It felt unreal, this peace after the struggle and pain. Mu Anxiao closed her eyes, feeling no pain, only an overwhelming drowsiness, so profound she couldn't be bothered by anything else in the world.
Gradually, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Fengqishi looked down at Mu Anxiao, a slight frown creasing his brow. "What's wrong with her?" he asked, glancing up at Yuan Xiao, who had stood up.
Yuan Xiao replied, "She's just asleep."
"Asleep?" Fengqishi was surprised. He stared at Mu Anxiao's face for a few seconds. "At a time like this, she can still sleep?"
"For the past year, Mu Anxiao hasn't had a single restful sleep. This," Jia said, gazing at Mu Anxiao's sleeping face, "is perhaps the best she's ever slept."
"She's from the Mu family..."
"I told you, she's nominally Miss Mu, but in reality," Jia's voice grew agitated, "she lives worse than a servant. She's had to flee for her life for several nights straight, always being the one who suffers the most."
Fengqishi was stunned.
Jia continued, "I'm not boasting, but if it weren't for me, she really might have... died long ago. To put it another way, shirking responsibility," he said with mock seriousness, "if it weren't for the Mu family, she would have cultivated three layers of spiritual energy long ago. If they hadn't constantly abused her spirit and energy, this situation would never have arisen."
Fengqishi, in his mind, felt that no matter how much Mu Anxiao complained, her suffering couldn't compare to that of the common folk, nor to that of an ordinary servant girl in a household.
However, the reality of what Mu Anxiao had endured was beyond his comprehension.
He looked down at Mu Anxiao's face, sighed softly, and then, recalling his own attitudes towards her and her recent words, he felt a pang of guilt.
Jia, sensing Fengqishi's contemplation, ceased their exchange and turned to Lou Yi. "Do me a favor," he said, tilting his head up.
"What for?" Lou Yi asked.
Hearing this, Yuan Xiao immediately shot a glare at Lou Yi. "Can't you speak properly?"
Lou Yi stiffened and nodded at Yuan Xiao. He then turned to Jia, forcing a professional smile. "Please, tell me. I will do everything in my power to help you," he said, baring his teeth.
Jia's mouth twitched at Lou Yi's demeanor. "I just want you to help me lift her up," he said, pointing at the woman.
Following Jia's gesture, Lou Yi looked down at the woman, who appeared utterly devoid of life. "That's simple enough," he said with a smile. He bent down, grabbed the woman's arm, and with a strong pull, lifted her to her feet.
The woman dared not move and stood still. "Can I speak to him for a moment?" she asked, casting a glance in Fengqishi's direction.
Fengqishi noticed the woman's gaze and then looked up at the approaching woman in the green dress. "Please help look after her. Thank you," he said.
Upon hearing Fengqishi's polite request, the woman in the green dress quickly crouched down and took Mu Anxiao.
Leaning against her, Mu Anxiao slept soundly.
The woman in the pink dress and the woman in the red dress breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that the woman in the green dress was fine.
Fengqishi stood up and turned to the woman. Before Jia could even respond to her, he spoke, "Do you know how important she is to me?" With that, he walked past Yuan Xiao and Jia and went directly in front of the woman.
Lou Yi, still holding the woman's arm, lowered his head.
The woman tilted her head slightly and looked up at Fengqishi. "I..."
"She almost died because of you," Fengqishi said coldly, his eyes piercing. "You dare to use me?" As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed the woman by the neck.
The woman flinched.
Giving her no chance to speak, Fengqishi continued, "If anything happens to Mu Anxiao after she wakes up, I will..." He leaned in, meeting her eyes intensely, "...send your soul to oblivion."
The woman's eyes widened.
Fengqishi released his grip and stepped back half a pace.
Seeing this, the woman quickly said, "Please take good care of Bing'er."
Fengqishi narrowed his eyes. "Bing'er has her father to take care of her."
"You..."
"What is your relationship with Bing'er? Why are you in my residence? What are your intentions?" Fengqishi interrupted, his tone harsh.
The woman avoided his gaze.
Fengqishi displayed an expression of impatience. "If you don't tell me, then I..."
"I'll tell you," the woman said, fearing Fengqishi would follow through on his threat. "It's for Bing'er's own good."
"What do you mean?"
"She and I..." The woman paused, then sighed. "She and I don't actually have much of a relationship. Last year, I happened to pass by the General's mansion and saw the carriage driver carrying Bing'er. I felt a connection with Bing'er then, so I used a bit of demonic art to communicate with the driver, making him hear my voice. After that, I was able to contact Bing'er."
"And because of that, you commanded the driver?"
"At the time, I didn't intend..." the woman said, glancing cautiously at Yuan Xiao and the others, "...to harm them, nor did I intend to harm anyone with the ointment. Because I desperately wanted to save Bing'er, I resorted to this method. I truly didn't mean to."
Fengqishi's brow furrowed slightly.
In reality, Bing'er was indeed very ill, and the woman's words gave him pause for thought.
Noticing Fengqishi's contemplation, the woman's gaze flickered away unintentionally.
No one noticed this subtle movement.
Then, taking advantage of the heavy atmosphere, the woman began to wail theatrically. "Wuwuwu..."
Lou Yi jumped in surprise, turning to stare at the woman's profile.
The woman wailed but shed no tears.
Hearing the sound, Fengqishi came back to his senses and looked at the woman, who had inexplicably started to wail. "What's wrong?" he asked, his demeanor still cold.
"I cry because Bing'er is pitiful," the woman said.
"She has a father. What's so pitiful about that?"
"She has a father, but she has to take care of herself most of the time. Such a young child, having to endure all that, it's too pitiful. My heart aches for her," the woman said, her crying growing more intense.
Jia couldn't stand it any longer. "No, before you and Mu Anxiao had these issues, the child couldn't even see you, right? Did you even take care of her then? And now you say these words," he said with disdain, snorting, "it makes me suspect you're hiding something."
"How can you say that about me?" the woman sobbed. "General, although I am a demonic spirit, I truly love Bing'er. When her father isn't around, I often help her with my demonic arts. If I leave now, she'll be all alone. Therefore, I hope you will take care of her, preferably by keeping her by your side."
"You certainly know how to arrange things," Fengqishi said, looking at the woman coldly.
"I'm not arranging things, I just think Bing'er is too pitiful. She... needs to be taken care of by you," the woman said, her wailing becoming even louder.
Fengqishi remained silent, his expression unreadable.