After this day, the news of Mu Anxiao's death spread, and Feng Qishi also disappeared.
The celestial beings in the heavenly realm learned of Mu Anxiao's "mutual destruction" with the giant black bear monster on the same day. It was also this event that improved her reputation in the heavenly realm. From then on, no celestial beings looked down on her anymore. Some celestial beings even said that if Mu Anxiao had a next life, she would be personally bestowed with immortal destiny, so that she could become an immortal.
As for those people, they waited outside the city for Shi Dao and them for a full three days before giving up.
Finally, they followed Yin Ye into the city and found Wan Sha and the others. Yin Ye voluntarily stayed behind to wait for Mu Anxiao.
After the vine spirit was taken away by Ouyang Ye, he never returned to the milk tea shop he opened. The milk tea shop also subtly became Wan Sha's shop.
Lin Yan believed that Feng Qishi would return, so he stayed in the milk tea shop, waiting for Feng Qishi.
Wan Sha believed that Mu Anxiao would return, so she started doing business well, waiting for her return.
The wolf demon's demon core also returned to his hands on the day Mu Anxiao left, and on that day, he quietly left.
Xie Xin naturally became the one waiting for the wolf demon.
Yuan Ye stayed because he liked milk tea.
Those without immortal destiny, persuaded by Piao, all returned to their homes, only Shi Jia remained here.
A few days after that, Chen smoothly became Piao's eldest disciple. Afterwards, he, Hai, and You Xian, along with those with immortal destiny, formed the Forbidden Forest Search and Rescue Team. Sometimes, they would also capture lingering evil spirits. Life was considered fulfilling.
In the Yin Realm, Xu Lan declared Mu Anxiao's death a "cold case" and ordered Shu Jia to abandon everything and embark on the path to find Mu Anxiao with Mu Miyuan and Yuan Yan, who had their own ideas.
Later, in order for Piao to continue living well in the city, he took the opportunity to replace and erase the memories that cast a shadow on the mortals, including erasing their memories of believing in the existence of "immortals, demons, fiends, and ghosts."
Three months later.
Piao, dressed in a blue robe, stood outside the milk tea shop, looking down at Xiao Zeng, who had developed feelings for him, and said, "When you grow up, you can join them."
Xiao Zeng: "You've been saying this for three months. It's been three months, and I've grown taller. Why aren't you letting me go?"
Piao had no connection with the search and rescue team, but in Xiao Zeng's eyes, Piao was their leader. So every time Piao came, he would beg Piao to let him join the team.
Coincidentally, this was not something Piao could decide, so he would always prevaricate.
As expected, after too much prevarication, the other party was no longer as cooperative as before.
"How about we wait a year?" he asked.
Xiao Zeng frowned: "A year later..."
"Those evil spirits primarily eat children," Piao interrupted, reaching out to stroke Xiao Zeng's head. "If you want to be eaten, then continue. If you don't want to be eaten, then shut up." His attitude was serious.
However, Piao had never said this to Xiao Zeng before, so when he heard it so suddenly, he became scared. "Okay, a year from now, it's a deal." He extended his pinky finger.
"What are you doing?" Piao asked, confused.
Xiao Zeng: "Pinky promise."
"Pinky promise..." Piao said, and couldn't help but recall Mu Anxiao. His eyes darkened, and he hooked Xiao Zeng's pinky finger. "There, done."
Xiao Zeng: "Seal it." He raised his thumb.
Piao lowered his eyes and smiled. After sealing it with Xiao Zeng, he said, "I'm going on a long trip for a while, take care of yourself."
"Got it." Xiao Zeng nodded.
"Good that you know," Piao said, letting go of his hand and glancing at Lin Yan, who was standing behind Xiao Zeng. "..."
Lin Yan: "Haven't you found out yet?"
Piao understood Lin Yan's meaning. He then reached out and patted Xiao Zeng's head, turned, and walked away first.
The next moment.
They stopped together at a corner not far away. Piao stood with his back to Lin Yan, not speaking.
Lin Yan looked at the back of Piao's head and asked, "Still haven't found her?"
Piao sighed, turned to look at Lin Yan, and shook his head.
"Have my master and Mu Anxiao really disappeared?" Lin Yan asked in a low voice.
Piao: "According to my investigation, the Yin Realm doesn't know whether Mu Anxiao is alive or dead. As for your master... I currently suspect that he..." He sighed, "He should have returned to heaven."
"What?" Lin Yan slightly lowered his eyelids. "You mean, he doesn't want me anymore."
"I didn't mean that."
"If he returned to heaven, it means he will never come back," Lin Yan said in a low voice.
Piao: "He might have returned to heaven just to find Mu Anxiao."
"Find..." Uttering the word, Lin Yan's voice choked. "You said, could Mu Anxiao have disappeared?"
Disappeared?
All along, Piao had been thinking about this question, but every time he had this thought, he would tell himself in his heart that Mu Anxiao was lucky and powerful, how could she just disappear from the world like that?
Besides, he thought Zhang Yan would definitely not be willing to let his disciple leave just like that.
Therefore, he refuted Lin Yan's speculation, "Impossible."
"Impossible..." Lin Yan repeated in a low voice, continuing, "But the facts prove that she has indeed disappeared. Moreover, according to Yin Ye and the others, the situation that day was indeed tricky. And You Xian also said that Mu Anxiao had no spiritual energy when she returned that day. In short... I still think she might have disappeared from the world." After speaking, he lowered his head.
Piao: "If she had stayed with me, she wouldn't have ended up like that." He was affected by Lin Yan's emotions.
Lin Yan: "Yes, I actually think his master is very unreliable. If..." He was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly remembered Ouyang Ye, so he swallowed the rest of his words and said excitedly, "Right, could she have been captured by Ouyang Ye?"
For these three months, Piao had not thought about Ouyang Ye. Now, hearing Lin Yan say it, he remembered that those evil spirits seemed to be related to Ouyang Ye.
So, he lowered his eyes and thought, saying lightly, "Perhaps it's related to him."
"I think so too," Lin Yan said firmly.
Piao nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go find him now."
"Do you know where he is?" Lin Yan asked.
Piao: "All those evil spirits in the forest are related to him. This shows that he should be in the Forbidden Forest."
"But the Forbidden Forest is very large. According to them, if you want to go deeper, it will take at least half a year to come out. No matter who it is, are you sure..." Lin Yan cautiously probed, "You want to go?"
"Certain." Piao was resolute.
Lin Yan looked at Piao's resolute expression, thought for a moment, and asked again, "You said, could my master have been captured by that Ouyang Ye too?"
"..." Piao was stunned for a moment and said, "I think he might have returned to heaven, because Ouyang Ye only wants Mu Anxiao."
"Makes sense," Lin Yan said, thinking for a moment, "But if possible, I still hope you can ask where my master is when you look for Ouyang Ye."