A Xia and Chen knew nothing of these matters and also remained silent.
Conversely, Mu Long clearly heard the children’s cries. He was currently looking nervously at the red light engulfing the Mu family’s residence. “My children, they should be alright, right?” he said, glancing at the wolf demon.
At his words, the wolf demon turned its head to look at Mu Long, thinking of Mu Xi. It said, “Why don’t you ask your wife?”
“…” Mu Long’s eyes flickered. “My son is just over a year old, my only son, he…”
“You only care about your son.” The wolf demon interrupted, looking at the elder. “You are truly like your grandfather.” After speaking, it shot Mu Long a glare and turned back to observe the red light.
Mu Long, fearing the wolf demon, fell silent.
The elder: “Great-granddaughter, she’s already four, isn’t she?”
“…” Mu Long glanced at the elder and nodded.
The elder said nothing more.
In the reception hall, Mu An Xiao had not landed a single hit on Ouyang Ye. Ouyang Ye was constantly dodging, his movements making it impossible for Mu An Xiao to keep up. Helpless, she stopped.
Seeing Mu An Xiao stop, Ouyang Ye also paused. “Are you tired?” he asked, standing directly opposite her.
Mu An Xiao, panting, looked at Ouyang Ye’s playful expression. She then glanced outside the demonic barrier, where Feng Qi Shi and Piao were once again locked in battle with monsters. After taking a few breaths, she didn’t even look at Ouyang Ye, turning to walk towards them.
Ouyang Ye’s eyes darkened at this. He quickly stepped forward and grabbed Mu An Xiao’s arm. “You’re not allowed to go.”
Mu An Xiao: “Let go.” She lowered her head to look at her arm, held by Ouyang Ye.
Seeing Mu An Xiao’s reaction, Ouyang Ye frowned. “I kissed you, and you felt nothing?”
Mu An Xiao already had a trauma from Ouyang Ye’s ‘kiss,’ and now he brought it up again.
Hearing this, a surge of anger rose within her. She forcefully yanked her arm free from Ouyang Ye’s grip and turned her head. “Do you dare say you like me?”
“…”
Seeing Ouyang Ye remain silent, Mu An Xiao continued, “I dare say, I intensely dislike you. I find you disgusting.” As she spoke, she lowered her gaze to Ouyang Ye’s hand.
Conversely, the moment Mu An Xiao uttered these words, Ouyang Ye began to laugh. “Is that so?”
“What are you laughing at?” Mu An Xiao was utterly bewildered by Ouyang Ye.
“I’m laughing at you, being so full of yourself.”
“What?” Mu An Xiao was stunned.
Ouyang Ye released her hand, stepped forward, and placed his hands on Mu An Xiao’s shoulders. “In this world, there is no such thing as liking someone. Everything,” he said, “is tied by a red thread. Your red thread and mine have no intersection. If you have feelings for me, then that would be strange.”
“You…”
“I want rotten luck in love, and you and I are just that,” Ouyang Ye interrupted, leaning in to bring his face close to Mu An Xiao again. “What I want is your aversion. Just don’t fall in love with me.” He paused, his face just inches from hers.
Mu An Xiao met Ouyang Ye’s gaze intently and sneered. “I advise you not to be so narcissistic. You might be good-looking, but you’re ultimately just a pretty vase.”
These words were spoken in a moment of pique. Mu An Xiao admitted that he was right; a red thread could indeed resolve everything. But those red threads didn’t just appear out of nowhere.
In the past, she had seen many red threads that were naturally connected. Although she hadn't witnessed many good romantic pairings, she had heard Ye Yin say that the happiest moments for her were witnessing a lifetime connection between two people. Ye Yin considered that the success of a cupid immortal.
She didn’t know what Ouyang Ye had experienced. At this moment, all she could do was… maintain her composure.
“Vase,” Ouyang Ye straightened up and took a step back. “You say I’m a vase?”
“Aren’t you?” Mu An Xiao retorted.
“I reached where I am today through my own abilities…”
“You reached here through hatred, didn’t you?” Mu An Xiao interrupted, gripping her sword hilt. “This time, I hope you won’t dodge.” With that, she raised her soul sword.
This time, Ouyang Ye conjured his great saber, and with a surge of newfound anger towards Mu An Xiao, he said, “If I win, you will marry me.”
“I don’t want such rotten luck in love,” Mu An Xiao declared. She held her breath, steadied herself, and began to fight Ouyang Ye.
Outside the demonic barrier, Feng Qi Shi and Piao had once again completely annihilated the monsters. Black blood spread, and they stood still, looking at the gradually recovering demonic barrier with furrowed brows.
“It seems we can’t break free,” Piao said.
Feng Qi Shi: “Damn it.” He looked at Mu An Xiao, who was struggling in combat with Ouyang Ye, a weary sigh escaping him. “She’s better.”
Piao smiled as he watched Mu An Xiao erupt with demonic energy and wield her soul sword. “My disciple is indeed extraordinary.”
Then, as if noticing something, Feng Qi Shi said, “Something’s wrong.” He then fixed his gaze on the red light behind Mu An Xiao.
Piao: “What is it?” He hadn’t noticed anything unusual yet.
Feng Qi Shi: “Why is there red light on Mu Shazi’s back?” His eyes darkened, and he quickly turned to look. Outside was already completely enveloped by the red light.
Outside, Wan Sha, holding the little boy, inadvertently glanced at the faintly cracking demonic barrier not far away. Her eyes widened. “This is bad,” she said, looking up at Mu Xiang, who had also lowered his head. “Sit there and don’t move.”
Mu Xiang nodded.
Wan Sha crouched down, placed the little boy down, and looked at the little girl. “Stay here and don’t move in a moment.” She prepared herself to fight a new wave of monsters.
The little girl and the little boy stared at Wan Sha, saying nothing.
In the reception hall, Piao also turned to look and froze. “What’s going on?”
Feng Qi Shi: “I don’t know.” He said, turning his gaze to Mu An Xiao, who was fighting Ouyang Ye on equal footing. His eyes darkened.
Piao followed Feng Qi Shi’s gaze towards Mu An Xiao and his eyes widened. “I know.”
At his words, Feng Qi Shi shifted his gaze to Piao’s face. “What do you know?”
Piao: “The stronger Mu An Xiao becomes, the brighter the red light outside. The brighter…”
“Can you get to the point?” Feng Qi Shi said impatiently.
Piao glanced at Feng Qi Shi and said, “The demonic barrier outside was forged with her spiritual energy. The stronger she is, the more monsters there are within the demonic barrier. So, he’s doing this intentionally.” He looked at Ouyang Ye, who was fighting Mu An Xiao with a smile.
Feng Qi Shi: “Intentionally…” He said, pondering for a moment. Just as he was about to stop Mu An Xiao from continuing the fight, an explosion sounded from outside, followed by the roars of monsters.
Hearing the commotion, Feng Qi Shi swallowed his words.
Piao turned his body towards the direction of the door. “This is bad, the demonic barrier has already cracked.”
“Mu Shazi…” Feng Qi Shi began, then stopped himself. He looked at Piao, his body still covered in dirty blood, and uttered a determined word: “Go.”
“Huh?” Piao didn’t understand Feng Qi Shi’s intention.
Feng Qi Shi: “Mu Shazi will stop eventually. We need to protect the people outside. We absolutely cannot let the monsters leave the Mu family.” Saying this, he ignored Mu An Xiao and ran towards the door.
Following closely behind, Piao seized the moment Feng Qi Shi opened the door and quickly shouted towards Mu An Xiao’s direction, “Mu An Xiao, stop fighting! The monsters outside are all coming from you.” After shouting, he quickly turned and followed Feng Qi Shi.
Within the demonic barrier.
Xi’er was perched on the roof beam, looking down at Mu An Xiao, who was continuously fighting Ouyang Ye. She then glanced at Feng Qi Shi and Piao, who had gone out to clean up her mess, and let out a laugh. “Master, if this thing escalates, it won’t be fun anymore.”
Hearing this, Ouyang Ye seized the opportunity to glance at Xi’er. He then turned back and blocked Mu An Xiao’s soul sword with his blade, saying, “We will meet again.”
“What do you mean by that?” Mu An Xiao asked, confused.
Ouyang Ye smiled, turned, and together with Xi’er, transformed into red light, disappearing along with the demonic barrier.
Thus, the reception hall fell into silence. Mu An Xiao looked blankly in the direction where Ouyang Ye and Xi’er had disappeared. Just as she was about to ponder the matter, the sound of monsters reached her ears.
Hearing the noise, her heart sank. She quickly turned, and as she was about to move forward, Mu Xi (the fake Mu Long) appeared behind her. “Mu An Xiao.”
At the sound, Mu An Xiao halted her advance to support and turned to look at Mu Xi. “What is it?”
“What I said was the truth, and what you said was also the truth,” Mu Xi said. “Right?”
“Yes.” Mu An Xiao nodded, recalling how Mu Xi had risked his life to save her earlier. She said, “I believe you aren’t that wicked, just… indecisive.”
“I am indeed indecisive.” Mu Xi admitted, turning to look at Mu Xiang’s wife, who had fainted within the barrier. He said, “I’ve decided to return my body to Mu Long.”
“Really?” Mu An Xiao had intended to have a serious talk with Mu Xi about this issue after everything was over, but unexpectedly, he brought it up himself. This was something Mu An Xiao had not anticipated.
“Yes, she has her family, her children. If I stay with her,” Mu Xi thought of Xi’er’s appearance and how he had followed Xi’er like a ‘dog’ in his previous life, saying, “I will only drag her down. After I leave, I hope you can protect her. I fear that Xi’er might come looking for her again.”
“As long as you are not here, Xi’er won’t be able to find her.”
“…” Mu Xi nodded.
Mu An Xiao: “Stay with her for a little longer. If anything happens to this body of yours, it won’t be good for me.” With that, she gripped her soul sword and ran outside.
Mu Xi watched Mu An Xiao’s retreating figure, lowered his head, turned back to the barrier, and crouched down to look at Mu Xiang’s wife, who was still lying on the ground. “I’m sorry, I caused you harm. From now on, I will never appear before you again, Xin’er.” As he spoke, he gently touched the barrier.
On the main street.
Hei Feng and Yin Cha walked side by side. Hei Feng asked, “Has Mu An Xiao’s reputation been salvaged?”
Yin Cha, holding the Book of Life and Death, sniffed the lingering evil energy. “It has been salvaged. I even apologized for this matter.”
“Have you been running around to people’s homes?” Hei Feng asked, but he paused, thinking about the time, and felt something was off.
Yin Cha: “Not exactly. Xu Lan helped gather all the Yin Cha, and I explained things.” His eyes flickered slightly, as if hiding something.
Hei Feng glanced at Yin Cha’s restless gaze as they walked and smiled. “You were scolded, weren’t you?”
“…” Yin Cha glanced at Hei Feng. “No.” His voice was weak.
Hei Feng laughed. “You must have been scolded. But that’s good. With your help in restoring Mu An Xiao’s reputation, our relationship,” he put an arm around Yin Cha’s shoulder, “has also seen some improvement. Not bad, not bad.”
“…” Yin Cha glared at Hei Feng.
Hei Feng continued to laugh. “Your scolding wasn’t in vain. If you have time, I’ll treat you…”
“You are a soul spirit, aren’t you?” Yin Cha suddenly interrupted.
Upon hearing this, Hei Feng naturally removed his arm from Yin Cha’s shoulder. “Bringing up a sore subject. Why are you so talkative?” He then walked forward.
Yin Cha smiled.
Mu family.
As soon as Mu An Xiao ran out, she was stopped by Wan Sha before she could speak. The reason Wan Sha stopped her was that whenever Mu An Xiao exerted her power, the monsters would multiply.
Therefore, to avoid causing trouble for everyone, she swapped identities with Wan Sha, quietly set up a barrier, and began to look after the two children.
However, Mu An Xiao didn't seem to be liked by the children. Not long ago, Wan Sha had instantly captured the hearts of both children. But it was different for Mu An Xiao. After Wan Sha comforted the little boy and set him down, he had been hiding behind the little girl. The little girl, lifting her head, kept staring at Mu An Xiao without speaking.
Mu An Xiao felt awkward under the little girl’s stare. She then looked up at Mu Xiang, who was still sitting on the tree with Ye Yu, and was about to call out when the little girl suddenly stepped forward, reached out her hand, and then put it down. “Big sister said you are poisoned.”
Hearing this, Mu An Xiao lowered her head. “You think I’m poisoned, so you’re afraid to approach me?” she asked, glancing at the little boy, who was clearly being shielded by the little girl.
The little boy cautiously looked at Mu An Xiao, his small hands clenched, and his lips pursed.
The little girl nodded.
“Don’t worry,” Mu An Xiao said, crouching down to meet the little girl’s gaze. “My poison has been cleared. It was… while I was inside.”
When she came out, she had already used magic to test the toxins on her body. Only after confirming she was safe did she come over.
“Is that true?”
“Of course, it’s true. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn’t have come over.” Mu An Xiao spoke in her usual tone.
The little girl smiled. “That’s good.” As she spoke, she reached out and took Mu An Xiao’s arm.
At that moment, Mu An Xiao unknowingly saw a reflection of her childhood in the little girl. Back then, she was the same, cautious yet accustomed to trusting others.
And the primary reason for this psychological formation was… the favoritism of her family.
But she knew that the little girl didn’t know these things. On the contrary, the little girl felt she was living a very happy life.
Thinking this, her eyes darkened. “I thought you hated me.” As she spoke, she looked at the little boy and raised an eyebrow.
Seeing Mu An Xiao like this, the little boy let out a laugh.
Ye Yu, sitting on the tree, also laughed upon hearing the little boy’s laughter.
Hearing Ye Yu’s laughter, Mu An Xiao’s entire body revolted.
Then, she temporarily ignored the children, looked up at Ye Yu, who was swinging his legs above, and called out, “Mu Xiang, control him. What are you laughing at?”
Mu Xiang responded, “Got it.” Then he pulled Ye Yu’s arm and whispered, “If you keep laughing, the one below will eat you.”
Upon hearing this, Ye Yu fell silent.
Mu An Xiao was speechless.