The mortal world below was in its liveliest state.
It was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the mortal realm had lifted its curfew, allowing everyone to stay out all night to admire the moon and enjoy themselves.
"Sister, it's so lively here," Si Qing said, pulling Qi Yu and looking up in awe at the bustling street.
"Yes," Qi Yu nodded, pulling Si Qing towards a stall selling sugar figurines. She had them make two figurines in their likeness.
Si Qing held the sugar figurine of Qi Yu, and Qi Yu held the one of Si Qing. As they walked hand in hand, their similar appearances drew many onlookers.
"These two children look exactly alike. Are they twins? So cute."
"Indeed. I wonder if they are brother and sister, or brother and brother."
"What's the difference between twins? They're all the same."
"They are just too adorable."
Qi Yu's current appearance was a magical illusion of Ling Ruo, making her naturally similar to Si Qing.
But at this moment, she paid no attention to what others were saying. Her attention was entirely on the calligraphy, paintings, and bamboo lanterns being sold.
Although she was carrying one, it was a magical creation and didn't feel as real as the items being sold.
"Si Qing, let's go buy that lantern!" Qi Yu tugged Si Qing and ran.
"Ah, that rabbit, that rabbit!" Si Qing exclaimed excitedly. "That rabbit lantern is just like the ones we're holding."
"Let's go, let's go," Qi Yu took out a piece of silver and exchanged it for two small rabbit lanterns, which she carried.
Si Qing casually picked one and walked, saying, "Sister, it seems the mortal world also has customs of releasing sky lanterns and moon gazing. They also eat mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival."
"Oh, really? I only know that Chang'e in the Guanghan Palace used to dance every full moon day when I was little," Qi Yu pouted. "She danced day and night."
"Hahaha, Sister Chang'e is beautiful. I loved watching her dance the most back then," Si Qing said as he walked to a stall and bought a mooncake with a few copper coins.
He broke the black sesame mooncake in half, sharing it with Qi Yu.
Qi Yu looked at Si Qing and said while eating, "There's osmanthus wine across the way."
"We can't drink alcohol," Si Qing said, leading Qi Yu towards the wine stall.
"We can drink after we change back," Qi Yu said without a second thought, pulling Si Qing to the stall to buy osmanthus wine.
However, because they looked young, the seller refused to sell to them.
Qi Yu pouted. After walking a distance, she used magic to steal a bottle and then slipped a gold ingot to the seller.
One gold ingot was enough for the wine seller to live comfortably for a lifetime.
And all for a bottle of osmanthus wine. Humph.
Si Qing teased Qi Yu, "Sister, couldn't you just change back and buy it? Why use such petty tricks?"
"I don't want to change back," Qi Yu looked up at the moon. "If it stays like this, it's as if nothing has changed. Wouldn't that be nice?"
Si Qing held Qi Yu's hand and was silent for a moment before looking up and advising, "Sister, don't think too much. Try to be more open-minded. Mother and Father have other children, and this is already decided. Feng Mingqi and the others don't know the whole story; they are also innocent."
"I understand, Si Qing," Qi Yu interrupted him. "I understand everything. I just... feel a bit uncomfortable inside."
"I understand what you're saying. I've been trying to convince myself this way before, but I just..."
Qi Yu didn't finish her sentence.
"I understand," Si Qing said, holding Qi Yu's hand. He wanted to say more, but when he looked up, he saw Yu Zhen and Li Yu walking towards them not far away.
Feng Mingqi, Feng Sixian, and Feng Yunzui were also with them.
The family of five seemed to be buying something.
Yu Zhen and Li Yu were squatting by a stall, looking troubled as they picked out items.
Feng Mingqi held a small tiger plush toy. "Hey, what do you think about giving Qi Yu and Si Qing plush toys as gifts?"
Feng Sixian pouted disdainfully. "What is this thing? If we're going to give gifts, it shouldn't be plush toys. We should give hairpins that our whole family can wear."
Feng Yunzui nodded. "The aesthetic is too poor."
Feng Mingqi pouted. "Hairpins are nice, but they are mortal trinkets, not very good."
They wouldn't last long, and if they accidentally developed sentience, it would be even more troublesome.
"Hey, then what should we do?" Feng Sixian squatted down, resting her chin on her hands. "If Eldest Brother were here, then Eldest..."
She stopped mid-sentence, realizing she shouldn't mention Feng Mian at this time.
The atmosphere suddenly turned somber.
Yu Zhen pursed her lips, her expression unusually serious. "Sixian, don't mention him again. The moment he chose to betray us, he was no longer my son."
Yu Zhen's expression was cold. She turned to Feng Mingqi, Feng Sixian, and Feng Yunzui. "I know that among the three of you, besides Mingqi, you two girls had the best relationship with your Eldest Brother. But even so, you must separate what's right from what's wrong."
"Feng Mian made a mistake, and he made a mistake. When you miss him, he doesn't think of you."
Feng Sixian and Feng Yunzui fell silent.
The group continued to select gifts for Si Qing and Qi Yu.
Yu Zhen sighed as she picked out gifts, walking ahead with her arm linked with Li Yu's. "Husband, I've been thinking, aren't we too distant from Si Qing and Qi Yu? Like this time, I had no idea why they were in a bad mood, and they didn't even tell me they were going out."
"What should Qi Yu do about Feng Mian's matter? To spare my feelings, will she have to endure more hardship herself?"
Yu Zhen's mood grew more dejected as she spoke. "I've always been worried that Qi Yu and Si Qing would resent me because of the birth of the four of them, thinking that I no longer doted on them."
"But my siblings have never mentioned such a thing... sigh."
"Let's take it slowly," Li Yu said, looking at Yu Zhen. "What's most important now is what to do about Feng Mian? We will inevitably clash with him sooner or later. Which side will you choose then?"
Yu Zhen remained silent.
To be honest, she still felt a pang of sympathy for Feng Mian. He was a child she had raised, pouring all her love into him during his reincarnation.
However, Qi Yu and Si Qing were her first precious treasures.
"Husband," Yu Zhen leaned her head on Li Yu's shoulder. "If you ask me to choose, how can I choose?"
"If I choose to kill Feng Mian, will Feng Sixian and Feng Yunzui think I'm heartless? If I spare Feng Mian's life, what will Qi Yu think? Will she think that now that I have other children, I ultimately don't love her anymore, and I'm even protecting a traitor?"
Si Qing, being further away, couldn't hear what they were saying.
He only knew that the scene before them should not be witnessed by the current Qi Yu.
He wanted to pull Qi Yu away, but it was too late.
Qi Yu still saw it.
Si Qing couldn't read any expression on Qi Yu's face and couldn't help but grip her hand tighter. "Sister, perhaps they weren't coming together and just met on the way? Besides, they must have knocked on our door, and since we weren't here, they couldn't come with us."
"Si Qing, I know," Qi Yu nodded and sighed. "I'm not as jealous and furious as you imagine when I see something good. I have my reason."
"Then, why aren't you saying anything?" Si Qing was relieved.
"I'm just hesitating..." Qi Yu said slowly. "After we meet them later, if Mother brings up Feng Mian's matter, what should I do..."
On the same street, not far apart, mother and daughter sighed in unison over the same matter.
Meanwhile, in the Nine Heavens.
The Evil Ancestor, exuding an ominous aura, swept into the Heavenly Emperor's palace like a wisp of smoke.
The Heavenly Emperor, who was reading at his desk, calmly turned a page of his book and asked without looking up:
"Didn't we agree to meet once every 100 years? Why are you here so early this time?"
"Mortal bodies are really not easy to use. That idiot Feng Mian has been completely fooled by me, and I can't use his body either. So I've come to ask you for a body to use. Heavenly Emperor, you're my old friend, you won't refuse to help, will you?"
The Heavenly Emperor smiled.
"But suitable bodies for you, besides mortal ones, are few in other realms. Yuan Cang from the North Sea is good, but his dragon energy is too strong; you can't withstand it."
"...After going through all the possibilities, the only one with excessive killing intent that you could exploit is Si Qing. This kid's combat power is almost enough to challenge the entire Nine Heavens by himself. I might not even be his match."
Speaking of which, the Heavenly Emperor shook his head and sighed.
"If such a talent were to be used by me, it would be fine. But he stands with Qi Yu. If Qi Yu and the Nine Heavens were to wage war in the future, his stance would also be a major concern for me."
"If you can exploit Si Qing, not to mention taking over his body, but just to control his emotions, it would be much more beneficial to my side."
The Evil Ancestor hesitated.
The Heavenly Emperor put down his teacup. "How about it? Do you dare to try?"