's all that matters. You..."
"Did he threaten you?" Hei Feng interrupted.
Mu Anxiao froze.
Feng Qi Shi frowned.
A Long looked at Mu Anxiao. "..."
Piao and Yue Ci, not hearing their conversation, exchanged glances and collectively turned into 'onlookers.'
Hei Feng continued, "Mu Anxiao, some things need to be clarified so we can help you. If you don't say it, you'll only suffer in the end, and you'll lose a lot of spiritual energy. So," he said earnestly, "tell me, what did he just say to you?"
"...." Mu Anxiao clenched her fist slightly, her mind involuntarily conjuring Ouyang Ye's face and every word he had said. She sighed. "He said he's not marrying me anymore." As she spoke, she turned back around.
Feng Qi Shi's eyes lit up.
Hei Feng: "Just that?"
"Yes, she..."
A Long interrupted, "Why did he hug you earlier?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao tutted and turned to look at A Long. "You talk too much."
Feng Qi Shi's expression became tense. "Why did he hug you?"
"..." Mu Anxiao didn't want to say more, as she didn't want to see Feng Qi Shi like this. Now, everything had gone according to plan. Helplessly, she confessed, "Those monsters grow with my emotions. I was suppressing my anger and maintaining fear, so... he wanted to stimulate my fear so the monsters would grow, and then... that's what happened."
"I see." Feng Qi Shi understood.
A Long nodded.
Hei Feng: "How did he compromise?"
"Compromise," Mu Anxiao sneered, "it wasn't compromise. It was just that he thought of wasted effort... It only counts when one party likes the other, and the other party dislikes the first. He wanted me to like him, so he turned into Shen Yan and, using the previous method, returned my spiritual energy to me, sending his own spiritual energy back into the demonic barrier. This gave me a layer, and then... he claimed I stole his spiritual energy. In short, he was shamelessly shameless, but with my clever methods, he still gave up and took back his spiritual energy, so I don't owe him anything anymore."
There were some things Mu Anxiao couldn't explain in detail, so she kept it brief, believing they would understand.
Listening to Mu Anxiao's words, Feng Qi Shi suddenly realized that his past self had indeed had a significant impact on Mu Anxiao's life, and he fell silent.
Hei Feng: "Did he threaten you in the end?"
"Yes, he said he would become my nightmare."
"Nightmare?" Hei Feng thought it was some kind of threat. After hearing Mu Anxiao say it, he had nothing more to say.
Mu Anxiao saw Hei Feng's speechless expression and knew the matter was over. Then, her gaze unintentionally fell on Mu Xi, who was walking towards them, and her eyes darkened.
Hei Feng followed Mu Anxiao's gaze, turned, and said, "Mu Anxiao, I need to tell you something."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao shifted her gaze back to Hei Feng's face. "What is it?" she asked, her brows furrowed.
Hei Feng cleared his throat. "Xin'er has been found."
"Xin'er..." Mu Anxiao uttered the two words, paused for a few seconds, then said, "Xin'er is Mu Xiang's sister-in-law. I know about this."
"No, it's not," Hei Feng said earnestly.
Mu Anxiao was startled.
Mu Xi approached Mu Anxiao. "Little sister."
Hearing Mu Xi's address, Mu Anxiao's heart sank. "Don't call me that. I'm not used to it."
Mu Xi said seriously, "Facts prove that you are my sister. You..."
"If you have something to say, just say it. I don't like beating around the bush," Mu Anxiao interrupted, suddenly feeling that this scene was familiar, but she couldn't remember the specifics.
Mu Xi: "I want you to help Mu Xin."
"Mu Xin?" Mu Anxiao never expected Mu Xi to mention the name of that four-year-old girl. She was shocked and turned to Hei Feng. "What's going on?"
"Xin'er was killed by that demoness Xi'er, right? Because she had too much evil energy, it was given to us, and then four years ago, she was reincarnated..."
"Wait, that's not right. Does it count the time she was in her mother's womb, and the time she was zero years old?" Mu Anxiao was being precise.
Hei Feng said helplessly, "No, even counting the four years she grew up, in short... she was reincarnated that year."
"It took so long?" Mu Anxiao was surprised.
Hei Feng: "Yes, she wanted to suffer below herself, in order to..." He glanced at Mu Xi, "wait for him."
Mu Anxiao's eyes darkened.
Mu Xi: "Little sister, please help her."
Back then, it was because of Xin'er that Mu Xi had pushed himself into the abyss, and it was the same now. It was also because of the reincarnated Xin'er that he spoke kindly to her. Mu Anxiao felt no emotion, only amusement.
However, thinking of Mu Xin's situation, she softened. "Tell me, how can I help?"
Mu Xi: "Take good care of her."
"Take care..." Mu Anxiao repeated, glancing around. She gave an awkward laugh. "Are you joking? She has parents. How can I take care of her? Take her away?"
"If you don't help me, I won't leave," Mu Xi threatened Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao's lips twitched. "Mu Xi, this isn't right."
Mu Xi: "I don't want to see her suffer from neglect like you. If you take care of her, her childhood might be happier. In my past life, she died because of me. In this life, I want..."
"Are you asking me to pay off your debt?" Mu Anxiao interrupted.
Mu Xi: "I'm not. I just..." he said softly, "I see your shadow in her. I don't want her to be hated and wronged like you."
Since returning from the past, Mu Anxiao no longer expected Mu Xi to understand her or empathize with her. She only knew that... he hated her, and even if he was acting, he wouldn't be sincere.
Now, Mu Xi saying this was beyond Mu Anxiao's expectations.
"..." She was stunned.
Mu Xi: "Actually, you were quite cute when you were little. I thought you were better than other sisters, but," he said, "I was helpless. I'm sorry."
Mu Anxiao knew that Mu Xi's 'helplessness' referred to Xi'er. She also understood Mu Xi, as he lacked initiative. Furthermore, in that kind of family environment, even if he didn't want to, he couldn't.
Therefore, hearing Mu Xi's apology was enough for her.
So, she said, "I forgive you. I already forgave you in the reception hall."
"..." Mu Xi smiled bitterly.
Mu Anxiao: "As for Mu Xin, she's just a four-year-old child. Do you really... want to see her go on adventures with me? Honestly," she said, "I don't think this is a good idea."
"I don't want..." Mu Xi's eyes darkened. "I don't want to see her bullied again."
"Some things cannot be changed overnight. What you can do now is," Mu Anxiao said earnestly, "make amends and wait to reunite with your Xin'er in the future."
Many things are beyond anyone's control, especially one's destiny. In this life, everyone must go through various trials to grow.
She thought this might be Mu Xin's life. She didn't want to interfere, let alone try to change it.
"You're unwilling to save her," Mu Xi said, his voice low.
Hei Feng: "I asked you to find Mu Xiang, why are you looking for her?" He stared at Mu Xi.
When Mu Xi came out earlier, Hei Feng had wanted to say something, but he hadn't found an opportunity. Now... he couldn't hold it back any longer.
Mu Xi was startled and looked at Hei Feng. "...."
Hei Feng frowned. He guessed from Mu Xi's expression, "Mu Xiang... didn't agree either?"
Mu Xi's eyes darted away. "Yes."
"What's going on?" Mu Anxiao was truly a bit confused.
Hei Feng glanced at Mu Anxiao, then back at Mu Xi, asking, "She really didn't agree?"
"Yes, I was kicked out."
"Kicked out?" Hei Feng was shocked and looked towards the reception hall, his eyes darkening. "Has Aunt Mu Xiang woken up?"
"I just asked her to help look after Mu Xin, and Mu Xin started crying. When Mu Xiang heard Mu Xin crying and saw her sister-in-law, she said..." Mu Xi's eyes darkened as he secretly glanced at Mu Anxiao, "...something similar to what you said."
"The same as what I said?" Mu Anxiao was surprised that she would have the same thought as Mu Xiang.
Mu Xi shook his head. "Not exactly the same, but strikingly similar."
Then, Feng Qi Shi suddenly said, "I think Mu the fool is right."