“Eh?” Feng Qishi paused, reaching out to push Mu Anxiao’s head. “Please be clear, you haven’t taught me much magic.”
“I know, it’s my fault,” Mu Anxiao said.
“Can you lift your head?” Feng Qishi said helplessly, removing his hand from her head.
Mu Anxiao listened to Feng Qishi and tilted her face up.
Feng Qishi looked at Mu Anxiao’s upturned face and took a step back. “Lift your body too.”
“Oh.” Mu Anxiao, stunned, obediently straightened up.
“So obedient,” Feng Qishi smiled.
Mu Anxiao didn’t want to listen to him, but thinking of the dog-headed monster’s terrifying actions and grotesque appearance, she found the person in front of her more agreeable.
“From now on, just give me orders, and I’ll do my best as long as I can,” Mu Anxiao swallowed. “I’ll try my best.”
“Why ‘try your best’ and not ‘do your best’?” Feng Qishi looked down at Mu Anxiao and asked.
“I…”
“I haven’t been here for even a day, and you’ve already changed my…” Feng Qishi glanced at his fingers. “So many faces. I really don’t know what your next face will look like. So, to avoid being hurt by you again, I’ve decided to let you go.” He took a step back.
“What do you mean by that?” Mu Anxiao didn’t understand.
“It means, you can wander on your own. I’m done with you,” Feng Qishi said calmly.
“Don’t,” Mu Anxiao said, reaching out and grabbing Feng Qishi’s arm.
Feng Qishi looked down at the arm Mu Anxiao was holding in surprise and said, “Silly Mu, I’m more used to your aloof side. Like this,” he curled his lips, “I really can’t adapt to it.”
“This is the real me,” Mu Anxiao said with a sincere expression.
“I don’t like the real you. You look cunning,” Feng Qishi said, pushing Mu Anxiao’s hand away.
Mu Anxiao froze.
Feng Qishi took a step back and said, “You’ve lost your chance for me to protect you. Go your own way from now on.”
“You’re too cruel,” Mu Anxiao said softly.
“What did you say?” Feng Qishi looked down at Mu Anxiao and asked.
Mu Anxiao wiped away her tears and looked up. “I said, what you said is too hurtful.”
“Don’t your actions hurt people?” Feng Qishi retorted.
Mu Anxiao darted her eyes and said, “I admit, my actions do hurt people, but… but isn’t it for your own good?”
“For my own good, yes,” Feng Qishi nodded. “It’s for my own good, but have you ever considered my feelings? When you abandoned me, did you consider my emotions?”
“I cons…” Mu Anxiao stopped midway, lowered her head, and said, “I didn’t. I only thought of returning you to your master, so I wouldn’t owe you anything.”
“Am I an object?” Feng Qishi asked seriously.
“You…” Mu Anxiao quickly looked up and shook her head. “You are not an object.”
The moment Feng Qishi heard Mu Anxiao say that, he frowned. “Why do I feel like you’re scolding me?”
“I’m not,” Mu Anxiao shook her head slightly.
Feng Qishi looked at Mu Anxiao’s dazed expression and thought of her past glorious moments of casting spells. His heart sank, and he said, “I said something unpleasant just now. I apologize to you.”
“No need, I’m the one who should apologize,” Mu Anxiao said quickly, afraid of offending Feng Qishi again.
“I apologize, and you accept it. What’s with all the nonsense?” Feng Qishi said impatiently.
Seeing Feng Qishi’s impatient expression, Mu Anxiao hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Okay, I accept your apology.”
“I’m leaving,” Feng Qishi said, turning his back.
Mu Anxiao looked at Feng Qishi’s retreating back, thought of the dog-headed monster, and hurriedly said, “I was wrong just now, please let me follow you.”
“Then promise me you won’t change your face after following me,” Feng Qishi said coldly.
Mu Anxiao nodded. “Okay, I promise.”
Feng Qishi hadn’t expected Mu Anxiao to be so readily obedient when it came to matters of life and death. He then lowered his eyes, smiled, and turned back to her, saying, “Aren’t you curious why I found you?”
“Curious, but I don’t dare to ask,” Mu Anxiao said timidly.
“You can ask,” Feng Qishi tilted his chin.
“Ah?” Mu Anxiao was startled, then swallowed and asked, “Shouldn’t you be above? Why did your master let you down?”
“It’s all because of you,” Feng Qishi pointed at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao pointed at herself in surprise and asked, “What about me?”
“Because of you, I’ve basically mastered those minor spells. But,” Feng Qishi sighed, “my master said my cultivation is not enough, so he sent me down to re-cultivate. He also said I haven’t experienced enough, saying that at most I am just… a mortal who has become an immortal.”
“Aren’t you already an immortal?” Mu Anxiao was confused.
“That’s true, but my cultivation has been stuck in my previous life. My heart is too restless now, and I haven’t seen through many things. Therefore, I must experience them,” Feng Qishi explained.
“Indeed, there’s a big difference between you and your previous self,” Mu Anxiao said calmly.
“What is cultivation?” Feng Qishi suddenly asked.
Mu Anxiao was taken aback. “You don’t know what cultivation is?”
“No,” Feng Qishi shook his head.
“Then you have to comprehend it yourself. I can’t explain it clearly because I haven’t experienced these stages at all. As you know,” Mu Anxiao shrugged, “I obtained it without effort.”
“Then you should improve your cultivation as well,” Feng Qishi said.
Mu Anxiao gave a dry laugh. “How can I improve when I don’t know what cultivation is? Besides, I don’t even have immortal… spiritual energy, how can I improve?”
“Don’t be too impatient,” Feng Qishi said calmly.
Hearing Feng Qishi speak so articulately, and recalling his earlier understanding of cultivation, Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes and said, “You’re toying with me, aren’t you?”
“What did I do?” Feng Qishi feigned ignorance.
“You’ve already said it, and yet you claim you don’t know what cultivation is. Aren’t you mocking me?” Mu Anxiao pointed at Feng Qishi.
“Really? I don’t know,” Feng Qishi played dumb.
Mu Anxiao scoffed and said, “Right, if what you say is true, doesn’t that mean you have to become an immortal all over again?”
“Yes, from a mortal who became an immortal to a true immortal. Oh dear,” Feng Qishi shook his head. “Thinking about this path alone seems incredibly difficult. However,” he said, “it’s also funny to think about. I’m supposed to be a monster catcher, but I’m not familiar with this place. I can’t even find any monsters. Tell me, isn’t my path to becoming an immortal very arduous?”
“You’re not wrong,” Mu Anxiao nodded, then looked down, considering her own predicament. After a pause, she said, “Actually, I can help you find those monsters.”