Inside the reception hall.
The demon barrier cracked with the cries of monsters and the impact of stones, forming fissures through which evil spirits drifted. Pia, holding an axe, calmly watched the malevolent energy emanating from the cracks. He narrowed his eyes, turned to Feng Qishi, who stood beside him with a long sword materialized, and asked, "Where's Mu Shazi?"
Feng Qishi replied, "Wan Sha is protecting him."
"Wan Sha?" Pia mused, "Did you strike a deal with her?"
"Not exactly, she asked me to put in a good word for her with Mu Shazi," Feng Qishi said. He then looked at Mu Anxiao, who was tightly held by Ouyang Ye, his eyes widening in alarm. "Damn it."
Pia commented, "That guy is protecting Mu Anxiao."
Hearing this, Feng Qishi paused and turned to Pia, "You noticed."
"Yes, he is the master of these monsters, and Mu Anxiao is the person he has chosen. Naturally," Pia tightened his grip on the axe, "he wants to protect her to incur a debt of gratitude."
"He really knows how to think. Mu Shazi would never see it that way."
Feng Qishi understood that Mu Anxiao detested owing favors. In his eyes, Ouyang Ye's current actions were merely superfluous.
Pia grinned, "If I deal with these monsters, Mu Anxiao will owe me a favor."
At this moment, Feng Qishi found Pia much more agreeable and didn't argue, shifting his gaze to Pia's axe. "Is that your weapon?"
Pia replied, "Found it by the roadside. It works well, so I kept it."
"Everyone has this kind of thing," Feng Qishi stated calmly.
Pia chuckled, "I know. I plan to give this weapon to my disciple. She can chop anyone she dislikes with it from now on."
"She won't like it," Feng Qishi said, turning back to the black-headed monsters that were gradually breaking through the demon barrier and poking their heads out. He whispered, "It's starting."
Upon hearing this, Pia nodded. "I'll see just how useful this axe is." He stepped forward, swung the axe, and directly chopped at the monster's protruding head.
The next second, black blood spurted out, and the monster's head fell to the ground.
Feng Qishi calmly watched Pia's swift execution and remarked, "It seems to be quite useful."
Pia glanced at the axe. "Yes, it's very useful. Nurturing the axe with the blood of these monsters," he said, turning to Feng Qishi, "is a good choice."
Feng Qishi didn't fully grasp Pia's intentions, but recalling the situation with the Soul Sword, he knew that this seemingly ordinary axe would be utilized to its fullest potential in Pia's hands.
"As long as you're happy," he said.
Pia grinned and turned back to continue slaying the monsters.
Feng Qishi gripped his sword, looked at the completely shattered demon barrier, and decided to find a fissure to enter and rescue Mu Anxiao.
Unexpectedly, as soon as this thought occurred, more monsters spawned.
Seeing this, Pia quickly urged, "Feng Qishi, don't just stand there! We absolutely cannot let these monsters leave here." With that, he vigorously swung his axe, chopping at their heads.
Feng Qishi, seeing this, abandoned his previous thought, tightened his grip on the sword hilt, and began to slay them.
Inside the demon barrier.
Mu Anxiao struggled fiercely, hitting Ouyang Ye's back with all her might and stomping on his feet.
Conversely, Ouyang Ye seemed unfazed. He held her head with one hand and embraced her tightly with the other, saying, "If you keep moving, I'll let the monsters come over." As he spoke, he turned to look at Mu Xi, who stood before the barrier.
Mu Anxiao exclaimed, "Let go of me!" Her head was pressed so tightly into Ouyang Ye's embrace that she couldn't move.
Ouyang Ye stared down at Mu Anxiao, "You'd better stop hitting me, or I'll get angry."
"It's better if you're angry," Mu Anxiao retorted, continuing to hit and stomp him.
Ouyang Ye then took a deep breath and declared, "This is you forcing my hand." With that, he pushed Mu Anxiao away and took two steps back.
Everything happened so suddenly that Mu Anxiao stumbled back a few steps, crashing into a demon barrier that had appeared out of nowhere.
Immediately after, the monsters' cries reached her ears up close, followed by several monstrous hands piercing through the barrier and gripping her arms and legs, pinning her in place once again.
Feng Qishi and Pia were too occupied to pay attention to her side, continuing their slaughter.
At the same time, Mu Xi happened to look over. "Mu Anxiao," he shouted, rushing forward.
Hearing him, Mu Anxiao quickly turned to look at Mu Xi. "Don't come closer."
At this moment, the monsters' roars completely drowned out all other sounds. Mu Xi didn't hear Mu Anxiao's voice and rushed straight to her. With no time to speak, he quickly unleashed his demonic arts, attempting to strike the monstrous hands.
Mu Anxiao watched Mu Xi fiercely wielding his demonic arts to save her, and memories of Mu Xi taking care of her in the past surfaced in her mind. As the memories flowed, she choked out, "Brother, don't worry about me, hurry and leave." Tears streamed down her face.
This time, Mu Xi heard Mu Anxiao's voice and anxiously replied, "You're my sister. If I don't care about you, who will?" With that, he used his demonic arts to strike the monstrous hands entwined around Mu Anxiao's feet. The hands then snapped in half.
Instantly, black blood soaked Mu Anxiao's ankles. Mu Xi, with no time to assess his success, continued to attack the monstrous hands that bound Mu Anxiao's arms.
Mu Anxiao cried.
Mu Xi said, "Don't cry. You are an immortal. If others see you cry, they will only mock you. You are the hope of the Mu family, the only immortal in the Mu family. You cannot disgrace the Mu family." With that, he freed one hand and wiped the tears from Mu Anxiao's face.
Mu Anxiao nodded.
From his seat, Ouyang Ye watched Mu Xi and Mu Anxiao without any apparent reaction, clapping his hands. "Well done, what a touching scene of familial affection."
"Master, what should I do?" Xi'er stood behind Ouyang Ye, her gaze fixed on Mu Xi's spellcasting silhouette.
Ouyang Ye tilted his head. "Eager to kill him."
"Mhm," Xi'er nodded.
"But," Ouyang Ye turned to look at Mu Anxiao, "she is the woman I intend to marry, and he is my woman's brother. If you kill him, how will we live together then?"
Xi'er: "..." She lowered her head.
"Back then, you were impulsive and wasted all your cultivation on that guy. Now," Ouyang Ye glanced at Xi'er, "are you going to repeat your mistake?"
Initially, Xi'er believed that Mu Xi, harboring resentment towards Mu Anxiao, would manage to climb the cliff in ten years.
During those ten years, she constantly anticipated witnessing Mu Xi and Mu Anxiao turn on each other. Yet, after ten years, when she went to the cliff, she discovered... he still hadn't climbed up. Not only that, but he remained motionless at the bottom.
However, due to her limited demonic arts, she gave up and went to cultivate.
It wasn't until a certain day over a decade ago, when she went to the cliff, that she discovered... he had already climbed halfway. Thus, she decided to help him, eager to see him slaughter Mu Anxiao sooner.
Unexpectedly... by that time, Mu Xi had developed his own unique demonic energy, and her demonic energy was completely absorbed by Mu Xi.
It was also at that time that she met Ouyang Ye. Driven by her dissatisfaction, and with Ouyang Ye's assistance, she emphatically told Mu Xi that it was all Mu Anxiao's doing.
From then on, her cultivation was entirely wasted, and she formed a partnership with Ouyang Ye.
Whenever she felt inclined to act, Ouyang Ye would use these words to provoke her.
Over time, Ouyang Ye's words became a means of control.
"No," she shook her head.
Ouyang Ye smiled sinisterly. "Since you don't want to, just stand there obediently."
Xi'er nodded.
Ouyang Ye turned his gaze back to Mu Anxiao. "There aren't many monsters in that demon barrier."
Xi'er replied, "You said not too many, only four in total. However," she peered at the severed arm on the ground, "three are already dead."
"Only one remains."
Over there.
Mu Anxiao, still leaning against the demon barrier, turned to look at the monstrous hand tightly gripping her left arm and asked, "Can you still manage?" As she spoke, she looked back at the panting Mu Xi in front of her.
Mu Xi replied, "Yes." With that, he continued to unleash his demonic arts.
Mu Anxiao watched the beads of sweat on Mu Xi's forehead. Her nose stung, and just as she was about to speak, she suddenly felt a suffocating sensation. Her eyes widened, she tilted her head back, and gasped for air incessantly.
Just then, Mu Xi severed the monstrous hands. He looked at the ailing Mu Anxiao and asked, "What's wrong?" As he spoke, he reached out.
Mu Anxiao, struggling against the strange gas with the spiritual energy within her, clutched her throat and looked at Mu Xi with difficulty, saying, "Don't come over, it's poisonous." With that, her left hand gripped the demon barrier.
Hearing Mu Anxiao's words, Mu Xi instinctively stopped approaching.
Mu Anxiao's body slumped, and she collapsed on the ground. "Go and protect her. Don't mind me. I need to..." she said without looking up, closing her eyes, "mobilize my magic." With that, she began to move.
"You can't die."
"I won't die," Mu Anxiao said softly, sitting cross-legged. She moved her hands up and down in front of her, held her breath, and began to cultivate blindly.
Mu Xi trusted Mu Anxiao and turned to run away.
Xi'er glanced at Mu Xi's retreating back and said lightly, "He has my demonic energy within him, which is why... he can kill monsters. Without me, he would have died."
"Alright, go up to the rafters. If I see you go looking for Mu Xi, you're finished," Ouyang Ye said coldly, gesturing with his free hand as he walked towards Mu Anxiao.
Xi'er dared not disobey Ouyang Ye's command. She transformed into a red light and flew up to the rafters.
Outside the demon barrier.
Feng Qishi killed the last monster, his body splattered with black blood. He looked at Pia, who stood with his arms crossed, watching him, and said, "Done."
Pia nodded.
Feng Qishi took a breath, turned to look at the fully restored demon barrier, and his eyes widened. "Damn it, he's playing us."
Pia glanced at Feng Qishi, then turned his head, and inadvertently saw Mu Anxiao sitting cross-legged in her spot. "Not good," he said.
Hearing this, Feng Qishi glanced at Pia, then followed his gaze towards Mu Anxiao and was shocked. "Mu Shazi." He looked at the black blood on Mu Anxiao's body. "What happened to her?"
"Poison," Pia said.
Feng Qishi frowned. "Poison? You mean the black blood on Mu Shazi is poison."
Pia nodded. "Yes, it's poison."
"Poison..." Feng Qishi uttered the word, then looked down at the black blood on himself, and then at the black blood on Pia, asking, "Why are we okay?"
"..." Pia heard Feng Qishi's words, thought for a moment, and said, "The demon barrier Mu Anxiao is leaning on is poisonous."
"What?" Feng Qishi couldn't believe it. He took a step forward and, with a furious expression, shouted at Ouyang Ye, "Ouyang Ye, are you even a man?"
Pia paused, looked at Feng Qishi, and whispered, "Don't provoke him. If you provoke him, my disciple is finished."
Feng Qishi ignored Pia and continued to glare at Ouyang Ye.
"Man," Ouyang Ye stopped, turned to look at Feng Qishi, and said, "You're a man, why aren't you saving her?" He pointed at Mu Anxiao.
Feng Qishi retorted, "Fine, if you have the guts, take down this demon barrier and fight me. Bullying her like this, what kind of man are you?"
"If you have the guts, you dismantle this demon barrier." Ouyang Ye finished speaking and continued to approach Mu Anxiao.
Feng Qishi continued to shout, "Are you a man?"
Pia said, "Stop shouting." He walked up to Feng Qishi, took his arm, and said, "I can guarantee that he won't do anything to Mu Anxiao."
Hearing this, Feng Qishi turned to look at Pia and quieted down.
Outside the reception hall.
Wan Sha stood under a tree, vigilantly watching the reception hall. She mused, strangely, there was no sound.
On the tree, Mu Xiang looked uncomfortably at Ye Yu, whom Wan Sha had levitated with her arts, and said, "Can you stop staring at me? If you keep looking, I'll gouge out your eyeballs."
Ye Yu replied, "Go ahead and gouge them." He then chuckled.
Mu Xiang said, "You... you're a scoundrel."
"Scoundrel? You're a scoundrel too," Ye Yu said, linking his arm through Mu Xiang's. "Wife, you look so beautiful."
"I don't want a fool like you calling me beautiful." Mu Xiang, worried that struggling might cause her to fall, let Ye Yu hold her.
Ye Yu laughed, "Kill... silly, sha, xha, haha, wife, which... xha are you referring to?"
"You've learned a lot of characters," Mu Xiang said without even looking at Ye Yu.
Hearing Mu Xiang's words, Ye Yu seemed to have been complimented and grinned foolishly.
Mu Xiang was speechless.
Below, Wan Sha looked up at Mu Xiang and Ye Yu and said, "Can you two stop talking? I'm quite tense right now."
"If he wants to talk, there's nothing I can do," Mu Xiang replied.
Ye Yu laughed heartily.
Wan Sha was exasperated, then turned her gaze and inadvertently noticed two children staggering towards them, her brow furrowing. "Who are they?" she asked, looking up at Mu Xiang. "Take a look."
Hearing Wan Sha, Mu Xiang glanced and immediately saw the two children. "Those are my sister-in-law's children."
Wan Sha was taken aback. "Your sister-in-law has children?"
"Mhm," Mu Xiang nodded. "Could you please take care of them? The little boy is one year old, and the little girl is four."
"One year old, four years old. How can they communicate?" Wan Sha said, but still followed Mu Xiang's suggestion and walked towards the two children.
Immediately, the four-year-old girl saw Wan Sha approaching and quickly shielded her younger brother behind her. "Who are you?" she asked, looking up at Wan Sha.
Wan Sha stepped forward, crouched down, and asked, "It's late at night, why aren't you sleeping in your room?"
The little girl's lip trembled. "The wet nurse and the maids all ran away, leaving only me and my brother. I'm scared." As she spoke, she began to sob.
The little boy, unable to speak, cried along with his sister.
Wan Sha looked at the two children, recalling what had just happened. She sighed, "Come, I'll protect you." With that, she extended her hand towards the little boy.
The little boy was shy and cried.
Conversely, the little girl stopped crying and took Wan Sha's hand. "Thank you."
Hearing the little girl's words, Wan Sha's heart softened. "Don't let your brother cry, he's so noisy."
"He wet himself," the little girl said, turning to look at a puddle of 'water' at the little boy's feet.
Upon hearing this, Wan Sha's expression turned cold. "He was scared by me."
The little girl nodded.
Wan Sha felt a pang of bitterness.