Not long after, Feng Qishi examined them all once the wind stirred. He stood up and looked at Hei Qi and Hei Gu, who remained where they were, without speaking.
Seeing this, Hei Gu quickly asked, "What's wrong with you? Why... aren't you speaking?" She sensed something was amiss.
Feng Qishi: "You two stay here."
"Huh?" Hei Gu was taken aback.
Hei Qi asked, "Don't you need us..." He glanced at Hei Gu and continued, "to help?"
"No need," Feng Qishi refused coldly, then strode in front of them both. "You two just stay right here."
"Them?" Hei Qi pointed to the group of 'consciousness' behind Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi said calmly, "They're just a little injured. You watch them while I go to the manor to find some medicine."
Feng Qishi knew... Ouyang Ye was the type to discard the old for the new. If he told Hei Qi and Hei Gu that their souls were missing and they were in imminent danger, these two would immediately run to inform Ouyang Ye.
At that point, these 'consciousness' would truly have no chance of survival. Therefore, for their sake, he had to stall them in this manner, doing his utmost to find their souls.
"But..."
"No 'buts.' Stay here," Feng Qishi interrupted, without even looking at Hei Gu, bypassing Hei Qi and walking towards the outside.
Subsequently, Hei Qi and Hei Gu exchanged glances, their brows furrowed.
Over there, upon hearing Feng Qishi's words, the 'consciousness' all sat down on the ground, appearing remarkably quiet.
Just then, Mu An Xiao arrived with Jia Ting at the back gate of the Mu Manor. As she reached out to try and push the door open, a chilling wind suddenly blew from behind her. Feeling the inexplicable cold, she immediately withdrew her hand, slowly turned around, and saw Mai Liang.
"It's you," she exclaimed in surprise.
Jia, seeing Mai Liang's strange demeanor, did not dare to speak.
Then, with a somber expression, Mai Liang slowly lowered her head and fixed her gaze on Jia, "..." Without uttering a word, her appearance was particularly frightening.
Seeing this, Jia, to maintain his dignity as a Yin Messenger, continued to stare back at Mai Liang without averting his gaze.
Next, Mu An Xiao attempted to speak, "Mai Liang, is that you?" Mai Liang looked completely different from before. Although at a glance she was familiar, upon closer inspection, Mu An Xiao began to feel uncertain.
"You are a Yin Messenger." Mai Liang completely ignored Mu An Xiao.
Facing this, Jia continued to feign composure, "Yes, what about it?" He slightly furrowed his brows, fearing Mai Liang might suddenly make a move.
Seeing that Mai Liang was not responding to her, Mu An Xiao closed her mouth and quietly watched her, "...."
"Yes... Can you do me a favor?" Mai Liang said softly.
"What favor do you want me to do?" Jia was completely baffled by Mai Liang.
Mai Liang's eyes darkened. "Once this is done, can you arrest me?"
"What are you going to do?" Jia seized the opportunity to ask for clarification.
Mai Liang: "That's none of your business." As she said this, she was about to walk past them towards the back gate when Mu An Xiao stepped forward and blocked her path. Only then did Mai Liang look at Mu An Xiao.
Mu An Xiao looked calmly at Mai Liang, who exuded a chilling aura, and at her indifferent expression. Mu An Xiao realized something must have happened. "What exactly are you going to do?"
"Move aside," Mai Liang said coldly.
Mu An Xiao frowned slightly, "Mai Liang, let's talk things through. Can't you stop acting like this?"
"No."
"You..."
"You're a liar," Mai Liang interrupted in a low voice.
Mu An Xiao's body stiffened, but she paid no mind to what Mai Liang said. Instead, she sensed the danger. "What happened? Is it my mother..."
"Mu Xiao is long dead. You are not her daughter," Mai Liang interrupted coldly again.
Mu An Xiao's eyes darkened, and she asked again, "Where is she? Wasn't she in prison? For..."
"Stop pretending. Mai Xia's life means nothing to you, but to me, her life is more important than my own. Now," Mai Liang said with despair, "I don't want to talk to you. Move aside."
"I've been trying to find a way..."
"Have you? If I'm not mistaken, you must be living quite well at the General's manor," Mai Liang added.
This time, Mu An Xiao fell silent, finally understanding that Mai Xia had indeed met with misfortune.
Mai Liang, with a stern face, continued, "I'll settle accounts with you later regarding Mai Xia's matter. Move aside, or don't blame me if I walk through you."
"Where is Mai Xia?" Mu An Xiao asked again.
Mai Liang frowned. "I advise you not to ask further." As she spoke, her hands clenched into fists.
Then, Mu An Xiao stepped forward and met Mai Liang's gaze directly, saying, "Tell me, or I won't let you leave." She grabbed Mai Liang's arm.
Mai Liang's body stiffened. She looked down at her arm, held tightly by Mu An Xiao, and a cold laugh escaped her.
"Tell me," Mu An Xiao said, her heart filled with apprehension.
"You said you would save her," Mai Liang said, her eyes filled with despair. "But in the end, all she received was... another accusation, another slaughter. Mu An Xiao, if you're incapable, don't make promises. If you make them, you should keep them. But you... you are living in luxury at the General's manor, while Mai Xia... died crying in prison. You... are too detestable." After saying this, she grabbed Mu An Xiao's wrist with her other hand.
Then, Mu An Xiao felt the icy coldness in Mai Liang's palm, and her mind cleared. "Mai Xia... is really dead?" she asked, staring at Mai Liang.
Mai Liang roared, "You don't deserve to mention her. You..."
"Was it Madam Mu who did it?" Mu An Xiao asked again.
Mai Liang lowered her head.
"Now, you want revenge," Mu An Xiao continued.
Mai Liang: "..." She suddenly fell silent.
Jia glanced at Mai Liang and Mu An Xiao, then asked, "Where is Mai Xia's body now? If not her body, then her soul will do."
"I don't know," Mai Liang said, shifting her gaze to Jia's face. "I don't know where she went. The only place I can think of right now is here."
"You don't know where she went?" Mu An Xiao sensed something was wrong and frowned. "Mai Liang, what do you mean by that? Mai Xia isn't dead?"
"Don't talk to me. I don't want to talk to you," Mai Liang said without looking at Mu An Xiao, pulling her arm away.
Mu An Xiao understood Mai Liang's feelings. If it were her, she wouldn't deign to speak to someone who broke their promise. Therefore, she patiently said in a low voice, "I know this is my fault, but I also hope you can give me a chance to make amends." As she spoke, she fixed her gaze on Mai Liang.