Compared to his experiences, Feng Qishi had not gone through as much as Mu Anxiao. Setting aside the experiences of Shen Yan from his previous life, even in his current life, though he was an unlikable son, his family rarely got angry with him, and he never lacked material possessions.
Before meeting Mu Anxiao, he had thought that Mu Anxiao was similar to him in his current life, after all, she was a young lady of the Mu mansion. He even thought that Mu Anxiao was much luckier than he was.
However, after this brief interaction with Mu Anxiao, he realized... he was wrong.
At this moment, he understood that although their identities were different, they had both grown anew in the mortal realm and had both realized that... in the seemingly ordinary lives of mortals, there were hidden hardships and sorrows of all kinds.
Looking at her, his eyes deepened, and he said faintly, "Indeed, it is not easy to be human, but even so," he stared at Mu Anxiao's face, "we must live well and face everything, because good days will always await you."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao was startled by Feng Qishi's words. "..." Her eyes widened.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's surprised expression, Feng Qishi was also puzzled. "Do you think what I said is wrong?"
"No," Mu Anxiao shook her head slightly and thought for a moment before saying, "You intend to remain human forever."
However, Feng Qishi's intention in saying this was for Mu Anxiao to understand from it that... being human also had its joys. Little did he know that she had not grasped the meaning of his words and had instead said this.
He was left speechless.
"..."
Seeing Feng Qishi's clearly speechless expression, Mu Anxiao said, "I don't want to be human forever. I want to ascend to immortality. If I have to stay in this Mu family, I'll go mad."
"You can leave."
"If I could leave, I would have already left," Mu Anxiao said in a low voice.
Feng Qishi was puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"
"Simply put, my identity is Mu Xiao. From the day I borrowed this name and identity, I have been trapped. And now," Mu Anxiao looked up at the night sky, "the only way is to enter the palace and improve myself. My master said that only when my spiritual energy reaches a certain height..." She stopped speaking here.
Looking at Mu Anxiao's suddenly somber expression, Feng Qishi asked, "Why did you stop?"
"A certain height," Mu Anxiao turned to look at Feng Qishi. "How high?"
"..." Feng Qishi was stumped by Mu Anxiao's question.
Mu Anxiao knew that her words were sudden and would elicit such a reaction from Feng Qishi. So, she didn't continue the topic, turning her face towards the room door and saying, "The demon soul is inside."
Feng Qishi frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
"If it were in the past, I would have captured it directly, but now..." Mu Anxiao turned back to Feng Qishi. "I won't."
"Why?" Feng Qishi retorted.
Mu Anxiao leaned against a pillar and smiled at Feng Qishi. "Because... I know now that it's not easy for them either."
"..." Feng Qishi frowned.
"Do you think I'm wrong?"
"You are wrong," Feng Qishi stated firmly.
From the moment she became Mu Xiao, she felt that anyone who lived a mortal life would be as miserable as she was. Gradually, this thought grew stronger in her mind day by day.
But... Feng Qishi's response now made Mu Anxiao feel a sense of disconnect. "How am I wrong?"
"There are a thousand people and a thousand lives. Your suffering does not mean others are the same as you. I advise you," Feng Qishi's gaze was cold, "do not harbor any sympathy for the demon soul, otherwise, they will only make you suffer more." As he spoke, he clenched his fist.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Feng Qishi's clenched fist, then thought of the puppet, and said, "It seems the demon soul has offended you."
"Mu Anxiao, don't forget, who took your life?" Feng Qishi said earnestly.
"..." Mu Anxiao's eyes darkened.
Feng Qishi stepped forward and pushed Mu Anxiao's shoulder, saying in a low voice, "You can live, but that doesn't mean others can. Mu Anxiao, remember this, do not harbor even a shred of... sympathy for the demon soul in that room. You must eliminate her decisively."
Initially, Feng Qishi had disagreed with Mu Anxiao interacting with the demon soul, but now... he was so strongly urging her to be decisive.
At this moment, she couldn't understand Feng Qishi.
However, from his words, Mu Anxiao understood that... the story behind him must be extraordinary, or perhaps very... terrifying, so terrifying that it had changed his entire way of thinking, thus transforming him into who he was now.
Therefore, influenced by Feng Qishi's words, she withdrew her previous thoughts and said faintly, "Shen Moyun, I have remembered your words." As she spoke, she raised her hand and gently grasped Feng Qishi's wrist.
Feng Qishi was startled, removed his hand from Mu Anxiao's shoulder, and said, "Don't worry, I will help you."
"En," Mu Anxiao nodded, turned sideways slightly to listen to the sounds of them gambling and drinking inside, and said faintly, "You say, she usually finds the maids herself, right?" She released his hand.
"Yes," Feng Qishi took a step back, staring at the room door.
Mu Anxiao's lips curved slightly. "Since that's the case, let's go in and see if we can get a clearer picture." As she spoke, she looked up at Feng Qishi's face.
Feng Qishi frowned slightly. "What do you plan to do?"
"Go straight in."
"Straight..."
"Yes, that woman has already scared them enough. If I go in, it won't make much of a difference. On the contrary, perhaps..." Mu Anxiao interrupted, her lips curling slightly. "I can seize an opportunity to catch the demon soul red-handed."
"Red-handed..." Feng Qishi looked at Mu Anxiao's confident expression and thought of her past capabilities. He asked, "Going in directly... is it by knocking... or by breaking in?"
"Follow..." Mid-sentence, Mu Anxiao looked up and down Feng Qishi, shook her head slightly, "No, you can't go in."
"Why?" Feng Qishi frowned, his attitude stiff.
Mu Anxiao ignored Feng Qishi's attitude and said, "You are Shen Moyun. If you go in, and that demon soul sees you, she might create trouble for you with the King of Jin. But it's different for me. I am just her servant. She can't do anything to me."
"This..."
"You wait for me outside," Mu Anxiao said, gently tapping Feng Qishi's shoulder with her fingertip before turning and leaving.
Feng Qishi looked down at the shoulder that Mu Anxiao had touched, thinking that she would surely be fine.